Usage Tracking and Billing System

Usage Tracking and Billing System

Overview

The usage tracking and billing system provides real-time monitoring of resource usage, automated alerts, and billing management for sync operations. This system helps users stay within their subscription limits and provides visibility into their usage patterns.

Features

1. Usage Dashboard

The usage dashboard (/accounts/usage/) provides a comprehensive view of: - Current subscription plan and limits - Real-time usage metrics - Usage history - Alert notifications

Dashboard Components:

  • Current Plan Card

    • Displays current subscription tier
    • Shows monthly price
    • Provides upgrade option
    • Visualizes plan limits

  • Usage Metrics

    • Row Usage Progress Bar

      • Shows percentage of monthly row limit used
      • Color-coded (green < 60%, yellow 60-80%, red > 80%)
      • Displays exact numbers and percentages

    • Sync Count Progress Bar

      • Shows percentage of monthly sync limit used
      • Color-coded similar to row usage
      • Displays exact numbers and percentages

  • Recent Alerts

    • Shows last 5 alerts
    • Color-coded by alert type:
      • Red: Quota alerts
      • Yellow: Usage alerts
      • Blue: Cost alerts
    • Displays alert timestamp and threshold

  • Usage History

    • Tabular view of daily usage
    • Shows rows processed and sync count per day
    • Sortable by date

2. Automated Alerts

The system automatically triggers alerts when usage reaches certain thresholds:

Alert Types:

  1. Quota Alerts (80% threshold)

    • Triggered when row usage approaches monthly limit
    • Helps prevent service interruption
    • Suggests plan upgrade if needed

  2. Usage Alerts (80% threshold)

    • Triggered when sync count approaches monthly limit
    • Helps manage sync frequency
    • Provides early warning for capacity planning

  3. Cost Alerts

    • Triggered for billing-related events
    • Notifies about upcoming charges
    • Alerts on payment issues

3. Usage Tracking

The system tracks two main metrics:

  1. Row Processing

    • Counts total rows processed per sync
    • Aggregates daily and monthly totals
    • Tracks both inserts and updates

  2. Sync Operations

    • Counts number of sync operations
    • Tracks sync frequency
    • Monitors sync patterns

User Experience Flow

1. Initial Setup

  1. User selects a subscription tier
  2. System creates account with tier limits
  3. Usage tracking begins automatically

2. Daily Usage

  1. User performs sync operations
  2. System tracks usage in real-time
  3. Dashboard updates automatically
  4. Alerts trigger if thresholds reached

3. Alert Response

When an alert is triggered: 1. User receives notification 2. Alert appears in dashboard 3. User can: - Monitor usage more closely - Upgrade plan if needed - Adjust sync patterns - Contact support

4. Plan Management

Users can: 1. View current usage 2. Compare with plan limits 3. Upgrade/downgrade plans 4. View billing history

Technical Implementation

Models

  1. UsageMetrics

    • Tracks daily usage
    • Stores rows processed and sync count
    • Links to account

  2. UsageAlert

    • Stores alert information
    • Tracks alert types and thresholds
    • Records alert history

  3. Tier

    • Defines subscription levels
    • Sets usage limits
    • Manages pricing

Services

  1. UsageTrackingService
    • Updates usage metrics
    • Checks for alerts
    • Manages usage history

Integration Points

  1. Sync Process

    • Tracks usage during sync
    • Updates metrics in real-time
    • Triggers alerts if needed

  2. Billing System

    • Uses usage data for billing
    • Manages subscription status
    • Handles plan changes

Best Practices

For Users

  1. Monitor usage dashboard regularly
  2. Set up email notifications for alerts
  3. Plan upgrades before reaching limits
  4. Review usage patterns monthly

For Administrators

  1. Monitor system-wide usage
  2. Review alert patterns
  3. Adjust thresholds if needed
  4. Maintain tier configurations

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

  1. Unexpected Alerts

    • Check recent sync operations
    • Verify usage calculations
    • Review alert thresholds

  2. Usage Discrepancies

    • Verify sync logs
    • Check timezone settings
    • Review aggregation logic

  3. Billing Issues

    • Verify usage data
    • Check subscription status
    • Review payment history

Future Enhancements

  1. Custom alert thresholds
  2. Advanced usage analytics
  3. Predictive usage patterns
  4. Automated plan recommendations
  5. Usage forecasting
  6. Cost optimization suggestions