Do you have multiple branches for your business? Do you find it difficult to generate consolidated reports for all of them? SAP Business One 9.1 might have a solution to this problem. SAP Business One 9.1 introduced the Multiple Branches functionality, which works perfectly for businesses that have multiple branches.
If your company has multiple business units that are legally registered as separate companies and you need separate financial reports for these legal entities, then you can use different databases for each company i.e. separate company for each branch/business unit. But if you’re operating in a country where it is not essential for you to register as a separate entity and yet you require a different report for each account, the multiple branches functionality is perfectly suited for such a situation.
This function allows automatic allocation of transactions to a branch using user defaults, and the users can then run accounting and financial reports per branch.
Setting up multiple branches functionality
Before enabling the Multiple Branches option, ensure that your company manages the inventory by warehouse, which allows you to assign the warehouses to the relevant branches. To proceed to set up the multiple branches functionality, go to Administration > System Initialization > Document Settings > General and select “Manage Inventory by Warehouse”.
Once you complete the initial setup, go to Administration > System Initialization > Company Details > Basic Initialization and choose “Enable Multiple Branches”.
If there is an existing transaction, the Branch Registration Number window appears. Please Note, that the registration number for the default main branch cannot change after activating multiple branches because transactions exist with the branch. Therefore, ensure that you enter the correct or appropriate registration number in this step.
Finally, go to Administration > Setup > Financials >Branches and enter branch name, default warehouse ID, country and other information.
Features of Multiple Branches functionality
Replication of master data – The functionality allows all required entities to view the same data, at the same time.
Multi-currency support – With the multiple branches function, financial data discrepancies can be avoided by recording intercompany transactions in local and foreign currencies.
G/L allocations – allocate and consolidate incomes and expenses throughout all, or selected, branch companies.
Supply chain visibility – Get a more holistic, real-time view of all stock levels, as well as available-to-order quantities across all warehouses with multiple drill down levels.
Marketing collaboration – The functionality also helps you avoid duplication of effort by sharing documents throughout all or selected entities.
Benefits of the Multiple Branches functionality
- Data and content sharing is easy and more streamlined through a two-way process
- A comprehensive way to consolidate enterprise data from various channels and entities
- Streamlined data processes across all entities
- Get a crystal-clear view of all operations on a unified platform
- Customization options from SAP allow control of the shared data (master users can see everything; branch users can only see the data they need)
- Increased control, compliance and collaboration opportunities