Advanced Intercompany
The solution for Capital Groups
Developing its products in order to meet the specific needs of its customers that operate as capital groups, IT.integro has designed the Advanced Intercompany module.
The module enables Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central (Dynamics NAV) users from multiple companies to send sales and purchase documents in real time. It combines the benefits of a typical EDI system with specific functionality requirements related to intercompany trade i.e. tracking quantities and values of in-transit items.
Advanced Intercompany
The document synchronization process is triggered as soon as a new sales or purchase order is released. Then, the sales/purchase order is automatically sent to a partner company, where it is kept on hold until it is verified. The verification process can include such data as agreed delivery dates, quantities and prices. After the order is approved, the system creates a target document and sends a confirmation of the order receipt to the customer. This way, both companies verify and agree upon essential elements of the document before it is processed.
The system also sends a notification after the order is sent. This way, it keeps the user updated on the status of each intercompany transaction that is processed. After the items are received in the warehouse, the invoice is posted automatically which closes the settlement of the transaction.
In addition, it is also possible to send single documents e.g. service invoices that are not managed within the logistic process.
Benefits
In addition to the benefits related to the reduced risk of making an error when entering an order into an ERP system, the Advanced Intercompany module enables companies to monitor value streams for the inventory moved between subsidiaries within their capital group.
If, the process is handled manually, it is difficult to calculate the value of items that have been sent but have not been received at a target location. With the Advanced Intercompany module, when items are sent from a source business entity/subsidiary, the system in the target subsidiary automatically posts the document as a receipt in an “in-transit” location and creates a transfer order between this location and the actual warehouse location.
The use of the Advanced Intercompany module enables business partners to:
- Streamline the creation of consolidated financial statements by simplifying the process of reconciliating the values of in-transit items.
- Verify the order document after it is finally approved in the inbound order buffer
- Speed up the processing of sales and purchase transactions in Dynamics 365 Business Central, both for business partners and end customers
- Reduce the number of errors due to data entered manually from multiple documents
Allocation
Despite the fact that the main assumptions for the module have been developed for capital groups, it can also be used in other organizations successfully, for example in a group of business partners that collaborate closely.
Complementary to the MDMS module
The Advanced Intercompany module is usually implemented with the add-on MDMS module that enables the standardization of master data (e.g. item numbers) in all subsidiaries which facilitates the setup and functioning of the Advanced Intercompany module. However, the Advanced Intercompany module can also be implemented as a standalone solution, provided that companies maintain data exchanged in standardized formats.
IC Goods Trade
IC Service Sales
IC Drop Shipment
IC Return-Process
The Dynamics 365 Business Central Intercompany module compared to the Advanced Intercompany add-on
| Functionality | D365 Business Central Intercompany | Advanced Intercompany add-on |
|---|---|---|
| Documents exchange: sales order –> purchase order | YES | YES |
| Documents exchange: sales invoice –> purchase invoice | NO | YES |
| Documents exchange: sales credit memo –> purchase credit memo | NO | YES |
| Documents exchange: shipment notification | NO | YES |
| Documents exchange: invoice notification | NO | YES |
| Sending G/L postings to an intercompany partner | YES | NO |
| G/L accounts mapping | YES | YES |
| Dimensions mapping | YES | NO [1] |
| Currency codes mapping | NO | YES |
| Resource codes mapping | NO | YES |
| Item charges mapping | NO | YES |
| Online document statuses (new, open, accepted, confirmed, closed, rejected) | NO | YES |
| Verification of the incoming documents: Information [2] | NO | YES |
| Verification of the incoming documents: Warnings [3] | NO | YES |
| Verification of the incoming documents: Error [4] | NO | YES |
| Buffer [5] | NO | YES |
| Negotiating the documents [6] | NO | YES |
| Support for the drop shipment process | NO | YES |
| Support for the pre-invoice process [7] | NO | YES |
| Data exchange (companies in the same database) | database | webservices |
| Data exchange (companies in multiple databases) | files | webservices |
| Configurable data structure [8] | NO | YES |
[1] The assumption is that the intercompany partners manage their dimensions separately.[2] Information – the document received contains the lines that have been mapped. Sample configuration: item numbers mapped, G/L accounts mapped, etc.
[3] Warning – the document received contains a value that requires attention/verification. Sample configuration: the delivery date earlier than 3 days; the price different from the price for the intercompany partner, etc.
[4] Error – the document received contains an error. Examples: the item has not been found, the G/L account does not exist, etc.
[5] Buffer – if the document does not meet all of the required conditions, it will not be uploaded automatically to the target table (for example, to the Sales Header table), but it will be stored in the buffer. Sample conditions: the documents contain Warnings and Errors.
[6] Negotiations – the intercompany partners agree upon the conditions of a transaction by exchanging the documents multiple times and adding their adjustments regarding the price, availability, discounts, delivery dates, etc.
[7] Pre-Invoice process – goods shipped from one company are automatically received at a virtual location by the other company. This way, when the goods are in transit from one company to another, the value of the goods does not disappear from the books from the group perspective.
[8] Both Standard (Dynamics 365 Business Central) Intercompany and Advanced Intercompany provide initial setup including the fields that will be exchanged between the companies. If it is required to add a new field that will be exchanged, the Standard Intercompany module requires object modifications by a partner (e.g. XML ports, codeunits, etc.). In Advanced Intercompany such a change is configurable and does not require any NAV/BC objects adjustments.
Apps for Groups of Companies and Business Partners
Download price list
Learn more about Advanced Intercompany
Check our training videos
on Advanced Intercompany
