For Data Collection we mean the process phase where RUs provide all those data required, to later run the Consolidation Process.
The complexity of this phase greatly depends form the number of RUs, their capability to provide data into a suitable format, how much this rough data must be manipulated or integrated with manual adjustment.
Capsule which provides this functions is named Local Reporting
The Local Reporting Capsule incorporates these three different Application areas :
> Data Collection that means any process to Load Data into the BFC Application (from files, with manual data entry etc) plus any Data alteration that must be applied on the loaded Trial Balances as break down adjustment by Movements or ICs. It can be done via :
> Batch Process (Data Load) : this Process provides a pre-configured Data Load procedure that works on a pre-defined set of files.
> Bulk Loader (Data Load) : this additional Application provides a layer to facilitate the load of the data from data archives, RDMS Tables or ASCII files. This layer can of course replaced by a set of data reading protocols.
We suggest to adopt it if you have :
- the issue to reconciliate local RUs Chart of Account to group Chart of Account
- manipulate and check the quality of the data before they're loaded into the Consolidation Repository
Of course
you can replace anytime the Batch Process and the Bulk loader with your
own Data Loading Process and/or Data Reader Protocols. In such case RU
setup (Data Avilability) is not relevant.
> Data Entry Forms : this set of screens can be used
- to manually load the balances from the scratch ignoring the Bulk Loader or any other automatic process as Data Reading . This approach is generally suitable for small Group, with a simple Chart of Account and minimum requirements.
- to add details across the Movement (and Sometimes Movement details) dimension : for some accounts is mandatory to provide the details of the movement occurred during the fiscal year between the opening balance and the closing balance of the account
- to add details across the IC dimension : for some accounts (Strictly IC) is mandatory to provide the details of the Counterpart (ICs) .
> Local Reporting provides Local Financial Reports and specifically Intercompany Reconciliation Reports ; Data validation requires that RU(A)'s transactions (e.g. payable) toward RU(B) match with RU(B)'s transactions (e.g.receivables) toward RU(A). This section provide a matching reporting library to spot out any inconsistency.
> Adjustment Editor that provides the capability to manage the Consolidation Adjustment Journal and actions as manual Adjustment creation, forwarding, reversing etc
All the Local Reporting tasks can be performed on :
> Open Scenario/Period only for manual data entry
> Load Periods (Y) for batch loading