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Business Central for Multi-Site and International Organisations

Organisations that have multiple sites often use a hub-and-spoke business model where a parent company, or headquarters, manages the overall operations of the business while each site functions as a single, standalone entity. Sites are often geographically distributed and have different needs for sharing information with the headquarter company. Additionally, sites typically don't need the same level of complexity, and often lack the resources to maintain a large system.

Business Central gives small and mid-sized businesses a business management solution that's easy-to-use and maintain at a low cost of ownership.

This article introduces some of the ways in which Business Central supports a hub-and-spoke business model.

Integrating the Headquarter Company and the Sites

Business Central can integrate with the headquarter company's accounting system while meeting the varying needs of different sites, regardless of size, location, or type of business.

The following diagram is an example of different sites integrated with a headquarter company.

Diagram Description automatically generated.

Meet the Needs of Domestic and International Sites

Business needs at sites often differ based on industry, business methods, or their relationship to the headquarter company. Business Central can be easily adapted and extended for various types of businesses and locales. Microsoft AppSource offers a wealth of apps from Microsoft and our partners, and partners can quickly deploy Business Central with minimal disruption to daily operations.

For multi-national organisations, Business Central supports local legal requirements and business practices.

A network of more than 4,000 Microsoft partners world-wide provides local expertise.

Business requirement How Business Central supports it Learn more
Tailor the system to fit the business. Enjoy a system that was designed from the start for mid-sized businesses. Overview
Address regulatory and local practices. Comply with local legal requirements and business practices. Local Functionality
Access multiple companies from a single page. Get quick access to any Business Central company in your organisation. Company Hub
Handle multiple languages and currencies. Support for multiple languages and currencies helps meet local needs. Multi-language capabilities

Multi-currency capabilities

Consolidate Financial Data

A core facet of the hub-and-spoke business model is the ability for the headquarter company and sites to exchange financial data, even when the headquarter company and sites use different systems, accounting structures, languages, and currencies.

Business requirement How Business Central supports it Learn more
Consolidate financial data from sites. Consolidate financial statements for sites, regardless of whether they're running Business Central or another application, into a single business entity (company). Consolidating Financial Data from Multiple Companies
Integrate accounting structures. Transfer consolidation data from different accounting structures to your own. Built-in file format for F&O (Available with Wave 2, 2020) Importing Business Data from Other Finance Systems

Prepare general ledger accounts for consolidation
Transact in multiple currencies. Help ensure that financial statements in different currencies are accurate and use correct exchange rates. Update Currency Exchange Rates

Share Business Insight with Integrated Analytics

Align the organisation with your business goals by providing a common understanding of the current reality. Integrated analytics can help people base their decisions on the same set of facts.

Business requirement How Business Central supports it Learn more
Share insights with sites without extensive IT support. Create KPIs and business intelligence dashboards in Power BI based on your data. Connect to Power BI from Business Central on-premises
Develop custom financial reports. Generate parameter-based financial reports. Business Intelligence
Align on the facts. Generate, view, and share reports with internal and external stakeholders. Financial Reports
Analyse data in Excel. Fact-find, troubleshoot, and do ad hoc analyses in Microsoft Excel. Analyze Financial Statements in Excel

Exchange Data Using APIs and XMLports

APIs and XMLports simplify the process of connecting instances of Business Central, including those that have been customised for each site.

Business requirement How Business Central supports it Learn more
Connect customised versions among sites and the headquarter company. API Pages can expose any representation of an entity, including its customisations. Enabling APIs for Business Central
Versioning and security. APIs use ODataV4, which provides versioning, and webhooks and change tracking. Security and protection
Post and import XML documents. Codeunits can be exposed as unbound actions to support posting and ingestion of XML documents. For processing XML documents, XMLports can be applied. Unbound actions are also capable of generating an XML or JSON document. XMLport Objects
Make maintenance easier through electronic data exchange. An electronic data exchange solution can be added to serve as an integration layer between the headquarter company and sites. Data Exchange Framework
Exchange data between different systems. Use XMLports to create XML documents, which can then be exchanged between a headquarter company that uses one system and sites that use Business Central. XMLport Overview
Orchestrate complex data exchanges. Use a combination of XMLports with Business Central and Microsoft BizTalk Server to meet unique needs at your sites.
For complex needs, use an electronic data exchange solution based on BizTalk Server and Commerce Gateway in Business Central in combination with the XMLports.
Work with Reports, Batch Jobs, and XMLports
Connect to 3rd party solutions and services. APIs establish a point-to-point connection between Business Central and 3rd party solutions and services. API v2.0

Promote an Efficient Intercompany Supply Chain

Sites often need access to the supply chain, and the ability to manage certain aspects of it. For example, sites might use the same vendor, but manage their assets and physical locations separately.

Business requirement How Business Central supports it Learn more
Treat inter-divisional transactions as normal sales and purchase transactions. Use inter-company postings to create sales and purchase documents and general ledger entries for entire workflows, and for more than one company at a time to eliminate duplicate data entry. Managing Inter-company Transactions
Use paperless processes. Avoid the cost of sending, receiving, and printing documents. Incoming Documents

Manage Attachments, Links, and Notes on Cards and Documents

Respond Quickly to New Business Conditions

The headquarter company must be able to react quickly to business changes at each site. Combined with Power Automate, Business Central can serve as an early warning mechanism.

A screenshot of a social media post Description automatically generated.

Business requirement How Business Central supports it Learn more
Automatically generate email alerts. Set up alerts in Power Automate that will generate emails to inform you of critical business conditions at sites or supply chain partners. Business Central and Power BI
Use standard or custom alerts. Use 12 different templates included for Business Central or set up your own alerts to suit your business. Use Business Central in an Automated Workflow

See Also

Administration of Business Central Online
Work with Business Central

Find free e-learning modules for Business Central here