Allocation

Allocation enables you to allocate values from source accounts to target accounts. For example, you use Allocation to add budget amounts to multiple entities and organizations at one time, or to move budget amounts between organizations in a single step.

An allocation level consists of one or multiple allocation steps. Each allocation step consists of one or multiple parameters. A parameter is an account specific setup of data transformation. The steps on an allocation level are generally not related; a step is a fully configured allocation definition. Multi-stage allocations are supported by defining allocation steps on different allocation levels.

An allocation has these three main components:

  • Source
  • Driver (optional)
  • Target
Source
The source of an allocation is the amount to be allocated and its location in the database.
You can define the source value in these ways:
  • As a percentage or fixed amount of a data area
  • As a fixed amount
  • As a factor that is multiplied by a driver
Driver
Drivers are optional. A driver specifies how the allocated amount is distributed. If you do not use a driver, you can allocate amounts only in specified proportions. With drivers you can allocate values according to, for example, head count, license usage, square footage, revenue, etc.
You can select existing drivers or configure your own. You can specify drivers by financial year and by version.
You can define a driver in these ways:
  • By selecting existing data, such as a group of accounts or measures
  • Manually
  • On the fly, by specifying percentages
Target
The target of an allocation specifies where an amount is allocated.
If a driver is not used, the target also specifies how the allocated amount is distributed. You can distribute an amount proportionally, by source or by target.

You can run defined allocations by configuration set, version, entity, year and allocation level or step.

Allocation is a three-step or four-step process, depending on whether a driver is used. These are the steps:

  • Optionally, activate driver
    • Identify existing data or create manual drivers
  • Configure allocation
    • Define allocation steps
    • Specify parameters to define allocation source, driver, and target
  • Run allocation
  • View the results of the allocation in the allocation reports