Defining customer groups

Customer groups contain customers that can be shared by one or more accounts receivable companies such as customers with common characteristics. The options that you define for a customer group include customer numbering options, aging defaults, and currency defaults. This procedure outlines the process for defining customer groups.

You can assign companies to your customer groups. See Adding a Company.

  1. Access Customer Group (AR00.1).
  2. Specify a customer group name and description.
  3. On the Customer tab, define the rules and options that apply to customers in the customer group. This is a one-time decision so ensure you specify all information properly. Use these guidelines to specify the field values:
    Customer Number

    You need to decide whether to use alphanumeric or numeric customer numbers. Consider these conditions:

    • If you select numeric customer numbers, then automatic customer numbering can be used.

    • You can change from numeric to alphanumeric numbering, but you cannot change from alphanumeric to numeric numbering.

    Automatic customer numbering

    If you select numeric customer numbers, then you can use automatic customer numbering.

    Last Customer Number

    If you selected Yes in the Automatic Customer Numbering field, then specify the last customer number assigned.

    Note: When you add a new customer on Customer Group Address (AR09.1)AR09.1 (Customer Group Address), the system increments this field by one. If this field is left blank, then the system begins customer numbering with 1.
    Audit Customer Changes

    Select Yes if you want customer changes to be tracked at the customer group level. The default setting is No.

  4. Click the Aging tab to define aging rules for the customer group.

    The aging options that you define is used as default on company records unless you override them at the company level.

    Aging options at this level are used by:

    • Customer Aging Report (AR250), which consolidates a customer's receivables across AR companies.

    • Customer Aging (AR50.1) if you select G (Group) or N (National) in the Aging Summary Level field.

    Use these guidelines to specify the field values:

    Default Aging Method

    Indicate whether to age by due date or transaction date when aging across companies.

    Age Credits

    Select a credit memo aging option. This option indicates how credit memos are aged when aging across companies.

    Age Payments

    Select a payment aging option. This option indicates how payments are aged when aging across companies.

    Age Disputes

    Indicate whether disputes are aged, using the Default Aging Method, when aging across companies.

    Aging Periods

    Specify the aging periods used when aging across companies. Specify the periods in consecutive, ascending order. If this field is left blank, then the default setting is 30 60 90 120.

    A total of seven aging periods exist: Future (period length determined by the number specified in the Current Days field), Current, the four periods defined in the Aging Periods fields, and one period beyond the last aging period you define.

    • Future (period length determined by the number specified in the Current Days field);

    • Current (the four periods defined in the Aging Periods fields); and

    • One period beyond the last aging period you define

    Current Days

    Specify the number of current days used when aging across companies.

    This value is used to define the separation between current and future aging periods. Current and future aging periods contain transactions that are not past due (for due date aging) or past transaction (for transaction date aging).

    If this field is left blank, then the future period is used for all transactions that are not past due.

    Display Date

    Select the date that is used to determine what open obligation data displays on aging reports when aging across companies. This option is used for obligations only and is not related to the aging method.

    Transaction Sequence

    Select whether to display transactions by transaction number or transaction date on aging reports when aging across companies.

  5. Select the EFT tab to define Electronic Funds Transfer rules and options. Use these guidelines to specify the field values:
    EFT

    Select Yes if the companies associated with this customer group use EFT processing.

    EFT Level

    If you selected yes in the EFT field, then indicate whether EFT processing is enabled at the company group level (G) or at the company level (C).

    Note: This is a one time decision and cannot be changed.
    EFT Calendar

    Click EFT Calendar to open the EFT Calendar subform. Use the subform to define EFT calendar options.

    See Options for defining a customer group.

  6. the Rules tab to display processing rules for the customer group processing. Use these guidelines to specify the field values:
    Currency

    Select the currency code used when combining transaction amounts across companies for customer group balances. This must be a valid currency code in the Lawson Currency system.

    Currency Display

    Select the currency that you wish to display amounts throughout the system.

    BOE

    Select Yes if the customer group will process bills of exchange.

  7. (Optional) Click the Activity tab to display rules for applying payments on Contract Activity Application (AR32.1). Use these guidelines to specify the field values:
    Tran Display

    The default display selection of open items on Contract Activity Application (AR32.1).

    If this field is left blank, then the contract, contract activity, or activity group entered for the payment will be used if it exists; if no activity-based value is entered for the payment, then the default display option is Contract.

    Application Edit

    Determine if application edits based on a payment's activity-based values, will be enforced on Contract Activity Application (AR32.1).

    If you select Unrestrict application (U), then no application edits is enforced relative to the payment's activity-based elements.

    If you select Restrict application (R) and the payment has activity-based values present, then AR32.1 can only make applications to transactions with the same activity (if an activity is associated with the payment), or with the same activity group if only an activity group is associated with the payment.

  8. Click the Company tab to display companies that are associated with this customer group.
  9. Click the asterisk next to a company to access Company (AR01.1).