Defining a customer

In this procedure, you will define customers at the company level. Only the Main tab is required to assign various codes, limits, and identifiers. You can use the other tabs to define information or edit the defaults from the customer default codes or company.

  1. Access Customer (AR10.1), Main tab
    Note: Only the Main tab on Customer (AR10.1) is required. Use the remaining tabs to define optional information or edit information that defaulted from the customer default code or the company.
  2. Assign the various codes and limits for the customer. Use these guidelines to specify the field values:
    Status

    Select the status of the customer. If the customer is Inactive, you cannot enter invoices in Invoice Batch (AR42) or Transaction Interface (AR520). If the customer is Set for Deletion, you cannot enter payments, memos, or invoices.

    Note: Cash application and internally created debit memos (chargebacks, finance charges, and RTMs) are processed for all customers regardless of the status.
    Hold

    Used by the Lawson Order Entry system or external order processing systems. You can assign a hold code to prevent the customer from placing orders. If this field left blank, then the hold code assigned to the customer in Customer Group Address (AR09.1), if assigned, is set as default. This must be a valid hold code in Hold (AR16.1).

    Contact Number

    The name of the primary contact for this customer. If this field is left blank, then the contact defined for the customer in Customer Group Address (AR09.1) is set as default.

    Credit Limit days

    Represents the date of the customer's last credit limit review. The Credit Review Days are added to the Credit Limit Date to determine the next credit limit review. If this field is left blank, then the Start Date is set as default.

    Credit review days

    Specify the number days to be added to the Credit Limit Date to determine the date of the customer's next credit review.

    Audit changes

    Select whether customer changes will be tracked. Valid values are: (N) No customer audit, (Y) Customer audit.

    Company

    (Required) Select the company number as defined on Company (AR01.1).

    Customer

    (Required) Specify the customer number as defined on Customer Group Address (AR09.1).

    Default

    (Required) Select the customer default code that you want to assign to the customer as defined on Customer Defaults (AR08.1).

    Credit Analyst

    The credit analyst assigned to the customer. If this field is left blank, then the credit analyst assigned to the Default Code in Customer Defaults (AR08.1) is set as default. This must be a valid credit analyst in Credit Analyst (AR06.1).

    Start Date

    The starting date for the customer. If this field is left blank, then the system date is set as default.

    Sales Representative

    The primary sales representative assigned to the customer. If this field is left blank, then the sales representative assigned to the Default Code in AR08.1 (Customer Defaults) is set as default. This must be a valid sales representative in AR06.3 (Sales Rep).

    Currency

    Select a currency code to default on the customer's transactions as defined on Currency Codes (CU01.1).

    If this field is left blank, then the company base currency is used from the Lawson General Ledger application.

    Currency Revaluation

    Select whether to revalue transaction currencies against the company base currency to account for exchange rate fluctuations.

    National Account

    If the customer is part of a national account, then select the company and customer for the national account.

    See Defining national account relationships.

    Credit and Order Limit

    Specify the total credit limit or order limit amount to be extended to this customer. If this field is left blank, then the limits defined for the customer in Customer Group Address (AR09.1)is used after the system converts the amount to the company base currency.

    Note: For multiple company customers, extra attention is needed to not allow the credit limit for the group level to default for each customer at the company level.
    Language Code

    Select the preferred language for the customer. This will be used when sending notices. If this field is left blank, then the system uses the language code from Customer Defaults (AR08.1). If no language code exists, then the system uses the environment language.

  3. If you are defining a billing customer, then click the BL Cust link to open Billing Customer Fields (AR10.3). You can define parameters for the customer to be able to apply cash to specific line items.
  4. Select Yes in the Invoicing Line Items field. You can also use this form to define or edit information defaulted from Billing Customer Fields (AR08.2).
  5. If you have EFT customers, click the Electronic Payments link on AR10.3 to open Customer Electronic Payments (AR10.5). Define information for electronic payment methods (credit cards, electronic payment services) used by your customers.
  6. If you are defining an order entry customer, then click the OE Cust link to open Customer Order, Billing 2 (AR10.4). Use this form to define or edit order entry options defaulted from Order Entry Customer Fields (AR08.3). Use these guidelines to specify the field values:
    Default Ship-To Loc

    Select the default ship-to location. This must be a valid ship-to code as defined on Ship To (BL02.1).

    Default Location

    Select the default ship-from location. This must be a valid ship-from code as defined on Location (IC02.1).

    Default Method

    Select the default shipping method. This must be a valid shipping method as defined on Shipping Method (WH11.1).

    Order Discount Code

    Order discount codes are used to assess discounts for a customer order. This must be a valid discount code as defined on Order Discount Code (OE59.1).

    Credit Limit and Order Limit Hold Codes

    These hold codes are used when a customer has exceeded their credit or order limit. These must be valid hold codes as defined on Hold Code (AR16.1).

    Age Credit Percent

    Specify the percentage of the credit limit allowed in this aging period.

    Age Hold Code

    Select the hold code that will be applied to the customer if they fail the credit check because of the aging period limit. This must be a valid hold code as defined on Hold Code (AR16.1).

    Priority

    Specify a number from 1-99, with 1 having the highest allocation priority. This is used by batch inventory allocation to determine which customers get option on available inventory.

    Allow Returns

    Specify whether or not this customer is allowed to return items in the Order Entry system.

    Note:  When adding a new customer and the field is left blank, other programs interpret the value as Y (Yes).
    Return Date

    If your billing company is setup to limit return days by a specific date, then specify the date when return authorizations cannot be generated. You cannot generate return authorization on or after this day.

  7. To define Attribute Matrix attributes for the customer, click the Attributes link to open Customer Attributes (AR23.1). Use this form to assign attribute values to the customer.
  8. Access the remaining tabs to modify information. Consider these tabs:
    Processing

    Use this tab to edit customer processing defaults. Click PL Inclusion to open Customer Process Level Inclusion (AR10.2). Use this form to limit the process levels included for customer invoicing.

    Application

    Use this tab to edit customer application defaults. You can control the dates used in calculating the transaction and due dates for detail chargebacks on this form.

    You can select to auto apply mixed signed, which causes credit line items to be applied to debit line items for any mixed line open items.

    Select whether third-party payments are allowed. The third party payment process allows you to apply a payment to referenced open items regardless of the open item customer involved.

    Statement

    Use this tab to edit customer statement defaults.

    Finance

    Use this tab to edit default finance charge code values.

    User

    Use this tab to type user defined data in the fields. The value of the Ext User Fields is defined on Company (AR01.1).

    VAT

    Use this tab to define the VAT customer country, registration number and the customer type. The VAT customer types are DM (Domestic), ER (EEC Registered), EU (EEC Unregistered), and XP (Export).

    Dunning Adv

    Use this tab to define or edit dunning letter options for a customer using the advanced dunning letter process.

Related reports and inquiries

To Use
List customer information Customer Listing (AR210)
List additional customer contacts or user fields Customer Optional Fields Listing (AR211)
Create mailing labels for customers Customer Labels Print (AR209)
List credit card information for customers Customer Credit Card Listing (AR219)
View or delete customer audit records Customer Audit (AR285)