
Thus rather than just entering journal information about a sales invoice, the system can be configured to capture information from the original source document, passing it through an approval process and print a hard copy if required before releasing it to the ledger.
Data is captured within a document which reflects the way most organisations operate. For example one cash receipt documents summarises many cash receipts from multiple customers in a single step; one weekly time-sheet can address multiple projects and activities; invoices can be free form or relate to catalogue items, and a payroll summary could link to the detail captured in the payroll system. At all stages the behaviour and impact of debits and credits are automatically governed by the system reducing errors and speeding up processing time.
Using a comprehensive mapping definition, complex rules can be used to determine how information is treated between the original document and the final accounting entries; e.g. the user may wish to specify what information is mapped to the credit and debit lines (e.g. debiting the customer account with the gross amount, and crediting the sales and tax accounts).Document status management is straightforward and easy to use enabling a flexible approach to processing and authorising any item.
The workflow of each document can be used to manage series of approval processes and for different users to view or change different information before it is finally committed to the ledger. Hard copy documents can be generated through the system’s document printing function.