11- Budget plan stage allocation - Part 1 - Distribution

Budget plan stage allocation

If you completed the last tutorial, you would notice that the input forms just come empty. The Activation Task Just create a new Budget Plan for each user that is all. However, if we need to push data between users, this is the work of the Third Task, “Allocation“

Remember the “Scenario and Column Tutorial”. We have learnt that the Scenario is like the main account when Columns are like sub Accounts used for Filter the values entered by users. I use Columns to classify and to collect data the right way. The ultimate values will accumulate in the Scenario. Therefore, when I move values from Stage to stage and from user to user, we should use scenarios. 

Are you ready for the third knight? Are you ready for The Good, Bad and finally the Ugly?

I will take the basic defination from Microsoft official docs , because it is just perfect,

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/unified-operations/financials/budgeting/budget-planning-data-allocation

Aggregate – The budget plan lines are aggregated from the source budget plan scenario in the associated (child) budget plans to the destination scenario in the parent budget plan. This method enables budget amounts that are prepared at a lower level in the organization to be consolidated at a higher level.

Distribute – The budget plan lines are distributed from the source budget planning scenario in the parent budget plan to the destination scenario in the associated (child) budget plans, based on the financial dimensions of the organization units of the associated plans. This method enables budget amounts that are prepared at a higher level in the organization to be spread out for more localized review.

Note here;

That these two Methods work side by side with “Activate Associate plan”. This allocation happens between the Parent Budget and the Children. From Up to bottom is distribution. The other way around is aggregation. It Sum Sub plans values to the parent Plan.

Therefore, this Tutorial is extension to the one before about Activate Associate plan.

Let's Go

Step #1

All configuration starts from the Workflow form and then the Configuration Form. here it is no different.   In the workflow, we specify only the When we need to execute the Allocation task.

We are telling the system, look here Allocation is going to happen. What allocation and from which source to which destination is done from the Configuration form.

Add the Allocation task between the Sub plan Activation Task and transition Task. You have to run the Activation Task first. 

Step #2

Allocation Task look back into two configuration forms. “The Allocation schedule” Form which tell what values to allocate and where. “The Stage Allocation” Form tells in which Stage this allocation should happen.

Open Configuration form and complete the allocation Schedule,

Step #3

Then open “Stage allocation”.

Let us think where we want to execute the first Allocation Task. We are distributing the Initial amounts to departments. we definitely would do it after the submission of the initial values and before transition to the second stage, which is Aggregate. 

Therefore, in the Configuration, I link the Set the policy stage to the first allocation.

Now let us test our configuration,

Step #1

Create new Budget Plan. We have only one column to set the baseline.

Step #2

The system Automatically Create 2 Sub plans and attach them to the parent plan. And it is coming with the baseline amounts. All in one shot!

Step #3
And the second,

Note, that the system already distribute lines based on the responsibility centers and departments.