What we'll review:
What is a client branch?
Propagating a user to branches
Deleting Propagated Users
Default Users
Users with Assigned Reports
Adding Locations for IM Integrated Clients
What is a client branch? Branch administration is most commonly used when a client account has a corporate office with one or more branches under it. Branch administration also allows administrators to dictate what account will be invoiced for the ordered searches. Each branch and corporate office should be inputted into the system as its own client account with their associated company and user information. The following steps can be taken to create branch administration:
First create or pull up the client information editor for the corporate office account (parent account). Within the client information editor click the branch administration check box found in the Account Information box and save changes.
After saving, select the view branch settings, appearing next to the branch administration check box.
Existing client accounts or new accounts can be created as a branch (child account) prompting you to name the branch (i.e. Blockbuster Southeast Branch) and determine what account for which the invoice will be sent.
*NOTE* The same procedure can be used to create branches within branches (grandparent, parent, and child relationship) Each grandparent will be able to view the work an invoicing of the parent and child branches while the parent will be able to see only that of the child branches. Child branches can view only their own work and invoices.
You can create clients as branches of other clients, either because of headquarters and satellite locations or because you have clients with sub-clients. If you allow this, then several new capabilities open up to the client, including:
Ordering on behalf of a branch (see Branch ordering)
Viewing the reports submitted by branches
Rolling up invoicing under the top branch
Adding and editing branch users
It's often a good idea to brand clients that fall under a main office so that you maintain your relationship with the corporate office and they maintain their users. See Client Branding for more details.
To set up branches, do the following:
Bring up the master client in the client editor, and click the Client Information link.
If Branch Settings is not already checked, make sure you check it and save the client.
Next to the Branch Settings checkbox, click view branch settings.
If the branch client is not already added, you can add it by clicking add branch: existing client and choosing the client to add.
Choose if the branch will pay for its own invoices, or if the administrative branch will pay for invoices. Each branch will be listed on the main branch invoice if the parent branch is managing payment.
Continue adding branches until you have the branch structure set up to your liking. Also, for each branch, you can choose whether the branch pays their own invoices, or if the parent pays it.
Back on the client editor, click View Users at the top of the Client Information section.
Click on any user who should be able to order on behalf of branch companies and Check off the Order for Branches permission, and save the user.
Propagating a user throughout the branch
When you, or a user, adds a new user the head of a client with branches, you'll have the opportunity to propagate that user through all branches. This way, you can order as the user from any branch. Below is what the option looks like when adding a user to a branch parent in the administration module.
Here is the same option when adding such a user in the Verocity client portal.
Once a user is added in this way, any edits to them (from any branch) propagate changes throughout that user's profile on any branch. To edit the user, make any desired changes to the user profile, select "Propagate to sub branches" and update.
You also have the ability to turn off and on view other branches reports in the user's settings:
Deleting Propagated Users
You also have the option to delete propagated users.
Navigate to a propagated user.
Use the "Delete all Propagated Users" button.
Default Users
If the user is a "default" user you will have to navigate to the client editor and choose a different "default" user from the drop-down to assign.
Assigned Reports
If a user has assigned reports, you will need to navigate to that specific user and use the "single delete" option. This option will allow you to reassign reports.
Adding Locations for IM Integrated Clients
If your client has an account in Integration Manager and you need to add a new a new location, you will need to ensure that the newly added location (client profile) is nested under the primary branch's Branch Administration. By doing this, the new location will be added to both the IM account and appear as a selection in the associated ATS.