The JD Edwards World Accounts Receivable system helps you manage cash flow so that you have the flexibility you need for effective cash management. It provides real-time information so you can make immediate decisions about extending credit, forwarding collections, and applying cash.
With the Accounts Receivable system, you can streamline the day-to-day functions of your entire Accounts Receivable department. You can simplify and accelerate the process of applying receipts, and have up-to-date information that improves communication among your billing and credit and collections departments.
For organizations that have offices around the world, JD Edwards World software provides the flexibility needed to operate in multiple countries, each with unique currency, language, and statutory requirements.
The Accounts Receivable system works with other JD Edwards World systems to ensure that all receivables transactions and information are fully integrated into accounts receivable.
The following graphic shows the other JD Edwards World systems that generate invoices and integrate with Accounts Receivable.
Figure 1-1 Systems Integrated with Accounts Receivable
The following systems integrate with the Accounts Receivable system, as described.
| System | Description |
|---|---|
| Sales Order Management | After shipping and invoicing a product, the sales order is updated and invoices are created in accounts receivable. Once created, these are regular A/R invoices and can have receipts applied to them. |
| Property Management | Tenant invoices are created for recurring charges, sales overages, common area expenses, rent escalations, and one-time charges. When these items are posted, invoices are created in accounts receivable. Once created, you can run reports and apply receipts to the invoices. |
| Contract Billing | After contract-based services are rendered, invoices are created in the Contract Billing system. When these invoices are posted and the accounts receivable is updated, you can handle the invoices like any other A/R invoices. |
| Service Billing | After work-order-based services are rendered, invoices are created in the Service Billing system. When these invoices are posted and the accounts receivable is updated, you can handle the invoices like any other A/R invoices. |
| Electronic Mail | Credit and collections information is tracked as "promises, promises" messages. The customer's mailbox is updated when you send a delinquency notice. |
Typically, you generate invoices using external sources or other JD Edwards World systems, such as Sales Order Management and Property Management. However, you can also enter invoices directly or generate recurring invoices using the Accounts Receivable system.
The features of the Accounts Receivable system include:
With efficient customer management, you can improve your customer relationships and leverage your organization's ability to respond to credit and collections issues. As part of managing your customer information, you determine:
On a customer-by-customer basis, you can review information such as open balances and paid items.
With true workflow management, the system provides features that allow you to implement your current objectives and make adjustments when those objectives change. The features of workflow management include:
Enter invoices by the method that is most efficient for you. Choose from either of the following methods:
Drafts, which are promises to pay debts, are used in various countries around the world. Because of the legal nature of the underlying liabilities, requirements and procedures for draft processing differ from those for regular invoices. Therefore, you must classify, track, and report drafts separately from other types of obligations.
Credit and collections management requires you to maintain a balance between credit extended and cash flow. To successfully manage your credit and collections, you need an accurate picture of your customers' account balances and credit histories.
With the credit and collections management features, you can:
The Accounts Receivable system works within the context of your business environment. For example, any customer account can be associated with a parent or national account, providing you with the total credit exposure for a group of related companies.
Prompt receipt application means that you have timely information about each customer's credit position so that your credit and collections department can extend credit wisely.
For controlled, efficient, and accurate results, you can apply receipts in either of the following ways:
Successful accounts receivable management requires timely and accurate information about cash flow, customer terms, discount opportunities, aging information, and so on. The Accounts Receivable system provides this type of information, both online and in report format. It also provides the following types of reporting:
Multi-national functionality allows you to build a global customer network to optimize your credit and collection efforts. The multi-national functionality in the Accounts Receivable system includes:
| Function | Description |
|---|---|
| Currency processing | Create invoices in either the domestic or foreign currency, using any currency in the world-from the Australian dollar to the Belgian franc. Apply receipts in a domestic or foreign currency and forecast receipts for your receivables by currency. |
| Multiple languages | Communicate with customers in their preferred languages to enhance relationships and reduce potential misunderstanding regarding invoices and other correspondence. |
This guide uses the Business Unit.Object.Subsidiary standard notation for account numbers.
Figure 1-2 Accounting Numbering Concepts
The account number includes both the Where and What. You can use periods, commas, or other user defined symbols to separate the components of the account number. The period (.) separator is the default.
The business unit describes where in your organization the transaction will have an impact. It represents the lowest organizational level within your business - where you record all revenues, expenses, assets, liabilities, and equities. For example, a business unit can be a department, branch office, or truck.
Business units are unique 12-character, alphanumeric fields. The following applies:
The Object.Subsidiary represents what kind of transaction is being created. An object is a description of the transaction, for example, Cash in Bank. A subsidiary is an expanded description of the object account, for example, Cash in Bank.FNB (First National Bank).
There are two parts of the "what":
When you charge a customer for products or services, you create or generate an invoice. After you receive payment, you apply the receipt. The following graphic illustrates this process.
Figure 1-3 Accounts Receivable System Flow