In our last few entries, we have been taking a look at what it is like to use the Accounts Receivable module for Microsoft Dynamics SL, including entering and previewing an invoice, and entering and applying a payment. Today let’s look at how some of the process screens work in the Accounts Receivable module.
Process screens are used to process information to the system or to make adjustments in particular areas. For example, if you receive $99 on a balance of $100, and you just want to write off the difference, you would use the Small Balance/Credit Write Off screen. Other process screens include the following:
- Auto Payment Application
- Apply Finance Charges
- Age Customer Detail
- Close Statement Cycle
You can select and open a process screen under the Processes heading in Accounts Receivable. If you open the Small Balance/Credit Write Off screen, you will see the typical fields at the top, such as Period to Post, Account, and Subaccount. But you also choose whether it is a Small Balance or a Write-Off, and there is also a Write-Off Limit field. Below that, you can choose the Company ID or Customer ID. If you are writing off an item, select it, and just click the Begin Processing button. It’s that easy.
The Auto Payment Application screen can be a real time-saver. It enables you to apply all unapplied payments and, optionally, credit memos for customers who are not already set up to autoapply when payments and credit memos are released. You can select to release the batch after payments are applied, or leave the batch open. The Apply Finance Charges screen is for applying finance charges on overdue invoices.
The Age Customer Detail screen enables you to age open documents. This process recalculates and saves the totals for the aging balances for customers in selected statement cycles. The balances appear on statements and summary aging reports. The Close Statement Cycle process closes selected statement cycles and updates the cycle, customer, and document records accordingly. Statements for the cycle can be printed at any time.
Other common processes include the following:
- Release Accounts Receivable batches
- Generate recurring invoices
- Delete Accounts Receivable detail
