Understanding the Difference Between Companies and Branches in Navigator

Navigator allows dealerships to operate across multiple branches and companies within the same system.

Understanding the difference between a Company and a Branch is particularly important when running financial reports, as the company you are working within determines which accounting information is displayed.

This guide explains how companies and branches work in Navigator, how to check which one you are using and why your Trial Balance or other financial reports may show different figures when switching branches.

What is the difference between a Company and a Branch?

A Company represents the accounting entity whose financial information is maintained within Navigator.

A Branch represents an individual location or operating area within that company.

A single company can contain multiple branches, allowing different dealership locations to operate under the same company.

For example, a dealership group might have the following structure:

Company A

• Branch: Main Dealership

• Branch: Used Car Centre

• Branch: Service Centre

Company B

• Branch: Commercial Vehicles

• Branch: Fleet Centre

Although all these branches may be accessible within Navigator, they do not necessarily belong to the same company.

Does changing branch mean I have changed company?

Not necessarily.

If you switch between two branches belonging to the same company, you are still working within the same accounting entity.

However, if you switch to a branch belonging to a different company, the financial information associated with that company will be different.

Important: Changing branches does not always mean changing companies. It depends on how your dealership's company and branch structure has been configured in Navigator.

What do the different branch colours mean?

Navigator may use different colours to help identify branches.

These colours provide a visual indication of the branch you are currently working within.

However, different branch colours do not necessarily mean different companies.

Multiple branches can belong to the same company, regardless of their individual colours.

Always check the actual Company and Branch details rather than relying on the colour alone.

Why are my Trial Balance figures different after changing branch?

Financial reports such as the Trial Balance, Balance Sheet and Profit and Loss are associated with the selected company.

If you change to a branch belonging to another company, the financial reports may display different figures because you are now viewing a different accounting entity.

For example:

You are working in the Main Dealership branch, which belongs to Company A, and run the Trial Balance.

You then switch to the Commercial Vehicles branch, which belongs to Company B, and run the same report.

Although you are using the same Navigator system, the Trial Balance figures will differ because the reports relate to different companies.

This is expected behaviour and does not necessarily indicate an accounting discrepancy.

How to check which Company and Branch you are using

If you are unsure which company or branch is currently selected:

1. Open the relevant module within Navigator.

2. Locate the Change Branch control.

3. Review or select the branch you wish to work within.

4. Check the application menu to confirm the currently selected Company and Branch.

5. Ensure you are working within the correct company before running any financial reports.

This is particularly important when comparing accounting figures or investigating differences between reports.

Why can I select branches on some reports but not others?

Different reports within Navigator serve different purposes.

Operational reports, such as those relating to vehicle stock or workshop activity, may allow you to select individual branches.

Financial reports, such as the Trial Balance, Balance Sheet and Profit and Loss, report on the selected accounting company.

This means you may need to change the company you are working within to view the financial results for another company, rather than simply selecting a different branch within the report.

The options available will depend on the report being used.

What should I check if my financial figures do not look correct?

If your Trial Balance, Balance Sheet or Profit and Loss figures are different from what you expected, check the following:

1. Company: Confirm you are working within the correct accounting company.

2. Branch: Check that the selected branch belongs to the company you intend to report on.

3. Reporting period: Ensure you have selected the correct accounting period or reporting date.

4. Report criteria: Check that you are using the same criteria when comparing reports.

If the figures still do not appear correct after checking these details, contact the Navigator Helpdesk for assistance.

Summary

Navigator supports multiple branches and companies, but they are not the same thing.

A company can contain several branches, and switching between branches does not necessarily change the company you are working within.

However, moving to a branch associated with another company can change the financial information displayed in your reports.

Always confirm both the Company and Branch before running financial reports, particularly when reviewing your Trial Balance, Balance Sheet or Profit and Loss.

This helps ensure you are reviewing the correct financial information and avoids unnecessary investigation into differences caused by selecting another company.