Allocation Input Report

What is an Allocation Input Form? Allocation input forms are considered an essential part of many advanced allocation models, and are often used by accountants to enter drivers for allocation calculations, such as square feet and headcount. Key functionality in this type of allocation tool provides a web-based input form where end users can enter drivers that are not available from other data sources. These drivers can then be used to allocate, for example, administrative overhead expenses to operating departments. You will find an example of this type of allocation tool below.

Purpose of Allocation Driver Input Forms Companies and organizations use Allocation Driver Input Forms to provide an easy-to-use and secure mechanism where end users can capture statistics and other drivers to be used in allocation calculations. When used as part of good business practices in a Finance and Accounting department, a company can improve its allocation process and related speed and agility, as well as, reduce the chance that allocations are skipped or delayed, thereby reducing managers' ability to measure business unit profitability.

Who Uses This Type of Allocation Tool? The typical users of this type of allocation tool are: Accountants and Business Unit Managers. Other Allocation Tools Often Used in Conjunction with Allocation Driver Input Forms Progressive Finance and Accounting Departments sometimes use several different Allocation Driver Input Forms, along with profit & loss reports, dashboards and other management and control tools.

Where Does the Data for Analysis Originate From? The Actual (historical transactions) data typically comes from enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems like: Microsoft Dynamics 365 (D365) Finance, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central (D365 BC), Microsoft Dynamics AX, Microsoft Dynamics NAV, Microsoft Dynamics GP, Microsoft Dynamics SL, Sage Intacct, Sage 100, Sage 300, Sage 500, Sage X3, SAP Business One, SAP ByDesign, Acumatica, Netsuite and others. In analyses where budgets or forecasts are used, the planning data most often originates from in-house Excel spreadsheet models or from professional xFP&A solutions.

This Solver planning template connects directly to your ERP data via the Solver Data Warehouse, enabling near real-time analysis with minimal setup. Designed for QuickStart deployment, it can be activated rapidly so your team can focus on analysis and decisions — not data preparation.

What is the Allocation Input Report in Solver? The Allocation Input Report is a pre-built xFP&A planning template in Solver that allows finance and business teams to submit planning data directly in Solver, with automatic roll-up to consolidated budget and forecast models.

Who uses this Solver planning template? Budget owners, department managers, and CFOs, FP&A managers, and budget owners use this planning template to enter and submit financial data directly in Solver. It is particularly valuable during annual budgeting and rolling forecast cycles.

Where does the data come from? Data is sourced automatically from your ERP system through the Solver Data Warehouse, which integrates with platforms such as Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, Dynamics 365 Finance, Acumatica, Sage Intacct, and other leading ERP solutions. Once connected, the template updates in near real-time with no manual data entry required.

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