The Hidden Risks of Overlooking Binary Stream’s Multi-Entity Management
Companies with multiple subsidiaries or business units often rely on specialized tools to manage intercompany transactions and consolidated financials. A common mistake in GP-to-Business Central migrations is assuming that Binary Stream’s Multi-Entity Management (MEM) will seamlessly work in Business Central just as it did (or was expected) in GP. In reality, MEM for Business Central is a distinct add-on with its own architecture – not a drop-in replacement for GP’s tools. Failing to evaluate and plan for MEM can lead to integration headaches and reporting gaps after go-live.
Business Central’s core system supports multiple legal entities, but it doesn’t magically include all the advanced intercompany automation of Binary Stream MEM. If your organization requires complex consolidation or real-time cross-company transactions, you must decide whether Business Central’s built-in tools suffice or if the full MEM extension is needed. This decision affects budgeting (Binary Stream MEM is an add-on product) and technical implementation, so don’t treat it as an afterthought.
Why Multi-Entity Evaluation Matters
Without proper planning, your intercompany workflows could break. Recording automatic clearing entries between subsidiaries or producing consolidated financial reports may require extra setup if MEM isn’t properly configured. A misstep here can stall your migration, frustrate finance teams, and limit your ability to achieve unified reporting across all entities.
Plan Your Multi-Entity Strategy
To avoid pitfalls:
Inventory Your Needs: List all current multi-company processes and desired outcomes (like consolidated P&L, shared master data, or intercompany invoicing).
Evaluate Built-In Features: Check if Business Central’s standard intercompany and consolidation functions meet your needs. BC can handle multiple companies under one tenant, but advanced scenarios (triangular trades, mass intercompany documents, etc.) may need extra tools.
Assess MEM Requirements: If your business structure demands it, plan for Binary Stream MEM’s implementation and licensing. Remember, MEM is a separate solution requiring dedicated setup and testing – it’s not a plug-and-play feature.
Test Thoroughly: Include MEM (or your chosen approach) in pilot migrations and user acceptance tests. Verify that transactions flow correctly between entities and that consolidated reports accurately reflect your entire organization.
Why TrinSoft
Choosing the right partner can make multi-entity management much easier. At TrinSoft, we’ve performed dozens of GP-to-BC migrations and guided customers through complex multi-entity setups. We understand both Business Central’s built-in capabilities and how Binary Stream’s MEM extends them. As a Microsoft Solutions Partner, we have direct access to Microsoft’s advanced support channels and early product insights – we’ll help you design a multi-entity strategy that fits your exact business model. We excel in custom development, too, so we can tailor processes or build integrations that keep your financial workflows running smoothly.
Read the Full Guide
This blog is just one in a 14-part series covering the most common pitfalls we see during GP to BC migrations. Want to see the full list now? Download the full GP to BC Migration Pitfalls guide for all 14 pitfalls, plus expert insights to help you plan your move.
Ready to take the next step? Contact us today for a free consultation or personalized demo of Business Central.
