Add Location on Cost Centre Dimension

Today we will learn how to add a location on the Cost Centre dimension in Dynamics 365 Business Central and how these dimension values can automatically appear in transactions like Transfer Orders and Purchase Invoices.

Dimensions in Business Central are very important for financial tracking and reporting. They help businesses organize transactions based on locations, departments, business units, projects, or branches. Instead of manually entering the same information again, dimensions make the process faster and more accurate.

If you are planning to improve ERP workflows, reporting, and automation in Business Central, explore Microsoft Dynamic Solutions to understand how the right setup can simplify daily operations and financial management.

What Are Cost Centre Dimensions in Business Central

Cost Centre dimensions are used to track expenses, operations, and transactions for specific branches, departments, or locations.

For example, if your company has multiple restaurant branches, warehouses, or offices, you can create separate dimension values for each location. This makes financial analysis much easier because every transaction is automatically linked to the correct cost centre.

This setup is commonly used in:

• Multi branch businesses
• Restaurant chains
• Retail companies
• Warehouse operations
• Enterprise financial reporting

Steps to Add Location on Cost Centre Dimension

Watch this quick tutorial to understand how location and business unit dimensions are configured inside Dynamics 365 Business Central.

Step 1 Search Dimensions

In the search bar, type Dimensions and open the Dimensions page.

Step 2 Open Cost Centre Dimension

Select the Cost Centre dimension.

Click on:

• Dimensions
• Dimension Values

This will open all available values under the Cost Centre dimension.

Step 3 Create New Dimension Value

Click New to create a new dimension value.

Now enter:

• Code → DUAL1
• Name → Applebee's and IHOP Bin Malik

This creates a new cost centre location for reporting and transaction tracking.

Step 4 Open Locations

Now search Location in Business Central.

Click New to create a new Location Card.

Step 5 Configure Location Details

Add the required details such as:

• Location Code
• Name
• Address
• Country Region

Once saved, this location becomes available in inventory and transfer transactions.

How It Works in Transfer Orders

Now go to Transfer Order.

You will notice that the Cost Centre code becomes available inside the Transfer Order setup.

When the transfer from location is selected, the related information automatically appears. This helps businesses maintain accurate inventory movement tracking between branches or warehouses.

Step 6 Open Business Unit Dimension

Search Dimensions again.

Now select the Business Unit dimension.

Click:

• Dimensions
• Dimension Values

Step 7 Create Business Unit Value

Click New and add:

• Code → BU_DUAL
• Name → Applebee's & IHOP

This creates a Business Unit dimension that can later be used in financial transactions and reporting.

How It Works in Purchase Invoices

Now go to Purchase Invoice.

You will see that the BU code is available automatically during transaction entry.

This helps ensure:

• Better reporting accuracy
• Consistent financial data
• Faster transaction processing
• Proper branch wise analysis

Why This Setup Is Important

Adding dimensions and locations in Business Central helps organizations manage operations more efficiently.

Some key benefits include:

• Better financial reporting
• Easier branch wise tracking
• Improved cost analysis
• Reduced manual entry
• Accurate inventory movement records
• Simplified audit and compliance processes

This setup becomes even more useful for businesses operating in multiple cities, warehouses, or franchises.

Important Tip

Business Central also supports:

• Default Dimensions
• Global Dimensions
• Shortcut Dimensions
• Dimension Combinations
• Value Posting Rules

These features help organizations control how dimensions behave during posting and reporting.

For stricter control, you can also set dimensions as Code Mandatory so users cannot post transactions without dimension values.

Final Notes

So today we learned how to add location values on Cost Center dimensions in Dynamics 365 Business Central and how these values can automatically appear in Transfer Orders and Purchase Invoices.

This is a simple but very useful setup for businesses that want organized reporting and better financial visibility across locations and departments.

Practice this setup in your own environment and you will better understand how dimensions improve transaction management inside Business Central.

See you next time with another Dynamics 365 Business Central topic.

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