Cost allocation management serves to define cost allocation sets and their steps, values and relations between hierarchy values. Read more information about cost allocation concept. When cost allocation is turned on in system settings, there is default set created automatically with default steps and values. This set is used by all stocks and devices by default. To manage CA sets and their steps, values and hierarchy, navigate to Data management -> Cost allocation. If cost allocation is turned on in system settings, at least one set must exist. System will not allow to remove the last set Each set is identified by ID and name. Both information needs to be unique. Set ID is used as reference information in Excel import/Export and in API. Once set is created, it can be selected to be used for specific devices by selecting the set as stock’s default CA set (Manage stocks) or by selecting the set on device level (Manage devices). Performing operations with cost allocation sets could be controlled by AP permission Cost allocation.
Cost allocation structure
Cost allocations structure defines what additional information user must specify during each pick. One step means one question to user performing pick operation. Structure is possible to setup in General information tab of Cost allocation set detail. System allows up to 8 cost allocation steps (levels). Each step can be one of three types, all types must have type and value specified. One step must be always marked as physical location. To set step as physical, select step in the list of all steps and press ‘Set step as physical’ button from the action menu. Type must be selected from list of available types and defines the purpose of the step (f.e. Machine, Operation). Value must be selected to define how user will select information. Three value types can be specified:
Hierarchy step
Following options are available to set for hierarchy steps:
| Option name | Functionality |
| Upload picture | Enables to upload default picture for selected step. This picture will be shown on SFI during CA selection. Step must be saved first before picture can be uploaded. |
| Remove picture | Erases uploaded default picture from this step |
Hierarchy steps are always marked as required.
List step
Following options are available to set for list steps:
| Option name | Functionality |
| Upload picture | Enables to upload default picture for selected step. This picture will be shown on SFI during CA selection. Step must be saved first before picture can be uploaded. |
| Remove picture | Erases uploaded default picture from this step |
| Required | Specifies if this step can be skipped by user during CA selection on SFI |
Text step
Following options are available to set for text steps:
| Option name | Functionality |
| Required | Specifies if this step can be skipped by user during CA selection on SFI |
| Validated | If checked, allowed values can be entered. Unless user enters proper value on SFI during CA selection, flow cannot proceeds. |
| Min length | Specifies minimum length of entered value by user on SFI |
| Max length | Specifies maximum length of entered value by user on SFI |
When steps are created, order of the steps can be changed. If hierarchy units are defined, order of hierarchy steps cannot be changed. Steps cannot be deleted while there is any hierarchy defined. For list and hierarchy step types, it is possible to upload default picture. This picture will then be shown on SFI for all values of this step, unless there is picture uploaded for a value (in that case picture of the value is shown instead).
Cost allocation values
To manage cost allocation values of a set, navigate to Values tab in set detail. All CA values are listed in the list. Select CA step from dropdown menu to show all CA units assigned to selected step. Only steps of type list and hierarchy will be shown. Following options are available for values of selected step: 
Opens detail of selected CA value 
Creates new CA value of selected step 
Deletes selected CA unit. Delete cannot be performed if selected unit is defined in hierarchy 
Selection mode. Switching between single and multi select allowing to work with more values in a time After detail of selected unit is opened, following options are available: 
Saves opened CA unit 
Deletes selected CA unit. Delete cannot be performed if selected unit is defined in hierarchy Sets icon of this step. Selected picture will override picture defined on step level. Supported pictures are of png or jpeg format with dimensions up to 40×40 pixels Removes uploaded picture for the value. If default step picture is uploaded, it will be used instead
General information
| Option name | Functionality |
| Type | Sets step where this unit belongs. Steps must be defined in the system |
| Value | Specifies unit value which will be presented to end user during CA selection and will be stored for pick and return transactions for related step. |
| Active | Sets if this unit will be possible to select during CA selection |
| Cost carrier | Specifies complementary information to the value. Cost carrier will be stored for pick and return transactions for related step. |
Manage CA hierarchy
Management of CA hierarchy is available on Values tab of cost allocation set detail, when there is at least one step of type Hierarchy. On the left side of the screen, all list and hierarchy values are listed. Right side of the screen shows tree with relations between hierarchy values, starting with Root node. To build a hierarchy perform following steps: [no_ordered_list]
- Prepare hierarchy steps and create values of these steps.
- Using drag-n-drop move value from the list of values and place it to specific place in the hierarchy tree. When value is dragged, system highlight positions in the hierarchy, where value can be dropped. Start with values of step with the lowest level number and drop them to Root
- Continue with higher level values and assign them to parents
- Dragging specific value within the hierarchy tree will copy this value to place where is dropped. With the value all child relations and restrictions are copied
[/no_ordered_list] Values can be dropped only to specific locations based on order of steps. If values of two steps are selected using multi select mode, they cannot be dropped to the hierarchy When hierarchy is build, following options are available to work with the values inside the hierarchy: 
Expands full hierarchy 
Collapses hierarchy to the first level 
Opens new tab to restrict items available when this value is selected during picking and restrict users which can select this value Removes the value from the hierarchy. All child relations and restrictions are also removed. Do not delete the value definition It is possible to search for values inside the hierarchy. Search will be performed within complete tree, regardless step. Search is case insensitive, white space can be used as wildcard standing for any characters. Hit is always selected in the tree and tree is expanded to the value found. In case of multiple hits, navigation between them is possible via navigation buttons, showing also total number of hits: 
Items restrictions
Select place in the hierarchy and press Restrict option. Opened tab contains list of items, which can be picked when this value is selected. If no items are specified, all items can be picked when this value is selected. If there are some restrictions applied also on parent levels in the hierarchy, combination (intersection) of all these restrictions will be applied when this specific value is selected. 
icon is shown in the hierarchy tree inform that some restrictions on items are defined in this place. To manage available items following options are available: Assigns new item Removes selected item Changes on item restrictions can take several minutes before they are applied
Users / user groups restrictions
Select place in the hierarchy and press Restrict option. Opened tab contains list of users and/or user groups which will be able to select this value during CA selection. If no user or user group is specified, no restrictions are applied. If there are some restrictions applied also on parent levels in the hierarchy, combination (intersection) of all these restrictions will be applied when this specific value is selected. 
or 
icons are shown in the hierarchy tree inform that some restrictions to user groups or users are defined in this place. To manage assigned users and user groups following options are available: Assigns new user group or user Remove assignment of selected user group or user Changes on item restrictions can take several minutes before they are applied