--- title: "Centralised Purchasing Groups | Marlin Suppliers" slug: "centralised-purchasing-groups" description: "Learn about Centralised Purchasing groups in Marlin Tyre and Mechanical Workshop Software by Megabus." updated: 2026-03-22T22:03:00Z published: 2026-03-22T22:03:00Z canonical: "help.megabus.com.au/centralised-purchasing-groups" --- > ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.megabus.com.au/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Centralised Purchasing Groups Enterprise Feature This advanced, multi-company feature is only available as part of the **Marlin Tyre and Mechanical Enterprise Management** package. **Marlin Tyre and Mechanical Workshop Software**'s Enterprise Management package enables centralised purchasing across multiple companies. **Centralised purchasing** means one branch group (e.g. a head office or warehouse) is billed for the purchases of items for other locations. - The **receiving branch** enters the supplier invoice as normal - Two corresponding invoices are then **automatically created**: - An invoice for the bill-to party to owe the supplier - An invoice for the receiving branch to owe the bill-to party, with [optional markups](/workshop/docs/centralised-purchasing-groups#purchasing-group-markups) applied. This reduces costs through **discount arrangements** and **bulk buying** and improves efficiency by managing purchasing in one place. Invoices are billed to a **bill-to party**, which must be set up as a subsidiary supplier. Example For a **store linked to a warehouse** through a centralised purchasing group: - The store **enters a supplier invoice** as usual - The **supplier invoice** is also created at the warehouse - Another invoice is created at the store, for the warehouse, with markup applied - The **store pays the warehouse** - The **warehouse pays the supplier** and retains the markup ## Quick Ref **Configuration:** - Enable the **CentralisedPurchasing.Enabled** [enterprise setting](/workshop/docs/centralised-purchasing-groups#enabling-centralised-purchasing-groups) - Add bill-to party as a [subsidiary supplier](/workshop/docs/subsidiaries) **Adding purchasing groups:** - Select **Master Files > Suppliers > Centralised Purchasing Groups** - Click **Add** - Enter **Name** - Set **Invoice Received By** to **Store** - Select the **Bill to Party** - Add **Suppliers** using the list below - Click on the **Items** tab to add [markups](/workshop/docs/centralised-purchasing-groups#purchasing-group-markups) (optional) **Orders and invoices:** - **Place supplier orders** as usual - Supplier invoice is sent to the **bill-to party** - Second invoice from the **bill-to party** is sent to the ordering branch - Branch **receives the inventory** - Branch **pays the bill-to party** - Bill-to party **pays the supplier** ## Enabling Centralised Purchasing Groups #### System > Money and Banking > Centralised Purchasing Groups Centralised Purchasing Groups can be enabled or disabled for Marlin Enterprise systems using the **CentralisedPurchasing.Enabled** [enterprise setting](/workshop/docs/enterprise-settings). Note To see the module in the menu bar after enabling the setting, go to Daily Activity > Logout and click **End Session** then Start Session. Once enabled, groups can be viewed and edited by selecting **Master Files > Suppliers > Centralised Purchasing Groups** from the menu bar. Note Purchasing groups added for suppliers **affect all companies** within an enterprise. ### Bill-To Parties Before configuring centralised purchasing groups, the required **bill-to parties** must be set up as [subsidiary suppliers](https://help.megabus.com.au/docs/subsidiaries-1#adding-subsidiary-suppliers). Bill-to parties are the branches within centralised purchasing groups that **will be billed for supplier invoices**. They are typically a **warehouse** or **head office** responsible for paying suppliers: - Supplier invoices are **automatically redirected** to the selected bill-to party - The bill-to party then processes payment and **re-bills the original branch** ## Adding Centralised Purchasing Groups #### Master Files > Suppliers > Centralised Purchasing Groups The Centralised Purchasing Group module will open on the **Search** page showing active groups. **To add a new group:** - Click on the **Add** button at the top right In the **Details** tab that opens: - Enter a **Name** - Set **Invoice Received By** to **Store** - Select the **Bill to Party** - Leave the **Active** checkbox ticked Note If a branch is not set up as a [subsidiary supplier](https://help.megabus.com.au/docs/subsidiaries-1#adding-subsidiary-suppliers), it will not be available in the **[Bill to Party](/workshop/docs/centralised-purchasing-groups#bill-to-parties)** picker [Suppliers](/workshop/docs/centralised-purchasing-groups#adding-suppliers-to-purchasing-groups) can then be added using the **Suppliers** list below. [Optional markup rules](/workshop/docs/centralised-purchasing-groups#purchasing-group-markups) can also be added, if required. ### Adding Suppliers to Purchasing Groups #### Master Files > Suppliers > Centralised Purchasing Groups > [Group] > Details Suppliers added to a group will have invoices redirected to the bill-to party. **To add a Supplier to a group:** - Click **Add** or use the picker in the next empty cell in the Suppliers list at the bottom of the details tab Note Suppliers can only belong to **one purchasing group** at a time and must have a **Credit Status** of **Ok** at all relevant companies in order to be added. ### Removing Suppliers from Purchasing Groups #### System > Money and Banking > Centralised Purchasing Groups > [Group] > Details **To remove suppliers from a group:** - Untick their **Active** checkbox Use the **filter** at the top right to view and reactivate inactive suppliers. ### Purchasing Group Markups #### System > Money and Banking > Centralised Purchasing Groups > [Group] **Optional markups** can be added to specific items or item reporting groups purchased using centralised purchasing groups. The Bill-to-party will owe the **original amount** to the supplier, and the markup will be applied to the amount the branch will owe the bill-to party. **To add a markup:** - Open a purchasing group in **edit** mode - Click on the **Items** tab at the top - Add **items** or **reporting groups** using the relevant pickers - Enter a **Markup Amount** or **Markup Percentage** - Leave the **Active** checkbox ticked Markups can be enabled or disabled using the **Active** checkbox. Tip To apply markups to all items, create an **"All Items"** [reporting group](https://help.megabus.com.au/docs/reporting-categories#adding-reporting-groups) and assign all items to it. ### Centralised Purchasing Invoices #### Daily Activity > Supplier Orders > [Invoice] You still enter and process [supplier orders](/workshop/docs/placing-supplier-orders) and [invoices](/workshop/docs/receiving-supplier-orders) as usual, if your branch is part of a centralised purchasing group. When committing an invoice linked to a purchasing group, a pop-up will open, showing the **bill-to party** and terms. Once committed, two invoices are created: - A **supplier invoice** at the bill-to party branch - A **payment invoice** at the ordering store (with any [markups](/workshop/docs/centralised-purchasing-groups#purchasing-group-markups) applied) The **bill-to party pays the supplier** and the **branch pays the bill-to party**. Note All invoices created as part of a centralised purchasing group will include the note **Centralised Purchasing Group: [group name]**