Working with the main-subaccounts structure, or parent-child structure, enables you to view the shipments of all (grand)child accounts. When logged in to your parent account, you are also able to set the configuration for these (grand)child accounts, as well as booking & printing shipments on behalf of them. This article explains all functions.
Hierarchical, the account structure can look like this (example):
Parent (main account)
1. Child A (subaccount)
A. Grandchild A1 (sub-sub account)
2. Child B
A. Grandchild B1
B. Grandchild B2
3. Child C
4. Child D
5. Etc.
In the explanation in below article there will be spoken about above terminology; parent, child and grandchild accounts.
How the parent-child structure works
When you are logged in to your parent account, you can click your username in the top right corner. A drop down with all child and grandchild accounts will show. You can easily ‘visit’ a (grand)child account by clicking it. Going back to your parent account works exactly the same. Always without the need for logging out and logging back in again. The change of account happens immediately.
Configuring account settings
Parent accounts are able to configure child and grandchild accounts. By ‘visiting’ the (grand)child accounts, you can go into ‘manage account’ and configure the settings. Child accounts are able to do this for grandchild accounts. Grandchild accounts cannot configure settings for other accounts.
Booking profiles and packages
Child and grandchild accounts take over some settings for the parent account. For example booking profiles and packages. The (grand)child accounts are not able to edit these settings. Child accounts, however, can add some configuration that will be visible to the grandchild accounts. Grandchild accounts cannot edit for other accounts at all.
The table below shows this hierarchy:
| Parent | Created | Not visible | Not visible | Not visible | Not visible |
| Child A | Visible, not editable | Created | Not visible | Not visible | Not visible |
| GrandChildA | Visible, not editable | Visible, not editable | Created | Not visible | Not visible |
| Child B | Visible, not editable | Not visible | Not visible | Created | Not visible |
| GrandchildB | Visible, not editable | Not visible | Not visible | Visible, not editable | Created |
Below image shows the available packages in a child account. Package 1 and 3 are taken from the parent account and are not editable. Package 2 is added by the child account itself and can be edited.
Booking shipments
Currently parent accounts are only able to book for child accounts by 'visiting' them, not via the parent account itself. Transsmart is investigating how to enable parent accounts to book for grandchild accounts as well.
Printing shipments
Printer settings need to be configured on the parent account in order to able to print labels and documents for child accounts. Currently parent accounts are only able to print for child accounts via the parent account overview. You are also able to print shipments of child accounts by 'visiting' them. Transsmart is investigating how to enable parent accounts to print for grandchild accounts as well.
Document download
- Parent accounts can download documents of child accounts (that have not been configured on a user level).
- Child accounts can download documents of grandchild accounts (that have not been configured on a user level).
- Transsmart is currently investigating how to enable parent accounts to download for all subaccounts.
Shipment download and import
In the overview page there is a possibility to download shipments and use this excel to import them. This is only possible for shipments made on the account that you're logged in to. So the parent is only able to download shipments booked on the parent account and not shipments of the subaccount.
Same for the import functionality; you can only import shipments for the account you're logged in to. So if logged in to the parent account you can import shipments for this account. Do you want to import for your child? You can do this by visiting the account via act on behalf (right above - click on your account - choose the account you want to go to) or you can login directly in the account and perform the import there.
Manifest
From within the parent account, it is not possible to create manifests for child- or grandchild accounts yet. Transsmart is currently investigating this issue. An update will follow a.s.a.p.
Reporting
- Parent accounts are able to create a report on the entire parent, meaning it contains the data of all child and grandchild accounts.
- Besides that, you could choose a specific (grand)child account, via the 'account codes' dropdown in the reports, to create a report for just one or several accounts.
Theming
As soon as you start using subaccounts, the theming functionality becomes available for you to use. Our Theming article provides more information.