Multi Branch Operation is part of Multi-Location & Departments in Windward System Five. System Five includes 4 documented capabilities here — all 4 optional. Trades that lean on it include Plumbing Supply, General Retailer.
These 4 capabilities sit within System Five's 1287-capability documented set — a selection, not a ceiling.
Move stock between branches without journals
Transfer invoices move stock between departments, or out to another company at cost with no income shown. A nominated inter-department transfer ledger account is created and posted automatically, so the movement is on the books without manual journals.
Run every store under one system
One installation can run up to 255 departments — separate stores, warehouses, branches or profit centres — under a single umbrella company. Each department has an identical general ledger that can be reported separately or combined, and an identical set of inventory items, categories and sub-categories.
Sell stock the other branch has
When an item is out of stock in the current department, the till offers a list of other departments to draw from; the request is queued as a departmental transfer and can be shown as a customer back order that fills automatically when the stock arrives.
Track stock per store or pool it
Inventory quantities can be tracked per department for physically separate stores and warehouses, or pooled in a combined department when the branches are really profit centres such as Store Sales and Web Sales. Bin locations and sale start dates can also be set per department.
Yes. One installation can run up to 255 departments — separate stores, warehouses, branches or profit centres — under a single umbrella company. Each department has an identical general ledger that can be reported separately or combined, and an identical set of inventory items, categories and sub-categories. This is optional in System Five.
Yes. Transfer invoices move stock between departments, or out to another company at cost with no income shown. A nominated inter-department transfer ledger account is created and posted automatically, so the movement is on the books without manual journals. This is optional in System Five.
Yes. When an item is out of stock in the current department, the till offers a list of other departments to draw from; the request is queued as a departmental transfer and can be shown as a customer back order that fills automatically when the stock arrives. This is optional in System Five.
Yes. Inventory quantities can be tracked per department for physically separate stores and warehouses, or pooled in a combined department when the branches are really profit centres such as Store Sales and Web Sales. Bin locations and sale start dates can also be set per department. This is optional in System Five.
Every capability on this page is documented in the System Five capability index. Last updated 2026-11-05.