Before you begin, make sure you:
Have a Group already set up in GATHER.nexus
Consider your key business dimensions for reporting (business units, geography, products)
Have the permissions to create and manage Group Classes
Understanding the power of Group Classes
Group Classes provide a powerful way to categorise and segment your financial data beyond traditional account structures. They enable you to create custom reporting dimensions that align with how your business actually operates and how your management team thinks about performance.
Common Group Class applications:
Business Unit Classification: Segment by operational divisions or service lines
Geographic Classification: Organise by countries, regions, or market territories
Product Line Classification: Categorise by product families or service types
Customer Segment Classification: Group by customer types or market segments
Project Classification: Track performance by specific projects or strategic initiatives
Step 1: Access Group Class management
From your GATHER.nexus dashboard, navigate to the Multi-Entity & Display section in your main interface. Click on Group Class to access the classification management tools.
You'll see the comprehensive Group Class management interface where you can create, modify, and monitor your classification systems.
Step 2: Review the Group Class list
The Group Class management interface provides a complete view of your classification system setup:
Key Interface Elements:
Navigation Tabs: Company, Group, Group Class, and Display Configuration
Add Class Button: Located in the top right corner for creating new Group Classes
Action Controls: Edit, copy, and delete options for existing classes
💡Tip: When you first access Group Class functionality, you'll see the message: "You haven't added any group classes yet. Click 'Add Group Class' to add one." This indicates you're ready to begin creating your custom classification system.
Step 3: Create your first Group Class
Begin building your classification system by adding a new Group Class that aligns with your strategic reporting requirements.
Step 3.1: Initiate class creation
Click the Add Class button to begin creating your first custom classification system.
Step 3.2: Configure basic class information
Complete the essential classification details in the Group Class creation form:
Group Selection: Choose the appropriate group from the dropdown menu (e.g., "Demo Group")
Consider your organisational structure when making this selection
Class Name: Enter a descriptive name for your classification system
Use clear, business-focused names like "Business Units", "Product Lines", or "Geographic Regions"
Choose names that will be meaningful to your management team and stakeholders
Avoid technical jargon in favour of business terminology
💡Tip: Use classification names that reflect how your management team naturally thinks about and discusses business performance. This makes reports more intuitive and actionable.
Step 3.3: Define class values
Set up the specific values that will be used within your classification system:
Class Values Configuration: Add the individual values that entities can be classified under
For Business Units: "UK Operations", "US Operations", "European Division"
For Product Lines: "Software Products", "Professional Services", "Hardware Sales"
For Functions: "CTO", "COO", "CRO"
Adding Multiple Values: Use the + Add Class Value option to create additional classification options
Build comprehensive classification systems that capture all relevant business segments
Ensure all entities within the group can be appropriately classified
Consider future business expansion when defining values
Step 3.4: Save your Group Class
Click Add to create your new Group Class and make it available for entity mapping across your group structure.
Step 4: Map Group Class to Xero tracking categories
After creating your Group Class, you'll be redirected to the main listing screen where you can see your newly created classification.
Step 4.1: Access the mapping interface
Locate your Group Class in the main listing screen
Look for the Setup or Mapping status indicator showing mapped and unmapped counts
Click on the mapped/unmapped status link to access the mapping interface
The Map Group Class screen will open, displaying the mapping screen
Step 4.2: Understand the mapping interface
The mapping screen is divided into two main sections:
Left Side - Class Values:
Shows your Group Class values (e.g., US, UK, CA, AU for a "Regions" classification)
These are the classification values you defined when creating your Group Class
Each value represents a potential mapping target
Right Side - Xero Integration:
Displays available Xero tracking categories and their options
Shows tracking category values that can be mapped to your Group Class values
Includes options like AU, CA, UK, US, and "Unassigned (Regions)"
Step 4.3: Configure company-specific mapping
Company Dropdown Switcher:
Use the company dropdown to switch between different entities in your group
Each company can have its own specific mapping configuration
This allows for company-specific tracking category structures
Example: "Demo Nexus UK" might have different tracking categories than "Demo Nexus US"
Tracking Category Selection:
Use the tracking category dropdown to switch between available tracking categories
The dropdown shows "Regions" and other available tracking categories
You can map different Group Classes to different tracking categories as needed
ℹ️Info: Xero only allows you to have two active tracking categories. GATHER.nexus brings only active tracking categories and their options from your Xero setup once you sync the company.
Step 4.4: Refresh tracking category data
Reload Functionality:
Click the reload button (↻) to fetch the latest tracking categories and options from Xero
This ensures you're working with the most current data
Use this feature if you've recently updated tracking categories in Xero
Essential for maintaining synchronisation between GATHER.nexus and your Xero setup
Step 4.5: Perform drag and drop mapping
Mapping Process:
Drag tracking category options from the right side
Drop them onto the corresponding Group Class values on the left side
The system creates visual connections between mapped items
You can map multiple tracking category options to a single Group Class value if needed
Example Mapping:
Drag "UK" from Xero tracking categories → Drop on "UK" Group Class value
Drag "US" from Xero tracking categories → Drop on "US" Group Class value
Continue for all relevant mappings
Step 4.6: Preview and save your mapping
Preview Functionality:
Click the Preview button to review your mapping configuration
Verify that all desired connections are properly established
Check that tracking categories are mapped to appropriate Group Class values
Ensure no critical mappings are missing
Save Your Configuration:
Click Update to save your mapping configuration
Click Cancel to abort the process without saving changes
Successful mapping enables automatic synchronisation between Xero and GATHER.nexus
Your Group Class values will now correspond to Xero tracking category data
Step 5: Monitor and manage your Group Classes
Once your Group Class is created and mapped, you can monitor and manage it through the main dashboard interface.
Class Information Display:
Group Name: Shows which group the class belongs to (e.g., "Demo Group")
Class Name: Displays your classification name (e.g., "Demo Class")
Setup or Mapping Status: Indicates mapping progress with entity assignment counts
Action Options Available:
Edit: Modify class names, values, or structure
Copy: Duplicate successful classifications for other groups
Delete: Remove classifications that are no longer needed
Step 6: Understand mapping status and implementation
The mapping status provides valuable insights into your classification implementation progress:
Mapped Count (Green): Shows how many entities have been assigned to this class
Unmapped Count (Red): Indicates entities that still need classification assignment
This status tracking helps you monitor the completeness of your classification system deployment across your group structure, ensuring comprehensive coverage for accurate reporting.
Common questions
Q: How many Group Classes can I create for a single group?
A: You can create multiple Group Classes for different reporting dimensions. However, focus on the most strategically important classifications to avoid overwhelming your reporting.
Q: Can I modify Group Class values after entities are mapped?
A: Yes, you can edit class values, but changes will affect all existing mappings. Plan your classification structure carefully before implementation.
Q: What happens if I delete a Group Class that has mapped entities?
A: Deleting a Group Class removes all entity mappings for that classification. Consider disabling rather than deleting if you might need the classification in the future.
Q: How do Group Classes affect my financial reports?
A: Group Classes enable segmented reporting, allowing you to generate financial reports broken down by your classification dimensions (business units, regions, etc.).
Q: Can I copy Group Classes between different groups?
A: Yes, use the copy function to duplicate successful classification structures across different groups, then modify as needed for each group's specific requirements.
What's next?
With your Group Classes established, you can:
Map individual entities to appropriate classification values for comprehensive coverage
Generate segmented consolidated financial reports that provide business unit or regional analysis
Build variance reports comparing performance across different business dimensions
Develop trend analysis by business segments to identify opportunities and risks
Your Group Class system now provides the foundation for sophisticated financial analysis that delivers the strategic insights your management team needs for informed decision-making.
Group Classes transform your financial reporting from basic accounting data into strategic business intelligence that drives informed decision-making across your multi-entity organisation!
Have questions or need assistance❓
Contact our support team at support@gather.nexus