> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.besmarthead.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.besmarthead.com/consolidation-group-of-companies/consolidation.md).

# Consolidate a group: how it works (upcoming)

How a parent profile builds the group report from its subsidiaries – per data point, with a method per type, currency conversion and AI-merged texts.

Consolidation turns the reports of your subsidiaries into one group report without copy-paste. Each child company reports in its own profile; in the parent profile every data point can pull the children's values together – summed, averaged, merged – and you keep the trace of where each number came from.

{% hint style="info" %}
**Upcoming:** this feature is in the current SmartHead release candidate and may not be in your workspace yet. Confirm the release date with SmartHead before relying on it.
{% endhint %}

{% hint style="success" %}
**Saves you time:** one disclosure, one click. **"…"** › **Consolidate disclosure** reviews every data point, consolidates what it can and asks you only where a decision is needed.
{% endhint %}

## Where to find it

A group is a **parent profile** with **child profiles** (one level). SmartHead sets the group up for you – it is not self-service; ask your SmartHead contact. The parent is one more entry in the profile switcher in the header.

Open any disclosure in the parent and the extras appear:

![parent disclosure: data point with Consolidate button, lock icon, "● 4 of 4" bar; header counter "0/16" with its tooltip](https://2593582272-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FxT5TFLiwBWeM9d0fDydH%2Fuploads%2Fsv4ZBXhIB2XEoyhAR2BF%2Fconsolidation-3.png?alt=media)

| On the parent's disclosure page                     | What it is                                                                                                              |
| --------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Consolidate** button under a data point           | Opens the consolidation drawer with the children's values.                                                              |
| **"…"** › **Auto-Consolidate** / **Enter manually** | Consolidate with the defaults without opening the drawer, or take the value into your own hands.                        |
| Lock icon                                           | "This data point is filled in by consolidation. Open Consolidation, or choose "Enter manually" in the menu."            |
| **● 4 of 4**                                        | How many children have a value for this data point.                                                                     |
| Header counter **0/16**                             | "n of n data points consolidated or entered manually · Need attention: n". Click it for the **Consolidation overview**. |

Only **administrators of the parent** consolidate; a viewer sees the results.

## How a value is consolidated

{% stepper %}
{% step %}

### SmartHead reads the children

For each data point it loads the value every child entered in its own profile, with the state of the child's request.
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### Amounts are converted

A child reporting in another currency is multiplied by the group's exchange rate from the settings. Without a rate the data point can't be consolidated: "Open the settings of the companies".
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### The method runs

The default method of the data point's type, unless you choose another one for this data point. Texts never run AI without you.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### The parent value is saved with its trace

"Consolidated from 4 of 4 profiles. Sum of all values" – and the data point locks until you switch to **Enter manually**.
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

## Methods per type

| Type                 | Methods                                                                                                                                                    | Default                                                                           |
| -------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Numbers              | **Sum of all values**, **Sum of all values, split by company**, **Average**, **Weighted average** (by weight or ownership share), **Minimum**, **Maximum** | set in [Consolidation methods](/consolidation-group-of-companies/set-up-group.md) |
| Percentages          | **Average**, **Weighted average**, **Minimum**, **Maximum** – in the drawer only                                                                           |                                                                                   |
| Yes / No             | **Yes if any is Yes**, **No if any is No**                                                                                                                 |                                                                                   |
| Choice of one option | **Most frequent**, **Most frequent (ignore empty)**; multiple choice: **Union**                                                                            |                                                                                   |
| Dates                | **Most recent**, **Least recent**                                                                                                                          |                                                                                   |
| Texts                | **Texts joined under profile names**, **Text of the headquarters**, **AI Merge**                                                                           |                                                                                   |

{% hint style="info" %}
**Consolidation approach** (equity share, financial control, operational control), **Ownership %** and **In the group from – to** are recorded and shown as warnings next to a company. The values are consolidated in full for now, whatever the approach and the shares are.
{% endhint %}

## Where the result shows

* On the parent's disclosure page, locked, with the trace line under it.
* In the parent's ESG report; a child you **List individually in report** appears under the group value with its own name.
* In the **Consolidation overview** of the disclosure: **Consolidated n/total**, **Entered manually** or **Not started** per data point, with the request state of each child as a color.

## Tips

* Set the defaults once a year in ESG settings – then **Auto-Consolidate** and **Consolidate disclosure** do the right thing without the drawer.
* Use **Sum of all values, split by company** for figures the board wants per subsidiary – the parent value is split by **Affiliated profiles** automatically.
* A holding without operations? Untick **Selected by default** for it in the settings; it stays out unless you add it for a data point.
* Pin a large subsidiary with **Listed individually by default** – readers of the group report see it on its own.

## Related

{% content-ref url="/pages/FhI3NdcFfBrhejv5B3pQ" %}
[Set up group companies and methods (upcoming)](/consolidation-group-of-companies/set-up-group.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}

{% content-ref url="/pages/U4Eg0ecTR9vJwyLZGG0h" %}
[Consolidate data points and disclosures (upcoming)](/consolidation-group-of-companies/consolidate-datapoint.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}

{% content-ref url="/pages/eu4LgbzHlMHUkb2LwU2a" %}
[ESG settings (upcoming)](/your-account-company/esg-settings.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}

{% content-ref url="/pages/Txd27aBKU1SmtsBIOnyX" %}
[Breakdowns: split a value by site, country or gender](/working-with-your-data/breakdowns.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}