Add a company

Overview

Creating a company is usually the very first thing you do in kolum, because almost everything else (articles, suppliers, purchase orders, and assessments) links back to a company. This page walks through creating a single company from start to finish. The data you enter here is the core, cross-module information; the EUDR-specific settings are added afterwards on the company's EUDR tab (see Set up EUDR for a company).

If you have many companies to add at once, use the bulk upload instead (see Bulk upload companies).

Before you start

Have the following ready:

• A role with permission to manage master data.
• The company's legal name as it should appear on filings.
• The company's registered address (street, city, postal code, country).
• For EU entities, the company's EORI number.
• If the company will exchange data over Catena-X, its BPNL (Business Partner Number).

You do not need any other record in place first. Companies sit at the top of the data model, so a company can be created in an empty workspace.

🟢 Why this matters. The company you create is the legal entity that will hold EUDR obligations and file Due Diligence Statements. For EU operators, the EORI number identifies your company to EU customs, so it has to be exact.

Step by step

1. Open the create form.

Go to Master Data > Companies and select Add New. The Create Company page opens with two sections, General and Address Details. Fields marked with an asterisk are mandatory.

2. Enter the general details.

Under General > Company Details, complete the fields:

• Name: the company's legal name.
• EORI Number: enter it for EU companies; leave it empty for non-EU entities.
• BPNL Number: enter it only if this company should exchange data over the Catena-X network; otherwise leave it empty.
• Company Type: the customs role of the entity (CBAM Declarant, Indirect Customs Representative, Represented Importer, or Branch). Used mainly by the customs modules.

3. Enter the address.

Under Address Details, either type into the fields directly or use the address search to fill them automatically. Complete the street details plus City, Postal Code, and Country, which are required.

4. Save.

Select Save Company. The button becomes available once Name, City, Postal Code, and Country are filled in. On save, the company appears in the Companies list and opens on its detail page.

Field reference

After you create the company

A new company starts with no customs module attached, shown by an empty Active Customs Modules column. To make it work for EUDR:

1. Open the company and go to the EUDR tab.
2. Set the size classification and the TRACES credentials. See Set up EUDR for a company.

You can also add its production facilities and review its connected suppliers on the Associations tab.

Tips

• Keep EORI numbers accurate and unique. They tie your company to customs records and are awkward to correct once transactions exist.
• Use the address search where possible; it reduces typos in postal and country codes.
• If you are onboarding several entities of one group, agree a naming convention for the company name before you start, so the list stays readable.

Troubleshooting

• The Save Company button stays greyed out. One of the required fields (Name, City, Postal Code, Country) is still empty.
• You cannot find the company after saving. Check any active filters on the Companies list, or search by name.

ℹ️ Regulatory context. The company you set up here is your EUDR operator: the entity that carries the due diligence obligation and files the Due Diligence Statement. Its size class and details decide which obligations and deadlines apply to you. See the consolidated EUDR text.

Common Questions