Hierarchy Overview

A hierarchy is a collection of hierarchy levels. Each hierarchy level defines a kind of profile the agency has. Hierarchy levels define the permitted relationships among profiles. The data that can be included in a profile depends on the hierarchy level to which that profile is associated.  

Each hierarchy level contains a corresponding template. Templates, in turn, define the kind of data permitted within a profile at that level. For more information, see Template Overview.

There are two types of hierarchies: Agency and Account.

Note: When both Universal Desktop and Universal API are used by a customer, the same hierarchy is used between the two products. Therefore, if a customer uses Universal API to modify the hierarchy or settings, these changes display in Universal Desktop and vice versa. 

Agency Hierarchy

The Agency hierarchy is created during the provisioning process. Travelport and the client work together to design an Agency hierarchy that is most effective for the client's business and company structure. When an agency profile is created, the system will auto-generate these hierarchy levels (known as the anchor points):

  • Agency

  • Branch

  • Agent

Each agency profile has its own Agency hierarchy. This hierarchy can be customized by adding one-to-seven levels of Branch Group between Agency and Branch, allowing a maximum of ten levels in the agency hierarchy.

Notes:  

  • If an agency customer does business in more than country, then they will be required to have a branch group of country created by ProvisionIT. Branch groups can only be added or deleted by Travelport.

  • There can be multiple work area branches; these are created under the Branch.

  • Work area branches are where all provisioned data resides, i.e., GDS-specific data such as pseudo city codes, host access profiles, and terminal addresses.

  • When an Agent Profile is created, it is attached to a default Work Area Branch. Each profile is also assigned a set of permissions. These are known as roles.

  • Templates are kept on the Agency level of the hierarchy; therefore, any changes made to them will affect all the Work Area Branches in the Agency hierarchy.

Example of an Agency hierarchy

Account Hierarchy

An Account hierarchy is built by the agency to represent its various customers. An Account hierarchy must contain the Account and Traveler levels. Within each Account hierarchy, an agency can create multiple Traveler Groups (optional). Travelers are at the bottom of the Account hierarchy (either associated directly to an Account or to a Traveler Group).

Example of an Account hierarchy