Management Assistant for SOVA Master File 2018

Each year in early November, the German Federal Statistical Office publishes the current list of valid commodity codes. This year, the SOVA master file initiates changes in more than 40 commodity codes, for example through the deletion, new entry or merging of commodity codes. The changes indicated by the SOVA master file must be implemented in the SAP system punctually for the beginning of 2018. Otherwise, users face issues with ATLAS customs declarations or foreign trade statistics notification. It’s important to note that changed commodity codes are no longer covered by approvals.

Mercoline’s SOVA Assistant lightens the load for managing SOVA master data

Mercoline has developed a SOVA Assistant that takes on the job of managing SOVA master data. This means the changes from the SOVA master file 2018 can be checked and processed in advance. This useful tool’s benefits include analysis of the scope of change, supervision of the change process in SAP material master data product groups and preparation for entering the changes into the SAP system. With the SOVA Assistant, you benefit from the fact that work on the SOVA master file and changes to the SAP system don’t have to be done at the same time. This leaves more time for issues such as clarifying questions about individual commodity codes in the SOVA master file, taking a closer look at redefined commodity codes or posing questions about details in the changed nomenclature. In addition, the data are released in the SAP system precisely on the deadline day.  

Helpful SOVA master data management functions

The Mercoline SOVA Assistant also provides additional functions for checking and processing SOVA master data. Traditionally, there’s a high level of manual labour required when several materials have to be processed in a similar manner. In cases such as these, the SOVA Assistant takes care of maintaining the mass data. The SOVA Assistant can also distribute authorizations to multiple employees. In addition, the Mercoline SOVA Assistant processes commodity codes independently of the current annual changes, including the allocation of statistical commodity codes to individual materials. Existing entries in standard tables (T604) can be checked against the current year’s imported SOVA master file and adapted for compliance. To ensure the correct depiction of each of the various groupings and the composition of materials specific to each company, the Mercoline SOVA Assistant is customized to meet a company’s individual needs prior to its implementation.