SAP: Keep the Core Clean for Tax and Compliance Part II

Scott Clevenger
September 18, 2024

In the first blog in our series, we introduced SAP Clean Core concept and how much is being made about its impact on business, specifically the ability to customize an ERP to meet operational needs.

For part two, I’d like to address how businesses can use the SAP Clean Core principles to create a system that better supports their business objectives and positively impacts their tax and compliance management.

Why Clean Core is Becoming a Business Priority

In an article in Forbes last year entitled, SAP: Why Modern Software Needs A ‘Clean Core,’ the author makes the argument, correctly so in my opinion, that the old way of adding functionality by customizing the core has often become overly complex, cumbersome and costly. He explains how a new model was developed that decouples two components: one focused on predictability and the other on exploration. This evolution model is known as ‘bimodal IT.’

Now, bimodal IT is not a new term. According to TechTarget it was coined by Gartner back in 2014 and was the subject of a Gartner report in April of 2015 entitled, “How to Achieve Enterprise Agility with a Bimodal Capability,” by analysts Simon Mingay and Mary Mesaglio.

So, why the history lesson on the subject matter? I think it’s important to establish the fact that over-customization of technology platforms is not a new concern. It has been around for a while, but what has changed is the environment surrounding it.

Today, digital economies are moving at a pace where traditional methods and countermeasures are no longer effective. Today’s environments demand more structure, standardization and flexibility so that they can react fast when called upon.

Why Agility is Essential

Over the last decade, we have seen an explosion across core areas of the technology sector that makes agility critical. Whether it is preparing for cyberattacks, or the ability to quickly analyze data to take advantage of business opportunities, agility is an essential tool in your arsenal and old methods simply aren’t cutting it.

Today’s digital economies are demanding the rapid adoption of new technologies. A crucial step in keeping up with these changes is to adopt agile business-critical connected technologies that aligns with the principles of SAP Clean Core.

Adopting a global compliance solution that aligns with Clean Core principles will become critical to ensure you can keep up with the pace of digitization as it continues to evolve.

Clean Core’s Impact on Tax and Compliance

There is perhaps no other business segment that has felt the impact of technology on a global scale more than the area of tax and compliance. Heavy investment by government tax authorities over the past decade has completely changed the process of collecting and remitting tax obligations.

In an effort to close or eliminate tax gaps, gone or soon to be gone are the days of collecting and analyzing tax data and remitting after the fact. Today, it’s all about real-time analysis across the complete spectrum of the transaction. This requires the use of automated tax platforms that can quickly adapt to changing regulatory environments, ensuring compliance across every transaction.

Through applying the principals of Clean Core businesses can now attach dedicated and highly functional compliance platforms into their technology stacks without the need to customize their core SAP environment. This eliminates the need for long testing cycles, customization and many of the manual process updates that would otherwise be required.

Coming Next

Stay tuned for the next part in this series, where we will dive deeper into how Clean Core impacts specific tax processes. Upcoming segments will cover:

Part III: Your business’ path to Clean Core

Part IV: Clean Core benefits and business performance

Part V: Eliminating Tax’ dependency on IT


erp-ebook-download

Sign up for Email Updates

Stay up to date with the latest tax and compliance updates that may impact your business.

Author

Scott Clevenger

As VP, Global Sales Engineering at Sovos, Scott leads a world-class global team of solution engineers, solution architects and subject matter experts in helping spread the word about the power of platform over point solutions. He has more than 30 years of experience in ERP deployment and indirect tax technology, a deep knowledge of simplifying global tax requirements and driving value across Sovos customers.
Share this post

Greece B2B E-invoicing
E-Invoicing Compliance EMEA
January 14, 2025
Greece: Mandatory B2B E-invoicing Possible From July 2025 After EU Derogation

Greece has been in the process of implementing mandatory B2G e-invoicing over the past few years, with a B2B e-invoicing mandate expected to follow. Following reports that Greece had requested a derogation to introduce mandatory B2B e-invoicing in 2024, the European Commission has published a proposal for a Council Implementing Decision to grant this authorisation. […]

SAP Clean Core implementation
EMEA Tax Compliance
January 6, 2025
SAP: Your Business’ Path to Clean Core

In the first blog in our series, we introduced SAP Clean Core concept and how much is being made about its impact on business, specifically the ability to customize an ERP to meet operational needs. In part two, we addressed how businesses can use the SAP Clean Core principles to create a system that better […]

taxation of motor insurance policies france
EMEA VAT & Fiscal Reporting
December 18, 2024
Taxation of Motor Insurance Policies: France

France is one of the most challenging countries in Europe when it comes to the premium tax treatment of motor insurance policies. This is mainly due to the variety of taxes and charges that can apply and the differing treatment of different vehicle types. This blog provides all the information you need to know about […]

E-Invoicing Compliance EMEA VAT & Fiscal Reporting
November 1, 2024
VAT in the Digital Age Approved in ECOFIN

The long-awaited VAT in the Digital Age (ViDA) proposal has been approved by Member States’ Economic and Finance Ministers. On 5 November 2024, during the Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN) meeting, Member States unanimously agreed on adopting the ViDA package. This decision marks a major milestone in modernizing the VAT Directive, setting the stage […]

what is peppol
E-Invoicing Compliance EMEA North America
October 29, 2024
What it is PEPPOL?

Peppol E-invoicing explained: What it is and how it works The global adoption of electronic invoicing is accelerating. Governments worldwide are pushing to adopt e-invoicing to digitally transform their national systems and, often, to close the VAT gap. While many countries have introduced their own e-invoicing mandate to digitise fiscal controls, the requirements and systems […]