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Efficiency in foreign trade - help from the cloud

The Corona crisis is causing global foreign trade to shrink. Sanctions lists, trade restrictions and complex legal regulations nevertheless remain in force. With SAP GTS from the cloud, companies maintain an overview and reduce their costs - in the crisis and beyond.
Siegfried Klein, PwC Germany
April 27, 2020
PWCG KOM KOM 002 19 E3 magazine cover 2003092
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This text has been automatically translated from German to English.

Even though the Corona crisis has currently brought global foreign trade to a standstill: The complex regulations and requirements surrounding customs and foreign trade remain in force. For companies, this increases the risk of losing track, unintentionally violating legal regulations and incurring penalties - or overlooking preferential agreements, which in turn reduce the level of import duties. In addition, the UK's exit from the EU is expected to make foreign trade even more difficult and expensive from the end of 2020.

All rules digitally automated in view

In order to keep an eye on all customs regulations at all times and to be prepared for the time after the crisis, it is worthwhile for companies to obtain the Global Trade Services (GTS) software from SAP from the cloud. It enables them to handle their global trade digitally and in compliance with regulations, because it maps customs and foreign trade processes holistically. For example, the software automates the checking of sanctions lists and embargo control. This means that companies can be sure of fulfilling all compliance tasks for imports and exports. It also allows companies to take full and reliable advantage of trade preference agreements. With SAP GTS, companies can also reduce their import costs. To do this, companies must, for example, specify the expenses for refining procedures or for implementing a bonded warehouse. SAP GTS also offers comprehensive preference management and supports companies in efficiently implementing all the necessary steps.

Cloud connection reduces investment costs

However, smaller or medium-sized companies in particular often shy away from such a software solution because they assume they will only use it irregularly and fear high investment costs. This concern is unfounded, however, because those who obtain SAP GTS from the cloud can bill the costs on a usage basis if they opt for the on-demand variant. In addition, savings of up to 50 percent can be made because both the operating and licensing costs of the cloud solution are lower than for the on-premises variant. The costs for updates, which are particularly important due to dynamic developments in customs and foreign trade, are also shared among all clients. In addition, the companies save on personnel costs because PwC provides the necessary know-how through its own IT, legal and tax experts from the Customer Service Center. In addition, in the cloud it is possible to narrow down very precisely which processes are really needed, so that unnecessary costs can be avoided.

Companies need not fear problems with data protection and security. As a business and consulting firm, PwC is bound by extremely strict legal requirements and protects client data with the latest technologies. In addition, data is processed exclusively in the company's own data centers in Germany and all processes comply with the data protection requirements of the European Union.

Special promotion: Apportion implementation costs to the month

Currently, companies interested in SAP GTS from the cloud can benefit from special conditions: PwC offers companies the option of implementing SAP GTS without start-up costs (capex) and instead paying them monthly over the term, so that only operational costs are incurred (opex).

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More information about SAP GTS: https://store.pwc.de/de/sap-global-trade-services-aus-der-cloud

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Siegfried Klein, PwC Germany

Siegfried Klein, Sales Lead SAP GTS at PwC Germany.


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The event is organized by the E3 magazine of the publishing house B4Bmedia.net AG. The presentations will be accompanied by an exhibition of selected SAP partners. The ticket price includes attendance at all presentations of the Steampunk and BTP Summit 2025, a visit to the exhibition area, participation in the evening event and catering during the official program. The lecture program and the list of exhibitors and sponsors (SAP partners) will be published on this website in due course.