By editorial@silicon.com, 24 May 2001 13:40
NEWS SAP users risk missing deadlines for euro-compliance because of shortcomings in its ERP software. In its latest quarterly report on euro use, the European Commission slammed the product policy of the Walldorf-based software manufacturer, and said that older release versions of R/2 and its successor R/3 don't allow complete conversion of the currency before the key date of 1 January 2002. As a result, Eurozone companies won't be able to produce their results or prepare efficient billing systems for the year in euros in time. Ulrich Marquardt, head of the euro project at the technology consulting firm Diebold, said: "Most SAP versions do not fulfil the demands of the auditor for euro conversion." Until now, the release versions of R/3 3.x contained the first euro functions but the software is unable to cope with double-entry, dual currency, bookkeeping. Experts estimate that only about half of all SAP customers have tackled a conversion project. According to Marquardt, most companies underestimate the cost of adapting the software. A spokesman for SAP refuted the report, which claims euro conversion is only possible on the affected SAP software from the start of the financial year. He asserted it is technically feasible for "the software to calculate all data back to any specified time". According to the spokesman, all release versions since R/3 3.1.i. fulfil the legal conditions for the conversion deadline of 1 January 2002. The subsequent updates of R/3 4.x process deutsche mark transactions in addition to euro amounts, although Marquardt added: "The EU requires the systematic withdrawal of obsolete means of payment by the end of the year for the euro zone." However, many R/3 users will have to make improvements by customising the accounting software at the end of the year, he added. As the conversion can be expensive, users are inclined to postpone it for as long as possible. By Andreas Beuthner, reporter, http://www.silicon.de
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