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Complexity of European Roll Outs

Authored by Martin Dvorak

Complexity of European Roll outs of the Oracle E-Business Suite 11i and R12
Authored by Martin Dvorak
May 2009

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Complexity of European Roll outs of the Oracle E-Business Suite 11i and R12 2009

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CONTENTS
ABO U T C ON T RA CT O RS N ET W O RK ................................................................... 4
ABOUT THE AUTHOR ................................................................................................ 5
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY.............................................................................................. 6
WHY ARE EUROPEAN ROLLOUTS MORE COMPLEX THAN US IMPLEMENTATIONS? 7
Different complexities within Europe ................................................................... 8
Historical common European structures............................................................... 8
Natural similarities ............................................................................................... 8
Implementation levels ........................................................................................ 10
What are the European Languages? ................................................................... 11
What are the European Currencies? ................................................................... 12
What are the different mentalities? ................................................................... 13
Module specific considerations ........................................................................... 16
FINDINGS ............................................................................................................... 19
What is Localization? .......................................................................................... 20
What is a Regional, Shared Localization or even a Globalization? ..................... 20
Release 12........................................................................................................... 20
Country breakdown R12 European Globalizations ............................................. 20
EU Reports and set up standards........................................................................ 20
Tier 1 countries ................................................................................................... 25
Tier 2 countries ................................................................................................... 25
Norway................................................................................................................ 26
Finland ................................................................................................................ 26
Germany.............................................................................................................. 27
Austria................................................................................................................. 27
Switzerland ......................................................................................................... 28
Tier 3 countries ................................................................................................... 29
Belgium ............................................................................................................... 29
Croatia................................................................................................................. 30
Portugal .............................................................................................................. 30

Complexity of European Roll outs of the Oracle E-Business Suite 11i and R12 2009

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Hungary .............................................................................................................. 32
Turkey ................................................................................................................. 34
France ................................................................................................................. 34
Czech Republic .................................................................................................... 36
Spain ................................................................................................................... 36
Israel................................................................................................................... 40
Tier 4 countries ................................................................................................... 40
Poland ................................................................................................................. 40
Italy..................................................................................................................... 42
Tier 5 countries ................................................................................................... 49
Greece ................................................................................................................. 49
CONCLUSIONS........................................................................................................ 54
Oracle Localization Guides.................................................................................. 55
Oracle Localization Quality ................................................................................. 55
Technical Skills to support European Roll outs................................................... 55
Currencies ........................................................................................................... 55
Roll out plan........................................................................................................ 55
Language skills of the delivery team .................................................................. 55
Global Accounting Engine ................................................................................... 56
SAB 101 Revenue Recognition............................................................................ 56
VAT Compliance Issues ....................................................................................... 56
Commissionaire Accounting................................................................................ 56
DATA PROTECTION................................................................................................. 57
RECOMMENDATIONS.............................................................................................. 58

Complexity of European Roll outs of the Oracle E-Business Suite 11i and R12 2009

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ABO U T C ON T RA CT O RS N ET W O RK
Contractors Network Ltd is a Global Oracle Contractors Network with primary focus on
Oracle's E-Business Suite.

We are operated by Contractors Network Ltd with 11 offices worldwide.

We offer Contractor Resourcing with access to over 10,000 pre-qualified


Oracle Applications Contractors through our local offices.

We have an innovative and cost effective model for Implementations &


Upgrades - our 'Hybrid Team' solution.

We are able to offer access to Global Resolution Groups for adhoc work from
as little as 15 minute increments.

We provide the only global Oracle specific job search engine with a view of
10,000 + Oracle specific roles.

We interact with over 15,000 client personnel involved with the Oracle EBusiness Suite.

We promote a community spirit through an Apps Blog, with 50 + Regional


Authors that produce 20 articles a months.

We are a Publishing House for White Papers authored by Oracle Contractors


and distribute these free, to clients and Contractors alike.

We offer access for training and demonstration of the latest release via an
online Vision environment at no cost.

We offer Oracle Contractors special membership to a network of Oracle User


Groups, under our umbrella, at a discounted rate.

We exhibit & present at all Regional Oracle Conferences worldwide as well as local Special
Interest Groups.

Complexity of European Roll outs of the Oracle E-Business Suite 11i and R12 2009

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR


Martin Dvorak is an Oracle Applications Consultant, Speaker and Author. He has spent the last
15 years implementing a diverse range of software solutions for organisations within a variety
of industries in Europe and the USA. He has also presented papers at numerous national and
international conferences and contributes to leading journals around the globe. Martin Dvorak
was ranked 3rd as IT Freelancer of the Year in 2006. Martin Dvorak speaks fluent English,
German, Czech and French.
Martin can be contacted at Martin.Dvorak@oraclecontractors.com
and you can visit his web site at www.martindvorak.com

Complexity of European Roll outs of the Oracle E-Business Suite 11i and R12 2009

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
What makes Oracle Implementations different in Europe? When looking at objectives an ERP
system should meet, such as streamline processes, new business strategies, competitiveness,
speed and globalizations European roll outs are more demanding than US roll outs to meet
these objectives. This paper will focus on the framework for the effective implementation of
Oracle applications in the European region. The framework will provide valuable Oracle
implementation guidelines for international companies, mainly for US based corporations
which are implementing Oracles E-Business Suite also in Europe.
The author will propose recommendations based on findings and conclusions from European
Roll outs. This includes considerations such as localizations, language issues, legal and
statutory requirements, education and understanding of international projects and will outline
the complexity and awareness when implementing Oracles E-Business Suite 11i or R12
across Europe.
Secondly, most US based multi national companies have successfully implemented their first
roll outs in the Americas, i.e. the US, Canada and Mexico and then facing difficulties when
implementing Europe and Asia. The European complexity, not only due to different legal and
statutory requirements, but also due to different languages, data protection issues, cultures
and mentalities is often underestimated. This paper will show what needs to be taken into
consideration when implementing the different countries in Europe. Every single country has
its special challenges, which should be known upfront when implementing the Oracle system.
Thirdly, we will focus on the functionality that Oracle Applications offers to users and how this
meets the business requirements. Topics of discussion will be the localizations, language,
legal and statutory requirements.
In closing the author will show in ten steps what it needs to be done in order to have a
successful roll out in Europe.

Complexity of European Roll outs of the Oracle E-Business Suite 11i and R12 2009

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WHY ARE EUROPEAN ROLLOUTS MORE COMPLEX THAN US IMPLEMENTATIONS?

Fig. 1: 2007 version of the European map from the CIA Fact Book

Complexity of European Roll outs of the Oracle E-Business Suite 11i and R12 2009

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Europe, with a population over 500 million people, is an attractive market. However, Europe
consists of a multicultural environment. Even though the European Union takes steps towards
standardization, legal and tax harmonization, the single countries vary from each other.
Because of different laws, languages, currencies and mentalities, implementations in Europe
are more complex in comparison to the United States, where you find one language, one
currency and one accounting law.
Different complexities within Europe
US based international corporations often choose the right approach to start with a tier 1
country, such as the United Kingdom, where the language barrier is none. The Netherlands
have often been chosen in the past as European connection points to the US for reasons like
Shared Services, also because of the availability of multi lingual skills in the Dutch labour
market. In the recent times, US companies favour more Eastern European locations, such as
Poland due to the attractive cost and labour market. For cost benefits, more Shared Services
are moved towards Eastern Europe such as Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic and Slovakia.
Historical common European structures
In order to understand the European similarities and deviations, some historical background
needs to be addressed. In the 19th century you had large countries such as the AustriaHungarian Empire where you still can find similarities in the architecture, culture and
mentality even today. A large impact on the mentality had the communist regime, which took
precedence mainly after the Second World War. The 50 years of dictatorship shaped a lack of
business orientation, which made it difficult to implement Oracle projects in the nineties.
Today, there is still a kind of Mafia attitude in the emerging countries which is slowly
disappearing and normal conditions are expected within the next 2 generations.
Natural similarities
In terms of historical similarities, such as language, similar culture and political development,
the European countries can be grouped as followed:
Block
Anglo sax

Members
UK, IRL

Common aspects
Same language as US.
High productivity.

Benelux

NL, BE,
LUX

hands on and
pragmatically
Core EU countries,
pushing EU standards.

German
speaking

DE, AT,
CH

open mentality
Same language and
similar culture.
hard working

South

FR, SP,
ITA, PT,

Latin legacy. Similar


mentalities. Same

Deviations
Currency in UK , Ireland has the .
Class distinction.

Belgium 2 languages, inflexible


labour law, people understand quite
well English.
Inflexible labour law in Germany and
Austria, strong unions Betriebsrat.
Sloppy working attitude in Austria.
Switzerland is not part of EU and
different currency such as CHF.
Flexible labour law but high costs.
Switzerland having 4 official
languages.
Rigorous legal and statutory
requirements. Different language and

Complexity of European Roll outs of the Oracle E-Business Suite 11i and R12 2009

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Block

Members
GR, IL

Common aspects
currency except for
IL.
laid back working
approach

Nordic

S, SF, DK,
ICL

Baltic

LIT, LET,
EST

Similar languages,
mentalities and law
requirements, high
taxes and labour costs.
High level of English
speaking.
cool approach
Same political legacy,
booming countries.
Baltic tigers

Eastern
Europe and
Russia

PL, CZ,
SK, HU,
RU

Balkan

SRB, SLO,
BIH, CRO,
MTN,
ALB, BUL,
RO, TK

Same political legacy,


good transformers.
Medium level of
English language skills,
still some communist
mentality.
fast learners
Same political legacy,
slow transformers, bad
economy, low level of
language skills, small
elite, large
unemployment,
political instability. Low
labour costs.
challengers

Deviations
character set in Greece.
Large legal requirements in Italy.
Language barrier towards English.
Inflexible labour law, often strikes
and strong unions.
Finnish completely deviates from the
other languages. Currency issues, i.e.
only Finland has the .

Estonia more common with Finland,


also language wise. Different stages
of transformation, i.e. EST in better
shape than the other 2 Baltic
countries.
High skilled labour, low labour cost.
Hungarian completely deviates from
the other languages. Different pace
of transformation, i.e. Slovakia fast,
Hungary struggling. Different
working standards. Different
mentality and character mode in
Russia.
Large differences between and even
in between single countries. Slovenia
has same standards as Western
Europe whereas Serbia needs
approx. another 10 years to achieve
European standards. Political issues
in Serbia and Albania. Russian
influence in Montenegro. Different
character mode in Serbia and
Bulgaria. Romania plays in IT near
shore competition.

Complexity of European Roll outs of the Oracle E-Business Suite 11i and R12 2009

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Implementation levels
Similar implementation complexities can be summarized in countries, i.e. whereas the North
Western and Central European countries require adequate legal and statutory requirements,
the Southern countries have rigorous legal and statutory requirements, which make
implementations long and cost intensive.
Block
Tier 1

Members
UK, IRL

Explanation
Simple legal and statutory requirements.
Common language to the US.

Tier 2

Tier 3

NL, GER, CH,


AT, S, SF,
DK, NO

BEL, F, ES,
PT, CZ, SK,
HU, IL, TK,
CR

Pragmatic working approach.


Medium legal and statutory requirements.
Hard working approach, unemotional and down to earth
mentality.
Different Currencies.
Medium to High legal and statutory requirements.
Global Accounting Engine required in Southern countries.
Document Sequencing.
Difficult to handle mentalities and languages.

Tier 4

ITA, PL

Different Currencies.
High legal and statutory requirements.
Global Accounting Engine required in Italy.
Document Sequencing.
Organizational and mentality issues.

Tier 5

GR

Reports and Solutions have Software issues, dependency of


Oracle Support Services.
Very complex and rigorous state dictated legal and statutory
requirements. Chart of Accounts dictated by law.
Global Accounting Engine required in Greece.
Organizational, language and working approach issues.
Different character mode (Greek alphabet).

Complexity of European Roll outs of the Oracle E-Business Suite 11i and R12 2009

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What are the European Languages?


Where most of the Forms are available in local languages, Europe has also different character
sets, which often cause printing and key board problems.
Country
UK, IRL,
NL, ITA,
HU, SF,
BE, DE,
CH, AT, F,
ES, PT, S,
DK, N,
PL, CZ, SK,
GR, RU,
SRB, BUL

Level
Tier 1

Alphabet
Latin

Sample of Unique Characters and Comments


No special or minor deviations from the US

Tier 2

Latin

Belgium France, Switzerland: , , , ,^


Germany, Austria, Switzerland: , , , Doppel-S
Nordic: , oe

Tier 3
Tier 4

Latin
Cyrillic

Numerous special and crossed characters


Complete different alphabetical characters from the rest
of Europe

Apart from the United Kingdom an Ireland, where English is the official language, the English
language skill level in Europe looks as follow:
Tier 1: United Kingdom, Ireland
Tier 2: Netherlands, Nordics (S, DK, N) Belgium, Luxembourg, German speaking (CH, DE,
AT),
Tier 3: Finland, Hungary, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Israel
Tier 4: Baltic, Eastern Europe (PL, CZ, SK), Greece, France, Russia, Serbia, Croatia, Bulgaria,
Turkey

Complexity of European Roll outs of the Oracle E-Business Suite 11i and R12 2009

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What are the European Currencies?


The countries having the common currency Euro are:
Ireland, Portugal, Spain, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Germany, Austria,
Slovakia, Monaco, Italy, Greece and Finland
Single Currencies have:
Iceland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Czech Republic, Poland,
Hungary and the United Kingdom.
The Euro is unofficially accepted in the under developed non Euro countries such as Romania,
Bulgaria and some Balkan countries. This means that business can be traded in Euro,
however, from a legal stand point; the Oracle Set of Book must have the official currency.

Fig. 2: Map of Euro Zone countries

Complexity of European Roll outs of the Oracle E-Business Suite 11i and R12 2009

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What are the different mentalities?


A successful implementation depends on organizational and mentality aspects. Since Europe
has different cultures and languages, the mentalities vary as well. The below matrix should
not be interpreted as stereotypes, it should be rather viewed as implementation challenges.
There is no intention to offend different cultures and nations; the idea behind this matrix is to
provide an understanding why certain characteristics can occur when implementing a new
country. The objective behind this listing is to avoid any misunderstanding and to provide a
basis for more respect when dealing with different nations and characteristics. This is more
important during the scope phase in order to set the right expectations on both customer and
consulting level. Remember that you do not have a second chance to make a first impression.
Country

Advantages

Disadvantages

United
Kingdom

Hands on
Pragmatic
Polite
Self control
Tolerant
Easy to get on with
Direct
Business driven
Good Humour
Best multi ethnic handling
in Europe
Open
Friendly
Modest
Cheerful
Helpful
Consensus driven
Open minded
Social
Flexible
Non-hierarchical
Inventive in proposing
Ideas
Direct
Taking initiative
Assertive
Humour and political
incorrect

Communication
Level of dishonesty
Stiff
Impersonal
Cold
Eccentric

Ireland

Netherlands

Germany

In depth approach
Hierarchy driven
Efficient
Well organized
Precise
Open and direct

Ease of
impl. level
Tier 1

Level of delinquency
Corrupt
Poverty

Tier 1

Not open to change


Like to say No
Everyone involved in decisions
Level of higher free space required
Stubborn, arrogant
Too loud, assertive, too less
focused

Tier 2

Dutch openly strive for their


goals/deal, and don't want to hear
the story about the others first
Higher absence (sickness days)
then the rest of European countries
Exhaustive level of detailed
planning
Humourless, masters in moaning
Strict, tough, harsh, arrogant,
aggressive, vain, cold.
Submissive regarding management

Complexity of European Roll outs of the Oracle E-Business Suite 11i and R12 2009

Tier 2

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Country

Advantages

Austria

Easy going
Cozy
Comfortable
Social
Employee friendly law

Switzerland

Reliable
Hard working
Deliver on time
Stick to scope
Polite
Controlled
Subtly humour
Progressive
Liberal
Modest
Friendly
Disciplined
Honest
Work independently
Modern
Well educated
Open to technology
More women in
management positions.
No hectic or pressure but
in the meantime hard
working
Likeable
Remain cool, regardless
of the situation
Feel good
Comfortable
Friendly
Helpful
Direct and open
Sensitive
Interested
Polite
Style and ingenuity
Charming
Positive attitude to life
Amicable working
relationship

Sweden

Finland

Denmark

Norway

France

Italy

Warm
Friendly
Open to change
High level of passion

Disadvantages
Local work council thinking
Not open to change
Lack of Engagement, masters in
grumbling and being pessimistic.
Conflict avoiders
Lack of focusing on business
Deliver on pressure not on deadline
Sloppy working attitude
High significance of money and
status
Indirect
Lack of humour and imagination
Vain
Slow
Cannot show emotions neither joy
or misery
Stiff
Silent
Very silent
Difficult to approach
Not so open
Smalltalk does not exist

Ease of
impl. level
Tier 2

Tier 2

Tier 2

Tier 2

Lack of politeness (impression only)


Get easily offended
Lack of communication

Tier 2

Level of distance
Sarcastic
Strong contrast between tradition
and modernism
Loose working attitude

Tier 2

Endless discussions and meetings


with little results
Too self-assertive
Egocentric
Arrogant
Level of nationalism
Hot-headed
Machos
Corruption
Mafia

Tier 3

Complexity of European Roll outs of the Oracle E-Business Suite 11i and R12 2009

Tier 4

Page 14

Country

Spain

Advantages
Positive attitude
Style and elegant
Relaxed and energetic
Strong sense of belonging
Individualism
Helpful
High level of contribution
Warm-hearted
Buoyant
Temperamental
Smart
Tolerant

Portugal

Sensitive
Gentle
Calm
Cozy
Amusing
Cordial
Cautious
Like to celebrate
Social
Live today, not tomorrow

Belgium

Pragmatic
Humour
Relaxed
Kind
Helpful
Confident
Determined
Good sense of humour
Highly educated

Czech
Republic

Slovakia

Fast to learn
Modest
Intelligent

Poland

Fast to learn
Merchants
Highly educated

Hungary

Good sense of humour


Hospitable
Jovial
Enjoy life
Profound
Polite
Family honour
Open to apply western
standards

Turkey

Disadvantages

Ease of
impl. level

Problems are rather hided then


solved
You need more people to clean the
chaos
Organizational issues
Inefficiency
Manana
Not punctual
Macho attitude
Difficulty to understand what
deadlines mean
Cannot take people too seriously
answers are not binding
Lack of innovation
Unable to make decisions
Inconvenient
Hypocritical
Bureaucratic
Cumbersome
Slow
Chaotic
Melancholic
Disorganized
Level of dishonesty and corruption

Tier 3

Materialistic orientation
Envious
Dissatisfied
Passive
Xenophobic
Inferiority complex
Still some level of corruption
Not willing to take responsibility
Unable to work independently
To achieve a higher salary is more
important then project success
Taking the law as an excuse not to
deliver
Not solution orientated
Know-it-all
Language barrier
Careless
Pesimistic

Tier 3

Money driven
Country of contrasts
Too many unspoken rules "ayip"
High level of adrenalin

Tier 3

Complexity of European Roll outs of the Oracle E-Business Suite 11i and R12 2009

Tier 3

Tier 3

Tier 3

Tier 4

Tier 3

Page 15

Country

Baltic
Greece

US

Advantages

Disadvantages

Helpful
Generous
Hospitable

Aggressive
Macho
Lack of understanding European
mentalities
Legacy of past impacts

Motivated and hungry for


success
Easy going
Friendly
Generous
Open
Friendly
Freedom
No limits
Can do mentality
Fast and direct

Ease of
impl. level

Organizational issues
Discipline
Commitment to deliver
Being punctual
Ignorant
Egoistic
Patriots
Level of racism
Consumer driven
Materialistic
Lack of understanding European
history, culture and mentalities

Tier 3
Tier 4

Tier 1

Module specific considerations


Oracle Applications is a module based ERP system. For European roll outs, you need to
consider the special requirements, which are impacting single modules. Some of the below
considerations are optional, not all considerations are legally or statutory required. The ease
of implementation level explains the complexity and effort to implement this Oracle module
on an average basis throughout Europe. The ease of reconciliation level provides the
estimation effort to execute a month end reconciliation process. Depending on different roles
and responsibilities, you will define customized responsibilities and menus for each module.
What is also required for European Rollouts is a mapping of all required reports against Oracle
standard reports in order to produce a map gap document. This document will then provide a
decision basis for reports required by management and reports, which are legally required but
not fully available from the localization reports.
Module

GL

European Considerations

Chart of accounts might be dictated by


Government or global chart of accounts is
missing local requirements.
Currency issues, i.e. requirement of foreign
exchange daily loader program
Profile Values
Legal and statutory reporting requirements
Payroll interfaces from feeder systems if
Oracle HR is not in place
Extracts to Corporate reporting systems
such as Hyperion
Define Consolidations, i.e. requirement to
have in addition to USGAAP a local set of
book

Complexity of European Roll outs of the Oracle E-Business Suite 11i and R12 2009

Ease of
implementation
level
Tier 2

Ease of
reconciliation
level
Tier 2

Page 16

Module

AP

European Considerations

Ease of
reconciliation
level

VAT Reports
Customized Trial Balance
Autopost Criteria
Tax Calculation Options
Document Sequencing

Payment Formats and Programs


EFT Payment files for local banks
EDI, eCommerce Gateway, standards such
as Paymul / Edifact
Profile Values
Bank Accounts
Credit Cards
Complex Payment Terms
VAT and VAT Reports
Tax codes, assignments and recovery rules
Supplier Conversion Standards
Customized Trial Balance
Localized Remittance Advice
Localized aging buckets
Withholding tax and tax calculation options
Special calendars such as recurring
calendars
Tax Reporting Entities
Lookups, i.e. different pay groups such as
domestic and foreign pay groups
Bank Charges
Work structure locations (HR)
Document Sequencing

Tier 2

Tier 2

Tax Codes
Transaction Types and Auto Accounting
Local Invoice Formats
Local Payment Slips for Cash Invoices
Local Dunning letters
Customer Data interfaces from feeder
systems
Revenue interfaces from feeder systems
Customer Chargebacks customizations
VAT Reports, i.e. in Discoverer
Customized Trial Balance
Customer Statements
Profile Options
Address Flexfields
Quick Codes (customer class, invoice types,
etc.)
Payment Terms
Invoicing and Accounting Rules, i.e. 12
month even spreads

Tier 3

Tier 4

AR

Ease of
implementation
level

Complexity of European Roll outs of the Oracle E-Business Suite 11i and R12 2009

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Module

European Considerations

CE

PO

Ease of
implementation
level

Ease of
reconciliation
level

Bank Codes
File Formats
Different electronic bank statements
Interfaces to 3rd banking software systems,
i.e. ELBA
Interfaces from Direct Debit payments
Automatic receipt creation customization

Tier 1

Tier 5

Purchase Order lay out and format


Approval workflow
Minimal Inventory set up required when
items are used
Locations
System Profiles
Categories for Items
Job groups and levels for approval matrix
Approval groups and assignments
Expense charge account rules

Tier 2

Tier 1

Transaction Sources
Receivables Activities, i.e. Accounting Rules
for Adjustments
Receipt classes, i.e. cash or direct debit
Aging buckets and statement cycles
Document Sequencing

FA

Tax books
Account generator workflow
Customized Asset reports such as Asset
Movement and enhance Asset Register

Tier 2

Tier 2

OIE

Different Per diem policy schedules


Different mileage schedule
Different meal policy schedules
VAT and Tax considerations for Expense
Report Templates

Tier 3

Tier 1

Complexity of European Roll outs of the Oracle E-Business Suite 11i and R12 2009

Page 18

FINDINGS
Oracle E-Business Suite 11i covers the European aspects within the Global Financials.

Oracle
Oracle
Oracle
Oracle
Oracle
Oracle
Oracle
Oracle
Oracle
Oracle
Oracle
Oracle
Oracle
Oracle
Oracle
Oracle
Oracle
Oracle
Oracle
Oracle
Oracle

Applications Global Accounting Engine


Financials Country-Specific Installation Supplement
Financials Common Country Features User Guide
Financials for Austria User Guide
Financials for Belgium User Guide
Financials for the Czech Republic User Guide
Financials for Denmark User Guide
Financials for Finland User Guide
Financials for France User Guide
Financials for Germany User Guide
Financials for Greece User Guide
Financials for Hungary User Guide
Financials for Italy User Guide
Financials for the Netherlands User Guide
Financials for Norway User Guide
Financials for Poland User Guide
Financials for Portugal User Guide
Financials for Spain User Guide
Financials for Sweden User Guide
Financials for Switzerland User Guide
Financials for Turkey User Guide

The Global Financial User Guides highlight the different country specific features, which need
to be in place when implementing such a country.

Complexity of European Roll outs of the Oracle E-Business Suite 11i and R12 2009

Page 19

What is Localization?
A functional enhancement to Oracle Applications, developed by an Oracle subsidiary or
International Applications Development, to meet a legal or business requirement of most
customers in a given country.

What is a Regional, Shared Localization or even a Globalization?


A Localization required by two or more countries. They have been renamed to Oracle Family
Packs. From Oracle 10.6 onwards, direct enhancements to core product are called
Globalizations in order to meet global requirements.
Release 12
The Oracle Release 12 has different localizations manuals grouped in the section Global
Financials. This has been consolidated into guides covering Americas, Asia/Pacific, Europe,
India and international public sector financials. The country specific installation supplement
remained as in Release 11i.
Since for European countries the core applications in Release 12 manage many features that
were previously managed at the regional and country level, the single country guides have
been consolidated into the Oracle Financials for Europe User Guide.
The localizations are now visible per applications modules such as General Ledger, Payables,
Receivables and Assets. There are separate sections for the Regions such as feature changes
between Release 11i and Release 12, VAT and Statutory Reporting. Related Guides such as
the Tax Guides show country specific tax requirements.
Country breakdown R12 European Globalizations
The table shows the legal and statutory requirements per country and module. The first
sections shows common features, which are used within the European Union countries.
EU Reports and set up standards
The following Globalizations are shared across countries belonging to the European Union.
For additional tax reports which are not listed in below country tables, refer to the Oracle EBusiness Tax R12 Reporting Guide.
Ctr
EU

FIN
AP
AR
GL

Report / Feature
Setting up VAT Reporting:
Set up legal entities
Set up tax profiles
Set up tax registrations
Set up tax regimes
Set up tax codes and rates
Define VAT Transaction Types
and assign them to tax codes
(define lookup codes for
different transaction types)

Comments
Use Oracle E-Business Tax to set up tax
profiles, tax registrations, tax regimes, tax
and tax rates.
Use General Ledger to set up tax calendars
Use Payables and Receivables for Document
Sequencing (set up Document Categories).

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Report / Feature

Comments

Define reporting entities,


associate the tax calendar,
define allocation rules and
record VAT register
information.
For EU countries, enter the
internal recording date for tax
transactions.

EU

AP
AR
GL

EU

AP
AR
GL

Enter the VAT Registration


Number (for AP and AR)
Document Sequences

EMEA VAT Selection Process

EU

AP
AR
GL

EMEA VAT Allocation Process

EU

AP
AR
GL

EMEA VAT Allocation Listing

EU

AP
AR
GL

EMEA VAT Allocation Errors


Report

EU

AP

EMEA VAT Final Reporting

Use General Ledger to set up document


categories using the Journal Categories
window and document sequence names using
the Document Sequence Name window.
Assign the document sequences also in GL.
Run the EMEA VAT: Selection Process in the
Submit Request window to select tax
transactions within a tax period. The selection
process creates a repository of all the
transactions eligible for reporting from Oracle
E-Business Tax, Oracle Payables, Oracle
Receivables, and Oracle General Ledger.
When you run the EMEA VAT: Selection
Process for ECE countries, it automatically
launches the ECE Payables Tax Date
Maintenance and the ECE Receivables Tax
Date Maintenance.
This process allocates tax and taxable box
number to records selected by the selection
process, by period type. The allocation
process matches the transactions with the
rules to find out the allocated box.
This report displays payables, receivables,
and general ledger transactions that are
extracted within a specific tax period for a
VAT reporting entity. You must run this report
before you close a tax period. Review the VAT
Allocations Errors report and make any
necessary corrections before you close a VAT
period.
This report shows errors recorded during the
EMEA VAT allocation process. Errors can be
i.e. VAT transaction type is not recorded
against a transaction or a VAT reporting rule
cannot be applied to a transaction or
transaction cannot be allocated due to invalid
tax code, etc.
Stamp VAT reports as final.

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FIN
AR
GL
AP
AR
GL
AP
AR
GL

Report / Feature
Process

Comments

EMEA VAT: Summary All


Extract

The EMEA VAT reports consist of the VAT


extract and the VAT template.

ECE Payables VAT Register


Unpaid Invoices Annex

EU

GL

ECE General Ledger VAT


register

EU

GL

EMEA VAT: Audit GL Extract

EU

AP

ECE Payables VAT register

EU

AP

Self Invoices

EU

AP

EU Purchase VAT Register

Use the ECE Payables VAT Register Unpaid


Invoices Annex to print the taxable
transactions that are not yet fully paid and
cleared. The annex sorts and totals
transactions by tax period and prints all
unpaid invoices, even if already printed on
final VAT register. You can also use the annex
as an official supporting document for VAT
returns.
Use the ECE General Ledger VAT register to
print all taxable journals that were manually
entered in Oracle General Ledger and to
prepare VAT returns for submission to tax
authorities in ECE countries. Use this register
as an official supporting document for VAT
returns. The register sorts and totals by tax
type, VAT reporting period, VAT transaction
type, and tax code. There are two summary
sections each for input and output tax. The
first summary section prints totals by tax code
and VAT transaction type. The second
summary section prints totals by tax account
within each GL period.
The EMEA VAT reports consist of the VAT
extract and the VAT template.
The ECE Payables VAT register prints all
taxable invoices that were entered in Oracle
Payables. Use this register to prepare VAT
returns for submission to tax authorities in
ECE countries and as an official supporting
document for VAT returns. The register sorts
and totals by tax period, VAT transaction type,
and tax code. There are two summary
sections. The first section prints totals per tax
code and VAT transaction type. The second
summary prints totals per GL period and tax
account.
Print Purchases VAT Self Invoices and Sales
VAT Self Invoices Registers and to carry out
with a single transaction entry, entries on VAT
accounts, Purchases VAT account, and Sales
VAT account.
This register lists all invoices relative to EU
purchases entered and posted in the date
range of the report. The report submission,
the report parameters, the register and
column headings are similar to those of the

EU
EU

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Report / Feature

EU

AP

EU Sales VAT Register

EU

AP

Self Invoices Purchase Register

EU

AP

EMEA VAT: Audit AP Extract

EU

AP

EMEA VAT: Journal AP Extract

EU

AP

EU

AP

EU

AP

EU

AP

EMEA VAT: Summary AP


Extract
EMEA VAT: Audit AP Non TRL
Extract
EMEA VAT: Turnover AP Non
TRL Extract
Self Invoices Sales Register

EU

AP
GL

Customs Bills

EU

AR

ECE Receivables VAT Register

Comments
Italian Purchase VAT Register.
This register lists all invoices relative to EU
purchases entered and posted in the date
range of the report, which, as specified by the
EU law, must also be entered in the Sales
VAT Register. The report submission, the
report parameters, the register and column
headings are similar to those of the Italian
Payables Sales VAT Register.
The report of the self invoices register on the
Purchase VAT Register can be managed in
Oracle Payables by a report in which all self
invoices entered and posted on the date of
drawing are listed. The report submission, the
report parameters and the register and
column headings are similar to those of the
Italian Purchase VAT Register.
The EMEA VAT reports consist of the VAT
extract and the VAT template.
The EMEA VAT reports consist of the VAT
extract and the VAT template.
The EMEA VAT reports consist of the VAT
extract and the VAT template.
The EMEA VAT reports consist of the VAT
extract and the VAT template.
The EMEA VAT reports consist of the VAT
extract and the VAT template.
The report of the self invoices register on the
Sales VAT Register can be managed, in
Oracle Payables, from a report in which all self
invoices entered and posted in the date range
of the report are listed. The report
submission, the report parameters, the
register and column headings are similar to
those of the Italian Payables Sales VAT
Register.
Customs bill entries involve entry transactions
in the Purchase VAT Register, using as the
invoice taxable amount the import value
determined by the customs authority and the
possible import duties, and using the VAT rate
indicated on the document and VAT General
Ledger entries in the Purchases VAT account.
Use the ECE Receivables VAT Register to print
all taxable transactions that were entered in
Receivables. Use this register to prepare VAT
returns for submission to tax authorities in
ECE countries and as an official supporting
document for VAT returns. The register prints
standard tax transactions and deferred tax
transactions separately. The register sorts and
totals by tax period, VAT transaction type, and

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Report / Feature

EU

AR

Regional Dunning letter

EU

AR

EMEA VAT: Audit AR Extract

EU

AR

EMEA VAT: Journal AR Extract

EU

AR

EU

AR

EU

AR

EU

FA

EMEA VAT: Summary AR


Extract
EMEA VAT: Audit AR Non TRL
Extract
EMEA VAT: Turnover AR Non
TRL Extract
Regional Fixed Assets Register
Report

EU

FA

Statutory Asset Ledger Report

EU

FA

Statutory Asset Cost Detail


report

EU

FA

Statutory Asset Reserve Detail


report

Comments
tax code. There are two summary sections.
The first summary section prints totals per tax
code and VAT transaction type. The second
summary section prints total tax amount per
tax account and GL period.
Use the Regional Dunning letter as a
statement that you can send to customers
advising them about open balances. To use
the Regional Dunning letter, you must set up
at least one dunning letter in the Dunning
Letters window. Specify &F_AS_OF_DATE in
the message text for the as of date and
&F_TOTAL_BALANCE in the message text for
the customer site total balance in the ledger
currency.
The EMEA VAT reports consist of the VAT
extract and the VAT template.
The EMEA VAT reports consist of the VAT
extract and the VAT template.
The EMEA VAT reports consist of the VAT
extract and the VAT template.
The EMEA VAT reports consist of the VAT
extract and the VAT template.
The EMEA VAT reports consist of the VAT
extract and the VAT template.
Report your fixed asset ledger status to your
tax authorities. The report helps you reconcile
your Fixed Asset books with your General
Ledger account balances and to review asset
details such as depreciation method, prorate
convention, tag number, and statistical
information. The Fixed Assets Register report
is an RXi report, divided into two sections, one
for active and the other for retired assets.
Use the Statutory Asset Ledger report to see
summary asset information. The report
provides summarized asset cost, accumulated
depreciation, and net book value information
for each asset, and optionally reports on all
parent accounts.
Use the Statutory Asset Cost Detail report to
see period changes in fixed asset costs. The
report provides additions, revaluations,
retirements, reclassifications, cost
adjustments, and ending balances on all fixed
assets.
Use the Statutory Asset Reserve Detail report
to see period changes in fixed asset
accumulated depreciation between two
periods. The report provides depreciation
expenses, revaluations, retirements,
reclassifications, reserve adjustments, and

Complexity of European Roll outs of the Oracle E-Business Suite 11i and R12 2009

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Report / Feature

Comments
ending balances on all fixed assets.

Tier 1 countries
There are no unique UK and IRL statutory reports available in R12 except for tax purposes.
The users can use the EU reports for certain tax or VAT reports. Refer to the Tax guides.
Tier 2 countries
The following reports are unique to The Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Sweden,
Finland, Denmark and Norway.

Complexity of European Roll outs of the Oracle E-Business Suite 11i and R12 2009

Page 25

Norway
As part of the Scandinavian countries, Oracle Roll outs are straight and projects can be
delivered within scope and time. The collaboration is open and the lack of emotions helps to
concentrate on the deliverables.
Ctr
NO

FIN
GL

Report / Feature
Norwegian Government EDI
reporting (GEI) functionality

NO

AP
AR
GL

Norwegian VAT Reconciliation

Comments
Create the S-Report as a flat file and translate
it into the EDIFACT standard. Request and
receive the A-Report (Reconciliation List) from
the Ministry of Finance.
Use the Norwegian VAT Reconciliation report
to print information that you need to
complete the bimonthly report that you
submit to your tax authorities two months
after the reporting period. If the bimonthly
reporting period is January to February, for
example, the tax declaration and payment are
due two months later in April. If you did not
report an item at the appropriate time, report
the item for the current period as a correction.
You cannot report an item more than once.

Finland
As part of the Scandinavian countries, Finland is always seen as different due to language
and the geographical location as being the periphery of Europe. The legal and statutory
requirements are higher compared to Sweden, Denmark and Norway.
Ctr
FI

FIN
AP

Report / Feature
Finnish Payables Account by
Detail report

FI

FA

Finnish Deferred Depreciation


Expense report

Comments
Similar to the tax audit trail, the report
provides a legal audit trail of all recorded
invoices and payments. The report ensures
the audit trail from Oracle Payables to original
documents. The report is also used to
reconcile the liability balances in AP against
GL.
This report helps to analyze the differences
between corporate and tax book depreciation.
You can print information for assets for a
selected period. At the end of each fiscal year,
run the report on the capitalized assets.
In Finland, tax book depreciation is calculated
at the category level. This affects the tax
depreciation calculation of assets sold during
the year because Oracle Assets generates
loss/gain amounts based on individual assets,
not on the whole category. Because
calculation on individual assets is illegal in
Finland, Oracle Assets sets up each category
with a new sales asset. It creates new sales
assets for the categories at the end of each
financial year.

Complexity of European Roll outs of the Oracle E-Business Suite 11i and R12 2009

Page 26

Germany
Germans like rigorous planning and definitions, therefore a detailed scope is required. As a
consultant do not get impressed by the know-all mentality. This is only excellent talking. In
regards to delivery, the Germans are not better then the rest of Europe.
Ctr
DE

FIN
AP

Report / Feature
German Payables VAT
Reconciliation Detail Report

DE

AP

German Payables VAT


Reconciliation Detail report

DE

AR

German VAT for on account


receipts

DE

AR

German VAT for On-Account


Receipts report

Comments
Not all VAT reports support the final reporting
mode. Hence, you need not run the EMEA
VAT: Selection process, allocation process
or final reporting process for this report.
The German Payables VAT Reconciliation
Detail report helps you produce German VAT
declarations. The report provides a detail
listing of all transactions posted to each VAT
account in General Ledger. The transactions
are grouped by VAT code and supplier and
selected by General Ledger date. The report
includes details such as the transaction
amount and VAT entered on the original
invoice, as well as any discount taken upon
payment of the invoice.
Not all VAT reports support the final reporting
mode. Hence, you need not run the EMEA
VAT: Selection process, allocation process
or final reporting process for this report.
The report prints details of all on-account
receipt transactions that are assigned a tax
code for the selected period range. The
report also shows the customer name and billto site with details of applied and unapplied
on-account receipts. You make manual
adjustments based on the information that
the report provides. Post VAT amounts on the
on-account receipts to your VAT accounts and
reverse any VAT that was posted on invoices
if you received an invoice for the transaction
after you recorded VAT for the prepayment.

Austria
You need to be flexible in Austria regarding delivery. The Austrians are not so business
focused and like to talk around issues instead of solving them. As a consultant you need to be
pushy without loosing the politeness. The working atmosphere is in general good and more
relaxed compared to Germany and Switzerland.
Ctr
AT

FIN
AP
AR
GL

Report / Feature
Austrian VAT Reconciliation
Report by Tax Code

Comments
Report on taxable transactions in Oracle
Payables, Oracle Receivables and Oracle
General Ledger. This report helps fulfilling the
legal reporting requirement for Austrian tax

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Report / Feature

AT

AP
AR
GL

Austrian VAT Reconciliation


Report by Tax Account

Comments
returns and tax audits for VAT accounting.
Austrian financial authorities require to report
on taxable amounts and on the related taxes
by tax code. The amounts shown in General
Ledger have to be the same as the reported
amounts for later auditing. This report shows
all taxable transactions related to the
according reporting period grouped by tax
code and highlights transactions that have
differences.
Report VAT exceptions for VAT transactions
output types by tax account that do not
reconcile. This report shows all taxable
transactions related to the reporting period
grouped by tax account and highlights
transactions that have differences. The report
helps you to find out on which accounts the
wrongly taxed transactions are posted.
Additionally, the report helps you find which
adjustments have to be mad, in case the
Austrian VAT Reconciliation Report by Tax
Code shows errors. The report is for
reconciliation purposes and you must not
submit it to the tax authorities.

Switzerland
The Swiss like templates and standards. The scope does not need to be as detailed as in
Germany. The hard working mentality is stronger in the Swiss German part then in the Swiss
French part. A low statutory and legal requirement standard and a liberal law allow straight
forward implementations.
Ctr
CH

FIN
AP

Report / Feature
Swiss Payables VAT Report

Comments
Report all Payables transactions that reference
a VAT code. The Swiss Payables VAT report is
ordered by date and shows the tax and net
expense amounts for each invoice by account
code. Recoverable tax amounts appear in the
Material/Service column or the Investment /
Other column, depending on the tax regime to
which the amounts belong. Non-recoverable
tax amounts appear in the Net Amount
column, since you account for nonrecoverable tax as an expense rather than as
a tax. The Swiss Payables VAT report includes
only taxable transactions. Internal
transactions such as contra credit memos are
not included on the report.

Complexity of European Roll outs of the Oracle E-Business Suite 11i and R12 2009

Page 28

Tier 3 countries
The following reports are unique to Belgium, France, Spain, Portugal, Czech Republic,
Slovakia, Hungary, Israel, Croatia and Turkey.
Belgium
You will find different mentalities in the Flemish and Dutch speaking part of Belgium. An
inflexible law makes roll outs more difficult compared to France and The Netherlands.
Ctr
BE

FIN
AP
AR

Report / Feature
VAT Allocation Rule

BE

AP
AR
GL

Belgian VAT Monthly VAT


Preparation report

BE

AR

Belgian VAT Annual


Declaration Process report

BE

AR

Belgian VAT Annual Return


Report

BE

AR

Belgian VAT Annual Audit


Report

BE

AP

Belgian VAT Purchases


Journal

Comments
Define the allocation rules to decide the VAT
box for a transaction. These rules define how
the EMEA VAT Allocation process allocates
amounts from Oracle General Ledger, Oracle
Payables, and Oracle Receivables
transactions to VAT reporting boxes.
Use the Belgian VAT Monthly VAT Preparation
report to produce a monthly draft of the VAT
return report. This report shows a box
summary of declared tax and taxable amounts
that you must report. Use this report to
complete the official VAT report that you
submit to Belgian authorities. The report is
ordered by VAT Report Box, Source, Document
Name (with a page break on Period Name),
and VAT Report Box.
The Belgian VAT Annual Declaration Process
report selects Invoices, Credit memos and
Debit memos from the Belgian Receivables
customers for all the posted transaction lines.
The Belgian VAT Annual Return process uses
the data generated through the Belgian VAT
Annual Declaration process to produce the VAT
Annual Return. The generated Return file is in
ASCII format and suitable for declaration on
disk. The declaration must be accompanied
with a Begeleidingsnota / Note
d'accompagnement.
The Belgian VAT Annual Audit report is a
detailed overview of all transactions related
to Belgian customers for a tax year, reported
according to the parameters that you enter.
This report lets you limit the data you see by
entering the parameters Customer Name
From/To. The Audit report can be different
from the VAT Annual Return depending on
the values that you enter for these parameters.
Belgian VAT laws require that Belgian
companies maintain the Belgian VAT Purchases
Journal. This report lists all purchase
documents in sequential order and is mainly
used by VAT authorities during a VAT audit.

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BE

FIN
AR

Report / Feature
Belgian VAT Sales Journal

Comments
Belgian VAT laws require that Belgian
companies maintain the Belgian VAT Sales
Journal. This report lists all sales documents in
sequential order and is mainly used by
VAT authorities during a VAT audit.

Croatia
Since Croatia is an EU member state candidate, the legal and statutory reports will change
towards EU standards.
Ctr
CR

FIN
AP

Report / Feature
Croatian Vendor Invoice Tax
Report

CR

AR

Croatia Customer Invoice Tax


report

Comments
This report shows the total VAT amount, total
deductible, and non deductible tax amounts.
Ensure that the document sequence is same
for prepayment, standard, and credit note
invoice types.
This report shows the total VAT amount, total
deductible, and non deductible tax amounts.
Specify a tax invoice date and VAT
Transaction type.

Portugal
People and the working atmosphere are in general very friendly and pleasant. Due to strong
legal and statutory requirements, you need to estimate enough contingency in the scope.
There is space of improvement regarding legacy and base data information, i.e. Chart of
Accounts on a Marlboro box instead of having data available in spreadsheets.
Ctr
PT

FIN
GL

Report / Feature
Portuguese General Ledger
Detail Trial Balance Report

PT

GL

Portuguese General Ledger


Summary Trial Balance Report

PT

GL

Portuguese General Ledger


Results Trial Balance Report

PT

GL

Portuguese General Ledger


Begin Year Trial Balance
Report

Comments
Uses XML Publisher templates. The degree
that you select determines the level of
summary information that appears
for the account codes, period, and balancing
segments that you select.
Displays selected accounts at Degree 1, such
as the summary level. The report displays
only two-digit accounts and aggregates all
associated balances up to this degree level.
Displays accounting balances for classes 6, 7,
and 8 accounts (excluding account 88 - Year
Net Result) for Degree 1 through Degree 7.
These classes are associated with trading
accounts. The Portuguese General Ledger
Results Trial Balance report displays
information on the trading position for the
balancing segment that you select.
Excludes classes 6, 7, and 8 (apart from
account 88 - Year Net Result), which are
associated with the company's trading
accounts. At the beginning of the year, only
balance sheet accounts are displayed.

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Ctr
PT

FIN
GL

Report / Feature
Portuguese General Ledger
End Year Trial Balance Report

PT

AP
AR
GL

Portuguese Periodic VAT


report

PT

AP
AR
GL

Portuguese Annual VAT report

PT

AP

Portuguese Payables Taxpayer


ID Exception report

PT

AP

Portuguese Suppliers
Recapitulative Extract File

PT

AP

Portuguese Suppliers
Recapitulative Report

PT

AP

Portuguese Suppliers
Recapitulative report and
Extract File

PT

AP
AR
GL

VAT Allocation Rule

Comments
Report is run after the Results Calculation
because it represents the final year end trial
balance for all accounts except for classes 6
and 7, which are set to zero at the end of the
fiscal year.
Use the Portuguese Periodic VAT report to
produce VAT information to help you
complete the statutory periodic (monthly and
quarterly) VAT returns. You can produce total
taxable and tax amounts rounded to the
nearest integer for each of the boxes
identified in the Portuguese Periodic VAT
report.
Use the Portuguese Annual VAT report to
complete the statutory Annual VAT return.
You can produce total taxable amounts
rounded to the nearest integer for each of the
boxes identified in the Portuguese Annual VAT
report.
The report lists any suppliers who do
not have a taxpayer ID. The report only
selects the customers for whom you inserted
at least one transaction.
Not all VAT reports support the final reporting
mode. Hence, you need not run the EMEA
VAT: Selection process, allocation process
or final reporting process for this report.
Not all VAT reports support the final reporting
mode. Hence, you need not run the EMEA
VAT: Selection process, allocation process
or final reporting process for this report.
Use the Portuguese Suppliers Recapitulative
report to provide information required by
government authorities in paper or electronic
format. The file lists Portuguese suppliers
with whom you conducted transactions
greater than a specified value (including VAT).
This report only includes transactions posted
through Oracle Payables. The report does
not include transactions posted directly to
General Ledger. To report in a paper format,
use the Standard Request Submission
windows to submit the Portuguese Suppliers
Recapitulative report. To report it in ASCII
format, use the Standard Request Submission
windows to submit the Portuguese Suppliers
Recapitulative Report, with the template
option set to Portuguese Suppliers
Recapitulative Extract File.
Define the allocation rules to decide the VAT
box for a transaction. These rules define how
the EMEA VAT Allocation process allocates

Complexity of European Roll outs of the Oracle E-Business Suite 11i and R12 2009

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FIN

Report / Feature

PT

AR

PT

AR

DFF for Receipt


acknowledgment designation.
Valid values are Yes or No.
Receipt Acknowledgment
Letter

PT

AR

Portuguese Receivables
Taxpayer ID Exception report

PT

AR

Portuguese Customers
Recapitulative Report

PT

AR

Portuguese Customers
Recapitulative Extract File

PT

AR

Portuguese Customers
Recapitulative Report and
Extract File

Comments
amounts from Oracle General Ledger, Oracle
Payables, and Oracle Receivables
transactions to VAT reporting boxes.
Global Descriptive Flexfield:
JG_HZ_CUST_SITE_USES
Context Code: JE.PT.ARXCUDCI.RA
Confirm the receipt of any payment from a
customer. Oracle Receivables produces a
separate receipt acknowledgment for each
receipt currency.
Produce a list of all customers without a
taxpayer ID. You can run this report by the
legal entity, ledger, or balancing segment
value. The report only selects the suppliers for
whom you inserted at least one transaction.
Not all VAT reports support the final reporting
mode. Hence, you need not run the EMEA
VAT: Selection process, allocation process
or final reporting process for this report.
Not all VAT reports support the final reporting
mode. Hence, you need not run the EMEA
VAT: Selection process, allocation process
Or final reporting process for this report.
Use the Portuguese Customers Recapitulative
report to provide information required by
government authorities in paper or electronic
format. The file lists Portuguese suppliers with
whom you conducted transactions greater
than a specified value (including VAT).
The report only includes transactions posted
through Oracle Receivables. It does not
include transactions posted directly to General
Ledger. To report in a paper format, use the
Standard Request Submission windows to
submit the Portuguese Customers
recapitulative report. To report it in ASCII
format, use the Standard Request Submission
windows to submit the Portuguese Suppliers
Recapitulative report, with the template
option set to Portuguese Customer
Recapitulative Extract File.

Hungary
Hungary has the biggest deviation in the mentality from the Visegrad countries (CZ, SK, PL,
and HU) and has in this view more challenges for implementations. There is a raise in
nationalistic attitude which makes it more difficult to cope with. The language barrier is
another challenge; however most of the Hungarians speak good English.
Ctr
HU

FIN
GL

Report / Feature
ECE General Ledger VAT
register

Comments
Use the ECE General Ledger VAT register to
print all taxable journals that were manually

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FIN

Report / Feature

HU

ECE Payables VAT Register


Unpaid Invoices Annex

HU

AP
AR
GL
AP

HU

AP

Hungarian Payables Invoice


Aging report

HU

AR

Regional Invoice Format

HU

AR

ECE Receivables VAT Register

HU

FA

Hungarian Asset Movement


Schedule

ECE Payables VAT register

Comments
entered in Oracle General Ledger and to
prepare VAT returns for submission to tax
authorities in ECE countries. Set up the VAT
transaction types in the Application Object
Library Lookups window using the
ZX_JEBE_VAT_TRANS_TYPE lookup type.
Hungarian users must set up special VAT
transaction types for any documents that
must be excluded from the register or printed
separately.
Use this annex to supplement the ECE
Payables VAT Register to help prepare VAT
returns for tax authorities in Hungary.
The ECE Payables VAT register prints all
taxable invoices that were entered in Oracle
Payables. Hungarians users must set up
special VAT transaction types for any
documents that must be excluded from the
register or printed separately.
The report helps to analyze the cash flow of
unpaid invoices and your uncleared payments.
The report organizes uncleared items into
time periods that you define, based on the
transaction due date. You can only run the
report in your functional currency.
You need to set up aging periods first.
Set the JG: Duplicate profile option at the
responsibility level. Ensure naming standards
for transaction types. Assign product fiscal
classifications to inventory items or tax
product categories to standard memo lines, to
represent statistical codes as determined by
the Hungarian government.
Use the ECE Receivables VAT Register to print
all taxable transactions that were entered in
Receivables. Set up the VAT Transaction
Types in the Application Object Library
Lookups window using the
ZX_JEBE_VAT_TRANS_TYPE lookup type.
Hungarians users must set up special VAT
transaction types for any documents that
must be excluded from the register or printed
separately. Hungarian users must use a tax
code that is assigned to the VAT Transaction
Type for transactions that should be printed in
the Preliminary version of the report.
The report provides a summary of changes to
asset category costs due to additions,
adjustments, revaluations and
reclassifications. The report prints the asset
category cost account and totals for property
type and company. You need to define

Complexity of European Roll outs of the Oracle E-Business Suite 11i and R12 2009

Page 33

Ctr

FIN

Report / Feature

HU

FA

Hungarian Accumulated
Depreciation Movement
Schedule

HU

FA

Hungarian Depreciation
Analysis report

Comments
property types (tangible, intangible) in the
quick codes window first and assign them to
the Asset Category header. You also need to
assign an asset to a single balancing segment
value.
This report shows a summary of all of your
asset depreciation transactions by property
type and by asset category. The report shows
the summary of changes to asset category
accumulated depreciation values due to
additions, adjustments, revaluations and
reclassifications. The report prints the asset
category reserve account and totals for
property type and company. You need to
define property types (tangible, intangible) in
the quick codes window first and assign them
to the Asset Category header. You also need
to assign an asset to a single balancing
segment value.
This report shows summary analysis of all of
your asset depreciation expense transactions
by property type and by asset category for
the period range that you requested. The
report shows the summary of depreciation
expense for different depreciation methods for
each asset category. The Hungarian
Depreciation Analysis report also shows totals
for property type and company. You need to
define property types (tangible, intangible) in
the quick codes window first and assign them
to the Asset Category header. You also need
to assign an asset to a single balancing
segment value.

Turkey
There is a space for improvement in regards to reliability. A scope is worthless if not having
the necessary management support in the project.
Ctr
TK

FIN
GL

Report / Feature
Turkish Trial Balance Report

Comments
Equivalent to the General Ledger Trial
Balance Report. Requires account
hierarchy setup to provide balances at
summary level.

France
You cannot start a project in France without having several meetings and discussions, which
often turn to be more philosophical then implementation related. However, it is better to have
single face to face interviews with the stakeholders first before defining the scope. There is
absolutely no chance to succeed in a project without having at least some knowledge of the
French language.

Complexity of European Roll outs of the Oracle E-Business Suite 11i and R12 2009

Page 34

Ctr
FR

FIN
AP

Report / Feature
DAS2 file

FR

AP

DAS2 Verification Report

FR

AP

DAS2 Type 210 Updates


Report

FR

AP

DAS2 Consultant Letters

FR

AR

French Receivables Bank


Remittance

FR

AP

French Deductible VAT


Declaration report

FR

AP
AR

French Deductible VAT


Declaration Report

Comments
Companies in France that do business with
independent consultants must declare to tax
authorities all payments to consultants each
year for each supplier. These third party
payments include fees, commissions, and
rebates. This report can be submitted to the
tax authorities in a formatted, electronic file.
The report is used to verify the supplier
information that is extracted into the DAS2
tables.
The report prints a list of all changes to DAS2
temporary tables that were made using the
DAS2 update windows since the last extract.
This letter shows the total invoiced amounts
and other DAS2 data that was reported to the
French Tax Authorities for the current year.
In Release 12, you cannot create new bills of
exchange automatic receipts. You can
continue to remit previously existing bills of
exchange receipts using these Bills of
Exchange receipt formats.
Run this report at the end of each month to
get the deductible VAT amount from each
Payables invoice as well as the corresponding
total VAT amounts for the month. The Option
pour les debits rule states that VAT amounts
become deductible as soon as you receive the
invoice. Tax deduction rules are used by the
codes DEB/M and CRE/M.
Not all VAT reports support the final reporting
mode. Hence, you need not run the EMEA
VAT: Selection process, allocation process
or final reporting process for this report.

Complexity of European Roll outs of the Oracle E-Business Suite 11i and R12 2009

Page 35

Czech Republic
The Czechs are more problem then solution orientated and you need to plan quite a big part
of the scope for convictions and persuasions. Change Management needs to be part of each
scope since the Czechs are in general not open towards change. Money incentives are higher
valued then in other countries. The Czechs are extremely good in improvising. People with
graduation before 1989 are more difficult to cope with (ex communist mentality). People with
graduation after 1989 are literate, flexible and more open towards change. There are no
language barriers (good English and German) when dealing with younger people.
Ctr
CZ

FIN
AR

Report / Feature
Regional Invoice Format

Comments
Set the JG: Duplicate profile option at the
responsibility level. Ensure naming standards
for transaction types.

Spain
For each scope, things need to be verified since you often find that things are better
presented then they really are. The working atmosphere is in general friendly and pleasant.
The Spanish are more open towards other nationalities and therefore more open towards
change. You need to be more pushy for delivery but at the end of the day, deadlines are met.
Ctr
ES

FIN
AP

Report / Feature
Modelo 190

ES

AP

Spanish Input VAT Journal


report

ES

AP

Spanish Payables Inter-EU


Operations Summary Data
Extract (Modelo 349)

ES

AP

Spanish Payables Operations


with Third Parties Data Extract
(Modelo 347)

Comments
Spanish Withholding Tax report and extract.
The Report is available in detail and summary
format.
Use the Spanish Input VAT Journal report to
gather and report information about VAT
that is charged on invoices and expense
reports entered in Oracle Payables. The
Spanish Input VAT Journal report is required
by Spanish legislation for VAT. The report
consists of two parts: a detailed section,
organized by invoice accounting date and
number, with totals at the end of the section;
and a summary by tax, organized by Tax
Code, with totals at the end of the report.
The Spanish Payables Inter-EU Operations
Summary Data Extract (Modelo 349) is a
summary by supplier of Inter-EC purchases of
physical goods. For transactions that correct
previous declarations, the report separately
lists the relevant suppliers and invoice
amounts with the period and year of the
correction. The report displays invoice totals
for each supplier.
The Spanish Payables Operations with Third
Parties Data Extract (Modelo 347) summarizes
by supplier all domestic purchases and
imports of services. The Spanish Payables
Operations with Third Parties Data Extract
(Modelo 347) includes all purchases that are
not reported on the Spanish Payables Inter-

Complexity of European Roll outs of the Oracle E-Business Suite 11i and R12 2009

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Ctr

FIN

Report / Feature

ES

AP

Spanish Payables Canary


Islands Annual Operations
Data Extract (Modelo 415)

ES

AP
AR

Spanish Inter-EU Invoices


Journal report

ES

AP

Spanish Inter-EU Invoice


Format (Documento
Equivalente)

ES

AP

Spanish Operations with Third


Parties Magnetic Format
(Modelo 347)

Comments
EU Operations Summary Data Extract (Modelo
349), not reported to customs (such as
movements of goods between the Canary
Islands and the mainland), or not reported on
your income tax withholding declarations
(Modelo 190).
The Spanish Payables Canary Islands Annual
Operations Data Extract (Modelo 415) is a
summary by supplier of domestic purchases
(both goods and services) in the Canary
Islands that are subject to the Canary Islands
VAT regime Impuesto General Indirecto
Canario (IGIC). Total purchases with suppliers
below the specified threshold are not included
in the report.
Use the Spanish Inter-EU Invoices Journal
report to review the invoices entered and
posted in Oracle Payables that have offset tax
distributions. These invoices normally are
Inter-EU invoices that you receive from
suppliers in other countries within the
European Union. The Spanish Inter-EU
Invoices Journal report displays the
information that would be displayed on the
Spanish Output VAT Journal report (IVA
Recapulativa) if you created the
corresponding self invoices in Oracle
Receivables. You can use this report as a
guide to create the self invoices in Oracle
Receivables or you can simply include this
report along with the standard Spanish Output
VAT Journal report that you send to tax
authorities. Because offset tax codes are
usually defined as fully recoverable, the
Spanish Inter-EU Invoices Journal report
displays the full amounts of offset tax.
Use the Spanish Inter-EU Invoice Format
(Documento Equivalente) to print a self
invoice to justify the inclusion of Inter-EC
goods purchases invoices on both the Spanish
Input VAT Journal report and the Spanish
Output VAT Journal Report. The Spanish
Inter-EU Invoice Format (Documento
Equivalente) prints details of the same
invoices that appear on the Spanish Inter-EU
Invoices Journal Report.
The Spanish Operations with Third Parties
Magnetic Format (Modelo 347) provides an
electronic report for submission to the Spanish
government. The report contains operations
with third parties and property rentals over a
specified period whose annual total sales

Complexity of European Roll outs of the Oracle E-Business Suite 11i and R12 2009

Page 37

Ctr

FIN

Report / Feature

ES

AP

Spanish Inter-EU Operations


Summary Magnetic Format
(Modelo 349)

ES

AR

AutoInvoice importing
invoices. DFF for Rental
location.

ES

AR

ES

AR

AutoInvoice importing
invoices. DFF for the correction
year and correction period
AutoInvoice importing
invoices. DFF for property
location.

ES

AP
AR

Spanish Periodic Modelo


Reports

ES

AR

Spanish Output VAT Journal


report

ES

AR

Spanish Receivables Inter-EU


Operations Summary Data
Extract (Modelo 349)

Comments
exceed a threshold designated by the Spanish
government.
The Spanish Inter-EU Operations Summary
Magnetic Format (Modelo 349) provides an
electronic report for submission to the Spanish
government. The report is a magnetic format
of all Inter-EC sales and purchases of goods
over a period that you specify.
Global Descriptive Flexfield:
JG_RA_CUSTOMER_TRX
Context Code:
JE.ES.ARXTWMAI.MODELO347PR
Global Descriptive Flexfield:
JG_RA_CUSTOMER_TRX
Context Code: JE.ES.ARXTWMAI.MODELO349
Global Descriptive Flexfield:
JG_RA_CUSTOMER_TRX
Context Code:
JE.ES.ARXTWMAI.MODELO415_347PR
Spanish Receivables Canary Islands Annual
Operations Data Extract (Modelo 415)
Spanish Payables Canary Islands Annual
Operations Data Extract (Modelo 415)
Spanish Receivables Operations with Third
Parties Report (Modelo 347)
Spanish Payables Operations with Third
Parties Report (Modelo 347)
Spanish Payables Inter-EU Operations
Summary Data Extract (Modelo 349)
Spanish Receivables Inter-EU Operations
Summary Data Extract (Modelo 349)
Use the Spanish Output VAT Journal report to
gather and report information about tax on
transactions entered in Oracle Receivables.
The report is required by Spanish authorities.
The Spanish Output VAT Journal report has
two parts: a detailed section, ordered by
invoice accounting date and number of
invoice, with totals at the end of the section;
and a summary by tax, ordered by tax code,
with totals at the end of the report. Oracle
Receivables displays invoices accounted for
with VAT for the balancing segment value that
you choose. If an invoice has several lines
with different tax codes, the lines for the
same tax code are summarized.
The Spanish Receivables Inter-EU Operations
Summary Data Extract (Modelo 349) is a
summary by customer of Inter-EC sales of
physical goods. For transactions that correct
previous declarations, the report separately
lists the relevant customers and invoice

Complexity of European Roll outs of the Oracle E-Business Suite 11i and R12 2009

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Ctr

FIN

Report / Feature

ES

AR

Spanish Receivables
Operations with Third Parties
Data Extract (Modelo 347)

ES

AR

Spanish Receivables Canary


Islands Annual Operations
Data Extract (Modelo 415)

ES

AP
AR

Spanish Annual Modelo


Magnetic Format Report

ES

AP
AR

Spanish Canary Islands Annual


Operations Magnetic Format
(Modelo 415)

Comments
amounts, with the period and year of the
correction. The report also marks transactions
that are triangulation operations and displays
invoice totals for each customer. Do not enter
tax groups on Modelo 349 invoices.
The Spanish Receivables Operations with
Third Parties Data Extract (Modelo 347) is a
summary by customer of all domestic sales
and exports of services. The Spanish
Receivables Operations with Third Parties
Data Extract (Modelo 347) includes all sales
that are not reported on the Spanish
Receivables Inter-EU Operations Summary
Data Extract (Modelo 349) or not reported to
customs (such as movements of goods
between the Canary Islands and the
mainland).
The Spanish Receivables Canary Islands
Annual Operations Data Extract (Modelo 415)
is a summary by customer of domestic sales
(both goods and services) in the Canary
Islands that are subject to the Canary Islands
VAT regime Impuesto General Indirecto
Canario (IGIC). Total sales with customers
below the specified threshold are not included
in the report.
Spanish Canary Islands Annual Operations
Magnetic Format (Modelo 415)
Spanish Operations with Third Parties
Magnetic Format (Modelo 347)
Spanish Inter-EU Operations Summary
Magnetic Format (Modelo 349)
The Spanish Canary Islands Annual
Operations Magnetic Format (Modelo 415)
provides an electronic report for submission to
the Canary Islands tax authorities. The
report is a magnetic format of all IGIC
transactions with local suppliers and
customers, for businesses whose annual total
sales exceeds a threshold amount designated
by the Spanish government. The Spanish
Canary Islands Annual Operations Magnetic
Format must be provided in electronic format
if the number of third parties declared
exceeds 500.

Complexity of European Roll outs of the Oracle E-Business Suite 11i and R12 2009

Page 39

Israel

Ctr
IL

FIN
AP

Report / Feature
Israeli Withholding Tax
Detail/Summary Report

IL

AP

Israeli Withholding Tax File


Form 856

IL

AP

Israeli Withholding Tax


Reconciliation report

IL

AP

Israeli Withholding Tax Annual


Certificate to Vendors report

IL

AP

Israeli VAT AP Detailed

IL

AP

Israeli VAT Files - Related to


835 and Not Related to 835

IL

AP

Israeli VAT Summary


Declaration to Tax Authorities

IL

AR

Israeli VAT AR Detailed Report

Comments
This report shows the total payments before
withholding tax, withholding tax deducted
from payments to the vendors, and the
number of vendors that had withholding tax
Deducted.
The text file lists the withheld tax amounts for
each vendor for the selected reporting period.
Additionally, the file contains the vendors'
personal details and the total amounts on
their transactions including payments,
withholding tax amounts, and liabilities.
Review all payments and related withholding
tax transactions for vendors and vendor sites
for the selected reporting period.
Prepare an annual certificate to vendors on
withheld amounts for the total payments
registered by each vendor during the selected
reporting period. The certificate summarizes
the vendor's transactions with the entity
issuing the certificate.
This report displays VAT details for standard,
import, and petty cash transaction categories.
Use the VAT File to prepare an ASCII file
(form 835) to submit the monthly VAT file to
the tax authority. Generate the VAT files after
running the Israeli VAT Summary Declaration
to Tax Authority report with the Update
parameter.
The report provides a summary listing
showing VAT collected by categories for a
selected reporting period, which is usually a
month or bi-month. Use this report to provide
the tax authorities with the summary amounts
for input and output VAT amounts.
Use the report to view a list of the VAT output
transactions for each month.

Tier 4 countries
The following reports are unique to Italy and Poland.
Poland
Because of the large population, you will find extremely well educated and high calibre people
in the projects. In general, people speak good English and German and are more open
towards change compared to the Czech Republic. There is space of improvement in terms of
Complexity of European Roll outs of the Oracle E-Business Suite 11i and R12 2009

Page 40

understanding deadlines.
Ctr
PL

FIN
GL

Report / Feature
General Ledger Journal Entry
Report

PL

GL

PL

AP

Polish General Ledger Trial


Balance Reports
Polish Supplier Statement

PL

AR

PL

AR

AutoInvoice importing
invoices. DFF for Bank Account
Number.
Regional Invoice Format

PL

AR

ECE Receivables VAT Register

Comments
Journal entry information reporting
sequence in both subledger and GL required.
GL dates determines sequence.
Equivalent to the General Ledger Trial Balance
Report
The report shows for each supplier all invoice
transactions within a specified range of dates
for a specified transaction type. The report
groups transactions by currency. The report is
divided into two sections. The first section
lists all transactions, including invoices,
payments, withholdings, and applied
Prepayments, already applied to the supplier
balance. The second section lists unapplied
prepayments to show you what the supplier
balance would be if the remaining amount of
prepayments is applied.
Set a sequence number in the
JG_ZZ_SUPPLIER_STATEMENT_TEXT lookup
type
Global Descriptive Flexfield:
JG_RA_CUSTOMER_TRX
Context Code: JE.PL.ARXTWMAI.TAX_DATE
Set the JG: Duplicate profile option at the
responsibility level. Ensure naming standards
for transaction types. Assign product fiscal
classifications to inventory items or tax
product categories to standard memo lines, to
represent statistical codes as determined by
the Polish government.
Use the ECE Receivables VAT Register to print
all taxable transactions that were entered in
Receivables. Polish users must set up a single,
exclusive VAT transaction type for deferred
tax transactions. Enter a tax code at the
transaction line level. Polish users should
ensure that a single, exclusive VAT
transaction type is used for deferred tax
transactions.

Complexity of European Roll outs of the Oracle E-Business Suite 11i and R12 2009

Page 41

Italy
Italy has some rigorous legal and statutory requirements which make every implementation a
challenge. Italians are open towards change and it is easy to work with them. In general,
people speak good English but meetings tend to end up in Italian so it is required to
understand some Italian in order to survive a project.
Ctr
IT

FIN
AP

Report / Feature
Italian Payables Withholding
Tax Letter

IT

AR

Italian Remittance EFT Format

IT

AP

Italian Annual Supplier Listing

IT

AR

Italian Annual Customer Listing

IT

AP

Italian Exemptions

IT

AP

Italian Payables Exemption


Limit Manager

IT

AP

Italian Annual Supplier Listing


report

Comments
The Italian Payables Withholding Tax Letter
displays the amount of withholding tax for
each withholding tax rate applied to the
invoices, along with the net amount that was
paid for these invoices. The letter shows both
the withheld amounts paid to the IRPEF
(Imposta sui Redditi delle Persone Fisiche)
withholding tax authority and the amounts
paid to the INPS (Istituto Nazionale
Previdenza Sociale) social security fees tax
Authority. The Italian Payables Withholding
Tax Letter prints all amounts in the set of
Books ledger currency regardless of the
invoice currency.
Produce a file that contains an automatic
Remittance for an Italian open bills of
exchange. This remittance format is sent to
the bank to initiate the transfer of funds.
This EFT format is made up of a header
record, detail records that describe the
receipts and an end record.
Not all VAT reports support the final reporting
mode. Hence, you need not run the EMEA
VAT: Selection process, allocation process
or final reporting process for this report.
Not all VAT reports support the final reporting
mode. Hence, you need not run the EMEA
VAT: Selection process, allocation process
Or final reporting process for this report.
In Italy, export transactions are exempted
from VAT, but companies that are classified
as regular exporters have more input VAT
than output VAT. Italian law lets you claim
Exemption if you meet certain legal
requirements.
Set up a new exemption limit year and to
adjust the exemption limit. This program
creates a 12 month calendar from January to
December for the year that you enter.
Use the Italian Annual Supplier Listing report
to print the total value of invoices received
from Italian suppliers that have valid VAT
registration numbers. The Italian Annual

Complexity of European Roll outs of the Oracle E-Business Suite 11i and R12 2009

Page 42

Ctr

FIN

Report / Feature

IT

AP

Italian Purchase VAT Register

IT

AP

Italian Payables Purchase VAT


Register Annex

Comments
Supplier Listing report includes all invoices
posted to General Ledger in the fiscal year
that you select. These invoices are printed on
two lines with separate totals for invoices
entered with dates in the fiscal year reported
and invoices with dates in a prior year but
posted to General Ledger in the year
reported. The Italian Annual Supplier Listing
report does not include self invoices or fuel
cards. Custom bills are reported as a separate
line on the last page of the report. The report
is ordered by VAT registration number. The
Italian Annual Supplier Listing report is printed
on pre-printed stationery. You can generate
these printed report headings by running the
Italian Statutory Headings report.
Use the Italian Purchase VAT Register report
to print all invoices that have General Ledger
dates within the period range that is being
reported. These invoices are assigned to the
document sequence name for the VAT
register name that you selected. Both
preliminary and final reports show invoices
that were accounted, unaccounted, or both
based on the accounting status option chosen
while running the EMEA VAT: Selection
process. Final process, however, marks the
invoices so that these invoices are not
included in subsequent runs of the report.
Only invoice lines with an assigned tax code
are included in the Italian Purchase VAT
Register report. The report displays the
Recoverable and non-recoverable elements of
both the tax and taxable amounts. The Italian
Purchase VAT Register report is run in the
ledger currency of your ledger. The report is
ordered by sequence name, accounting date,
and document sequence number. A summary
of invoice totals by tax rate and a grand total
are printed at the end of the report. The
Italian Purchase VAT Register report is printed
on pre-printed stationery. You can generate
these printed report headings by running the
Italian Statutory Headings report.
The Italian Payables Purchase VAT Register
Annex lists the full names of the suppliers
that are printed on the current execution of
the Italian Purchase VAT Register. The
Italian Purchase VAT Register may contain
some truncated supplier names, so the
Italian Payables Purchase VAT Register Annex
lists the full supplier names for government

Complexity of European Roll outs of the Oracle E-Business Suite 11i and R12 2009

Page 43

Ctr

FIN

Report / Feature

IT

AP

Italian Payables Sales VAT


Register (Self Invoices, EEC,
VAT)

Comments
reporting.
Use the Italian Payables Sales VAT Register
report to print a sales VAT register for all
European Union invoices or all self invoices
that have General Ledger dates within the
period range being reported and are:
Issued according to article 17 D.P.R. 633/72
Posted to General Ledger
Assigned to the document sequence name
for the VAT register name that you selected

IT

AP

Italian Payables Sales VAT


Register Annex (Self Invoices,
EEC, VAT)

IT

AP
AR

Italian Payables Summary VAT


Report

Both preliminary and final reports show


invoices that were accounted, unaccounted,
or both based on the accounting status option
chosen while running the EMEA VAT Selection
process. Final process, however, marks the
invoices so that these invoices are not
included in subsequent runs of the report. For
the invoices, the Italian Payables Sales VAT
Register report displays the recoverable and
non-recoverable elements of both the tax and
taxable amounts. Only invoice lines with an
assigned tax code are included in the Italian
Payables Sales VAT Register report. The
Italian Payables Sales VAT Register report is
run in the ledger currency for your ledger.
The report is ordered by document sequence
number within sequence name. A summary of
invoice totals by tax rate and a grand total are
printed at the end of the Italian Payables
Sales VAT Register report. The Italian
Payables Sales VAT Register report is printed
on pre-printed stationery. You can generate
these printed report headings by running the
Italian Statutory Headings report.
The Italian Payables Sales VAT Register Annex
(Self Invoices, EEC, VAT) lists the full names
of the suppliers that are printed on the
current execution of the Italian Payables Sales
VAT Register. The Italian Payables Sales VAT
Register may contain some truncated supplier
names, so the Italian Payables Sales VAT
Register Annex (Self Invoices, EEC, VAT) lists
the full supplier names for government
reporting.
Use the Italian Payables Summary VAT report
to print a summary of the taxable amount and
VAT amount by tax code for each VAT type
and VAT register for the period that you
select. You can print the Italian Payables
Summary VAT report for transactions in both

Complexity of European Roll outs of the Oracle E-Business Suite 11i and R12 2009

Page 44

Ctr

FIN

Report / Feature

IT

AP

Italian Payables Exemption


Letter Process

IT

AP

Italian Payables Exemption


Letter Register

IT

AP

Italian Supplier Exemption


Limit Consumption report

IT

AP

Italian Payables Exemption


Limit Declaration report

IT

AR

Italian Annual Customer Listing


report

Comments
Oracle Payables and Oracle Receivables. The
Italian Payables Summary VAT report is only
available if the final VAT registers are printed
in the subledgers.
Use the Italian Payables Exemption Letter
process to generate and print an exemption
letter for each record. Send exemption letters
to instruct suppliers not to include VAT on
invoices that are sent to you. The
transmission of this letter is recorded in
Oracle Payables, along with details of the
period that the letter applies to and the type
of company that the letter is sent to. Each
letter is given a unique sequential number
within a calendar year. The Print check box in
the Exemption Letters window must be
checked for the letter to print.
Use the Italian Payables Exemption Letter
Register to list all exemption letters issued
within a given month, such as letters that
have gone through the Italian Payables
Exemption Letter process.
Use the Italian Supplier Exemption Limit
Consumption report to monitor the monthly
consumption of the exemption limit. The
report provides details about suppliers and
their monthly consumption of the exemption
limits that you assigned to them. The report
selects all approved invoices with an invoice
header General Ledger date that corresponds
to the month and year that you select in the
Month/Year parameter.
Use the Italian Payables Exemption Limit
Declaration report to print the information
that you need to report your VAT exemption
limit declarations to your tax authorities. The
report provides information on the monthly
consumption of the exemption limit by each
exemption limit group in a calendar year. The
Italian Payables Exemption Limit Declaration
report includes only invoices that were
submitted in the Final report mode by the
Italian Purchase VAT Register report. The
information for each month is also printed on
the Italian Payables Summary VAT report.
Use the Italian Annual Customer Listing report
to print the total value of invoices received
from Italian customers that have valid VAT
registration numbers. The Italian Annual
Customer Listing report includes all invoices
posted to General Ledger in the fiscal year
that you select. These invoices are printed on

Complexity of European Roll outs of the Oracle E-Business Suite 11i and R12 2009

Page 45

Ctr

FIN

Report / Feature

IT

AR

Italian Receivables Sales VAT


Register report

IT

AR

Italian Receivables Sales VAT


Register Annex

IT

AR

Italian Receivables Deferred


VAT Register report

Comments
two lines with separate totals for invoices
entered with dates in the fiscal year reported
and invoices with dates in a prior year but
posted to General Ledger in the year
reported. This report is ordered by VAT
registration number. The Italian Annual
Customer Listing report is printed on preprinted stationery.
Use the Italian Receivables Sales VAT Register
report to print all invoices that have general
ledger dates within the date range that is
reported and are assigned to the document
sequence name for the VAT register name
that you selected. Preliminary reports show
unaccounted, accounted, or both. The final
process marks the invoices so that these
invoices are not included in subsequent runs
of the report. Only invoice lines with an
assigned tax code are included in Italian
Receivables Sales VAT Register report. The
report is run in the ledger currency of your
ledger. The report is ordered by document
sequence number within sequence name. A
summary of invoice totals by tax rate and a
grand total are printed at the end of the
report. The Italian Receivables Sales VAT
Register report is printed on preprinted
stationery.
The Italian Receivables Sales VAT Register
Annex lists the full names of the customers
that are printed on the current execution of
the Italian Receivables Sales VAT Register.
The Italian Receivables Sales VAT Register
may contain some truncated customer names,
so the Italian Receivables Sales VAT Register
Annex lists the full customer names for
government reporting.
Use the Italian Receivables Deferred VAT
Register report to print all invoices that
reference a deferred type tax code, are
accounted and have general ledger dates
within the date range being reported and are
assigned to the document sequence name for
the VAT Register Name that you selected.
Preliminary reports show accounted,
unaccounted, or both invoices. The final
process marks the invoices so that these
invoices are not included in subsequent runs
of the report. Only invoice lines with an
assigned tax code are included in the Italian
Receivables Deferred VAT Register report. The
report is run in the ledger currency of your

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Ctr

FIN

Report / Feature

IT

AR

Italian Receivables Deferred


VAT Register Annex

IT

AP
AR
GL
FA

Italian Statutory Headings


Report

Comments
ledger. The Italian Receivables Deferred VAT
Register report is ordered by document
sequence number within sequence name. The
report lists all invoices with deferred VAT and
all cash receipt applications and adjustments
that caused the VAT to be reclassified from
deferred to due. At the end of the report are
two summary sections: one for VAT issued
and deferred, and one for VAT that is due.
Deferred VAT invoices, but not receipts and
adjustments, are required to be reported on
the Sales VAT Register as well, at the time
of invoice issue. The summaries display totals
by tax rate and print a grand total. In Italy,
deferred VAT is applicable only when trading
with the public sector. Only public or private
organizations trading with the public sector
are allowed to defer VAT on invoices issued
against public sector customers. The Italian
Receivables Deferred VAT Register report is
printed on pre-printed stationery.
The Italian Receivables Deferred VAT Register
Annex lists the full names of the customers
that are printed on the current execution of
the Italian Receivables Deferred VAT Register.
The Italian Receivables Deferred VAT Register
may contain some truncated customer names,
so the Italian Receivables Deferred VAT
Register Annex lists the full customer names
for government reporting.
Use the Italian Statutory Headings report to
print the official heading that appears on all
statutory reports in Italy. The heading
contains company information such as the
company's name, address, taxpayer ID, and
VAT registration number that you entered as
the legal entity registration information. After
the tax authority approves the header
information for your company, this header
must appear on all your statutory official
company reports. You can prepare a set of
documents for each statutory report that you
require for the calendar year. The Italian
Statutory Headings report prints a sequential
page number on each sheet. If necessary, you
can print additional sheets beginning from the
next page number in the sequence.
Use the Italian Statutory Headings report for:
Italian Purchasing Packing Slip
Italian Annual Supplier Listing
Italian Purchase VAT Register
Italian Payables Sales VAT Register

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Report / Feature

IT

AP
AR
GL

Sequence Numbering

Comments
Italian Payables Summary VAT Report
Italian Inventory Packing Slip
Italian Receivables Sales VAT Register
Italian Receivables Deferred VAT Register
Italian Annual Customer Listing
Italian Asset Register
Italian Bills of Exchange Format
Italian Banking Transfer Order
Italian Exemption Letter Register
Define an unlimited number of sequences,
fixing the initial value for each sequence
and the Applications that may use them.
Choose if the sequence numbers must be
automatically generated by Oracle Financials,
gapless, or manually assigned by you. Define
a time period during which these sequences
can generate or have numbers assigned.
Define an unlimited number of document
categories. There are, however, a number
of default categories that come with the
installation. Combine one or more documents
categories with a definite sequence. Define a
time period during which this combination is
valid.

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Tier 5 countries
The following reports are unique to Greece. Depending on the EU enlargement, other
countries might follow.
Greece
Greece is the most difficult country to implement in Europe and can be taken as a benchmark
for the success of a Pan European roll out. If you manage Greece, you manage them all.
Apart from the tomorrow mentality, the legal and statutory requirements are so rigorous,
that you need to plan a time factor 4 for implementation compared to the average
implementation of another European country.
Ctr
GR

FIN
GL

Report / Feature
Greek Fiscal Trial Balance
Report
Greek Fiscal Trial Balance File

Comments
Equivalent to the General Ledger Trial Balance
Report
Uses XML Publisher templates

GR

GL

GR

GL

Greek General Ledger Trial


Balance Report

Uses XML Publisher templates

GR

GL

Greek Statutory Trial Balance


Report

Uses XML Publisher templates

GR

GL

GR

GL

Parent Account Structure such


as class, sub-class and group
Cutoff Rules

GR

AP
AR

Supplier / Customer turnover


rules

Statutory account class hierarchy is required


for the Char of Accounts
15 days rule for posting and 4 months rule for
adjustments. Use the JEGR: Default Cutoff
Days profile option to set the default number
of cutoff days. The system uses this default
when no cutoff rule is defined.
Exclusion rules let you specify the supplier
type/customer class, invoice/transaction
types, or invoice/transaction distribution line
types that you want to exclude from your
Payables and Receivables turnover reporting.

GR

AP

Greek Payables Supplier


Turnover Listing and Greek
Payables Supplier
Turnover File Format

GR

AR

Greek Receivables Customer


Turnover Listing and Greek
Receivables Customer
Turnover File Format

GR

AR

DFF for public sector company


Reporting. Valid values are

Report on the turnover (purchase


accumulation) of your suppliers. You run the
Greek Payables Supplier Turnover Listing and
File Format together as part of the Greek
Payables Supplier Turnover Report Set. Set GL
Ledger and JG Profiles at the responsibility
level.
Report on the sales turnover (sales
accumulation) of your customers. You run the
Greek Receivables Customer Turnover Listing
and File Format together as part of the Greek
Receivables Customer Turnover Report Set.
Set GL Ledger and JG Profiles at the
responsibility level.
Global Descriptive Flexfield:
JG_HZ_CUST_ACCOUNTS

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Report / Feature
Yes or No.
DFF for Receipt
acknowledgment designation.
Valid values are Yes or No.
Receipt Acknowledgment
Letter

GR

AR

GR

AR

GR

AP
AR
GL
FA

Greek Statutory Headings


Report

GR

GL

The 15-Day Posting Rule

GR

FA

The 15-Day Posting Rule

Comments
Global Descriptive Flexfield:
JG_HZ_CUST_SITE_USES
Context Code: JE.GR.ARXCUDCI.RA
Confirm the receipt of any payment from a
customer. Oracle Receivables produces a
separate receipt acknowledgment for each
receipt currency.
Use the Greek Statutory Headings report to
print the official heading that appears on all
statutory reports in Greece. The heading
contains company information that you
entered as the legal entity registration
information. After the tax authority approves
the header information for your company, this
header must appear on all your statutory
official company reports. You can prepare a
set of documents for each statutory report
that you require for the calendar year. The
Greek Statutory Headings report prints a
sequential page number on each sheet. If
necessary, you can print additional sheets
beginning from the next page number in the
sequence. Use the Standard Request
Submission windows to submit the Greek
Statutory Headings report from General
Ledger, Oracle Payables, Oracle Receivables,
or Oracle Assets.
Accounting entries in Greece must comply
with a statutory limited-period posting rule.
This requirement prohibits the validation and
posting of accounting data after a specified
number of days, counted from the system
date of the transaction. The current specified
number of days is 15. The 15-day posting rule
requires that the accounting date for all
entries fall within 15 days of the current
system date. If the accounting date falls
outside of this period, you must change the
entry's date for the system to validate the
transaction. The 15-day posting rule applies to
journal entries made directly into General
Ledger and imported from feeder systems.
Journals not posted within the rule period,
regardless of the source, are invalidated, and
do not complete the posting process.
Journals that are generated in Oracle Assets
are subject to the 15-day posting rule once
imported into General Ledger. Once journals
are transferred to General Ledger, the
depreciation journal and other asset
accounting journals are subject to same

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Report / Feature

GR

GL
INV

15-Day Posting Rule


Exceptions

Comments
posting restrictions placed on General Ledger
journals. Users, however, must verify that
accounting entries generated in Oracle Assets
are transferred to General Ledger in a timely
manner.
Allocation journals Allocated journals, or
analytical accounts, are derived from the
allocation process, which is run after the
subledgers and General Ledger are completed
for the period. Journals can remain unposted
up until the end of the following period.
Adjustment period journals Transactions
posted to adjustment periods can remain
unposted for a period of up to four months.

GR

AP
AR
GL
CE

Accounting Sequence
Numbering

Inventory transactions You must complete


inventory accounting entries within a
10-day period.
The Greek accounting requirement specifies
that each accounting transaction entered in
General Ledger, Payables, Receivables, and
Cash Management must carry a unique
sequential number at the header level. This
number is called an accounting sequence
number. The accounting sequence number is
assigned when the transaction is complete,
which lets Oracle Financials show all
accounting entries in a date/accounting entry
and sequence number order that is required
by Greek authorities for statutory reporting.
Accounting sequence numbering also ensures
that no gaps exist in accounting entries, due
to user error for example. Accounting
sequence numbering in each application must
comply with these legal requirements:
The numbers are unique within a ledger.
Each entry within each ledger must have a
unique number.
The numbers are automatically allocated
upon posting.
No gaps exist in the sequence of numbers
allocated.
For statutory reports, transactions are listed
in date and sequence number order.
Accounting entries for the Opening and
Closing Fiscal Year transactions must have
a different numbering convention from other
accounting entries.
Once a number is assigned to a transaction,
the user cannot alter the transaction or the
number.

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Ctr
GR

FIN
GL

Report / Feature
Analytical Accounting

GR

FA

Investment Law
(EPENDYTIKOS NOMOS) and
Commitment (DESMEYSEIS)
Storage

GR

AP
AR
GL
FA

Company Statutory
Information Storage

GR

AP
AR
GL
FA

Company Statutory Report


Headings Report

Comments
Greek companies must record and report the
cost effect of certain accounting transactions,
generally Profit and Loss transactions, in
greater detail, in additional Group 9 accounts.
These Group 9 accounts are reported on in
selected General Ledger statutory reports.
In this way, analytical accounting lets Greek
companies report on the nature and purpose
of their revenue and expenses and simulate a
monthly close process. Analytical accounting
involves the parallel processing of transactions
affecting certain General Ledger accounts with
the Group 9 accounts.
Greek law requires the storage of Asset
Investment Law and Commitment Information
for each asset when you enter assets. This
law requires companies to reflect additional
information items within asset accounts, such
as information about whether or not each
asset was purchased under favourable
investment law provisions and whether each
fixed asset has legal burdens.
Greek law requires Greek companies to store
information about themselves in their financial
applications, which is used to create the Greek
Statutory Headings Report. The statutory
header, once printed, is endorsed and
stamped by the Greek tax authorities. The
company in turn prints all official versions of
reports on government-certified statutory
report paper. The statutory header contains
the legal entity registration information that
you record using the Legal Entity
Configurator.
You can divide Greek reporting requirements
into two categories: official reports, printed on
official paper with the company statutory
header and required by the Greek tax
authority, and official reconciliation reports,
required by the company and auditors.
Statutory Header Reports are used by Greek
companies to print their official reports for the
tax authority. These Header Reports must
comply with the Greek statutory report format
defined by Greek tax authorities. The official
reports must contain specific company
information and a pre-printed sequence
number. To help companies format Header
Reports and display the appropriate
information, Greek tax authorities produced a
standard report header template. Companies
must use this template when devising the

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Report / Feature

Comments
layout of their own official report headers.

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CONCLUSIONS
With the approach of the European Union to increase the number of member states, the
intention is given to harmonize and standardize the legal and statutory requirements. This will
lead into an easier implementation, where local legal requirements will be replaced by
common European law.

Fig. 3: EU member states

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Oracle Localization Guides


For Slovakia and the Baltic countries, such as Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, there are no
Oracle Country Guides available, which makes Oracle implementations more difficult.
Oracle Localization Quality
Since Oracle has underestimated the importance of localizations, it is beyond the capability of
its core competitor SAP regarding local and specific country features. This means that almost
none of the country localizations are error free. In every European Roll out, knowledge of
Oracles TAR, SRs and Metalink as well as a good and in-depth relation to Oracle Support is
key in order to fix the localizations bugs.
Technical Skills to support European Roll outs
If technical support is outsourced for European rollouts off shore, i.e. via Indian companies,
the required skill level is not sufficient. Indian companies are strong with providing masses of
consultants; however, the quality of the work has not changed for the last 15 years.
In long term thinking, it costs more when low priced labour is hired since it will take much
longer to fix the technical issues, especially since Oracle has not managed to have error free
localizations for Europe. Often the client has to accept manual work around since the
technical resolutions are not delivered when the countries go live.

Currencies
For countries such as the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Poland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway
and the Baltic countries, such as Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, the functional currencies are
not Euro, which makes implementations and visibility at European Level more complex.

Roll out plan


A customer has to decide whether it is more useful to do a staged or a big bang roll out. The
advantage of a staged roll out is that you can start with Tier 1 countries for an
implementation to achieve quick wins. In addition you can take the lessons learned from each
country rolled out into the next Tier2 country to roll out and so on. This is a more in depth
but also costly approach. On the other hand you can favour the big bang approach where for
example you implement all countries simultaneously and set the go live date i.e. January 1st
for all countries. This is difficult when implementing Greece and Italy amongst other
countries. We recommend having at least some roll out waves, where you implement the
more difficult countries in a later stage where you have the experience from the previous roll
outs.

Language skills of the delivery team


If local language is not available within the customer facing delivery team, the fiction loss and
expectation discrepancies become a risk to the success of the project. If consultants speak
the local language, customer acceptance is higher and the work delivered is more efficient.
From an overall project perspective, an expensive but high skilled multi lingual consultant
saves more costs when doing European Roll outs.

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Global Accounting Engine


GAE is required for countries such as France, Greece, Italy, Portugal and Spain in Oracle
Release 11i. This increases the time and complexity of implementing Oracle.

SAB 101 Revenue Recognition


As part of the GAE, European Implementations face issues and enhancements regarding
better Compliance with revenue recognition rules such as (SAB 101). This has also to do with
tighter revenue recognition rules and the potential risk of overstating revenue.

VAT Compliance Issues


As part of the GAE, European Implementations face issues and enhancements regarding
country specific VAT compliance requirements.
Commissionaire Accounting
As part of the GAE, European Implementations face issues and enhancements regarding
country specific commissionaire Accounting requirements.

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DATA PROTECTION
Developments of a frontier free Internal Market and of the so called 'information society'
increase the cross-frontier flows of personal data between Member States of the EU. In order
to remove potential obstacles to such flows and to ensure a high level of protection within the
EU, data protection legislation has been harmonised. The EU Commission also engages in
dialogues with non-EU countries in order to insure a high level of protection when exporting
personal data to those countries. It also initiates studies on the development on European
and international level on the state of data protection.
Data protection is highly developed in the EU. The central piece of legislation is
Directive 95/46, which regulates the protection of individuals with regard to the processing
of personal data and the free movement of such data. Implemented into national laws, the
Directive applies to all EU Member States as well as to Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.
Regulation 45/2001 lays down the same rights and obligations on the level of the EC
institutions and bodies. It also establishes the EDPS as independent supervisory authority
with the task of ensuring that the Regulation is complied with.
Country
European Union
EU Directives
Data Protection Guides
per country
Estonia
Greece
United Kingdom
Latvia
Lithuania
Austria
Poland
Slovakia

Link
www.edps.eu.int
http://ec.europa.eu/justice_home/fsj/privacy/law/index_en.htm
http://ec.europa.eu/justice_home/fsj/privacy/guide/index_en.htm
www.dp.gov.ee/
www.dpa.gr
www.ico.gov.uk/
www.dvi.gov.lv/
www.ada.lt//
www.dsk.gv.at/
www.giodo.gov.pl/en/
www.dataprotection.gov.sk

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RECOMMENDATIONS
1.
Get executive support
Given that you have decided to implement Oracle Applications, this is probably the last time
you will replace your legacy systems in your countries unless major changes such as spin
offs, takeovers or other non system related changes occur. Any future changes are likely to
be enhancements or upgrades to the chosen platform. Investing in an ERP solution is a major
commitment, hence you must understand the true significance of what you have taken on.
Not only the top corporate and European Management must stand behind the project, but
also the country management needs to be in line with the executive sponsorship. If this is not
granted, the project will fail. Senior executives approve the budget and provide the focus
across all business units to negotiate compromises and make cross business integration
happen.
2.
Keep it simple
Keep focusing on delivering specific business objectives. Consider quick wins and critical
mass. Do implement countries such as Slovakia, Poland, Baltic countries before Greece or
Italy. Never implement Greece in the beginning of a project, i.e. 2nd or 3rd country in a roll
out. You must have enough experience and lessons learned from the previous rolled out
countries before implementing Greece, Italy, Spain and Poland. It is recommended to
implement Greece always as the last country in Europe. Keep it simple. Keep it short. Keep it
focused.
3.
Start with the Processes
Processes are often the key challenge in implementations and the most impacted area of
change. Apply metrics to improvements in these processes, not the system. Start with the
processes in the implementation and highlight the country specific parts. Do not think of
Oracle Application as a software application think of it as a business initiative whose goal is
to streamline, redefine or otherwise modify key business processes. Identify gaps between
standard Oracle processes and country specific processes. Ensure that gaps can be met with
an accepted manual workaround, avoid extensive customizations.
4.
Become Business Driven
Most Oracle Applications implementations are founded on detailed business cases which are
frequently thoroughly researched and reviewed. However, these documents rarely see the
light of day after the capital expenditure approval. Business executives must take ownership
and play a leadership role in the Oracle Applications initiative to avoid gaps between intent
and reality. Due to the fast change and ongoing acquisitions in todays business environment,
it is vital that the company knows who owns which part of the project and that change is
communicated well. Therefore, managing the benefits means also managing changes in the
organization, which may affect the attainability of promised benefits (positively or negatively).
I would recommend that the business case is treated as a living document and used as an
effective project management tool. Scope management needs to incorporate the effect on
benefits as well as the effect on cost and time for each single European country roll out. The
business case document needs to be re-evaluated at major milestones, i.e. going live or a
European country, restating the expected benefits as well as the expected costs.
5.
Involve Users Early
The local users know the current processes and not just the obvious, typical Oracle standard
scenarios. They also know all of the work-around for scenarios that happen only once a day,
week or month. It is vital, that you get their knowledge and buy in, and the earlier you
Complexity of European Roll outs of the Oracle E-Business Suite 11i and R12 2009

Page 58

include them in the development, the more successful you will be.
6.
Hire Real Package Experts
Many Oracle Applications projects run into difficulty because the wrong people are allocated
from the organization. Finding experts, internal or external, who really understand the ins and
outs of Oracle Applications will save time, avoid mistakes, and make the whole process less
stressful. For European projects, the consultants must know the different local processes,
localizations, legal and statutory requirements, languages and have at least multiple
European roll out experience.
7.
Recruit Real Business Experts
How can you manage the change effectively? Many organizations underestimate the impact
that their European Roll out will have on people, roles, required skills and the organizational
structure as a whole. For the Oracle Applications roll out to be successful in Europe, you need
people who know how to apply the tool to your business and how to interpret the data that
comes out of it. As this is different from every single country in Europe, hiring people from
outside Europe for functional or technical roles, such as India or China, is professional suicide.
For European Roll outs, Russian developers are better suited than developers from overseas
countries. A tool in the hands of a skilled craftsman can produce a masterpiece, but the tool
is not the talent.
8.
Train Users Well
Members whose Oracle Applications initiatives failed point to lack of end-user training as the
key critical missing element. Though enthusiasm is high when the project begins and the
dollars flow, do not let the weariness of a long implementation overshadow the need for local
training. If this training is held in the local European language of the country implemented,
the better. The benefits will outweigh the investment.
9.
Use Reliable Technology and be aware of the organizational impact
Many organizations resist the level of integration delivered and encouraged by Oracle
Applications and attempt to retain the existing organizational structure. So it is not only about
technology, it is also about embracing integration. Avoid functional departments to retain as
they are and senior management roles to remain unchanged. Integration will challenge the
boundaries between traditional functional departments and will place information directly at
the fingertips of operational staff, thereby reducing the reliance on administration support
staff. I recommend considering significant changes to your organization structure and
management roles in order to extract the maximum benefits from the new Oracle system.
When choosing a software package, you need to ensure that the package is scalable, reliable
and flexible. Since your system is deployed to manage mission critical processes, you need to
run it from a single instance and not having multiple environments. Also you need to have a
trustworthy and open culture regarding accessing and managing test and production systems.
If the system or access fails, regardless of technological or political reasons, the business
fails. Its that simple.
10.
Outsource with care
Always plan the end of the project before you start. Many organizations fail to consider the
long term implications of introducing Oracle Applications until the end of the project and
thereby degrade the outcome of the project. Outsourcing is often seen as a cost saving
option for ERP initiatives, but be careful. When using the short minded cost saving approach
of hiring low cost technical labour, i.e. from India, the reality will show the opposite.
Problems can emerge if the relationship between the outsourcing and the in-house team is
not extremely well defined. Delivery failures and delays are happening when poor skills are
provided from the outsourcing company, which is often the case when doing European roll
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outs. It is an illusion when you think that you can rely on cost savings from cheap overseas
labour. Also, the cost of know how transfer from the functional team, the control of the
deliverables, the correction runs (average 5-7 runs for 1 problem to fix) and the time doing
this will increase the cost of a project. On an average, projects using this approach have
duration and cost excesses of 300%. To avoid finger pointing, clearly document the
anticipated interfaces, hand-offs and deliverables.

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