In the fast-paced world of international trade processes and requirements, efficiency, compliance, and real-time decision-making are crucial for success.
SAP Global Trade Services, Edition for SAP HANA (SAP GTS E4H), is designed to revolutionize global trade management by leveraging the advanced capabilities of SAP HANA’s in-memory computing technology and a centralized platform with interfaces to SAP ERP, SAP TM, and other critical solutions.
This article discusses the transformative impact of SAP GTS, edition for SAP HANA, exploring how it helps global organizations enhance trade compliance, streamline customs processes, and optimize trade operations through real-time analytics and seamless integration.
Understanding SAP Global Trade Services (GTS)
SAP Global Trade Services (SAP GTS) is an application within the comprehensive SAP landscape that allows customers to accelerate cross-border supply chain operations and streamline international trade management.
With a centralized repository for master and compliance data and advanced tools for trade management, SAP GTS enables businesses to quickly clear customs, control costs, reduce the risk of unnecessary fines and penalties, and consolidate global trade processes in a single system.
Enhanced global trade management capabilities in SAP GTS enable users to:
- Streamline customs declaration and documentation processes
- Manage trade preference agreements to reduce tariffs and duties
- Ensure compliance with international trade regulations and export controls through automated compliance checks and documentation
- Access preference calculation tools to exploit opportunities and determine the preference eligibility of identity-based goods
- Monitor long-term supplier declarations and related operations in a unified system
- Execute Automated Export System communication with US Customs and Border Protection to ensure adherence to changing regulations
(Note: Mainstream maintenance for GTS 11.0 will expire in December 2025.)
SAP GTS vs S/4HANA Compatibility
Global Trade Services is compatible with S/4HANA and provides support for side-by-side installation through a dedicated GTS system and a distinct feeder system like the on-premise version of S/4HANA. In SAP S/4HANA on-premise, a separate GTS Plug-in feeder system is no longer required, and the related feeder functionality is included as part of S/4HANA.
However, it is essential to note that installing SAP GTS 10.0/10.1/11.0 on the same SAP S/4HANA on-premise system is not supported. For example, if you have installed GTS on the same system as SAP ERP, you cannot upgrade to S/4HANA on-premise or install the GTS application on an S/4HANA on-premise system without uninstalling the existing version of SAP GTS.
What is SAP GTS Edition for SAP HANA?
SAP Global Trade Services, Edition for SAP HANA is an advanced solution designed to streamline and enhance global trade management processes by leveraging the power of SAP HANA’s in-memory computing capabilities. This edition integrates seamlessly with SAP HANA to provide faster processing speeds, real-time analytics, and more efficient handling of large volumes of trade-related data.
GTSCORE
GTSCORE, or the component name for SAP GTS, Edition for SAP HANA 2023, provides the technical prerequisites for complying with global trade regulations. SAP Global Trade Services, Edition for SAP HANA, is installed on SAP S/4HANA Foundation 2022 for adequate compatibility and integration.
UIGRCGTS
UIGRCGTS, or the component name for SAP Fiori for SAP GTS, Edition for SAP HANA, outlines the product version, product instance, and product identifiers to install SAP Fiori for SAP GTS on HANA.
Key Features of SAP GTS Edition for HANA
Here’s a closer look at a few key features of SAP GTS, Edition for HANA for enterprise users:
Compliance Management
Built-in compliance management features enable customers to maintain compliance with critical legal regulations and requirements, thus maximizing return on global sourcing and selling operations and minimizing unnecessary fines and penalties.
Compliance management functionality also allows for the automation of complex regulatory compliance processes to improve overall compliance and streamline efficiency.
Classification
The classification feature enables customers to assign codes and numbers defined by authorities to identify products in cross-border goods traffic.
By assigning specific codes and numbers to each corresponding product, organizations can easily classify goods and group them by the coding and description of goods by either an authority or a group of countries or regions. Product classification is a prerequisite for executing trade-related operations and communicating with authorities.
With classification features, organizations can:
- Manage numbers and numbering schemes related to specific trade processes
- Monitor product classifications and modifications
Customs Management
The customs management feature makes it easier for customers to manage key import and export processes and maintain communication with associated customs authorities.
Country/Region Availability
In addition to the core functions offered for the general SAP GTS E4H product, SAP also offers country and region-specific functions that enable customers to stay up-to-date with legal and organizational requirements and maintain overall compliance.
Intrastat
Intrastat declarations can be used to record goods movements across international trade lines between European Union member states, including Austria, Belgium, Germany, France, Sweden, and more. With Intrastat declarations, customers can:
- Provide Intrastat-related data to authorities in comprehensive Intrastat declarations
- Manage critical information providers to ensure accurate information and declarations
- Access required statistical data, such as receipts to your company from other member states and dispatches from your company to other member states, to create Instrastat declarations
- Execute manual entry or automatic generation for statistical data based on feeder system integration capabilities
Preference Management
Advanced preference management capabilities allow users to effectively manage long-term supplier declarations and determine preferential statements for each product and associated trade agreements in a unified platform.
Preference calculation and determination can be determined for the following product types:
- Externally sourced products based on long-term declarations from suppliers and goods receipts
- Internally manufactured based on preference rules within the existing free trade agreement
Integration
SAP GTS, Edition for SAP HANA, offers pre-built support for integrations with other SAP or non-SAP products. However, customers must consider that other products may have their own product lifecycle, languages, localization versions, or other requirements for integration.
Integration requirements and guidelines are also subject to change with new releases of SAP Global Trade Services, Edition for SAP HANA.
Steps Involved in the SAP GTS E4H Conversion Process
(Note: All steps below must be executed as a single transaction in the Maintenance Planner.)
- Uninstall SAP GTS: Navigate to the planning sequence, choose ‘Uninstall Add-Ons,’ and select your current version of SAP GTS (10.0, 10.1. 11.0). Leverage the Maintenance Planner to automatically select all installed product instances contained in the current SAP GTS version and mark them for uninstallation in stack.xml.
- Update base server release: Select ‘Next’ in the Maintenance Planner transaction, click ‘Plan a Conversion to SAP S/4HANA’ (EHP) or ‘Update SAP NetWeaver’ (NetWeaver), and select the product version ‘SAP S/4HANA 2022’ (EHP) or ‘SAP S/4HANA FOUNDATION 2022’ (NetWeaver).
- Install SAP Global Trade Services, Edition for HANA: Select the product version ‘SAP GTS, Edition for SAP HANA 2023’, choose the ‘GTSCORE’ component name, and continue with standard Maintenance Planner steps for upgrade.
How Can We Help?
From helping you outline plans for a new SAP GTS E4H conversion project to executing custom code configurations for compatibility with existing business processes, navigating a complex integration landscape, or maintaining communication between project teams, Surety Systems has you covered.
Our senior-level, US-based SAP consultants have the relevant technical expertise and functional experience to understand your critical needs, build effective action plans, and prepare your teams for long-term success in the modern technical landscape.
Contact Us
For more information about our SAP consulting services or to get connected with our team of expert consultants, contact us today.