22.09.2025
Success Story: Digitizing Credit Management
The task was clear: an international seed company with billions in sales modernized its credit risk management as part of its S/4HANA migration. Thousands of farmers and cooperatives worldwide purchase on account—the new system was intended to make credit decisions more efficient and transparent.
The starting point: Need for optimization in a billion-dollar business
The European market leader for seeds had decided to undergo a comprehensive transformation. Corn, beet, and grain producers in over 30 countries rely on the company. However, there was room for improvement in the existing credit management system:
- Credit limits managed decentrally in Excel files instead of centrally in SAP
- Approval processes without a uniform system – unclear responsibilities
- Compliance optimization required through better documentation of credit decisions
- Lack of integration of external creditworthiness data from sources such as Dun & Bradstreet
The solution: SAP Advanced Credit Management as a recipe for success
BDF EXPERTS developed a three-stage strategy that combined security with innovation:
Phase 1: Soft go-live – monitoring without restrictions
Complete technical monitoring of all credit checks was implemented, but without blocking orders. This allowed the system to be successfully stabilized.
Phase 2: Hard go-live pilot – Focused implementation
A pilot company went live with active blocking logic – a successful practical test under real conditions.
Phase 3: Hard go-live – Successful global rollout
The rollout to all S/4HANA companies with fully active credit management was successfully completed.
The technical implementation
The heart of the solution: a segment-based credit limit model with 1:1 mapping to credit control areas. Each business partner received a dedicated main credit segment for global limit control and monitoring.
Core components of the implementation:
SAP Advanced Credit Management Configuration:
- 96 combinations of item categories were configured for credit relevance – comprehensive customization that has paid off
- Multi-level workflows for credit decisions with automated thresholds (EUR 20k / 500k / 2 million)
- Definition of credit groups for different sales channels (web shop, standard, customers/suppliers)
- Risk classes with score-based logic (high, moderate, low)
Fiori apps & operational tools:
- Implementation of the Fiori app “Manage Credit Limit Requests” for systemic approval processes
- Mass assignment of the UKM000 role to business partners for efficient rollouts
- Preparation for mass migration of credit segment assignments for later implementations
- Definition of KPIs for in-depth reporting on credit limit monitoring
Integration into the SD process:
- Seamless integration: Everything runs automatically, from pricing to credit exposure calculation
- Adjustment of SD condition schemes to ensure that the value of a customer order is taken into account correctly
- Specific assignment of credit checks to relevant order types
Preparation for external credit rating data:
- Strategic D&B integration prepared: Maintenance of fields such as DUNS, PAYDEX, Net Worth, Credit Limit Recommendation
- Deliberately without API connection in soft go-live – data is initially maintained manually
- Technical basis for future automated credit rating data integration with SAP Cloud for Credit Integration created
The added value achieved: From optimization to excellence
Before: Credit data decentralized in Excel, manual processes, room for improvement in compliance, lack of credit rating data integration
After: Centralized SAP data storage, automated workflows, audit-proof documentation, preparation for external data sources
Department-specific benefits:
- Finance/AR: Significantly accelerated processing and more accurate approvals thanks to system-supported decision-making processes
- Sales: Clear escalation paths for order approvals and transparent credit status information
- Management: Reduction of default risk and strategic reporting in real time with complete traceability of all credit decisions
Measurable improvements:
- Full SAP integration: All credit limit data is now directly accessible in SAP and no longer needs to be managed via Excel spreadsheets.
- Process standardization: Uniform credit approval processes across all S/4HANA companies.
- Strengthened compliance: Audit-proof documentation of all credit decisions with clear separation of duties.
What makes this project special:
The three-stage go-live strategy proved to be more than just risk minimization—it was a well-thought-out transformation approach. The innovative approach with mass assignment tools and strategic preparation for external data sources goes far beyond standard implementations.
Particularly noteworthy: the 96 configured item category combinations for credit relevance demonstrate the depth of detail in the solution. Instead of a simple standard configuration, a tailor-made system was developed that meets the complex requirements of the international agricultural business.
The result:
While many companies simply transfer their existing processes during the S/4HANA migration, this agricultural group took the opportunity to completely redesign its credit management system. The result? A system that not only works, but also scales—from a pilot company to a successful global rollout with complete preparation for future expansions such as D&B integration.
Ready to transform your credit management? S/4HANA migration is more than just a technical update – it's your chance to optimize your processes.
About BDF EXPERTS
BDF EXPERTS is the brand name of bdf consultants GmbH, a leading SAP Silver/SolEx partner with comprehensive expertise in the areas of digital supply chain and corporate finance & treasury (CFT). For more than 25 years, BDF EXPERTS has been helping companies achieve measurable value creation through end-to-end digitalized processes based on SAP ERP and S/4HANA. In the area of digital supply chain, BDF EXPERTS has developed particular expertise in holistic data management. With SAP PPG (Product and Process Governance), BDF EXPERTS offers an innovative solution for the central control of all product and process data in SAP, thereby creating the basis for data-driven business models. The consulting services cover all business processes of product lifecycle management (PLM) – from data import and document management (SAP DMS) to the entire supply chain (SAP SCM, MM, PP, PS, SAM).
In the area of corporate finance and treasury, BDF EXPERTS offers specialized solutions for financial processes, cash management, risk management, and compliance. With customized SAP implementations, we optimize financial flows, increase transparency, and support informed decision-making processes in the treasury area.
Its customers range from innovative medium-sized companies such as Groz-Beckert and Thermofin to global corporations such as Schüco, Scheuch, Haniel, Hilti, Bitburger, thyssenkrupp, and many more. The company employs 55 people at its locations in Düsseldorf and Munich. Through BDF EXPERTS AG, a subsidiary of bdf consultants GmbH based in Neuhausen am Rheinfall, the company serves customers in Switzerland and Austria.
Website: https://bdfexperts.de/en#home
