Master Data Readiness: Your First Step to E-Invoicing and SAF-T Success in SAP

Several European countries—including Portugal, Poland, Norway, and Lithuania—have already implemented SAF-T (Standard Audit File for Tax). As more countries prepare to follow suit in 2025, CFOs and finance teams may face increased pressure and uncertainty in keeping up with regulatory changes. At vAIsko, we recognize how disruptive these rapid developments can be for organizations.

That’s why, in our upcoming series of articles, we provide clear, detailed overviews of each country’s expected SAF-T rollout and updates in e-invoicing, along with practical guidance on how to prepare on time.

E-invoicing and SAF-T become undoubtedly easier with SAP, using the right add-ons, such as SAP Document and Reporting Compliance (DRC) for instance. However, you need to keep in mind that you cannot automate what is incomplete and inconsistent. This is why, it is crucial for your finance team not to overlook the importance of clean master data.

Why Your Master Data Matters

Preparing a neat master data isn't just a nice-to-have.  Plenty of gaps occur in SAP which can result in your files being rejected, fines or audit flags. Common issues include:

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• Vendor records missing VAT or address fields

• Duplicates or outdated entries

• Invalid tax code mapping for specific countries

• Missing customer e-invoice identifiers (e.g., Peppol ID)

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E-invoicing and SAF-T rely heavily upon correct business partner VAT numbers, GL mapping and tax codes, as well as material descriptions and units of measure. In addition, they require the right document references and legal entity codes. Without these elements correctly maintained, even the most sophisticated automation tools can fail. Before diving into automation, companies should take the time to thoroughly audit and cleanse their master data. Doing so not only prevents compliance risks but also ensures smoother implementation and long-term efficiency.

How to Fix Your Master Data

Starting by running data quality checks in SAP, using standard reports or Data Services could be beneficial, as this step will allow you to review the current state of the master data and point out where it needs improvement. Of course, these checks need to occur consistently for even better results.

To take it further, consider implementing validation tools during vendor and customer onboarding to prevent incomplete or inaccurate records from entering the system in the first place. Synchronizing your master data with trusted external sources such as the EU VIES database or national business registers can also ensure VAT numbers and legal identifiers are always up to date.

Finally, establish a clear data governance policy that assigns ownership and defines responsibilities. With dedicated data stewards and consistent monitoring, you can significantly reduce errors and maintain high data quality across your SAP landscape.

How vAIsko Can Help

We help clients establish master data cleanup as Phase 0 in every digital compliance project. It saves time, ensures SAP automation works correctly and protects your business from reporting errors. We prepare your master data for full E-invoicing and SAF-T adoption. If you are interested in specific local requirements, check out the related articles below.

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