Every month, thousands of invoices cross borders and time zones, each one needing to be correct, compliant, and paid on time. Keeping that flow smooth across dozens of countries and strict SOX standards is a constant balancing act.
That’s the day-to-day reality at Unilin, an international manufacturer of flooring, panels, and insulation materials, with operations across Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.
Behind Unilin’s well-known flooring and panel brands runs a complex web of invoices, approvals, and reports, all orchestrated by SAP Vendor Invoice Management (VIM).
Keeping global invoice flows aligned with SAP VIM
Over time, Unilin’s accounts payable process has evolved continuously, built on a shared VIM setup that now supports nearly every entity in the group.
Unilin sees that ongoing evolution as essential, but they also know it requires more than just maintenance. It demands a true product expert. Someone who knows VIM inside and out, functionally and technically, and who can translate between IT and the business.
“We didn’t have that kind of VIM expertise in-house. We needed someone who could both understand the system and speak the language of our finance team.” – Bernd Schroeder, SAP Finance Manager
SAP VIM expertise that drives real improvement
Unilin and Sollitics have been working together for several years, a partnership built on trust, expertise, and a shared drive to keep improving. We collaborate on projects and jump in whenever ad-hoc questions arise, using our experience from other VIM environments to bring fresh, practical ideas into Unilin’s setup. That outside perspective often turns into real, hands-on progress.
Take the PO-matching flow, for example. It started with non-PO processing and gradually evolved to include PO invoices, adding shipment, delivery, and weighbridge logic along the way. Each step made the process more accurate, more efficient, and easier to maintain. Upgrades tell a similar story. With every new VIM release, we help Unilin spot what’s worth implementing and what can wait . Always aiming to stay close to standard (clean core) and avoid unnecessary custom work.
“If something is already on the roadmap for a future release, there’s no need to build it now. That mindset keeps our system clean and our costs predictable.” –Bernd Schroeder – SAP Finance Manager
One of those upgrades introduced the Fiori app. It lets users approve invoices straight from their phone , a small upgrade that made a big difference in day-to-day work.
Through all these projects, one principle keeps things aligned: keep the core clean, build on standard, and improve automation without losing sight of the people who use it.
Building trust through understanding
While knowing the system matters, understanding the people who use it matters even more. Especially in a global setup like Unilin’s. With so many teams involved, alignment across countries and departments doesn’t happen by accident. That’s why we make sure the business is always part of the conversation.
Our role goes beyond configuration: we translate processes, explain options in plain language, and help every stakeholder see the bigger picture.
“The business trusts their judgment, they understand our processes and explain things in a way that makes sense, even for non-technical teams.” An Persoons – Solution Architect Finance & Controlling
That understanding also extends to how Unilin works internally. With SOX-compliance and strict documentation rules, every change has to be traceable. We help ensure that everything we build or advise on is clearly documented, making knowledge transferable, not dependent.
“After so many years of working together, Sollitics knows our structure and adapt easily. They’re flexible, honest, and always think along with us.” Bernd Schroeder – SAP Finance Manager
In the end, it’s a collaboration built on trust and open communication, where technical expertise meets human understanding.
Curious how your VIM setup could evolve the same way? Let’s talk about what continuous improvement could look like for your organization.
