Preamble
The purpose of this document is to define the Accounting Token usage to contribute to the reshuffle of non-stop changing business landscape with the aim to link the supply chain process with the globally bookkeeping processes.
The Accounting Token is part of the accounting entry model to be submitted by TBG12 to UN/CEFACT Forum process with the goal of developing a UN/CEFACT ebXML standard message using the UN/CEFACT Modelling Methodology (UMM) approach and Unified Modelling Language to describe and detail the accounting business processes.
The Accounting Token contains the minimum set of accounting elements optionally appended on each e-document during the course of a supply chain transaction. It is the cornerstone toward automated production of entry in the accounting books of the partners to the transaction.
So far only core business tasks, most often in large entities, benefit of productivity increase due to EDI. The e-Business practice provides new opportunities to improve the competitiveness of companies, in particular for Small and Medium Enterprises (SME).
The recognized role devoted to accounting is to provide “a true and fair view” of the activities of an entity. To achieve this goal accounting needs to record, the sooner the better, the financial value of any event affecting the assets of the entity.
From accounting perspective, the supply chain is a succession of events to be recorded into accounts to track financial flows corresponding to events influencing the economic value of the entity.
The commercial supply chain is a perfectly modelled choreography upon which accounting can build the bookkeeping mechanisms related to the succession of business e-documents.
Depending of business patterns the events described within this BRS must be adapted: e.g. order commitment in the business supply chain can be a commitment for reservation confirmation in the tourism supply chain or a contract proposal in another activity sector. All should be able to enclose the Accounting Token possibility into the business specific step.
