In the intricate world of scientific instrumentation, Malvern Panalytical stands as a beacon of precision and innovation. Formed from the merger of Malvern Instruments and PANalytical, this global leader in laboratory analytical instruments faced a formidable challenge: unifying disparate tax compliance systems across continents. The solution? A strategic partnership with Sovos that transformed their tax operations from a fragmented patchwork into a cohesive, efficient system.
Mergers often bring the promise of expanded capabilities and market reach, but they also introduce complexities, especially in financial operations. Malvern Panalytical’s merger presented a scenario where one entity utilized Sovos for sales tax compliance, while the other relied on a different provider. This disparity led to inconsistent exemption certificate storage and time-consuming tax status updates, often requiring intervention from the UK Finance team, causing delays due to time zone differences.
According to recent market research, the global tax management software market is expected to grow from $18.2 billion in 2022 to $35.8 billion by 2027. This growth is fueled by rising regulatory complexity and the globalization of trade. For Malvern Panalytical, modernizing tax operations was no longer optional—it was essential to stay compliant, efficient, and audit-ready across more than 40 countries. Malvern Panalytical required a system that could centralize tax operations, provide global accessibility, and integrate seamlessly with their existing ERP infrastructure.
Malvern Panalytical’s journey underscores the transformative impact of strategic technology adoption in tax compliance. By embracing Sovos’ comprehensive suite, the company not only streamlined its operations but also empowered its teams and enhanced its global responsiveness. For ERP professionals, this case study serves as a testament to the value of integrated, cloud-based tax solutions in navigating the complexities of modern financial operations.
Embracing the Cloud: A Unified Tax Compliance Strategy
Malvern Panalytical turned to Sovos, implementing its comprehensive sales tax suite, which includes Sovos Global Tax Determination, Sovos CertManager, and Sovos Filing. This cloud-based solution enabled the consolidation of global tax operations under a single provider, streamlining processes and enhancing efficiency.
The transition to Sovos brought immediate benefits:
- Enhanced Efficiency: Monthly financial reconciliations became more manageable, with reporting capabilities simplifying the process.
- Improved Responsiveness: Tax status updates and re-invoicing, which previously took hours or days, could now be completed within minutes.
- Global Accessibility: The Sales Order Processing team gained the ability to manage tax data independently, regardless of their location or time zone.
Richard Beetlestone, Financial Controller UK/AMEC at Malvern Panalytical, remarked, “CertManager has provided the functionality that we needed to enable our Sales Order Processing team to manage the data themselves, regardless of their time zone or location.”
Empowering Teams and Ensuring Compliance
The adoption of Sovos not only streamlined operations but also empowered Malvern Panalytical’s teams:
- Finance Team: Freed from time-consuming manual processes, the finance team could focus on strategic initiatives.
- Sales Order Processing Team: Gained autonomy in managing tax data, leading to faster customer service and reduced dependency on the finance department.
Furthermore, Sovos CertManager served as a centralized repository for exemption certificates, reducing the risk of errors and ensuring readiness for audits.
Beetlestone highlighted the benefits, stating, “[Sovos Filing gives us] greater access to data for Finance in order to see monthly transactions and returns online, and reconcile against SAP for anomalies.”
A Sovos spokesperson noted, “More and more global manufacturers are realizing that tax technology can be a competitive differentiator—not just a compliance tool. Malvern Panalytical’s implementation is a great example of using cloud automation to empower teams across finance, sales, and operations.”
As more enterprises shift toward real-time e-invoicing, digital VAT reporting, and global tax transparency initiatives, centralized, integrated platforms like Sovos will become the default standard. A recent industry report found that companies adopting integrated tax compliance platforms reduce audit risk by 45% and cut tax processing times by 60%.
What This Means for ERP Insiders
Centralize tax compliance to enhance efficiency. In the wake of mergers or global expansions, disparate tax systems can hinder operational efficiency. Centralizing tax compliance under a unified platform, as Malvern Panalytical did with Sovos, can streamline processes, reduce errors, and enhance responsiveness. Sovos’ integration capabilities with ERP systems like SAP ensure seamless data flow and real-time updates, crucial for maintaining compliance across jurisdictions.
Empower teams through decentralized access. Granting teams across the organization access to manage tax data can lead to significant improvements in responsiveness and efficiency. By enabling the Sales Order Processing team to handle tax status updates independently, Malvern Panalytical reduced delays and improved customer service. Sovos CertManager’s user-friendly interface facilitates this decentralized approach without compromising data integrity.
Leverage cloud-based solutions for global accessibility. Cloud-based tax compliance solutions offer the flexibility and scalability necessary for global operations. Malvern Panalytical’s transition to Sovos’ cloud suite allowed for real-time access to tax data worldwide, eliminating delays caused by time zone differences. Such solutions are essential for organizations seeking to maintain compliance and efficiency in an increasingly interconnected global market.
