1. Objective and Scope

The purpose of this document is to describe the monthly process to update "reel" exchange rates in BFC.

2. Quantum files 

Quantum is the Treasury system managing centrally Solvay official exchange rates and distributing them across the SAP applications.

On the last working day of the month, Quantum (QUANTUM-Solvay@avantgardportal.com) automatically sends 4 emails (one per each file) to BFCAdmin-ext@solvay.com with the following subjects:

  • QUANTUM : YYYY.MM Rates Interface for BFC contains  YYYY.MM_BFC_Rates_Interface_FromQT.txt file 
  • QUANTUM : YYYY.MM Monthly Rates for BFC contains YYYY.MM-BFC_MonthlyRates_FromQT.xls file
  • QUANTUM : YYYY.MM Quarterly Rates for BFC contains YYYY.MM-BFC_QuarterlyRates_FromQT.xls file
  • QUANTUM : YYYY.MM Year's Rates for BFCcontains YYYY.MM-BFC_YearRates_FromQT.xls file


3. BFC upload

The file YYYY.MM_BFC_Rates_Interface_FromQT.txt received from Quantum has the correct format ready to be uploaded in BFC.



3.2 Create REEL YYYY.MM table in BFCTop

Before being able to upload YYYY.MM reel exchange rates from the txt file we need to create the table in BFC.

From the previous period do a Save as.






Save the new table  and close. 


 Open the new table


Select all lines, except the frozen rates, and press DELETE to erase previous month rates. 




3.3 Import Quantum file

Import YYYY.MM_BFC_Rates_Interface_FromQT.txt file into BFC.










6 lines expected to be rejected: Currency CNH not created in BFC table. 



Save the table 


3.4 Run excel retrieval file to check consistency 

Before piloting the exchange rates table to BFCProd it is recommended to run a consistency check on the rates just uploaded into BFCTop.

Excel retrieval file - Exchange Rates checks.xls - is saved in this folder:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B9nW8GnVsEWvYnhRdnIxd0h1dE0?resourcekey=0-eXQIeVckL7ZZFUEeuLRyKQ

How to proceed with these checks:

  • Update period in cell C1
  • Connect to FCPtop and refresh the file














From column E to J there's a retrieve of what we've just uploaded into BFC with the interface file.









In columns M and N there's a comparison of TO (Op. Rate) and TCN-1 (closing rate) with Dec. Y-1  TC and TMN rates. No differences are expected. 




In columns P and P there's a comparison of TCN-1 (Closing Rate N-1) and TMYN-1 (Aver. Rate N-1) with TC and TMN homologous period rates.  No differences are expected. 



In Columns V and W there's a calculation of the TC and TMN variation (%) compared to previous month. 

There's a conditional formatting in these cells: variations >= or <= than 50% are highlighted in red and those cases should be communicated to GAR Conso team by email as a warning message. 



3.5 Pilot to FCProd

To pilot REEL exchange rates we should use Task EXPL-ADMIN.





4. Aodocs file update

Besides BFC update, BFC Admin is also in charge to update the yearly exchange rates file published in Aodocs.

The information received in the 3 files from Quantum (Monthly, Quarterly and Yearly rates) are in the exact same format as the 3 tabs in Aodocs file and therefore only a copy/paste is necessary. 


Open the Exchange Rates YYYY file in Aodocs


From Quantum file YYYY.MM-BFC_MonthlyRates_FromQT.xls copy the last column to Aodocs file tab Monthly calculation





From Quantum file YYYY.MM-BFC_QuarterlyRates_FromQT.xls copy the last column to Aodocs file tab Quarterly calculation




From YYYY.MM-BFC_YearRates_FromQT.xls copy the last 2 columns to Aodocs file tab Year rates


Once the 3 tabs of Aodocs file have been updated close the file (changes are automatically).

5. Communication