With the entry into force of the amendments to the German Foreign Trade and Payments Ordinance (AWV) in January 2025, a topic has moved firmly into focus that is operationally highly relevant for many management companies, asset managers and financial service providers in Germany: AWV reporting. What was previously often regarded as a formal obligation is increasingly evolving into a demanding reporting process with clear requirements regarding data quality, processes and systems.

The latest revision of the Ordinance introduces several far-reaching adjustments. Key elements include the increase of existing reporting thresholds and the harmonisation of reporting deadlines. While this may provide a degree of relief, it simultaneously requires a clean and consistent data foundation. In addition, specific metrics for crypto assets have been introduced, aligning the regulatory framework with current market and product developments.

Another central aspect concerns the technical implementation. Existing AWV forms may only be used until summer 2026. Going forward, reports must be submitted exclusively via new data collection templates and XML schemas, which will fully replace the previous formats. This transition requires not only system-level adjustments but also a rethink of internal reporting processes. Furthermore, information relating to key group metrics – including total assets, annual turnover and number of employees – will become mandatory reporting fields. As a result, both the scope and the complexity of the information to be reported are set to increase significantly.

Concrete need for action for affected customers

For affected companies in Germany, this translates into a clear mandate for action: processes, responsibilities and systems must be reviewed and adapted at an early stage. With XENTIS, Profidata offers an innovative solution that captures reportable transactions in a structured manner, consistently derives the relevant metrics and establishes the foundation for compliant and future-proof AWV reporting – including preparation for the new XML formats. The focus extends beyond technical implementation to the seamless integration of reporting obligations into existing governance and reporting structures.

“Many market participants underestimate the effort associated with the transition to the new XML schemas. Those who fail to prepare in a structured way risk operational bottlenecks as the end of the transitional period approaches,” explains Philipp Mosel, Business Analyst and Product Manager Reporting at Profidata. According to Mosel, particularly where AWV reports are still prepared manually or only partially automated, the risk of media discontinuities, erroneous submissions or missed deadlines increases significantly.

The new AWV requirements undoubtedly increase pressure – yet they also present an opportunity to professionalise existing reporting processes and position them more efficiently for the long term. Those who act early gain planning certainty, reduce operational risk and enhance transparency vis-à-vis supervisory authorities and internal stakeholders alike.

Would you like to explore how to future-proof your AWV reporting? Our experts will be pleased to support you in analysing your current processes and implementing the new requirements. Our ambition is not to treat regulatory obligations in isolation, but to embed them seamlessly into systems and workflows so that they operate reliably and efficiently in day-to-day business.