Notification of Pending Changes to RUO Product and Material Codes
Overview
Beginning in June 2026, as we implement our new SAP Enterprise Resource Planning system, our Avanti Research portfolio of RUO products will undergo a change in product and material code formats.
This change will NOT affect the manufacture, storage, release or shipping of products. However, there will be several key changes of which we would like to make you aware. Please see below for critical information that will ensure a smooth transition for you, our customer.
To avoid any possible delays due to the cut over activities during May 2026, we recommend placing your orders early!
IMPORTANT DATES!!!
Product Ordering and Fulfilment – US Customers
| Last Recommended Date for RUO Catalog Order Placement | May 1, 2026 |
| Last Shipment Date (RUO Materials) | May 7, 2026 |
| Cut Over Date | June 1, 2026 |
Implementation Period (May 11, 2026 – May 31, 2026): During this time, you may experience delays in quote requests, order confirmations, shipping notifications, and other communications as we transition systems and implement changes.
Key Changes
Product Identification:
- Product codes will change from a 6-digit number to a 7-character alphanumeric code
- Product names may be shortened due to SAP character limits
- Material codes will take on structure that reflects the product code, SKU/pack size, packaging type and physical state.
Labels:
- Labels will contain both new and legacy product codes
- Label information will remain mostly unchanged, with minor formatting updates to align with SAP templates.
CoA:
- Product specifications are unaffected.
- CoAs will have both new and legacy product codes.
- CoAs will have minor formatting changes to align with SAP templates.
Expected Customer Impact:
- Customers Purchasing Outside the United States:
If you purchase Avanti Research products through Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany or its affiliated distributors outside the United States, please note that your ordering, invoicing, and fulfilment processes will not be affected by the upcoming SAP system transition occurring within our U.S. operations. For non‑U.S. customers, the only changes you may notice are updates to product codes and formatting of product labels and Certificates of Analysis (COAs). These updates reflect global alignment with our new SAP templates but do not impact product specifications, manufacturing, storage, or release processes. All other customer workflows outside the U.S. will continue as usual, and any region‑specific communications will continue to be provided directly by the Merck KGaA team.
- Customers Purchasing Directly in the United States:
- Purchasing Systems: You may need to update your systems to reflect the new material codes for ordering. While ordering with legacy codes will still be possible, continued use of old codes may result in processing delays.
- On-line ordering: Primary product code will transition to the new SAP code as outlined below. However, legacy product codes will remain listed and searchable for each product, allowing you to continue finding products using the old codes.
