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Enhancing SAP AVC for Real-World Product Complexity

Master Data-Driven Variant Configuration (mdVC) is a lightweight but powerful add-on framework that extends SAP S/4HANA Advanced Variant Configuration (AVC) — designed specifically for complex configuration scenarios where standard AVC tooling reaches its limits.

Built by configuration experts from metalsXP, mdVC addresses a common challenge: while AVC offers a constraint-based modeling approach, real-world business logic — particularly in industries like metals, machinery, and industrial manufacturing — often requires more than what constraints, variant tables, and procedures can express.

mdVC bridges that gap.

Why mdVC?​

AVC (Advanced Variant Configuration) is SAP's modern replacement for LO-VC — bringing a rule-based engine, configuration models, and dependency management into the S/4HANA stack. However:

  • You can't use variant functions anymore.
  • Business logic needs to be expressed inside the model, which quickly becomes unmanageable.
  • Master data-driven restrictions or cross-characteristic rules require workarounds or duplication.
  • Advanced scenarios (e.g. order dressing, technical validations, or conditional routing logic) require external logic execution, which AVC does not natively support.

mdVC is not a replacement of AVC — it is a focused extension layer.

What mdVC adds to AVC​

mdVC connects AVC to modern SAP technologies in a controlled and transparent way:

CDS-Driven Dependencies​

Use Core Data Services (CDS) to define restrictions and characteristic filters based on live SAP master data — materials, plants, BOMs, customer info, etc. No more hardcoded values or duplicated data.

BRF+ for Config Logic​

Plug in BRF+ rules as part of the configuration process — cleanly separated from the model. This allows:

  • Centralized rule management
  • Business-side governance
  • Easy maintenance and version control

PRO Code - Embedded ABAP Logic​

For scenarios where decision logic depends on runtime context or complex algorithms, mdVC allows controlled injection of ABAP logic (with pre-defined interfaces). Ideal for:

  • Complex pricing adjustments
  • Rule-based routing
  • Post-configuration validations or enrichments

Built for Complexity - Especially Metals​

mdVC was born in the metals industry, where standard variant configuration simply doesn't scale. Think of use cases like:

  • Configuring coils or sheets with chemical, mechanical, and dimensional constraints
  • Adjusting routings and BOMs based on plant-specific capabilities
  • Applying customer-specific finishing processes or tolerances
  • Order dressing logic that requires multiple steps and context-aware decisions

This is where mdVC shines — linking configuration to actual execution logic without burying complexity in the model.

Transparent Architecture - S/4 Native​

With mdVC you can use:

  • CDS Views for data modeling
  • BRF+ for business rule execution
  • ABAP exits for advanced logic
  • No black-box logic, no framework lock-in

It works with AVC, not around it — and it's fully extensible using SAP-standard tools. This means standard integrations, such as SAP CPQ, work out of the box — with mdVC logic executed as part of the native AVC configuration process.

Explore the sidebar to learn how mdVC works, how to extend it, and how it's been applied in real-world projects.