The functions and database structure of an existing application for item master data maintenance with a flexible price and calculation model is enhanced to include dialog-based allocation of: items to hierarchically dependent sales groups (product group-dependent order records) or to independent special order records; branches to item order records for the purpose of controlling ordering and reordering for the range; item valuation system as an order recommendation for branches. Furthermore, individual formatted Excel files are generated for the branches for checking incoming goods, as well as PDF reports for ordering items and labeling the items on the shelves with labels (including highlighting of price changes). The files generated are sent to the branches in an automatic e-mail dispatch and logged in a history. The mailing data is weekday-dependent and freely configurable; manual generation is possible using a dialog.