6.2 Master Data Simplification
Master data has been simplified in SAP S/4HANA sales and distribution functions. In this section, we’ll walk you through the business partner concept for customers to uncover these data simplifications.
6.2.1 Business Partner Concept in SAP S/4HANA
As stated in Chapter 5, the business partner concept isn’t new in SAP S/4HANA. Business partners are used in SAP Supplier Relationship Management (SAP SRM), SAP Customer Relationship Management (SAP CRM), and Financial Supply Chain Management (FSCM) modules.
Business partner general data contains information about name and address, similar to the General Data view in SAP ERP. Instead of assigning a partner to an account group, partners are assigned to a number of roles so they can transact with the system. A business partner can perform the role of vendor, customer, or both. Table 6.1 compares the business partner concept in SAP ERP and SAP S/4HANA.
Table 6.1 Business Partners in SAP S/4HANA and SAP ERP
In SAP S/4HANA, the Maintain Business Partner SAP Fiori app is used to create, edit, and display business partners, vendors, and customers. Business partner category type Organization is always used for the creation of vendors and customers.
6.2.2 Business Partner Grouping
After launching the Maintain Business Partner app, the business partner grouping needs to be selected. Each business partner must be allocated to a business partner grouping before creating the general data. The business partner grouping is linked to the business partner number range, which is a configuration object in the cross-application components setup. General business data such as name and address information must be entered before the business partner can be created in the system. Figure 6.1 shows business partner general data creation with business partner grouping.
Figure 6.1 Business Partner General Data Creation with Business Partner Grouping
6.2.3 Business Partner Role
The business partner is extended to applicable business partner roles based on how the partner interacts with your company. Business partners with the Customer role enable the Sales view (see Figure 6.2) and allow the maintenance of sales information such as default shipping location, incoterms, order currency, and payment terms. Assigning a business partner the Customer role allows sales orders to be created for that customer; however, invoicing can’t be completed until business partner role FI Customer is also assigned to the partner.
Figure 6.2 Sales View from Business Partner Role Customer
Business partner role FI Customer enables the Company Code view (see Figure 6.3) and allows the maintenance of company code information such as the payment method.
Figure 6.3 Company Code View from Business Partner Role FI Customer
It’s recommended to have the same number range for the business partner and customers.
6.2.4 SAP ERP System Upgrade to SAP S/4HANA
For system upgrades from SAP ERP to SAP S/4HANA, existing customers and vendors in the SAP ERP system must be migrated as business partners. Vendor master and customer master migration from SAP ERP to SAP S/4HANA is described in detail in Chapter 10.
Now that you understand the business partner concept, grouping, and roles in SAP S/4HANA, we’ll walk you through the sales contract management functionality in SAP S/4HANA.