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Multiple Ways of Handling Inbound EDI Transactions: by Pramod Veguru
Multiple Ways of Handling Inbound EDI Transactions: by Pramod Veguru
Session Summary
Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) is about doing business and carrying out transactions with your trading partners electronically. On SAP side, EDI is handled through IDocs. When the data comes into SAP, it is called inbound transaction. When the data goes out of SAP, it is called outbound transaction. We will talk in detail about some common inbound EDI scenarios that are handled in SAP with the examples and solutions. Assumptions: The audience is familiar with basic SAP terms (like sales order, function module, application).
EDI An Overview
Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) is about doing business and carrying out transactions with your trading partners electronically. EDI covers most things that are traditionally done using paper-based communication. In the U.S., the most commonly used standard is ANSI X12, coordinated by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). While in Europe, it is the Electronic Data Interchange for Administration, Commerce, and Transportation (EDIFACT) standard.
(Source: www.erpgenie.com)
Reduced cycle time Increased productivity Reduced costs Improved accuracy Improved business relationships Enhanced customer service Increased sales Minimized paper use and storage
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(Source: www.disa.org)
Cogent IBS Inc. 2008. All Rights reserved.
Customer transmits EDI 850 (purchase order) Supplier transmits EDI 997 (functional acknowledgement)
Supplier transmits EDI 856 (advance ship notice)
Customer transmits EDI 997 (functional acknowledgement)
Supplier transmits EDI 810 (electronic invoice)
Customer transmits EDI 997 (functional acknowledgement)
Customer transmits EDI 820 (Electronic Funds Transfer) Payment
(Source: www.erpgenie.com)
Cogent IBS Inc. 2008. All Rights reserved.
SAP
Transactions that are used in SAP to view inbound EDI data Finally how it looks after posting to an application
Inbound EDI
(Source: ALE, EDI and IDoc Technologies for SAP by Arvind Nagpal and John Pitlak)
Cogent IBS Inc. 2008. All Rights reserved.
headers and trailers are stripped off, and the document is converted into an IDoc format suitable for SAP applications. The process is carried out at the EDI subsystem level.
The IDoc is transferred to the SAP layer. The subsystem starts an
inbound program in the SAP layer. This program reads the IDoc file and creates an IDoc in the SAP repository for further processing.
Cogent IBS Inc. 2008. All Rights reserved.
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The IDoc received from the subsystem is passed to a posting program. This program creates an application document such as a sales order, purchase order acknowledgment, invoice, or shipment notice. The application document is created. The application document can be viewed. The application document created via EDI is the same as any document created manually in the system: The document can be viewed using standard application transactions. For example, if an incoming sales order was created via EDI, you could view the sales order document via transaction VA03.
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Custom Functionality
Technical aspects of Custom Functionality
Explained in detail by taking a custom IDoc processing function
module as an example
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One way of accomplishing custom functionality desired by the client is through developing a whole new IDoc processing function module in SE37 transaction.
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application
Using BDC recording for posting Updating any custom tables Or Just reading the data and sending it as email to the required
person
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IDoc extension
Difference between IDoc extension and developing new IDocs
IDoc extension explained
Transactions used for extending IDocs
Handling extended IDocs
Tips on effectively extending IDocs
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you might conclude that the standard basic IDoc type meets most of your requirements. In this case, you can simply extend the basic IDoc type.
If the basic IDoc type does not meet your requirements at all, you
sufficiently supported by SAP, you might need to develop a basic IDoc type from scratch.
Cogent IBS Inc. 2008. All Rights reserved.
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expects additional information on an EDI document. For example, your customers expect an invoice number and date on an advance shipment notice transaction.
You are interfacing with legacy systems using IDocs.
IDoc extension is achieved using transactions WE30 and WE31
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functionality can be achieved through userexits which are found in standard SAP function modules function module may be required.
Caution! Because developing new IDocs is considered a modification and, therefore, is not supported in an upgrade you have to review and test your process again after you upgrade.
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information, and summary information. This technique is commonly used for SAP documents.
Use industry standards for your data elements whenever possible.
(Source: ALE, EDI and IDoc technologies for SAP by Arvind Nagpal and John Pitlak)
Cogent IBS Inc. 2008. All Rights reserved.
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Session Takeaways
o Depending on the requirement of the customer, SAP has many
ways to solve the tasks. The discussed ones are some common ways. Additional helpful tips include:
o We can also use programs like RC1_IDOC_SET_STATUS to
change the status of the posted IDoc to 64 and reprocess it into SAP using BD87 if the customer wants to reprocess for any reason.
o We can use WE19 to make up IDoc and post IDoc for testing
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Wrap-up
o Using EDI in a business process will ensure speed, reduced paper
can be standard functionality provided by SAP or a complete customized functionality as required by the client.
o In either case, there are tools and technology available on SAP to
handle the tasks successfully. Most common methods are covered in this presentation.
Cogent IBS Inc. 2008. All Rights reserved.
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References
o www.erpgenie.com o www.disa.org o ALE, EDI and IDOC Technologies 2nd Edition by Arvind Nagpal
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Q&A
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About Cogent IBS, Inc. Cogent Integrated Business Solutions, Inc. is an SAP focused consulting services company based out of Troy, Michigan, USA. CogSAP08 is a Cogent IBS, Inc. professional development event conducted exclusively for its employees.
No part of this presentation may be published or transmitted in any form without the express permission of Cogent IBS, Inc.
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