Transactions

Structure of a business transaction


Just like we follow a certain structure in writing a business letter (example: On the top of the letter, recipient name and address and then subject headline and then the content of the letter), we also follow a certain structure in creating transaction documents in SAP CRM.

• Header level data (General data-business partner related information)
• Item level data (material/product and pricing related information)
• Schedule line level data (Only sales transactions have this line and it provides delivery related information)

Role of item category in SAP CRM

Item category controls the processing of an item in a Transaction. Item Category is determined in a Transaction by  4 factors Combination

ITEM CATEGORY =SALES DOC TYPE (Transaction type) + ITEM CATEGORY GROUP +ITEM CATEGORY USAGE + HIGHER LEVEL  ITEM CATEGORY

The item category group determines how a product in the business transaction should be handled. For example, It determines that pricing does not take place for free items such as promotional free gifts, or that inventory management is carried out for a service.

For processing of business transactions, the system uses the item category group to determine the item category. From the item category group of the product and the current transaction type, the system determines the item category and enters it as default in the relevant transaction at item level.

Example:- You create a sales order for a product with item category group (sales item), the system automatically determines the item category suitable for this.

You can make the relevant settings for item category determination in the Implementation Guide, under Customer Relationship Management ® Transactions ® Basic Settings ® Define Item Category Determination.

Item Category :

You define the item categories for business transactions.Like transaction types, an item category is assigned to one or more business transaction categories. An item category specifies the properties and attributes of a business transaction item, and therefore controls how the item is processed

First, you assign the item category to an item object type. The item object type defines the business context in which an item category is used. Example BUS200140- CRM Service Product Item.

Item Category Group

With the help of the item category group, you review the various products from a business view for item category determination. Enter the item category group for each product in the product master.(T Code COMMPR01)

During business transaction processing, the system creates the item category from the item category group for the product, and from the business transaction category, and proposes it in the document. You can assign item categories to business transaction types and item category groups in the process Maintain item category determination.

Item Categories Usage

The item category usage is generally used for items that do not refer to a product (for example, Free Items, text items).  

The item category usage is assigned to the respective transaction types when the item category is determined. When processing documents, the system determines the item category from the transaction type and item category group or the item category usage and proposes it in the document.

What is needed to create a transaction

document (Example: Sales order)?

To define a transaction type (example: quotation, sales/service order etc), we must first define the following things.

• Partner Determination Procedure
• Organizational Data Profile
• Date Profile
• Number Range
• Assign all the above to transaction type

How to define Partner Determination Procedure

IMG -> CRM -> Basic Functions -> Partner Processing -> Define Partner Determination Procedure

Avoid changing existing determination procedures. Create new determination procedures using the assistant or by copying existing determination procedures and then changing the copies as needed.

How to set up Org Data Profile

IMG -> CRM -> Master Data -> Organizational Management -> Organizational Data Determination

Check this link for more details. Determining Organizational Data

How to define a Date Profile

IMG -> CRM -> Basic Functions -> Date Definition -> Define Date Types, Duration Types and Date Rules

If you use CRM Billing, your date profile must also contain the date types BILL_DATE Billing date and INVCR_DATE Invoice creation date.

How to define a number range

IMG -> CRM -> Transactions -> Basic Settings -> Define Number Ranges

Now, we are ready to define transaction types by using the below steps.

IMG -> CRM -> Transactions -> Basic Settings -> Define Transaction Types.

An example of a Standard SAP Transaction type for 'sales order processing' in SAP CRM is called TA -standard order. This is a template from SAP that is used in the Sales scenario for sales order processing.

1.  Always copy from the default transaction type (provided by SAP system) and then update important controlling attributes, such as the leading business transaction category, the partner determination procedure, the organizational data profile, date profile and the number range assignment, in addition to defining a key and a short description of the transaction type.
2. Leading business transaction category is simply a preference and is not related hierarchically to the other business transaction categories. A sales transaction with business activity data, for example, would be more likely to have 'sales' as a leading business transaction category than 'business activity'.
3. Select Assignment of Business Transaction Categories in the dialog structure and assign the business transaction categories. You can assign one or more business transaction categories to one transaction type. Only certain combinations of business transaction categories are possible. Select the additional business transaction categories according to the leading business transaction category.
4. Choose Customizing Header in the dialogue structure to make the Customizing settings for the header level for the business transaction categories you selected.
5. Once you save it, your new transaction type is ready for use. Test it by creating a new transaction.

Why Partner Processing?

• Which partners must be involved in a business transaction?
• Are individual partners found automatically?
• Where does the system look for involved partners?
• Which external partners are involved- example: supplier, payer
• Which internal partners are involved- example: employee