SAP Upgrade Higlight

Sample Management

Main MenuDISCLAIMERPlease Note:This spreadsheet represents a work in progress. In no way is it guaranteed to be complete. It is offered for informational purposes only.As part of its upgrade support, SAP will be enhancing this tool on an ongoing basis.mySAP.com UPGRADE ANALYSISBusiness WarehouseBWSales and DistributionSDCustomer Relationship ManagementCRMService ManagementSMFinancials, Controlloing, Asset ManagementFI, CO, AMStrategic Enterprise ManagementSEMHuman ResourcesHRSupply Chain ManagementSCMKnowledge Management (Training)KMTechnologyTechMaterials Management/ProcurementMMVariant ConfigurationVCPlant MaintenancePMWarehouse ManagementWMProduct DesignPDProduction PlanningPPQuality ManagementQM

PPQMTechVCKMBWCRMFI, CO, AMHRMMPMPDSDSEMSMSCMWM

FI, CO, AMFinancials, Controlling and Asset Management Release HighlightsContinue/SkipEndMain MenuAnnual or One-TimeReleaseDelta FunctionalityFunctionality DescriptionBusiness BenefitSupporting Data/CalculationBenchmark/Implementation ExperienceEstimateFrom 3.1 To 4.0Mass changeMass changes and mass retirements without workflow.In Release 3.0, SAP introduced the functions for master data maintenance and asset retirement using mass processing. In order to represent the organizational flow of these functions in the system, you needed to use R/3 SAP Business Workflow.In Release 4.0A, you do not need this organizational representation in SAP Business Workflow. Mass changes and mass retirements can be carried out directly by each R/3 user who has the necessary authorization. You no longer need to define the responsible users in an organizational plan and assign them to the workflow tasks.Ease of use/ productityReduction in time spent maintaining master data and reduction of cycle time from moving authority to R/3 users.50,000One-TimeMultiple Similar AssetsIn Release 4.0A there is a new function for creating multiple similar assets from within a master data transaction. The similar assets differ initially only in their main number or sub-number. When you save, you can also change the asset description and the inventory number of the individual assets.Ease of use/ productityIntercompany Asset TransferIn Release 4.0A there is a new function for intercompany asset transfer that enables you to post completely from the sending company code. The system automatically posts the acquisition in the receiving company code, and creates the new asset (if one is needed).Please note, however, that this function is only available for transfers within a single client. Transfers between clients or systems must be posted in two steps (retirement and acquisition).Ease of use/ productity100,000One-TimeOverhead cost controllingRelease 4.0A provides greater support for changes in your organization. General enhancements to master data include tab displays to improve master data overview, increased list display functionality, and improved collective processing functions for cost centers. Internal order master data has a new layout as well including tab index pages with additional user-defined fields.Ease of use/ productityAllocationIn release 4.0A, allocation enhanced features include a formal check feature that tests individual cycles before production runs, a segment overview function that displays all the segments involved in a selected cycle, change documents that log cycles or segment indicators and settings, segment insertion at any place for a cycle, and sorting of segments for a cycle.Ease of use/ productityAppropriation requestsSignificant enhancements have been added in release 4.0A to the appropriation request management that improve the appropriation request process and make it easier to use. Additional features were added to appropriation requests with reference to IM context, master data, partner management, variants, cost and revenues, and variants and versions.Capital Investment ProgramsFor the capital investment program, in 4.0A you can now directly distribute the annual budget values from the investment program position to the investment measure. You can now attach plant maintenance orders to the investment program. If you prefer to use these orders to manage your costs, you can integrate them with IM.Reduced budget preperation time & expenditiuresReduced budgeting cycle time, reduced hourly labor chargesData transfer workbenchThe Data Transfer Workbench supports the automatic transfer of data from your legacy system into the R/3 System. The Workbench provides you with access to the standard programs as well as with the necessary tools for transferring data. For example, with release 4.0A, some of the objects you can transfer to the R/3 system using the workbench are the G/L account master record, material master, vendor master, customer master, condition records, sales documents, financial documents, rental contracts, etc.Using this functionality will save time in transferring data as well as improve data integrity.Central address managementA new central address management (CAM) will be delivered for Release 4.0, to be implemented in the areas listed below.In the medium to long term it is planned to change all applications to this central address management. In the new CAM the data will be managed in its own database tables. All application objects will only store a reference to the address key. There are addresses changed to CAM for 4.0A, there are applications in which the address function is new in 4.0A, and there are applications in which the CAM was used in a Release before 4.0.This tool will aid in system performance and ease of maintenance by data being managed in its own tables.Info Object ViewerFrom release 4.0A The Info Object Viewer is the Browser for displaying HTML-based online help in the R/3-System. It is based on the Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0x or the Netscape Navigator 3.0. The R/3 library, the extended help, IMG documents and the glossary are displayed with the Info Object Viewer.The Info Object Viewer is available on all front-end platforms (UNIX, OS/2, Macintosh, Windows 16 bit and Windows 32 Bit). The software and hardware requirements can vary depending on the platform and the HTML based online help (help type) variant used. This viewer might be a more friendly faster way of accessing and seeing the help documentation and could save time.Ease of use/productivityClient copy and transferA new authorization S_CLIENT_IMP is checked (optional in 4.0A). In a remote copy, large clients can be copied without main memory problems. Values such as source client or source destination can be saved for profiles. Since all necessary profiles are delivered by SAP, you are not allowed to create customer profiles.Ease of use/productivityAutomatically mailing of spool request output from background jobsWith Release 4.0A, it is possible to specify that spool request(s) generated by a background job are to be mailed automatically to one or more recipients. The mail functionality of the SAPoffice component is used for the automatic mailing. The spool request(s) may be mailed to a single R/3 mail user, to an external user, or to a distribution list that can include multiple R/3 mail and external mail users. The mail recipient can be identified by his or her R/3 user ID or by the user's name in the R/3 address management component. Addressing by name in the address management requires that user address information be maintained in the R/3 SAPoffice. This increases efficient communication and saves time and mailing costs.Unique gaps can be filled, currently scattered across Whirlpool. Relaces tool in legacy system maintencance costs savings.VRU integrationAbility to support and integrated automated VRU w/ R/3Reduced customer support staff, Reduced response time to customer inquiries$100 Million savings from VRU integration, AT&T, Business Week 2/23/98, pg.61200,000AnnualActivity Based CostingActivity-Based Costing (CO-OM-ABC) in the SAP R/3 System uses the assignment of resources to business processes based on cost origin allowing detailed analysis of specific areas in addition to cross-functional, process-oriented views of your organization. This allows for much greater transparency in the area of overhead.Optimization of business processes, allowing collection of basic information for management strategies and decision-making. The operational integration of Activity-Based Costing with the other components in Controlling (CO) allows process cost flows to be displayed as part of product manufacturing costs. Particularly useful for organizations with a high percentage of overhead costs and a high degree of product complexity, especially as such product complexity leads to strongly differentiated utilization of overhead cost processes by the individual products. Reduces the maintenance required for activity-based costing calculations.ConsolidationAbility to generate internal and statutory group reports,through a single, standard tool.IS-SW SupportAbility to support revenue recognitionFASB Compliance for statutory reporting of revenue, Ability to minimize time to recognize sales revenueReduction in time spent providing FASB compliant information re recognition of sales revenue. Increased cash flow due to better revenue recognition150,000AnnualWarehouse ManagementFrom 4.0 To 4.5Reoccurring ItemsDocument texts in recurring entries and posting with reference. The system can now copy the original document's long text to the documents that result from recurring entries and from posting with reference. When posting with reference, you can choose this option on the initial screen and change the texts as you enter and process the document. The recurring entry data of an original document contains a new parameter that you can choose to have the long text copied. You can change this setting at any time. The system copies all texts from the original document once you process the batch-input session. You cannot have the system transfer individual types of text. In addition cross-country code correspondence in release 4.5 allows data from many company codes to be grouped together.Combine for a overall A/P efficiency improvementBalance DisplayAs of release 4.5 you can create worklists for account numbers and company codes in the balance displays for: Customers Vendors G/L accountsYou define the worklists in customizing as previously.For the balance display in the general ledger, all the company codes in the worklist must have the same local currency and the same fiscal year variant.If you have several parallel local currencies, the worklist can still be used: the data on the parallel local currencies can then, however, not be displayed.Eliminates extra screen processingPayment CurrencyIn the SAP R/3 System, line items posted in one currency can be paid in a different (alternative) currency when paying line items manually. Payers in certain countries and industries also require this facility during automatic payment transactions so that they can make payments in any given currency available to them.As a rule, payers and the vendors either come to a general agreement on what constitute acceptable alternative currencies, or they agree on the payment currency and the payment amount per transaction. Prior to Release 4.5A, payments in an alternative currency could only be created and posted manually. As of Release 4.5A, it is now possible to enter a payment currency that differs from the document currency in the open item. You can also specify an amount equivalent to the gross amount of the item in the payment currency.This payment currency is supported in both Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable.Manual process reuired to pay in another currency, eliminates multiple payment runsDunning ReportingThe following enhancements have been made for dunning in 4.0: Individual dunning noticesA single customer or vendor can be dunned using the individual dunning notice switch in transaction F150. This enables you to see the current dunning status, and to make a sample printout or an actual printout of the dunning notice. For individual dunning notices, an MHNK/MHND record is only written in the actual printout. Grouping one-time accountsAs of 4.0, it is possible to group dunning notices for one-time accounts. Sort variantsIn each company code, sort variants for dunning notice headers and lines can be maintained in table T047. Interest calculation by dunning areaThe interest calculation indicator set for the dunning procedure can be used for each dunning area. Open interfaces (Business Transaction Events) in dunningBy installing interfaces, it is possible to carry out customer-specific enhancements or modifications. Structure FSABE, which issues the accounting clerk data, has been adjusted to the new address management or the changed user address data in SAPoffice. New fields have been included. However, some fields are no longer supplied, e.g. cost center. Payment advice notes can now be generated for dunning notices. Dunning notices can now be printed with payment media attached.Lock Box ProcessingLockbox, which has, until now, been retrieved from the house bank using normal telecommunications or a lockbox provider, can now be received using Electronic Data Interchange (EDI). The data flows into the system automatically and you can process it there.EDI lockbox processing consists of three steps. In the first step, the data is automatically imported into the system and stored in the IM bank data store. The next step is top schedule the report program RFEBLB30; this uses the lockbox data to generate the following postings. The last step is to process the lockbox data using transaction FLB1.Improved performance using RFC during depreciation postingIn release 4.5A the depreciation-posting program RABUCH00 was changed to use Basis technology for parallel processing. As a result, it is possible to distribute the workload to several servers and work processes, which considerably reduces the overall runtime.In addition, the program now offers the option of directly posting the depreciation posting documents, instead of creating a batch-input session. You can choose this option using a report parameter. When you use this function, the step of processing the batch input session is no longer required, which again considerably reduces the overall runtime for depreciation posting. As compared to posting using the batch-input session, the system creates fewer documents when you choose the direct posting option. However, these documents have more line items (approximately 200).Ease of use/ productityAutomatic assignment of the inventory numbersUsing SAP enhancement AISA0001, you can have the system automatically assign an inventory number when you create a new asset master record. The new number is assigned according to rules you define.Ease of use/ productityPeriod-end partnner for asset accountingIn Release 4.5A, you can steer periodic processing in Asset Accounting using the Period-End Partner. The Period-End Partner (PEP) is a general tool in the Accounting components of the R/3 System. It makes it easier to control periodic processing, and in the future will help to make these processes automatic as far as possible. Using the Period-End Partner you can display the current status of the period-end closing.You can use the Period-End Partner to control either the posting depreciation process or the posting of asset values (other than depreciation) process in Asset Accounting.Ease of use/ productitySummary for external accounting documentsAs of release 4.5A you can carry out document summarization in Controlling for postings from external accounting. Depending on the object type you define the fields that are not to appear in the CO document. You can only use those fields for summarization that contain no information of relevance to Controlling.Ease of use/ productityGroup maintenanceChange documents for groups: You can write change documents for all groups within Controlling if you have made the corresponding settings in the Implementation Guide (IMG) "Controlling General". Based on the change documents you can make changes to the group at any time. All changes to the group structure and the group name are logged, together with the date of the change and the user. Selection variants in group maintenance: You can use the following functions for selection variants when you maintain groups of cost elements, cost centers, activity types, business processes, orders and WBSEase of use/ productityelements. Processing master data from the standard hierarchy: Until now, you structured the standard hierarchy and created cost centers or business processes in two separate steps. It was only possible through master data maintenance to assign a cost center or a business process to a node of the standard hierarchy or to change the assignment of a cost center or business process to a node. As of Release 4.5A it is possible to edit the standard hierarchy and cost centers or business processes at the same time. This simplifies maintenance. It is not yet possible to edit master data for profit centers from standard hierarchy maintenance.Transfer PricingMaking sure there are no zeros in tranfer costs-data integrity. Ease of use, less effort to maintain/efficiencyPlanning, Budgeting & FoecastingAbility to upload spreadsheet data i.e. budgetsEase of use/ productity,also have the ability to capture actuals & create plans based on them (efficiency)Appropriation requestsIn Release 4.5A, you can link together several appropriation requests that can be seen as alternative methods of implementing a measure or as different alternate investment options. These alternate appropriation requests are linked by means of the original appropriation request (that is, the first of the alternates that was created).Enhancement to PS (investment manager only)This function goes a step further than the appropriation request variants by allowing you to link very different alternatives (such as, do we build a plant in the USA or in Spain?) together in the system. Up until release 4.5A the "program position ID" field was not available in the master data screen for internal orders. In Release 4.5A, the "program position ID" field is included in the screen layout of appropriation requests. It can now be defined as a required entry field in appropriation request master data.Capital Investment ProgramsIn Release 4.5A, you can reassign measures and appropriation requests, which are assigned to a program position, within the investment program. You can also select a limited number of the measures and appropriation requests that are assigned to a program position, and reassign only those measures or requests. Reassigned measures take all of their plan, budget and actual values with them. At the level of the investment program, the system automatically makes the necessary changes to the plan values and budget values.Enhancement to PS (investment manager only) Will check with Amy to see if benefits were ever applied to this areaMass Change FunctionalityMass maintenance makes it easier to enter large amounts of data. To meet these requirements, R/3 version 4.5 contains a central tool that can be used by various applications. Supported master data includes material master, article master, customer master, and vendor master.A large amount of data entry can be avoided using this tool, saving time. Another benefit would be data integrity. Eliminates interface costs by developing one central program to port data that is useable to all BAPIsSAPgui in JAVAThis is a thin GUI client for an SAP System. Running as a Java applet in an Internet browser, it provides Internet access to an R/3 or R/2 System. Since it can also run as an application, it provides an alternative GUI for client platforms that do not have their own "native" SAPgui. SAPgui in Java consists of two components - the SAPgui server, and a Java applet. The SAPgui server is a normal (multi-threaded) SAPgui without the GUI part. Instead, it has an API, which the GUI can use to make itself a SAPgui. It is a standalone program, and must run on a host that has a connection to an R/3 or an R/2 System. For performance reasons, it is written in C++.45,000From 4.5 To 4.6Asset Explorer (replaces asset value display)Displays all transactions posted to asset, as well as depreciation (planned & posted) by depreciation area, navigated via left panel. Parameters tab displays select asset control data. User may change asset displayed without leaving the screen.Displays comprehensive information in a single screen; user no longer has to consult several screens for relevant asset information.Fixed Assets-Single Screen PostingsUser can create & post to an asset in a single screen; additionally, a posting no longer requires a transaction type.Faster data entry.Fixed Assets- User Defined fields in master recordEnhancement AIST0002 allows the user to define fields in the master data record as needed. Previously, users could use only "informational" fields, such as inventory number, to meet unique master data requirements and the field name could not be changed.Minimizes end-user confusion as a result of counterintuitive field names; better able to meet the unique needs of the client.Fixed Assets-Notification of cost center changePreviously, an end-user would simply be prohibited from posting to an asset if the cost center was locked to primary postings. Workflow functionality in 4.6 now generates a list of the locked cost centers and notifies the cost center agent, with the option of changing the cost center on the asset manually or via mass substitution.Reduces the occurrence of end users encountering assets locked for posting.Schedule Manager replaces Period End ParterMakes period end closing more convenient. Documentation will guide end user through the first steps.Enhanced UsabilityImproved interface for recording a standard FI invoiceReduced standard FI invoice recording time/increased productivityEnhanced UsabilityImproved interface for G/L account postingReduced G/L account posting time/increased productivityTravel ManagemenntImproved interface for G/L account postingQuick entry in a one-screen transaction that corresponds with the usual forms on paper. Split screens show all necessary information at the same time. Trips that have already been entered are presented clearly in a tree structure. As the traveler, you do not need to enter a personnel number or trip number. You can select the trips to be processed from a tree structure.Cash JournalThe Cash Journal transaction lets you enter, display, and change cash movements in a business easily and quickly. It works independently of other posting transactions. Opening and closing balances, as well as receipts and payments balances are automatically calculated. Receipts can be printed at the touch of a button.No particular R/3 Finance knowledge is necessary to operate the cash journal.Before Release 4.6, seven screens were required altogether for this transaction:Three screens for entering one cash movement. Two screens for monitoring the balances. Two screens for displaying/reporting the journal contents. In Release 4.6A, you only need one screen.G/L Account MasterUsing the Edit G/L account master record transaction, you can create, change, and display G/L accounts quickly and with clarity. The G/L account texts can be translated directly when creating or changing master records. A separate transaction is no longer needed. You are now able to create the corresponding cost element automatically when creating a G/L account. Additionally, a connection for editing financial statement versions and sets was also created, allowing direct access to the line item in the financial statement version or set as assigned in the reference account.Prior to Release 4.6, the master record transaction required a minimum of three screens. The translation transaction used an additional two screens. There was no connection to the cost element master data, to the financial statement version, nor to sets.Vendor Invoice EntryAn invoice is entered in a single screen (even with multiple offsetting entries); account assignment models are displayed on the left panel. Personalization through user options (e.g., screen variants displayed on the left panel) and drag & drop.Prior to Release 4.6, the invoice entry transaction required three screens & user options, such as account assignment models, required a menu path.545,000Top of Page

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MMMaterial Management Release HighlightsContinue/SkipEndMain MenuAnnual or One-TimeReleaseDelta FunctionalityFunctionality DescriptionBusiness BenefitSupporting Data/CalculationBenchmark/Implementation ExperienceEstimateFrom 3.1 to 4.0Purchase RequisitionsUp to Release 4.0A, you were only able to enter the local currency in requisition items for a material without a material master record. As of release 4.0A, you can also work with foreign currencies. You can also display all purchase orders, requisitions, and outline purchase agreements relating to projects, networks and WBS elements. Benefits of this new functionality include enhanced use of business when dealing with foreign currencies and enhanced display capabilities. Up to Release 4.0A, purchase requisitions could only be released or approved on an item-wise basis. As of 4.0A you can also release a complete purchase requisition. For the purpose of determining the release strategy, the data from the items is aggregated. An obvious benefit would be that speed and efficiency is increased during the requisitions release process. As of release 4.0B, you can link the process of releasing purchase orders to the SAP workflow facility. This is particularly advisable if employees, whose normal duties involve tasks other than releasing purchase orders, are involved in the release procedure.This contributes to increased functionality within the release process and more efficient business practices, thus saving time.(Cost per PO*#of annual Pos)-(Reduced cost per PO*#of Pos annually)CommunicationAs of release 4.0A, you can send requisitions, purchase orders, RFQs, scheduling agreements, and contracts as attachments via SAPoffice. This tool increases capabilities when sending out purchasing documents to vendors, saving time and cost of shipping documents.Use SAPoffice to automate RFQs, can output as email and autofax to conduct business with vendors reduing RFP costs through lower mail costs and improved efficiency.(Cost per PO*#of annual Pos)-(Reduced cost per PO*#of Pos annually)Purchase OrdersThere is a simplified procurement process using blanket purchase orders. Up to release 4.0A, when you ordered material to be consumed immediately you had to create a purchase order for each requirement. For example, the procurement of office supplies from a single vendor in a year might have required the creation of several purchase orders. As of release 4.0A, it is possible to create purchase orders with a value limit and a validity period (instead of a delivery date). In a blanket purchase order, you merely set a value limit and enter a brief general description of what the order covers (e.g. office supplies).Lower costs per PO. Provides greater flexibility in the procurement process for the company and its vendors. Lowers the cost of the procurement cycle while improving cycle time.(Cost per PO*#of annual Pos)-(Reduced cost per PO*#of Pos annually)The use of such longer term purchase orders with value limits allows you to procure various materials or services from a vendor for which the creation and processing of individual POs is regarded as both time consuming and uneconomical. Also in release 4.0A, you can purchase materials using the vendors part number or the manufacturers part number in the procurement process.Logistics Invoice VerificationIn Release 4.0, enhancements have been made to the Logistics Invoice Verification function. Invoice verification in the background is now possible for invoices with large amounts of data for which no item check is required. Evaluated Receipt Settlements (ERS) is now possible within Logistics Invoice Verification. As of Release 4.0A you can post a vendor invoice in Logistics Invoice Verification and have the system post a credit memo for the difference between the value of the invoice and the value for which the system expected an invoice. The vendor will also receive a letter of complaint detailing the invoice reduction.This function increases the efficiency and functionality while performing invoice verification ultimately reducing errors and costs associated with the invoice correction process. Use ERS before it gets past to FICost per error * reduction in annually errorsYou can now assign many storage locations of a plant to the same warehouse number Up to release 3.1, you could only manage the stock of one storage location within a warehouse number for each plant. With Release 4.0, this limitation has been removed because the business implications of the organizational unit storage location have increased, therefore more than one storage location per plant is to be defined. This enhancement allows you to either represent the ownership status of companies, or be able to make important planning decisions at this level.Also with release 4.0A you can perform an active capacity check. It is possible to have the capacity check run actively for different storage strategies, that is, any bin found is first checked with respect to its capacity and only proposed if the capacity is sufficient. There is also a warehouse activity monitor with release 4.0A, which is a tool used to monitor processes inObvious benefits include increased and efficient use of storage space as well as enhanced flexibility in handling bulk material. A huge benefit in using this tool is to recognize error situations and processes automatically and quickly, to display them, and to provide support in analyzing and removing the actual errors. This could save much re-work and shipping costs and improve customer servicethe warehouse, critical situations in particular. You can define when a situation or a process is to be classified by the warehouse activity monitor as critical. The warehouse activity monitor provides monitoring tasks for objects in the WM component such as transfer orders, transfer requirements, critical stock situations, deliveries (provided they are relevant for the WM System), and posting change notices.Data Transfer WorkbenchThe Data Transfer Workbench supports the automatic transfer of data from your legacy system into the R/3 System. The Workbench provides you with access to the standard programs as well as with the necessary tools for transferring data. For example, with release 4.0A, some of the objects you can transfer to the R/3 system using the workbench are the G/L account master record, material master, vendor master, customer master, condition records, sales documents, financial documents, rental contracts, etc.Using this functionality will save time in transferring data as well as improve data integrity.Central Address ManagementA new central address management (CAM) will be delivered for Release 4.0, to be implemented in the areas listed below.In the medium to long term it is planned to change all applications to this central address management. In the new CAM the data will be managed in its own database tables. All application objects will only store a reference to the address key. There are addresses changed to CAM for 4.0A, there are applications in which the address function is new in 4.0A, and there are applications in which the CAM was used in a Release before 4.0.This tool will aid in system performance and ease of maintenance by data being managed in its own tables - efficiency benefits. Can't use multiple vendor addresses from 3.1 need to check if 4.5 has multiple address capabilityInfo Object ViewerFrom release 4.0A The Info Object Viewer is the Browser for displaying HTML-based online help in the R/3-System. It is based on the Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0x or the Netscape Navigator 3.0. The R/3 library, the extended help, IMG documents and the glossary are displayed with the Info Object Viewer.The Info Object Viewer is available on all front-end platforms (UNIX, OS/2, Macintosh, Windows 16 bit and Windows 32 Bit). The software and hardware requirements can vary depending on the platform and the HTML based online help (help type) variant used.This viewer is friendly & faster way of accessing and seeing the help documentation ultimately saving time and improving efficiency.Client Copy and TransportA new authorization S_CLIENT_IMP is checked (optional in 4.0A). In a remote copy, large clients can be copied without main memory problems.Values such as source client or source destination can be saved for profiles. Since all necessary profiles are delivered by SAP, you are not allowed to create customer profiles.Data integrity and transfer efficiencyAutomatic mailing of spool request output from background jobsWith Release 4.0A, it is possible to specify that spool request(s) generated by a background job are to be mailed automatically to one or more recipients. The mail functionality of the SAPoffice component is used for the automatic mailing. The spool request(s) may be mailed to a single R/3 mail user, to an external user, or to a distribution list that can include multiple R/3 mail and external mail users. The mail recipient can be identified by his or her R/3 user ID or by the user's name in the R/3 address management component. Addressing by name in the address management requires that user address information be maintained in the R/3 SAPoffice.This increases efficient communication and saves time and mailing costs. Example: Order exception report can be used to send email or fax, or run a generalized open order status & routing to buyers. Has the potential to automate core report distribution systems.From 4.0 To 4.5Vendor Managed InventoryVendor-managed inventory involves vendors offering their customers the service of planning replenishments of vendor materials at the customer plant. The new functions allow VMI to be modeled from both a vendor and a customer point of view. VMI is typically used by manufacturers of consumer products that plan replenishments of their products at retailers. Some of the functions of vendor-managed inventory include transferring and receiving stock and sales data by EDI. In these cases a customer can, for example, transfer the stock data for certain materials to the manufacturer so that the manufacturer can gear their production to customer requirements and deliver the quantities required by the customer on time.Using this functionality will decrease inventory costs and data entry while improving data integrity. Inventory benefits include one time reductions as well as annual carrying cost benefitsAt the same time the manufacturer would use this function to receive the current stock and sales data from a customer so that replenishments can then be planned for the customer. Obvious subsequent activities include planning replenishments for customers then creating a purchase order for an order acknowledgment received by EDI.Vendor SelectionAs of release 4.5A, you can specify in the default values for buyers that the system is only to take into account sources that are able to deliver on the desired date during the source determination process for purchase requisitions.This increase efficiency during vendor selection.Mass ChangeMass maintenance makes it easier to enter large amounts of data. To meet these requirements, R/3 version 4.5 contains a central tool that can be used by various applications. Supported master data includes material master, article master, customer master, and vendor master.A large amount of data entry can be avoided using this tool, saving time. Another benefit would be data integrity.SAPgui in JAVAThis is a thin GUI client for an SAP System. Running as a Java applet in an Internet browser, it provides Internet access to an R/3 or R/2 System. Since it can also run as an application, it provides an alternative GUI for client platforms that do not have their own "native" SAPgui. SAPgui in Java consists of two components - the SAPgui server, and a JavaEliminate the need to obtain complete separate internet application reducing installation and adminisrations costs.applet. The Java applet is also installed on the server, but runs on the Java virtual machine (VM) in the Internet browser once it has been loaded onto the client. It calls the functions of the remote GUI server, allowing it to retrieve R/3 data and return details of user interaction.The downloaded Java applet establishes a connection with the R/3 System by making remote method calls through the Inter-ORB protocol (IIOP). The SAPgui server interprets these calls. This means that clients only need a browser that supports Java (or a Java VM) to be able to access R/3 Systems from anywhere in the world - no other software components are required. This reduces installation and administration costs considerably. The SAPgui server is a normal (multi-threaded) SAPgui without the GUI part. Instead, it has an API, which the GUI can use to make itself a SAPgui. It is a standalone program, and must run on a host that has a connection to an R/3 or an R/2 System. For performance reasons, it is written in C++.From 4.5 To 4.6Mass MaintenanceAs of Release 4.6, the number of applications that Mass Maintenance supports has increased. It now includes Purchase orders, Purchase requisitions, Purchasing info records, and Rental units.Consumption Based Planning: Enjoy Evaluation ListsThere are new selection limitations in the initial screen of the collective display (only the stock/requirements list). Safety stock is not included in plant stock. It is displayed in a separate row. The processing indicator is accessed and viewed easier. The search function has been standardized. Traffic lights indicate the urgency of materials that need to be processed based on range of coverage and exception groups. A Symbol column exists to give a one-click access to the detail dialog box. Plant and MRP area are ready for input only when the material exists in more than one plant or MRP area.period totals and switching between periods. There is a direct branch to customizing or other applications by double-clicking certain fields. All pushbuttons that refer to individual MRP elements in the respective list are displayed below the list, clearly differentiating these functions from general functions. The function Calculate ATP quantity has been replaced by a branch to the function Availability overview (CO09). Four new branches are provided for Configuration, Quota arrangement, Production version, and Product structure.Evaluation ListsMRP exception group texts can be assigned to company-specific exception messages. Exception group 8, Terminations, is the only group that cannot be modified.Previously, the ways to navigate between materials in the MRP list and the stock/requirements list were, entry of a new material number, sequential scroll in the list sequence of the collective display, and access using different transactions (for example, collective order, material master). As of Release 4.6, the overview tree makes navigation between materials quicker and more comfortable. By double-clicking a material in the overview tree, the corresponding list is immediately accessed. In addition, a search function has been provided in the worklist tree to search through the list of displayed materials by certain criteria.There are three different views available in the overview tree. A pushbutton exists to provide functionality to toggle between views.The Worklist tree displays all materials that have been processed in the respective transaction call, or all materials that were selected in the collective display. In this view, the displayed materials can be grouped and sorted, fields are defined to be displayed in the overview tree, values are defined for the traffic lights, and the worklist can be limited using a search function. The Order tree displays all assemblies or components for a chosen MRP element, for example, a planned order. The display is hierarchic and corresponds to the order report. When this list is accessed from the collective display using a product group, the Product group tree displays this product group with all sub-product groups and assigned materials.A variable print option has been provided for Print list. It displays a separate list which can be edited before it is printed. It contains just the filtered MRP elements. The list can be further filtered, sorted, and sequenced. Column widths can be defined. These settings can be saved as a display variant. When the goods receipt date is chosen instead of the availability date, or when safety time is activated, the settings is taken into consideration for the print. When the storage location and BOM explosion number columns appear, or when customer or vendor columns have been activiated, these columns are considered in the print.Before Release 4.6, the unit of measure used in detail dialog boxes for MRP elements in the MRP list and the stock/requirements list was always the base unit of measure. Due to the different units of measure, the quantities in the detail dialog boxes for MRP elements were not the same as the quantities in the list. Now, the unit of measure for the detail dialog box is always the same as that chosen as the first of the two possible units for the display of the list. Quantities and units of measure agree in both displays.Up to now, only a few settings in the MRP list and the stock/requirements list could be saved on a permanent basis. All other settings were valid only for the current display. A new pushbutton, Settings, can be used to define a record of parameters, which control the display and the processing of the lists. The settings can be used for the current display or saved permanently. The settings are valid for both the MRP list and the stock/requirements list. The following can be set, Display of detailed information for the material, Display of the overview tree, Sort for the individual segments, Activation of requirements grouping, Display of period totals, Definition of requirements/receipt date, Activation of safety time, Display of the total replenishment lead time, Activation and selection of a display filter and selection rule, Selection of the unit of measure, Selection of the checking rule for the ATP display, and Assignment of a navigation profile.Up to now, less exception messages were displayed in the stock/requirements list than were displayed in the MRP list. These display lists and the corresponding processes have been brought into line, as far as possible. The most important changes are exception message 30, Plan process according to schedule, exists in both evaluation lists and rescheduling check in the stock/ requirements list is done automatically by the system in all lists. The corresponding exception messages appear immediately.Customer-specific programming is available. SAP provides you with two example reports and a function module. Experts can use these to create programs for the MRP list and the stock/requirements list.Prior to Release 4.6, the MRP list or the stock/requirements list only branched to certain fixed transactions using the standard branches under Environment. Today transaction calls may be user-defined. Transactions are then reached by pressing a single key. When certain fields are predefined, initial screens can be skipped. The transaction calls can be general or specific to a certain MRP element. You define the transaction calls on a user-specific basis or group them to a navigation profile in Customizing.Subsequent SettlementVolume comparison has additional functionality. It is now also possible to carry out a comparison for the periodic conditions. Business volume data can be edited at any level of the key fields "Plant", "Tax code" "Goods supplier" and "Month" (analysis period). In the statistics, the data entered can then be expanded to the most detailed level on the basis of the updated business volume data. Business volume data can be entered for plants for which no business volume exists in R/3. Tolerance limits can be defined (business volume tolerance groups) within which the business volume for an arrangement is to be compared. These limits can be defined individually for each user. If the defined tolerance limits are exceeded, either warnings or error messages are issued, depending on the Customizing settings.In Subsequent Settlement, message determination can be used to create messages with SAPscript for settlement runs and arrangements. Messages can be printed out and sent to business partners for information. This function is particularly important if settlement occurs across company codes at plant level, which means that several settlement documents are created for one vendor. Message output from the individual settlement documents does not make sense in this case. Message determination can be used to group together this information in one form for the vendor.It is now possible to output a list of business volume data using the "Detailed statement" and "Statement of statistical data" report, and display and enter the business volume comparison, using flexible aggregation and sort levels. This provides a flexible and powerful tool for grouping together (aggregating), and sorting data according to all existing characteristics (such as plant, tax code, goods supplier, etc.) for display purposes and (in the case of the business volume comparison) entry purposes. For the "Detailed statement" and "Statement of statistical data" report, aggregation and sort levels replace the previous function "Scope of statement".Subsequent Settlement is now incorporated in Profitability Analysis. This means that the data from the settlement document (customer/vendor billing document) can be used in Profitability Analysis.Enjoy Purchase OrderThe new purchase order design places the requirements of the user in the foreground. It supports the fast and straightforward execution of purchasing activities, in particular through the implementation of best-practice ergonomic principles. There are several key advantages of the Enjoy purchase order.All information is presented on a single transaction screen. Jumping back and forth between different windows and the use of an "initial screen" is a thing of the past. It is possible to switch between Create, Change, and Display modes without navigation.As of Release 4.6, it is also possible to store faulty or incomplete POs in the R/3 System (that is, to "hold" them). In contrast to saved purchase orders, "held" POs are not transmitted to the vendor and cannot be released (approved). Neither can any follow-on documents be posted.Purchase order messages can be set so that the system will issue any relevant messages while the purchase order is being worked on or record all such messages in an error log to be processed later. A status column in the item overview shows which PO items are faulty.The material, item, category, and plant can be subsquently changed as long as no follow-on documents have been posted.When entering the vendor/supplying plant, material group, storage location, or plant, it is sufficient to enter just parts of the name instead of the complete number. The system will then suggest the relevant data.PO items can be displayed according to certain criteria. Filter functionality has been added to the purchase order.Items can be adopted from reference documents (such as requisitions, other POs, or RFQs) in a purchase order being created simply by dragging with the mouse or clicking a button.Master data is easily accessible. Master records for vendors and materials can be displayed by double clicking on the relevant field.Header or item texts can be entered with the conventional word-processing facility or a new continuous text editor which, among other things, supports automatic line breaks and searches for and replacement of text. Note that with this editor formatting and word-processing commands for a SAPScript text are lost.Vendor Managed InventoryThe Send function has been enhanced. Forecasted data can also be sent. Normal and promotions data can be differentiated. The Recipient function has be enhanced. Normal and promotions data can be differentiated using the separate fields for historical and forecasted data.Enjoy External Services ManagementUser friendliness is the keynote of the new developments within the framework of the EnjoySAP initiative. The Enjoy functions for External Services Management provide the basis for greater working efficiency and higher productivity.For each function there is a central screen on which relevant data can be maintained. All important functions can be carried out on a single screen. In the service master and the service entry sheet, it is possible to switch between display, create, and change modes without navigation. This simplifies orientation and obviates that time-consuming jumping between several screens.Clearly grouped fields, which can be displayed as required, make it easier to find information that is available in the system. There are also graphical elements such as overview trees, which can be additionally display on the left half of the screen in order to search for Service specification outlines (full service screen), Services (service master), and Purchase orders with their associated entry sheets (service entry). From these overview trees, information can be selected to be displayed, changed, or copied. Display variants are user definable within the overview trees.As of Release 4.6A, each service does not need to be saved individually. Instead, all processed services can be saved together before exiting the transaction.Time SheetAs of Release 4.6A, you can use the report, Time Sheet: Time Leveling, to check the data recorded for time sheets. The report allows selection of data records according to the particular circumstances, to check whether employees completed their planned working time or target hours, or whether they worked overtime. If the report identifies deviations from the planned working time or target hours, the employees concerned can be notified automatically by mail. Detailed information on the data records can be accessed by switching from the report display screen to the display or maintenance screen for the time sheet.As of this release, there are two additional workflow tasks available, which both allow the recipient to be determined automatically, Approval by superior and Approval by time administrator.The Data Transfer Report has been enhanced. It can be used for data transfers for all target components (except Materials Management) in one step.The process for analysing errors that occurred when transferring time sheet data to SAP Logistics (Project System, Plant Maintenance, and Customer Service) has been simplified and is available for all confirmations. The new Display errors function is available for this.As of this release, almost all of the usual SAP System Time Sheet functions are available in the Internet Application Component (IAC), Internet Time Sheet. Users can now enter clock times and information on confirmations, and print their time sheets. In addition, workflow can be implemented workflow for the approval procedure.A new interface is available to transfer time data recorded using the time recording software currently implemented in an external system to the Time Sheet, where it can be postprocessed as usual.Enjoy Goods ReceiptAs of Release 4.6A, the Enjoy transaction MIGO can be used to post goods movements. This transaction will currently replace MB01, MB0A, MBRL, MBSF, MBNL, MBST, MB02, and MB03.Enjoy Logistics Invoice VerificationThe redesigned Logistics Invoice Verification transaction, Enter Invoice (MIRO), focuses on the needs of the users. By applying guidelines on ergonomics, it allows quick and simple completion of all tasks. There are many advantages.Header data and item data is maintained on one central screen. There is no longer a need to switch between different windows or process an initial screen. Invoices, credit memos, subsequent debits, and subsequent credits can be entered and posted in Logistics Invoice Verification.In the PO structure, the system displays the business transactions, depending on the allocation made. A choice can be made from the following allocations: purchase order/scheduling agreement, service entry sheet, delivery note, bill of lading. If the PO structure is not needed, it can be hid. More space is then made available for processing.In Release 4.6A, invoices can be parked. The function, Invoice Overview (MR1B), is used to continue processing the invoice document. System messages that occur during processing are collected in a log. This allows the user to enter all the data first and process errors or variances afterwards. A status display shows you the status of the messages collected.Notes related to the invoice can be entered and saved.Only part of the vendor name or number needs to be entered. The system then suggests the appropriate data. Vendor master records, line items and bank details can be displayed from the central screen. Purchase orders can be displayed by doubleclicking on the column Purchase order on the invoice item list. The system displays the balance on the central screen. The transaction defaults the first company code entered. The company code can be switched via a pushbutton.$0.00Go to Top

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SDSales & Distribution Release HighlightsContinue/SkipEndMain MenuReleaseDelta FunctionalityFunctionality DescriptionBusiness BenefitSupport Data/CalculationBenchmark/Implementation ExperienceEstimateAnnual or One-Time3.0 to 3.1Internet Application Components (IACs)First components: Customer order recording, Customer order status, Available-to-Promise. Initial foundation for Internet enable applications.This enable SAP customers to provide around the clock access for their customers, giving them self-service capabilities, thus eliminating customer calls to the order desk for ordering, checking order status, and product availability.Reduction in cost of sales, reduced cycle times related to component and MRO purchasing,Sales: Availability CheckThe availability check control (scope of The check) was enhanced to include production order checking. This enhancement enables SAP users to view items in production as if they were on hand.Ability to commit to delivery or more product, resulting in increased revenueSales Contracts New enhancement that will allow SAP users to set default percentages using milestone for dates in billing plans. Users can enter a percentage in standard milestones and operative milestones. This enables users to be more specific as to what is actually billed, thereby ensuring a more accurate representation of what milestones have been reached and what percentage has been accomplished for the contract.Ability to make payments/receive payments made for product and services as performed, resulting in more accurate cash flowTransportationNew sections in customizing: Maintain freight code sets and freight codes and External Transportation Planning Systems. These are a precursor to SAP planned functionality for R/3 Release 4.5 and beyond, for freight determination and managing product movements through various freighting companies. An interface is available as of 3.1G, that allows users to transmit shipping orders and transportation information to service agent (e.g. forwarding agent, customs agent). This guarantees efficient information flow between the R/3 system and external systems.Foreign Trade This release enables users to create export licenses that are only valid for certain terms of payment, as well as certain business transactions. This can be done by entering the document number of an SD order in License Maintenance which will ensure that an export for a certain business transaction. In the customer master in the Foreign Trade screen you can specify whether the customer has been on a boycott/embargo list. Also each export license types will help the user determine what is authorized for export, such as to military or civilian customers. It is also now possible to do export control by product / material only using export license master legal regulations check.Compliance to Gov't regulations, reduced risk associated with 3rd party reporting or inaccurate dataFrom 3.1 To 4.0Euro supportFull capabilities to generate quote, order, invoice and payment in EuroEC requirement compliance, reduction in processing time due to automated currency conversion, potential new markets, competitve edge, prevention of lost revenue$1 M savings, Microsoft Computerworld Article, March 1, 1999 pg.78$ 500,000 lost revenue avoidanceOne-TimeAutomatic mailing of spool request output from background jobs.With Release 4.0, it is possible to specify that spool request(s) generated by a background job are to be mailed automatically to one or more recipients. The mail functionality of the SAPoffice component is used for the automatic mailing. The spool request(s) may be mailed to a single R/3 mail user, to an external user, or to a distribution list that can include multiple R/3 mail and external mail users. The mail recipient can be identified by his or her R/3 user ID or by the user's name in the R/3 address management component. Addressing by name in the address management requires that user address information be maintained in the R/3 SAPoffice.This functionality increases efficient communication, reduces cycle time and decreases postage costs associated with internal/external reports(# of reports generated annually * savings per report)Automatic Dial Up Screen Pop UpSimple order processing additional functions. Another group of enhancements that follow are stated together since they are similar in benefit for sales order processing. As of release 4.0A the sales area can be derived from the sold-to or ship-to parties when entering a sales document. Many times order entry personnel will not know the sales area, now they dont have to. This saves order entry time. Additionally, as of 4.0A you can enter sales documents via ship-to party and not just sold-to party. Personnel might know the ship-to and not yet the sold-to at order entry time, now there will be no delay in processing.This would benefit the telephone sales scenario when order entry personnel are not sure of what type of order is needed, or the customer isnt sure if they need a quote, inquiry, regular order, etc.(# of calls handled per year * saving per order in dollars) , Increased revenue do to ability to cross sell (due to additional data entry time)400,000AnnualNew Screen Interface & Simple Order Processing Additional FunctionsNew screen interface/friendlier look, faster processing. As of release 4.0 there is a new user interface for sales documents including tab or index card technology which groups all data together that belongs together. The new interface works with flexible tables so you can adjust display during processing to match your requirements. Results would be intuitive navigation between processing screens, reduction in number of screen changes, and easier and faster communication of sales processing.Productivity in the order desk area Inquiry cycle time reduction(% reduction in time it takes to create an order). 5 minutes per order savings X 20 orders/day x 250 days x 15 order entry staff=6250 hours/year x $18/hour (loaded hourly labor rates)= $ 112,500 savings /year112,500AnnualShipping And TransportationActual shipment cost and a matrix can be created to develop actual costs for each shipment. Include actual costs in Customer bill and delivery notice. As of release 4.0A the transportation component has been enhanced with the shipment cost document to include entry and administration of shipping cost relevant data, calculation of shipment costs via shipment header or stage, and settlement with transportation service agents and forwarding costs to FI.These transportation enhancements significantly decrease data entry, decrease time in communication, improve error finding, and decrease costs and increase revenue. Currently the client may roughly correlate delivery charges to actual. With an upgrade, The client can identify "buried" premium charges, home delivery or internet for consumer - offer customer options for delivery. Transportation contract valuation - are we getting value from our transportation providers? Close the gap between what customer is billed for delivery and what it actually costsCost per error * reduction in annually errorsCredit Card ProcessingNew to release 4.0A, the system now contains the basic tools to handle payment cards in a variety of business processes including sales and distribution, retail point of sale, financial accounting, and internet commerce. You can integrate payment card activities into sales, delivery and billing processes, manage complicated sales scenarios, exchange information with authorizing clearing houses, approximate card processing costs, authorize and import data from external systems, and carry out the general settlement process. This enhancement did not exist in previous R/3 releases and is a huge requirement in the basic business process of collecting payment. Benefits include financial settlement much faster, reduced paperwork, and reduced manual entry.AR, AP sales order processingUncollected A/R now recoverableReduced to real-time, Epson Singapore,"Rising to the Challenge", SAPInfo magazine, special issue, May 1999, pg.20, Reduced from 15-20 mins to real time, IBM, from "A Different Shade of Blue: How IBM transformed itself using the power of networked information," Doug Bartholomew, Industry Week, 7/7/97, p.58400,000Picking WavesIn R/3 release 4.0A, you can use picking waves to create work packages in shipping. A picking wave consists of several deliveries that are processed at the same time. Assignment of deliveries to picking waves is based on time criteria (for instance, all deliveries with the same goods issue time are assigned to a picking wave). Functions available with wave picking are simulation before actual creation, as well as observation of capacity limits during actual creation. You can create picking waves either online or in background processing. Wave picking can help your warehouse capacity planning by controlling how loads get dropped to the Warehouse, depends on how often customer creates delivery do list. Picking waves looks at constraints (I.e. 100 trucks) to get product out the door.A huge benefit of using this functionality would be better time management regarding sending delivery due lists to the warehouse for shipment. By setting up waves you can manage when to send deliveries due to the warehouse either by time, location, priority, etc. The client warehouse would have much more capability to create dynamic delivery do list. Also create communication tool for customers who use their own trucks to pick up goods. More flexibility and efficiency in the warehouse plus helps prioritize picking & packing. Can move from picking directly to truck shipment improves efficiency by overriding less priority picks with items having greater priorityMass ChangeMass maintenance makes it easier to enter large amounts of data. To meet these requirements, R/3 version 4.5 contains a central tool that can be used by various applications. Supported master data includes material master, article master, customer master, and vendor master. A large amount of data entry can be avoided using this tool, saving time. Another benefit would be data integrity.Need to quantify by identifying how many FTEs are required for master Change processes.Data Transfer WorkbenchThe Data Transfer Workbench supports the automatic transfer of data from your legacy system into the R/3 System. The Workbench provides you with access to the standard programs as well as with the necessary tools for transferring data. For example, with release 4.0A, some of the objects you can transfer to the R/3 system using the workbench are the G/L account master record, material master, vendor master, customer master, condition records, sales documents, financial documents, rental contracts, etc.Using this functionality will save time in transferring data as well as improve data integrity.Central Address ManagementA new central address management (CAM) will be delivered for Release 4.0, to be implemented in the areas listed below. In the medium to long term it is planned to Change all applications to this central address management. In the new CAM the data will be managed in its own database tables. All application objects will only store a reference to the address key. There are addresses changed to CAM for 4.0A, there are applications in which the address function is new in 4.0A, and there are applications in which the CAM was used in a Release before 4.0.This tool will aid in system performance and ease of maintenance by data being managed in its own tables.Info Object ViewerFrom release 4.0A The Info Object Viewer is the Browser for displaying HTML-based online help in the R/3-System. It is based on the Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0x or the Netscape Navigator 3.0. The R/3 library, the extended help, IMG documents and the glossary are displayed with the Info Object Viewer. The Info Object Viewer is available on all front-end platforms (UNIX, OS/2, Macintosh, Windows 16 bit and Windows 32 Bit). The software and hardware requirements can vary depending on the platform and the HTML based online help (help type) variant used.This viewer is a more friendly, faster way of accessing and seeing the help documentation and could save time.From 4.0 To 4.5Client copy and transportA new authorization S_CLIENT_IMP is checked (optional in 4.0A). In a remote copy, large clients can be copied without main memory problems.Values such as source client or source destination can be saved for profiles. Since all necessary profiles are delivered by SAP, you are not allowed to create customer profiles.Available to PromiseAvailable to Promise. Availability checking is carried out on a dedicated machine known as an ATP server which has a shared buffer storing the requirements quantities. Checks include checking based on ATP logic, checking against planned independent requirements, and checking against product allocations. When checking availability, the system reads the data from the reservations and dependent requirements table as well as the sales requirements table (in the shared buffer) rather than from the database.Faster return on inquiries and improved processing time in the order desk area plus improved back order rescheduling. Performance advantages include reduction in direct I/O processing time.Order Cut Off TimeOrder cut-off time issue, time-stamp in SAP R/3. Delivery and transportation scheduling has been enhanced as of 4.5A to take place within one day or during working hours. All relevant date fields have been supplemented with time fields. If you select working hours, delivery scheduling can occur in terms of minutes and during working hours. After orders are taken and sent to the warehouse, certain facilities have certain order cut-off times in order to make that nights shipping run. The delivery time and working hours fields in 4.0/4.5 respectively can work to solve a major implementation issue.This functionality will alleviate the order cut-off time issue currently experienced in release 3.1. Orders will be expedited faster reducing inventory and improving ATP. Increased customer satisfaction.Reduced inventory/year = 200,000 x inventory carrying costs (16%) = $32,00032,000Shipping And TransportationActual shipment cost and a matrix can be created to develop actual costs for each shipment. Include actual costs in Customer bill and delivery notice. As or release 4.5A it is possible for the system to enter an estimate of shipment costs as early as the sales order, which is sometimes very important at this early order processing stage. Additionally with this release you can maintain multi-dimensional shipment rates allowing for costing by geography and quantity. Also the break weight calculation is required for many shipment contracts. It is used to determine at what point it is better to calculate a higher weight in order to move up to a higher and more favorable scale. Other transportation planning additions as of 4.5A include a planning proposal which allows the planner to simplify certain aspects of planning. Also it is possible to carry out changes to data for several documents simultaneously using mass Change functionality.These transportation enhancements significantly decrease data entry, decrease time in communication, improve error finding, and decrease costs and increase revenue. Currently the client may roughly correlate delivery charges to actual. With an upgrade, The client can identify "buried" premium charges, home delivery or internet for consumer - offer customer options for delivery. Transportation contract valuation - are we getting value from our transportation providers? It allows the customer to close the gap between what customer is billed for delivery and what it actually costs.You can also track changes made to existing shipment documents using Change documents, allowing you to track problems by Change, user, and date. These transportation enhancements significantly decrease data entry, decrease time in communication, improve error finding, and decrease costs and increase revenue. Other transportation planning additions as of 4.5A include a planning proposal which allows the planner to simplify certain aspects of planning. Also it is possible to carry out changes to data for several documents simultaneously using mass Change functionality.VMIVendor-managed inventory involves vendors offering their customers the service of planning replenishments of vendor materials at the customer plant. The new functions allow VMI to be modeled from both a vendor and a customer point of view. VMI is typically used by manufacturers of consumer products that plan replenishments of their products at retailers. Some of the functions of vendor-managed inventory include transferring and receiving stock and sales data by EDI. In these cases a customer can, for example, transfer the stock data for certain materials to the manufacturer so that the manufacturer can gear their production to customer requirements and deliver the quantities required by the customer on time. At the same time the manufacturer would use this function to receive the current stock and sales data from a customer so that replenishments can then be planned for the customer. Obvious subsequent activities include planning replenishments for customers then creating a purchase order for an order acknowledgment received by EDI.Using this functionality will decrease inventory costs and data entry while improving data integrity.500,000Picking WavesIn R/3 release 4.0A, you can use picking waves to create work packages in shipping. A picking wave consists of several deliveries that are processed at the same time. Assignment of deliveries to picking waves is based on time criteria (for instance, all deliveries with the same goods issue time are assigned to a picking wave). Functions available with wave picking are simulation before actual creation, as well as observation of capacity limits during actual creation. You can create picking waves either online or in background processing. Wave picking can help your warehouse capacity planning by controlling how loads get dropped to the Warehouse, depends on how often customer creates delivery do list. Picking waves looks at constraints (I.e. 100 trucks) to get product out the door.A huge benefit of using this functionality would be better time management regarding sending delivery due lists to the warehouse for shipment. By setting up waves you can manage when to send deliveries due to the warehouse either by time, location, priority, etc. The client warehouse would have much more capability to create dynamic delivery do list. Also create communication tool for customers who use their own trucks to pick up goods. More flexibility and efficiency in the warehouse plus helps prioritize picking & packing. Can move from picking directly to truck shipment Improves efficiency by overriding less priority picks with items having greater priorityMass ChangeMass maintenance makes it easier to enter large amounts of data. To meet these requirements, R/3 version 4.5 contains a central tool that can be used by various applications. Supported master data includes material master, article master, customer master, and vendor master.A large amount of data entry can be avoided using this tool, saving time. Another benefit would be data integrity.Need to quantify by identifying how many FTE are required for master Change processes.Client copy and transportA new authorization S_CLIENT_IMP is checked (optional in 4.0A). In a remote copy, large clients can be copied without main memory problems.Values such as source client or source destination can be saved for profiles. Since all necessary profiles are delivered by SAP, you are not allowed to create customer profiles.SAPgui in Java.This is a thin GUI client for an SAP System. Running as a Java applet in an Internet browser, it provides Internet access to an R/3 or R/2 System. Since it can also run as an application, it provides an alternative GUI for client platforms that do not have their own "native" SAPgui. SAPgui in Java consists of two components - the SAPgui server, and a Java applet. The SAPgui server is a normal (multi-threaded) SAPgui without the GUI part. Instead, it has an API, which the GUI can use to make itself a SAPgui. It is a standalone program, and must run on a host that has a connection to an R/3 or an R/2 System. For performance reasons, it is written in C++. The Java applet is also installed on the server, but runs on the Java virtual machine (VM) in the Internet browser once it has been loaded onto the client. It calls the functions of the remote GUI server, allowing it to retrieve R/3 data and return details of user interaction.The downloaded Java applet establishes a connection with the R/3 System by making remote method calls through the Inter-ORB protocol (IIOP). The SAPgui server interprets these calls. This means that clients only need a browser that supports Java (or a Java VM) to be able to access R/3 Systems from anywhere in the world - no other software components are required. This reduces installation and administration costs considerably.From 4.5 To 4.6E-commerceCapability for e-commerce and e-marketingReduced cost of marketing by customer Reduced cost of salesAnnual # of sales orders per year 1000 X 15% of sales web enabled x $135/sales.90 -$2.67 per visitor - IDC: InfoWorld 1999, Supplement - pg. 3 "The Enterprise Resource Planning and Application Series, Part 2" Cost to process a sales order reduced from $142 to $7 - Forrester Research20,500Enhanced UsabilityImproved user interface for distribution managementReduced transport creation cycle time / Increased productivityTransport creation time reduced by 29.06%, Usability Test of Selected Business Processes, Report No.12, Aug. 1999, Prof. Dr. Franz Steffens, Carsten Dorrhauer, Andrej Zlender, pg. 7Enhanced UsabilityImproved user interface in customer creation processReduced customer file creation time / Increased productivityReduced customer file creation time by 10.12%, Usability Test of Selected Business Processes, Report No.12, Aug. 1999, Prof. Dr. Franz Steffens, Carsten Dorrhauer, Andrej Zlender, pg. 7Enhanced UsabilityImproved user interface order entry processReduced order entry cycle time / Increased productivityReduced order entry time by 14.29%, Usability Test of Selected Business Processes, Report No.12, Aug. 1999, Prof. Dr. Franz Steffens, Carsten Dorrhauer, Andrej Zlender, pg. 7Enhanced UsabilityImproved interface for expense account recordingReduced travel expense account reporting allowing for additional sales or services revenueReduced by 42.98%, Usability Test of Selected Business Processes, Report No.12, Aug. 1999, Prof. Dr. Franz Steffens, Carsten Dorrhauer, Andrej Zlender, pg. 7Improved user interface for sales activty trackingReduced time to record sales activities allowing for additional selling timeReduced by 23.15%, Usability Test of Selected Business Processes, Report No.12, Aug. 1999, Prof. Dr. Franz Steffens, Carsten Dorrhauer, Andrej Zlender, pg. 7$1,465,000.00Go to Top

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HRHuman Resources Release HighlightsContinue/SkipEndMain MenuAnnual or One-TimeReleaseDelta FunctionalityFunctionality DescriptionBusiness BenefitBenchmark/Implementation experienceEstimate3.0 to 3.13.1 to 4.0Matrix organization supportAbility to set up organization with matrix reportingPersonnel administration and developmentAbility to manage multiple actions same day, make corrections, attach infotypes to manage expatriates. Enhanced career management (career and succession planning "what-ifs", availability of skills catalog, profile evaluations and matchingImproved employee satisfaction, reduced employee turnover, improved resource planning, reduced expatriates costsCost of fully loaded expatriate package - $300K-$1M, % of expatriates returning from assignment early-10-20%, Turnover rate for returning expatriates-25%, Harvard Business Review, "The Right Way to Manage Expats", Vol 77, Num 2, March-April 1999, pg. 53Recruitment trackingAbility to logically store applicant dataReduced cycle time for regulatory reporting (EEOC) and reduced risk of payments related to lawsuitsTotal monetary awards in employee-related cases $170M-1998, $180M-1997, Goldberg, Kohn, Bell, Black, Rosenbloom & Moritz Ltd.;EEOC, Business Week, March 29, 1999Enhanced compensation managementSalary surveys, job evaluations, remunerationIncreased standardization of pay grades, increased employee satisfaction, avoidence of paying beyond industry averages resulting in reduced costsTime reportingSingle point of entry for time reporting and dynamic resource planningTravel managementAutomatic approvals, maximum spending limitsReduced costs due to better controls, Reduced cycle times for employee paymentEnhanced payrollSupport of Euro and automatic conversion of paymentsElimination of regional PR providors resulting in lower costsAdditional standard HR country localizationStandard support for localization in 24 add't countries including master data, payroll, time and travel.Elimination of customization by country, reduced HR staff or HR centers, automatic currency conversion, reduction of outsourced payroll providersAd Hoc QueryFlexible report building with selection and display logic.Better reporting.Tab StripsFor infotype navigation.Easier and user-friendly.Enhanced Training & Events ManagementCustomized training and event functions for various users of the system. Planning integration with HR budgeting for administrators, note functions and correspondence for registration clerks and Employee Self Service to book and cancel attendance for participants.More user applicable.Enhanced BenefitsNew miscellaneous plans, event offers, and added links to outside providers. Other new features include Evidence of Insurability, prerequisite and corequisite plan requirements, as well as combined limits for contributions and coverage. Introduces Default and Standard Plans.Greater flexibility.Enhanced Time ManagementNew time entry methods in the standard Cross-Application Time Sheet (CATS). Allows automatic quota generation and quota adjustment functionality.

Enhanced functionality is added in quota deduction, leave accrual, balances and absence valuation, plus value limits for time balances and dynamic work schedule assignment.

New time interfaces, reporting enhancements and a new time evaluation log.

New archiving functionality for payroll and time evaluation results.Improved usability.

Easier to observe processing results.

Better record-keeping.Enhanced Payroll ProcessingNew Payroll log for error tracking. Customization of the Payroll accounting interface in the IMG is expanded.Reduced time in error analysis.

Improved usability.Enhanced Payroll AccountingNew payroll log to simplify troubleshooting of a payroll run.

New payroll accounting procedures, including conversion and rounding rules, to support the introduction of the euro currency.Reduced time in analysing errors.

Improved usability.4.0 to 4.5Employee Self ServiceCapability to research and update HR information by employee rather than HR personnelReduced time to update and research HR information resulting in more accurate information and increase in HR staff productivityManager's DesktopCustomizable access to reports and functions for use by line managers.Reduced time and effort for managers to retrieve reports, and perform managerial functions. User-friendly access.Enhanced Ad Hoc QueryFlexible report building with selection and display logic.Better and more flexible reporting including response time.Enhanced RecruitmentNew interfaces to Word 8.0 to generate correspondence and an applicant short profile plus bulk processing of internal candidates.Reduced time and effort.Enhanced Personnel Administration Master DataNew country-specific selection of infotypes and subtypes allow you to customize the type of data collected and stored for employees. New fields for reporting are associated with several infotypes.Greater flexibility.Enhanced Organizational ManagementChief position can now be external to an organizational unit.

Cost distribution for organizational objects-organizational units, positions, and work centers-may now be allocated to different cost centers, and other objects can inherit these allocations.

Vacancy management has been improved to handle vacant and obsolete positions differently. Obsolete positions can no longer be filled, nor will vacancies be created from obsolete positions.Greater flexibility.Enhanced Personnel Development:Workflow TriggerPersonnel Development events can now trigger workflow.Better administrative control.Enhanced Personnel Development:Career Planning & Appraisal SystemAbility to create individual development plans integrated with career planning and a totally new appraisal functionality that integrates with development and compensation management. Appraisals can be used to transfer qualifications, and they integrate with compensation to present a consistent appraisal system. The new appraisal system allows individual, multi-source and team methodologies. A cyclical process tracks employee progress from one appraisal to the next.More robust and flexible.Enhanced Personnel Development:Office Functions IntegrationOffice functions integrate with Microsoft Word and Excel.Reduced time and effort.Enhanced Training & Event ManagementCorrespondence history is kept and class prerequisites can be compared to the qualifications to ensure that the right people get the right training. In addition, there are enhanced follow-up functions for transferring qualifications after a class.

Closer integration creates credit memos, cost allocation, and direct ordering of equipment and materials for classes. Wizards guide the user through the proper configuration steps to set up integration between components.

For training participants, Release 4.5 expands Employee Self Service with prebooking via the Internet and intranet.Better record-keeping.

Easier configuration for integration.

Reduced time and effort.Enhanced Compensation ManagementJob pricing to create salary structures from salary survey and job valuation data. In addition, 3-dimensional matrix guidelines allow complex award determination. There is also improved reporting and selection and more flexible adjustments.Greater flexibility.

Better reports.Enhanced BenefitsEvent Offer functions allow you to process changes to employee enrollments triggered by changes in circumstance. This allows the tracking of past changes and controls adherence to company policies. The concept of the Benefit Offer is introduced, improving administration of different plans for various employee groups.

A new stock purchase category is added to benefits. There are new functions for changes in employer and employee contributions and spouse data plan costs. There are new determinations of dependents and beneficiaries and improved letter and form management.

Eligibility can now be determined by actual work hours through time data integration. Off-cycle time and benefit processing is also introduced.Better record-keeping and tracking.

Greater flexibility.Enhanced Time ManagementCATS is enhanced with actual costing via payroll and with Employee Self-Service access. Now CATS and HR time data can reside on different systems with integration via BAPITM and ALE distribution techniques.

New Communication Channel (CC1) standardized interface for external feeding of attendances and absences from certified systems.

New flexible time recording for multiple person and time data. New determination of compensation for unused time (such as pay for unused vacation). Daily Work Schedule rule configuration is simplified and calendar view for some reports is now available.

Major reporting enhancement now allows ABAPTM and ad hoc queries to include time management information. Time data is also incorporated into the SAP Business Information Warehouse. Time reports also benefit from an improved graphical form editor.Greater flexibility.

Easier configuration.

Better reports.Enhanced Shift PlanningRequirements records can now be copied into requirement types and source. A function called "Assignment Assistant" proposes persons who can cover different requirements and gives assignments options.Greater flexibility.Enhanced Payroll ProcessingNew wage type reporter, a flexible tool for wage type-related evaluations. Additional payroll results infotypes are added as well.

New payroll journal allows flexibility in period selection and added features in forms handling.

Using Employee Self Service in Release 4.5, employees may order employment and salary verification reports that they may need when applying for a mortgage, for example.

A payroll process model allows intelligent payroll processing and error monitoring. It combines all run steps as one process with a single monitoring point.

A new authorization object controls access to display, change, deletion of actions or generation of data sets via Personnel Control Record by payroll area.Greater flexibility.

Simpler monitoring.

Greater control.Enhanced Payroll AccountingNew accounting interface with batch input replacement, and new authorization objects to support careful control of payroll data access.

The new archiving allows you to preserve the detailed record of labor distribution by employee, after transfer to FI/CO.Better record-keeping and access control.4.5 to 4.6Enhanced UsabilityImproved interface for expense account recordingReduced travel expense account reporting allowing for additional sales or services revenueEnhanced UsabilityImproved interface for sickness certificate creation timeReduced time for sick time reporting resulting in less non-value added workEnhanced Personnel Development:Workflow ScenariosQualification Monitoring : Enables you to monitor qualifications for which a validity has been defined, and ensures that the appropriate personnel administrator is informed in good time that the qualification is about to expire.

Approving Appraisals :Enables you to set up an approval procedure for appraisals. The completed appraisal is sent to the appraisee in question, who can then approve it or reject it.Reduced time for personnel admin in monitoring qualifications.

Reduced time in approval process for appraisals.Enhanced RecruitmentWith new feature you can sort the organizational assignment of all applicants according to nationality or advertisement and of unsolicited external applicants according to nationality. You can define country-specific applicant entry screens. The standard system currently supports entry screens for Germany and the USA.

Can be interfaced to the structural authorization check.

Employment contracts can be created automatically by the system for applicants you want to hire.

Recruitment data is transferred to Personnel Administration as default values. This means that data you created for the applicant can be reused and modified for the future employee. This function greatly reduces the workload for personnel administrators.Greater flexibility.

Better security controls.

Reduced time for contract documentation.

Reduced time and effort in processing new hires from applicant base.Enhanced Personnel Administration Master DataSupports international organizational changes (country reassignments) for employees.

The Personnel Development appraisals system can be called up from the Appraisals infotype (0025) when processing HR master data.

New Workflow scenarios:a. ESS foll