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Table of content
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Table of content
1 Global Trade Management
1.1 Trading Contract
1.2 Trading Execution Workbench (TEW)
1.2.1 Processing Documents in TEW
1.3 Position Management
1.3.1 Portfolio Management
1.3.1.1 Portfolio Type
1.3.1.2 Portfolio Table
1.3.1.3 Access Sequence
1.3.1.4 Portfolio Determination
1.3.1.5 Assign Portfolio
1.3.2 Association Management
1.3.2.1 Association Maintenance
1.3.2.1.1 Processing Associations in a Trading Contract
1.3.2.1.2 Processing Associations in the Trading Execution Workbench
1.3.2.1.3 Processing Associations
1.3.2.1.4 Generate Association Reports
1.3.2.2 Searching for an Association Candidate
1.4 Trading Expenses
1.5 Archiving Data in SAP Global Trade Management
1.5.1 How Is an Archiving Project Run?
1.5.2 List of Important Archiving Objects
1.5.2.1 Specific Objects for Global Trade and Agency Business
1.5.3 Sequence of Objects in Archiving
1.5.3.1 Dependencies Between Archiving Objects
1.6 Differential Invoices
1.7 Invoice Forecasting
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Trading Business
In the SAP system, this type of business process, in which sales and purchasing processes are carried out simultaneously, is defined as Trading Business.
SAP Global Trade's new object, Trading Contract, is used to handle this ordering process.
Trading Contract
There are several types of procurement and sales expenses associated with trading business, such as inland freight, ocean freight, insurance, duty, and so
on.Trading charges linked to the Trading Contract can be processed by a new component, Trading Expense .The Trading Expense component is fully
integrated with the Trading Contract so that you can maintain purchase related expenses and selling related expenses centrally.Planned expenses can be
entered in the Trading Contract and accrued.Unplanned expenses can be linked to Trading Contract at a later stage when you receive invoices from service
providers, freight forwarders, insurance companies and customs offices.It is thus possible to assess accurate profitability as costs and revenue elements are
linked to the Trading Contract.
Subsequent transactions such as goods receipt, inventory management, goods issue, invoice verification, and customer billing are maintained in the standard
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SD/MM components .
Implementation Considerations
The Global Trade component is a part of the standard SAP system and can be used in all business transactions, independent of the line of business.
Since Trading Business initiates both Sales and Purchasing processes, it is mandatory to maintain both SD and MM settings and Customizing.
Integration
The vendor and customer master, material master, conditions, sales transactions, and purchasing transactions must be in use if you want to use the Trading
Contract component.
For further information, see ;
Sales orders
Purchase Order
Features
The Global Trade component provides:
Trading Contract
Trading Execution Workbench (TEW )
Position Management
Trading Expense
Integration
The vendor and customer master, material master, conditions, sales transactions, and purchasing transactions must be in use if you want to use the Trading
Contract component.
For further information see Purchasing and Sales & Distribution
Features
The Trading Contract component is a center of trading business. It incorporates sales orders, purchase orders, and vendor billing documents for trading
expenses. Users can monitor the processing status of all subsequent transactions associated with the trading contract via extended document flow.
It also provides accurate profit simulation report, including all the costs and revenue elements, when you enter data in the trading contract.
After the deals are completed and all the data is transferred to accounting, you can use the trading contract number to check the actual profit.
The Trading Contract component provides support for the following:
Multiple units of measure
Multiple currencies
Trade pricing
Partner functions
Portfolio assignment
Open order/Delivery control
Incompleteness check
Status control and release check
Copy control
Text Control
Contract closing
Quantity-matching check
Risk management check
Document flow
Central output control
Vendor evaluation
You can use side panels in trading contract. Prerequisites for this are that you use the NetWeaver Business Client (at least version 3.5), and that a role that
contains the transactions of the trading contract is assigned to the respective users.
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Once these prerequisites are fulfilled, the role SAP_BSSP_LO_SIDEPANEL must be assigned to the respective users, in transaction SU01.
Integration
To use TEW, you must install SAP Global Trade.
In addition, you must also customize the standard functions of SD/MM that are needed for background processing.
You can call the Position Management and Trading Expense functions directly from the TEW.
The following illustration gives an overview of how various global trade functions fit together with the TEW.
Features
Role-based layout of TEW is highly customizable to support different lines of business (for example, steel, oil, food, energy).
Smart functions anticipate which tasks you want to perform and suggest the appropriate source and target documents automatically.
You can process multiple documents on one screen (including creating deliveries, shipping notifications for customs clearance, posting goods issue, and
so on).
A document flow diagram helps you keep track of what follow-on documents you have already processed and what remains to be done.
The system remembers your selection settings from one session to another so you do not have to reenter them.
A message area on the screen displays all errors, warnings, and information messages that you have received during the current session.
Constraints
If you process a document in the TEW, you cannot use standard SD/MM transactions to make changes to the document because this can lead to data
inconsistency.
More Information
Trading Contract
Trading Expenses
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Procedure
Assume that you have an existing sales order and you want to create a delivery document for some or all of the items.
1. On the initial Trading Execution Workbench screen, choose the TEW mode that represents your line of business.
2. Enter the following selection criteria:
Group
This represents a group of steps, or tasks, involved processing a given kind of trading (for example, tasks involved in export, domestic, back-to-back
trading, and so on).
Step
This indicates the target document you want to create (for example, delivery document).
Mode
This indicates the action you want to perform (for example, create, change, copy with reference).
Prestep
This indicates the document that you want to use as your data source (for example, sales order).
3. In the Ranges for Selecting Source Documents section of the screen, select the parameters you want to use to search for the source document you
want (for example, all sales orders created by you during a given month). You can select as many parameters as you want in order to refine your search.
As you select each parameter, the system displays fields where you can specify ranges (for example, a range of materials, or a date range).
4. Choose Start selection .
The system searches for the appropriate source documents and displays them in the Document Flow area of the screen. You can select the Plus
icon (+) next to each document to see which documents have already been created for it. This shows you the extent to which the order has been
processed.
5. Select the document you want from the list area.
Document header data is shown in a frame to the right of the Document Flow area, with the item lines in a frame below them. If the system displays
more than one sales order, the items for each contract are shown in a different color so that you can easily see which items belong to which order (for
example, all items for Sales Order A might be shown in green, and all items for Sales Order B might be shown in blue). You may need to expand the
frame to see all the details.
6. Do one of the following:
If you want to process all items for a document, select the header data.
If you want to process only some items or a partial quantity of an item, select the item line(s) you want.
7. Choose Execute .
The system displays the appropriate screen for the data you selected. For example, if you selected an item for which you want to create a delivery, the
Create Delivery screen appears with the quantities copied from the sales order.
Note
Depending on the settings in Customizing, the system may perform the task in the background rather than display a data entry screen. In this case,
you simply receive a message indicating that the delivery document has been created.
8. You can make changes to the data as necessary. For example, you may want to create only a partial delivery, perhaps 500 tons of wheat instead of 700
tons.
9. Save the document.
Result
When you refresh the data, the document flow to the left of the screen is updated to show the new document.
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Features
Following topics are provided for more detailed information.
Portfolio Type
Portfolio Table
Access Sequence
Portfolio Determination
Example
Suppose that you deal with coffee beans, and distinguished by the country of origin and crop year. This is because these elements affect your corporate risk
position based on pricing and delivery uncertainties. In this case, you set up portfolio type with the portfolio table that has country of origin and crop year. You
can create your own portfolio tables, if necessary.
About the Portfolio Tables, see
Portfolio Table
Relationships
When the data is maintained in a contract, the system checks if there is any suitable portfolio record.
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Use
An access sequence is a search strategy that the system uses to find valid data for a particular portfolio type. It consists of one or more accesses, which
contains the portfolio table. The system looks for a valid portfolio record according to the order of this sequence. This is assigned to each portfolio type with
which you create a portfolio record.
Features
The above figure illustrates the relationship between portfolio type and access sequence. When the system starts to search, it looks for the record to the first
table (most specific record). If the record doesn't match the first sequence criteria, it uses the next one. The search continues until the system finds the
appropriate record. There is a customizing parameter for optimizing this access.
Process Flow
A portfolio record is searched for in the following way:
1. Portfolio determination process begins in order of the procedure, GT0001 . The search begins the step with the lowest sequence number, in this case
GT01 . Each portfolio type has an assigned access sequence.
2. In the access sequence G001, the key of the portfolio table 001 determines the responsibility, 0001 and the material group, GT01. The portfolio
table is read using this key.
3. When a record is found, for example the record 5542 , the system proposes the result according to the determination strategy
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Procedure
1. In the trading contract overview screen, maintain data for the item and its quantity.
2. The system tries to assign a portfolio to the contract item. Depending on the settings in Customizing, you may see the portfolio selection list in a display
screen. To assign the portfolio manually, or to see the assigned portfolio, choose Goto -> Item -> Portfolio.
3. In the Portfolio tab, you can see the portfolio determination log. You can also check the key fields that are used as a selection basis.
4. If there are alternative portfolio records, you can use the Redetermine Portfolio function. If only one portfolio can be assigned, no portfolio
redetermination is possible.
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Features
Creating/maintaining a document item link
The system searches for the corresponding association partner list, based on the assigned portfolio. You can use the same portfolio to create new
associations between items.
You can maintain associations in both a trading contract and a logistics document.
In a trading contract you can call the association function either manually or automatically.
In a logistics document you cannot call the association directly from the document. You can maintain an association separately by using the Trading
Execution Workbench, by using further inheritance to create a logistics document, or by using automatic adjustment of the association when changing
the logistics document.
For more information, see Association Maintenance.
Updating open quantity information
Once a portfolio is assigned to a contract item, the system checks the material item and authorizes processing of the item and its associated quantity.
For more information, see Status Control and Release Check.
See also:
Processing Associations in a Trading Contract
Independent Association Processing
Processing Associations
Association Overview
Example
Purchasing-side process
In purchasing document processing, the system checks the processed quantity. If an item quantity is changed in the document, the associated quantity
can be adjusted either automatically or manually.
Sales-side process
If you create an association during trading contract processing, this relationship is passed on to the follow-on logistics document. If you process the
trading contract further, the system checks for an association record. During sales document processing, the system provides a screen for creating or
confirming an association partner item. Only selected association partners and quantities can be passed to the document.
Creating an association from the Trading Execution Workbench
After creating a logistics document, you can create an association for a document item in the Trading Execution Workbench. When executing the
process you are taken to a screen where you can select association candidates. In this screen, you create a new association record. When doing this
you must enter the association quantity. This must not be greater than the open quantity of the items involved.
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Procedure
Create new association
1. After you enter a contract item and its quantity, you must assign a portfolio to the contract item.
If you have made the relevant setting in Customizing you are automatically taken to the screen for association maintenance.
To call the association maintenance screen manually, select an item, follow the path
Goto Items
Associations
, and then select the tab page
Association .
2. A new window opens, displaying the contract item in the upper area and the associated item list in the lower area.
You can change association partner quantities directly. If you want to create an association for a candidate, select the corresponding item in the lower
part of the screen and choose Change entries .
3. Change the quantity in the New quantity field and then press Enter to confirm the change.
The changes are reflected in the displayed data.
4. Choose Copy data.
You are then taken back to the contract maintenance screen.
Process association
1. Choose Reassociate from the tab page Associations .
2. The contract item and the association partners are displayed.
You can change the association quantity in the New quantity field. Quantities that have already been passed on to follow-on logistics documents are
not displayed here.
3. Choose Copy data to confirm the changes.
Procedure
Create/change association
1. In the TEW initial screen, define the necessary parameters in the Task area.
Select a mode that corresponds to association maintenance.
2. Define the source document selection range, and choose Select .
The system lists source documents in the lower screen.
3. Select the item to be processed from the second group of documents.
Note
Association is not possible at header level.
4. If you create a new association or want to change an existing one, choose Read data for association .
The association partners and candidates are transferred to the lower part of the association maintenance screen while the item to be processed is
displayed in the upper half of the same screen. For association partners the associated quantity is displayed in the field New quantity and you can
change it directly. If you want to create a new association for an association candidate, select the appropriate item and choose Change entries .
If you want to change the existing association data, choose Read data for reassociation. In this case only the list of association partners is displayed.
You can already make changes to the New quantity field.
5. Change the quantity in the New quantity field and choose Enter to confirm it.
6. Choose Save .
Display Association
1. In the TEW initial screen, define the necessary parameters in the Task area.
Select a mode that corresponds to association maintenance.
2. Define the source document selection range, and choose Select . The system lists source documents in the lower screen.
3. Select the item to be processed from the second grouping of documents.
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Note
Association is not possible at header level.
4. Choose Display association data . The selected data and all the association partners are copied to the screen area for association maintenance.
Delete association
1. In the TEW initial screen, define the necessary parameters in the Task area. Select a mode that corresponds to the association maintenance.
2. Define the source document selection range, and choose Start Selection .
The system lists source documents in the lower screen.
3. Select the item to be processed from the second grouping of documents.
Note
Association is not possible at header level.
4. Choose Association data to be deleted.
The system displays the association partners. Select the associations to be deleted and choose Delete association .
5. Choose Save .
Prerequisites
The selected document must have the status Released .
Only a trading contract in which logistics follow-on documents are processed can be selected as a source document.
When creating a contract, a portfolio must be assigned to the relevant document item.
Procedure
1. In the TEW initial screen, you select the necessary parameters in theTask area and define the source document selection range.
The list of source document headers and source document items appears in the middle of the screen.
2. You select the source document headers and/or source document items.
3. The association maintenance screen opens in a separate screen.
Two different cases exist here:
1. a. The document item is complete but is not uniquely associated.
Association partners and quantities are displayed in the lower list. Now perform cross-referencing.
2. b. The document item is not completely associated.
Association partners and quantities are displayed in the lower list, as are association candidates. You can change association partner quantities
directly. If you want to enter a quantity for an association candidate you select the appropriate line. Choose Change entries and enter the
quantity. Now perform cross-referencing.
4. To get to the screen for maintenance of logistics documents, choose Copy data.
Prerequisites
In each report, you can narrow your selection by entering a variety of selection fields such as contract number, article number and partner number.
Additionally, you can specify a particular document status.
Association overview
The association overview displays all the associations linked to a trading contract item.
Long-Short analysis
The long-short analysis can be performed on either the purchasing side or the sales side. The result is that you are provided with an overview of all the
current items that have not yet been completely processed.
Example:
You perform the report on the sales side. In the overview screen you can then display all the documents by month/document type/posting date. To open
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folders you click on the hierarchy nodes. This allows you to see the corresponding documents and their association partners with quantities and value
data, if these exist. In this case the open quantity represents the long item, as it is not yet assigned to any sales item. By clicking on document
numbers you can move to the corresponding original documents.
If you execute the report for the sales side you receive all short items to which no purchasing item has been assigned.
Procedure
1. Use the following path
: Logistics
SAP Global Trade Management
Select the type of report you require:
Quantity overview
Association overview
2. Enter your selection criteria and choose Execute .
Association Management
Reports
Prerequisites
If you want to monitor a material item during document processing, you must customize the business process steps in the Trading Execution Workbench
(TEW) area accordingly. Perform association maintenance using the TEW.
Features
The portfolio for a contract item is determined using the condition technique. The system can then determine the corresponding association candidates. You
define your search strategy in Customizing, and assign it to the association group.
You can choose from the following search strategies:
Candidates all belong to the same period
Association candidates must have the same portfolio as the contract item.
Candidates can belong to different periods
Association candidates can have different portfolios, as these relate to different time periods.
Example:
At the end of the year, you close one portfolio and at the same time create a new one for the next year. Use this search strategy to determine
association candidates for both periods.
Hierarchical search
This is an optional function of the search strategy.
The following figure shows the search strategy:
Search strategy
In the example above, portfolio record 0020 with the key fields (Div/Mat/Prod Hierarchy) can be associated with record 0027 and 0014, because these
two records have a common key in the more generic area Mat.
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Logistics Process
The above figure describes the relationship between the trading contract process and the trading expense process.
The new process flow gives you more flexibility in maintaining expenses data. In trading contract processing, you can maintain planned expenses, which are
treated as pricing conditions in the contract pricing schema. You can reference them when you post expenses in other processes. When logistics documents
are being processed you can post expenses to a specific account. The vendor billing document is used for posting expenses. It has an additional function that
enables you to post expenses to both Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable.
Implementation Considerations
Since planned expenses are included in contract pricing, you must ensure that the contract pricing schema is customized properly. If you process trading
contracts using the Trading Execution Workbench (TEW), you can also use it to process expenses. For more information see:
Trading Contract
Integration
Data in SAP Global Trade is archived in the same way as in other environments. It is based on SAP archiving objects and generic SAP tools.
For general information, see the Introduction to Archiving. The introduction provides answers to the following questions:
What is an archiving object?
Which general Customizing settings are necessary?
How does archiving work?
What do I do in the archiving procedure?
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Prerequisites
Before you start an archiving project, ensure that you have read the following documents (on SAP Service Marketplace http://service.sap.com/data-archiving ,
at
Media Center Literature ).
Data Prevention Checklist
The Data Prevention Checklist details options for reducing the volume of data in your system before you start archiving, for example, by aggregating
data.
Managing SAP Data Archiving Projects
Details general best practices to be observed when archiving data in an SAP system.
Prerequisites
Before starting the archiving project, check the possibilities for data prevention using the Data Prevention Checklist (see SAPNet
http://service.sap.com/data-archivinghttp://service.sap.com/data-archiving
).
Procedure
Here is a brief outline of the project flow to give you an overview of the steps required. For more detailed information on project organization and flow, see the
documents Planning and Running SAP Archiving Projects (see SAPNet http://service.sap.com/data-archiving ).
Here is an overview of the process flow:
1. Analyze the database and identify archiving objects.
1. Perform consistency checks between MM and FI.
1. Schedule regular jobs for deleting administration data (for example, spool data). For more information, see SAP Note 16083.
1. Organize a kick-off meeting for the project.
1. Establish contact persons.
2. Determine system environment.
3. Agree on a time plan.
1. Define demands on archived data and archiving objects.
1. Draw up order concept.
1. Consult the relevant SAP Notes.
1. Set up configuration and Customizing.
1. Perform archiving in the test system.
1.
2.
3.
4.
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Integration
The archiving objects from the following areas are of particular importance for SAP Global Trade:
Logistics - General (LO)
Material Management (MM)
Sales and Distribution (SD)
Logistics Execution (LE)
Basis (BC)
If you also use financial accounting, archiving objects from the following components are also important:
Financial Accounting (FI)
Controlling (CO)
Enterprise Controlling (EC)
Features
Archiving Object
Description
Component ID
SAP component
MM_MATNR
MM-IM
Inventory Management
MM_HDEL
Inventory Management
Material documents
MM-IM
Inventory Management
MM_INVBEL
MM-IM
Inventory Management
MM_REBEL
Invoice documents
MM-IV
Invoice Verification
MM_EKKO
Purchasing documents
MM-PUR
Purchasing
RL_TA
Transfer orders
LE-TRA
Shipping
RV_LIKP
Deliveries
LE-SHP
Shipping
SD_COND
SD-BF-PR
SD_VBRK
Billing documents
SD-BIL
Billing
SD_VBAK
Sales documents
SD-SLS
Sales
WRECH
Invoice lists
LO-AB
Agency Business
WBU
Posting lists
LO-AB
Agency Business
WCI
Customer settlements
LO-AB
Agency Business
WREG
LO-AB
Agency Business
WZR
LO-AB
Agency Business
WLF
LO-AB
Agency Business
WSI
LO-AB
Agency Business
WB2
Trading Contracts
LO-GT
Global Trade
FI_DOCUMNT
FI
Financial Accounting
MM_ACCTIT
FI-GL-GL
accounting interface
PCA_OBJECT
Functions
EC-PCA
Center Accounting
(to Release 4.6A)
EC_PCA_ITM
EC-PCA
EC_PCA_SUM
EC-PCA
CO_COSTCTR
CO_ITEM
CO line items
CO
Controlling
CO_ML_BEL
CO-PC-ACT
Actual Costing/
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Material Ledger
CO_ML_IDX
CO-PC-ACT
Actual Costing/
Material Ledger
COPA1xxxx
CO
Profitability Analysis
Analysis
IDoc
IDocs
BC
Basis
WORKITEM
Work Items
BC
Basis
Comments/Notes:
Profit Center Accounting
As of Release 4.6A, archiving object PCA_OBJECT replaces objects EC_PCA_ITM and EC_PCA_SUM.
Features
The following table contains the archiving objects that have been especially developed for SAP Global Trade and Agency Business:
Object
Description
Component
Description
WB2
Trading Contracts
LO-GT
Global Trade
WRECH
Invoice lists
LO-AB
Agency Business
4.5A
WBU
Posting Lists
LO-AB
Agency Business
4.5A
WCI
Customer Settlement
Documents
LO-AB
Agency Business
WREG
LO-AB
Agency Business
4.5A
WZR
LO-AB
Agency Business
4.5A
WLF
LO-AB
Agency Business
4.5A
WSI
LO-AB
Agency Business
Note
Archiving objects WCI, WREG, WZR and WLF are also used for subsequent settlement. If you use subsequent settlement, refer to SAP Note 180434
(Release 3.0D 4.5B), which activates additional checks for the archiving of documents that are relevant for settlement (for example, purchase orders,
vendor billing documents). For more information, see Archiving Rebate Arrangements.
Object A of the Group Object B of the Group Object C of the Group Object D of the Group Recommended Order Recommended Order
Within the Group
of the Groups
MM_MATBEL
MM_EKKO
RV_LIKP
RL_TA
WRECH
WBU
MM_INVBEL
MM_REBEL
MM_HDEL
2 before 3,
2 before 13
SD_VBRK
SD_VBAK
SD_COND
A, B, C, D
5 before 6
WCI
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6 before 7
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WREG
WZR
7 before 8
WLF
10
MM_ACCTIT
10 before 11,
10 before 15
11
FI_DOCUMNT
11 before 12
12
PCA_OBJECT
13
CO_ITEM
14
WB2
15
MM_MATNR
8 before 9
WSI
12 before 13
CO_COSTCTR
CO_ML_BEL
CO_ML_IDX
A, B
Notes:
Recommended order within the group (affected objects are specified)
In this case, we recommend that you archive the objects in the order they are shown. In group 13, for example, CO_ITEM should if possible be archived
before CO_COSTCTR, whereas the order of CO_ML_BEL and CO_ML_IDX is interchangeable.
Recommended order of the groups
An entry in this column means that all the objects in a group should be archived before the objects of another group. Therefore group 2 should, if possible, be
archived before group 13.
Note
SAP Note 129310 (Release 3.0D - 4.5B) provides information about correctly referencing texts when using the SD archiving objects RV_LIKP, SD_VBRK,
SD_VBAK.
FI and CO data can normally be archived independent of the MM and SD data.
Exceptions:
In your system, CO data is updated from the MM data.
If this is the case, you should archive the MM data before the CO data.
Data for subsequent MM postings is updated in your system.
In the standard system, the update of data for subsequent postings in MM (object MM_ACCTIT) is active. Data for subsequent postings in MM should be
archived before other FI data.
Note:
If required, you can deactivate the generation of data for subsequent postings. This document contains detailed information about object MM_ACCTIT. See
also SAP Note 48009.
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Page 18 of 20
months after the loading process. A long-term average value based on the price quotations for the commodity is created during this period to take into account
the price risk of the deal. You can also redefine the quantity and quality of goods. Alternatively, it is common practice to issue early on a provisional invoice
shortly after loading that is based on probable values for price, quantity, and quality. Differential invoices can be created at any time between the provisional
and the final billing document.
Logistics Invoice Verification (MM): The creation of differential invoices enables you to create and check these kinds of multiple expense invoices for a goods
receipt.
In both cases, the relevant items can be priced using standard pricing and using the integrated commodity pricing engine (CPE), which has been enhanced
further.
The functions for differential invoices by the following business functions:
Contract-to-Cash for Commodities (LOG_SD_COMMODITY) differential billing in Sales and Distribution (SD)
Procure-to-Pay for Commodities (LOG_MM_COMMODITY) differential invoicing as a process in the logistics applications of Purchasing, Inventory
Management, and Logistics Invoice Verification
Prerequisites
The functions IFW item relevancy determination, IFW update, IFW status determination, and IFW simulation MM and SD need to be configured properly to be
able to use the full functionality of the IFW process. For the settings in Customizing see Invoice Forecasting Worklist.
Process
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A. Contract creation
B. BoL (event Bill of Lading) earliest time to run simulation
C. Earliest invoice date Invoice 1 (provisional invoice)
D. Invoice due date Invoice 1 (provisional invoice)
E. Payment due date Payment 1
F. Quality finalized
G. Earliest invoice date Invoice 2 (final invoice)
H. Invoice due date Invoice 2 (final invoice)
I. Payment due date Payment 2
The figure shows certain events along the time axis that apply to a contract and the follow-up billing activities. When the commodity contract is created, either
as a sales or a purchase document, the price is not known. The price depends on the market price at the future date of the bill of lading (BOL) averaged over a
given period. The BOL date generally corresponds to the date of the goods movement posting. The price is known only when the pricing period is closed, that
is, when the system date lies after the pricing period end date.
If foreign currencies are relevant, the foreign exchange (FX) rate also needs to be averaged over a time period. So, the first (provisional) invoice can be
created only when the pricing period is closed, the FX rate period is closed, and the FX rate is known. In general, the payment due date occurs within a certain
time period after the first invoice date (Delta 1 in graphics). In general, the details for the price end, invoice due date and payment due date can be extracted
from the pricing formula, together with certain pricing relevant events (such as BOL date).
Process Steps
1. Creation of a commodity contract.
2. In the background, follow-on documents such as purchase order (MM) or Sales Order (SD) are created, based on the commodity contract.
3. Since follow-on documents are the start document for the IFW, a goods receipt or a delivery are created based on the purchase order (PO) or sales order
(SO). The goods receipt must be posted with transaction Goods Receipt (MIGO ) and the delivery (and goods issue) must be posted with transactions
Outbound Delivery (VL01N) or Outbound Delivery Single Document (VL02N) for updating the IFW tables.
4. The user can potentially use the IFW report to analyze the status of the commodity contract
5. Additionally, the IFW forecasting run can periodically recalculate the amounts of the potential invoice based on the current available data (current prices,
current dates).
6. Perform follow-on activities for the commodity contract such as execution of invoice verification or creation of a billing document.
Result
As a result of the IFW process, the user has a current view of the invoices in the system and is able to perform follow-on activities in a timely manner.
Example
Companies that buy and sell commodities generally handle high volumes and high values of the materials involved. In general, we call the main business
Commodity Management, which includes not only trading, hedging and exposure management, but also the logistics part of their value chain. Since we deal
with high value, special attention also needs to be paid to back-office handling of invoicing, invoice verification, and payments. Of central importance in the
commodity business is, of course, the handling of commodity prices. These are based either on (long-term) contracts with business partners or on current and
future market prices.
Often, prices are based on a date in the future, usually the date of ownership change, which is not known when a contract is made. For example, the price for
a commodity received from a customer is attached to the market price of that commodity averaged over a period of time around the bill of lading (BOL)
(corresponding to the date of ownership change). Even after receiving or issuing a call-off of a contract, the final price may not be known because it depends
on the final market price averaged over a period which is not yet closed. The quality determines surcharges or discounts, but the real quality is only known
several days after the receipt or issue, after receipt of the official quality report. Finally, quantity adjustments may happen.
So, the period for final price determination generally long; up to one month or more. Generally, travel times for any commodities are also quite long. An oil
tanker takes 30 days from Saudi Arabia to the U.S. Gulf coast, and similar travel times apply to shipments of agricultural products from South America or Asia
to Europe.
Since a company cannot wait until the final price is known, it is required to be able to invoice an amount before the final price is known. So immediately after
goods issue, a provisional invoice is issued based on the best known price of the delivery (call-off) of a contract. Once the price is updated, we can issue a
differential (delta) invoice that only invoices the remaining value to the customer. After a given closed period (pricing period), the final price is known and a final
invoice is sent out. The payment date is generally also based on the BOL date. It can be within the pricing period around the BOL, or after the final pricing
date. It is the final date when a given delivery has to be paid. A company needs to receive the vendor invoice very soon, because otherwise penalties have to
be paid if payment happens too late. Occasionally, the company tries to initiate its own payments as late as possible, while being keen on receiving payments
as early as possible. Similar steps are required on the receipts side, where we need to run the invoice verification process at an early stage and need to report
on any required outstanding payments.
Uncertainty in prices is an important topic in Commodity Management, especially when market prices are highly volatile and fluctuate. This price volatility
increases the financial risks concerning any physical commodity transactions. Any financial risks have to be minimized by using certain financial instruments
called hedging tools. For cross-border transactions, foreign currency risks also have to be considered.
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