HOW PARTNER DETERMINATION WORKS

Rohit Ranjan
Series How CRM Functionality Works

12-05-2011

Agenda
Introduction Partner Processing Definitions Partner Processing in Context

Example of Partner Determination

Building Blocks Partner Processing & BP Master Data Partner Functions and BP Relationships Steps to configure

System Demo
Q&A

Introduction
All transactions in CRM involve business partners & partner processing allows you to work with them efficiently and consistently.

Partner Processing:
Includes partner determination, the procedure with which system automatically finds and enters partners in transactions Allows you to define partners with your companys terminology

Lets you specify many aspects of how partners are handled in transactions
Lets you set how CRM and ECC exchange partner processing information Means end users do not have to think about partner processing while working with transactions!

Definition
Partner processing controls how the system works with business partners in transactions. It ensures the accuracy of partner data in transactions by applying rules you specify in customizing, and it makes users work easier by automatically entering certain partners and related information, like addresses. One of the most important aspects of partner processing is partner determination, the systems ability to automatically find and enter the partners involved in a transaction. In most transactions, the user manually enters one or more partners, and the system enters the others through partner determination. Various sources of information make partner determination possible; two of the most important are business partner master data and organizational data. Partner functions are terms that describe the people and organizations with whom you do business, and who are therefore involved in transactions. For example, when you create an Activity, based on customizing settings, it automatically includes the partner functions activity partner, contact person, and person responsible. Partner functions are always assigned to partner function categories, which are hard-coded in the system.

Definition

Partner determination procedures are sets of rules for how the system works with business partners during transaction processing. They bring together partner functions and access sequences, and include additional information.

The access sequence in CRM defines a search strategy that specifies the sources of data the system uses when it determines a partner and the order in which it uses these sources. It does not specify whether this partner is determined before or after other partners.

Partner Processing in Context

Partner processing relies on several sources of data:

Business partner master data, including BP hierarchies Organizational data Preceding transactions, end user data, and other sources

And customizing settings for:

Partner functions and partner function categories Access sequences Partner determination procedures Transaction types Mapping tables to and from ECC

An Example of Partner Determination

The Building Blocks

Partner Function Categories:
Are hard-coded classifications Are assigned to partner functions Often correspond to business partner relationship categories

Access Sequences:

Are search strategies that list sources of data for partner determination Are assigned to partner functions Can be freely defined

Partner Functions:

Are terms that you use to describe your business partners Are assigned to partner determination procedures Can be freely defined

Partner Determination Procedures:

Lists which partner functions are mandatory and optional in transactions Are where access sequences are assigned to partner functions Are assigned to transaction types

How Building Blocks Work Together

Analysis of the Example

Partner Processing & BP Master Data Business partner master data is an important source of information for partner processing.
The following slides show how partner processing:
Recognizes how partner functions and BP relationships correspond to each other (The partner function category corresponds to a relationship category). Recognizes general relationships and sales area-specific relationships as different sources of information (There are two different sources available in access sequences: BP relationships, and BP relationships by sales area) Can include BP hierarchies, or use them as sources of information (Hierarchies exist as both partner function categories and sources in access sequences.)

Partner Functions and BP Relationships

General Relationships and Sales Area Data

Partner Processing and Organizational Data Organizational data is also an important source of infromation for partner processing.
The following slides show how partner processing:
Uses the organizational model as a source of data. (You can enter organizational data as a source in access sequences)

Works with organizational determination rules (When you enter organizational data as the source, you must also enter a rule)
May require organizational data to be in the transaction already. (For example, if partners are determined based on the organizational unit, organizational determination must occur before partner determination)

Partner Processing and Organizational Data

Overview of Customizing

In Customizing for Partner Processing you:

Define Partner Functions Define Access Sequences Define Partner Determination Procedures Define how CRM and R/3 exchange partner processing data

In Customizing for Transactions you:

Assign partner determination procedures to transaction types

Customizing Steps
In Customizing, choose Customer Relationship Management -> Basic Functions -> Partner Processing

Define Partner Functions

In Customizing for partner processing, choose Define Partner Functions
1. Enter an alphanumeric key for the partner function

2. Enter a description. This description appears in the transaction header and on the partner tab page
3. Enter an abbreviation 4. Choose a partner function category. This hard coded category allows the system to identify and work with the new partner function 5. Specify whether this partner function applies to CRM or Enterprise Buyer 6. In most cases the system automatically enters the relationship category, based on the partner function category

Define Access Sequences

In Customizing for partner processing, choose Define Access Sequences

1. Evaluate the existing access sequences. If possible, use one of them. 2. To create a new access sequence, use the wizard. The wizard leads you step by step through the rest of the procedure.

2 1

Define Access Sequences (cont.)

The wizard leads you through several screens where you can select the sources of data to include in the access sequence.

Define Partner Determination Procedure

In Customizing for partner processing, choose Define Partner Determination Procedure

1. To define a new partner determination procedure, use the Wizard. 2. The Wizard leads you step by step through the rest of the procedure.

Define Partner Determination Procedure (cont.)

3. The wizard lists partner function categories that are required for the type of transaction you choose. You enter partner Functions. They must correspond with the suggested categories.

4. You can enter new partner functions you defined earlier.

To make a partner function mandatory, enter 1 as the minimum for how many times it occurs.

Define Partner Determination Procedure (cont.)

5. Once the wizard is complete, open the new partner determination procedure and assign access sequences to the partner functions. If you created new access sequences earlier, they would be listed here.

R/3 Mapping Tables

In Customizing for partner processing, choose Data Collection -> Distribution of Partner Functions from R/3 into CRM and Distribution of Partner Functions from CRM into R/3.

1
Determine how partner functions and partner function categories in CRM and partner functions in ECC correspond with each other. You see the new partner functions you defined in CRM.

Customizing for Transactions

In Customizing, choose Customer Relationship Management -> Transactions -> Maintain Transaction Types

Maintain Transaction Types

1. Find the transaction type in which you want to use the new partner determination procedure.

2. Assign the new partner determination procedure to this transaction type.

Create a Transaction

Create a transaction in CRM.

Choose the transaction type to which you assigned the new partner determination procedure.

Partner Determination in the Transaction

The partner functions included are those you specified in the partner detemination procedure for this transaction. Enter the sold-to party and press Return. The system determines partners and enters them both in the header and on the Partner tab page.

Questions