Hi All,

We are working on ISU on ECC 6.0 and CRM 2007. I wanted to know what are the mandatory objects to be replicated from ISU to CRM. We do not have Installed base management in CRM as of now since we are using Plant Maintenance on ECC side.

Can any one please guide me on what technical and business master data should be synchronized between ISU  and CRM ?

Thanks,

MV

I need to create two alternate rate and prices; one to bill in summer from May to Sept ($11.00) and a winter rate to bill from Oct to April ($15.00), based on the end of billing period date. in rate steps (T-code EA30) what steps I should configure using variant and operands to do that.

Thanks,

Osman

ECC6.0- Looking for a way to schedule background jobs, created independently to run depending on the other.  Currently there are two t-codes executed at the close of business 5:30PM:

T-code FPVA runs the dunning proposal then t-code FPVB executes the dunning run at 9:00PM

T-code EA20 is executed to run billing at 12:05AM

Invoicing runs at 1:00AM

Printing runs at 2:00AM

Is there a way that these can be scheduled to run depending on the other, ? Currently we use SM36 to schedule background jobs and SM37 to extract the information, but I don't know if ECC6.0 has the capability for this job?

Thanks in advance

Valentina

Hello Experts,

I am doing write-off for few documents,at FP04 screen I give required master data and press enter,it gives me error write-off rules not allowed.

So I found that there is a check box ( write off rules ),unchecked it and now I am able to proceed.

Can anybody brief me about this write-off rules ?

Best Regards

Amit

Like all industries, the utilities industry is increasingly looking to cloud technology to support business needs. More and more decision makers want to understand how to expand into the cloud without abandoning the architecture they’ve built to support their business processes.

Ability to eat your cake and have it too

Construction is a very relevant process in Asset Management. In fact, it is the most relevant from the corporate budget perspective (capital expenses are used in the process) as maintenance use to have a fixed budget and the expense is operational. From the IT support perspective Construction is a more complex scenario,  think for example new connections management or the construction of a power plant. From the other side of the coin, maintenance has more relevance from the branding perspective as to avoid outages and keep the infrastructure working at optimal cost.

When discussing on how SAP can help organisations to manage this process,  Solution Architects face the challenge of understanding the complex  requirements and identifying which are the right components which may help companies to run effectively and simple such processes.  Relevant example is building a new substation while the most  can be identified in New Connections, which is in fact a very complex workflow across different departments with an average of thirty variants in the case of having only one energy (electricity, water or gas) such as increase capacity for a premise, building or location, new developments (building and construction sites) and may even include some commercial steps.

1. Corporate Assets lifecycle. In red the scope of this text

Overall solution  breakdown

Three major areas are identified to cover such process: Long term Planning, Mid Term Planning and Detailed Planning and Execution.  Each  of these areas have several dedicated processes which are very much influenced on the degree of contribution of internal resources:  would this be a turn key project (this is all done by external contractor), by internal resources (both labor and material) or a mixed approach as can be seen at the below copied snapshot of a case study?.

2.Case Study NTPC Project (India) – ‘Concept to Commissioning’ Scenario

Depending on  these requirements, the overall solution proposed may balance from the usage of sophisticated purchasing solutions like Ariba or SRM to a more Engineering  Approach where the solution should be more related with PLM application portfolio.  In both cases, the backbone of the solution is Project System (PS) solution, where detailed Resource Planning, Cost Planning, Approvals and Scheduling & Dispatching of activities is performed. Execution of the activities are performed using Work Orders for Construction. This picture may ilustrate from the object – datamodel perspective how the process data flows:

3.Project and Program Planning: High  Level Architectural View (green objects located in ERP)

This picture shows a process based in the usage of internal resources and does not reflect the integration with purchasing systems (MM, SRM, Ariba), which may increase complexity of the flow diagram. It does not mean that is not relevant as, for example, many projects are assigned by Tendering processes (Request For Purchasing) or “hybrid” scenarios, such as hiring contractors but providing own materials are very regular.

Investment management or Portfolio Management?

As highlighted previously, the central element of the Business Scenario is the Project System and it has to syncronize its activities with the Budget: where does it come from, how is it validated, where is an ivestment decision allocated?.  In this stage, Solution Architects have to suggest which is the correct  olution to support the budget and investment process and how feasible is for the organisation. Two choices, complementary, exist:  Investment (funds) management and Portfolio Management.

As can be seen at the picture above, the decision on suggesting Investment Management (IM) only may have a clear impact in the implementation effort as it is part of the ERP functionality and enable project effort to build a consistent Project System fully integrated with other ERP elements. For companies  currently  approaching this process (not companies already using SAP ERP) this is a very simple and effective way of implementing such critical process and, for an initial stage, IM may contain enough  functionality for Investment and Budget Management: 

4.Investment Management:  Process Flow and SAP Objects

Therefore, an implemention roadmap based in a  “two or even three steps” approach for Capital Projects is the average suggestion by solution architects: First phase a critical baseline scope being PS and IM as can be seen at the picture above copied below being a second step Portfolio Management to improve, record and track decisions.    This component, named SAP Portfolio and Project Management enables Managers the linking of ideas and strategies with project data, workflows, and business processes. It becomes a structure above the project System to  Manage scope, timeline, and budget of projects in an integrated way enabling cash flow tracking and high level control of the execution and progress of projects.

                          5. Portfolio Management:  how it integrates with Project System

Work Orders – Compatible Units

Additional phase, a third one, has been indentified in the area of project execution.  This is the integration among the engineering department and the works execution.  Designers and engineers need to define and estimate quickly and efficiently the work to be performed. On this purpose there is a functionality available in the ERP called Compatible units (CU) which combine standardized and repetitive units of work for a certain technical object (e.g. Install, Repair, Replace 40ft Pole) by combining Labor (what, who, qualification, how long), Materials, Tools, Costs, Resources External / Internal and Accounting Rules.

6. Case Study at ESB: Usage of Compatible Units in the construction workflow

Additional subjects to be considered prior the Reconciliation of Materials & Expenditure  and Contract closing  are the reporting and the asset commissioning.
While Business Intelligence platform may favour a management analysis of consolidated project view and comparison, detailed analysis is already available in ERP instance, like Project Plan versus Actuals.   Asset Commissioning has two dimensions which can be automatized in the process workflow:   capitalisation of assets (create the corresponding Financial Asset ready for depreciation process) and Creation of the Technical Asset with all its relevant data for maintenance and operations (Take over – Hand over of data).

Hi Everyone,

I am writing a program to create simulated billing and invoicing documents of multiple months for the consumption I give. To create simulated billing document, I am using rhe function module ISU_SIMULATION_PERIOD_BILL but I can't get any suitable function module to simulate invoicing of multiple simulated billing document.

I found one (ISU_INV_BILLDOC_PROCESSING) but this one dumps error while setting the parameters. there is no documentation as well.

So, can anyone let me know is it possible to carry out invoicing simulation in background and to preview its bill print. Is there any alternative way to create simulated documents through program, please let me know.

Regards,

Abish

Hi all,

I have created a field in ERDK table, in the include CI_ERDK. Now I want to show this field in the transaction EA40. Does anybody Knows how can I do it??

Thanks.

Rodrigo

Hello Experts,

Can any one guide me what are the extra configurations done for SAP/ISU/IDEX which are not done earlier in IDE?

Thanks,

Madhurima

Hello,

could anyone list out some SAP standard transactions, or some BAPI's, or some Functions Module in order to change prices in mass ? 

currently EA90 is available but this is not enough

thank you very much for your help !

The fundamental changes utilities globally are facing and what they can do to stay relevant to consumers

I decided to post this blog to start a discussion about exciting but also somewhat scary developments I am reading, hearing and see happening myself in regards to the the energy / utility markets.

I hope you enjoy the read and am looking forward to hearing from you!

Part 1: The global trend of shrinking revenues & margins, disrupting technologies with the consumer at the center

Part 2: Meet the competition that may better understand and serve the consumer

Part 3: “Innovate and partner” - What utilities and retailers can do and how enterprise software can help them win.

At SAP, we have for a long time drawn a line between deregulated competitive markets and regulated markets with vertically integrated utilities. However, when I look at marketing, customer sales and service operations today, I believe that this difference is disappearing.

Let’s briefly look at the regulated markets. Competition from technology and energy companies operating outside the utility sector has emerged in recent years. These new competitors cannot be regulated by utility commissions It is also quite astonishing that these effects are quite similar to what competitive retailers and distribution companies have been experiencing for some time. Moreover, it fortifies the belief that the traditional business model is in danger no matter what market structure is in place.

As a utility customer myself I can speak from personal experience.  When I installed rooftop solar at my home this year I witnessed first-hand how confusing today’s regulations are. So many rules that intent to keep up with the rapid technological change while trying to salvage the traditional business model and finally also attempting to bridge the gap between what consumers desire and what utilities need to deliver. The results: Uncertainty for utilities and consumers alike.

What do we see in competitive and traditional regulated markets?

• Revenues and margins from sales are shrinking while utilities face new requirements and competition from companies operating outside their strongly regulated markets.
• The way energy is produced, distributed and sold is changing. This changes how utilities need to market, sell and service current and new offerings as well as how they need to organize their companies.
• Utilities and retailers are targeting today’s and tomorrow’s consumers with innovative offerings and well-thought out marketing messages. Unlike in the past, not only  bill-paying customers are in focus but all consumers.
• These changes are happening globally.
  The trend might develop at different speeds in the regions.

I find Accenture’s study “The New Energy Consumer Handbook” a great read. If you don’t want to spend the time to read the over 200 pages, I would like to point you to a nice summary Accenture just recently published in the Intelligent Utility Magazine “Architecting for Consumerization”. You will find it on page 8.

(http://energycentral.fileburstcdn.com/IntelligentUtilityMagazine/2014/SeptOct14.pdf)

In the North American press, maybe driven by its proximity to Hollywood, describes the trend as the “Utility Death Spiral”. The utility death spiral describes the “end game” of the developments described before where the century-old business model of the regulated utility market completely falters.

As we know, this business model is based on centrally produced energy supply distributed over a centralized grid to consumers. Revenue from selling energy to consumers then pays for operations and infrastructure investments over typically long timeframes of 20-30 years. Moreover, the prices are inflated to additionally provide profit to governments and investors.

I agree with many analysts and authors that utilities will probably not die completely. However, utilities are experiencing a partial financial exodus fueled by customer defecting from the grid basically using a competitor product instead of the utility’s. However, It will be just a matter of time until these revenue losses become critical for the utility. For example, lost revenue cannot be invested in infrastructure as originally planned.

Utilities are certainly aware of the developments affecting them. Recently at the North American SAP Utilities Conference in September, a panel of utility executives from electric, gas, and water utilities agreed. The consumer is the major factor driving change in their business.

In the next part of this blog, we will dig deeper. We will look at several reasons for this development, competition being one of them, and why people (or consumers) are at the core of these brave new developments.

The convergence of Information Technology and Operational Technology is getting more and more important in the Utilities industry.

New: The current edition of “Metering & Smart Energy International” focuses on the upcoming European Utilities Week in Amsterdam, where SAP is present as a gold sponsor. IT/OT integration is of course one of the main topics at the conference. Too learn more about SAP’s current view on IT/OT just jump to page 104 in the "Metering & Smart Energy International" edition and visit the SAP booth in Amsterdam.

New: At Teched 2014 Alliander demoed how they use HANA spatial to support predictive maintenance of gas lines; November 2014

Read about IT/OT integration in the following blogs:

IT/OT Integration is a major topic at the SAP Conference for Utilities 2014 by Gero Bieser, March 12, 2014

The Convergence of Information Technology and Operational Technology is Already Happening – How Can Utilities Best Adapt…, by Henry Bailey, March 4, 2014

Thoughts from DistribuTECH 2014 – The Emergence of Software in the Hardware World. by Rory Shaffer, February 6, 2014

Situational Intelligence Melds IT, OT and XT to Improve Decision Making by Steve Ehrlich, SpaceTime Insight, February 4, 2014

Utilities are moving to the intelligent level of Transmission and Distribution by Henry Bailey, February 3, 2014

The Why, How and What of IT-OT integration for Energy Distribution Companies by Miquel Carbo, November 8, 2013

Have a look at this Customer Testimonial Video from Alliander. Alliander is the largest energy distribution company in the Netherlands.
Learn how Alliander, the largest energy distribution company in the Netherlands, successfully deployed SAP HANA using SAP Services to drive innovation by analyzing Big Data from sensors and business applications to improve forecasting models.

http://www.sapbigdata.com/stories/alliander-uses-sap-services-to-successfully-analyze-big-data/#sthash.71pdRNeC.n45QKPwA.dpbs

Read about a strategic OEM agreement between Rolta, a leading IT provider who offers "Suite and Rolta OT-IT Integration Suite™ and SAP http://www.news-sap.com/rolta-and-sap-announce-a-strategic-oem-agreement/

Follow us on twitter @SAP Industrieshttps://twitter.com/sap4utilities

Hello Experts,

I am not very well versed with utilities and need to perform the following steps (CRM-IS-U ) :

1. Reinstate XXX contract and cancel with NONE charge – this should reverse the open bill.

2 Need to clear the payment on acct against a bill for YYY Contract so that the contract can be un-lapsed .

YYY is in lapsed state.

XXX is completed ( cancelled by quote )  - XXX is also duplicate of YYY

Could you please suggest me how to do the above steps?

Thanks in advance

Regards,

Devashish

Hi Experts,

While checking DFKKKO table for documents ranging from 2002-2008 I found out that around 4 Million Documents were not archived.

I tried to archive a document using Program RFKKAR10; here when I tried to archive the clearing document by selecting the first radio button in Program RFKKAR10, I get an output saying that the Document has been archived from DFKKOPK/DFKKKO, but when I check for the document in FPE3 or DFKKOPK/DFKKKO the document still exists.

Could anyone please let me know why is the entry(clearing document) not archived. Do I have to perform any more tasks before proceeding to execution of RFKKAR10 ?

Thanks

Anshuman Barua

Hello

I need your help. I have the following problem. In our company we have some customers who we can’t install one device for each customer (technical impossibility). In this situation we have the collective device concept:  a devise for N customers. N varies from 2 up to infinity. The price is customizing for one device and the blocks are customized also for one device (one device= 1 customer) (Examples : from 0 to 100 KWH with price1; from 101 to 200 with price2;….. and we a have a price for each block . For our problem, we can also customize prices for 2, 3, 4 … customers but N is unknown. Blocks for N customers who have one device = Blocks for one customer who have one device * N. How can customize the rate billing with keeping the price for one device because it is easy for us to maintain only one price?

Best regards

Said

Hello Experts,

I have a requirement to save new entries in "Define Doc. Type Cat. for Consump. Billing and Final Billing" config. I have saved 5 entries which are available in Standard system and apart i want to save two additional entries which i am unable to save, please assist me in saving this requirement.

What i mean to ask in above SPRO level is i will explain below,

I have saved in my present system

DCat    Text                                          Doc. Type

01        Consumption Billing                  CB

02        Final Billing                                FB

04        Simulation                                  SI

05        Manual Billing                            MB

These are available in Standard Document Type Category, but i am also trying to save below entries which i am unable to save.

06        Manual Billing (Backbilling)        MN

07        Manual final Billing                    MS

where as i have seen in few projects same above two entries have been saved, which i am sharing in below attachment for your reference.

Please assist me in saving 06 and 07 entries and help me in saving the same.

Overview

Technical Info

Best Practices

Learning        Material

Additional Info

You will find learning material for different features and functions in SAP Service Marketplace under SAP for Utilities - Product Information -> SAP CRM for Utilities -> Learning Material

(SAP Service Marketplace is just for customers and partners: read what it is and how you can get accessSAP Service Marketplace Overview and FAQ)

• SAP Help Portal for product Information
• SAP Service Marketplace (SAP Service Marketplace is just for customers and partners: read what it is and how you can get accessSAP Service Marketplace Overview and FAQ)

Hi All,

It would be a great help if anyone can explain me about few concepts in IDE, as it looks little confusing to me.

1. What exactly is the feature of Data Exchange Format ?

2. Path in Config where we define the Data Exchange Format ?

3. Difference between Data Exchange Process and Data Exchange Definition(what path do we need to follow in SPRO) ?

Thanks in advance.

Hi experts,

I need to update CRMD_ISUEXTA4 by an internal table in my code and as such just wanted to know if we have any standard API/FM for this as I am not able to find any.

Kindly help.

Regards,

Devashish