Technical Articles
Flexible Workflow for Sourcing and Procurement in SAP S/4HANA
Flexible Workflow is a new concept introduced in SAP S/4HANA with the objective to simplify workflow configuration. Documents in Sourcing and Procurement, such as purchase requisition, purchase order, request for quotation, etc., usually go through an approval process. In the SAP ERP system, we used Release Procedure and, in some cases, SAP Business Workflow to accomplish this process. For example, the approval process for a PO could be as simple as the following: any PO exceeding $1000 requires a manager’s approval and any PO exceeding $5000 requires two levels of approval.
Even though both Release Procedure and SAP Business Workflow are still available in S/4HANA, it is recommended that you use the new Flexible Workflow functionality in S/4HANA. The flexible workflow is based on a set of predefined workflow scenarios and tasks. This provides the functionality to define condition-based workflow for different processes in sourcing and procurement. It is possible to define single or multi step approval processes, and the relevant workflow items are made available in the My Inbox Fiori App for the approvers. Manage Workflows Fiori Apps are available for different purchasing documents, and these apps allow the Business process specialist to set up workflows based on the business requirement.
In this blog, I will explain the configuration steps and provide screenshots for workflows for Purchase Requisition. The steps to implement workflows for other purchasing documents are similar, and the information provided in this blog may be used as reference material.
Flexible Workflow for Purchase Requisitions – Configuration steps
- Automatic Workflow Customizing
SPRO -> SAP NetWeaver -> Application Server -> Business Management -> SAP Business Workflow -> Maintain Standard Settings
This customizing activity has the following areas
- Runtime Environment
- Definition Environment
- Additional Settings and Services
- Classify Tasks as General
If you have configured workflow functionality (SAP Business Workflow or Flexible Workflow) in your system already, all Customizing steps listed in this step should have a green checkmark. If not, click Redo Automatic Customizing to complete this activity. You could select individual activities under each area and click Execute Activity to make the required settings. If you have not used any workflow before you need to click Automatic Workflow Customizing to make the settings.
For more info on Automatic Workflow Customizing please visit https://help.sap.com/viewer/36802406aebb4b96b1598246e1d316ee/1909.002/en-US/4f25999fe85a18c3e10000000a421937.html
- Activate flexible workflow scenarios
SPRO -> SAP NetWeaver -> Application Server -> Business Management -> SAP Business Workflow -> Flexible Workflow -> Scenario Activation (You could access this from PR configuration as well)
Activate the workflow scenario ID as shown in the table below. Scenarios will become visible in the Manage Workflows for Purchase Requisitions Fiori App once activated here.
| Scenario ID | Workflow Name |
| WS02000458 | Overall Release of Purchase Requisition |
| WS02000471 | Release of Purchase Requisition Item |
- Define step names and decision options to be used in the Fiori app My Inbox.
SPRO -> SAP NetWeaver -> SAP Gateway Service Enablement -> Content -> Workflow Settings -> Maintain Task Names and Decision Options
In the Step Name Overview screen, the following new entries are made if they don’t exist already. The step names defined in this step are used in the Fiori app My Inbox to group and display the approvers’ work items.
| Workflow ID | Step ID | Step Description |
| WS02000458 | 0000000019 | Overall Release of Purchase Requisition |
| WS02000471 | 0000000020 | Release of Purchase Requisition Item |
In the Step Name Overview screen, select a workflow ID and double click on Decision Keys in the dialog structure on the left-hand side of the screen. Then enter the data shown in the table below
| Key | Decision Text | Nature |
| 1 | Approve | POSITIVE |
| 2 | Reject | NEGATIVE |
The columns Icon MIME Repository Path and Comment On must be left blank.
This activity should be repeated for all workflow scenarios and steps that you would like to use.
- Define visualization metadata for My Inbox
In S/4HANA, procurement documents that use flexible workflow are approved in the Fiori App My Inbox. For this reason, the Fiori app My Inbox should be activated and set up for the approvers. Please refer to the link below for more details
SPRO -> Materials Management -> Purchasing -> Purchase Requisition -> Flexible Workflow for Purchase Requisitions -> Client-Dependent Configuration
Select Worklist Client as SAPUI5 My Inbox and choose Task tab and create new entries with the data as shown below
Workflow scenario ID WS02000458 and task ID TS02000702
| Parameter Name | Visualization Parameter Value |
| COMPONENT_NAME | cross.fnd.fiori.inbox.annotationBasedTaskUI |
| QUERY_PARAM00 | service=/sap/opu/odata/SAP/C_PURREQUISITION_FS_SRV |
| QUERY_PARAM01 | entity=/C_PurRequisitionFs(PurchaseRequisition='{OBJKEY}’) |
| QUERY_PARAM02 | annotations=/sap/opu/odata/IWFND/CATALOGSERVICE;v=2/Annotations(TechnicalName=’C_PURREQUISITION_FS_ANNO_MDL’,Version=’0001′)/$value |
Workflow scenario ID WS02000471 and task ID TS02000714
| Parameter Name | Visualization Parameter Value |
| SCHEME | Sapui5 |
| COMPONENT_NAME | cross.fnd.fiori.inbox.annotationBasedTaskUI |
| QUERY_PARAM00 | service=/sap/opu/odata/sap/C_PURREQUISITIONITEM_FS_SRV |
| QUERY_PARAM01 | entity=/C_PurRequisitionItemFs(PurchaseRequisition='{&_WI_OBJECT_ID.MS_PUR_REQ_ITEM.PURCHASEREQUISITION&}’,PurchaseRequisitionItem='{&_WI_OBJECT_ID.MS_PUR_REQ_ITEM.PURCHASEREQUISITIONITEM&}’) |
| QUERY_PARAM02 | annotations=/sap/opu/odata/IWFND/CATALOGSERVICE;v=2/Annotations(TechnicalName=’C_PURREQUISITIONITEM_FS_ANNO_MDL’,Version=’0001′)/$value |
- Deactivate event type linkages for SAP Business Workflow
In this step, using T Code SWETYPV (Event Type Linkages), deactivate any old workflow scenarios you may have used previously.
- Generalize tasks and activate event type linkages for flexible workflow
SPRO -> SAP NetWeaver -> Application Server -> Business Management -> SAP Business Workflow -> Perform task-specific Customizing
Navigate to the application component, MM-PUR-REQ – Purchase Requisitions. Click on Assign Agents
Select Overall Release of purchase Requisition (TS02000702). Click on Attributes.
Repeat this step for Release of Purchase Requisition Item (TS02000714)
Choose General Task and click Transfer
Go back one time and click Activate Event Linking
Select the workflow scenario for Overall Release of Purchase Requisition WS02000458 and expand the node to display the relevant event. Click on the button Deactivate to activate the event linking
Repeat this step for workflow scenario, Release of Purchase Requisition Item WS02000471
- Register gateway service for value helps
To enable value help in the flexible workflow an OData service is used. In this step you will register this OData service as shown below.
SPRO -> SAP NetWeaver -> SAP Gateway -> OData Channel -> Administration -> General Settings -> Activate and Maintain Services
T Code: /n/IWFND/MAINT_SERVICE
From the initial screen choose Add Service and enter the following values
System Alias – Use value help (F4) and select the S/4HANA backend system
Technical service = S_MMPURWORKFLOWVH_CDS
and click on Get services and then click on Add Selected Services
This concludes the configuration required for Flexible Workflow for Purchase Requisition and now you should be able to launch the Manage Workflow app and set up the workflow as required for the business.
The table below shows all the predefined flexible workflow scenarios and tasks available for documents in Sourcing and Procurement in S/4HANA 1909
| Workflow Scenario ID | Workflow Name | Standard Task ID | Task Name |
| WS00800193 | Workflow for Supplier Quotation | TS00800462 | Release Supplier Quotation |
| WS00800238 | Workflow for Purchase Order | TS00800531 | Release of Purchase Order (Manual) |
| WS00800251 | Workflow for Blocked Invoice | TS00800538 | Release of Blocked Invoice |
| WS00800302 | Workflow for RFQ | TS00800576 | Release RFQ |
| WS00800303 | Workflow for Parked Invoice as Complete |
TS00800577 TS00800585 |
Release Complete Invoice Rework Invoice |
| WS00800304 | Workflow for Purchase Contract | TS00800578 | Release of Purchase Contract (Manual) |
| WS00800305 | Workflow for Scheduling Agreement | TS00800580 | Release of Scheduling Agreement |
| WS00800321 | Workflow for Service Entry Sheet | TS00800593 | Release SES |
| WS00800333 | Workflow for Centrally Managed PO | TS00800600 | Release of Centrally managed PO |
| WS00800346 | Workflow for Central Purchase Contract | TS00800607 | Release of Central Contract |
| WS02000434 | Overall Release of Central PR | TS02000677 | Overall Release of Central PR |
| WS02000438 | Release of Central PR Item | TS02000687 | Release central PR Item |
| WS02000458 | Overall Release of Purchase Requisition | TS02000702 | Overall release of Purchase Requisition |
| WS02000471 | Release of Purchase Requisition Item | TS02000714 | Release of Purchase Requisition Item |
| WS02000485 | Approve Centrally Managed PR – Overall | TS02000734 | Release of Centrally Managed Purchase Requisition |
| WS02000494 | Workflow for Centrally Managed PR Item | TS02000737 | Release of Centrally Managed Purchase Requisition Item |
Simple and Short blog to understand Flexible workflow concept in SAP S4 HANA
hi,
how to enable Active Event Linkage in QAS?
Hi,
You can open the customizing with SCC4, it's good for testing but not the most recommended.
You can make changes in the DAS and transport.
Hello,
I need your help please.
Is there any way during PR creation for user to select approver from the list based on role assigned ?
Very good explanation. Thank you.
Is possible assign attachments (like a PDF) in message to releaser (to Fiori My Inbox) ?
Hi Chelliah Soundar,
I have issue that PR number show in FIORI but there are not any item shows, but I can approve PR, is there any services need to active ?
Hi Alexis,
I am facing an issue we activated Workflow WS02000471 but when user approve this in Fiori still it is showing not approved. The status in me53n is showing 03 In released while I checked the SWIA Work item is showing completed. Could you please advise?