Operational Procurement

sangdao · ‎02-01-2024

Explore the dynamic innovations designed to elevate your business's profitability and foster sustainable growth as you streamline procurement processes using SAP S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition 2402. Special appreciation to our skilled developers for their outstanding contributions! 🚀

Please watch the release highlight video – for other releases please see here.

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Operational Procurement

Editing of self-service purchase requisitions with follow-on documents

In our continuous commitment to enhancing your procurement experience, we're thrilled to introduce an innovative feature designed to transform the way requestors manage their self-service requisitions. With this release, requestors gain the ability to edit and extend their previous requisitions, irrespective of existing follow-on document processes. Picture this – additional funds or budgets get approved for your purchase requests; now, there's no need to start from scratch. Instead, effortlessly extend your existing requests by adding quantities, new line items, and more. This feature allows requisitions to maintain their original context and business reasons while simultaneously opening up order quantities for new, follow-on purchase orders.

Key Capabilities:

Support for editing a limited set of purchase requisition fields in the "My Purchase Requisitions - New" app, even when follow-on purchase documents have been created.

Inclusion of delivery address references in self-service purchase requisitions

With this enhancement, requestors now have the capability to not only leverage plant or storage location addresses but also seamlessly search for any reference delivery address ever created within the S/4HANA system. Introducing a game-changing address type - "reference," accompanied by an intuitive search help functionality. This feature eliminates the need for manual entry, offering users an efficient and user-friendly way to locate the desired delivery address, thereby expanding the scope of address maintenance in self-service purchase requisitions.

Key Capabilities:

Inclusion of search help functionality for delivery addresses in the SAP Fiori app "My Purchase Requisitions - New."

By incorporating this feature, we aim to elevate the user experience by providing a more flexible and dynamic approach to maintaining delivery addresses in self-service purchase requisitions.

Copying of model product specifications into professional purchase requisitions

We introduce a new feature, which will empower professional purchasers to seamlessly reuse previously crafted model product specifications and effortlessly integrate them into their purchase requisitions. Whether it's single items, entire sets, or specific parts of the complete item hierarchy, this feature provides a streamlined approach to building professional requisitions. The process is simple: users start by searching for their desired model product specification, then proceed to efficiently filter within the item hierarchy to select the items or sets to be copied over.

Key Capabilities:

Inclusion of the model product specifications search help in the SAP Fiori "Manage Purchase Requisitions - Professional" app.

This feature brings significant value to the procurement process by boosting efficiency. It allows the bundling of service and material line items into logical hierarchies within a professional purchase requisition. Additionally, it saves valuable time and mitigates errors by facilitating the direct copy of existing model product specifications into transactional documents.

Showing the carbon footprint of purchase order items during purchase order processing

This enhancement empowers purchasers to effortlessly view the carbon footprint of a purchase order item directly within the purchase order apps, provided the SAP Sustainability Footprint Management business function is active. The value proposition of this feature lies in expediting the processing of purchase orders by providing a quick and concise overview of the carbon footprint. Additionally, it contributes to enhanced transparency throughout the purchase order processing and approval process, aligning with sustainable procurement practices.

Key Capabilities:

Display the aggregated total CO2e footprint of a purchase order item in the header of the purchase order item detail page in the SAP Fiori app "Manage Purchase Orders" in display mode.
Show the purchase order item carbon footprint in the Display Purchase Order app and subsequently in the My Inbox app during approval processing.

This feature is designed to bring practical sustainability insights into the daily operations of purchasers, facilitating informed decision-making and fostering a culture of responsible procurement.

For more information, see: Manage Purchase Orders

Display the total net value in the Manage Purchase Orders app

This feature equips purchasers with the ability to seamlessly view the aggregated net value of all purchase order items in the Manage Purchase Orders app, providing a comprehensive overview in a single glance. The value proposition is clear: streamline purchase order processing by allowing users to quickly assess the total net value of all items, fostering increased transparency during purchase order creation and maintenance.

Key Capabilities:

Shows the net value of the purchase order during purchase order creation or maintenance in the header of the purchase order object page.
Displays the calculated total net value of all purchase order items in the purchase order object page in display mode.
The aggregation includes items in status blocked and subtracts items with the status marked for deletion.

For more information, see: Manage Purchase Orders

Field Extensibility for Supplier Confirmation

This feature empowers key users to seamlessly extend the Supplier Confirmation business object using Key User Extensibility tools such as Adapt UI, Custom Fields, and API extension fields. The value proposition is clear – bolster extensibility by allowing the incorporation of custom fields within the Supplier Confirmation context, ultimately improving usability by tailoring the interface to specific business process needs.

Key Capabilities:

Allows Key User Extensibility in the Business Context of Supplier Confirmation for both header and item levels.
Enables the integration of custom fields in the Supplier Confirmation user interface for both header and item sections.
Facilitates the utilization of extension fields in the Supplier Confirmation Data API.

This feature is designed to put control back in the hands of key users, fostering a more user-centric and adaptable Supplier Confirmation process.

For more information, see: App Extensibility: Manage Supplier Confirmations and Supplier Confirmation – oData V4

Mapping of Purchase Order Custom Fields to The Purchase Order E-mail Template

PO_Mapping of PO custom field.png

This enhancement empowers users to seamlessly map custom fields in purchase orders to custom email outputs, significantly increasing extensibility and accuracy in purchase order communication. It allows the mapping of custom fields in purchase order emails, we not only enhance extensibility but also ensure precise and transparent communication in purchase order outputs.

Key Capabilities:

Provides transparency to suppliers via email, incorporating information from purchase order custom fields.
Enables extensibility of the email parameter CDS view, allowing for seamless mapping of custom fields in purchase orders.

For more information, see: Output Management in Purchase Orders

Support for Attaching a Purchase Order as a PDF in The Electronic Data Exchange Output Channel

This feature enhanced communication by supporting the attachment of a purchase order as a PDF in the electronic data exchange (EDI) output channel. By facilitating the inclusion of the complete purchase order information as an attachment, we significantly increase transparency in communication with suppliers.

Key Capabilities:

Enables the attachment of a purchase order as a PDF in the electronic data exchange (EDI) output channel.
Supports purchase order inclusion as an attachment in a payload when generating purchase orders using the EDI channel.

For more information, see: Output Management in Purchase Orders

SAP Ariba Central Procurement*

Queue management for automated workload balancing

This feature empowers customers to strategically balance their operational procurement workload within the central procurement system. By leveraging flexible automation rules, unprocessed demands are automatically assigned to purchasers with the lowest requisition workload. We aim to improve transparency on the status and responsibility of each purchase requisition while boosting overall efficiency by intelligently distributing workload among team processors.

Key Capabilities:

Define processor teams of central purchasers using the team definition functionality in integrated responsibility management for SAP S/4HANA.
Utilize automatic team assignments during the extraction of purchase requisitions into the central procurement hub system.
Leverage dedicated automation rules and their criteria to facilitate automatic team assignments.
Perform manual team assignments within the work list of the SAP Fiori app "Process Purchase Requisitions Centrally," similar to the direct assignment of a single processor.
Enable any team assignment to automatically determine the responsible processor from within that team with the lowest requisition workload upon assignment.

For more information, see: Process Purchase Requisitions Centrally

Display of overall limit and expected value in centrally managed requisitions

This feature provides purchasers with increased visibility into limit details when centrally processing purchase requisitions, whether originating from SAP S/4HANA or SAP ECC-connected systems. Crucial information, such as overall limit and expected value, is now directly accessible within the Process Purchase Requisitions Centrally app. The value proposition is clear – we aim to boost transparency for limit items in centrally managed purchase requisitions, eliminating the need to navigate into the connected system.

Key Capabilities:

Display of "Overall limit" and "Expected value" fields within the centrally managed purchase requisition's object page.
Applicable for item categories:

Enhanced limit (E)
Limit (B)

For more information, see: Process Purchase Requisitions Centrally

SAP Ariba Central Invoice Management*

Receipt of invoices from SAP Business Network in the inbound processing module (Release 2311)

We're excited to unveil another integration of SAP Business Network into SAP Ariba Central Invoice Management. This integration opens up avenues for secure, global exchange of business transactions, enabling the direct electronic exchange of invoices between suppliers and customers, complete with validations. By receiving invoices from SAP Business Network directly into the inbound processing module of SAP Ariba Central Invoice Management, we're streamlining the invoicing process and eliminating the need for optical character recognition (OCR).

This feature is a testament to our commitment to enhancing the efficiency and automation of your procurement processes. By seamlessly integrating SAP Business Network with SAP Ariba Central Invoice Management, we are simplifying the invoice processing journey, reducing manual efforts for AP Accountants, and ensuring a smoother, more streamlined experience for our users.

Key Capabilities:

Integration with SAP Business Network for the direct electronic exchange of invoices between suppliers and customers.
Buyers on SAP Business Network can receive inbound invoices with or without purchase order details.
Automated transfer of supplier-created invoices on SAP Business Network to SAP Ariba Central Invoice Management. SAP Business Network acting as an inbound channel, increasing automation in invoice processing.
Skip the Document Information Extraction process step for SAP Business Network invoices, eliminating the need for OCR and information extraction services.

For more information, see: Receive Invoices from SAP Business Network (SAP Help)

Request for Information Workflow

In our latest 2402 Release, we're thrilled to unveil the Request for Information Workflow, a feature designed to empower Accounts Payable Accountants. Responding to user feedback, this tool facilitates seamless collaboration, allowing accountants to effortlessly seek additional invoice information from colleagues. The workflow not only enhances transparency by providing auditors with a clearer business context but also significantly reduces manual efforts in the invoicing process.

Key Capabilities:

Efficient Collaboration: Enables Accounts Payable Accountants to seamlessly request additional information about an invoice from specific colleagues.
Inbox Delivery: Directly delivers work items to the employee's inbox for prompt attention.
Streamlined Responses: Allows employees to review and respond to requests directly from their inbox.
Comprehensive Documentation: Detailed Workflow Notes provide a comprehensive record of communication in the supplier invoice object page.

Legal Networks Integration – Peppol for Germany and Norway (Release 2311)

We're thrilled to announce a significant enhancement in the SAP S/4HANA Cloud 2402 Release – the integration of Peppol, a leading e-invoicing network, into SAP Ariba Central Invoice Management.

As regulations in various countries enforce the use of specific electronic invoice formats and government platforms, SAP Ariba Central Invoice Management is adapting to these changes. With the integration of Peppol and SAP Document and Reporting Compliance Cloud in release 2402, users can effortlessly receive invoices from legal networks, ensuring compliance and efficiency in the procurement process.

This integration allows for the seamless electronic exchange of eInvoices and purchase orders, bringing efficiency and compliance to the forefront of invoice processing. The goal is to enable compliant invoice receipt in accordance with the specific tax authorities' legal requirements and reduce efforts for invoice processing through streamlined e-invoicing.

Key Capabilities:

Integration with Peppol for Germany and Norway to facilitate electronic exchange of eInvoices and purchase orders.
Compliant invoice receipt, meeting the legal requirements of specific tax authorities.
Reduction in efforts for invoice processing through the implementation of e-invoicing practices.
Integration with SAP Document and Reporting Compliance Cloud, ensuring adherence to local regulations in affected countries.
Support for country-specific electronic invoice formats and distribution via government platforms in several countries.

For more information, see: Receive Invoices from Peppol Network (SAP Help)

Enterprise Contract Management*

Integration between Enterprise Contract Management and Icertis Contract Intelligence

In the latest SAP S/4HANA Cloud Release 2402, we are thrilled to announce the integration of Enterprise Contract Management with Icertis Contract Intelligence (ICI). This integration offers seamless and intelligent solutions for buy-side, sell-side, and organization-wide contracting tasks. The value proposition is clear – we aim to optimize contract performance, improve efficiency in the Contract Management Process, ensure legal compliance and enhance seamless process automation. We also focus on elevating efficiency in the Source-to-Contract process, specifically catering to Product Sourcing for Automotive & IMC Industries.

Key Capabilities:

Rule-based authoring and assembly of clauses and documents.
Collaborative contract management with internal and external stakeholders, leveraging Microsoft Teams.
Full traceability of signatures and responsibilities for comprehensive contract oversight.
Online editing and redlining of documents, promoting a streamlined and efficient process.

For more information, see: Online Documentation

SAP Ariba Procurement Planning*

Procurement planning analytics – view, analyze, drill down, compare, and track projects centrally

In our continuous commitment to enhancing procurement experiences, we are excited to introduce the Procurement Project Analysis app, which was shipped in 2309 release. This feature empowers users with robust analytics capabilities, allowing them to not only visualize and analyze detailed information across their procurement projects in a flexible and visual format but also in a table format for a comprehensive overview. The goal is to increase visibility of project-related information, improve insights into the statuses of procurement projects, and provide users with the flexibility to create personalized analyses.

Key Capabilities:

Analyze and track procurement planning projects centrally.
Drill down on reported data and directly navigate into specific business objects.
Compare planned to actual values of sourcing milestones or investments.
Display project data in a visual or table format.
Create and save personalized analysis views for quick reference.
Export reported data as a file for seamless collaboration.

This powerful analytics tool is designed to offer users a comprehensive understanding of their procurement projects, enabling informed decision-making and strategic planning

For more information, see: Procurement Project Analysis

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🎯Where to Find More Information:

Watch the replays of our exclusive SAP S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition 2402 Early Release Series here: https://community.sap.com/t5/enterprise-resource-planning-blogs-by-sap/watch-the-replays-of-our-excl...
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Become an early adopter for Joule in SAP S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition here: https://influence.sap.com/sap/ino/#campaign/3612
Check out the SAP Activate Roadmap for early adopters here: https://go.support.sap.com/roadmapviewer/#/group/658F507A-D6F5-4B78-9EE1-0300C5F1E40F/roadmapOvervie...
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Listen to our podcast here: https://podcast.opensap.info/inside-sap/
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Find best practices on SAP S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition here: https://me.sap.com/processnavigator/SolS/EARL_SolS-013/latest?region=DE
Check out what’s new here: https://help.sap.com/doc/ce01d82756b947a1a043a5d5a3204226
Find help here: https://help.sap.com/docs/SAP_S4HANA_CLOUD
Read the feature scope description here: https://help.sap.com/doc/7c9e0bbbd1664c2581b2038a1c7ae4b3

Sourcing & Procurement in SAP S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition 2402