Optimized Master Data Exchange Using SAP Enterprise Services
Purpose
The business functions of SAP Enterprise Services allow retail sites to quickly and easily procure, track, and update article master data, even mass data, from vendors. The user is spared any time-consuming manual processing. You can specify exactly which master data is selected. If the properties of an article change, the relevant information is automatically sent from the vendor to the retail site.
The services can be used by any type or size of retail site. These services are particularly useful if sites change their assortments frequently.
SAP Enterprise Services
SAP Enterprise Services offer you a new and simplified way of mapping and automating business processes in the system. This means that you can react quickly and more flexibly than previously, to changes to business processes. You can also implement Enterprise Services in heterogeneous, distributed systems.
Enterprise Services contain business functions and are structured in process components, business objects, and operations, for example. They are based on open standards, including Web Service Definition Language (WSDL) and Universal Description, Discovery and Integration (UDDI).
The services are published on the SAP Developer Network (SDN). For more information, see sdn.sap.com
-> Enterprise SOA
.
SAP Enterprise Services for GDSN
An Enterprise Service Bundle containing the process components Trade Item Catalogue Authoring
and Trade Item Catalogue Publishing
is available to support the exchange of master data (Global Data Synchronization). You can find the process components at sdn.sap.com
-> Enterprise SOA -> Explore Enterprise Services -> Explore -> Enterprise Services Index -> Enterprise Services by ES Bundles -> ES Bundles Providing Enterprise Services for Industries -> Retail -> Global Data Synchronization
.
Prerequisites
Processing of the XI system and the AS2 adapter. For further information on working with the adapter (including a step-by-step guide and information on configuration), see SAP Service Marketplace at service.sap.com/retail
-> Expert Knowledge Corner -> Data Synchronization -> http://service.sap.com/~sapidb/011000358700000377572013E
.
Overview GDS Guides
For information about the other prerequisites, see:
Process the Received Catalog Data (Notification)
Validation and Enrichment Processor
Process Flow
The process runs over three stages: subscription, notification, and confirmation (see below).
(1) Subscription
The Catalogue Item Subscription
message submits or undoes a subscription to restricted master data for a manufacturer or vendor. The message uses the Global Location Number (GLN), the Global Trade Item Number (GTIN) and the Global Product Classification (GPC) for this selection. You define the selection in the transaction Process Subscriptions.
The created messages are permanently stored in ERP tables and enable you to track the status of the message. Success and error messages returned by the data pool are saved in the application log and change the status accordingly.
The created GUID of the Subscription
and RequestForCatalogueItemNotification
message is reused as a reference in all subsequent messages (success, error, and confirmation messages) and therefore facilitates an unambiguous identification.
Title | Content |
|---|---|
Request Trade Item Catalogue Subscription (Outbound) | Submission of the subscription - three different categories are supported: Subscription, Request and Reset/Request. |
Request Trade Item Catalogue Subscription Cancellation (Outbound) | Revocation of the subscription |
Change Trade Item Catalogue Status based on Notification (Inbound) |
SAP Standard | GS1 Standard |
|---|---|
Trade Item Catalogue Subscription Request | Catalogue Item Subscription |
Trade Item Catalogue Subscription Cancellation | Catalogue Item Subscription |
Trade Item Catalogue Status Notification | GDSN Response |
(2) Notification - Receipt of Customer Data
You receive updates from the data pool for the catalog items that you have subscribed. The data pool sends a notification message if a subscribed catalog item is changed or if the receiver request a message. The CatalogueItemNotfication
message is received by the XI proxy and stored in ERP.
You can use the transaction WGDS_STORAGE_MONI to display and process further the data received from the external data pool. You can transfer the catalog data to the price catalog with the validation and enrichment processor (transaction W_PRICAT_MAINTAIN).
For more information, see Process the Received Catalog Data and Validation and Enrichment Processor.
Title | Content |
|---|---|
Maintain Trade Item Catalogue (Inbound) | The requested data |
Confirm Trade Item Catalogue Transmission (Outbound) | Confirmation that the requested data has been transferred correctly. |
Request for Trade Item Catalogue Transmission Request (Outbound) | Request for data already received (if previous data was deleted or archived or the article is no longer contained in the current assortment). |
Notify of Trade Item Catalogue Acceptance (Outbound) | Confirmation to the vendors that data has been transferred and is OK/not OK. |
Change Trade Item Catalogue based on Confirmation (Inbound) | Confirmation of the subscription or revocation of a subscription. |
SAP Standard | GS1 Standard |
|---|---|
Trade Item Catalogue Transmission Request | Catalogue Item Notification |
Trade Item Catalogue Transmission Confirmation | GDSN Response |
Request for Item Data Notification | Request for Catalogue Item Notification |
Trade Item Catalogue Acceptance Notification | Catalogue Item Confirmation |
Trade Item Catalogue Confirmation | GDSN Response |
(2a) Processing Rules (Optional)
In the Validation and Enrichment Processor (VE Processor), you can create rules for validating and enhancing data.
For more information, see Validation and Enrichment Processor.
(2b) Processing the Price Catalog
You validate and process the data received when you process the price catalog, and then update the article master data. When you do so, you set a processing status for the catalog items. This processing status updates the confirmation status. When certain statuses are changed, you can send confirmation messages to the data pool (see "Confirmation").
For more information, see Editing Price Catalog (Enhanced), section "Processing Status".
(3) Confirmation
In the case of changed catalog items, you can inform the data pool about what you have done with the data. You do this using a Catalog Item Confirmation
message. You use a report that you can trigger directly or run in the background. You can also use a monitor to display and edit changed catalog items.
When the confirmation is accepted by the receiver, the receiver sends a response message. The system then deletes all the data concerned from the confirmation table.
For more information, see Editing Confirmations.
Title | Content |
|---|---|
Notify of Trade Item Catalogue Acceptance (Outbound) | Confirmation to the vendors that data has been transferred and is OK/not OK. |
SAP Standard | GS1 Standard |
|---|---|
Trade Item Catalogue Acceptance Notification | Catalogue Item Confirmation |