Batches and Configuration in Purchase Order Collaboration
In the purchase order (PO), the customer can transmit the following data to SAP Supply Network Collaboration (SAP SNC):
The customer batch number for the product at item level or for a product at component level, including characteristic values for a classified batch-managed product
The product configuration at item level and component level
For SAP SNC to be able to process the characteristics of a classified batch-managed product or of a configurable product (for example, display the characteristics description dependent of language), the characteristics and classes to which the characteristics belong must exist in SAP SNC (class type 300 for a configurable product, class type 232 for a batch-classified product). In addition, you, as a customer, must assign the class to the product. You can create classes and characteristics manually in SAP SNC in the classification system. For more information, see Classification (CA-CL).
If you are using an SAP ERP system as a back-end system, you can also transfer the SAP ERP master data – in particular, classified materials, classes, and characteristics – to SAP SNC using Core Interface (CIF). For more information, see Transfer of Configurable Materials or Batch-Managed Materials via CIF.
When the supplier creates a purchase order confirmation in SAP SNC, he or she can specify a different customer batch number for a subcontracting component. However, the batch number of a subcontracting component is not subject to an approval by the customer. In purchase order collaboration with approval process, if the system copies the confirmation data of the supplier to the request schedule lines, it also copies the customer batch number.
In the purchase order, the supplier batch number exists as well. The customer can transmit the supplier batch number in the purchase order to SAP SNC. (In SAP ERP, the corresponding batch number at PO item level is called "vendor batch number".)
Note
When the customer and supplier have agreed on the contents of the work order, SAP SNC updates the purchase order based on this work order. However, the purchase order does not adopt the supplier batch number.
The purchase order XML messages send the data at item level, and SAP SNC displays the data at item level. Internally, however, SAP SNC manages the data at schedule line level.
You can display batches and characteristic values on the Purchase Order Details
Web screen on the Batches and Characteristics
tab page.