In the SM application component, you can use service notifications to enter, process and monitor different types of problems, malfunctions or service requests. These problems may, for example, involve malfunctions whose causes are related to internal or external factors. SAP ArchiveLink is a cross-application tool which supports you during the processing of service notifications. This tool enables problem-related documents to be entered quickly and efficiently, and stored in external content servers.

The SAP ArchiveLink interface supports a storage scenario for incoming documents in the SM application component:

• "Storage for subsequent entry" for incoming documents

When storing for subsequent entry, the original paper documents relating to a problem are stored in the R/3 System before the document (in this case, the service notification) is created. When the incoming document is stored, the system triggers the SAP Business Workflow, which notifies the person responsible that a service notification must be created. When this person creates and saves the service notification, the incoming document is automatically assigned to the notification. Storage is usually in a central mailroom, where incoming post is opened, presorted, prepared and entered (scanned).