The following section contains all information that is relevant for the distribution of statistical data in the Logistics Information System (LIS).
For more information on Distribution (ALE), please refer to the Implementation Guide of the same name or the "ALE Consulting Handbook" under "Cross-Application Components".
Before you use ALE (Application Link Enabling) in your place of business, you are first strongly recommended to read the above documentation on distribution in full.
In the past few years, a new business philosophy has taken hold whereby rigidly-held centralized management areas were transferred more and more to the organizational units of the business that are linked to the production and the information that is used there.
This development has not only led to the increasing independence of business units, but also to changes in the business processes and thereby in the way processes were run. As a result, the flow of logistics and information must also adapt to these changes. At the same time, however, a high level of communication must be sustained so that multi-tasked functions have quick and easy access to information from all areas.
ALE (Application Link Enabling) supports the setup and operation of distributed applications in one integrated system. This makes it possible for an exchange of data between a central application and several distributed applications, which run on various logical systems.
ALE encompasses an exchange of messages controlled by the business, and at the same time consistent data retention in loosely linked SAP applications.
The individual applications run autonomously, i.e. each non-central application has its own data basis which leads to redundant data retention. The data must therefore be distributed and synchronized in the overall system. The different distribution capabilities are integrated into the individual R/3 applications. The application initiates the distribution of the data. The communication that is necessary to do this takes place asynchronously by using so-called IDocs (Intermediate Documents). The IDoc has a neutral data structure. For that reason, not only can SAP systems (R/3 - R/3, R/2 - R/3) communicate by using IDocs, but non-SAP systems and the SAP R/3 system can also communicate with each other. ALE also enables communication between different release levels.
To ensure that this functions correctly, data must be exchanged continually between the decentralized applications. This includes:
At present, ALE can support the following distribution scenarios in LIS:
You can use ALE to distribute the statistical data from these logistics information systems in such a way that detailed statistical data is saved in the decentralized systems. This detailed data can then be consolidated and made available at any time in aggregated form in a centralized system. Consolidated statistics can even be saved when business transactions have been performed on various R/3 systems. It is also possible to update differing statistics in the decentralized systems and in a centralized system.
The use of ALE in LIS is brings particular benefits in the area of performance, as LIS can run independently of the applications, on a separate system that has more capacity.
This allows the various systems to communicate on various levels with one another: