Data cleansing allows you to compare, include and merge redundant business partner master records (potential duplicates) in data cleansing cases. Following the data cleansing process you can remove data records from the system using archiving.

Before you can carry out data cleansing, you must determine the redundant data in your system and include it in data cleansing cases.

You have the following options for duplicate recognition and creation of data cleansing cases.

• The Business Address Services (BAS) provide interfaces for integrating the relevant external software (search machines).
• User-defined programs
• Services of data providers, who check their data for possible duplicates.

In the options described above, the data cleansing cases are created via the system and put into the data cleansing worklist for further processing.

• In individual cases you can find potential business partner duplicates in the hitlist of the business partner search and create a separate data cleansing case.

After connecting the non-SAP software (search engines), the system starts duplicate recognition (Delta Scan) with every change to or new entry of a business partner for this specific individual record. You should do a full scan through the complete dataset at the beginning of the consolidation process using the non-SAP software, this registers all potential duplicates in data cleansing cases and makes them available or further processing.

Within the application basis, the referencing objects, which are taken into account by the data cleansing, are limited to the sub-objects of the business partner. You have the possibility to make modification-free enhancements to the referencing objects.

You must have determined the redundant data records in your system.

To use the interface of the Business Address Services, make the following Customizing settings: SAP Implementation Guide -> Basis -> Basis Services -> Address Management -> Activate Duplicate Check Index Pool

Make the following system settings in the IMG of the SAP Business Partner: Basic Settings -> Data Cleansing -> Maintain Number Range / Define Priorities / Activate Data Cleansing.

Register data cleansing cases via BAPIs or create them in the dialog for business partner maintenance from the worklist or the business partner search.

Process the created data cleansing cases in a separate process step afterwards.