Creating Installed Bases 

Purpose

You use installed bases to structure and represent installed objects.

An installed base consists of general data, a structure and components.

You can install as many components as you require for each installed base and you can create subordinate components for each of these components. In this way, you create an installed base structure with as many nodes as you want.

You can create installed bases in the SAP GUI, in the People-Centric UI (PC UI), on the Mobile Client and in Internet Customer Self-Service (ICSS).

Prerequisites

Planning Installed Bases

The installed base structure should be clearly-presented. Therefore, only create installed bases that contain service-relevant information and structure them as little as possible, but as required.

For example, if you offer services for installed PCs, check whether it is sufficient merely to enter the PC in the installed base and to assign a room or person to it, or whether the PC must be further structured, so that, for example, the PC’s individual parts are entered for possible spare part deliveries.

In addition, partner and address data should not be stored redundantly in the installed bases. If, for example, the same address is valid for all subordinate objects of an installed base component, it can be inherited if this is set in Customizing.

One option would be to structure the installed bases in such a way that address data can be assigned to the installed base and, therefore, is also valid for all subordinate components. You can, for example, create buildings as installed bases and assign all service-relevant devices in this building as installed base components.

In the IC, this has the added advantage that when you search for an IBase using partner or address data, an installed base with all assigned components is displayed and not just an installed base component.

The following questions should, for example, be included in the planning and preparation phase:

·        Which installed base category and which object families do I require for the installed objects?

·        Which object families may be assigned as subordinate objects to one another?

·        How many structuring levels are needed?

·        What additional information do the service employees require?

·        At what level do I assign partners?

·        How do I achieve Address Management with as little redundancy as possible?

Consider the fact that too many levels in the structure can mean a larger processing effort for your service and a lot of work is created in keeping redundant objects and address data, such as address changes, up-to-date.

Customizing

The creation of installed bases is only possible within the context of the settings that are made in Customizing, for example:

·        Which installed base categories there are

·        Which object families can be assigned to the installed base categories and which object families may be assigned at lower levels to one another

·        Which component categories there are

You also have the additional option of performing checks using Business Add-Ins (BAdIs) with individual check criteria when saving, deleting, modifying, inserting, and archiving installed bases and components.

For more information, see the Implementation Guide (IMG) by choosing Customer Relationship Manager ® Master Data ® Installed Base ® Installed Base Category.

Process Flow

Process Flow in the SAP GUI

       1.      Choose Master Data ® Installed Base ® Create Installed Base. The initial screen appears.

       2.      Enter the category of the installed base to be created and choose Continue. (For information about creation using templates, see Using Templates to Create Installed Bases).

       3.      The details screen appears. The system has assigned a sequential number for the new installed base.

       4.      You enter the IBase header data in the Installed Base screen area.

       5.      You assign the installed base components to the installed base in the Direct Subordinate Objects screen area and confirm your entries. For more information, see Inserting Installed Base Components in a Structure.

If you want to assign additional objects to a component, you must first select the relevant components in the structure overview.

If the screen area Direct Subordinate Objects is not displayed, choose Process Structure to call it up.

       6.      The system generates an installed base structure.

Process Flow in the PC UI

       7.      Choose Installed Bases ® Create.

       8.      Choose the category for the installed base to be created in the IBase Category field and enter additional header data.

       9.      Choose Save.

   10.      The system allocates an installed base number and creates the structure beneath the Hierarchy tabstrip.

   11.      To assign installed base components, select the installed base and choose Add Components.

   12.      Choose the relevant tab page - Products, Individual Objects, Installed Bases or Texts - according to the type of component that you want to insert.

   13.      Choose Add Entry and enter the relevant component data.

   14.      Choose Insert Components.

   15.      The system generates an installed base structure.

If you want to assign additional objects to a component, you must first select the relevant components in the structure overview.

Process Flow in Mobile Service

...

       1.      Choose Installed Base ® Structure Details ® New.

       2.      Choose the category for the installed base to be created in the field Category/Status and enter additional header data.

       3.      To assign installed base components, use the right mouse button to select the installed base in the tile Structure Details and select a component type. The system creates an installed base structure in the tile Structure Details.

If you want to assign additional objects to a component, you must first use the right mouse button to select the relevant components in the structure overview.

       4.      After saving for the first time, the system issues a sequential number for the new installed base.

Process Flow in ICSS

...

       1.      Choose the Installed Base tab strip.

       2.      Choose Create Installed Base.

       3.      You enter an External ID and Description and choose the Company for which you want to create the installed base.

       4.      Choose Submit.

       5.      The installed base is displayed in the Installed Base List. The system allocates an installed base number.

       6.      You choose Create Subcomponent to assign installed base components and choose a component type.

       7.      Enter the relevant component data and choose Submit.

       8.      The system creates an installed base structure in the installed base list.

If you want to assign additional objects to a component, you must first select the relevant components in the installed base list.

Result

A multilevel installed base structure is available. You can now do the following:

·        Process an installed base structure

·        Assign and inherit partners and addresses

·        Assign documents

·        Use the installed base components in service processes

·        After assigning service contracts to installed bases, you can display installed bases in a list and jump to a selected contract

·        Assign warranties to components of the installed base

·        Assign qualification requirements for the service employee to the installed base and to installed base components. For more information, see Assigning Qualification Requirements.

·        Assign counters to installed bases and installed base components. For more information, see Assign Counters and Counter Administration (SAP GUI).