Partner Functions 
Partner Functions
Use
By assigning a partner function to a partner you can determine which functions the partner fulfils in the business process. A partner can have more than one function.
The diagram shows partner functions which are typical for sales and distribution processing.
In the simplest case all required partner functions for partner type Customer are taken over by the customer, that is to say a customer appears in the partner functions Sold-to party, ship-to party, payer and bill-to party. As these functions are as a rule absolutely necessary for sales and distribution processing, they are defined in the system as obligatory functions. You can change this setting in Customizing or define other functions as obligatory functions.
You can define other partner functions in the customer master or in the sales document.
Integration
Partner functions are classified using partner types. Partner types enable general scheduling of partner functions in creditors,customers, personnel and contact persons.
Features
The following partner functions exist, for example, in the standard system for sales and distribution:
Partner Type Customer
You can define the sold-to party authorized to release against a contract in the partner screen of a contract. This partner may only schedule orders with reference to this contract, even when he is not the sold-to party authorized against a contract.
Partner Type Contact Person
Contact persons are natural persons whom you must contact at the customers for business processing (for example, purchasers) It is not necessary for you to be a customer employee, you could, for example, be an independent advisor.
You can create contact persons directly in the customer master record. You are then assigned to this customer. The contact persons can however be assigned to other customers.
Partner Type Vendor
A forwarding agent is an example of a business partner on the credit side, who is included in a sales process. If you commission a particular forwarding agent for deliveries to a specific customer, you can define the forwarding agent in the customer master record as the partner.
Possible partner functions on the credit side in the sales process are for example, interpreters, auditors.
Partner Type Personnel
You can enter an employee from your firm as the person responsible:
These functions are also significant in Sales Support (CAS). For more information on this, refer to
Information on Sales Personnel.