Processing of Partner Messages (Example for FI‑CA) 

Starting Situation

A telecommunications company uses an external billing system. In this billing system, the customer telephone calls are first valuated (step 1) and then billed (step 2). The invoices created are then sent to Contract Accounts Receivable and Payable (FI-CA) using the IDoc interface and posted there as open items (step 3). Contract Accounts Receivable and Payable (FI-CA) then sends the open receivables to SAP Credit Management (step 4).

The following credit exposure categories are to be updated in the SAP Credit Management system:

●     Valuated but not invoiced

●     Billing document value

●     Receivables

Process Flow of the Individual Steps

       1.      The valuated telephone calls (EUR 15) are sent to the SAP Credit Management system as creation of the credit exposure category Valuated but not invoiced.

Credit Exposure in SAP Credit Management

Actions	Credit Exposure Category “Valuated but not invoiced”	Credit Exposure Category “Billing document value”	Credit Exposure Category “Receivables”
Creation	+ 15 EUR
Total	15 EUR	0 EUR	0 EUR

 

       2.      The subsequent invoicing run sends the reduction in the amount of the invoice amount (EUR 15) for the credit exposure category Valuated but not invoiced. Simultaneously, the invoicing run sends the creation of the credit exposure category Billing document value for the invoice amount to SAP Credit Management.

Credit Exposure in SAP Credit Management

Sequence of Actions	Credit Exposure Category “Valuated but not invoiced”	Credit Exposure Category “Billing document value”	Credit Exposure Category “Receivables”
Creation	+ 15 EUR
Reduction + Creation	- 15 EUR	+ 15 EUR
Total	0 EUR	15 EUR	0 EUR

 

       3.       

During the subsequent transfer of the invoice to Contract Accounts Receivable and Payable (FI-CA), the reduction of the credit exposure category Billing document value and the creation of the credit exposure category Receivables for the invoice amount must be sent to SAP Credit Management. However, the credit exposure is not transferred from Contract Accounts Receivable and Payable (FI-CA) at the same time. It is transferred using the mass activity Transfer Credit Data. Therefore, if only the reduction was sent, the current credit exposure in SAP Credit Management would be too low until the creation of the credit exposure category Receivables was sent to SAP Credit Management from Contract Accounts Receivable and Payable (FI-CA). This time difference is bridged by means of partner messages as follows:

For the transfer of the invoice to Contract Accounts Receivable and Payable (FI-CA), the billing system specifies the unique partner message ID 9087. This information is initially stored in Contract Accounts Receivable and Payable(FI-CA) in a special table. At the same time, the billing system sends partner message 9087 for the reduction of the credit exposure category Billing document value for the invoice amount to SAP Credit Management. This partner message is initially only saved in SAP Credit Management. It is not posted until the partner message with the same partner message ID is received in SAP Credit Management.

Credit Exposure in SAP Credit Management

Sequence of Actions	Credit Exposure Category “Valuated but not invoiced”	Credit Exposure Category “Billing document value”	Credit Exposure Category “Receivables”
Creation	+ 15 EUR
Reduction + Creation	- 15 EUR	+ 15 EUR
Partner message		(- 15 EUR) with partner message ID 9087, but is not posted yet
Total	0 EUR	15 EUR	0 EUR

 

In the business partner master data you can display the open partner messages for the credit segments of a business partner. To do this, in the credit exposure list choose  Display Open Partner Messages.

       4.      On the next day, the credit exposure is transferred from Contract Accounts Receivable and Payable (FI-CA) using the transaction Transfer Credit Data (FPCM1). In addition to the invoice for 15 EUR, the account also contains dunning charges posted of EUR 3. Contract Accounts Receivable and Payable (FI-CA) sends the partner message 9087 and the creation of the credit exposure category Receivables in the amount of 18 EUR (15 EUR + 3 EUR). After the transfer of the partner message 9087 to SAP Credit Management, the system posts the saved partner message 9087, thereby reducing the credit exposure category Billing document value by 15 EUR.

Credit Exposure in SAP Credit Management

Sequence of Actions	Credit Exposure Category “Valuated but not invoiced”	Credit Exposure Category “Billing document value”	Credit Exposure Category “Receivables”
Creation	+ 15 EUR
Reduction + Creation	- 15 EUR	+ 15 EUR
Partner message		(- 15 EUR) with partner message ID 9087, but is not posted yet
Increase and partner message		(- 15 EUR) with partner message ID 9087, now posted	+ 18 EUR
Total	0 EUR	0 EUR	18 EUR