Returns 

Use

A customer can return products received from a supplier to this supplier, if this supplier approves. To process returns, both customer and supplier can use returns processing in SAP Supply Network Collaboration (SAP SNC). Returns processing is a special process in customer collaboration, which you can only use for the service parts management business scenarios. The process starts with receipt of the return delivery instruction in SAP SNC, which contains one or more RMAs (return material authorizations). An RMA contains an RMA number and authorizes the customer to return a specific quantity of a product that has been approved by the supplier. The customer and the supplier can display the RMAs on the SAP SNC Web user interface (Web UI). If the customer sends the returns to the supplier, the customer creates a returns ASN for the RMAs on the Web UI, and sends the returns ASN to the supplier. The customer thus informs the supplier about the forthcoming return delivery.

Prerequisites

See Master Data and Settings for Returns Processing.

Features

XML Message for Returns Processing

Returns processing in SAP SNC uses the following XML messages:

●      ReturnDeliveryInstructionNotification

The supplier generates a message for the return delivery instruction in his or her back-end system. He or she sends this message to SAP NetWeaver. SAP NetWeaver maps the message to an XML message of the type ReturnDeliveryInstructionNotification and sends the ReturnDeliveryInstructionNotification to SAP SNC.

●      DespatchedDeliveryInformation

SAP SNC sends a returns ASN, which the customer publishes in SAP SNC for an RMA, via SAP NetWeaver and with a DespatchedDeliveryInformation to the supplier's back-end system. A DespatchedDeliveryInformation is marked as a returns ASN in the header data by the returns indicator.

●      DeliveryInformation

After the customer has published a returns ASN, he or she can no longer cancel the returns ASN in SAP SNC. A supplier must do this. The supplier generates the cancellation ASN in his or her back-end system and sends it to SAP NetWeaver. SAP NetWeaver maps the cancellation ASN to a DeliveryInformation with the set returns indicator and sends it to SAP SNC.

SAP only delivers standard XSLT mappings for message integration in the business scenario Service Parts Execution. In the business scenarios of service parts management, the supplier uses SAP ERP, in which Service Parts Management is activated, as the back-end system. For more information about this process and about the messages of returns processing in service parts management, see Example: Returns Processing in Service Parts Management.

Web Interfaces for Returns

Different views are available for the customer and the supplier on the Web UI of SAP SNC. These can be used to display RMAs, and to create and process returns ASNs (RASNs). Goods recipients can display returns ASNs. For more information, see Web Screens for Returns Processing.

Returns ASNs

Both customer and supplier can create and process RMAs for RASNs on the Web UI of SAP SNC. The supplier uses RASN processing if the customer does not have Web access and notifies the customer of the delivery by telephone or by fax. The supplier then creates RASNs in SAP SNC (on the customer’s behalf).

A packing function, which the customer or the supplier can use to manually pack the RMAs of an RASN into handling units (HUs), is available in RASN processing. For more information, see Processing Returns ASNs.

Validation

For return delivery instructions (ReturnDeliveryInstructionNotification) and returns ASNs (DespatchedDeliveryInformations), SAP SNC automatically executes validation in different processes, for example if a return delivery instruction arrives in SAP SNC, or when the customer or supplier publishes an ASN in SAP SNC. If data is invalid, or contains errors, you cannot save the object. SAP SNC generates a message in the application log.

SAP SNC does not generate an alert.

For more information, see Validation in Returns Processing.

BAdIs

Using the /SCA/RMA and /SCA/RASNBusiness Add-Ins, you can map customer-specific fields in return delivery instructions, or in returns ASNs.

Activities

You call the returns processing views in the Web application menu of SAP SNC under Delivery ® Returns.