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Component documentationInterfaces

 

Interfaces enable you to connect SAP Forecasting and Replenishment (SAP F&R) to an ERP system (purchasing system). The transferred data affects replenishment planning in SAP F&R. To calculate replenishment, and to plan in SAP F&R, you require data that you import via the interface.

Implementation Considerations

You can carry out the data exchange between the sending system and SAP F&R by using Remote Function Calls or by sending SAP Exchange Infrastructure messages. To import data into SAP F&R, you must make certain settings in the sending system (for example, technical settings for transfer and selection of the data). The sending system can be a SAP Retail system (standard system) or a non-SAP system.

Note Note

For performance-related reasons (following an initial data transfer), we recommend, if possible, that you send only changed data to SAP F&R.

End of the note.

Integration

You must create calendars in SAP F&R. You can import all other master data, with the exception of the optional restriction profile. The sending side must organize the transfer of the remaining data required in SAP F&R, and control the transfer using regular background jobs, for example. SAP F&R cannot request the data. To continue working with the results of the replenishment calculation (order proposals) in the follow-up system, you must export the order proposals from SAP F&R. You can start this export either automatically or manually in SAP F&R.

SAP F&R supports the import of the following data:

  • Master data from a master data retaining SAP system (such as SAP Retail) or master data from a non-SAP system

  • POS Data

  • Data from a Logistics Execution system (LE)

  • Data from a stock managing system

  • Data from a store retailing system

  • Data from a shelf optimization system

  • Promotion data and demand-influencing factors

For more information, see the Overview of the Interfaces in SAP F&R.

Features

  • You must always approach the F&R inbound interfaces from the sending system. For this, you can select the following transfer methods for the data exchange:

    • Call-up of function modules in SAP F&R

      The interface connection is commonly made using Remote Function Calls (RFC).

  • For every interface, you can use a Business Add-In to implement a customer-specific processing block and to change the data before posting in SAP F&R. For more information, see the SAP Implementation Guide (IMG) for Forecasting and Replenishment under Start of the navigation path Interfaces Next navigation step Enhancements Using Business Add-Ins End of the navigation path.

  • For the interface processing of SAP F&R, you can specify the following data processing options in Customizing:

    • Processing by interface tables

      The system stores the data temporarily, in order to process it at a specified point in time. We recommend that you set this option as an inbound process mode and then schedule the execution using background jobs.

      When the data is saved temporarily in the interface tables, you can restart inbound processing at any time. If processing is interrupted for any reason (for example, due to a power cut), you can resume it without loss of data.

    • Direct processing

      The system posts the data immediately without storing it temporarily.

    For further information, see the Implementation Guide (IMG) of Forecasting and Replenishment under Start of the navigation path Interfaces Next navigation step Define Message Types End of the navigation path.

Constraints

You cannot export master data that was created or changed in SAP F&R to other systems, as no outbound interfaces are planned for this.