The following figure illustrates the business data flow for the Purchase Order Processing process using SAP Supply Network Collaboration (SAP SNC). The figure shows an overview of the business data flow from a business perspective. For more information about the data flow from a technical point of view, see Example: Message Flow for Purchase Order Processing.

Business Data Flow: Purchase Order Processing

The customer uses the back-end system for planning, inventory management, procurement, and logistics processing. The relevant information is collected in SAP SNC, where it can be accessed by suppliers. The suppliers can display the data in SAP SNC using a Web browser, and get an overview of the stock and requirements data. Advanced shipping notifications (ASNs) are used to exchange messages between SAP SNC and a customer. Shipping notifications inform the customer about the upcoming goods receipts.

In the Purchase Order Processing process, the customer can send purchase orders or purchase order updates to SAP SNC. The supplier can confirm the purchase order and send an advanced shipping notification to inform the customer of any upcoming goods receipts.

If the supplier's system environment is able to create a shipping notification, the supplier can send it to SAP SNC. The shipping notification is then published in SAP SNC and leads to an increased quantity of stock in transit in the SAP SNC inventory monitor. Since the shipping notification is also required by the customer, it must be forwarded to the customer's back-end system using the supplier's EDI subsystem or a SAP NetWeaver system.