SAP AFS – FICO Enhancements !!

By S.Suren

Generally, it is widely regarded that SAP FICO is standard and there are very few special industry specific scenarios that the FICO module needs to cater to, as more often than not the available functionality in SAP’s vast FICO Module always has something that can be tweaked to support the industry specific requirement.

With SAP AFS IS, the main special functionalities that have a distinct impact with accounting in an AFS Environment would be the “Split Valuation Costing” and the “COPA- SD/MM/PP Integration” with relation to grid wise analysis.

Here is an easy way to check out the IMG Activities that are specific to the SAP AFS IS – FICO:

1. Access T-Code “HIER”

2. Go to “Industry Specific Component Apparel & Footwear’

3. Double click on the component “IS-AFS-COV”

4. In the succeeding screen click on the “Where-Used” button

5. All IMG Activities, Development Class Assignments & Comp Structures can be viewed in here.

Have fun exploring…all the best !!

suren@erparena.com

Time is right for Short stints !!

By S.Suren 

Global IT spending spiraling downwards, enterprises’ disposal incomes at its lowest levels, bailout marathons and so much more…all these keep reminding us the mess the global economy is in and why we need to be on our toes.

Given the global economy going through its worst recession in over decades, its only rational to understand that the spending on support infrastructure is going to be looking downwards and IT products and services is definitely one that most entrepreneurs would like to label as a support infrastructure. It apparent that during this time, it going to be very hard or almost impossible for ERP Vendors to be able to strike large projects than span over a year, so this is then the best time to go for the short stint ones.  These projects should ideally be small enough to strike a deal, and large enough to bring in some revenue to keep things moving.

So then, how do we crack these projects?? Some of the most common selling tools would be to educate the potential clients, about the rapid implementation of the system, the benefits it could give them during this downturn, how organized information available at the right time will help them make the right decisions and so on, because given the context of the world economy this is not the time to make “trial and error” decisions.

In one of my previous article, I had mentioned how the large ERPs were targeting growing economies with their small to medium size suites, well this still stays the same, and only difference being  is that now more effort is being put into these regions.  Sure, these projects are going to take a lot out of the consultants, but that how it’s going to be, encourage the consultants to go for it and go for glory, the rewards will come. 

This year is going to be interesting so make sure you keep watch over developments in all related industries and strike when there is the smallest hint of an opportunity to do a short stint…!!

All the best..Have a nice day!!

ssurenlk@msn.com

Note to Email Subscribers !!

Dear Subcribers,

This is inform you that the email subscription service on my website will be inactive temporarily due to a technical glitch.I shall put it back up once its sorted.

Thanks

S.Suren

Currency fields in SAP FICO !!

In this post I thought I'll share with you all some technical information relating to the currency fields in SAP FICO. As I have been getting request to share some technical information on SAP AFS, I thought I'll expand the contents of www.erparena.com with some SAP technical info as well.

Currency Fields in SAP

The field in which the document and index currency is stored in SAP differs based on the document currency entered.

The logic below is mainly for Financial Accounting documents:

The below logic will help you get a better understanding of the best way to keep provide the appropriate fields when writing functional specifications that need to capture values in Document and the Index Currency:

• If Document Currency =  Company Code Currency (Currency Type =10)

For Company Code Currency Value:

Then take field: BSEG: WRBTR.

• If Document Currency ≠  Company Code Currency (Currency Type =10)

For Foreign Currency Value:

Then take field: BSEG: WRBTR.

For Company Code Currency Value:

Then take field: BSEG: DMBTR.

Note : When writing specs remember to take into consideration any exchange variations that could arise between the actual transaction date and the initial dates.

All the best !!

ssurenlk@msn.com

Jargons that work!!!

By S.Suren

Generally, given the nature of the ERP (Jargon!) Industry and the technicalities inherent in it, there are more than many jargons used throughout in this industry, some sound cool to use like SaaSy (Software as a Service, the Y is to make it rhyme with other similar words) and then you have the not so saasy ones like, WYSIWYG (I’ll leave the pronunciation up to you) which stands for “What You See Is What You Get”, 

Given all this, it only likely that sometime or later you use these with your clients, while they looked bemused with already what you have told them without the jargon. This is what I am getting to, the proper jargons to use while marketing your product in this industry.

As usual the golden rule in using jargons is to use it appropriately based on the audience present. While doing presentation on ERP Solutions, in general, first you need to make an impression with the industry solution or particular niche that you are presenting on, therefore industry (solution) specific jargons can be used however use it sparingly and avoid bombarding the recipient with too many. Some of the jargons that go with the ERP Industry that come in handy when making presentations would be:

TCO – Total Cost of Ownership: Use when asked about the cost of the product, hosting solution etc.

ROI – Return On Investment: Use together with the above, in the same sentence if possible. People like to hear it this way.

AIM – Application Implementation Methodology: Use sparingly when asked about the details of how the implementation would go about.

BPP – Best Process Practices / Business Process Procedures – Use when asked about what the new system would add to the company. Don’t overdo it though, it could sound desperate.

JIT – Just in time – Can be used effective in manufacturing environments, and use it in reference with functionalities available in the system that support this.

SOA – Service Oriented Architecture – Use only if there are technically sound personals in the audience who are in a position to understand and explain its meaning to others in the same room.

CRM – Customer Relationship Management – Use as applicable to the context of the clients business in dealing with end customers.

And the list can go on… but most importantly, whichever you decide to use just make sure that it is used in the proper context.

Will keep posting more on jargons in the future as well….

Have a nice day!!

ssurenlk@msn.com