Flexible mapping of cost accounts into project cost/revenue categories (KFE and BRFPLUS setting)

[former_member469721]

I was part of implementation of SAP PS module for couple of construction companies before joining SAP Commercial Project Management team. A common requirement that comes across is mapping cost accounts to project cost categories. Many a times cost categories in project planning and financial accounting systems are not same because planning and financial controlling requirements are different. For example, what project manager calls 'Overhead' could be several cost accounts within finance system.

SAP Commercial Project Management provides a flexible way to map cost accounts to planning categories. So, when project manager is looking at cost reports s/he can actually see them synchronized with planning categories. This is achieved using configuring BRFplus and Key figure element customization.

In this blog, I will explain high level steps that are needed to configure this.

Let us take an example of comparing current and expected report and try to explain how to achieve by customizing BRFplus and Key Figure.

 

Finance System                                                    Project Manager expectation

Within steps below, I am considering the example of Key Figure Element EMAT and ESER along corresponding resource type and resource.

Step 1: Create Resource Type:

Path: IMG -> SAP Commercial Project Management -> Analytics -> Define Resource Type

Add below two entries along other existing lines.



For EMAT, update selection criteria as below:

Assuming materials are from Plant 0001 of type 04 and group EXT (Based on need same can be changed)



Step 2: Resource

Path: IMG -> SAP Commercial Project Management -> Analytics -> Define Resources

Each resource is linked to a resource type defined in previous step. For external service, add resource as shown below:

Note: Material or activity type resource need not be added since they come through actual document. This setting is explained in next step while briefing on BRFPLUS settings.



Also set planning cost element as below:



Step 3: BRFPLUS setting

Path: IMG -> SAP Commercial Project Management -> Analytics -> Map Actual record to Cost and Revenue Characteristics

Building relationship between actual posted in ERP with Resource type/resource of CPM in accomplished using BRFplus setting.

Advantage of using BRFplus provide is complex rules can be defined easily when compared to using table or customization to achieve same.

To achieve above requirement, setting can be maintained into decision table (/CPD/AVR_DECISION_TABLE) as below:



Step 4: Key Figure Element

Once we have set the relationship between resource Type and Resource by BRFplus setting, next step is to set up relation with Key figure element.

Note: Given Key Figure setting can be maintained differently for each controlling area. Illustration is by using Controlling area as “0001”.

Add below entries as shown below:



In customizing activity, we map cost elements (or cost element groups) to key figure elements and their corresponding key figures. This allows you to define key figure elements for project cost status reports and work in progress (WIP) reports.

Note: It is very important to maintain both the Key figure /CPD/ACST and /CPD/ACT for actuals for technical reasons.

For Key Figure Element: EMAT



For Key Figure Element: ESER



Completing all above four steps, reports will start to be fetch and display actuals in-line with plan Cost or revenue according to requirement.