Implementing Business Function "LOG_MM_SSP_1" in SAP ECC MM

[Former Member]

Hi gurus,

have you ever implement the scenario "MM, Self-Service Procurement in SAP ERP"? This feature is activated by BF "LOG_MM_SSP_1" and is included in the Application Component "Self-Service Procurement (MM-PUR-SSP)."

refer this link: MM, Self-Service Procurement in SAP ERP - Logistics - SAP Library

My Customer asks if this solution is already used by some other customer.

thanks

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Hi Vincenzo,

Yes, I can confirm that we have SSP working successfully.

I asked the same question 6 months ago as we were encountering many problems. The implementation was quite tortuous and you can see the details via all the SNOTEs raised just for us between December 13 and End of March. There were at least a dozen fixes supplied by SAP.

SSP is quite rigid and I think the aim is very much "Plug & Play". There isn't that much variation that can be customised. Finally it does exactly what it says on the can and no more. The result is simple, easy to maintain and it does meet the needs of the customer.

Good Luck.

Regards

Anthony

[laurent_burtaire · Accepted solution]

Hello Vincenzo,

i strongly recommend to not use this Business Function if the standard design does not cover the customer need.

We still have standard bugs not solved by SAP for months regarding:

- Account Assignment,

- UWL,

- Reason for rejection,

- Internal note not changeable for free-text,

- Approval process not correctly displayed when SC ordered/saved

and so on...

You can check this OSS note:

1826914 - ERP Shopping Cart - FAQ

Regards.

Laurent.

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

I have been fighting with this application for a couple weeks now, and have read all of your posts.

We are in the process of going through the 123 notes that have been posted to find any relevance in our issues.

Are there any specific issues that we should be aware of that you have encountered?

A lot of the frustration is the application ending in a run time error that doesn't tell very much. I am currently trying to get some of the existing carts to cancel that had errors, and it doesn't want to cooperate.

Thanks for any additional guidance,

Bob

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Hi Bob,

There is no one magic ticket which will solve all your problems, I think you just have to persevere as each implementation seems to have specific issues. We initiated the Business Function in August 2013 and it was only resolved by March 2014 and this required 2 months of direct SAP support. We literally made a complete list of all the Notes and checked to see if we had the problem, After loading each note we then had to regression test all previous problems which had been solved.

Cancelling carts in error was never a problem we encountered. Provided you have the query set up correctly then when you go into "My Requested Products" you should have a column "ACTION" which allows you to delete any SC.

If you do have specific issues and details, I would be happy to assist where I can.

Ant

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Thanks Anthony, yes I have the action column. But when trying to cancel a SC I am getting a cancellation failed message. I have 2 scenarios currently, one is the SC is in approval waiting for WF-Batch, this was happening prior to me using notes 1781131 and 1857441. Since I haven't be able to restart or cancel. The other scenario was identified after where our reqs have mandatory fields and the SC wasn't populating that data. Now that I addressed that they are stuck, I can cancel and a can't restart.

The items waiting for approval with wf-batch end in run time error when trying to cancel and SC with the req errors at least tell me the cancellation failed in the log.

Again thanks for any assistance,

Bob

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Sorry Bob, not a problem I encountered exactly.

Are you using SC approval? We by-passed SC approval (auto-approval) because we had other requisitions generated in ECC which also required approval and it was best to combine their release.

Even so getting stuck in approval status was a common problem, some required a WF developer to investigate but a couple of simple points to note:

1. I presume WF is triggered by user ID WF_Batch? Does it have an email attached (doesn't matter whose)

2, If you are triggering any emails for reminders etc. with the workflow then all users need a valid email.

3. Do you have the prescribed defaults set up in your parameters WKS, KOS, etc. We added EKORG too!

I presume you have the notes below?

Regards

Anthony

Implementing Self-Service Procurement in ERP

Please
check the notes 1781131, 1857441.

Self-Service
Procurement is preconfigured to allow for an accelerated implementation. It
also has configuration settings where you can:

• Define
  roles
• Define
  number ranges
• Connect
  Open Catalog Interface (OCI) catalogs
• Create
  authorization checks for the general ledger (G/L) accounts
• Configure
  message handling
• Configure
  the search function in the material master
• Define
  rulesets for material group, purchasing group, follow-on document type, and
  movement determination.
• Define
  fields for item comparison
• Define
  document types
• Customize
  the business workflow using the following sections:
  • Technical
    configuration

Allows
you to Customize the SAP business workflow automatically. You can also set
checks for events and tasks, for example.

• Business process
  configuration

Allows
you to create rulesets to determine the appropriate approver. For example, an
approver could be a user that is responsible for a shopping cart item in an
organization.

Procedure

You
can define the configuration settings in Customizing forMaterials Managementunder Purchasing Shopping Cart .

There
are mandatory and optional settings, as outlined as follows:

1. Mandatory
   Settings

• Roles

You
must assign the appropriate roles to the users. The following roles are
available:

• Approver for
  Self-Service Procurement in SAP ERP (SAP_MM_SSP_APPROVER)
• Employee for
  Self-Service Procurement in SAP ERP (SAP_MM_SSP_EMPLOYEE)
• Administrator
  for Self-Service Procurement in SAP ERP(SAP_MM_SSP_ADMIN)
• Number
  ranges

You
must define number ranges for shopping carts. You can change the predelivered
Customizing setting if required.

• Connected
  catalogs

You
can connect both your own catalogs and external Internet catalogs.

• Approval
  process

You
can configure the approval process, for instance, by defining the threshold
value for items that require approval.

For
more information, see Approval Workflows and Overview of the
Approval Process.

• Setting
  parameters in theUser profile

Using
transaction SU3 enter the
following data in the User profile:

• Enter WRK(Plant)
  in the Parameter Name field and enter the parameter value. This
  parameter is used for the plant default.

Enter
the parameter name KOS
(cost center) and enter the parameter value. This parameter is the default cost
center.

Note

The
above settings are needed if Organizational Management (transaction PPOME)
in ERP is not maintained.

For
more information about Organizational Management, see SAP Library for SAP
ERP-> SAP Help Portal at http://help.sap.com/erp606
Human Resources Personnel Management (PA)
Organizational Management
.

End
of the note.

1. 2.
   Optional Settings
   • Authorization
     checks for the general ledger (G/L) accounts

You
set up the authorization check for general ledger (G/L) accounts for the
shopping cart. You can determine if the authorization check is to be active for
each company code. If the check is active, each time a general ledger account
is entered in a shopping cart, the system checks if the user has posting
authorization for the specified account.

To
edit or update the authorization check for G/L accounts, you can use the
maintenance view /SRMERP/V_001_SC..

• Configure
  message handling

You
can determine if the system writes a log entry, and if a CCMS (computing center
management systems) alert is triggered. You can access the application log
using transactionSLG1, application
log object /SRMERP/.

• Configure
  message filtering and mapping

You
can configure how messages can be displayed to customers, or how they may be
mapped to generic messages.

• ConfigureSearchin
  the material master

You
can enable searching in the material master. If enabled, the Search For
field can be used to search for materials.

• Define
  rulesets to determine the material group

You
can access the BRFplus functionDetermine Material Group from Item
Data (/SRMERP/F_DET_MAT_GRP) to define how the material group is
determined for shopping cart items that do not have a material group or a
material number. This can be the case, for example, for free-text items or for
catalog items without a material master.

This
function is processed before follow-on document creation to ensure that
purchase requisitions and purchase orders can be created automatically.

• Define
  rulesets to determine the purchasing group

You
can access the BRFplus function Purchasing Group Determination
(/SRMERP/BRFP_PURGRP) to define how the system determines the purchasing group
for shopping cart items that do not have a purchasing group.

This
function is processed before follow-on document creation to ensure that
purchase requisitions and purchase orders can be created automatically.

• Define
  rulesets to determine the follow-on object type

You
can determine the type of follow-on document created by the system after the
approval process. For the item requested, the rule checks for stock availability
(transactionMMBE) and derives
the follow-on document type. This rule is executed after the shopping cart has
been approved by the approver.

In
the standard system, the default behavior if the item requested is in stock is
that the system creates a reservation. If the item is not in stock, the system
creates a purchase requisition.

• Define
  rulesets to determine the movement type

You
can determine the movement type for the reservation document created by the
system after the approval process.

If
the follow-on document is a reservation, then this rule checks for the account
assignment category in the shopping cart (transaction OME9)
and derives the options for movement types for the reservation.

• Define
  fields for item comparison

You
can define the fields that are used during item comparison. Fields defined
display when comparing different items, or when user clicks on product to view
its details.

More
Information

For
more information on Customizing for Self-Service Procurement in ERP, see
Customizing for Shopping Cart under  Materials Management
Purchasing Shopping Cart .

Self-Service
Procurement: Authorizations

The Self-Service Procurement functional area in
SAP ERP uses the authorization concept provided by the SAP NetWeaver AS ABAP or
AS Java. Therefore, the recommendations and guidelines for authorizations as
described in the SAP NetWeaver AS Security Guide ABAP or SAP NetWeaver AS
Security Guide Java, or both, also apply to Self-Service Procurement.

The SAP NetWeaver authorization concept is based
on assigning authorizations to users based on roles. For role maintenance, use
the profile generator (transaction PFCG) on AS ABAP, and use the User
Management Engine’s user administration console on AS Java.

Note

For more information about how to create roles,
see Role Administration.

End of the note.

Role and Authorization
Concept for Self-Service Procurement in SAP ERP

The role and authorization concept for
Self-Service Procurement in SAP ERP is as described in by the standard roles
below.

Standard Roles

The table below shows the standard roles that are
used by Self-Service Procurement in SAP ERP:

Role	Description
SAP_MM_SSP_EMPLOYEE	Single Role for Employee when for Self-Service   Procurement in SAP ERP
SAP_MM_SSP_APPROVER	Single Role for Approver for Self-Service   Procurement in SAP ERP
SAP_MM_SSP_ADMIN	Single Role for Administrator for Self-Service   Procurement in SAP ERP

Standard Authorization
Objects

The table below shows the security-relevant
authorization objects that are used by Self-Service Procurement in SAP ERP.

Authorization   Object	Authorization   Field	Authorization   Field Description	Permitted   Activities	Description
F_BKPF_BES	ACTVT	Activity	01-Create/Generate   02-Change   03-Display   06-Delete   77-Pre-Enter	Determines for which G/L accounts line items can be   posted and processed.
	BRGRU	Authorization Group	As defined by you.
M_CATACC	ACTVT	Activity	03-Display	Restricts access to external catalogs configured in   the system. It is used by e-shopping applications in SAP ERP.   When executing one of the following activities the   authorization check occurs:   displaying list of catalogs browsing in a single catalog cross-catalog searching.
	/SRMERP/CA	Technical key of a web service, for example a   catalog.	As defined by you.
M_SC_BSA	ACTVT	Activity	01-Create/Generate   02-Change   03-Display   06-Delete	Enables authorization for document types.
	DOCU_TYPE	Purchasing Document Type	As defined by you.
M_SC_WRK	ACTVT	Activity	01-Create/Generate   02-Change   03-Display   06-Delete	Enables authorization for plant in shopping cart.
	WERKS	Plant	As defined by you.
M_BANF_BSA	ACTVT	Activity	01-Create/Generate   02-Change   03-Display   06-Delete   08-Display Change Documents	Enables you to restrict the maintenance of purchase   requisitions through the document type.
	BSART	Purchasing Document Type	As defined by you.
M_BANF_EKG	ACTVT	Activity	01-Create/Generate   02-Change   03-Display   06-Delete   08-Display Change Documents	Enables you to restrict maintenance through the   purchasing group in purchase requisition.
	EKGRP	Purchasing Group in Purchase Requisition.	As defined by you.
M_BANF_EKO	ACTVT	Activity	01-Create/Generate   02-Change   03-Display   06-Delete   08-Display Change Documents	Enables you to restrict the maintenance of purchase   requisitions through the purchasing organization.
	EKORG	Purchasing Organization in Purchase Requisition.	As defined by you.
M_BANF_WRK	ACTVT	Activity	01-Create/Generate   02-Change   03-Display   06-Delete   08-Display Change Documents	Enables you to restrict the maintenance of purchase   requisitions through plant.
	WERKS	Plant	As defined by you.
M_MRES_BWA	ACTVT	Activity	01-Create/Generate   02-Change   03-Display   06-Delete   65-Reorganize   70-Administer	Limits the maintenance of reservations using the   movement type.
	BWART	Movement type (inventory management).	As defined by you.
M_MRES_WWA	ACTVT	Activity	01-Create/Generate   02-Change   03-Display   06-Delete   65-Reorganize   70-Administer	Limits the maintenance of reservations through using   plant.
	WERKS	Plant	As defined by you.
M_SC_PGRP	ACTVT	Activity	FA-Cancel   A4-Resubmit Follow-On Documents (FOD)	Enables authorization for administrating shopping   carts.
	EKRP	Purchasing Group	As defined by you.

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Thanks Anthony for your response,

Yes we'll be using some auto approval and some requiring approval at the SC. We probably won't have any approvals on the follow on req. I'm about 2-3 weeks in learning and understanding what it's trying to do. I have gone through the configurations and learning the BRF+ as well. The workflow part isn't my strong suit I have experience with the req and po approval workflow pieces but that is about it.

I know we don't have an email address on wf-batch, I'm not currently trying to trigger emails, I am just trying to get a good flow and understanding of the basic process.

Just btw we are on spp 060607, let's start with this if we can, when I create a SC and there is an error on the Follow on Doc process. It's passed the auto approval part, I can't cancel it, I get a failed cancellation error, but it also looks like it is trying to resend and create the FOD, that according to the log.

The error in the follow process is basically with the account assignment, I could enter it in the SC but the req won't take it.

It doesn't seem that I can edit the SC to fix what is causing the error.

The other issue, is with SC in approval, but with wf-batch, not sure how to either get them approved, or get them to cancel. When I try to cancel they end in run time error.

We also already have added the notes you mentioned that fixed the auto approval part.

Thanks again for your assistance,

Bob

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Hi Bob,

Even if you are not using emails, please put a valid email address onto the user WF_BATCH.

Any will do as long as it is valid. I think it need this even to trigger the workflow.

Just checking my understanding of your current problem:

• You can enter a GL Account into the shopping cart (Is this using the search or manual entry?)
• But it fails to populate the requisition?

We never have this issue, but we have not flagged the GL check. Can you manually create a requisition using these same Account details?

Have you set the G/L check in the IMG?

Is so have you used maintenance view /SRMERP/V_001_SC to assign the GL to this user?

Regards

Anthony

[ParagJain · Accepted solution]

Hello Anthony and Laurent,

We are planning to implement shopping cart functionality and wanted to check on the following:

1. Can we use this standalone with ERP or is SRM mandatory ?
2. If it can be used standalone with ERP, can the "catalog" function work over Material Master record ?
3. If SRM is mandatory for catalog, can we still use it by having a simple description search over Material Master ?
4. For ERP standalone deployments, do we need any search engine like TREX ?
5. Does it support services ?
6. On approval does it create a PR or can it create a PO based on an existing contract as well ?

Per your threads on the functionality not being stable, would be great to get some feedback.

Regards,

Parag.

[laurent_burtaire · Accepted solution]

Hello Parag,

here below my answers to your questions:

1. Can we use this standalone with ERP or is SRM mandatory ?

There is no link with SRM, so no need to have it in his system landscape.

2  If it can be used standalone with ERP, can the "catalog" function work over Material Master record ?

Yes, cross-search is done on catalog (if implemented) and/or material master

3 . If SRM is mandatory for catalog, can we still use it by having a simple description search over Material Master ?

Yes. Moreover, search on material master is not only done on description. There is another field, but i do not remember which one...

4 . For ERP standalone deployments, do we need any search engine like TREX ?

I do not think so, but i am not sure: check with related documentation with prerequisites for this Business Function.

5 . Does it support services ?

No. Entry-Sheets are not supported.

6 . On approval does it create a PR or can it create a PO based on an existing contract as well ?

Depending on customizing (which can be overwritten by BRF+ business rules), you create a PR or a PO (last one being created automaticcally based on PR).

Source of supply can only be a vendor. Info records or contract cannot be used as source of supply.

Regards.

Laurent.

[ParagJain · Accepted solution]

Thank you very much Laurent, will revert again for some more queries.

Regards,

Parag.

[Former Member]

Hi Ruud, I've sent my contact details to your Gmail account.

Regards,

Sjaak

[Former Member]

Dear All,

Please advise how to add vendor in a cart if the material is selected using the material master.

There is no field which allows to add vendor.Free text carts does have a field Desired Vendor where the vendor details can be added.

Please advise.

Thanks,

Jay

[Former Member]

Hi Jay,

The idea of shopping carts is that end-users in the company can simply search and click a product without being bothered with stuff they are not supposed to care about. The Procurement department should have contracts with suppliers and the should have entered these data in the system.'

The shopping cart is nothing more than a request to order something. The shopping cart can then be approved by one or multiple managers. When the shopping cart is approved, it is copied into a purchase requisitions. this is where the sourcing starts. The PR, with a source of supply is then copied into a Purchase order.

When ordering from a catalog though, the catalog mostly belongs to one vendor. In that case the vendor number is often transferred in the OCI interface.

Regards,

Sjaak

[Former Member]

Hello Sajak,

Thanks for the info.

Also reuqets your help to understand how we can se the default attributes for the users other thab Su3 settings.For example how we can control that the user should be abl;e to see say only 3/5 catalogs and not all defined in web services.

Is there any set up like SRM , setting the attributes in PPOMA_BBP.

Thanks again for the help and support.

[Former Member]

Hi Jay,

I am sorry, but there is no way of doing this in SSP (Self Service Procurement), you will always see the catalogs. Besides this, the only catalogs that can be configured directly from within the application are Punch-out catalogs (B2B catalogs). For other catalogs, you will need catalog software. This can be cloud (ARIBA catalog or SmartOCI) or it can be on premise like SAP Lean Catalog or SRM-MDM.

Regards,

Sjaak

[Former Member]

Hi Vincenzo,

Probably a little late, but I am currently implementing this for my customer. If you have any questions, feel free to ask them.

Regards,

Sjaak

[Former Member]

Hi Sjaak,

thank you very much.

Regards,

Vincenzo

[ParagJain]

Hello Sjaak,

Would be great if you can blog on your experience.

Regards,

Parag.

[Former Member]

Dear Sjaak,

I have some questions about the Self Service Procurment Portal, I hope it's still on-topic

1: Does the Business Function need a java stack, as it seems to use a portal

2: How can I change the BRF rule, that it creates a PR or PO directly?

3: How can I quickly change the standard workflow to test the fuctionality

Hope you can answer these questions.

Regs,

Ruud

[Former Member]

Hi Ruud,

Even though we are both Dutch, I will keep my reply in English for the other readers. To answer your questions:

1. No you do not need a Java stack. The functionality uses the Netweaver Business Client.

2. "Quickly" is not the correct word her, I am afraid. First of all, please read the help in the customizing guide very thouroughly. There it is explained how to make some standard "quick" settings to make everything work.

3. The workflow does not need to be changed. If your system is set up well, it will trigger most workflows automatically. You need to make sure you have the BRF+ rules configured correctly and it will work.

Regards,

Sjaak

[Former Member]

Hi Sjaak,

Thanks for your answers, which are a confirmation of my expectations

Hope we can get in touch.

Kind regards,

Ruud Nieuweboer