- SAP Managed Tags
On March 16th 2025, we released exciting new SAP Business Network Asset Collaboration innovations for our customers.
Let me share some of the key highlights from the SAP Business Network Asset Collaboration 2503 Release.
Cloud-based controlling and triggering of ERP integration
Scope:
- User ability to trigger ERP integration from SAP Business Network Asset Collaboration through an event and the corresponding UI
- Before replicating or synchronizing a technical object such as equipment or functional location from SAP Business Network Asset Collaboration to the ERP system, user ability to:
- Select the specific ERP system to be considered for integration or synchronization
- Change the category type of the object or standard fields and attributes
Key Benefits:
- Leverage additional control on the objects and fields to be replicated or synchronized to the ERP system
- Select the ERP system to be considered for replication or synchronization from the cloud
- Enhance end-to-end integration scenarios through a dedicated event for ERP replication or synchronization
Description:
Before the SAP Business Network Asset Collaboration 2503 Release, when a technical objects (i.e. equipment or functional location) was created or received from an external organization, the replication or mapping of this object to the connected SAP ERP system was automatically triggered by the corresponding created or shared event respectively. In the case of a received technical object, this event was propagated to all connected SAP ERP systems. Based on the settings maintained in the Mobile Add-on, the technical object was then automatically approved, rejected or subjected to a review workflow in each SAP ERP system. the picture below shows this behavior.
With the SAP Business Network Asset Collaboration 2503 Release a dedicated event to trigger the replication or mapping of newly created or received technical objects has been introduced (see picture below).
Whit this new functionality, the user can create or receive a technical object and review and update header data, ERP-specific data, technical specification and documentation. When done, the user can then decide to replicate or map this technical objects and all relevant dependent data to one specific SAP ERP system by clicking on the ERP Sync button in the ERP information section of the technical object.
The synchronization to SAP ERP can be also triggered by the corresponding APIs for equipment and functional locations.
By this innovation, the user has full control on technical object data before replicating or mapping the object and dependent data to the backend SAP ERP system. This might massively improved the standardization, completeness, consistency and quality of asset records in SAP ERP. In addition, there is no need to maintain settings in the Mobile Add-on the accept, reject or review objects being synchronized by SAP Business Network Asset Collaboration.
External numbering for equipment
Scope:
- Replication of equipment from SAP Business Network Asset Collaboration to SAP ERP, supporting external numbering for equipment in SAP ERP
Key Benefits:
- Enhance integration between SAP Business Network Asset Collaboration and SAP ERP
Description:
When you create equipment in SAP Business Network Asset Collaboration and synchronizes it with the SAP ERP system, the ERP system automatically generates an ID. This ID links as the External ID of the equipment in SAP Business Network Asset Collaboration.
With the 2503 release, you can create equipment with an external number range in ERP during the synchronization from SAP Business Network Asset Collaboration to ERP. To enable this feature, implement SAP Note 3500076.
Inbound integration of shared functional locations
Scope:
- Enabling inbound integration of the shared functional location so that operator and service provider can sync the shared functional location to their SAP ERP system
Key Benefits:
- Enhance integration between SAP Business Network Asset Collaboration and SAP ERP
Description:
With 2503 release, inbound synchronization of shared functional locations is supported. For a shared functional location, you can select the SAP ERP system, structure indicator, and functional location category. You can also maintain the Proposed ERP ID based on the selected structure indicator and synchronizes it to ERP. To enable this feature, implement SAP Note 3500076.
Automatic unsharing of equipment and functional locations
Scope:
- When an automatic sharing pattern is activated, ability to automatically unshare an equipment or functional location by removing the external trading partner assigned to the equipment or functional location
Key Benefits:
- Enhance the management of shared equipment and functional location across their lifecycle
Description:
This feature enables you to automatically unshare their equipment and functional locations with your business partners.
Currently, equipment or a functional location is automatically shared upon publishing. This sharing extends to all business partners associated with that object, provided that sharing patterns is set for those business partners.
You now have the option to automatically unshare objects using the Automatic Unsharing option.
Other Innovations
- Document ID-Based Filtering in Search APIs (Equipment, Models and Functional Locations search API). In the search APIs, the response can now include list of document IDs assigned to the object as well based on the request payload. This enables document ID-based filtering in search APIs.
- Mass Upload Models with Public Image URLs. The new feature allows you to include public URLs of image files in the Image column of the Microsoft Excel template during a mass upload of models. This functionality streamlines the process by automatically downloading and uploading images as model logos.
Upcoming Innovations
Following exciting innovations are planned for the upcoming major release of SAP Business Network Asset Collaboration:
- Attribute-based search for Documents
- Replication of SAP ERP Materials to SAP Business Network Asset Collaboration Models
- Assignment of components to work orders
- Templates for notifications
- Etc.
Submit innovation requests
We encourage you to visit the SAP Business Network Asset Collaboration Customer Influence Portal to submit your innovation requests and review and vote innovation requests submitted by other customers.
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