How to Define Common Distribution Channels and Divisions for Faster Master Data Maintenance

[EricXie]

In this blog I`ll introduce the configuration and usage of common distribution channels and divisions.

Introduction

If you do not want customer/material master data to be differentiated according to distribution channels, you could set up a reference one. Then the master data in the reference distribution channel applies to all distribution channels for which you have set up this reference. This could also happen for division.

This configuration is provided in defining common distribution channels / divisions to minimize the efforts of creating and maintaining master data.

For more information, you could check out this document.

Prerequisites

Before defining common distribution channels:

The distribution channels to be configured should have been assigned to sales organizations.

Before defining common divisions:

The divisions to be configured should have been assigned to sales organizations.

You can perform the preceding assignments as follows:

SAP S/4HANA

Open the following Customizing activities under Enterprise Structure > Assignment > Sales and Distribution:

• Assign distribution channel to sales organization

• Assign division to sales organization

SAP S/4HANA Cloud

If you are using Central Business Configuration (CBC), open the Set Up Organizational Structure app.
If you are using the Manage Your Solution app, open the configuration activity Organizational Structure (ID: 100066).

How to

Define Common Distribution Channels:

1. In your configuration environment, open the configuration activity Define Common Distribution Channels.)

1. Modify the DCh-Cust/Mt field to set the reference distribution channel.

Define Common Distribution Channels

Define Common Divisions:

1. In your configuration environment, open the configuration activity Define Common Divisions.

1. Modify the DivCus field to set the reference division.

Define Common Divisions

Example Usage

User has a customer master record for distribution channel '01' and wants it to be also valid for distribution channels '02' and '03'.
In the configuration activity 'Define Common Distribution Channels', user could maintain following entries:

Sales Organization	Distribution Channel	Reference Distribution Channel (DCh-Cust/Mt)
1010	01	01
1010	02	01
1010	03	01

Now, when user maintain a customer master record in sales organization/distibution channel 1010/01, it will also be avaliable for 1010/02/ and 1010/03.

Please also note that with above configuration, it is not possible to maintain customer/material master data in sales organization/distribution channel 1010/02 and 1010/03 independently, since they have used 1010/01 as reference.