Output Management in SAP S/4HANA is a comprehensive framework designed to streamline the creation, formatting, and distribution of business documents. It modernizes and centralizes outdated output mechanisms, effectively meeting the diverse needs of various business processes. For more information, see Output Management.
Output Management
| Key Differences | Prior S/4HANA Output Control | After S/4HANA Output Control |
|---|---|---|
| Feature | NAST (Legacy Output Control) | Output Management in SAP S/4HANA |
| Configuration | Decentralized, specific to each module | Centralized, unified for all output types |
| Flexibility | Limited, requires custom ABAP development | Enhanced, easier customization |
| Forms and Templates | SAPscript, SmartForms | Adobe Forms |
| Output Parameter Determination | Condition records | Modern, context-based parameter determination |
| User Experience | Inconsistent across modules | Consistent and user-friendly |
| Integration | Separate handling for each business area | Seamless integration with S/4HANA components |
| Maintenance | Complex, higher total cost of ownership (TCO) | Simplified, lower TCO |
Legacy form technologies such as SAPscript and Smart Forms continue to exist and are still supported in SAP S/4HANA (including Utilities); however, for new implementations and strategic enhancements, SAP recommends using Adobe Forms via SAP S/4HANA Output Management with SAP BTP Forms Service by Adobe as the target solution.
SAP Help – Valid Links for Each Form Technology
These are generic ABAP/S/4HANA docs, but they apply equally to Utilities because the output framework is cross-application.
- SAPscript
- Smart Forms
- Adobe Forms / S/4HANA Output Management (BTP Forms Service by Adobe)
Advantages and features of Output management:
Operates seamlessly in both cloud and on-premises environments.
Offers a unified solution for all output related tasks across the product and modules Reduce master data maintenance and relatively less time consuming for activation
Supports standard extensibility for configuration documents Offers central monitoring tools for key users, enhancing oversight and control.
Based on Business Rule Framework (BRF), offering greater flexibility in managing output processes.
Relevant SAP notes:
Summary
Integration with the SAP Utilities print workbench allows you to create bills.
The bill line items can be sorted according to individual requirements.
Using the print action records, you can include individual or standard texts on a bill.
Bill printout processes the print document and writes data to the spool file or to a raw data interface.
New S/4 HANA output Management Features
Bill printout provides the option of optically archiving bills.