Introducing Lean Catalog for SAP ERP and SAP S/4HANA
Exploring Supplier Materials in Lean Catalog
Describing Product Relationships
Introducing Supplier Material Forms
Enhancing a Catalog with Optional Functions

Automating Catalog Maintenance

Objective

After completing this lesson, you will be able to automate Lean Catalog maintenance.

Catalog Hierarchy

Catalog Hierarchy

You can use transaction /ESAP/GEN_AREAS_IMP to simplify how you maintain hierarchies. Instead of building the hierarchy manually, you can create it in a CSV file and upload it to the system in multiple languages. If you have images for your catalog areas, you can also upload and link them at the same time.

A catalog hierarchy imported from a file, specifying catalog, import file, and processing options.

Choose Display preview to have a look at the generated hierarchy.

A catalog hierarchy tree displays SAP service and product categories for selection, including consulting, hardware, IT accessories, and mobile devices.

After you've reviewed the structure and are satisfied with it, choose Generate catalog areas. This action updates the structure within the catalog. Once the catalog area is successfully created, you will see a log at the bottom of the screen. This log will indicate how many areas have been created, changed, or have a new image.

Confirmation messages indicate that 86 new areas and associated texts have been successfully created.

Hierarchy IDs

A catalog hierarchy is built using hierarchy IDs, which are composed of numerical values. Each level of the hierarchy is represented by two numbers.

For example, ID 19 might be used for general categories such as Mobile, Hardware, and Software. Mobile devices and accessories might be assigned ID 1906. Further refinement within this category would see mobile phones labeled as 190601 and tablets as 190602.

Note

The hierarchy ID is transferred to the Assignment Key field in the details of the catalog area during the import. This is required for the next step: automatic assignment of items to the catalog.

This structured numbering system ensures clear and systematic organization of the catalog hierarchy, as illustrated here.

Visual illustrates a catalog hierarchy structure alongside a table mapping hierarchy IDs to product categories for easier understanding of import file relationships.

Mass Assignment of Materials

Managing large catalogs can be time-consuming, especially when you have to manually assign items or remove outdated ones. To make this easier, Lean Catalog offers automation options.

You can use transactions /ESAP/CAT_UPD_MAT (for SAP material) and /ESAP/CAT_UPD_SMAT (for supplier material) to automatically create, delete, or move items within your catalog. To get started, enter an assignment key in the catalog header—such as the material group, the supplier's material group, or your own custom organizational system.

A drop-down menu in a product catalog interface displays assignment key type options for automatic material assignment.

Note

If the hierarchy hasn't been uploaded yet, a catalog owner can manually set or update the assignment key.

After selecting materials in your worklist, choose Automatically assign to areas. This will automatically place the materials into the correct catalog areas based on their material group.

Table listing material items with material group and automated assignment option highlighted for efficient materials management.

During the assignment process, you have the option to specify which particular hierarchy IDs should be loaded. Simply enter the IDs you need in the Restrict hierarchy IDs field to filter the results.

You also have the option to sort the hierarchy based on the hierarchy ID. Regardless of the structure of the CSV file, the hierarchy would then be organized in ascending order.

How to Assign Products to a Catalog Automatically

DemoStart Demo

Summary

  • Automate catalog hierarchy creation and updates using transaction /ESAP/GEN_AREAS_IMP and a CSV import file.
  • Use hierarchy IDs for systematic catalog structure and automatic item assignment during import.
  • Assign SAP and supplier materials automatically to catalog areas based on assignment keys and material groups.
  • Filter and sort catalog hierarchy by hierarchy IDs for efficient organization and management.
Learning

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