Introduction to Application Mapping

Objective

After completing this lesson, you will be able to describe the Concept of Application Mapping and Business Meaning.

Application Mapping

As of SAP IBP 2408, if you create a new planning area based on the SAP7F sample planning area, you should use the Application Mappings app to assign master data types and attributes to their respective OBP business meanings and map key figures and sales order catalog fields (SFC fields). Most of our customers can still configure the mappings for their planning areas in the Business Meanings for Order-Based Planning and the Settings for Order-Based Planning app in 2408. Still, they will also be migrated to the new app with the upgrade to the following release.

Since the Application Mappings app is functionally suitable for replacing the Business Meanings for Order-Based Planning app, the latter will be deprecated over time. However, the Settings for Order-Based Planning app will continue showing the active key figure and SFC field mappings in the planning area: these will remain available in display mode to help you set the period types for your key figures and apply additional settings.

Purpose and Features of Application Mapping

The Application Mappings app offers a mapping functionality that ensures correspondence between the OBP application and your planning area entities. It enables you to customize and apply sample mappings or build mappings from scratch, depending on your business requirements. The figure describes the Purpose and Value of Application Mapping.

Using the Mapping Delivered with SAP7F Planning Area

To use a planning area, you must have an active mapping between application mappings and planning area entities. The figure describes the Mapping Delivered with SAP7F Planning Area.

Mapping Validity

The validity of a mapping indicates whether the included model entities and application mappings assignments comply with application-specific requirements.

A mapping becomes invalid in the following cases:

The configuration of modeling entities is modified, but the changes do not comply with OBP requirements.
The planning area is activated with dependencies and limited scope.

For more information, please refer to SAP Help documentation. The figure describes the Validation of Application Method.

Activation of Application Mapping

If you have completed your application mapping assignments, you must activate your mapping so that OBP can use it. The figure describes the Activation of Application Mapping.

Key Figure Mapping

If using the 2408 SAP7F planning area, the Key Figure Mapping by Planning Area version is not in Settings for Order-Based Planning. The figure describes the Key Figure Mapping by Planning Area Version.

Most of the fields in Settings for Order-Based Planning would be read-only using the 2408 SAP7F Planning Area. The figure describes the Settings for Order-Based Planning based on an example with 2408 SAP7F Planning Area.

The figure describes the Settings for Order-Based Planning - with 2408 SAP7F Planning Area.

Business Meaning (Optional)

Business Meaning for Order-based Planning

Use the Business Meanings for order-based planning app to assign business meanings to flexible master data, thereby allowing SAP IBP to check and validate the master data model for order-based planning (OBP). This app allows you to create and maintain business meaning profiles only for planning areas using flexible master data.

If your configuration meets the OBP requirements, you will be able to synchronize the master data that you have integrated into SAP IBP with the OBP Master Data Store, and OBP applications will be able to read it and use it for planning.

The figure describes the Business Meaning concept.

Business Meaning Profiles for Planning Areas

Each planning area needs to have a mapping of master data (attributes) towards the business meanings of OBP. The application lists all the business meanings defined by OBP and allows you to assign master data objects to them. You can provide custom names to your master data objects: if the objects meet all configuration requirements for order-based planning and are assigned to their respective business meanings, they shall be recognized by OBP regardless of their names. Business meaning profiles are typically built the following way:

Assign one master data type to one business meaning at the master data level.
Assign one master data attribute to one business meaning at the attribute level.
Assign minimum master data objects that comply with OBP requirements to all business meanings marked as Mandatory.

When you copy your planning area from SAP7F content, the business meaning assignments is done automatically.

Validations in Business Meanings

If you have completed your business meanings assignments, you must activate your business meaning profile so that OBP can use it. If the validation is successful, you can select Activate to finalize or update your business meaning profile. In case errors are found in your model, they shall be listed in the application log.

When you copy your planning area from SAP7F content and activate the planning area, the business meanings are also automatically activated.

The figure describes the Validation Business Meaning.

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