"Just so I understand properly, what exactly is receiving?"
"Receiving is an acknowledgment that ordered goods or services have arrived or have been completed. In this course, we will cover how to configure receiving settings, as well as some advanced receiving features and functionality. Let's first analyze the basics of receiving."
About Receiving
The receiving process begins when the items shipped from the supplier arrive at their destination. Receipts can be submitted manually, automatically or a combination of both. Receipts can be routed for approval if required. SAP Ariba supports partial receiving for orders by entering receipts as items arrive.
Receiving types are configurable in the system to support your company's business rules.