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Exporting the Packaging Data for Handling Units to SAP Business Network for the SAP System

Objective

After completing this lesson, you will be able to export the packaging data for handling units to SAP Business Network for the SAP System

Packaging Data for Handling Units

Buyers integrated with SAP Business Network, SAP Business Network for Supply Chain for Buyers, and SAP Integration Suite, managed gateway for spend management and SAP Business Network can process handling units in the packaging information sent in ship notices from suppliers from SAP Business Network.

A handling unit is the base unit containing the delivery item and packaging material. It has a unique standard identification number that stores detailed delivery item information. Handling units are used for multiple-level packaging and help warehouse agents in the logistics of shipping items to suppliers.

Buyers create packaging instructions for material items on the SAP ERP system. The instructions contain detailed information on how to pack the items for shipping. Packaging instructions help associate the handling units automatically. Buyers define the instructions comprising the hierarchy of the multiple levels of packing units. The instructions determine each handling unit when packing and shipping goods to the buyers. As a buyer, you define the master data for the materials with the packaging instructions on the SAP ERP system.

The supplier can access the packing hierarchy after the buyer uploads the packing instructions on the SAP Business Network. When buyers create a purchase order, they can include material items having handling units with the packaging information.

When a supplier creates a Ship Notice on SAP Business Network against the purchase order, the supplier selects items and specifies how the items are packed for shipment. Suppliers use the packaging information that the buyers have uploaded on SAP Business Network while specifying the items to be packed in a shipment.

Suppliers can ship items to be delivered in multiple packages but store them as a unit. Each set of delivery items can be packed in various packages. The delivery items are packed in the packaging material (box, carton, rack, etc.). Each packaging material is associated with a unique code, Packaging Code. The packaging code stores the details and specifications of the items and packaging material.

Buyers can run this task to export the packing instructions for material items available on the ERP system to the SAP Business Network. The packing instructions for material items from the ERP system are saved as a Microsoft Excel file on your local system or the SAP application server. You can use this Microsoft Excel file with the required modifications to transfer the packaging information to the SAP Business Network.

Alternatively, you can use the template available on SAP Business Network to import the packing instructions to SAP Business Network.

Exporting the Packaging Data for Handling Units from the SAP System to SAP Business Network

Follow these steps to export the Packaging Data for Handling Units to SAP Business Network:

Using the transaction code SPRO, navigate to Integration with Other SAP Components > Managed Gateway for Spend&Network for Buyer > SAP Business Network Integration > Application Specific Settings > Advance Ship Notice.
Expand the Advance Ship Notice section and select IMG-Activity for Export Packaging Data for Handling Units to SAP Business Network.
Alternatively, you can run the transaction code ARBCIG_ASN_HU_EXP.
On the Export Packaging Data for Handling Units to SAP Business Network screen, enter the values in the fields as appropriate.
For guidance, please refer to the table provided in this lesson.
Choose Execute.

Note

Buyers can run this report to extract the packaging information for material items available in SAP ERP or SAP S/4HANA (on-premise) and save it to the local system or the SAP application server. The packaging information must be saved in the .xlsx format (as a Microsoft Excel workbook file), and the file's default extension must not be modified.
If you are using SAP ERP 6.0 EHP0 to EHP3, you must open the Microsoft Excel file and save it as a Microsoft Excel Workbook (with the extension *.xlsx).
If you use SAP ERP 6.0 EHP4 and later, the Microsoft Excel file is already available as a Microsoft Excel Workbook (with the extension, *.xlsx).
SAP Ariba can only accept a single file containing the packaging information. However, the extraction occurs in multiple files based on the filters provided for large volumes of data. In such cases, the individual files need to be merged manually into a single file before being imported into the SAP Business Network.
To use the Microsoft Excel file saved on the local system or the SAP application server to upload the packaging information to the SAP Business Network, perform the following steps:
1. Open the Microsoft Excel file containing packaging information saved on the local system or the SAP application server.
2. Rename the Microsoft Excel file containing the packaging information as Instructions.xlsx.
3. In the Microsoft Excel file, insert three blank rows above each row. This is required to accommodate the SAP Ariba banner, which is also on the SAP Business Network template.
4. Save the Microsoft Excel file containing the changes.

Field	Description
File Path	Specify the file path to save the packing instructions for material items on your local system. Alternatively, you can specify the file path to save the packing instructions on the SAP application server. For more information, see the description for the Application Server Path field.
Check Profile	Specify the check profile with which packing instructions are created.
Handling Unit Group 1	Use this field to filter packing instructions by Handling Unit Group 1.
Handling Unit Group 2	Use this field to filter packing instructions by Handling Unit Group 2.
Handling Unit Group 3	Use this field to filter packing instructions by Handling Unit Group 3.
Handling Unit Group 4	Use this field to filter packing instructions by Handling Unit Group 4.
Handling Unit Group 5	Use this field to filter packing instructions by Handling Unit Group 5.
Creation Date	Date of creation of the packing instructions.
Application Server Path	Enter the file path to save the packing instructions on the SAP application server. This path is mandatory when running the report in the background.
Extract Auxiliary Material with Assignment to Parent Packaging Material	Check this check box to extract the auxiliary packaging material with the assignment to parent packaging material.

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