Outlining Master Data and Configuration

To manage returnable packaging materials with the customer, the following master data is required:

• Location Partner

  The plant code must be maintained in SAP Returnable Packaging Management and will be considered as the location partner. It is also required to maintain the storage locations assigned to the plant. The storage locations can be used to classify the containers with respect to their status of full or empty.

• Exchange Partner

  For this scenario, the customer is considered as the exchange partner. The customer code will be maintained in SAP ERP and in SAP Returnable Packaging Management as a business partner with the role customer.

• Material Master for Packaging

  The packaging material master will be maintained first in SAP ERP and must be managed on a quantity basis. The SAP standard configuration offers the material types VERP and LEIH. Other material types can be used as long as quantity updating is enabled in customizing. The plant view of the material master must be also maintained in SAP Returnable Packaging Management.

The returnable packaging account is the central object for the manage returnable packaging process, where the following main attributes for the process are maintained:

• The main relationship between the exchange location (plant code) and the exchange partner (customer)
• Planning attributes, such as planning strategy, lot size, reorder quantity, and sales or purchasing contract
• Balance quantity
• Contact data of the material planner and partner details

Exchange partners as vendors, customers, service provider, and so on are identified as business partners in SAP Returnable Packaging Management.

In theManage Business Partner app, detailed information regarding any business partner can be displayed. The main business partner attributes displayed are as follows:

• Customer/Supplier: Every business partner must have a supplier number, a customer number, or both. These identifiers, whether as a customer or a supplier, are used to establish the relationship between the respective location and exchange partners.
• Address: For information purposes only and can be printed on the account statement.
• Contact Details: For information purposes or to send the account statement to the partner via email.
• Additional Details: Additional details associated with a business partner.
• Navigation to Related Data: A list of returnable packaging accounts, planning data, and rental data.

Create

Business partners can be created by using the Excel-upload functionality or using the API BusinessPartner, if the initiation of creation originates from the central master data system.

Update

Business partner details can be updated using the Excel-upload functionality or using the API BusinessPartner. The SAP Fiori app Manage Business Partner only allows for the maintenance of contact details.

Delete

It is possible to remove a business partner from the application using the API BusinessPartner. However, prior to deleting the record, the system performs a verification to ensure that no returnable packaging account exists for that specific business partner.

Packaging materials are defined as material in SAP ERP (SAP S/4HANA or SAP ECC) and SAP Returnable Packaging Management.

In SAP ERP, packaging materials can be any material type as long as Quantity Updating is activated. In the standard, material types VERP and LEIH are used for packaging materials.

In the View Returnable Materials app, returnable material data can be displayed. The main material attributes maintained in SAP Returnable Packaging Management are as follows:

• General Data: such as material number, description, group, weight and volume, and serial number flag.
• Plant Data: such as plant code, storage locations, and planning data.
• Sales Organization.

Serial numbers of managed packaging material must be maintained in SAP ERP. In SAP Returnable Packaging Management, the Manage Serial Numbers app can be used to display a list of serialized packaging materials, and assign or unassign a serial number to a specific returnable account.

Create

Material master can be created by using the upload functionality or by using the APIs MasterGeneralDataReques and MasterPlantDataReques if the initiation of creation originates from the central master data system.

Update

Business partner details can be updated using the APIs MasterGeneralDataReques and MasterPlantDataReques.

Delete

It is possible to delete material master data from the application using the APIs MasterGeneralDataReques and MasterPlantDataReques. However, prior to deleting the record, the system performs a verification to ensure that no returnable packaging account exists for that specific material.

Returnable packaging accounts are used to track the exchange of returnable packaging materials between location partners and exchange partners. An account consists of a main relationship between the location partner (plant code) and exchange partner (customer or vendor), and might include additional partner relationships with other exchange partners or exchange locations. Movements between location partner and exchange partner are posted on the respective relationship. The account balance is the sum of all relationship balances.

In the Manage Returnable Packaging Accounts app, you can perform the following activities:

• List the returnable accounts with respect to various selection criteria.
• Create a new returnable account from scratch or as a copy of an existing one.
• Edit an existing returnable account to maintain planning attributes, add additional information, maintain the relationships, and upload picture.
• Check key information, such as:
  • Account balance and stock balance for each relationship.
  • The last planning documents created.
  • Contact information of the exchange partner.
• Navigate to the Manage Posting Documents app.
• Trigger manual replenishment.