Introduction:

The process known as CVI, or customer/vendor integration, enables synchronisation between the customer/vendor on the one side and the business partner on the other, as well as vice versa.

When we choose to use S/4 HANA, where we must choose between two strategies, the significance of CVI becomes more apparent.

  • Brownfield implementation to switch to S/4 HANA from our present ERP system
  • We launch a new S/4 HANA project from scratch with “Greenfield Implementations.”

Business partners must be used as the primary master data object and single point of entry in both scenarios to retain clients and suppliers.

This is not the only factor we take into account; for BP, importance also stems from:

  1. The updated features that Business Partners offer, such as BP relationships, time-dependent changed data, and central general data sharing between roles

2. With the introduction of S/4 HANA, the notion of strategic utilisation as a business partner has been broadened to include a number of modules, including FI, MM, SD, EWM, and HCM (business partners should be assigned to each created employee)

  • This makes it evident why CVI is one of the core S/4 HANA implementation principles to which we should pay particular attention in our initiatives.
Scope:
  • This blog will almost entirely cover the fundamental knowledge required before the real CVI processing.
What should be understood before beginning CVI:

1. Customer and vendor integration is a prerequisite for brownfield projects and must be finished prior to the technical update of the ERP system.

2. The CVI process has four primary phases in brownfield, with the first three to be completed in the existing ERP system and the fourth after the technological upgrade that converts ERP to S/4 HANA.

3. If we are performing a greenfield implementation and the system is already S/4 HANA, just the post conversion phase will be used.

4. CVI is a necessary step and prerequisite for brownfield implementation, but neither the S/4 HANA conversion downtime nor the S/4 HANA conversion critical route include it. The sooner you convert master data to BP after deciding to switch to S/4 HANA, the better. Consequently, there won’t be any last-minute shocks.

5. The same advice that was given for the S/4 HANA conversion will apply here: acquire a copy from the production system to the sandbox system before beginning the CVI procedure. having problems? repair it in the Production system as well as the Sandbox, paying particular attention to the data problems.

6. The CVI COCKPIT transaction provides access to the CVI cockpit tool, a full tool for CVI implementation and synchronisation.

7. All system environments must use CVI synchronisation. DEV, QAS, and PRD

8. As previously mentioned, the CVI synchronisation process consists of four phases, three of which are functional and one of which is technical. The CVI cockpit features tabs for each of the three functional phases that are necessary for CVI execution.

9. Our primary ERP object is the customer or vendor, and the direction of synchronisation is to the business partner.The transaction CVI Cockpit’s preparation, automatic configuration, general checks, and synchronisation direction will include this as part of the necessary setup. Relation to PPO

10. The direction of synchronisation in SAP S/4HANA is from the business partner to the customer or vendor. The same configuration described above will be used in S/4 HANA at this time, but in the opposite direction.

11. Based on the answers to the following questions, we must choose which data to synchronise before beginning the preparation phase:

11.A. Will we synchronise consumers and vendors with deletion orders?

  • No additional action is required, yes
  • If not, master data that has been designated for deletion must be archived (Transaction: SARA)
  • No, and physical deletion is required; only if there are no transactions linked to the master data is that possible (Transaction: OBR2)

11.B. Should the customer and vendor masters include a contact person?

  • If the answer is yes, the Contact person should be synced with BP. You could also want to set the internal standard grouping option in BP groups number ranges to prevent the error message “R11124 “Business partner with GUID xxxx does not exist” from phasing.

  • No, there is no need to take any action; converting a contact to BP is optional.

11.C. Do we need to integrate consumers and vendors into the same BP at the same time?

If so, the following conditions must be met:

  • Under master data account control, a relationship between the customer and the vendor is required.
  • Possess the exact same postal code
  • The same bank account is required
  • Note 2921774 requires the synchronisation of special tax numbers.
  • Put BAdI CVI MAP LEGAL ENTITY into practise.

If not, then you only need to make sure that BAdI CVI MAP LEGAL ENTITY is inactive.

12. It is advised to convert banned master data with posting blocking indicator to BP with the same blocking indicator.

13. If CRM is already set up in the landscape, you can keep using it even after switching to SAP S/4HANA. However, BPs from CRM must be mapped to BPs in SAP ERP.

14. CVI is always up and running, but we will only stop the development of customer and vendor master data and any interfaces that will create customer or vendor data during the actual conversion.

14. If a customer or vendor was not properly created as BP after completing the CVI synchronisation in ERP and before beginning the technical migration, it is important to examine the post processing office, which provides an issue list. Before the technical conversion, it is advised that this be tested frequently using transaction CVI COCKPIT or directly through MDS PPO2.

15. Using transaction BP after CVI synchronisation in ERP is complete is not advised; instead, continue using FK01, XK01, FD01, and XD01. It will be advised to use transaction BP once the S/4 HANA system is available.

Conclusion:

We should know the answers to the following questions by the end of this blog post:

  1. Describe CVI.
  2. Why is CVI significant?
  3. Does the S/4 HANA migration process include CVI?
  4. When should I begin CVI?
  5. Which system should I begin CVI in?
  6. What stages comprise the CVI process?
  7. Which master data should be synced, and which should be deleted or archived?
  8. What is the primary, all-encompassing tool utilised during CVI?
  9. What advice should be heeded following the completion of the CVI process and prior to the S/4 HANA migration?

Finally, I’d want to say thank you for making it this far. Please feel free to express any views, observations, or inquiries.