Two-step movement

Within SAP Inventory Management, there are two methods how stock are moved between plants using a 2-step process:
Stock Transport Orders (UB)
Transfer Posting

What does 2-step mean?Example: Let’s assume stock is moving from Plant A (Storage Location 0001) to Plant B (storage location 0002). Two step means that two transactions will be used to move the stock. After the first transaction, stock has left plant A but it is not yet available at Plant B. Only after the second transaction is it available for use in Plant B.

Some reasons for using 2-step movements (and not 1 step):
1. Long time span between leaving Plant A and arriving at Plant B
2. Need to control when goods leave plant A but not received at plant B

Using Stock Transport Orders (STO) Steps:
Create a Stock Transport Order (ME21N, Purchase Order doc type UB)
Process Goods Issue against STO (MIGO > Goods Issue > PO) – movement type 351
Process Goods Receipt against STO (MIGO > Goods Receipt > PO) – movement type 101 The use of Planned Orders and Purchase Requisitions are optional.

Using Transfer Postings (TP) Steps:
Process a Transfer Posting (MIGO > Transfer Posting) – movement type 303
Process a Transfer Posting (MIGO > Transfer Posting) – movement type 305

Client Copy - copy configuration data only

The action step is as below:

1. Use SCCL
2. Select the profile “SAP_CUST”
3. Click “Start Immediately” button

Other profiles:

SAP_USER
Users, user roles, and authorization profiles are copied. The client is not reset.

SAP_CUST
Client-dependent Customizing, including authorization profiles, are copied. The application data is deleted and the user data is retained.

SAP_UCUS
Corresponds to SAP_CUST with user master data.
SAP_ALL
All data belonging to a client, with the exceptions of change documents and local data, is copied.

SAP_APPL (as of SAP Web AS 6.10)
Corresponds to SAP_ALL without user master data.

Very basics of SAP External Service Management

These notes are based on SAP ERP Central Component (ECC) 5.0

Firstly -- SAP External Service Management (ESM) must not be confused with SAP Service Management (SM). ESM is the procurement of services. SM is to provide services to a client. With External Services, you have a PO for services with Goods Receipt taking place. The Goods Receipt is called Service Entries. In contrast with goods (stock or non stock) where receiving is typically done by the inventory management group, the Service Entries are done by business themselves. The logic is that the business generated the request for the service, that is where it was done, it will be best if they do confirmation that service took place.

Lets look at the traditional SAP purchasing cycle vs SAP purchasing cycle for External Services.

Traditional SAP Purchasing Cycle
RFQ(optional) -> PR -> PO -> Good Receipt -> Invoice

SAP purchasing cycle for External Services
PR (optional) -> PO (itemCat:D) -> Service Entry Sheet + Accept SES -> Invoice

The big difference is that the item category is D (services) is used. For the item, detail Service to be performed can be specified. The receiving is a 2 step process. Create and then Accept Service Entry SheetLets step through the process and look at the documents. The steps are
Step 1 - Create Purchase RequisitionStep
2 - Convert to Purchase OrderStep
3a - Service Entry Sheet Step
3b - Acceptance of Service Entry SheetStep
4 - Invoice and payment