Master Data Sharing | Common Distribution Channels | Common Divisions

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Common distribution channels

Concept

Master data ( Customer Master , Condition records etc ) in Sales and Distribution are created with respect to Sales organization, distribution channel and division. What this essentially translates to is that if there are multiple distribution channels and divisions, you would have to maintain different customer master records. However, a customer might be the same irrespective of the distribution channel ( Retail, Wholesale, Web Channel Sales etc ) or Division ( Pumps, Consumables, Electricals etc ). This results in tremendous data proliferation especially if there are many distribution channels and divisions.

However, SAP provides a facility to maintain common distribution channels and divisions via Reference Distribution Channels and Reference Divisions. In this example, in the configuration, if distribution channel 10 is assigned to 01, then the customer master need not be maintained twice.

This applies to customer master as well as condition records. You can also specify if the reference distribution channel or division applies to customer master only or to condition records only or to both.

However, please be advised that you CANNOT create master data for reference distribution channel or division. That means if the data is changed in the reference distribution channel/division, the data automatically changes in the referenced distribution channel/division.

Configuration

The configuration for this is in [SPRO->IMG->Sales & Distribution-> Master Data ] or [VOR1] & [VOR2]. The first highlighted column is to affect the condition records and the second is to affect the customer master.

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15 Responses to “Master Data Sharing | Common Distribution Channels | Common Divisions”

Ronaldo February 12, 2012 at 7:30 pm #

Siva,

Here is the case I’m trying to understand, if I’m to make this a common dist channel and division, How can I do it.

SORG NAME DCHL NAME DV NAME

ZEAS EAST ZA AGENCY ZS CAT SCAN
ZEAS EAST ZA AGENCY ZX X-RAY
ZEAS EAST ZT DIRECT ZS CAT SCAN
ZEAS EAST ZT DIRECT ZX X-RAY

ZSWE EAST ZA AGENCY ZS CAT SCAN
ZSWE EAST ZA AGENCY ZX X-RAY
ZSWE EAST ZT DIRECT ZS CAT SCAN
ZSWE EAST ZT DIRECT ZX X-RAY

ZWES EAST ZA AGENCY ZS CAT SCAN
ZWES EAST ZA AGENCY ZX X-RAY
ZWES EAST ZT DIRECT ZS CAT SCAN
ZWES EAST ZT DIRECT ZX X-RAY

Thanks.

Reply
- siva February 13, 2012 at 5:48 am #
  
  Ronaldo,
  Glad you created a full fledged example. Now for the solution,
  
  1. You have to decide for which Distribution channel and Division you want to maintain the data
  2. You also have to understand that all the other divisions and distribution channels will inherit the same data as the referred
  
  Let’s take your case and say , the business has decided that the data ( Master data including condition records ) need only be maintained for X-RAY (ZX ) and Direct ( ZT ) , while CAT SCAN ( ZS ) will refer to the ZX Division and Agency will refer to D. chnl Direct
  
  So, as usual , goto SPRO > IMG > SD > Master Data >Define Common Distribution Channels – Please remember this has to be done per sales org.
  
  So, in your case, for the sales org ZEAS, we will have to maintain the following
  
  You can do the same for divisions in the respective path provided in the notes.
  
  Now the effects of it are, if you create master data ( lets say, customer master ) for the combination ZEAS/ZT/ZX , then you don’t have to maintain it again for ZEAS/ZA/ZX . If you do maintain for a combination for which a common distribution channel or division exists, you get the following error.
  
  Reply
Ronaldo February 12, 2012 at 4:13 pm #

Siva,

I understand the common concept, I understand the configuration (VOR1, VOR2), but I still don’t understand how the connection starts. Can you please give me some information?

Thanks

Reply
- siva February 13, 2012 at 9:25 am #
  
  Ronaldo,
  Look at the example I have provided with screenshots etc.
  
  Reply
Mital Shah December 15, 2011 at 9:51 pm #

Hi Siva,

Can you please explain to me that how do I setup common dist. chan. and division for My WS (wholesale) and RT(Retail) dist. chan. uder SE(sales org.)

Thank you,
Mital

Reply
Nas November 20, 2011 at 12:07 pm #

Siva,
Just a quick question, if I have Divisions Z1, Z2, Z3, Z4 and Z5 and Master data/condition data is maintained for Z5 and Z1, Z2, Z3 and Z4 reference Z5 which is at the bottom of the serial. Do you think this might lead to reference error because system will read Z1 and not Z5 at first and hence will not find data?

Reply
- siva November 20, 2011 at 5:29 pm #
  
  No problem. As long as you have the reference the order doesn’t matter.
  
  Reply
justin September 5, 2011 at 5:11 pm #

hi siva,

The concept is clear ,is that right :
A customer can have different distributed channel and division ,but the same customer so without changing him (customer master general view ),we can change the distribution channel and division for the various sales order .

went to VR01 and VR02 but did not understand !!! if you could brief this in the class will be appreciated .

Reply
- siva September 6, 2011 at 4:53 am #
  
  I am not sure if you understand this right. Let me create an exercise so that you can understand.
  Its VOR1 and VOR2 btw – not VR0..
  
  Reply
shyam August 18, 2011 at 1:18 am #

Hi Siva,
Could you pls help me out in defining common dist.chnl and division..I understood the concept but the customizing screen is bit confusing..
thanks in advance..

Reply
- siva August 18, 2011 at 12:18 pm #
  
  Hi Shyam
  Let’s discuss this in the class tomm if required. Can you please tell me where exactly are you stuck ?
  
  Reply
  - shyam August 21, 2011 at 3:09 am #
    
    Hi Sir,
    I think I got the concept Clear,Pls review and correct me if Im wrong…Thanks in advance..
    
    Created Common dist.chnl and Common Div
    
    DC and D9 are the Dist.chnls I created for sales.org ZSRG
    
    salesorg DChl Dch-Conds Dch-Cust/mt
    ZSRG D9 DC DC
    ZSRG DC DC DC
    
    DV and DZ are the Divisions I created for sales.org ZSRG
    
    salesorg DIV DIVCON DIVCUS
    ZSRG DV DV DV
    ZSRG DZ DV DV
    
    Reply
Sahil July 13, 2011 at 6:30 pm #

Common Distribution Channels and Common Divisions

Sales Area for Sahil Org ZSM1
Commom Distribution ZK
Common Division ZK
path
—–spro
————img
—————–sales and distribution
———————-master data
—————————–define common distribution channels
—————————–define common divsions

Reply
Harsh June 30, 2011 at 3:32 am #

Hi siva ,

can you please explain how can i set up common dist channel and divisions for following

sale org MDWE which had dist channels of direct D1and distribution K1 and
divisions KO Cola products and WA energy drink

Thanks
Harsh

Reply