Tag: digital access

SAP tool for measuring current indirect access

In the previous blog the new SAP license model for indirect access. The biggest challenge after reading the blog will be: how can I know the impact for my situation and my SAP system?

For this purpose SAP has developed an estimation tool.

Questions that will be answered in this blog are:

  • Which note do I need to apply to get the estimation tool?
  • How do I run the estimation tool?
  • Why is the tool estimation only?
Warning: this tool only gives estimation. The tool cannot take into account specific configurations you have done to standard SAP that influence the outcome. Also the tool cannot take into account potentially company specific agreements you have made with SAP.

Digital access report

Start transaction RSUVM_DAC for the digital access report:

Double click on the line will get you to the details.

More background on this transaction via OSS note 2837612 – Measurement report for Digital Access: RSUVM_DAC.

New estimation tool

SAP has developed new estimation tool.

S4HANA: OSS note 2957649 – Completely revised digital access estimation report for S/4H and 2999672 – Completely revised digital access estimation report 2 for S/4H.

ECC: OSS note 2957647 – Completely revised digital access estimation report for ECC and 2992090 – Completely revised digital access estimation report 2 for ECC.

Running the new estimation tool

Start program DAC_S4_COUNT_DOCTYP_ITEM for S4HANA or DAC_ECC_COUNT_DOCTYP_ITEM for ECC (new programs!):

New digital access entry screen

Enter the date and user ID’s. Result:

New digital access results

Installation of the old estimation tool

The generic OSS note is 2738406 – Digital Access: Central Technical Guidelines.

Depending on your SAP version and support package the tool is already available, or you need to manually install it. In case of manual installation, first manually create package Digital_Access in SE80. The next OSS note to install is depending on your version (S/4HANA or ECC):

After the SNOTE actions add the text manually.

Then apply OSS note 2795775 – Digital Access: Usability Improvements Estimation Note to get extra selection criteria.

Running the old estimation tool

After the note is installed you can start program DAC_S4_COUNT_DOCUMENTTYP_ITEM (for S4HANA) or DAC_ECC_COUNT_DOCUMENTTYP_ITEM (for ECC):

Fill out the date and user ID to check.

Result is the amount of documents in the period:

Digital access check tool result

Unfortunately you have to enter user ID by user ID. See OSS note 2933979 – The report DAC_ECC_COUNT_DOCUMENTTYP_ITEM does not give back any document.

How does the counting work?

The counting estimation in the ABAP is simply executing a select count for the time frame and user on the respective tables for specific document types.

Example below is the counting of purchase order line items:

Check tool count statement

Here you can see only lines from EKPO with type lc_bstyp_f (which has value ‘F’) are selected. If you have configured your system differently (for example copied F to Z and are using Z) the count program will not find and report this.

This is the reason why the program is only to give you an estimation.

Tool updates

Regularly check the tool OSS note for new updates of the note version. Other relevant notes and bug fixes:

SAP new license model for indirect access

This blog will explain about the new SAP license model for indirect access, also known as Digital Access license.

Questions that will be answered in this blog are:

  • Where to find reference material on the new SAP license model?
  • How does the new SAP license model look like?
  • What are the exact definitions inside the documents for digital access?
IMPORTANT:
The explanation in this blog is to help you understand. This is not a replacement of the official SAP site. Please always check the latest official SAP site on the latest status of licensing. The document to search for in the SAP site is called SAP licensing guide (a guide for buyers).

For measurement of digital access in your system read this blog.

References

Before starting the explanation these are important and useful references:

The new model

The new model consist of 3 components:

New indirect access model
  1. Direct human access
  2. SAP applications (engines)
  3. Indirect access / digital access
Formal definition:

Digital Access to SAP ERP (“ERP”)

This Package grants (a) humans a license to Use ERP through Non-SAP Application(s) that is/are directly integrated to ERP without the need to be licensed as a “Named User” of ERP and (b) non-humans (e.g. bots, sensors, chips, devices, etc.) a license to Use ERP directly or through Non-SAP Application(s) that is/are directly integrated to ERP and without the need to be licensed as a “Named User” of ERP (collectively, “Digital Access of ERP”).

All Digital Access of ERP will be licensed based exclusively upon the number of Documents created annually by such Digital Access of ERP.  Documents are unique records (i.e. unique digital line-items/objects) as defined in the “Document Definitions” column of the below table.  Each Document shall count as one (1) Document, except for Material Documents and Financial Documents which shall each count as two tenths (0.2) of a Document.  However, where the automated processing in ERP of a Document from one Document Type results in the subsequent creation in ERP of one or more additional Documents of different Document Type(s), such additional Documents shall not be counted.
Where a Non-SAP Application is connected to ERP via a Connectivity App, such Non-SAP Application is still deemed directly integrated to ERP for purposes of this provision.  Any humans and/or non-humans using ERP through application(s) (e.g. Ariba, Concur, Successfactors, Hybris) that is/are integrated to a Non-SAP Application that is directly integrated to ERP do not need to be licensed as a “Named User” of ERP.

In practice this should means documents posted via generic interface user, IOT device, 3rd party application, cloud application posting data in SAP system, etc.

By simply counting documents and agreeing on a price per document, this will simplify the ever ongoing discussion on indirect access.

Digital access based on output

Document definitions

SAP starts with 9 documents. You can find the list and definition in the table below.

Digital access based on documents
Document TypesDocument Definitions
Sales DocumentA Sales Document is (i) a line item record that represents the material and/or service being sold or quoted and/or (ii) a record that represents an individual order/release against a scheduling agreement which indicates the material and/or service being sold.
Purchase DocumentA Purchase Document is (i) a line item record that represents the material and/or service being ordered or requested and/or (ii) a record that represents the release against a scheduling agreement which indicates the material and/or service being procured.
Invoice DocumentAn Invoice Document is a line item record that represents the material and/or service being billed.
Manufacturing DocumentA Manufacturing Document is (i) a record which represents the production-related details associated with manufacturing a material, including: the type, quantity and color of what to produce, when to produce it, where to produce it and/or other distinguishing characteristics, and/or (ii) a record that represents a confirmation which indicates the status of the processing activities associated with manufacturing orders.
Material DocumentA Material Document is a line item record that represents a specific material being received, issued or transferred to, from or within a storage location or plant.
Quality Management DocumentA Quality Management Document is (i) a record that represents the details of a nonconformance being reported including the information required for problem solving and/or (ii) a record that represents results of an inspection.
Service & Maintenance DocumentA Service & Maintenance Document is (i) a record that represents the details of work to be performed including the information needed to plan, execute and bill for a service or maintenance request , and/or (ii) a record that represents the details of a problem being reported including the information required for problem solving and/or (iii) a record that represents the status of the processing associated with service orders and maintenance orders  and/or (iv) a record that represents a claim by a customer for repair or replacement or compensation for under-performance, pursuant to terms in a warranty document.
Financial DocumentA Financial Document is a record that represents accounting information in a financial journal.
Time Management DocumentA Time Management Document is (i) a record that represents an employee’s time worked and assigned to business related objects and/or (ii) a record that represents a confirmation (e.g., a progress update) which indicates the status of the processing activities associated with manufacturing orders.