SAP iDoc Errors: The Silent Saboteurs of Business Efficiency
SAP iDocs are complex, and errors are inevitable.
Organisations managing high volumes of electronic transactions via SAP iDocs will be familiar with the associated issues and frustrations. iDocs are complex.
They carry and transmit much detailed transaction information and can be error-prone. Things like data mapping errors, missing data, format errors, configuration setting errors, and others prevent iDocs from being processed as expected.
Unprocessed iDocs can prevent critical business processes from completing, such as orders with suppliers not being placed or orders from customers not being received. Shipping delays may be experienced, and payments, in and out, may not occur.
Therefore, an inability to quickly identify and rectify these errors can be costly.
SAP iDoc errors are costly.
There are obvious costs associated with unprocessed iDoc issues, such as missed invoicing, financial penalties, reworks, and so on, but several hidden or not-so-obvious costs exist.
These hidden costs surround the need for experienced, expert resources familiar with the organisation's specific iDoc structure and processes.
Operational costs
The first hidden cost is the cost of reprocessing and retransmission of iDocs. Standard SAP transactions help IT teams identify iDoc errors, but rectification can consume significant operational resources. It’s not uncommon for businesses to allocate a full-time, experienced expert dedicated to these tasks.
Data correction costs
The next hidden cost is identifying and correcting data errors in iDocs. This can also be a time-consuming and resource-intensive task. Often, teams write small scripts to automate some of this, but it is manual, mainly relying on the keen eye of someone who knows their war around the SAP iDoc transactions.
IT support and maintenance costs
The final hidden cost lies within the SAP IT team. SAP basis resources are expensive and usually very busy reacting to unplanned infrastructure issues. However, an experienced SAP basis expert understands iDoc transactions, codes, and structure and is a great support to business units experiencing iDoc error problems.
Managing SAP iDoc errors and reducing costs.
To mitigate these costs, organizations need experienced SAP professionals on the team to address iDoc errors and establish processes to minimise them proactively.
However, it's not that simple.
Unfortunately, experienced SAP professionals, functional and technical, are challenging to find and hard to retain. They also have competing priorities. In large organisations with multiple business units, it can be challenging to allocate responsibility and iDoc errors can go unnoticed and uncorrected.
Fortunately, there is a solution – automation.
We recommend Libelle EDIMON, an SAP iDoc monitoring and management software that centralises SAP iDoc management, automatically alerts responsible persons in the event of errors, provides error handling tools, and in many cases automatically corrects common repeating errors.
Such a tool significantly reduces the resource burden, eliminates the obvious hard cost and not-so-obvious hidden costs of iDoc errors, and ensures business continuity.
Automation revolutionises SAP iDoc management.
We can help.
Leg Up Software are experts in SAP IT operational and infrastructure software automation solutions, including Libelle EDIMON.
We know the SAP operations and infrastructure automation solutions landscape and have already done the legwork identifying the best available solutions for most SAP security applications.
We have excellent relationships with many software vendors and can negotiate an evaluation process that best suits your circumstances and budget.
Why not set up a time to start the conversation by putting something in our calendar?
Alternatively, to learn more about IT automation for SAP teams, see www.legupsoftware.com/solutions
