{"id":2455,"date":"2023-12-28T09:25:06","date_gmt":"2023-12-28T08:25:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.d-velop.com\/blog\/?p=2455"},"modified":"2025-09-18T15:15:47","modified_gmt":"2025-09-18T13:15:47","slug":"sap-sales-order","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.d-velop.com\/blog\/process-automation\/sap-sales-order\/","title":{"rendered":"SAP Sales Order: This is how automated processing of customer orders works"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The term SAP Sales Order refers to the creation of incoming customer orders in the SAP module SD (Sales & Distribution).\u202fThis activity is primarily anchored in sales and depending on the complexity of the customer orders, can be process cost heavy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/span>Definition<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

SAP Sales Order<\/strong> stands for the creation of incoming customer orders in the SAP<\/a> module SD Sales & Distribution.\u202fSales employees are primarily responsible for transferring all the necessary details of the customer order into the SAP transaction VA01.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/span>Manual processing of customer orders involves risks<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Creating customer orders manually takes time and is prone to errors.\u202fUnsystematic checking and approval of customer orders often requires enormous internal coordination effort and also carries the risk of a high error rate.\u202fFor example, manual entry of customer orders, poor readability of documents via fax, incorrect assignment of orders to customers (regulator\/branch store), failure to take inventory and delivery into account, leading to incorrect AB and incorrect customer commitments.\u202fIn the worst-case scenario, the latter can lead to dissatisfied customers.\u202fHowever, that doesn’t have to be the case!\u202fAutomation through digitalisation can help and not only increases the satisfaction of your customers, but also frees your employees from annoying routine tasks!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/span>This is how an automated SAP sales order workflow works with d.velop<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Customer orders usually reach a company’s sales department in three ways:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Paper\/fax<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Digital (e.g., email)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. EDI<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Automatic capture of orders<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    In the first step, the orders are added to the workflow.\u202fIn the case of paper orders, these are added to the workflow via scan, digital orders are added to the workflow via import.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The order data at header and item level is then first read out using OCR, classified and validated using the\u202fSAP master data<\/a>.\u202fThe data is then transferred to a sales order cockpit in SAP.\u202fOrders received via\u202fEDI\u202fare transferred directly to the sales order cockpit in SAP, as this format does not require the data to be read out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Individual testing and approval process<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    An individual review and approval process can be mapped using the SAP Sales Order Workflow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Factual examination<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    In the standard version, the digital workflow starts with the factual review of the received order by sales employees.\u202fDeviations regarding price, quantity, desired delivery date, or similar can be clarified both internally and with the ordering customer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Release levels<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The order can then go through a\u202frelease stage\u202fin which it is either\u202freleased\u202for\u202frejected.\u202fEach step is recorded in a workflow log, which is automatically generated at the end and archived with the corresponding order and all associated documents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    SAP Sales Order attachment<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    If the order has been released, the SAP Sales Order is created, as well as the SAP Sales Order Confirmation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Transparency through SAP Cockpit<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    The cockpit in SAP provides a transparent overview of all customer orders in the company.\u202fIt is immediately clear which workflow step and which employee is in it.\u202fThe \u201cEditor\u201d view can be customised specifically.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    The workflow shown is just an example and can be individually adapted to company-related needs.\u202fIn addition, the workflow can be mapped in the SAP GUI as well as via\u202fSAP FIORI\u202for via a web or mobile client.\u202fThe latter in particular, means that employees without SAP access can also be integrated into the workflow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    <\/span>What does an automated and optimised SAP sales order process bring?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    The automation and associated automation of the SAP sales order process brings with it several advantages for sales:<\/p>\n\n\n\n