What are T-codes

In any SAP system, whatever function system performs has a transaction code associated with it. These transaction codes are nothing but a short name of that function or transaction which generally contains letters or numbers. These transaction codes are called t-codes. We enter t-codes in the command area of the SAP system.

Suppose you want to enter another business partner in a system. Instead of going through standard process of navigation i.e SPRO>IMG.... you just put a command BP in the command box. This command, BP is a tcode for Business Partner. It will directly open the Business Partner page.

There are tons of tcodes available to use within SAP syste, I am listing here some important tcodes which are associated with SAP function.

PPOMA_CRM – Change of Organizational Model

CRMD_ORDER - Transaction Processing

CRMD_BUS2000126 - Maintaining Activities

CRMD_ORDER - Transaction Processing

CRM_DNO_MONITOR - Transaction Monitoring

CRMV_EVENT - Customizing Event Handler

CRMC_OBJECTS – Sub objects of CRM Document

CRMD_BUS2000120 - Process Complaints

CRMD_BUS2000108 - Maintaining Leads

CRMD_BUS2000112 - Maintain Service Contracts

SMW01 - Display BDocs

SMOEAC - Administration Console

R3AS - Start Initial Load

R3AC1 - Set Up Business Objects Exchange

R3AM1 - Monitor Objects

R3AC3 - Set Up Customizing Objects Exchange

R3AR2 - Define Requests

SMW01 - Display BDocsR3AS - Start Initial Load

SMOEAC - Administration Console

R3AC1 - Set Up Business Objects Exchange

R3AM1 - Monitor Objects

SMOHQUEUE - Replication & Realignment Queues

R3AC3 - Set Up Customizing Objects Exchange

R3AR2 - Define Requests

R3AR4 - Start Requests

R3AC4 - Customizing Events in R/3

R3AC5 - Set Up Condition Objects Exchange

SBDM - BDoc Modeler

BWA1 - DataSource Maintenance

SMOBILEBW - BW Requests for Mobile Clients

ORDYWB - CRM IR Delivery Workbench

CRM_RSMO - BW Monitor

CRMC_REPO_OPT - Configure Report Page WC

CRMD_TM_CLDIST - Call List Maintenance

CRM_CIC_CTI_LOAD - Load communication statistic

CRMM_CIC_APDISPLAY - Display IC WinClient Profile

CRMM_ROUT_PROF_CHAR - Maintain Attributes

CRMD_TM_CLMS - Call List Management

CRMC_CLM_CALLRESULTS - Call results

CRMC_CIC_TITLE_TEXTS - Maintain Window Title

CRMC_CLM_ACTION_CONF - Configure Action Profile

CRMC_CLM_ACTION_DEF - Define Action Profile

CRMC_CLM_ACTION_WIZ - Action for Definition via Wizard

CRMC_TAX_GROUP - Tax Group Customizing

CRMC_TAX_MAP - Tax Group Customizing

CRMM_ISA_IUSER - Internet User Management

CRMC_ISA_IUSER - Internet User Settings

CRMM_ISA_UA - Internet Sales

CRM_SHOP - Web Shop Maintenance

CRMBS02 - Maintain Status Profiles

CRMBS03 - Display Status Profiles

CRMBS42 - Maintain Status Selection Profiles

CRMBS43 - Display Status Selection Profile

CRMBS52 - Maintain Authorization Keys

CRMBS53 - Display Authorization Key

CRMD_CODEX CRM Codex - Evaluation

CRMD_EMAIL - Maintain Mail Form

CRMD_EMAIL_TEMPL - Maintain Mail Template

CRMD_EMAIL_TEMPL1 - Maintain Mail Form

CRMD_IIA_FAQ - Maintain Frequently Asked Questions

CRMD_IIA_REPORT - Generate Statistics Reports

CRMD_IM_MAIL_DELETE - Delete Marketing Bus Activity List

CRMD_IPM_EVENT – Date or Event Management

CRMD_MKTDS - Data Sources for Segment Builder

CRMD_MKTDS_WIZARD - Data Source Wizard

CRMD_MKTLIST - External List Management

CRMD_MKTLIST_MAP CRM Marketing - ELM Mapping Tool

CRMD_MKTSEG - Segment Builder

CRMD_MKTSEG_MGR - Edit Master Groups

CRMD_MKT_EXP CRM Marketing - Export Target Group

CRMD_MKT_PROC - Create Business Transactions

CRMD_MKT_TOOLS - Marketing Tools

CRMD_MKT_TRANS CRM Marketing - Transport to Channels

CRMD_ORDER - Transaction Processing

CRMD_ORDER_BP - BP Cockpit

CRMD_SRWWW - Internet Transaction Service Request

CRMD_TRANSLATE - Translate Mail Form

CRMM_MARKET_ATTRSET -Marketing Set Type

CRMM_MKT_SAMPLE - Segment Builder

SE19 - BADI Implementation SE93 - Transaction code check SE11 - Tables SE38 - Functional module reports SE16 - TSTC SOST – Transmission Request forms SCOT - Administration system status CRM_UI_FRAME - BSP WD work bench

BP Business Partner - (Creation/View/Modification) CIC0 - Customer Interaction Centre SPRO - Configuration related settings CRMD_CALL_LIST - Create/ Maintain Call list COMMPR01 - Maintain Products PPOSA_CRM - Display Organizational Model SBDM - Bdoc maintenance SMOEAC - Administration console – CRM Middleware SMQ1,SMQ2 - Queue monitoring for inbound and outbound queues. SMW01 - Transaction for monitoring bdocs.

RMC_PPR_DEFINE_TYPE - Customer Maintenance PPR Types CRMC_PRCPROC_DET - Cust Maint type determination CRMC_PRCTYPE_DET - Cust Maint Price Proc Maint. CRMC_PROCESS_MA - Customizing Maintenance

Best Books for SAP

Well if you are a newbie in SAP world and might be thinking to start a career in SAP. The first question that comes to mind is the study materials. Which book to choose and from where to start. As per my understanding the study material provided by SAP is the best option for any freshers in SAP. The SAP software is like a ocean. It is very hard for anyone to master all the SAP modules. So First you have to select a module, and then go for the best book for that module. Some of the top modules today in SAP are -

SAP  PI
SAP HANA
SAP FI
SAP MM
SAP SD
SAP BI/BW
SAP PP
SAP HCM
SAP CRM
SAP Basis/ ABAP - Technical Module.

Choosing a good module dosent always depend upon how the market is performing and which  modules are currently HOT in the market. It also depends upon what is your educational background and what is the domain experience you have(in case you are working).

I have experience in SAP CRM module. SAP CRM stands for Customer Relationship Management. If you dont know what it is, go through this post. If you want to start a career in CRM, these five books will give you a much better understanding of  the subject.

1. SAP Certification Books by SAP - The best option for anyone.
2.SAP Certified Application Professional Service with SAP Crm 7.0 by T, Antony SAP Certified 3.Application Associate Crm Fundamentals with SAP Crm 7.0 Ehp1 by B.cole
4. SAP CRM by Chandrakant Agarwal
5. Discover SAP CRM (Discover Sap Press) by Srini Katta

Pricing in SAP CRM

Pricing

In any business transaction like sales order or service order, pricing is used to determine the cost of the item or product in that transaction. Every time we make a new business transaction, we do not need to enter the prices for the item or product manually into the system. We prepare a customer master record and do some customizing in the system so that system automatically finds the price for that item. The whole of the procedure in customizing the prices is known as pricing procedure in sap crm. In sap crm, the pricing is maintained by internet pricing and configurator(IPC).

IPC

Main role of IPC is that it provides the pricing data to different components in the SAP CRM. It is mainly responsible for pricing throughout entire SAP CRM system. IPC is connedcted to CRM components, and CRM components gets the prices from the IPC. IPC fetch price from CRM Database and provides to entire CRM components. IPC is connected to database by RFC. IPC provides faster access to pricing data. If IPC is not there in the system, CRM components will fetch data directly from the database, making the system slow. The concept of IPC can be understood by following picture.

Pricing Procedure

Pricing procedure is mainly a calculation rule on pricing on what type of formula or calculation should be applied in a transaction. Pricing procedures defines all the valid condition types, calculation of that condition types in any transaction.


Every pricing procedure have different type of condition types. The condition types are the calculation rule of  prices. How you want to calculate the price, whether you want to give the discount to the price or charge some taxes.

Pricing procedure determination is influenced by following elements:
- Sales organization
- Distribution channel
- Document pricing procedure (assigned to transaction type)
- Customer pricing procedure (assigned to business partner as billing data in sales area data)
- Division (optional)

Apart from Condition types, there is one more important concept in pricing, and that is Access Sequence. Access sequence is basically a search strategy which system uses to find a data in condition type.

Creating Pricing Procedure

Though the pricing procedure topic is a very vast topic. But for basics, there are two simple steps in creating a princing procedure. First we make a copy of the standard sap crm pricing procedure. Then we determine that pricing procedure in our transaction. Lets see how..

Go to SPRO > CRM > Basic Functions > Pricing > Define Setting for pricing > Create Pricing Procedure.

Select OCRM01 or OCRM02, which is SAP standard pricing procedure. Copy As, and edit it with a new name and description.

This will create a pricing procedure in CRM. Now, We have to Determine this pricing procedure in the transaction.
Go to  SPRO > CRM > Basic Functions > Pricing > Pricing in Business Transaction > Determine Pricing Procedure.

Make a new entry with your Sales Organization, Distribution Channel, Division, Document Pricing Procedure which should be B which is standard w/o tax, Customer Pricing Procedure should be 1 which is standard and the pricing procedure which we created in earlier steps.

Save the entries and your pricing determination is done.
Some basic thing you should keep in mind before using the pricing procedure.

Go to org structure, and make sure you have selected correct currency in the attribute section.

Make sure the customer pricing procedure and currency is maintained in the Billing section of respective BP.

Marketing Plan and Marketing Strategy

Marketing Plan and Marketing Strategy

Marketing in today's scenario is very important. To put simply, marketing is the action or business of promoting and selling products or services. Today if you want to see your product, getting your product known is very important. to make market and customer aware about your product is essential for your business growth. Marketing product or services generates customer awareness and demand for your product. Marketing basically begins with a strategy and plan.

Marketing Strategy and Marketing Plan. ?

Marketing strategies are nothing but what goal you want to accomplish, whereas a marketing plan contains all the details of how you are going to achieve your goals. With a proper marketing plan and its execution, you make sure your customer know about your product or services you are offering.

Marketing Plan and Campaign

Marketing Plan is top level plan which consists of all the other plans and campaigns. A marketing plan mainly consists of Campaign. Campaigns runs on the basis of what objectives and tactics you would need to fulfil your marketing plan. So basically A marketing plan can be structured as

Campaign

One of the main business activities in CRM marketing is the business to the client interaction. This simply means a company want to interact with large number of customers or prospect customer. In such scenario Campaign management is used for carrying out marketing campaign as per marketing plan. The two elements of campaign - Objectives and Tactics.

In SAP CRM Web Ui, there is a particular profile for Marketing professional where all the marketing activities are done. It is called MARKETINGPROFESIONAL.

Prerequisites concepts for creating a Marketing Plan. 

There are some concepts we need to have in order to create a successful marketing plan. Those are
- How to configure marketing plan profile.
- Define types and objectives
- Segmentation and creation of External Lists
- Mailforms

How to configure and define marketing plan profile.

For configuring marketing plan profile we need to go to GUI. Go to SPRO > CRM > Marketing > Basic Data > Define Types Objectives and Tactics. Copy from the standard for marketing plan, and give a short name

• A new marketing plan is created.
• Now do the same for campaign. Copy from the standard.
• A new campaign is created.
• Now we have to define objectives and tactics for our campaign. To do so go to SPRO > CRM > Marketing > Basic Data > Define Objectives
• Create a new objectives under any name. Create a suitable objective.
• A new objective to reach "1 million sale" is created.
• Now go to define tactics. Tactics are generally that through which we wants to achieve our objectives.Here we will be creating those tactics that will fulfil our objectives of 1 million sales. For tactics, go to SPRO > CRM > Marketing > Basic Data > Define Tactics
• Go to new entry to create tactics. Here we will create some tactics which will be useful for company to achieve the objectives.
• Now again go to SPRO > CRM > Marketing > Basic Data > Define Types Objectives and Tactics. Select your marketing plan and click on Objectives
• Select new entry, and enter the objectives you created in earlier steps.
• Now select this objective and go to tactics.
• Select New entry and look for the tactics which you have created for above objectives.
• We have selected the tactics for our objectives.

This was all of the configuration related to a marketing plan and campaign which are done in GUI. There are two more concepts for Marketing plan. Those are Segmentation and Mail forms.

Segmentation

Campaigns in marketing plan are executed for a certain segment. The segment is the target the campaign is executed for.

First we create attributes for BP segmentation maintaining data source for segmentation. We create a target group using segmentation and then target group are used with marketing activity to address a particular set of customers or prospects. 

External List Management 

We can create a target group for segmentation by using external list also. External List Management is used for uploading BP to the CRM externally. There are two steps in external list management - 

1. Define a mapping format 

2. Maintain address list. 

Lead Management in SAP CRM Marketing

What are Leads?

In marketing or sales lead is the initiation of consumer interest or inquiry into products or services of a business.Both customers and prospects can be considered as Lead.

Leads facilitate your companys chance to make business. With leads, you can provide a streamlined link between marketing and sales so as to accelerate the process between first interest and sales. Leads can help you to find out more about a potential business. Leads can be generated on the basis of activities or can be the basis for follow-up activities. Leads can also be generated by various channels - Interaction channel, telemarketing, Internet Sales or External Lists. 

Lead Management 

To create a lead, go to customizing transaction types. Use the tcode - crmc_process_ma

Select transaction type "Lead" which is standard sap crm for lead. Copy As and edit the name to make your entry. 

Create your own lead transaction type. 

Make sure you have these entries like 'Web Ui', 'IC' in Channel list. Otherwise this transaction type wont be visible in CRM Marketing Web UI. 

Now go to Marketing Professional, Select Marketing - Create - Lead.

Select your transaction type for lead which you have just created.

The general data field is pretty much simple. Enter an ID, Description, Prospect. 

You can add this list to the campaign type which you have created. 

Under classification type you can choose three important classification of leads i.e Priority, Origin and Group. Priority is nothing but what is priority level of your lead. Origin is from where you have acquired this lead. Lead Group is category where your lead belongs to.

Under general data, there is a qualification level. These qualification level should be entered manually or through the surveys in lead. 

There can be many other data field under Leads like Partner involved, Notes, Assessment etc. These can be either maintained manually or can be customized according to the needs. 

Lead Priority, Origins and Groups.

Setting up Lead Priority 

Go to SPRO > CRM > Transactions > Settings for Leads > Define Lead Priorities 

There are lead priority available in the system, you can choose from them or make your own entry. to do so click on New Entry.

Give a new name for your priority and save it.

Your new priority has been created. 

Setting up Lead Origins 

Go to SPRO > CRM > Transactions > Settings for Leads > Define Lead Origins 

Just like lead priority, you can either select from the one avialable in the system or just make a new entry by clicking on New Entry button. 

Setting up Lead Group

Go to SPRO > CRM >  Transactions > Settings for Leads > Define Lead Groups

Just like the lead priority and origins, you can either select from the one available in the system or can make a new entry by clicking on New entry button. 

I am making a new entry in lead group as 'My Important List'.

Now check the entries again in Marketing professional.

Go to Marketing - Create - Lists, and check whether our newly created origins, groups and priority are avialble in the system.

It is available there. Similarly you can check for Lead origins and priorities. 

That was all about basics of Lead Management. We will learn about Surveys or Assessments in Lead Management in next post. 

Mail Forms

What is a Mail Form

Mail Form

The mail form is the template for the mail that is sent. Personalized emails can be used to send marketing information to the target group of customers. Through mail form, we can create mail and send it to our preferred target groups.

For configuring mail form, go to Marketing - Create - Mailforms.

Mailform uses BTF Editor. The editor provides a design view for maintaining and formatting emails. This is how mail form editor looks like.

Now if we closely look at the header, there is a mail form id, in which you can give the new id for mail forms. In subject, you personalize the subject by providing attributes for first name or last name of whatever attribute you want to appear in the subject of your mail. I have chosen here Name as attribute. To choose attribute, Click on Insert Attribute - Variables - Attribute - Select your attribute from list of attributes.

The final format of the subject looks like this. It is a personalized mail where "%SAP_A1" will be replaced by the name of business partners.

The body of mail looks like this. With the help of tools available like pictures, attributes and hyperlinks you can personalize your email.

For sending this personalized email, click on Test Send and preview.

Select the business partner, sender and receiver emails and click on Send button. 

Once the test send function is used the mail is sent to the outbound Q and can be checked in transaction SOST. This was all the basics about Mail forms.

In next post we will see about how to configure Marketing Plan. 

External List Management

External List Management.

External List Management.

For external list management, we upload a list provided by third party to crm database and then map the data. Steps for External list management are 

Suppose we have to upload a list with xyz file name containing list of prospect customer with whom company wants to interact. We will first fetch that excel file containing all the information.

Save that excel file with tab delimited extension.

Now go to marketing professional. Under Marketing, Select create mapping format.

Give a new ID and name to your mapping format. Upload the excel file which you have.

Choose the option Tabulator Delimiter, In Target field filter select Person and hit Refresh button.

Field mapping will be populated.

Now, Map the all the attributes according to their names. Like First name should be mapped to the First Name target field. For mapping, select both the field and click on the Map button.

Now mapping is completed. Click on back button.

Save this mapping format.

Your newly created mapping format is saved. 

External List Management 

To create a external list, Go to Marketing, Create - External List.

Give a new Id and description. Select your mapping format. Select End of use of date for this data. 

In Process steps, upload the same excel file which you used during mapping of the external data. Select "Add to new target group" so that a new target group is created. Select the options for processing of steps. You can schedule it for later or select Start Intermediately.

Click on Start button.

Your new External list is created and a target group is also set. 

Now in the next post we will see how we create a mail form.