SAP credit management functionality, two key transactions, VKM1 and VKM3, play pivotal roles in handling sales orders and their associated credit checks. Understanding the distinctions between these transactions is crucial for efficient credit management processes within an organization. Let's delve into the nuances of VKM1 and VKM3 and how they operate within SAP's credit management framework.
1. Purpose and Scope:
VKM1 and VKM3 serve different purposes with respect to managing credit checks in SAP:
- VKM1 (Transaction RVKRED02): VKM1 is designed to display both sales orders and deliveries, providing an overview of the credit status of these documents. It allows users to block deliveries if necessary, specifically when the delivery does not possess a proper Profitability Segment (PGId). VKM1 is particularly useful for cases where credit management needs to be applied to all transactions involving a customer.
- VKM3 (Transaction EVKRED04): VKM3, on the other hand, focuses solely on listing sales orders. Unlike VKM1, VKM3 doesn't consider the delivery aspect and is geared towards scenarios where credit control is applied on a per-sales-order basis rather than across all customer transactions.
2. Credit Status Handling:
The manner in which VKM1 and VKM3 handle credit status information is where a significant difference lies:
- VKM1: This transaction displays sales orders that are blocked due to credit checks. It derives this information from the VBUK table's Overall Credit Status (CMGST field), where a value other than 'D' (indicating Credit Block Released) signifies that the order is blocked. Once a document is released from the credit check, it no longer appears in VKM1 results.
- VKM3: VKM3 retrieves sales orders based on the order number entered in the selection screen. It doesn't directly consider the credit status from VBUK; instead, it reads the VBUK-CMGST field. The presence of a field called OVCS (with possible values A, B, C, or D) in the list is indicative of the credit status of the sales orders retrieved.
3. Key Parameters and Results:
When working with VKM1 and VKM3, certain key parameters and result differences should be noted:
- VKM3: The report executed through VKM3 invariably returns a result for the provided sales order number. This is because VKM3's primary focus is on the document number, with other key fields being ignored.
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- VKM1: Unlike VKM3, VKM1's outcome might not always include a record. The standard behavior dictates that it checks whether CMGST equals 'B' (Credit Block) before displaying an order. This implies that VKM1 results depend on the presence of orders blocked specifically for credit reasons.
4. Relevant T-Codes:
These are the relevant T-codes associated with VKM1 and VKM3:
- VKM1: Corresponds to the T-code RVKRED02.
- VKM3: Corresponds to the T-code EVKRED04.
5. Best Practices and Troubleshooting:
Efficient use of VKM1 and VKM3 involves adopting best practices and employing effective troubleshooting strategies:
- Ensure the customer is open in the relevant credit area, as VKM3 doesn't automatically check this aspect.
- Review the risk category settings assigned to the customer, as they play a pivotal role in credit determination.
- Investigate whether an order was previously released and subsequently blocked due to modifications.
- If relevant, check if the order was blocked within the last 24 hours.
- Replicate the same scenario using identical customer, product, and quantity details to pinpoint any irregularities.
- Analyze the behavior of the VBUK table by replicating scenarios with incremental changes.
- Pay attention to the account group, especially when the payer and sold-to parties differ, as this can affect results in VKM1.
- Verify if the payer or sold-to party is open in the specified credit area.
Conclusion
T-code VKM1 and VKM3 in SAP credit management offer distinct approaches to managing sales orders and credit checks. VKM1 provides a broader overview of credit status, while VKM3 focuses exclusively on sales orders. Understanding the nuances of these transactions is essential for effective credit management processes within SAP environments. By carefully considering the purpose, credit status handling, key parameters, and best practices for each transaction, organizations can optimize their credit management strategies and minimize credit-related issues.