Master Data and Transactional Data
SAP Master Data:
First of all you would have to know that all the data can be altered and all the transactions are basically based on the SAP master data. If you want that all your transactions in SAP to be execute properly or post properly you would have to use SAP master data. Let us have an example of
For example: General Ledger in FICO module, Vendor master from MM module, Customer Master from SD module, Asset Master from FICO module etc. If you want to load transactional data, usually you must have to convert and load the master initially.
Transactional data:
This data cannot be changed; this data is created in SAP as a result of a business user completing a business transaction such as creating a Purchase Order (MM), creating a Process Order (PP), creating a GL journal entry (FI) etc. This type of data can be reversed or cancelled but usually not changeable. Transactional data depends on master data. Before a transactional data is executed in SAP, proper master data validations are carried out in the background. This type of data is loaded into SAP just before going live in SAP. What transactional data needs to be converted into SAP is determined case by case basis.
Typically customers does not require transactions that are too old (historical data) and recent transactions might need to be loaded into SAP. We suggest the customers not to convert historical data as it’s a time consuming process and value added is insignificant. We always advise customers to keep the historical data archived or made available in the legacy system, in case if needed for audit purposes or for need basis.