4/16/2020 Advanced Returns Management 2 - SAP Documentation

Show TOC

Advanced Returns Management 2

Technical Data

Technical Name of Business Function OPS_ADVRETURNS_2

Type of Business Function Enterprise Business Function

Available From SAP Enhancement Package 6 for SAP ERP 6.0

Technical Usage Central Applications

Application Component Advanced Returns Management (LO-ARM)

Required Business Function Advanced Returns Management

(OPS_ADVRETURNS_1)

Incompatible Business Function Not relevant

This business function provides you with new functions for Advanced Returns Management that
enhance the returns process, increase process efficiency, and increase usability. The new functions
include non-valuated returns stock, subsequent delivery free of charge (SDF) in customer returns,
replacement material processing in supplier returns, and repairs as additional follow-up activities. For
the new functions, the system also creates the follow-up documents automatically. This increases
process efficiency for the entire returns process and thus decreases the total cost of ownership. With
the improved usability, you can create the returns orders and compensate the customer more quickly.
This way you can provide better customer service, thus increasing customer satisfaction.
In addition, this business function provides you with the required interface enhancements so that you
can use Advanced Returns Management in the SAP Enterprise Resource Planning (SAP
ERP) system with complaints processing in the SAP Customer Relationship Management (SAP
CRM) system. It also provides the required interface enhancements so you can integrate logistical
processing of returned materials and the quality inspection in the warehouse in the SAP Extended
Warehouse Management (SAP EWM) system with the corresponding functions in Advanced
Returns Management .

Integration
You can extend the business process provided by the business functions Advanced Returns
Management (OPS_ADVRETURNS_1) and Advanced Returns Management 2
(OPS_ADVRETUNRS_2) in the SAP ERP system with the following business functions in the SAP
CRM and SAP EWM systems:

https://help.sap.com/saphelp_sfin100/helpdata/en/df/2eeffab83b45f29a78696c6286c6a9/content.htm?no_cache=true 1/5
4/16/2020 Advanced Returns Management 2 - SAP Documentation

In the SAP CRM system, you can use the business function Advanced Returns
Management (CRM_COMPL_ARM_1) from the SAP enhancement package 2 for SAP CRM 7.0:
This integration enables you to use complaints processing in SAP CRM to trigger customer
returns in Advanced Returns Management in SAP ERP. When you release a returns
request in the complaints document, the system creates a returns order for Advanced Returns
Management in SAP ERP. You can also monitor the entire returns process in the complaints
document since the data from Advanced Returns Management in SAP ERP is transferred to
the complaints document in SAP CRM.
The integration of SAP CRM complaints processing gives you all the advantages of the SAP
CRM user interface so you can more efficiently create returns.
For more information about the SAP CRM business function Advanced Returns
Management (CRM_COMPL_ARM_1), see SAP Library for SAP CRM on SAP Help Portal at
http://help.sap.com/crm SAP CRM 7.0 Enhancement Package 2 Application
Help Business Functions (SAP enhancement package 2 for SAP CRM 7.0)
Business Functions for SAP Customer Relationship Management Advanced Returns
Management .
In the SAP EWM system, you can use the business function Usability and Implementation 1
(SCM_EWM_USAB_IMPL_1) from the SAP enhancement package 2 for SAP EWM 7.0:
This enables you to use the integration with logistical processing of returned materials in the
warehouse for customer returns and store returns in the SAP EWM system. After goods receipt
posting, you can map internal warehouse processes in SAP EWM, such as the transfer of
materials from the goods receipt zone to the work area for quality inspection. During quality
inspection in SAP EWM, you can also specify that the logistical follow-up activities are to be
defined in SAP ERP. In this context, you can also call the transaction for the material inspection
in the warehouse in Advanced Returns Management directly from SAP EWM.
For more information about the SAP EWM business function Usability and Implementation 1
(SCM_EWM_USAB_IMPL_1), see SAP Library for SAP SCM on SAP Help Portal at
http://help.sap.com/scm SAP Supply Chain Management (SAP SCM) SAP
Extended Warehouse Management (SAP EWM) Business Functions (SAP enhancement
package 2 for SAP EWM 7.0) Usability and Implementation 1 .

Prerequisites
You have installed the following components as of the version mentioned:

Type of Component Component Required for the Following

Features Only

Software Component SAP_APPL 606, EA-APPL 606

https://help.sap.com/saphelp_sfin100/helpdata/en/df/2eeffab83b45f29a78696c6286c6a9/content.htm?no_cache=true 2/5
4/16/2020 Advanced Returns Management 2 - SAP Documentation

To use the functions in the SAP ERP system, you have activated the business functions
Advanced Returns Management (OPS_ADVRETURNS_1) and Advanced Returns
Management 2 (OPS_ADVRETURNS_2). For more information about the Advanced Returns
Management (OPS_ADVRETUNRS_1) business function, see Advanced Returns Management.
You make the settings for customer returns orders in Customizing for Sales and
Distribution under Sales Advanced Returns Management (or in
Customizing for Logistics - General under Advanced Returns Management ).
You make the settings for supplier returns in Customizing for Materials Management
under Purchasing Purchase Order Returns Order Advanced Returns
Management (or in Customizing for Logistics - General under Advanced Returns
Management ).

Features
This business function optimizes and supplements the existing functions in Advanced Returns
Management and integrates them into other Business Suite solutions that also manage customer
returns and supplier returns.

Non-Valuated Returns Stock

For customer returns, you can initially post the goods receipt for returned materials to non-valuated
stock. The logistical follow-up activities are then based on this non-valuated returns stock. With non-
valuated returns stock you can use processes such as store returns and supplier returns to forward
the materials without taking on ownership. You can even scrap the materials from the non-valuated
returns stock by using the new logistical follow-up activity Transfer to Scrap for Customer .
When you decide that the material is to change ownership from the customer to your company, the
system automatically triggers a goods movement to post the returned material to valuated stock. A
change in ownership occurs when you grant the customer a refund or replacement for the returned
material (a credit memo, credit memo request, or subsequent delivery free of charge), or when you
specify a logistical follow-up activity signaling that you intend to take on ownership, such as by
transferring the material to unrestricted-use ("free available") stock.
With this function you can more easily fulfill both legal and company-internal requirements for the
valuation of returns stock. The automatic posting of the goods movement for valuation speeds up
customer returns processing.

Replacement Materials in Customer Returns

You can give a customer a replacement material as compensation for a returned material instead of a
credit memo by triggering the automatic creation of the subsequent delivery free of charge: You can
trigger the creation of the subsequent delivery free of charge (SDF) in the returns order, in material
inspection in the warehouse, or in customer refund determination.

https://help.sap.com/saphelp_sfin100/helpdata/en/df/2eeffab83b45f29a78696c6286c6a9/content.htm?no_cache=true 3/5
4/16/2020 Advanced Returns Management 2 - SAP Documentation

You can trigger the SDF when creating the returns order even if you have not yet received the
material that is to be returned. If you specify that the customer should be refunded immediately, the
system automatically creates the outbound delivery for the SDF and posts the corresponding goods
issue.
This function enables you to quickly deliver a replacement material to the customer. The automatic
creation of relevant documents simplifies the whole process.

Replacement Materials in Supplier Returns

You can process replacement material deliveries sent to you by a vendor to replace returned
materials in the supplier returns process. In the new transaction Receive Replacement Materials
from Vendor , you enter the replacement materials that you have received for a returned material.
When you save the data in the transaction, the system automatically creates a purchase order for the
replacement materials and the corresponding inbound delivery for the replacement material purchase
order. The system creates these and all subsequent documents with reference to the respective
supplier returns process.
When you post the goods receipt for the inbound delivery, the system creates a document in invoice
verification that serves as both a credit memo with the value zero for returned materials and as an
invoice with the value zero for replaced materials.
In the next step, you define the next logistical destination for the replacement materials in the new
transaction Logistical Follow-Up for Replacement Materials .
This function speeds up the receipt and processing of replacement material deliveries from a vendor.
The automatic creation of the relevant documents increases the users' productivity. For increased
transparency of the process, the system shows you the documents that were created during
replacement material delivery processing in the transaction Returns Overview for Supplier
Returns . If the supplier returns process is a subsequent process of a customer return, these
documents are also displayed in the Returns Overview for Customer Returns transaction.

Repair as Logistical Follow-Up Activity

You can define an in-house repair or an external repair as the logistical follow-up activity for a
returned material in a customer returns process. When you confirm the logistical follow-up activity,
the system automatically creates the relevant repair order.
You can configure the system so that it automatically posts the goods movement from the returns
order stock to the repair order stock. For an in-house repair, you can configure the system so that it
automatically creates a repair item in the repair order. For an external repair, you can specify that the
system automatically creates the necessary subcontract order that triggers shipment to the repair
service provider.
This function simplifies and speeds up the transition from the returns process to the repair process.
The system automatically creates the relevant follow-up documents.

Improvements to Existing Returns Scenarios

https://help.sap.com/saphelp_sfin100/helpdata/en/df/2eeffab83b45f29a78696c6286c6a9/content.htm?no_cache=true 4/5
4/16/2020 Advanced Returns Management 2 - SAP Documentation

The following functions improve existing returns scenarios and increase usability:

You can record customer inspection data in the returns order.

In the returns order, you can specify the next logistical follow-up activity that the system then
uses as the proposal in the Material Inspection in Warehouse transaction.
You can also record in the returns order that you have preliminarily determined a refund for the
customer. This information is then also displayed in the Material Inspection in Warehouse
transaction and serves as a basis for deciding if the customer should receive a refund and if so,
to what extent.
For returns orders, you can define the description of the refund code in Customizing.
In the material inspection, you can release a credit memo request or a subsequent delivery free
of charge (SDF) for returned materials, thus speeding up the refunding process for your
customer.
For the logistical follow-up activity Transfer to Specified Stock in the material inspection, you
can specify not only the target storage location and target stock type, but also a target plant and
a target material.
If you specify a supplier return as the logistical follow-up activity, you can retrieve the delivery
address from the master data of the customer that is assigned to the vendor.
To speed up the creation of returns orders and material inspections, you can now hide any
unnecessary fields.

With these functions, you can more quickly and easily create returns orders and process material
inspections. You can quickly grant the customer compensation for a returned material, thus
increasing customer satisfaction.

More Information
For more information about Advanced Returns Management in SAP ERP, see SAP Library under
Advanced Returns Management for Customer Returns and Advanced Returns Management for
Supplier Returns.

https://help.sap.com/saphelp_sfin100/helpdata/en/df/2eeffab83b45f29a78696c6286c6a9/content.htm?no_cache=true 5/5