Customer-Material Info Record in SAP SD

The Customer-Material Info Record in SAP SD (Sales and Distribution) is a key component that stores specific information about the relationship between a customer and a material. It helps manage customer-specific material requirements, such as pricing, delivery, and other sales-related details. This record is used in the sales order processing to streamline and customize the sales flow for each customer and material combination.

What is a Customer-Material Info Record?

A Customer-Material Info Record is a combination of a customer and a material in the SAP system. It stores information about how a specific customer orders a particular material. This includes data such as:

  • Customer-specific pricing (e.g., discounts, surcharges)
  • Shipping and delivery preferences
  • Material-specific sales conditions
  • Customer-specific terms and conditions for the material

These records help businesses automate and customize the sales process for each customer-material combination.

Steps to Create and Maintain Customer-Material Info Records

Let’s walk through the steps of creating and maintaining a Customer-Material Info Record using an example. In this example, we will create a Customer-Material Info Record for a customer "C1001" and material "M1001" with specific pricing and delivery information.

Step 1: Enter Transaction Code for Customer-Material Info Record

  1. Transaction Code: Use transaction code "VD51" to create a new Customer-Material Info Record.
  2. Enter Customer and Material: In the initial screen, enter the customer code (e.g., C1001) and the material code (e.g., M1001) for which you want to create the info record.
  3. Click "Enter": After entering the customer and material, press "Enter" to continue.

Step 2: Maintain Customer-Material Specific Data

Now you will maintain customer-specific details for the material in the Customer-Material Info Record. The fields that can be maintained include:

  • Sales Organization: Specify the sales organization for which the record is valid.
  • Distribution Channel: Enter the distribution channel (e.g., Direct Sales).
  • Pricing Information: Enter customer-specific prices, discounts, and surcharges for the material. For example, a 10% discount for customer "C1001" on material "M1001".
  • Delivery Information: Define shipping instructions, such as the preferred delivery time or delivery plant.
  • Special Conditions: Include any special conditions such as freight or payment terms specific to this customer-material combination.

Step 3: Enter Pricing Information

  1. Pricing Condition Type: Enter the pricing condition type for this customer-material combination. For example, you may enter a 10% discount under the condition type "K007" (Customer Discount).
  2. Enter Value: Enter the discount value. For instance, a 10% discount means entering "10" in the value field.
  3. Save the Information: Once you’ve entered the pricing information, save the Customer-Material Info Record.

Step 4: Maintain Shipping and Delivery Information

Next, define the shipping and delivery details for this customer-material combination:

  1. Delivery Plant: Enter the delivery plant from where the material will be shipped (e.g., "Plant 1000").
  2. Shipping Conditions: Specify any special shipping conditions or preferences that the customer may have for this material.
  3. Save Delivery Information: Once the shipping and delivery information has been entered, save the record.

Step 5: Save the Customer-Material Info Record

After entering all necessary information (pricing, delivery, and other specifics), save the Customer-Material Info Record. The system will assign a unique identifier for this record.

  1. Save Record: Click the "Save" button to store the Customer-Material Info Record in the system.
  2. Confirmation: The system will confirm that the record has been successfully created.

Step 6: Display Customer-Material Info Record

If you want to view the Customer-Material Info Record later, follow these steps:

  1. Enter Transaction Code: Use transaction code "VD52" to display a Customer-Material Info Record.
  2. Enter Customer and Material: Enter the customer (C1001) and material (M1001) codes to view the details.
  3. Check Information: Review the information stored in the record, including pricing, shipping, and any special conditions.

Real-World Example

Let’s consider a real-world example of a customer "C1001" and material "M1001" (a Laptop). The customer has a 10% discount for this product, with a special shipping condition that requires delivery within 3 days. Here’s how this would work:

  • The Customer-Material Info Record is created in the system, linking customer "C1001" with material "M1001".
  • A 10% discount (condition type "K007") is applied to the price of the laptop for this customer.
  • The laptop will be shipped from plant "1000" with a delivery condition of "Within 3 Days".
  • When a sales order is created for this customer and material, the system will automatically pull in the pricing and shipping information from the Customer-Material Info Record.

Step 7: Modify or Delete Customer-Material Info Record

If you need to modify or delete a Customer-Material Info Record, follow these steps:

  1. Enter Transaction Code: Use transaction code "VD53" to modify or delete a record.
  2. Enter Customer and Material: Enter the customer and material combination you want to modify or delete.
  3. Modify or Delete: You can modify the existing data or delete the record entirely if it's no longer needed.
  4. Save Changes: After making modifications or deletions, save the changes to the record.

Key Considerations for Customer-Material Info Records

  • Accurate Data: Ensure the information entered in the Customer-Material Info Record is accurate, especially pricing and shipping details, to avoid errors in sales orders.
  • Use of Key Combinations: The key combination (e.g., customer/material) is crucial for correctly applying the Customer-Material Info Record in the sales order process.
  • Regular Updates: Regularly update Customer-Material Info Records to reflect changes in customer agreements, pricing, or shipping terms.
  • Record Maintenance: Periodically review and maintain these records to ensure they remain relevant for current sales operations.

Conclusion

The Customer-Material Info Record is a powerful tool in SAP SD that enables businesses to manage specific customer-material relationships. By customizing pricing, delivery, and special conditions for each customer-material combination, SAP SD helps businesses streamline their sales and distribution processes. By following the steps outlined in this tutorial, you can create, maintain, and modify Customer-Material Info Records efficiently to support business operations.




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