Variant Configuration - External Interface populating the characterisctics values and variant tables

[Former Member]

Hello All,

We are implementing variant configuration (S4HANA) and there is a requirement that an external interface should update the values of the characteristics and also update the corresponding entries of the characteristics in the variant tables.

Does any one has any relevant experience of implementing such a requirement where the VC Master data is being populated via an external interface.

Please do let me know if there are any issues/considerations around this design.

Thanks you !!

[Ritz]

Ankita Varma,

You can answer below questions , it may help you too gather requirement too

• Please share whats plan architecture of your too be  system,
• 
  
• how you are interfacing VC with Non-SAP system,
• 
  
• what will be middle ware , 
• 
  
• is the HANA DB or a side car ?
• 
  
• Non-SAP system will be used just for maintaining master data or it will be used as front hand too?
• 
  
• What all functions your external system controls.
• 
  
• Whats business requirement to use external system over using SAP own configurator

Once you start getting answer's for this questions , you can figure out perspective errors too.

check and reply.

Thanks

Ritesh

[Former Member]

Hello Ankita,

First of all this is not a good practice to have external systems update VC master data and it has lot of risks involved with it especially when changing characteristics. I have close to 12 years in VC implementation and maintaining but never come across this weird requirement.

More over, why do you need an external interface when SAP itself gives you option to update variants table via upload programs in any of the document formats. This actually defeats the purpose of having SAP when you still depend on external programs to update data in SAP.

Thanks,

Rishikesh