Of Partner Types

[Former Member]

I have a few basic questions regarding Partner Types:

1. What are Partner Types? As in I know they are used to distinguish between different business partners but that is very "theoretical" so to speak. Can I know what are the implications of assigning a particular type to a function?

2. Where do we setup/customize/define the Partner Types?

3. There is a node to define Business Partner Types (BP Types) and then there is this Partner type. I am guessing the two are very different? Am I correct?

[former_member182378 · Accepted solution]

1. What are Partner Types? As in I know they are used to distinguish between different business partners but that is very "theoretical" so to speak. ?

In non-SAP terminology, business partners are the entities that help you to do business. If your company is manufacturing TVs, then customers (like dealers, retailers etc.), employees (like sales manager, production staff) are your companies business partners.

Customers, Employees are called Partner types in SAP

Sales manager, production staff are called as Partner function in SAP

Thus Partner type can be further subdivided in to partner function in SAP

Can I know what are the implications of assigning a particular type to a function?

In partner type, one can create lots of partner functions. In VA01, item level, tab Partners, select a partner type and you shall be able to see ONLY partner functions of that partner type.

Select ALL partner types, then you shall be able to see ALL partner functions.

Thus for structuring purposes we have partner types and in them partner functions.

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

1. What are Partner Types? As in I know they are used to distinguish between different business partners but that is very "theoretical" so to speak. ?
> 
> 
> In non-SAP terminology, business partners are the entities that help you to do business. If your company is manufacturing TVs, then customers (like dealers, retailers etc.), employees (like sales manager, production staff) are your companies business partners.
> 
> Customers, Employees are called Partner types in SAP
> Sales manager, production staff are called as Partner function in SAP
> 
> Thus Partner type can be further subdivided in to partner function in SAP
> 
> 
> 
> Can I know what are the implications of assigning a particular type to a function?
> In partner type, one can create lots of partner functions. In VA01, item level, tab Partners, select a partner type and you shall be able to see ONLY partner functions of that partner type.
> Select ALL partner types, then you shall be able to see ALL partner functions.
> 
> Thus for structuring purposes we have partner types and in them partner functions.

I find it very difficult to understand that partner types are only for structuring purposes which if did not exist would not have any impact on the working of the SAP system whatsoever specially since assigning a partner type to a partner function is mandatory. If Partner type was simply a grouping of partner functions that could be assigned to a business partner I would have understood but apparently even that is not the case. Still looking for a satisfactory answer.

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

So no one is going to help me find out what really Partner Types are?

[Former Member]

Hi,

If you are asking about Business partner types in

SPRO>Cross Application components> SAP Business Partner

Then this is used for SAP solutions such as CRM.

As far as SD module is concerned, we do not use Business partner types

Hope this helps,

Regards,

Sharan