How to support software license sales with SAP?

[Former Member]

hi all-

I'm looking for a way to use SAP to support in the process of selling software licenses. In another discussion I read about the suggestion to use a 'non stock item' (material type NLAG/item category NLAG). I'm still thinking about how to handle matters like:

• license validity period (start- and end-date), manage license expiration-dates ...
• billing (with billing plan?)

Any suggestions? Does anyone know if there is a "SAP Best Practice" for this topic?

thx

Ben

[p_zweipfenning · Accepted solution]

Ben,

have a look at this link: http://help.sap.com/bp_htsw603/BBLibrary/HTML/477_EN_US.htm

Best regards,

Pascal.

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

hi Pascal-

Thanks for the link! Interesting documentation.

This SAP Best Practice shows the use of contracts, where the validity period is on contract (header level). I see a number of "challenges" with this:

when I sell hardware and a software-license, it suggests we need a regular sales order and a contract . . . Or are there other ways to deal with this

when I sell various software licenses (different types of software), each with it's own validty period. My understanding from the 'best practice' is that you need 2 contracts. Is that really the case?

kind regards,

Ben

[p_zweipfenning · Accepted solution]

Ben,

The validity period is indeed on header level. Maybe master contracts could be a solution. You create one master contract after which you create several reference contracts for each software license. with it's own validity.

Best regards,

Pascal.

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

hi Pascal-

Thanks for your suggestion. Do you possibilities to do something on item-level? E.g. when selling hardware and a software license in one deal?

thx

Ben

[p_zweipfenning · Accepted solution]

Ben,

I had a quick look in our system: have a look at standard SAP contract type 'MV' (Rental contract). At item level there is a 'Contract date' tab which holds the validity dates at item level. You can set date rules, setup a billing plan, cancellation rules, register the installation dates, dismantling dates etc. This is probably exactly what you need.

Success with it.

P.S. are you working with ASML?

Best regards,

Pascal.

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

hi Pascal-

Thanks for your reply. Sorry for the late reaction. What you are telling here seems indeed something that I'm looking for. And yes I'm working with ASML now.

BCnU

Ben

[stefan_walter7 · Accepted solution]

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[Former Member · Accepted solution]

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