Integration between SAP Convergent Invoicing, Subscription Order Management and Convergent Charging
BRIM Landscape consists primarily of three components:
- SAP Convergent Invoicing
- Subscription Order Management
- SAP Convergent Charging
SAP Convergent Charging receives external data records. These are the records of consumption. For example, in a telecom operation, these records specify the voice/data/SMS usage. Likewise, for a road toll tax collecting organization, events related to passing the tollgate along with the type of vehicle will be recorded. Thus SAP CC is the source system that gathers the usage data. This data is then billed and invoiced in SAP convergent invoicing.
Business master data (Business Partner, Contract Account, and Provider Contract) are created in the Convergent Invoicing(S4) system. Master data is replicated to CC. In CC, Business Partner is called Subscriber Account and Contract account is represented as “External Account”.
Each provider contract has one or more contract items. These contract items are assigned technical IDs. These technical IDs are utilized in the Charging process to link the usage data record in CC with the master data in SAP CI. For example, each usage record may have a SIM number. This SIM number is also assigned to the provider contract id at the time of master data creation. Thus, the system is able to link the consumption with the consumer through technical IDs.
Subscription Order Management is the place where a provider contract(i.e. master data) is linked to the subscription and the saleable products. These products can be created as standalone products in FICA or created as materials in SAP material management. As a general practice, if logistics are involved, products are created in SAP material management. Products are then subsequently linked to CC charge plans via cross catalog mapping. Prices for the materials are maintained in S4HANA pricing conditions.
In CC charge plan, the logic to determine the cost of the service is defined via pricing tables. Recurring charges can be configured using billing plans in CI or through charge plans in the CC. One-time charges can directly be triggered from SOM or configured as charge plans in SAP CC. Item Category in the subscription order identifies the order item as one-time charge. The product assigned to the item in the subscription order determines whether the usage charges and/or the recurring fees are applicable for the product.