An SAP Info Record is a crucial master data record in SAP Materials Management (MM) that links a specific material to a specific vendor.
Understanding the SAP Info Record
Think of the Info Record as a repository containing key information about the relationship between a supplier and a particular product they supply. It's not just a simple link; it holds detailed data that is essential for efficient purchasing processes.
The info record contains quotation and ordering data. This means it stores information relevant to both the potential purchase (quotation stage) and the actual purchase (ordering stage).
Key Information Stored
Based on the reference, some of the critical data points stored in an info record include:
- Quotation and Ordering Data: This is the core information held within the record.
- Prices: The current and potentially future prices offered by the vendor for the material.
- Quotation Conditions: This includes details like:
- Discounts: Any quantity or value-based discounts applicable.
- Fixed Costs: Additional charges or costs associated with the purchase.
- Other relevant pricing conditions.
This detailed condition data allows the system to accurately determine the cost of procuring a material from a specific vendor.
How Info Records are Used
The data stored in the info record is primarily used to automate and streamline the creation of purchase documents, particularly purchase orders.
- Default Data for Purchase Orders: The data in the info record (prices for example) is also used as default data for purchase orders. When you create a purchase order for a material supplied by a vendor for which an info record exists, the system can automatically propose information like the price, terms of payment, delivery time, and conditions directly from the info record.
- Copying Conditions: For instance, you can store the current and future quotation conditions (discounts, fixed costs etc.) in the info record, in order to be able to copy them into POs. This saves time and reduces the risk of errors compared to manually entering data for each purchase order.
In essence, the SAP Info Record acts as a bridge between the vendor and the material master data, holding essential purchasing-specific information that defaults into purchasing transactions.
Benefits of Using Info Records
Utilizing SAP Info Records offers several advantages:
- Efficiency: Automates data entry in purchase orders.
- Consistency: Ensures standard terms and conditions are applied.
- Accuracy: Reduces manual errors.
- Information Hub: Provides a single source of truth for vendor/material pricing and conditions.
By maintaining accurate info records, organizations can significantly improve their procurement efficiency and data integrity.
