ISU InterviewQsAs

Looking for an SAP IS Utilities Consultant (SAP IS-U) for a Project. Preferably specialized in the following: * Billing & Invoice, * FI-CA, * Device Management, * CSM, * Work Management

SAP IS Utilities Interview Questions And Answers What is Contract Accounts Receivable and Payable?  As a result of the high number of customers and invoices, waste disposal companies m ust create a large number of payment demands. To prevent you from having to enter this mass data in general ledger accounting, sub-ledger accounting has been integrated into Waste Management: Accounts receivable and payable. Contract accounts receivable and payable is specially designed to process mass data. At certain intervals, the system transfers the cumulated individual bookings to the general ledger in Financial  Accounting (FI). You can also transf er sales or service invoices from t he Sales and Distribution (SD) component to contract accounts receivable and payable. The goal of contract accounts receivable and payable is to automate all processes. Manual intervention is only necessary if an agent's decision is required. What are Processing Components? use this component to: Create, change and display   Delete   Archive Plan (resource planning and route allocation)   Output   Confirm What Interfaces used to connect As an alternative alternative to an integrated solution, you can use generic interfaces to connect external, complementary products to SAP Waste and Recycling. Interfaces exist for the following systems: Route planning system Weighing data system Board computer What is Processing Data Exchange ? Before SAP IS-U 4.63, data was exchanged using IDE events. This means that during certain processes in IS-U, the IDE events are triggered and the data exchange is processed depending on the IDE communication control. Example: Consumption Billing Executing consumption billing in IS-U triggers an IDE event that enables the consumption consumption values to be sent. Depending on the IDE communication control, the point of delivery consumption determined in billing can be sent to the customer's supplier. As of IS-U 4.64, you should always process data exchange using data exchange processes. Data Exchange Processes (based on the implemented data exchange basic processes) enable a more differentiated specification, control, and monitoring of data exchange. The IDE events are are integrated in the infrastructure of the data data exchange processes. Data exchange exchange basic processes exist for most IDE events. What is Postal Regional Structure ? The postal regional structure enables you to do the following: Manage postal codes, cities and streets.       

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Check the accuracy of postal codes, cities and streets. Simplify the process of entering postal codes, cities and streets. When you create objects that refer directly or indirectly to an address, some fields may already contain default values (as in the connection object). In other cases, such as in the installation, you must have the system propose a value. What is Parameter Record ? The parameter record contains control data for budget billing. You use this control data to generate due dates for the budget billing amounts when you create the portion schedule records. You need a parameter record to create a portion. enter the parameter record in the portion. Select the Where Used List in the display or change mode to display all portions that use a particular parameter record.   Integration You only create the parameter record in order to generate the due dates for the budget billing amounts. The following functions are possible: Create parameter record Change parameter record Delete parameter records can only delete a parameter record if it is not used in a portion. What is Data Archiving in SAP Utilities ? In IS-U you can now archive billing documents, print documents and budget billing plans. This means you can ease the load on your database at any time by archiving the correspondence you no longer need online. The documents are deleted from the database and written to the archive files. To display archived documents at any time using the appropriate standard IS-U transaction , always restore archives. What is Energy Data Management in SAP IS-Utilities ? Energy Data Management is a solution that fulfills requirements by offering interval reading, settlement of energy quantities, scheduling, and billing of interval energy consumption.   Integration The Energy Data Management (SAP IS-U-EDM) component is fully integrated into the SAP IS-U system and can be installed in an existing SAP IS-U system as a new component. SAP IS-U-EDM is also integrated into Intercompany Data Exchange (SAP IS-U-IDE). This component allows for data exchange in standardized formats and enables the integration of cross-company business processes. SAP IS-U-EDM allows you to bill profiles in SAP IS-U. Profiles are prepared in SAP IS-UEDM and transferred to SAP IS-U billing via an internal interface. This allows you to bill new types of contracts, such as spot purchases. SAP IS-U-EDM also interfaces with automated meter reading systems.

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SAP Interview Questions and Answers

 What is ERP? - ERP is a package with the techniques and concepts for the integrated management of  business as a whole, for effective use of management resources, to improve the efficiency of an enterprise. Initially, ERP was targeted for manufacturing industry mainly for planning and managing core business like production and financial market. As the growth and merits of ERP package ERP software is designed for basic process of a company from manufacturing to small shops with a target of integrating information across the company.

1.  What is ERP? - ERP is a package with the techniques and concepts for the integrated management of  business as a whole, for effective use of management resources, to improve the efficiency of an enterprise. Initially, ERP was targeted for manufacturing industry mainly for planning and managing core business like production and financial market. As the growth and merits of ERP package ERP software is designed for basic process of a c ompany from manufacturing to small shops with a target of integrating information across the company. 2. Different types of ERP? - SAP, BAAN, JD Edwards, Oracle Financials, Siebel, PeopleSoft. Among all the

ERP’s most of the companies implemented or trying to implement SAP because of number of advantages aver other ERP packages. 3. What is SAP? - SAP is the name of the company founded in 1972 under the German name (Systems,  Applications, and Products in Data Processing) is the leading ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) software package. 4. Explain the concept of “Business Content” in SAP Business Information Warehouse?  Business Content is a pre-configured set of role and task-relevant information models based on consistent Metadata in the SAP Business Information Warehouse. Business Content provides selected roles within a company with the information they need to carry out their tasks. These i nformation models essentially contain roles, workbooks, queries, InfoSources, InfoCubes, key figures, characteristics, update rules and extractors for SAP R/3, mySAP.com Business Applications and other selected applications. 5.  Why do you usually choose to implement SAP? - There are number of technical reasons numbers of

companies are planning to implement SAP. It’s highly confi gurable, highly secure data handling, min data redundancy, max data consistency, you can capitalize on economics of sales like purchasing, tight integration-cross function. 6. Can BW run without a SAP R/3 implementation?  - Certainly. You can run BW without R/3 implementation. You can use pre-defined business content in BW using your non-SAP data. Here you simply need to map the transfer structures associated with BW data sources (InfoCubes, ODS tables) to the inbound data files or use 3rd part tool to connect your flat files and other data sources and load data in BW. Several third party ETL products such as Acta, Infomatica, DataStage and others will have been certified to load data in BW. 7.  What is IDES? - International Demonstration and Education System. A sample application provided for faster learning and implementation. 8. What is WF and its importance? - Business Work Flow: Tool for automatic control and execution of cross-application processes. This involves coordinating the persons involved, the work steps required, the data, which needs to be processed (business objects). The main advantage is reduction in throughput times and the costs involved in managing business processes. Transparency and quality are enhanced by its use. 9. What is SAP R/3? - A third generation set of highly integrated software modules that pe rforms common  business function based on multinational leading practice. Takes care of any enterprise however diverse in operation, spread over the world. In R/3 system all the three servers like presentation, application server and database server are located at different system. 10.  What are presentation, application and database servers in SAP R/3? - The application layer of an R/3 System is made up of the application servers and the message server. Application programs in an

R/3 System are run on application servers. The application servers communicate with the presentation components, the database, and also with each other, using the message server. All the data are stored in a centralized server. This server is called database server. 11. What should be the approach for writing a BDC program? - Convert the legacy system data to a flat file and convert flat file into internal table. Transfer the flat file into sap system called “sap data transfer”. Call transaction(Write the program explicitly) or create sessions (sessions are created and processed ,if success data will transfer). 12. Explain open SQL vs native SQL? - ABAP Native SQL allows you to include database-specific SQL statements in an ABAP program. Most ABAP programs containing database-specific SQL statements do not run with different databases. If different databases are involved, use Open SQL. To execute ABAP Native SQL in an ABAP program, use the statement EXEC. Open SQL (Subset of standard SQL statements), allows you to access all database tables available in the R/3 System, re gardless of the manufacturer. To avoid conflicts between database tables and to keep ABAP programs independent from the database system used, SAP has generated its own set of SQL statements known as Open SQL. 13.  What are datasets? - The sequential files (processed on application server) are called datasets. They are used for file handling in SAP. 14.  What are internal tables check table, value table, and transparent table? - Internal table: It is a standard data type object, which exists only during the runtime of the program. Check table: Check table  will be at field level checking. Value table: Value table will be at domain level checking ex: scarr table is check table for carrid. Transparent table: - Exists with the same structure both in dictionary as well as in database exactly with the same data and fields. 15.  What are the major benefits of reporting with BW over R/3? Would it be sufficient just to Webenable R/3 Reports? - Performance — Heavy reporting along with regular OLTP transactions can produce a lot of load both on the R/3 and the database (cpu, memory, disks, etc). Just take a look at the load put on  your system during a month end, quarter end, or year-end — now imagine that occurring even more frequently. Data analysis — BW uses a Data Warehouse and OLAP concepts for storing and analyzing data,  where R/3 was designed for transaction processing. With a lot of work you can get the same analysis out of R/3 but most likely would be easier from a BW. 16. How can an ERP such as SAP help a business owner learn more about how business operates? - In order to use an ERP system, a  business person must understand the business processes and how they work together from one functional area to the other. This knowledge gives the student a much deeper understanding of how a business operates. Using SAP as a tool to learn about ERP systems will require that the people understand the business processes and how they integrate. 17.  What is the difference between OLAP and Data Mining? - OLAP - On line Analytical processing is a reporting tool configured to understand your database schema ,composition facts and dimensions . By simple point-n-clicking, a user can run any number of canned or user-designed reports without having to

know anything of SQL or the schema. Because of that prior configuration, the OLAP engine “builds” and executes the appropriate SQL. Mining is to build the application to specifically look at detailed analyses,

often algorithmic; even more often misappropriate called “reporting. 18.  What is “Extended Star Schema†• and how did it emerge? - The Star Schema consists of the Dimension Tables and the Fact Table. The Master Data related tables are kept in separate tables, which has reference to the characteristics in the dimension table(s). These separate tables for master data is termed as the Extended Star Schema. 19. Define Meta data, Master data and Transaction data - Meta Data: Data that describes the structure of data or MetaObjects is called Metadata. In other words data about data is known as Meta Data. Master Data: Master data is data that remains unchanged over a long period of time. It contains information that is always needed in the same way. Characteristics can bear master data in BW. With master data you are

dealing with attributes, texts or hierarchies. Transaction data: Data relating to the day-to-day transactions is the Transaction data. 20. Name some drawbacks of SAP - Interfaces are huge problem, Determine where master data resides, Expensive, very complex, demands highly trained staff, lengthy implementation time. 21.  What is Bex? - Bex stands for Business Explorer. Bex enables end user to locate reports, view reports, analyze information and can execute queries. The queries in workbook can be saved to there respective roles in the Bex browser. Bex has the following components: Bex Browser, Bex analyzer, Bex Map, Bex  Web. 22.  What are variables? - Variables are parameters of a query that are set in the parameter query d efinition and are not filled with values until the queries are inserted into workbooks. There are different types of  variables which are used in different application: Characteristics variables, Hierarchies and hierarchy node, Texts, Formulas, Processing types, User entry/Default type, Replacment Path. 23.  What is AWB?. What is its purpose? - AWB stands for Administrator WorkBench. AWB is a tool for controlling, monitoring and maintaining all the processes connected with data staging and processing in the business information whearhousing. 24.  What is the significance of ODS in BIW? - An ODS Object serves to store consolidated and debugged transaction data on a document level (atomic level). It describes a consolidated dataset from one or more InfoSources. This dataset can be analyzed with a BEx Query or InfoSet Query. The data of an ODS Object can be updated with a delta update into InfoCubes and/or other ODS Objects in the same system or across systems. In contrast to multi-dimensional data storage with I nfoCubes, the data in ODS Objects is stored in transparent, flat database tables. 25.  What are the different types of source system? - SAP R/3 Source Systems, SAP BW, Flat Files and External Systems. 26.  What is Extractor? - Extractors is a data r etrieval mechanisms in the SAP source system. Which can fill the extract structure of a data source with the data from the SAP source system datasets. The extractor may  be able to supply data to more fields than exist in the extract structure.

SAP Utilities Help Portal http://help.sap.com/saphelp_utilities472/helpdata/en/c6/4dce68eafc11d18a030000e829fbbd/fra meset.htm The SAP Utilities (IS-U) component is a sales and information system that supports all business processes and utility services of a utility company. You can use IS-U for managing and billing residential, commercial and industrial, and prospective customers. This component also allows you to manage and bill customers who receive services, purchase goods, or pay fees and taxes.

Integration IS-U is integrated with the  Service Management (PM-SMA), Customer Service (CS) and Sales and Distribution (SD) application components, enabling you to bill service orders, service contracts, and the sale of goods. The Contract Accounts Receivable and Payable (FI-CA) component manages the large number of postings from billing and budget billing requests. IS-U uses the SAP Business Workflow (BC-BMIT-WFM) application component to automate business processes. Common workflows include initial creation of a service connection and the disconnection of devices.

Features SAP Utilities IS-U/CCS

With Basic Functions you manage addresses and regional structures, as well as generating dates and schedules for meter readings, billings, and budget billings. With Master Data you manage data that remains fixed for long periods of time. In IS-U, this data includes the business partners, contracts and contract accounts, connection objects (buildings and real estate) and the premises, installations, and device locations contained therein. With Device Management you manage the installations, meter reading, and the certification of all devices for a utility company. The IS-U Billing component is used for billing the following standard divisions: Electricity, gas, water/waste water, district heating, and multimedia services (for example, cable TV). The IS-U Invoicing component enables you to group services and invoice them on one bill. You can also use the component to calculate and charge fees and taxes. In Kunden service you can use the Customer Interaction centre (CIC) or  Front Office to display all data and start frequently used business processes. In  Internet-Self-Services your customers can send you new data or changes to their existing data via the Internet. For example, they can grant you collection authorization or register a move-in. Energy Data Management (EDM) is a solution that meets the requirements of interval reading, schedule management, and the billing of interval energy consumption. EDM covers the following areas: Central database for energy data (Energy Data Repository) Settlement and schedule management using the settlement workbench Billing of profiles using real-time-pricing billing (RTP billing) Work Management combines various SAP components and enhances them to include industry-specific functions for planning, calculating, executing, and billing work orders. SAP Waste and Recycling (IS-U-WA) is a comprehensive logistics, billing, service, and customer service system that covers all the business processes required by a waste disposal company. Intercompany Data Exchange (IDE) is a solution that covers the requirements that have arisen from the deregulation of energy markets. IDE covers the following areas: Management of deregulation data Process execution Management of data exchange processes In August 2002, SAP launched the Efficiency Project IS-U/CCS. The idea was conceived of following a number of projects, in which customers expressed the desire to improve the efficiency of certain IS-U/CCS mass dialog processes (such as Find Business Partner, Identify Business Partner, Move-In, Move-Out, Move-In/Out, Change Bank Details, Bill Correction). The documents referred to below all contain information that y ou require in order quickly and efficiently implement the optimization measures developed in this project. W e strongly recommend that you implement these measures in your company a s they will significantly improve processing times. You can find the documentation in the SAP Service Marketplace under http://service.sap.com/utilities ® Product Information ® IS-U/CCS ® General ® Cookbooks Guidelines:

Documentation Increased Efficiency IS-U/CCS  – Available Optimization Options This document describes the optimization options that are available as of SAP IS-U/CCS Release 4.64. For example, we determined that we were not taking full advantage of the optimization possibilities in processes such as move-in, move-out, and move-in/out, which are used very regularly. This cookbook provides relevant information and stresses the importance of placing particular value on efficient processes during all implementation projects.

Documentation Increased Efficiency IS-U/CCS  – New Developments This document describes the new developments that SAP provided as an add-on support package (AOSP) for SAP IS-U/CCS Release 4.64 in July 2003 and for SAP IS-U/CCS Release 4.71 in September 2003 (new developments included Accelerated Move-In/Out, and express transactions Change Bank

Data, and Change Budget Billing Amount). As of IS-U/CCS Release 4.72, these new developments are part of SAP Utilities. Cross-Industry Solutions In addition, you can make use of the following cross-industry solutions: SAP Business Information Warehouse for the utilities industry You can find this documentation via the SAP Help Portal (http://help.sap.com). SAP Customer Relationship Management for the utilities industry. You can find this documentation in the SAP Solution Manager. SAP Enterprise Portals for the utilities industry. You can find this information via the the iView Studio (www.iviewstudio.com).