What is EDI in SAP In today’s digital business landscape, companies need to exchange documents like purchase orders, invoices, and shipping notifications quickly and accurately. This is where EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) comes into play — and SAP provides robust functionality to automate these processes efficiently.
In this blog, we’ll explore what EDI means in SAP, why it’s important, and give you a step-by-step EDI setup guide with all the required TCodes to streamline electronic communication with customers, vendors, and partners.
What is EDI in SAP?
EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) is the automated electronic exchange of business documents between systems without human intervention. In SAP, EDI is managed using IDocs (Intermediate Documents) which act as containers for data being exchanged between SAP and external systems.
Key Benefits of EDI in SAP:
- Reduces manual data entry and errors
- Enhances transaction speed and efficiency
- Ensures data accuracy and consistency
- Supports compliance with global standards like EDIFACT, ANSI X12
SAP EDI Configuration: Step-by-Step with TCodes
Setting up EDI in SAP involves several technical steps. Here’s a comprehensive guide:
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1. Define Partner Profile
TCode: WE20
Create a partner profile for the business partner (vendor, customer, etc.) and define:
- Partner type (KU for customer, LI for vendor)
- Inbound and outbound parameters
- Message types
- Ports
2. Define Logical System
TCode: SALE
Logical systems identify the source/target systems in IDoc communication.
Steps:
- Assign logical system name
- Map logical systems to clients
- Create RFC destination
3. Define Message Type
TCode: WE81
A Message Type defines the type of business transaction (e.g., INVOIC, ORDERS).
You must:
- Define new message types
- Link them with IDoc basic types
4. Assign Message Type to Partner Profile
TCode: WE82
Link the defined message type to the appropriate IDoc type and partner profile.
5. Define Port
TCode: WE21
A Port defines the communication channel. Choose from:
- File
- RFC
- HTTP
- XML
Set additional parameters like directory or RFC destination.
6. Define Partner Functions
TCode: WE19
Partner functions define the roles (e.g., vendor, customer) in EDI processing.
7. Create Distribution Model
TCode: BD64
A distribution model determines which message type goes to which system.
Steps:
- Create a model
- Assign sending and receiving logical systems
- Link message types
8. Activate Change Pointers
TCode: BD61 (Enable), BD50 (Activate)
Change pointers track changes to data and trigger IDoc creation.
You must:
- Enable change pointers globally
- Activate specific message types
9. Define Process Codes
TCode: WE41 (Outbound), WE42 (Inbound)
Process codes link IDoc types to function modules that handle processing logic.
10. Define Partner Agreement
TCode: WEA1
Used mostly in EDI subsystem integration, define:
- Partner IDs
- Ports
- Message types and formats
11. Monitor IDocs
TCode: WE02, WE05
Check:
- IDoc status (green, yellow, red)
- Error logs
- Processing details
12. Maintain Filters
TCode: BD64
Filters help in data segmentation, sending only relevant data via IDocs.
13. EDI Mapping
TCode: WE42
Used to map external EDI standards (X12, EDIFACT) to internal SAP IDoc structures.
14. EDI Testing
TCode: WE19
Simulate IDoc generation and processing:
- Manually test inbound or outbound IDocs
- Validate your configuration before going live
Final Thoughts
SAP EDI configuration may seem complex at first, but it’s incredibly powerful once set up. It enables real-time, automated, and accurate data exchange with external partners — a critical capability in global business operations.
Whether you’re integrating with a customer using EDIFACT, or automating invoice receipts via X12, this guide helps you configure EDI end-to-end using standard SAP tools and transactions.
Key TCodes Summary
| Step | Description | TCode |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Define Partner Profile | WE20 |
| 2 | Define Logical System | SALE |
| 3 | Define Message Type | WE81 |
| 4 | Assign Msg Type to Partner | WE82 |
| 5 | Define Port | WE21 |
| 6 | Define Partner Function | WE19 |
| 7 | Create Distribution Model | BD64 |
| 8 | Activate Change Pointers | BD61, BD50 |
| 9 | Define Process Codes | WE41, WE42 |
| 10 | Define Partner Agreement | WEA1 |
| 11 | Monitor IDocs | WE02, WE05 |
| 12 | Maintain Filters | BD64 |
| 13 | Mapping External Formats | WE42 |
| 14 | Testing | WE19 |