The article master data in SAP Business One (SAP B1) is the central element for managing a company's goods and services. It serves as the information basis for all business processes in the Purchasing, sale, serviceproduction and the Material Requirements Planning. Thanks to their integration into all relevant modules, they enable integrated and consistent data management.
Main functions
Item management is based on a system of unique identification. Each article is given an unchangeable article number with a maximum of 50 characters, which is fixed after the first transaction use. This number serves as a key for all article-related processes and ensures the traceability of all movements.
The comprehensive documentation includes multilingual descriptions, assignment to article groups and price management. Prices are set separately for purchasing and sales, with different price lists possible. The system records and monitors stock levels, manages planning data and supports tracking using serial and batch numbers.
Data structure
The information is organised in thematic tabs. The "General" tab contains basic information such as article number, description and group assignment. Purchasing and sales data are stored in separate areas, including the respective units of measure and price conditions.
Inventory management takes place via the "Inventory data" tab, which includes valuation methods and reorder points. For the production planning specific fields are available that map throughput times, standard costs and parts list allocations.
Additional information and documentation
The system offers extensive options for documentation. Item-specific features can be defined via the "Properties" tab. Comments and attachments allow additional information such as product photos, technical data sheets or certificates to be saved. The integration of an activity log enables the tracking of all article-related communication and processes.
Data management and maintenance
The maintenance of article master data requires continuous management. In addition to manual input, the system supports import from external data sources. Continuous updating of the master data is essential to ensure that the information is up-to-date and of high quality. This applies in particular to prices, descriptions and technical specifications, which can change over time.
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