Architectural Design for Self-Service Procurement Application Software

• US 20090171713A1
• Filed: 12/31/2007
• Published: 07/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Berger, Arthur, Schueler, Arnulf, Sala, Paola, Brecht-Tillinger, Karin, Fitz, Peter, Schwarz, Armin
• Granted Patent: US 8,315,900 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/7
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0631 Resource planning, allocation, distributing or scheduling for enterprises or organisations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/123 Tax preparation or submission

Abstract

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for implementing a software architecture design for a software application implementing service procurement. The application is structured as multiple process components interacting with each other through service interfaces and multiple service operations, each being implemented for a respective process component. The process components include an Accounting process component, an Internal Request Processing process component, a Purchase Request Processing process component, a Purchase Order Processing process component, a Goods and Service Acknowledgement process component, a Supplier Invoice Processing process component, a Payment Processing process component, an RFQ Processing process component, a Project Processing process component, a Source of Supply Determination process component, a Due Item Processing process component, a Balance Of Foreign Payment Management process component, a Pricing Engine process component, and an Accounting Coding Block Distribution Processing process component.

Claims

1. A computer program product comprising application software encoded on a tangible machine-readable information carrier, the application software being structured as process components interacting with each other through service interfaces, the software comprising:

a plurality of process components, each of the process components being a package of software implementing a respective and distinct business process, the plurality of process components including;

a purchase request processing process component that handles the creating, changing, and processing of purchase requests to locate appropriate external sources of supply;

an accounting process component that handles the representation of all relevant business transactions for valuation and profitability analysis;

a purchase order processing process component that handles the creation and maintenance of purchase orders and purchase order confirmations;

a goods and service acknowledgement process component that handles the confirmation by an employee of goods received or services rendered;

a balance of foreign payment management process component that handles the collection, processing, and reporting of receivables and payables according to foreign trade regulations that are required by central banks to create the balance of payments of a country;

an internal request processing process component that handles the management and processing of internal requests from employees;

a supplier invoice processing process component that handles the management and volume processing of supplier invoices, including exception handling and approval; and

an RFQ processing process component that handles the processing of requests for quotes and supplier quotes for strategic as well as operational negotiation purposes; and

a plurality of service operations, each service operation being implemented for a respective process component, the operations comprising inbound and outbound operations, the outbound operation for a first process component being operable to send a message to a second process component of the plurality of process components, the second process component having an inbound operation for receiving the message, the passing of messages between an inbound and an outbound operation defining a message-based pair-wise interaction between the respective process components of the respective operations, the pair-wise interactions between pairs of the process components including interactions between;

the purchase request processing process component and the RFQ Processing process component;

the RFQ processing process component and the purchase order processing process component;

the purchase order processing process component and the internal request processing process component;

the purchase order processing process component and the accounting process component;

the goods and service acknowledgement process component and the accounting process component;

the goods and service acknowledgement process component and the supplier invoice processing process component;

the purchase order processing process component and the supplier invoice processing process component;

the internal request processing process component and the goods and service acknowledgement process component;

the internal request processing process component and the supplier invoice processing process component; and

the supplier invoice processing process component and the accounting process component.

2. The product of claim 1, wherein:

the plurality of process components further includes;

a source of supply and determination process component that handles the maintenance of and access to sources of supply and quota arrangements for external and internal procurement processes;

a project processing process component that structures, plans, and executes simple short-term measures or complex projects;

a pricing engine process component that handles the processing of price and tax calculations;

an accounting coding block distribution processing process component that handles the registration and checking of all accounting objects that can be assigned in a source document for a business transaction, such as cost center or project, as well as the dispatching of a check request;

a due item processing process component that handles the collection, management, and monitoring of trade receivables or payables and corresponding sales tax or withholding tax;

a payment processing process component that handles the processing and management of all payments as well as associated communications with financial institutions and provides input for liquidity management; and

wherein;

the pair-wise interactions between pairs of the process components further include interactions between;

a bank statement creation at bank process component and the payment processing process component;

the supplier invoice processing process component and the due item processing process component;

the payment processing process component and a payment processing at business partner process component;

the due item processing process component and the payment processing process component;

the payment processing process component and a payment order processing at house bank process component;

a customer invoice processing at supplier process component and the supplier invoice processing process component;

the due item processing process component and the accounting process component;

the payment processing process component and the accounting process component;

the purchase order processing process component and a sales order processing at supplier process component;

the RFQ processing process component and a opportunity/customer quote processing at supplier process component;

the accounting coding block distribution processing process component and the project processing process component;

the supplier invoice processing process component and the balance of foreign payment management process component;

the supplier invoice processing process component and a customer invoice processing at supplier process component;

the pricing engine process component and an external tax calculation process component;

the supplier invoice processing process component and a supplier invoice verification exception resolution process component;

a goods and service confirmation at supplier process component and the goods and service acknowledgement process component;

the payment processing process component and the payment processing at business partner process component related to the bill of exchange payable; and

the payment processing process component and the payment processing at business partner process component related to the outgoing check.

3. The product of claim 1, wherein:

each of the plurality of process components is assigned to exactly one deployment unit among multiple deployment units, and each deployment unit is deployable on a separate computer hardware platform independent of every other deployment unit; and

all interaction between a process component in one deployment unit and any other process component in any other deployment unit takes place through the respective service interfaces of the two process components.

4. The product of claim 3, wherein the deployment units comprise:

a financial accounting deployment unit that includes the accounting process component;

a project management deployment unit that includes the project processing process component;

a purchasing deployment unit that includes the purchase request processing process component, the purchase order processing process component, and the goods and service acknowledgement process component;

a supplier invoicing deployment unit that includes the supplier invoice processing process component;

a payment deployment unit that includes the payment process component;

a strategic sourcing processing deployment unit that includes the RFQ processing process component;

a due item management deployment unit that includes the due item processing process component, and the balance of foreign payment management processing component; and

a requisitioning deployment unit that includes the internal request processing process component.

5. The product of claim 1, wherein:

each of the process components includes one or more business objects; and

none of the business objects of any one of the process components interacts directly with any of the business objects included in any of the other process components.

6. The product of claim 5, wherein the business objects comprise a business process object.

7. The product of claim 5, wherein:

none of the business objects included in any one of the process components is included in any of the other process components.

8. The product of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of process agents, each process agent being either an inbound process agent or an outbound process agent, an inbound process agent being operable to receive a message from an inbound operation, an outbound process agent being operable to cause an outbound operation to send a message, each process agent being associated with exactly one process component.

9. The product of claim 8, wherein:

the inbound process agents comprise a first inbound process agent operable to start the execution of a business process step requested in a first inbound message by creating or updating one or more business object instances.

10. The product of claim 8, wherein:

the outbound process agents comprise a first asynchronous outbound process agent that is called after a business object that is associated with the first outbound process agent changes.

11. The product of claim 1, wherein the operations comprise synchronous and asynchronous operations.

12. A system comprising:

a computer system comprising one or more hardware platforms for executing a computer software application;

a plurality of process components, each of the process components being a package of software implementing a respective and distinct business process, the plurality of process components including;

a purchase request processing process component that handles the creating, changing, and processing of purchase requests to locate appropriate external sources of supply;

an accounting process component that handles the representation of all relevant business transactions for valuation and profitability analysis;

a purchase order processing process component that handles the creation and maintenance of purchase orders and purchase order confirmations;

a goods and service acknowledgement process component that handles the confirmation by an employee of goods received or services rendered;

a balance of foreign payment management process component that handles the collection, processing, and reporting of receivables and payables according to foreign trade regulations that are required by central banks to create the balance of payments of a country;

an internal request processing process component that handles the management and processing of internal requests from employees;

a supplier invoice processing process component that handles the management and volume processing of supplier invoices, including exception handling and approval; and

an RFQ processing process component that handles the processing of requests for quotes and supplier quotes for strategic as well as operational negotiation purposes; and

a plurality of service operations, each service operation being implemented for a respective process component, the operations comprising inbound and outbound operations, the outbound operation for a first process component being operable to send a message to a second process component of the plurality of process components, the second process component having an inbound operation for receiving the message, the passing of messages between an inbound and an outbound operation defining a message-based pair-wise interaction between the respective process components of the respective operations, the pair-wise interactions between pairs of the process components including interactions between;

the purchase request processing process component and the RFQ Processing process component;

the RFQ processing process component and the purchase order processing process component;

the purchase order processing process component and the internal request processing process component;

the purchase order processing process component and the accounting process component;

the goods and service acknowledgement process component and the accounting process component;

the goods and service acknowledgement process component and the supplier invoice processing process component;

the purchase order processing process component and the supplier invoice processing process component;

the internal request processing process component and the goods and service acknowledgement process component;

the internal request processing process component and the supplier invoice processing process component; and

the supplier invoice processing process component and the accounting process component.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein:

the plurality of process components further includes;

a source of supply and determination process component that handles the maintenance of and access to sources of supply and quota arrangements for external and internal procurement processes;

a project processing process component that structures, plans, and executes simple short-term measures or complex projects;

a pricing engine process component that handles the processing of price and tax calculations;

an accounting coding block distribution processing process component that handles the registration and checking of all accounting objects that can be assigned in a source document for a business transaction, such as cost center or project, as well as the dispatching of a check request;

a due item processing process component that handles the collection, management, and monitoring of trade receivables or payables and corresponding sales tax or withholding tax;

a payment processing process component that handles the processing and management of all payments as well as associated communications with financial institutions and provides input for liquidity management; and

wherein;

the pair-wise interactions between pairs of the process components further include interactions between;

a bank statement creation at bank process component and the payment processing process component;

the supplier invoice processing process component and the due item processing process component;

the payment processing process component and a payment processing at business partner process component;

the due item processing process component and the payment processing process component;

the payment processing process component and a payment order processing at house bank process component;

a customer invoice processing at supplier process component and the supplier invoice processing process component;

the due item processing process component and the accounting process component;

the payment processing process component and the accounting process component;

the purchase order processing process component and a sales order processing at supplier process component;

the RFQ processing process component and a opportunity/customer quote processing at supplier process component;

the accounting coding block distribution processing process component and the project processing process component;

the supplier invoice processing process component and the balance of foreign payment management process component;

the supplier invoice processing process component and a customer invoice processing at supplier process component;

the pricing engine process component and an external tax calculation process component;

the supplier invoice processing process component and a supplier invoice verification exception resolution process component;

a goods and service confirmation at supplier process component and the goods and service acknowledgement process component;

the payment processing process component and the payment processing at business partner process component related to the bill of exchange payable; and

the payment processing process component and the payment processing at business partner process component related to the outgoing check.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein:

each of the process components includes one or more business objects; and

none of the business objects of any one of the process components interacts directly with any of the business objects included in any of the other process components.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein:

none of the business objects included in any one of the process components is included in any of the other process components.

16. The system of claim 12, further comprising:

a plurality of process agents, each process agent being either an inbound process agent or an outbound process agent, an inbound process agent being operable to receive a message from an inbound operation, an outbound process agent being operable to cause an outbound operation to send a message, each process agent being associated with exactly one process component.

17. The system of claim 12, further comprising multiple hardware platforms, wherein:

the project processing process component is deployed on a first hardware platform;

the purchase request processing process component, the purchase order processing process component, and the goods and service acknowledgement process component are deployed on a second hardware platform;

the supplier invoice processing process component is deployed on a third hardware platform;

the RFQ processing process component is deployed on a fourth hardware platform;

the internal request processing process component is deployed on a fifth hardware platform;

the due item processing process component and the balance of foreign payment management process component are deployed on a sixth hardware platform;

the accounting process component is deployed on an seventh hardware platform; and

the payment processing process component is deployed on an eighth hardware platform.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein each of the first through the eighth hardware platforms are distinct and separate from each other.

19. A method for developing a computer software application, comprising:

obtaining in a computer system digital data representing an architectural design for a set of processes implementing an end-to-end application process, the design specifying a process component for each process in the set of processes, the design further specifying a set of process component interactions, wherein;

the specified process components include;

a purchase request processing process component that handles the creating, changing, and processing of purchase requests to locate appropriate external sources of supply;

<

an accounting process component that handles the representation of all relevant business transactions for valuation and profitability analysis;

a purchase order processing process component that handles the creation and maintenance of purchase orders and purchase order confirmations;

a goods and service acknowledgement process component that handles the confirmation by an employee of goods received or services rendered;

a balance of foreign payment management process component that handles the collection, processing, and reporting of receivables and payables according to foreign trade regulations that are required by central banks to create the balance of payments of a country;

an internal request processing process component that handles the management and processing of internal requests from employees;

a supplier invoice processing process component that handles the management and volume processing of supplier invoices, including exception handling and approval; and

an RFQ processing process component that handles the processing of requests for quotes and supplier quotes for strategic as well as operational negotiation purposes; and

the process component interactions include interactions between;

the purchase request processing process component and the RFQ Processing process component;

the RFQ processing process component and the purchase order processing process component;

the purchase order processing process component and the internal request processing process component;

the purchase order processing process component and the accounting process component;

the goods and service acknowledgement process component and the accounting process component;

the goods and service acknowledgement process component and the supplier invoice processing process component;

the purchase order processing process component and the supplier invoice processing process component;

the internal request processing process component and the goods and service acknowledgement process component;

the internal request processing process component and the supplier invoice processing process component; and

the supplier invoice processing process component and the accounting process component; and

using the design including the specified process components and the specified process component interactions to develop a computer software application to perform the set of processes.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein:

the specified process components further include;

a source of supply and determination process component that handles the maintenance of and access to sources of supply and quota arrangements for external and internal procurement processes;

a project processing process component that structures, plans, and executes simple short-term measures or complex projects;

a pricing engine process component that handles the processing of price and tax calculations;

an accounting coding block distribution processing process component that handles the registration and checking of all accounting objects that can be assigned in a source document for a business transaction, such as cost center or project, as well as the dispatching of a check request;

a due item processing process component that handles the collection, management, and monitoring of trade receivables or payables and corresponding sales tax or withholding tax;

a payment processing process component that handles the processing and management of all payments as well as associated communications with financial institutions and provides input for liquidity management; and

wherein;

the process component interactions further include interactions between;

a bank statement creation at bank process component and the payment processing process component;

the supplier invoice processing process component and the due item processing process component;

the payment processing process component and a payment processing at business partner process component;

the due item processing process component and the payment processing process component;

the payment processing process component and a payment order processing at house bank process component;

a customer invoice processing at supplier process component and the supplier invoice processing process component;

the due item processing process component and the accounting process component;

the payment processing process component and the accounting process component;

the purchase order processing process component and a sales order processing at supplier process component;

the RFQ processing process component and a opportunity/customer quote processing at supplier process component;

the accounting coding block distribution processing process component and the project processing process component;

the supplier invoice processing process component and the balance of foreign payment management process component;

the supplier invoice processing process component and a customer invoice processing at supplier process component;

the pricing engine process component and an external tax calculation process component;

the supplier invoice processing process component and a supplier invoice verification exception resolution process component;

a goods and service confirmation at supplier process component and the goods and service acknowledgement process component;

the payment processing process component and the payment processing at business partner process component related to the bill of exchange payable; and

the payment processing process component and the payment processing at business partner process component related to the outgoing check.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein:

each process in the set of processes is a business process transforming a defined business input into a defined business outcome.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein:

obtaining digital data representing the architectural design further comprises editing the design before using the design.