Architectural design for customer returns handling application software

• US 8,818,884 B2
• Filed: 09/18/2008
• Issued: 08/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Marschall, Peer, Kulkarni, Anoop, Bach, Thomas, Koegler, Alexander, Nitschke, Thomas, Sudbrack, Andrea, Hirth, Jochen, Hetzer, Stephan, Herrmann, Holger, Colle, Renzo, Bock, Daniel, Breitling, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Jung, Allen J
• Application Number:
  US12/233,458
• Publication Number:
  US 20100070330A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,168 Days
• Field of Search: 705/28, 705/348
• US Class Current: 705/28
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063 Operations research, analysis or management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/014 Providing recall services for goods or products
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting
• 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 customer returns handling. 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, a Customer Return Processing process component, a Sales Order Processing process component, a Customer Invoice Processing process component, a Due Item Processing process component, a Balance of Foreign Payment Management process component, a Payment Processing process component, a Supply and Demand Matching process component, an Inventory Processing process component, a Site Logistics Processing process component, and an Inbound Delivery Processing process component.

Claims

1. A computer program product comprising instructions encoded on a non-transitory, computer-readable medium, the instructions being structured as process components interacting with each other through service interfaces, the instructions operable when executed by at least one processor to:

define a plurality of process components, each of the process components comprising a modular and application-independent package of reusable, granular software implementing a respective and distinct business process, the business process comprising functionality exposed by the process component via a corresponding service interface, the plurality of process components including;

a site logistics processing process component that handles the preparation, physical execution, and confirmation of logistics processes within a site, the logistics processes being based on site logistics process models and including picking, packing, shipping, receiving, and value-added services;

an inbound delivery processing process component that handles the management and processing of the inbound delivery requirements for received goods from a vendor, the process component combining document-based tasks for the inbound delivery process and enabling communications regarding the originating document and invoicing with the vendor;

an inventory processing process component that handles the management of inventory and recording of inventory changes, providing services to maintain current stock, content and structure of logistic units and allocations;

a supply and demand matching process component that handles the management of all the tasks necessary to ensure that sufficient material receipt elements exist to cover material demand while taking available capacity into account;

a customer return processing process component that handles the processing of requests made by customers to a seller to take back goods that were delivered, and to reverse a sale;

a sales order processing process component that handles the processing of customers'"'"' requests to seller for the delivery of goods, on a specific date, for a specific quantity, and for a specific price; and

an accounting process component that represents relevant business transactions for valuation and profitability analysis; and

define a plurality of service interfaces, each service interface associated with exactly one process component and comprising at least one operation, each operation being implemented for exactly one 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 sending and receiving 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 site logistics processing process component and the supply and demand matching process component, where the pair-wise interaction between the site logistics processing process component and the supply and demand matching process component includes the transmission of;

a logistics confirmation inventory change notification message from the site logistics processing process component to the supply and demand matching process component, the logistics confirmation inventory change notification message comprising a notification of one or more confirmed logistics process changes resulting from execution of a site logistics process at a specific time;

the inventory processing process component and the supply and demand matching process component, where the pair-wise interaction between the inventory processing process component and the supply and demand matching process component includes the transmission of;

a planning view of inventory reconciliation notification message from the inventory processing process component to the supply and demand matching process component, the planning view of inventory reconciliation notification message comprising an inventory reconciliation update to the supply and demand matching process component;

the customer return processing process component and the accounting process component, where the pair-wise interaction between the customer return processing process component and the accounting process component includes the transmission of;

a sales and purchasing accounting notification message from the customer return processing process component to the accounting process component, the sales and purchasing accounting notification message comprising a notification to accounting regarding creation, change, or cancellation of a customer return;

the inbound delivery processing process component and the customer return processing process component, where the pair-wise interaction between the customer return processing process component and the accounting process component includes the transmission of;

a customer return execution request message from the inbound delivery processing process component to the customer return processing process component, the customer return execution request message comprising a request made by a customer for a seller to take back goods that have been delivered and to cancel a sale; and

the site logistics processing process component and the accounting process component, where the pair-wise interaction between the site logistics processing process component and the accounting process component includes the transmission of;

an inventory change and activity confirmation accounting notification message from the site logistics processing process component to the accounting process component, the inventory change and activity confirmation accounting notification message comprising a notification of confirmed logistics process changes resulting from execution of a site logistics process at a specific time; and

an inventory change and activity confirmation cancellation accounting notification message from the site logistics processing process component to the accounting process component, the inventory change and activity confirmation cancellation accounting notification message comprising notification of a cancelled inventory change and activity confirmation accounting notification message.

2. The product of claim 1, wherein:

the plurality of process components further includes;

a customer invoice processing process component that handles the invoicing of customers for the delivery of goods or the provision of services;

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 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 the central banks to create the balance of payments of a country; and

a payment processing process component that handles the processing and management of all payments; and

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

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

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

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

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

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

the customer return processing process component and the customer invoice processing process component related to requesting the creation, update or cancellation of invoices;

the payment processing process component and the accounting process component;

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

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

the customer return processing process component and the customer invoice processing process component related to requesting information about customer invoices;

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

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

the customer invoice processing process component and the balance of foreign payment management due item processing process component.

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 production and site logistics execution deployment unit that includes the site logistics processing process component, the inbound delivery processing process component, and the inventory processing process component;

a supply chain control deployment unit that includes the supply and demand matching process component;

a customer relationship management deployment unit that includes the customer return processing process component and the sales order processing process component;

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

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

a payment deployment unit that includes the payment processing process component; and

a financial accounting deployment unit that includes the accounting 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, each inbound process agent being operable to receive a message from a corresponding inbound operation, each outbound process agent being operable to cause a corresponding outbound operation to send a message, each process agent being associated with exactly one process component.

9. The product of claim 8, wherein each inbound process agent comprises a first inbound process agent operable to start an execution of a business process step requested in a first inbound message by creating or updating at least one business object instance.

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 at least one hardware platform for executing computer instructions, the computer instructions structured as a plurality of process components interacting with each other through service interfaces, each hardware platform including at least one processor for executing the computer instructions;

at least one memory storing a plurality of process components executable by the respective processor of the particular hardware platform, each of the process components comprising a modular and application-independent package of reusable granular software implementing a respective and distinct business process, the business process comprising functionality exposed by the process component via at least one service interface, the plurality of process components including;

a site logistics processing process component that handles the preparation, physical execution, and confirmation of logistics processes within a site, the logistics processes being based on site logistics process models and including picking, packing, shipping, receiving, and value added services;

an inbound delivery processing process component that handles the management and processing of the inbound delivery requirements for received goods from a vendor, the process component combining document-based tasks for the inbound delivery process and enabling communications regarding the originating document and invoicing with the vendor;

an inventory processing process component that handles the management of inventory and recording of inventory changes, providing services to maintain current stock, content and structure of logistic units and allocations;

a supply and demand matching process component that handles the management of all the tasks necessary to ensure that sufficient material receipt elements exist to cover material demand while taking available capacity into account;

a customer return processing process component that handles the processing of requests made by customers to a seller to take back goods that were delivered, and to reverse a sale;

a sales order processing process component that handles the processing of customers'"'"' requests to seller for the delivery of goods, on a specific date, for a specific quantity, and for a specific price; and

an accounting process component that represents relevant business transactions for valuation and profitability analysis; and

the memory further storing a plurality of service interfaces, each service interface associated with exactly one process component and comprising at least one operation, each operation being implemented for exactly one 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 sending and receiving 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 site logistics processing process component and the supply and demand matching process component, where the pair-wise interaction between the site logistics processing process component and the supply and demand matching process component includes the transmission of;

a logistics confirmation inventory change notification message from the site logistics processing process component to the supply and demand matching process component, the logistics confirmation inventory change notification message comprising a notification of one or more confirmed logistics process changes resulting from execution of a site logistics process at a specific time;

the inventory processing process component and the supply and demand matching process component, where the pair-wise interaction between the inventory processing process component and the supply and demand matching process component includes the transmission of;

a planning view of inventory reconciliation notification message from the inventory processing process component to the supply and demand matching process component, the planning view of inventory reconciliation notification message comprising an inventory reconciliation update to the supply and demand matching process component;

the customer return processing process component and the accounting process component, where the pair-wise interaction between the customer return processing process component and the accounting process component includes the transmission of;

a sales and purchasing accounting notification message from the customer return processing process component to the accounting process component, the sales and purchasing accounting notification message comprising a notification to accounting regarding creation, change, or cancellation of a customer return;

the inbound delivery processing process component and the customer return processing process component, where the pair-wise interaction between the customer return processing process component and the accounting process component includes the transmission of;

a customer return execution request message from the inbound delivery processing process component to the customer return processing process component, the customer return execution request message comprising a request made by a customer for a seller to take back goods that have been delivered and to cancel a sale; and

the site logistics processing process component and the accounting process component, where the pair-wise interaction between the site logistics processing process component and the accounting process component includes the transmission of;

an inventory change and activity confirmation accounting notification message from the site logistics processing process component to the accounting process component, the inventory change and activity confirmation accounting notification message comprising a notification of confirmed logistics process changes resulting from execution of a site logistics process at a specific time; and

an inventory change and activity confirmation cancellation accounting notification message from the site logistics processing process component to the accounting process component, the inventory change and activity confirmation cancellation accounting notification message comprising notification of a cancelled inventory change and activity confirmation accounting notification message.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein:

the plurality of process components further includes;

a customer invoice processing process component that handles the invoicing of customers for the delivery of goods or the provision of services;

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 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 the central banks to create the balance of payments of a country; and

a payment processing process component that handles the processing and management of all payments; and

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

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

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

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

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

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

the customer return processing process component and the customer invoice processing process component related to requesting the creation, update or cancellation of invoices;

the payment processing process component and the accounting process component;

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

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

the customer return processing process component and the customer invoice processing process component related to requesting information about customer invoices;

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

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

the customer invoice processing process component and the balance of foreign payment management due item processing process component.

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, each inbound process agent being operable to receive a message from a corresponding inbound operation, each outbound process agent being operable to cause a corresponding outbound operation to send a message, each process agent being associated with exactly one process component.

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

the site logistics processing process component, the inbound delivery processing process component, and the inventory processing process component are deployed on a first hardware platform;

the supply and demand matching process component is deployed on a second hardware platform;

the customer return processing process component and the sales order processing process component are deployed on a third hardware platform;

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

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

the payment processing process component is deployed on a sixth hardware platform; and

the accounting process component is deployed on a seventh hardware platform.

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

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

obtaining in a programmable computer system having at least one processor, a storage medium, and an interface, 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, each of the process components comprising a modular and application-independent package of reusable granular software implementing a respective and distinct business process, the business process comprising functionality exposed by the process component, and the design further specifying a set of process component interactions based on messages transmitted between two or more of the process components, wherein;

the specified process components include;

a site logistics processing process component, executed by a computer, that handles the preparation, physical execution, and confirmation of logistics processes within a site, the logistics processes being based on site logistics process models and including picking, packing, shipping, receiving, and value-added services;

an inbound delivery processing process component, executed by a computer, that handles the management and processing of the inbound delivery requirements for received goods from a vendor, the process component combining document-based tasks for the inbound delivery process and enabling communications regarding the originating document and invoicing with the vendor;

an inventory processing process component, executed by a computer, that handles the management of inventory and recording of inventory changes, providing services to maintain current stock, content and structure of logistic units and allocations;

a supply and demand matching process component, executed by a computer, that handles the management of all the tasks necessary to ensure that sufficient material receipt elements exist to cover material demand while taking available capacity into account;

a customer return processing process component, executed by a computer, that handles the processing of requests made by customers to a seller to take back goods that were delivered, and to reverse a sale;

a sales order processing process component, executed by a computer, that handles the processing of customers'"'"' requests to a seller for the delivery of goods, on a specific date, for a specific quantity, and for a specific price; and

an accounting process component, executed by a computer, that represents relevant business transactions for valuation and profitability analysis; and

the process component interactions include interactions between;

the site logistics processing process component and the supply and demand matching process component, where the pair-wise interaction between the site logistics processing process component and the supply and demand matching process component includes the transmission of;

a logistics confirmation inventory change notification message from the site logistics processing process component to the supply and demand matching process component, the logistics confirmation inventory change notification message comprising a notification of one or more confirmed logistics process changes resulting from execution of a site logistics process at a specific time;

the inventory processing process component and the supply and demand matching process component, where the pair-wise interaction between the inventory processing process component and the supply and demand matching process component includes the transmission of;

a planning view of inventory reconciliation notification message from the inventory processing process component to the supply and demand matching process component, the planning view of inventory reconciliation notification message comprising an inventory reconciliation update to the supply and demand matching process component;

the customer return processing process component and the accounting process component, where the pair-wise interaction between the customer return processing process component and the accounting process component includes the transmission of;

a sales and purchasing accounting notification message from the customer return processing process component to the accounting process component, the sales and purchasing accounting notification message comprising a notification to accounting regarding creation, change, or cancellation of a customer return;

the inbound delivery processing process component and the customer return processing process component, where the pair-wise interaction between the customer return processing process component and the accounting process component includes the transmission of;

a customer return execution request message from the inbound delivery processing process component to the customer return processing process component, the customer return execution request message comprising a request made by a customer for a seller to take back goods that have been delivered and to cancel a sale; and

the site logistics processing process component and the accounting process component, where the pair-wise interaction between the site logistics processing process component and the accounting process component includes the transmission of;

an inventory change and activity confirmation accounting notification message from the site logistics processing process component to the accounting process component, the inventory change and activity confirmation accounting notification message comprising a notification of confirmed logistics process changes resulting from execution of a site logistics process at a specific time; and

an inventory change and activity confirmation cancellation accounting notification message from the site logistics processing process component to the accounting process component, the inventory change and activity confirmation cancellation accounting notification message comprising notification of a cancelled inventory change and activity confirmation accounting notification message; and

generating, by using the at least one processor on the computer system, a computer software application to perform the set of processes based on the obtained design including the specified process components and the specified process component interactions.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein:

the specified process components further include;

a customer invoice processing process component that handles the invoicing of customers for the delivery of goods or the provision of services;

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 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 the central banks to create the balance of payments of a country; and

a payment processing process component that handles the processing and management of all payments; and

the process component interactions further include interactions between;

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

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

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

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

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

the customer return processing process component and the customer invoice processing process component related to requesting the creation, update or cancellation of invoices;

the payment processing process component and the accounting process component;

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

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

the customer return processing process component and the customer invoice processing process component related to requesting information about customer invoices;

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

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

the customer invoice processing process component and the balance of foreign payment management due item processing process component.

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.