OpenText VIM or Vendor Invoice Management is associated with the accounts payable process. In this post, we will cover the basic end to end process of VIM for SAP and each of the transaction codes.
For now, let us focus on the keyword’s “vendor” and “invoice”. In case you need an overview on the accounts payable process, you may refer to “SAP CHEAT SHEET: Basic Accounts Payable / Procure to Pay Process”.
Overview
What is OpenText VIM for SAP?
Why is Invoice Management Needed?
Basic Process
Additional Information
Summary
What is OpenText VIM for SAP?
From the OpenText website, VIM for SAP is formally defined below.
OpenText™ Vendor Invoice Management for SAP® Solutions (VIM) optimizes and simplifies the process of receiving, managing, routing and monitoring invoices and related documentation. Stakeholders involved in any invoice problem can quickly and efficiently access invoice information, such as relevant PO number, status of invoice payments and more.
OpenText
As such, we can expect several vendor invoices in SAP managed through VIM for further processing. Take note that in this packaged solution, you can expect features such as:
Workflow approval functionalities
Integration of standard SAP functionalities such as invoice verification, financial processing, etc.
Why is Invoice Management Needed?
When we talk about the capabilities and features of OpenText VIM, we consider the following:
There are a lot or multiple people involved from different departments to process one invoice.
Since a lot of people are involved, you can expect to distribute the said document to each person.
One invoice can be copied and stored several times in most organizations.
Without a proper (automated / electronic) invoice management system, the overall cycle takes too long and would require large amount of manual activity.
Manual activities in this case may not necessarily reduce or prevent duplicate payments, postings, and even lost invoices.
Because of these considerations, we want to establish more efficient, proper, and simpler invoice management processes to ensure accuracy and minimize manual errors through an automated / electronic system.
Basic Process
The basic process will cover two kinds of end to end flows (with their corresponding transaction codes).
Automated paper to post invoice management (with OCR) process
E-invoicing process
In this post, we will also cover ICC or Invoice Capture Center which serves as the OCR (Optical Character Recognition) component of OpenText VIM. You may have noticed the “with OCR” indicated in the automated paper to post invoice management portion.
…Okay, so we know the acronym OCR… but what is its use?
It is through OCR that facilitates the scanning of documents, interprets the generated images, and converts them to system text – think less typing more scanning.
Automated paper to post invoice management (with OCR) process
This process involves the optical character recognition component of OpenText VIM. You will notice that in the process diagram below, the invoices need to be prepared and then scanned before it reaches SAP.
The orange dotted lines indicate that this process happens outside of SAP – specifically in the ICC or the Invoice Capture Center. You can think of this as a separate server or environment where the scanning of invoices take place.
#
Process
Transaction Code / Notes
1
Invoices are prepared as a pre-requisite for scanning.
Non-SAP (ICC)
2
Scanning proper using ICC tool to interpret the document image and convert it to system text.
Non-SAP (ICC)
2.1
Data is brought to SAP
Job for Integration to SAP (SM37)
3
Verification / duplicate checks happen for the invoices in SAP. Business rules are also considered.
/n/OPT/VIM_7AX8 (Admin Tool for Monitoring) /n/OPT/VIM_WP (VIM Workplace)
4
Workflow proper is triggered. Consider COA setup.
/n/OPT/AR_COA (Chart of Authority) /n/ORS/MAIN_SUBS (Substitution Maintenance) /n/OPT/VIM_WP (VIM Workplace)
5
Approval Process. If fully approved, SAP document will be posted.
/n/OPT/VIM_WP (VIM Workplace) /n/OPT/VIM_ANALYTICS (VIM Analytics) FB03 (View FI Document)
6
Payment proper will be triggered utilizing the posted SAP document.
F110 (Automatic Payment Program)
E-invoicing process
In comparison to the previous process flow, you will notice that the green dotted lines cover the whole e-invoicing process. This means that all steps are within SAP.
Instead of dealing with scanning and OCR, invoices can be sent electronically to SAP (thus, the concept of e-invoicing) through EDI or Electronic Data Interchange. One good example is through the use of IDocs or Intermediate Documents. Overall, invoice details will be sent to SAP by EDI which will trigger the usual process of processing data, checking for duplicates, so on and so forth.
You will notice a general transaction code for IDocs “WE10” in the process below because you are expecting an inbound IDoc. WE10 in this case, will help you search for a specific IDoc.
#
Process
Transaction Code / Notes
1 + 2
Invoices are sent to SAP electronically which can be viewed as IDocs.
WE10 Search IDoc
3
Verification / duplicate checks happen for the invoices in SAP. Business rules are also considered.
/n/OPT/VIM_7AX8 (Admin Tool for Monitoring) /n/OPT/VIM_WP (VIM Workplace)
4
Workflow proper is triggered. Consider COA setup.
/n/OPT/AR_COA (Chart of Authority) /n/ORS/MAIN_SUBS (Substitution Maintenance) /n/OPT/VIM_WP (VIM Workplace)
5
Approval Process. If fully approved, SAP document will be posted.
/n/OPT/VIM_WP (VIM Workplace) /n/OPT/VIM_ANALYTICS (VIM Analytics) FB03 (View FI Document)
6
Payment proper will be triggered utilizing the posted SAP document.
F110 (Automatic Payment Program)
Additional Information
3-Way Matching Principle
The concept of 3-Way matching is covered in VIM.
…What is the 3-way or three-way match?
In general, the 3-way match is a process used in accounts payable specifically when dealing with vendor invoices.
In SAP, you can think of it as a way to control, check, and verify that the purchase order (PO), Goods Receipt (GR), and Invoice (INV) ALL match in terms of price, item, and quantity.
…Okay, so why do we have to do this 3-way match? …What is the purpose of the 3-way match anyway?
When we talk about the Accounts Payable process, recall that this process involves payment. At the end of the day, we need to pay the vendor accurately.
We also want to ensure that we do not double pay or have duplicate payments. In concept, the 3-way match prevents us from incorrect payments and (in a way) prevents transaction with fraudulent invoices. You can read more about the 3-way match in the linked reference.
Status Check in Admin Tool for Monitoring
Below are some of the statuses you can find in transaction code /n/OPT/VIM_7AX8 Admin Tool for Monitoring. This transaction code is especially helpful to monitor the status of the invoices.
Status
Definition
01
Scanned
72
Sent to OCR
73
Extraction completed
74
Ready for validation
75
Sent for validation
76
Validation completed
77
Sent to workflow
Other Transaction Codes and Tables
Processed data can be seen in standard VIM tables such as “/OPT/VIM_1HEAD” and “/OPT/VIM_1ITEM”. You can refer to my post on “OpenText VIM for SAP Solutions: TCodes and Tables for Troubleshooting” for more information.
Replication of data can be done through “/n/OPT/VIM_7AX2” for OCR scenario or “/n/OPT/VIM_7AX1” for non-OCR scenario. Take note that the 2nd transaction code or the non-OCR scenario can be tested alternatively by WE19 where you can simulate an inbound IDoc to SAP.
Note: The WE19 approach requires you to know the function module used for processing the VIM related IDoc data. If you do not know the function module, you can refer to “Guide to Troubleshooting IDocs: SAP Functional Consultant“.
OpenText Customization
Feel free to check on the OpenText Customization through transaction code “/n/OPT/SPRO”. Some of the few configurations you check are the following:
A. Incoming Document Processing – This focuses on the settings and configurations for incoming documents. In the highlighted row below called “Maintain Channels”, this is an example where you define the different channels you expect for the incoming VIM documents.
For example, if you are expecting VIM documents as:
EDI (IDoc)
Email (Coming from emails – you can setup the email settings accordingly)
ICC (Coming from the ICC Server after Scanning etc.)
B. Document Type Configuration – This focuses on the settings and configurations involved in a document type. In the highlighted row below called “Maintained Document Types”, you will notice on the next screenshot that you can specify how a document will be processed.
Assuming you have selected the DP Document Type in your system, you will notice that you can setup the processing sequence by indicating the Step ID, Process Type, and Process Description. You can also define some additional settings with the help of the checkbox settings per Step ID.
Summary
What is OpenText VIM for SAP?
Packaged business solution for vendor invoice management provided by OpenText.
Why is Invoice Management Needed?
We want to establish more efficient, proper, and simpler invoice management processes to ensure accuracy and minimize manual errors.
Basic Process
Automated paper to post invoice management (with OCR) process
eInvoicing Process
Additional Information
3-Way Matching Principle
Verify that the purchase order (PO), Goods Receipt (GR), and Invoice (INV) ALL match in terms of price, item, and quantity.
Prevent incorrect payments and transactions with fraudulent invoices.
Status Check in Admin Tool for Monitoring
/n/OPT/VIM_7AX8
Other Transaction Codes and Tables
/n/OPT/VIM_7AX2 OCR scenario
/n/OPT/VIM_7AX1 non-OCR scenario
/OPT/VIM_1HEAD VIM Table Header
/OPT/VIM_1ITEM VIM Table Item
OpenText Customization (Incoming Document Processing and Document Type Configuration)
/n/OPT/SPRO
Please note that there is OpenText IES (Information Extraction Service) that has been launched by OpenText. Essentially, this replaces ICC (Invoice Capture Center) and BCC (Business Capture Center).
OpenText™ Vendor Invoice Management for SAP® Solutions (VIM) streamlines accounts payable (AP) operations for SAP customers. VIM optimizes and simplifies the process of receiving, managing, monitoring, and routing invoices and related documentation on all levels.
VIM is an Opentext product which is embedded in the SAP ERP system. It optimises and simplifies the process of receiving, validating, managing, routing and monitoring of vendor invoices and facilitates easy collaboration with stakeholders within the Procure to Pay process.
It determines screen layout and SAP transaction to be called. Process Type. Each document type needs at least one process type. It affects the process flow. It determines initial actors and collaboration options available to actors.
Role in VIM is used to classify the users based on the business activity they are involved in. In VIM roles are based on the product code. VIM offers following product codes: 005: Product code for Document Processing (DP) based activities.
The OpenText™ Suite for SAP provides solutions that help map out and deliver transformation strategies in an SAP context across the organization and beyond. OpenText offers the digital content platform to manage and deliver unstructured content to SAP applications, dynamically, in context and on any device.
SAP Transaction Codes for Vim Analytics — the most relevant and popular TCodes are listed at the top. You can click on TCodes to view more information like related TCodes, SAP Help/reference pages, etc. You can also click on the Functional Area to view all the TCodes for that module/sub-module.
In October 2020, OpenText released the newest versions of VIM. For SAP ECC the current version is now 7.6 and for SAP S/4HANA you can upgrade to 20.4. Both versions are scheduled to be supported through 2025 with two additional releases planned each year.
GO TO- > System in the menu bar -> Click Status ->Click Component Icon on the SAP System Data Tab... You will see new screen with Two Tab. Click Installed Product Version Tab. Here you can see SAP ERP versiona dn EPH version and SAP Netweaver version also.
Vim was a visionary product at that time and remains highly relevant today because it remains true to what its users need most: a simple but powerful way to input and manipulate text. Vim listened to and understood what programmers needed and what key benefits were required to get the job done.
Vim is the editor of choice for many developers and power users. It's a “modal” text editor based on the vi editor written by Bill Joy in the 1970s for a version of UNIX. It inherits the key bindings of vi, but also adds a great deal of functionality and extensibility that are missing from the original vi.
All the power Vim provides allows you to do things quickly. You can even make complex edits fairly quick and easily, once you know how Vim works. Just some powerful features include macros, registers, command repetition, auto-completion, text objects, searching, filters, and global substitution.
The main manufacturing process types are project, jobbing, batch, line and continuous. Project processes produce products of high variety and low volume. A feature of a project process is that the location of the product is stationary.
Answer and Explanation: There are four main types of production processes used by businesses. The production processes include batch, unit, mass, and continuous production.
vim has two "modes": COMMAND mode and INSERT mode. In COMMAND mode, you execute commands (like undo, redo, find and replace, quit, etc.). In INSERT mode, you type text. There is a third mode, VISUAL mode, that is used to highlight and edit text in bulk.
OpenText provides the documentation. You should check the OpenText Knowledge Center. You need to register to OpenText Connect, a support contract with OpenText is required to access the KC.
OpenText™ Output Transformation transforms and repurposes high-volume documents and print streams such as AFP, Metacode/DJDE, Line data, PCL, Image, and PDF to a variety of output formats including PDF, PDF/A, Accessible PDF (PDF/UA), AFP, PCL, Metacode/DJDE, image, and more.
OpenText and SAP have been partners for over 20 years – delivering supporting solutions for over 6000 customers in every vertical. Our strategic partnership allows us to combine our strengths around co-development and cooperation that is characterized by sustained growth, tangible customer value and thought leadership.
What the SAP VIM by OpenText consultant will do - Job Description: Key tasks include: Conduct Business Blueprint design workshops and prepare functional gaps analysis. Prepare solution and WRICEF design documentation. Custom coding and modification of OpenText's Invoice Management Workflow system for FI.
If you press Ctrl + s while using vim would result with vim to look like as if it is being locked/stuck without you being able to make more changes unless you press Ctrl + q .
These MB transactions are replaced by single screen generalized transaction called MIGO. These MB transactions - MB01, MB02, MB03, MB04, MB05, MBOA, MB11, MB1A, MB1B, MB1C, MB31. MBNL, MBRL, MBSF, MBSL, MBST, and MBSU has been removed. Transaction - MMBE_OLD has been replaced by transaction MMBE.
SAP Migration co*ckpit (SMC) is a relatively new tool released by SAP and is embedded within S/4 HANA – both cloud and on-premises versions. It is positioned for use in the transformation and loading of data into S/4 HANA.
VIM Analytics provides a very detailed view of all supplier invoices in all their statuses. VIM Analytics synchronizes with different SAP objects such as: MIGO, MIRO, Orders, etc. This implies that for an invoice to be posted, several people may be involved, which leads to the possibility of human error.
VIM stands for SAP Invoice Management by Open Text and is a packaged business solution. Offering an SAP-centric solution, VIM acts as an add-on to your SAP system. It also uses SAP technology such as ABAP and Workflow.
Most people who use vim say that it's worth learning as it improves your productivity. Tasks that usually require arrow keys to move around, such as copying and pasting lines of code from a few lines above, are much easier in vim.
Vim is a text editor for Unix that comes with Linux, BSD, and macOS. It is known to be fast and powerful, partly because it is a small program that can run in a terminal (although it has a graphical interface). It is mainly because it can be managed entirely without menus or a mouse with a keyboard.
You won't be fast yet, no; but you'll be competent. And even after those 30 minutes, you're going to start grasping the ideas that make vim so amazing: the brilliant design decision that is modal editing, the composability of commands, the clever mnemonic naming of commands.
Vim is a complex program that lives in a bubble of its own. Its, shall we say, many peculiarities make it impossible to pick it up like one would pick up Atom or Sublime Text. Unlike those editors, Vim requires serious learning and unlearning before even being able to perform the slightest edit.
If we look at the StackOverflow survey for 2019 about the most popular development environments, Vim is still there on the 5th place, with around 25% of Web Developers using it.
A manufacturing process uses manufacturing methods, operations scheduling software, machinery, and labor to transform raw material into the finished product. Broadly, there are five manufacturing processes, and most businesses that create products will fall into one of these five categories.
Describe its important features. A process means a set of tasks that transform input into useful outputs. The important features of process are (a) tasks, (b) flow (of material and information), and (c) storage (of material and information).
VIM automates capture of vendor invoice and recognizes the invoice content thru the optical character recognition (OCR) capabilities of the solution. Invoices are routed automatically to the responsible staff for resolution, approval, and payment.
VIM stands for SAP Invoice Management by Open Text and is a packaged business solution. Offering an SAP-centric solution, VIM acts as an add-on to your SAP system. It also uses SAP technology such as ABAP and Workflow.
What the SAP VIM by OpenText consultant will do - Job Description: Key tasks include: Conduct Business Blueprint design workshops and prepare functional gaps analysis. Prepare solution and WRICEF design documentation. Custom coding and modification of OpenText's Invoice Management Workflow system for FI.
OpenText VIM 16.3 is supported until December 2022. OpenText VIM 7.6 is supported until November 2025. OpenText VIM 7.5 is supported until December 2023. OpenText VIM 7.0 and elder versions are end of support.
In a typical Accounts Payable Clerk role, the job description typically includes the following responsibilities: Calculating, posting business transactions, invoice processing, verifying financial data for use in maintaining records.
Business Center is an add-on for SAP that captures and validates relevant information from incoming sources to initiate SAP process. Business Center Capture is an OCR technology that automatically extracts and validates data from incoming documents.
It isn't designed to be easy to learn to use, which means you'll actually have to spend an hour learning how to use it. Here is the thing. Use Vim or Emacs, or Notepad, or Visual Studio, or Eclipse, or Whatever. None of them are going to make the challenges faced by a beginning programmer better or worse.
SAP Consultant salary in India with less than 2 year of experience to 9 years ranges from ₹ 3.2 Lakhs to ₹ 14 Lakhs with an average annual salary of ₹ 7.3 Lakhs based on 4.9k salaries. Are you underpaid? Know if you're getting paid what you deserve.
A career as a sap consultant is a good choice for those who are interested in working with information technology and business administration. They will have the opportunity to use their skills and knowledge to help businesses improve their efficiency and optimise their use of SAP software.
About OpenText. Headquartered in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, OpenText is a world leader in Information Management, helping companies securely capture, govern and exchange information on a global scale.
Introduction: My name is Annamae Dooley, I am a witty, quaint, lovely, clever, rich, sparkling, powerful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
We notice you're using an ad blocker
Without advertising income, we can't keep making this site awesome for you.
