You can execute the invoicing functions:

• Individually
• In mass runs
• In parallel mass runs

 

Type of execution Function	Individual processing	Mass processing	Parallel mass processing
Bill Creation	X	X	X
Partial Bill Creation	X	X	X
Joint Creation of Bill and Partial Bill	X	X	X
Full Reversal	X	X	X
Invoicing reversal		X	X
Creation of the Collective Bill		X
Budget Billing Request		X	X
Print Document Printout		X	X

 

Individual Processing

In invoice processing, the functions normally used for periodic invoicing tasks can also be used for individual tasks.

For example, the customer registers his/her move-out from the service territory and wants to be billed immediately. Otherwise he complains that his consumption bill is incorrect, resulting in an immediate reversal of the bill. The agent can perform the functions required for each of these cases manually.

Prerequisites

Read the prerequisites for the individual functions.

In individual processing, however, the functions involving postings to contract accounts receivable and payable do not include automatic determination of the reconciliation key, as is the case in mass processing.

Activities

In individual processing it is easier to enter the selection parameters. You can directly enter the object to be processed, such as the number of the document to be reversed.

You must define the reconciliation key for functions that execute postings in contract accounts receivable and payable.

 

Mass Processing

You can use mass processing to create large numbers of bills and partial bills on a regular basis and to request budget billings at set intervals. Bills and partial bills are created regularly whereas budget billings are requested at intervals. The bills are printed on the basis of existing print documents.

We recommend that you process this function in the background. This function is suitable for the typical regular tasks of a utility company, which are scheduled and processed in large numbers.

Prerequisites

Print documents are already available for processing using the individual functions. Billed contracts of a portion exist prior to invoicing.

Activities

Schedule the processing run in the system. You can divide the print documents into several batch jobs and process them in parallel. After processing you can analyze the logs.

 

 Parallel Processing

The parallel processes are mass activities from contract accounts receivable and payable.

Features

The aim of parallel mass processing is to shorten processing times by:

• Dividing up processes
• Processing the dataset in parallel

Activities

Intervals are created for the portioning of the datasets. The system divides up the intervals.

The intervals are created as follows:

• Statistically at master data level (for example, business partner) for the creation of partial billsand requesting budget billing functions. Use the parallel processing object GPART_MX for this.
• Dynamically, based on the invoicing orders (EITR) for the bill creationfunction , or based on the print orders (EITERDK) for the bill printout function .

Statistical interval creation does not guarantee even load distribution because you do not have to create a partial bill or budget billing request for every business partner, for example.

Dynamic interval creation takes place at the start of the mass run, based on the actual work list (for example invoicing orders) or the process and is therefore more efficient that the statistical interval creation.

Dynamic interval creation for the bill creation function for parallel object AR_ACCT_MX, uses business partner numbers to divide up the invoicing order work list. The system ensures that all individual accounts of a collective bill account are processed in one interval. Different collective bill accounts can be processed in different intervals.

You make the technical settings in Customizing under Financial Accounting ® Contract Accounting® Technical Settings ®  Prepare Mass Activities.