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Integration With Other Processes 169

INTEGRATION WITH OTHER PROCESSES
The fulfi llment process is tightly integrated with many other processes. We
identifi ed numerous integration points in the discussion of the process steps
and will elaborate on them in other chapters. Below we summarize the key
integration points, which are presented in Figure 5-50.

Figure 5-50: Integration with other processes

Because fulfi llment involves both revenues and payments, a clear rela-
tionship exists between fulfi llment and fi nancial accounting. For example,
some of the master data utilized in fulfi llment, such as customer master and
material master, are jointly maintained by sales and accounting. In addition,
the shipment, billing, and payment steps have an impact on the general ledger.
Fulfi llment can also impact the profi tability analysis process in management
accounting, which utilizes sales revenue data.
Going further, during sales order processing, when the company con-
ducts availability checks it employs data from inventory management, produc-
tion, and purchasing, which are the sources of the materials for shipment. Sales
data are also used by materials planning to schedule the procurement and pro-
duction of materials. Another fulfi llment step, goods movement, is related to
inventory management. In addition, warehouse management processes (such
as picking) can be initiated during shipment.
Fulfi llment is also related to project systems. Recall from Chapter 1 that
enterprises use projects to create complex products for customers, such as an
aircraft. Customer orders for such products are processed using the fulfi llment
process. However, instead of preparing and sending shipments, as described in
this chapter, the customer requirements are transferred to the project manage-
ment process. In turn, project systems infl uence deliveries and billing.

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