Understanding Business Partners (CVI) In SAP S/4HANA: A Complete Guide For Seamless Transition

Moving to SAP S/4HANA is a major milestone for any organization. One of the most critical shifts in this journey is the adoption of the Business Partner (BP) model as the central master data object for customers and vendors. In S/4HANA, the BP becomes the single point of entry for maintaining master data, replacing the traditional customer and vendor tables from ECC.

At the heart of this shift lies Customer/Vendor Integration (CVI) — a mandatory component ensuring synchronization between the old customer/vendor records and the new Business Partner structure. While greenfield (new) implementations can design BP structures from scratch, system conversions (brownfield projects) face unique hurdles. In this article, we’ll explore the main challenges and essential considerations for successfully navigating the CVI migration.

Table of Contents

Timing and Phased Approach: Don’t Leave It to the Last Minute

One of the first strategic decisions in a brownfield conversion is when to carry out CVI synchronization. SAP recommends completing the BP/CVI synchronization well ahead of the S/4HANA upgrade — ideally months before.

Delaying CVI activities can create last-minute bottlenecks, impacting project timelines. Tools like the CVI Cockpit guide teams through preparation, synchronization, and follow-up tasks, supporting a phased and manageable approach. Starting early means more time for issue resolution and smoother system conversion later.

Master Data Quality and Cleansing: Garbage In, Garbage Out

CVI demands high-quality master data. Synchronization errors frequently arise from inconsistencies such as invalid tax numbers, missing fields, or obsolete records.

Organizations must run the Master Data Consistency Check (CVI_PRECHK) early to flag potential issues. Starting a master data cleansing project — correcting errors and archiving obsolete records — is not optional; it’s essential. Ignoring this step can derail the entire migration timeline.

Pro Tip:
Delete or archive customers and vendors marked for deletion before migration to avoid unnecessary complexity.

Extensive Customization and Configuration: The Devil Is in the Details

Successful CVI migration requires meticulous configuration. Key areas to focus on include:

Number Ranges and Groupings:
Plan carefully to avoid overlaps between customer/vendor numbers and new BP numbers, especially for legacy or employee records.
Value Mapping:
Attributes like department codes, industry types, and legal forms must be mapped correctly to BP fields. Missing mappings can halt synchronization.
BP Role Assignment:
Assign roles like FLCU00/FLCU01 for customers and FLVN00/FLVN01 for vendors properly to ensure business transactions remain functional.
Field Modifications:
Harmonize mandatory fields between the old and new structures using field status groups and SAP notes.
Post-Processing Office (PPO) Activation:
Configure PPO properly to manage errors during synchronization and post-conversion.

Every configuration decision can either smoothen or complicate the migration, so attention to detail is vital.

Technical Effort and Enhancements: Be Ready for Custom Code Challenges

If your system includes custom fields or enhancements for customers or vendors, you’ll need technical expertise to map these into the Business Partner framework.

Tools like Business Data Toolset (BDT) and Extensible Objects (XO) allow you to enhance BP screens and data models, but they often require custom development. Additionally, old techniques like Batch Input recordings won’t work in S/4HANA. Instead, developers must use supported APIs like CL_MD_BP_MAINTAIN, updated IDocs, or BP SOA services.

Planning technical rework early can save time and prevent integration gaps later.

Dependencies on Other Systems and Applications: Look Beyond Your Core ERP

CVI migration impacts several other systems and processes:

SAP CRM Integration:
Before synchronizing BPs, specific BAdIs (like CVI_MAPPER) must be implemented to prevent breaking CRM connections.
External Interfaces:
Legacy interfaces updating customers/vendors must migrate to BP-based APIs or services.
HCM Employees:
HR employees must be mapped as Business Partners, with special attention to person vs. organization categorization.
SAP Credit Management and Industry Solutions:
Transitioning to SAP’s new credit management or handling IS-Utilities/Retail requires additional BP-related configurations.

Neglecting these dependencies could lead to widespread issues across integrated landscapes.

Synchronization Process and Error Resolution: Prepare for Troubleshooting

Synchronization typically runs via the MDS_LOAD_COCKPIT, and errors are logged in the Post Processing Office (PPO) (transaction MDS_PPO2).

Common synchronization errors include:

Missing trading partners
Invalid or missing bank data
Duplicated tax IDs
Inconsistent address formats
Misconfigured number ranges for contact persons

Running the Completeness Check Report (CVI_COMPL_CHK) helps flag unmigrated records. All PPO issues must be resolved before running the S/4HANA system conversion via the Software Update Manager (SUM).

Required Know-How and Resources: Build the Right Team

A successful CVI project demands a mix of:

Functional knowledge:
Expertise in customer/vendor/BP master data and configuration.
Technical skills:
Ability to adapt custom code and interfaces.
Business process understanding:
Insights into how master data drives sales, procurement, finance, and operations.

Building a capable CVI team is critical. Running a sandbox test migration with real production data can reveal hidden issues early and refine the project approach.

Conclusion: Plan Early, Execute Carefully, Succeed Confidently

Migrating customer and vendor master data to Business Partners through CVI is a mandatory but manageable step on the road to SAP S/4HANA.

With proactive planning, rigorous data cleansing, detailed configuration, and a well-prepared team, organizations can transform this potential obstacle into a smooth and strategic enabler of future digital operations.

The key is clear: Start early, stay thorough, and leverage SAP tools and expertise.