S/4HANA Revolutionizes Data Management

The Universal Journal (ACDOCA) is the heart of Accounting in SAP.  It encompasses all Margin Analysis characteristics and enables multi-dimensional reporting by market segment. Now that reporting is poised to be faster than ever, with several modules integrated into a single table and reconciled in real time.

As we discussed in a previous blog on table simplifications, a Material Document (MATDOC) is being introduced with S/4HANA Logistics. This central table contains all material documents and also replaces inventory tables.

Specifically, the MATDOC table in SAP S/4HANA is created from a goods movement transaction and generates a Material Document item into table MATDOC. The MATDOC update does a simultaneous update to the Universal Journal or ACDOCA table as part of the Universal Journal approach. The result: Universal Journal now combines financial and controlling data into a single line-item table. And ACDOCA becomes a single source of data for Financial Accounting (FI) and Controlling (CO) data.

The aim of the simplification efforts in S/4HANA aim is to streamline data structures and improve system performance. Importantly the efforts are a more unified approach to data management and reporting. Multiple ACDOCA tables have become redundant or have been replaced in S/4HANA.

MATDOCS at a Glance

What  are MATDOCs?

MATDOCs are central to the Material Management module in SAP S/4HANA, enabling real-time reporting and analytics, as well as updating and reporting on stock levels within the organization.

What Material Movements do MATDOCs include?

MATDOCs include Material movements for the following:

• Goods receipt,
• Goods issue, and
• All other inventory-related transactions. 

What kinds of detailed information do MATDOCs contain?

 MATDOCs record all inventory movements and contains detailed information about the material such as:

• Material movement type,
• Material number,
• Quantity,
• Valuation data,
• Posting data and more.

 How are ADCOCs affected?

The ACDOCA table is updated in real-time as these MATDOCs are created. Each line item of the MATDOC corresponds to a line item in ACDOCA. The system populates the ACDOCA table with the relevant data from the MATDOC, including the financial and controlling information related to the material movement.

The integration of MATDOC data into the ACDOCA table offers a unified view of financial and controlling data. As a result, financial reporting and analysis is simplified  since all relevant information is available in a single table. The integration also improves system performance and reduces data redundancy since the Universal Journal approach eliminates the need for separate tables for financial and controlling data.

Overall, the real-time integration of MATDOC data into ACDOCA ensures that financial and controlling information is up-to-date and readily available for reporting and decision-making purposes within SAP S/4HANA.