Glossary for CRM, Sales, and Procurement

acceptance rule
If an approval rule is based on acceptance rules, LN automatically approves a purchase order that meets a valid rule. If you define approval rules based on acceptance, you define for what combination of data elements you want LN to approve the purchase order.
accessory
A list type that permits the definition of related inventory items or kits that are offered to business partners when they order an end item.
account manager
The manager who is responsible for maintaining relations with accounts, or business partners.
activity
A step that you must carry out for the purchase/sales order type. An activity represents the sessions or the manual action that you must carry our for the purchase/sales order type.
activity
An appointment, call, task, mailing, or e-mail that is registered in LN and that can be linked to, for example, a contact, a business partner, or an opportunity. Optionally, tasks, appointments, and calls can be synchronized with desktop applications.
activity number
A number that expresses the sequence for each activity in the business process.
activity template
The definition of a standard activity. As the data to be recorded can vary from one activity to another, you can link a separate attribute set to each activity template. An activity template can be used as a basis for creating tasks and mailings.
actual delivery date
The date on which the sold goods are delivered.
actual receipt date
The date on which the ordered goods are received.
additional cost line
Includes a cost item that can be linked as additional costs to an order or shipment. Examples of additional cost lines are administrative costs added to the order costs if the order amount is lower than a certain value, or freight costs added to the order if the total weight of the sold/purchased goods exceeds a certain value.
additional costs
The cost items that can be placed on an order or shipment to charge extra costs for an order or shipment.
additional cost scenario
A set of search attributes used to determine an order's or shipment's additional costs. Each scenario is linked to a cost set.
additional cost set
The code under which a number of additional cost lines and scenarios can be stored. Cost sets can be linked to items, business partners or price lists and, via these, to orders and shipments.
additional rate quantity by unit
A quantity by unit against which you can define freight rates. You can choose from the units defined in Common. Many freight rates are based on distance and weight. Additional quantities/units enable you to define rates that are based on other units, such as volume, or define rates that are based on combinations of distance, weight, and other units.

Example 1

Freight rate by additional quantity/unit:

Additional Rate Quantity: 1 pallet, Distance: 1000 km

Amount by Distance: 10

Example 2

Freight rates by combinations of units by distance/zone:

Weight: 10 kg

Additional Rate Quantity: 1 m³

Break Type: Minimum

Distance:0100500
Amount by Distance101520
Amount by Weight5510
Amount by Additional Rate Unit557

 

In this example, freight rates are based on distance by weight and volume. Shipment SH0001, from Amsterdam to Rotterdam, includes the following details: Distance: 70 km, Weight: 50 kg, Volume: 7 m³

The freight costs for shipment SH0001 are:

 10 * 70 (distance) + 5 * 50 (weight) + 5 * 7 (volume) = 985 
agreement group
A group of relations to which the same commission/rebate agreements are linked.
alternative quantity
The total quantity to be budgeted for the specified year part, expressed in an alternative unit.
amount
The budgeted turnover amount in a specific period, expressed in the home currency.
append structure
Copy an existing category structure into another existing structure, combining both structures in the target category.
appointment
An activity type that specifies an appointment scheduled for a contact, business partner, opportunity, or activity that you want to track through completion. An appointment has invited atttendees.
approval process
A user-defined procedure that identifies the approval loop for a document. A formal approval process is typically and usually identifies the required approval levels and the appropriate approvers.
approval rule
A combination of data elements, such as buy-from business partner, buyer, planner, effective date, expiry date, and amount, based on which LN approves purchase orders. The approval rules, on their turn, are based on acceptance rules or exception rules.
approved
The status assigned to a purchase requisition when all relevant approvers have approved a requisition with the Pending Approval status.
approved quantity
The number of delivered items that is approved.
approved supplier list
A list of buy-from business partners approved to deliver a specific item.
attention code
The messages linked to business partners, opportunities, and so on that draw your attention to special events or circumstances.
attribute
Used to record distinctive information on (potential) business partners, contacts, opportunities, or activities and to segment data when specifying a batch selection for generating activities, mail merge (letters), or flexible reports.
Example
AttributeDescriptionTypeDetails
sfIs the person a soccer fan?OptionOptions are Yes and No; default is No
fcFavorite soccer clubAlphanumericDefault is <blank>
convHow did you value this conversation?AlphanumericNo defaults
ccbCan I call you back next week?OptionOptions are Yes and No; default is No
lunchShould bring own lunchOptionOptions are Yes and No; default is No
dresscWhat is the dress code?OptionOptions are formal and casual (default)
compMain competitorAlphanumericNo defaults
terrTerritoryOptionOptions are East and West

 

Attribute setDescriptionAttributes
CONDefault attribute set for contactssf, fc
BPDefault attribute set for business partnerssf, fc
CALLDefault attribute set for callsconv, ccb
APPDefault attribute set for appointmentslunch, dressc
OPPDefault attribute set for opportunitiescomp, terr

 

attribute option
A possible value of an attribute of the option type.
Example
AttributeDescriptionTypeDetails
sfIs the person a soccer fan?OptionOptions are Yes and No; default is No
fcFavorite soccer clubAlphanumericDefault is <blank>
convHow did you value this conversation?AlphanumericNo defaults
ccbCan I call you back next week?OptionOptions are Yes and No; default is No
lunchShould bring own lunchOptionOptions are Yes and No; default is No
dresscWhat is the dress code?OptionOptions are formal and casual (default)
compMain competitorAlphanumericNo defaults
terrTerritoryOptionOptions are East and West

 

Attribute setDescriptionAttributes
CONDefault attribute set for contactssf, fc
BPDefault attribute set for business partnerssf, fc
CALLDefault attribute set for callsconv, ccb
APPDefault attribute set for appointmentslunch, dressc
OPPDefault attribute set for opportunitiescomp, terr

 

attribute set
A set used to group related attributes.
Example
AttributeDescriptionTypeDetails
sfIs the person a soccer fan?OptionOptions are Yes and No; default is No
fcFavorite soccer clubAlphanumericDefault is <blank>
convHow did you value this conversation?AlphanumericNo defaults
ccbCan I call you back next week?OptionOptions are Yes and No; default is No
lunchShould bring own lunchOptionOptions are Yes and No; default is No
dresscWhat is the dress code?OptionOptions are formal and casual (default)
compMain competitorAlphanumericNo defaults
terrTerritoryOptionOptions are East and West

 

Attribute setDescriptionAttributes
CONDefault attribute set for contactssf, fc
BPDefault attribute set for business partnerssf, fc
CALLDefault attribute set for callsconv, ccb
APPDefault attribute set for appointmentslunch, dressc
OPPDefault attribute set for opportunitiescomp, terr

 

backorder
An unfilled customer order, or partial delivery at a later date. A demand for an item whose inventory is insufficient to satisfy demand.
backorder quantity
The number of items to be delivered at a later stage. This quantity does not need to be equal to the rejected quantity.
base price
The price of the goods stored in a warehouse. The base price is independent of the price factor, discounts, the order quantity, and value and is stated in the home currency and inventory unit.
blanket warehousing order
A warehousing order that is generated during the creation of a push schedule and that contains:
  • A position number and sequence number of zero.
  • An item as defined on the purchase schedule.
  • An order quantity equal to the quantity as defined on the purchase contract line.
  • An empty planned delivery date and planned receipt date, but a contract date similar to the purchase contract date.
  • A lot selection defined as Any.
book price
The price for the item according to the standard price book, increased by an upgrade price if applicable. The default price for an item is stored in the default price book.
break type
An entity used to specify how breaks between ranges of entities such as distances, amounts, or ordered quantities of items are defined. A break, in this case, is the first or the last number of a range. A break type has either of the following values:

Minimum The break is the lowest number of a range.

Example
Break type minimum
Ordered quantityDiscount
103%
505%

 

In this case, the breaks are 10 and 50. Ordered quantities >= 10 and < 50 get a 3% discount. Ordered quantities of 50 and more get a 5% discount.

Up To The break is the highest number of a range.

Example
Break type up to
DistanceFreight rate
10010
100050

 

In this case, the breaks are 100 and 1000. For distances <= 100, the rate is 10. For distances > 100 and <= 1000, the rate is 50.

budget
A plan that includes the budgeted quantities and/or amounts by period for the sorts selected; the budgeted or expected sales or purchase figures.
business partner's contact
The employee or department of the business partner that is used as the contact to your own company or department in case of problems or questions.
business partner 2
The business partner, only with a different label and a different function.
business-partner order reference
The order number created by your business partner to represent the requirement in the business partner's system. The business partner order reference number ensures that you compare the same records.
business-partner prices/discounts
A business partner can be selected as parent. This means that the order discount specified for this business partner is the input for the relevant order.

If a parent business partner is defined on an order, LN first searches for the order discount defined for the parent business partner.

If an order discount is not specified for the parent or if no parent is specified, LN searches for the order discount that is specified for the business partner on the order.

business-partner texts
A business partner can be selected as 'parent'. This means that the texts that are specified for this business partner are the input for the relevant order.

If a parent business partner is defined on an order, LN first searches for texts as defined for the parent business partner.

If texts are not specified for the parent or if no parent is specified, LN searches for the texts that are specified for the business partner on the order.

business procedure
The designation of a set of logically related tasks or activities that are performed to achieve a defined business outcome. A business procedure consists of the sessions or manual activities to be carried out.
business process
The activities and steps that must be carried out to get a specific result. For example, the steps of the order procedure. The steps are expressed by means of sessions or manual actions.

You can link a business process to a workflow.

buyer
The employee of your company who is the contact to the concerned buy-from business partner. The buyer is also known as the purchasing agent.
call
An activity type that specifies a call scheduled for a contact, business partner, opportunity, or activity that you want to track through completion. A call has invited attendees.
called amount
The actual ordered quantity multiplied by the price per unit.
called quantity
The number of items currently ordered.
call-off
To call up goods from a business partner based on a purchase schedule. Call-off involves sending a message (EDI) to notify a business partner that the scheduled items must be delivered. The message contains the item quantity and the date and time they must be delivered.
canceled
The status assigned to a purchase requisition when the requester cancels a requisition with the Created, Modified, or Rejected status. A canceled requisition cannot be changed.
capacity time unit
The time unit in which the ship-from business partner capacity is expressed.
carrier
The company responsible for the transportation of goods to the ship-to business partner.
catalog
The highest level of a category structure. A catalog contains one or more categories, which contain items or subcategories. A catalog cannot be a member of another category.
category
A classification or division of items. The classification can be by form, fit, or function. Categories are used in catalogs. The highest level category is referred to as a catalog.
central contract
A contract to which no specific contract office is linked.
changed receipt date
The new receipt date that is used if the supplier cannot comply with the agreed receipt date and states a new receipt date. Together with the planned and/or confirmed receipt date, the changed receipt date is the basis for determining the vendor rating, and the planned inventory movements. In addition, this date is also used in the reminder procedure.
change order sequence number
A number that is used to assign the occurrence of changes to a purchase order or a sales order.
change reason
The reason that can be assigned to a changed purchase order (line) or sales order (line).
change type
The indicator of the type of change of a changed purchase order (line) or sales order (line).
channel
claim note
The notes printed to notify the buy-from business partner if the actual delivered quantity is less than the quantity on the packing slip
clustering
Grouping several schedules lines to send the lines in one purchase release.

For clustering, first the next schedule issue date, according to the issue pattern, is determined. Next, the schedule lines are clustered based on the segment time unit, and the segment length, derived from the segment set.

Note

Clustering only applies to non-referenced schedules.

collect order
An order type in which goods are immediately issued from inventory upon order entry. The goods are then immediately collected by the customer. When the sales order lines are created, the related transactions are automatically concluded.

When you create and save a collect sales order, LN sets the sales order status to Closed. At the same time, LN creates a warehouse order and sets the status of the warehouse order to Shipped. The warehouse order type is the warehouse order type that is linked to the sales order type.

commingle
To group a number of purchase orders that originate from different sources, into a single purchase order. Commingling reduces the number of purchase orders and enables you to obtain the best available prices and discounts.
commission
The amount of money to be paid to an employee (sales representative) or buy-from business partner (agent) for closing a sales order.
commission/rebate group
A set of items that is grouped and then linked to an agreement.
commission agreement
A rate agreed to be paid as commission to an employee (sales representative) or buy-from business partner (agent) for the sale of a particular item (or item group).
commission amount
The amount of money to be paid to an employee (sales representative) or buy-from business partner (agent) for closing a sales order.
competitor
A company that competes for the same sales orders. Generally, a competitor operates in the same market segment as your company.
component
An item that is sold, and invoiced in combination with other items as part of a kit.
configuration date
The date on which the bill of material is exploded.
confirmed backorder
An order created for any order quantity that cannot immediately be delivered due to inventory shortages.
confirmed delivery date
The delivery date for the items, which is confirmed by the sales representative and communicated to the buyer. The buyer then uses this date to enter the confirmed receipt date on the purchase order.

This date is used for several purposes:

  • As one of the bases by which the vendor rating is determined.
  • As the default value for the confirmed delivery date on the order lines.
  • As the reference date for the printing of reminders.
confirmed receipt date
The receipt date for the items, which is confirmed by the buy-from business partner or confirmed to the sold-to business partner.

This date is used for several purposes:

  • As one of the bases by which the vendor rating is determined.
  • As the default value for the confirmed receipt date on the order lines.
  • As the reference date for the printing of reminders.
contract
An agreement between two parties to purchase or sell an unspecified quantity of material over a certain period of time. A contract can be linked to one or more orders or schedules.
contract acknowledgments
An acknowledgment sent to suppliers to confirm that the contract is closed (concluded).
contract date
The date on which the contract is entered in the system.
contract line
An agreement of one customer with one supplier, about both commercial and logistic conditions, related to the supply of one item, during a period of time.
contract price
The agreed upon price in a sales contract, purchase contract, or request for quotation (RFQ).
contract price revision
A date-controlled agreement for price and discount elements on the contract line. Price revisions enable you to have several prices over time. An active revision is valid from its effective date up to the effective date of the next revision, or the expiry date of the contract line.
contract quantity
The quantity that must be delivered according to the contract agreements. The contract quantity must always be greater than zero.
control state
The list fields that you need to fill in when you enter an order or order line.
conversion factor
The multiplication factor used to convert an alternative unit to the base unit. The conversion factor is calculated as follows: (alternative unit/base unit)
converted
The status assigned to a purchase requisition when the buyer converts a requisition with the Approved status to a request for quotation (RFQ) or a purchase order.
copy exception
A field that is not automatically copied from the source order to the target order and for which you must define a copy action.
copy template
A standard set of copy exceptions based on which existing orders are copied to target orders.
corporate purchase contract
A purchase contract line, used by multisite corporations, in which the agreements with a business partner about an item are specified by site (warehouse). Contractual agreements that apply to the entire corporation, such as price and quantity conditions, are specified on the contract line. Logistic agreements, which apply only to a specific site, are specified on the contract line details. The contract (total) line holds the aggregated quantity information of the linked contract line details.

Corporate purchase contracts are mainly used to make keen price agreements on a corporate level and to use these prices on site level.

cost order
A type of order that can be used to charge separate, extra costs. Extra costs are, for example, accounting expenses, clearance charges, costs of design, and freight expenses. A cost order does not contain physical items.
created
The status assigned to a purchase requisition when the requester enters and saves a purchase requisition.
create new structure
Copy an existing category structure into a new category to create an exact copy.
CUM reset date
The date and time at which a schedule's cumulatives/ authorizations are reset.
CUMs start date
The date from which the cumulatives of this record are calculated.
cumulatives (CUMs)
The year-to-date totals for quantities shipped, received, required, and invoiced.

Cumulatives are used as schedule statistics to track if its status is ahead or behind schedule compared to the demand.

customer order number
The number the sold-to business partner assigned to the order. In the automotive industry, it can represent the sold-to business partner's purchase contract number.
decentral contract
A contract that is linked to a specific contract office.
default installment schedule
A schedule set with installment defaults used to generate installments on sales orders or project contracts.

After entering the desired schedule number, you can specify the defaults for a number of installment lines. The time fence between the order date and the invoice date, the percentage of the total net amount, and the type of installment are specified on the installment line.

deleted
The status assigned to a purchase requisition when a requisition with the Converted or Canceled status is deleted.
delivered quantity
The quantity of goods expressed in the sales unit or the inventory unit, which is delivered to the sold-to business partner.
delivery contract
A list of time-phased delivery, derived from a contract and converted to purchase orders. A delivery contract is not a real schedule, but a schedule solution to generate purchase orders in time.
Example
Contract lineDelivery contractPurchase order (PO)
100 pieces (pcs)2000/12/01 20 pcsPO1 2000/12/01 20 pcs
-2000/02/08 25 pcsPO2 2000/02/08 25 pcs
-2000/12/15 40 pcsPO3 2000/12/15 40 pcs
-2000/12/22 15 pcsPO4 2000/12/22 15 pcs

 

delivery date
The date on which the inventory is issued from the replenishment warehouse and transported to the destination warehouse.
delivery date tolerance (-)
The number of days early that a supplier can make a delivery.
delivery date tolerance (+)
The number of days late that a supplier can make a delivery.
device
The output device selected for the report such as a printer, a screen (device: display), an ASCII file, and so on.
direct delivery
The process in which a seller orders goods from a buy-from business partner, who must also deliver the goods directly to the sold-to business partner. By means of a purchase order that is linked to a sales order or a service order, the buy-from business partner delivers the goods directly to the sold-to business partner. The goods are not delivered from your own warehouse, so Warehousing is not involved.

In a Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) setup, a direct delivery is achieved by creating a purchase order for the customer warehouse.

A seller can decide for a direct delivery because:

  • There is a shortage of available stock.
  • The ordered quantity cannot be delivered in time.
  • The ordered quantity cannot be transported by your company.
  • Costs and time are saved.
discount
An allowance of deduction granted by the seller to the buyer, usually when the buyer meets certain stipulated conditions that reduce the price of the goods purchased.

Three types of discounts exist:

  • A quantity discount: an allowance determined by the quantity or value of the purchase.
  • A cash discount: an allowance extended to encourage payment of an invoice on or before a stated date.
  • A trade discount: a deduction from an established price for items or services made by the seller to those engaged in a certain business.
discount amount
The discount given to a business partner, calculated by unit and expressed as a value. For instance, 3 euro.
discount percentage
The percentage that you can subtract from the gross sales price or purchase price.
discount schedule
An entity in which you can store discount information that is valid for a given period of time and that is used to calculate discounts for an item.

A discount schedule includes the following elements:

  • A discount schedule header, which contains the code, type, and use of the discount schedule.
  • One or more discount schedule lines, which contain the discounts.

The discounts specified in a discount schedule are expressed as a percentage or an amount and are subject to a minimum or maximum quantity or value.

A discount schedule can be linked to a price book.

doubtful customer
A customer who has an inconsistent or questionable payment history.
effectivity period
The period of time defined by the effective date and expiry date in which a record is valid.
e-mail
An activity type that specifies an e-mail created for a contact, business partner, opportunity, or activity that you want to record in LN. E-mails can be created to send them, but also to manually register received e-mails. An e-mail has selected recipients.
employee number
The number that identifies an employee.
end date
The date and time the activity is completed.
exception rule
If an approval rule is based on exception rules, LN automatically approves a purchase order that does not meet a valid rule. If you define approval rules based on exception, you define for what combination of data elements you do not want LN to approve the purchase order.
expiry date
The last day on which a record is valid. If you do not specify an expiry time, the validity expires at the end of the expiry date, at 24:00 hours.
extensions
The parts of projects for which special arrangements are have been made that concern invoicing, such as variations, provisional amounts, quantities to be settled, and fluctuation settlements. An extension can be attached to one or more budget lines.
fab authorization
The valid authorization for the business partner to start the production for a quantity of items required on a purchase schedule. The fab authorization is expressed as a cumulative quantity and is calculated using the fab period.
fab authorization through date
The date until which the fab authorization is valid.
fab period
The time period during which the supplier is authorized to manufacture the goods required on a schedule, calculated from the schedule issue date on for push schedules, and from the current date on for pull forecast schedules.

The fab period is expressed in a number of days.

Example
  • CUM start quantity: 10000
  • Schedule issue date/current date: 05.07.99
  • Fab period: 20 days
Issue/current dateQuantity
05.07.99100
12.07.99100
19.07.99100
26.07.99100

 

Fab time fence   : 05.07.99 (+ 20 days) = 25.07.99.
Fab authorization: 10000 + 100 + 100 + 100 = 10300.
final invoice
An invoice that replaces a provisional invoice that was sent earlier. No modifications are allowed on final invoices.
financial customer group
A unit that consists of two or more financial business partner groups, which is used to link these business partners to ledger accounts.
firm requirement
A requirement that is handled as an actual order and that can be shipped.
frozen period
The overlap period of the frozen zone+ and the frozen zone-. No changes to the purchase schedule line are permitted in this period.
frozen zone-
The number of days, calculated from the current date, for which you can no longer reduce the quantity of required items.
frozen zone+
The number of days, calculated from the current date, for which you can no longer increase the quantity of required items.
full supply time
The total time required to obtain an item that is not forecasted. This time is used to calculate the full cumulative order lead time for an item, which includes the cumulative lead time of purchased parts.
Example

For item A, the supplier communicated a supply time of 50 days. This is in fact a reduced lead time and is only possible because a three year forecast is sent to the supplier for this item. If additional quantities are needed, which are not included in the forecast, the supplier needs the full supply time, which is 300 days.

general category
A category that applies to any sold-to business partner.
generation date
The date the specific schedule is (re)generated.
gross amount
The total amount from which taxes, rebates, discounts, and so on are deducted to reach the net amount. The gross amount is calculated by multiplying the order quantity with the book price.
gross margin
The sales revenue minus all manufacturing costs, both fixed and variable.
gross price
The full price minus the order line discount and the order header discount.
gross profit
The earnings after direct costs of the goods sold are deducted from the sales revenue for a specific period.
high fab authorization
The highest fab authorization ever calculated on a purchase schedule, counted from the latest CUM reset date on.
high raw authorization
The highest raw authorization ever calculated on a purchase schedule, counted from the latest CUM reset date on.
hold reason

A reason for blocking a sales order or a sales order line, which can be:

  • The open order balance exceeds the customer's credit limit.
  • The customer has overdue invoices.
  • The customer's status is doubtful.
  • The sales margin of one of the order lines is exceeded.
  • The gross margin of the order is exceeded.
  • The sales order is received through EDI.
  • The sales order has an invalid zip code.
  • The sales order is entered by an inexperienced operator.
  • The sales order line contains a blocked item.
  • A promotion is linked to the sales order (line).
  • A user-defined general reason.

An order can be held for more than one reason at any point in the sales order procedure. For example, an order can be blocked due to credit checking (the order balance exceeds the customers credit limit) at the same time as being blocked due to margin control (the gross margin of the order is exceeded).

immediate requirement
A requirement that must be shipped as soon as possible.
installment
An incremental payment method used to spread invoice payments over a period of time. Installments enable you to send invoices for a sales order before or after the ordered goods are actually delivered.
internal processing time
The time required between the recognition of needs and the release of the purchase order. Internal processing time includes document preparation and sourcing.
invoiced amount
The amount charged to a business partner.
invoice date
The date on which the invoice is printed.
invoiced cumulative
A schedule's total invoiced cumulative quantity, calculated from the CUM reset date on up to the last transaction date, which is the invoice date. Invoiced CUMs are updated as soon as a an invoice is approved by Financials.
invoiced quantity
The number of items actually billed.
item dimensions
The length, width, and thickness of items with a physical quantity that is set to Length, Area (m2), or Volume.
job titles
The names of functions or titles of employees in an organization, for example sales manager, financial director, or accountant.
kit
A predefined list of items to be delivered together when ordered by the customer.

You can define kits to facilitate order entry. A kit is ordered and priced as a single item. For internal order entry and warehousing purposes, the kit item is a list of components. On the sales order line, the components are linked. The cost price of the kit is the sum of the components' cost prices.

The components of a kit can be of the following types:

  • Purchased items
  • Manufactured items

Example: The components of a PC kit usually consist of the main cabinet, a monitor, a keyboard, and a mouse. In the Do-It-Yourself market, a toolshed kit can contain the parts for the walls and the roof, a door with hinges, a door handle, and a lock.

last receipt date
The most recent date on which a shipment, related to the specific schedule number and position number, is received.
layout code
An identifying code and description of the layout properties of a report, such as paper size, font, range of data, column headings, and data.
letters
The general memoranda mailed to relations and contacts (whether within the framework of an opportunity or not) that can be printed and composed by using variables.
level attribute
A data field whose information is updated and set aside for statistics overviews. It can be regarded as a pre-selection of statistics information, which can be fine-tuned later by means of sorts.
line level promotion
A special offer on a sales order line that reduces the price of the original item by a percentage or monetary amount, or that offers premiums with the purchase of the original item.
line of business
A group of customers, suppliers, or employees that work in the same business sector.

Lines of business can be used as selection criteria when generating reports or inquiries of statistical and historical data.

list type
The way in which a list item can be defined.
logistic agreements
Conditions that must be formally agreed upon between a supplier and a customer regarding logistic data, such as schedule messages, frozen periods, authorizations, delivery patterns, carrier, and so on.
lower bound
Time period during which the schedule line quantity can increase, but not decrease, and during which the deletion of schedule lines is not allowed.

Lower bound applies when the end of the frozen zone+ lies before the end of the frozen zone-.

lower limit
The lowest value or quantity for which you are allowed to add additional costs.
mailing
An activity type that specifies a standard letter printed for a contact, business partner, opportunity, or activity with specific business object information merged in. A mailing is always generated from an activity template.
manufactured item
The items that can be manufactured end products and subassemblies. A manufactured item is usually associated with a bill of material and a routing that describe the components used to assemble it and the manner in which it is assembled. Manufactured items are also referred to as production items and can be purchased.
manufacturer part number (MPN)
The unique identification of a manufacturer's item code, which is used in the item ordering and identification process.
margin
The percentage that the net sales price is allowed to deviate from the target price.
margin control
The sales submodule that controls whether the sales order or quotation price of an item differs too much from the specified target price. The percentage that the net sales price is allowed to deviate from the target price is known as the allowed margin.
material release
A schedule on which forecasted information is provided about shipping times, delivery times, and quantities.

In general, a material release can be considered as a planning release. However, the material release can also contain the actual order.

matrix attributes
A list of elements used to define a price, discount, promotion, or freight rate. The group of matrix attributes is identified by a matrix definition and type.

Imagine you are a furniture vendor and you decide to maintain your sales prices based on two elements:

  • The specific item you sell.
  • The way to handle payments.

In this case, the matrix type is Sales Price, the matrix definition is Furni (this name is user-definable), and the matrix attributes are Item and Payment Method.

In the Pricing matrix, you specify the values for the matrix attributes.

matrix attribute set
A set that groups matrix attributes of the same matrix type for use on matrix definitions.

The matrix attributes that you can specify in a matrix definition are determined by the attribute set that is selected in the pricing parameters for the matrix type.

matrix definition
Defines the group of elements (matrix attributes) that a Pricing matrix uses to determine a price, discount, promotion, or freight rate.

Imagine you are a furniture vendor and you decide to maintain your sales prices based on two elements:

  • The specific item you sell.
  • The way to handle payments.

In this case, the matrix type is Sales Price, the matrix definition is Furni (this name is user-definable), and the matrix attributes are Item and Payment Method.

matrix priority
For a matrix type, the order in which matrix definitions are searched for.
matrix type
Defines the type of a matrix definition and is linked to a set of matrix attributes.

The following matrix types are available in Pricing:

  • Sales Price
  • Sales Line Discount
  • Sales Total Discount
  • Purchase Price
  • Purchase Line Discount
  • Purchase Total Discount
  • Transfer Price
  • Line Promotions
  • Order Promotions
  • Client Freight Rate
  • Carrier Freight Rate

Each type has its own a selection of attributes. For a matrix type, the combination of a maximum of six attributes identifies the matrix definition.

maximum capacity tolerance
The maximum percentage that can exceed ship-from business partner capacity.
maximum contract quantity
The agreed maximum total quantity, expressed in the quantity unit. The maximum contract quantity must be greater than or equal to the agreed contract quantity.
maximum order quantity
The maximum quantity of items to be purchased or produced at once.

When planned orders are generated, the quantity of items to be purchased or produced at once is never more than the maximum order quantity. The maximum order quantity prevents the purchase or production of an item in quantities that are too large.

menu
A type of item that consists of a group of items with similar characteristics that are classified under one generic item to facilitate order entry. The items in the group can be selected separately.
Example

A monitor, a computer mouse and a CD player are defined as related items used to configure a personal computer. But, you can also select a computer mouse as a separate item.

minimum capacity tolerance
The minimum percentage that can stay below ship-from business partner capacity.
minimum contract quantity
The agreed minimum total quantity, expressed in the quantity unit. The minimum contract quantity must be greater than zero and less than or equal to the agreed contract quantity.
modified
The status assigned to a purchase requisition when the requester changes a requisition header or line for a requisition with the Rejected status. The modified requisition can be resubmitted for approval.
MPN set
A set of manufacturer part numbers (MPNs) that belongs to a purchase order line or a purchase schedule line.
net amount
The gross amount minus discounts. The net value is always stated in the transactional currency.

If multiple discount levels are used, the net amount is calculated from the gross amount minus discounts at previous levels.

net order line amount
The net order line amount, expressed in the transaction currency. This amount is calculated as follows:
Amount = (Quantity * Price) - Order Line Discount
net price
The book price with all (other) discounts applied. If no discounts exist, the gross price is equal to the net price. The net price is calculated as follows:
Net price = book price - line discount - order discount
nonreferenced schedule
A schedule that contains lines without a reference number. Because no specific requirement exists for the schedule line, nonreferenced schedule lines can first be clustered and then ordered, shipped, and received together.
normal contract
A customer-oriented contract, agreed upon by suppliers and customers, that is used to record specific agreements. A normal contract is usually valid for approximately one year.

A normal contract cannot be activated if another active contract exists for the same business partner in a specific period.

note
A text comment with log information, which can be linked to an object.

Multiple notes can be linked to an object.

objective criterion
A criterion for which the score is calculated directly from the data in the system.

The following objective criteria are available:

  • Delivery
  • Quality
  • Quantity
  • Cost Performance
  • Order Confirmation
  • Period Rating
offsetting
The process of planning backwards to look for a valid delivery moment on which requirements can be delivered in time. Based on the generated delivery moments, requirements are clustered in Enterprise Planning.
Example
Days1234567891011121314151617181920
Requirements-------11111----11--
Delivery pattern--X------X------X---
Clustered demand--3------3------1---

 

open balance
The balance of all unpaid invoices relating to one particular business partner.
opportunity
Used by a sales person to record and monitor sales information related to a business partner with the purpose of selling a product or service to this business partner.
opportunity type
A way to classify opportunities with similar characteristics for sorting and selecting purposes.
option
A generic item type that differs from other similar items by one or two features. For example, a group of chairs with similar main characteristics can differ in size and color.
order acknowledgment
The document that confirms the sale of goods to a sold-to business partner according to the listed delivery terms.
order confirmation date
The date on which the buy-from business partner confirmed the purchase order, or the date on which the sales order is confirmed to the sold-to business partner.

The order confirmation date is used for the calculation of order confirmation objective ratings in vendor rating. The buy-from business partner is given a rating according to the time interval between the order date and the order confirmation date.

order date
The date on which the order is manually entered into the system or is automatically generated.
order discount
A discount percentage or amount to be subtracted from the total order amount.
Synonym: total discount
ordered quantity
The quantity that must be delivered according to the terms on the order line. The quantity is expressed in the purchase unit or the sales unit of the item.
order level promotion
A special offer on a sales order that reduces the total order price by a percentage, or that offers a premium.
order line discount
A percentage or amount subtracted from the amount of an order line.
order line discount amount
The discount amount resulting from the order line discount. This amount is calculated as follows:
Order Line Discount Amount = Quantity * Price * Order Line Discount/100

The calculation result is rounded. The order line discount amount is always expressed in the order/quotation currency.

order origin
The source of the information on which an order is based, such as LN sessions, or user defined sources such as phone, mail, and so on.
order priority simulations
A simulated activity that enables you to calculate the priority sequence in which inventory is allocated to orders.
order type
A group of orders that are processed according to the same procedure (series of order steps = sessions). In addition, these orders share a number of other characteristics (return order y/n, collect order y/n, subcontracting order y/n, and so on).
over-delivery
A positive deviation from the original ordered quantity.
parent criterion
A subjective criterion to which one or more other subjective criteria are linked in a tree structure.
pattern
A scheme on which you can define the day of the week, day of the month, or day of the year, and the time of the day you want an activity, such as a release or a delivery, to be carried out.
pattern code
The code used to identify the pattern for your activities. The pattern defines the date and time, such as the month or the day of the month, on which you want to carry out the activity.
pending approval
The status assigned to a purchase requisition when the requester submits a requisition with the Created or Modified status for approval.
period table
A table that consists of any number of time units, for example, months or weeks.

A period is used to define the time horizon during which, for example, a schedule is valid.

phase
The identification of a stage or phase in the sales process. For example, analysis, proposal, negotiation, and so on.
phone (office)
The telephone number, including area code, at the contact's work site.
pick-up sheet
A list of items to be picked-up at the supplier’s site by a specific carrier for transport to the customer on a specific day.
planned delivery date
The planned date on which the items on the order/schedule line must be delivered. The planned delivery date cannot occur before the order date/schedule generation date.
planned receipt date
The planned date on which the items on the order/schedule line are planned to be received. The planned receipt date cannot occur before the order date/schedule generation date.
planned requirement
A requirement that is communicated to a business partner for information and planning purposes only.
planned shipment date
The planned date on which the items on the order/schedule line must be shipped/picked up at the ship from business partner's site. The planned shipment date cannot fall before the order date.
planned warehouse order
An order created in Sales that forms the basis for most schedule-related processes. Planned warehouse orders, which are created during sales schedule approval, decouple schedule updates and revisions from warehouse orders. They serve as the interface between Sales on one hand and Warehousing and Invoicing on the other hand.
planner
The employee or department responsible for planning the production, purchase and distribution of items. The planner takes into account the inventory levels, availability of materials, and capacities of resources, and reacts on signals such as rescheduling messages that LN generates.
position number of an order line
The number used to identify the position of the order line on the sales or purchase order.
potential backorder
A backorder that must be manually confirmed and that can be modified by the user.

The following can result in a potential backorder:

  • The received quantity of the purchase order line is less than the ordered quantity at the time of delivery date.
  • The received quantity is partially rejected during inspection.
  • The received quantity is equal to the ordered quantity, but the user changes the backorder quantity from zero into a higher value.
premium
A free item that is offered to the customer as part of a promotion.
price agreements
The agreement that concerns the prices and allowances of specific goods/services.
price book
An entity in which you can store price information that is valid for a given period of time.

A price book includes the following elements:

  • A price book header, which contains the code, type, and use of the price book.
  • One or more price book lines, which contain the items.

A quantity or value break discount schedule can be linked to a price book.

price group
A group of items to which the same pricing characteristics apply.
price matrix
A pricing structure that offers flexible criteria to define prices and discounts. You can set up additional prices for items in a price matrix.
price unit
The unit to which the (sales/purchase) price applies.
Pricing
Enables you to define prices and discounts in a flexible way. A basic price is retrieved from a predefined price book.

If pricing matrices are used, depending on the matrix type and by using a matrix definition, the different elements of the item file, business partner, and sales or purchase order (line) can be combined at various levels.

pricing information
Pricing information includes prices, discounts, promotions, and freight rates. If pricing matrices are used, pricing information is maintained for sets of attributes and values. The attributes are defined in matrix definitions and the values in the relevant pricing matrix.
Example

You can define a price for the following attributes and values:

AttributeValue
Sold-to business partnerApex Wholesalers, Inc.
Delivery termsCoD (cash on delivery)
ItemCan opener aw10

 

pricing matrices
A Pricing matrix is an entity in which prices, discounts, freight rates, or promotions are maintained for customers, suppliers and/or items.

In Pricing, these types of matrices are available:

  • Price matrices
  • Discount matrices
  • Promotion matrices
  • Freight Rate matrices

Essentially, a Pricing matrix includes the following elements:

  • A matrix type
  • A matrix definition
  • A set of matrix attributes
  • Pricing information, such as price books, discount schedules, promotions, or freight rate books

The matrix type and the matrix definition determine the available matrix attributes. The pricing information is determined by the type of Pricing matrix.

Example

In a price matrix, you can specify a price for the following attributes and values:

AttributeValue
Sold-to business partnerApex Wholesalers
Delivery termsCoD (cash on delivery)
ItemCan opener aw10

 

When an order is entered for Apex Wholesalers for item Can opener aw10, and the delivery terms are CoD, the price maintained in the price matrix is used to calculate the price for the order.

printing/processing jobs
The fixed jobs that print or process data in batch. A job can be repeated whenever desired or used for checking purposes.
priority
An option that enables you to add a certain rating for suppliers. If the priority is defined, the item/supplier combinations are sorted according to descending priority.
prior required CUM
A schedule's total required CUM calculated from the last CUM reset date through the (next) schedule issue date.

In contrast to required CUM, prior CUM also includes the requirements of released schedule lines for which no receipts are booked yet.

product variant
A unique configuration of a configurable item. The variant results from the configuration process and includes information such as feature options, components, and operations.
Example

Configurable item: electric drill

Options:

  • 3 power sources (batteries, 12 V or 220 V)
  • 2 colors (blue, gray).

A total of 6 product variants can be produced with these options.

profit amount
The budgeted gross profit amount in a specific period, expressed in the home currency.
pro forma invoice
An invoice sent to the buyer who must pay for the goods before they are sent to that buyer.
project code
The unique code of a main project, a subproject or a single project. By means of a project code, the complete production can be managed on the basis of customer orders.
promising status
A status that informs you about whether a sales quotation line, sales order line, or sales component line can be promised to a customer, or whether inventory checks must still be carried out or insufficient inventory situations must still be resolved for the line.
promotion
The application of an additional discount, value off, or premium to a sales order based on predefined order levels of selected items. Two basic types of promotions exist: order level and line level.
promotional contract
A type of special contract that applies to each sold-to business partner. As a result, the sold-to business partner is not entered in the contract.
promotion group
An entity in which items, sold-to business partners, or promotions that share the same promotion attribute values are maintained.
pull schedule
Two types of pull schedules exist:
  • Pull forecast schedules
    A list of time-phased planned requirements, generated by Enterprise Planning, that are sent to the supplier. Pull forecast schedules are only used for forecasting purposes. To actually order the items, a pull call-off schedule must be generated.
  • Pull call-off schedules
    A list of time-phased specific requirements of purchased items, triggered from Assembly Control, Shop Floor Control, or Warehousing (KANBAN, Time-phased order point).
purchase advice
A recommendation that can originate from various planning mechanisms and which indicates what items must be purchased and when. You can also manually create and maintain the advice.
purchase contract
Purchase contracts are used to register specific agreements with a buy-from business partner that concern the delivery of specific goods.

A contract is comprised of:

  • A purchase contract header with general business partner data, and optionally, a linked terms and conditions agreement.
  • One or more purchase contract lines with (central) price agreements, logistic agreements, and quantity information that apply to an item or price group.
  • Purchase contract line details with logistic agreements and quantity information that apply to an item or price group for a specific site (warehouse) of a multisite corporation. Contract line details can exist only for corporate purchase contracts.
purchase contract history
The purchase contracts that have been added, changed, copied, or deleted. Whenever a transaction is made to the purchase contract (line), LN writes a copy of the transaction to the history.
purchase contract line
The agreement with a supplier about a certain item. A purchase contract line contains both commercial and logistic conditions related to the supply of one item, during a period of time.

In case of a corporate purchase contract, the purchase contract line is a Total line, because it has linked purchase contract line details.

purchase contract line detail
The agreement with a supplier about a certain item for a specific site (warehouse). A purchase contract line detail contains quantity and logistic conditions related to the supply of one item by a specific warehouse, during a period of time.

Contract line details can exist only for corporate purchase contracts.

purchase coordinator
The employee who is responsible for registering item-manufacturer information and item-supplier information for those manufacturers and suppliers that are acceptable for a specific item.
purchase currency
The monetary unit in which the purchase price is expressed.
purchased item
An item that is typically procured from an outside source. A bill of material and routing can be linked to a purchased item.
purchase invoice
Purchased goods that are received, inspected (if required), and posted to inventory are placed on a purchase invoice. You must pay the buy-from business partner for the quantity on the invoice.

The buy-from business partner, order, item data, prices, and discounts are printed on the invoice. You can compare the data on the invoice to the invoice you receive from the buy-from business partner.

purchase office for requisitions
A department, clearly identified in the company business model, that manages business partner purchase relationships. This department identifies the location from which a purchase requisition is initiated. Purchase office information is used to convert the requisition to a purchase order or request for quotation (RFQ).
purchase order
The order that indicates which items are delivered by a buy-from business partner according to certain terms and conditions.

A purchase order contains:

  • A header with general order data, buy-from business partner data, payment terms, and delivery terms
  • One or more order lines with more detailed information about the actual items to be delivered
purchase order acknowledgment
A message that suppliers send to the purchaser to confirm the receipt of the purchase order, which usually implies the acceptance of the order by the supplier.

Suppliers can change the purchase order data in the order acknowledgment according to:

  • Their company's terms and conditions.
  • Former agreements with the purchaser.
purchase order header
The general information of a purchase order.

A purchase order header contains, among other things:

  • General order data
  • General buy-from business partner data
  • Payment terms
  • Delivery terms
purchase order history
The purchase orders that have been added changed, copied, or deleted. Whenever a purchase order line is maintained the system writes a copy of it to the history. A copy is created for each transaction.
purchase order lines

The lines on purchase orders that record detailed information about, for example:

  • The ordered items
  • The price agreements
  • The delivery dates
  • Shipping
  • Invoicing

You can have one or more lines on a purchase order.

purchase order type
The order type determines which sessions are part of the order procedure and how and in which sequence this procedure is executed.
purchase order unit of measure
The unit in which item dimensions are expressed on purchase orders.
purchase payable receipt
Indicates when billing is applicable for purchased goods and contains the payable and invoicing details for an order or schedule. By means of purchase payable receipts, updates to and from the Accounts Payable module are handled.

If the payment for the purchased goods is set to Pay on Use, the payable receipt is generated when inventory related to a purchase order or a purchase schedule is consumed, that is, issued from the warehouse. If the payment is set to Pay on Receipt, the payable receipt is generated the moment the purchased goods are received.

purchase price
The price you pay for an item, expressed in the purchase currency.
purchase price unit
The item unit in which an item's purchase price is expressed. This unit can differ from the item's inventory unit.
purchase release
A purchase release is used to send out, under one release number, those schedules that share the following common characteristics:
  • Buy-from business partner
  • Ship-from business partner
  • Ship-to address
  • Release type (material release/ shipping schedule/ sequence shipping schedule)
  • Shipment based schedule/ receipt based schedule
  • Communication method
  • Warehouse
purchase requisition
A request by a user to obtain authorization for the procurement of goods and services.

A purchase requisition includes both standard and nonstandard material, cost, or service requirements. Information on a purchase requisition includes name, department, location, purchase office, and approver in the header section. The requisition line detail includes item, supplier, quantity, price, and amount.

A purchase requisition can be converted to one of the following:

  • Purchase order
  • Request for quotation (RFQ)
purchase schedule
A timetable of planned supply of materials. Purchase schedules support long-term purchasing with frequent deliveries and are usually backed by a purchase contract. All requirements for the same item, buy-from business partner, ship-from business partner, purchase office, and warehouse are stored in one schedule.
purchase unit
The unit in which you purchase an item, also referred to as the purchase quantity unit.
push schedule
A list of time-phased requirements, generated by a central planning system, such as Enterprise Planning or Project, that are sent to the supplier. Push schedules contain both a forecast for the longer term and actual orders for the short term.

A push schedule can use one of the following release types:

  • Material Release: only material releases are sent. Shipping is performed based on the Firm and Immediate requirements in the material release.
  • Shipping Schedule: both material releases and shipping schedules are sent. Shipping is carried out based on the Firm and Immediate requirements in the shipping schedule. The material release only sends forecasting data.
  • Shipping Schedule Only: only shipping schedules are sent. Shipping is carried out based on the Firm and Immediate requirements in the shipping schedule. No forecasting data is sent to the supplier.
quantity
The budgeted amounts of an item in a specific period expressed in the inventory unit.
quantity tolerance (-)
The minimum quantity that a supplier must deliver. The minimum quantity tolerance is expressed as a percentage of the ordered quantity.
quantity tolerance (+)
The maximum quantity that a supplier can deliver. The maximum quantity tolerance is expressed as a percentage of the ordered quantity.
quotation
A written proposal that offers goods or services for a certain price and terms of sale to a prospective purchaser upon request.
quotation header
A header that contains the general data related to the sales quotation, such as payment terms and delivery terms.
quotation lines
The lines used to record the items offered, as well as the associated price agreements and quantities. A sales quotation includes one or more quotation lines.
rate (currency exchange rate)
The exchange rate (purchase or sales) of currencies.
raw authorizations
The valid authorization for the business partner to buy the raw materials required on a purchase schedule. The raw authorization is expressed as a cumulative quantity and is calculated using the raw period.
raw authorization through date
The date until which the raw authorization is valid.
raw period
The time period during which the supplier is authorized to procure the raw materials required on a schedule, calculated from the schedule issue date on for push schedules, and from the current date on for pull forecast schedules.

The raw period is expressed in a number of days.

Example
  • CUM start quantity: 10000
  • Schedule issue date/current date: 05.07.99
  • Raw period: 20 days
Issue/current dateQuantity
05.07.99100
12.07.99100
19.07.99100
26.07.99100

 

Raw time fence   : 05.07.99 (+ 20 days) = 25.07.99.
Raw authorization: 10000 + 100 + 100 + 100 = 10300.
rebate
The amount of money to be paid to a sold-to business partner as a kind of discount for closing a sales order.
rebate agreement
An agreement on the bonus (discount) to be paid to a customer for the sale of a particular item (or item group).
rebate amount
The amount of money to be paid to a sold-to business partner as a kind of discount for closing a sales order.
received cumulative
A schedule's total received cumulative quantity, calculated from the CUM reset date on up to the last transaction date, which is the receipt date. Received CUMs are updated as soon as receipts are made for the schedule line(s).
received quantity
The quantity delivered by the supplier identified in the purchase unit or the inventory unit.
reference
A number that, if determined by Assembly Control, refers to a unique combination of line station, assembly kit, and parent serial number.

A number that, if determined by Purchase Control, refers to a unique purchase schedule call-off that is generated from Warehousing.

reference A
The first extra reference by which the order or request for quotation can be identified. This reference is printed on various order documents and lists.
reference B
The second extra reference field that you can fill with extra information. This reference is printed on the order documents and lists.
reference date
The date that determines which orders are printed on the reminder. All orders that are not yet delivered and have a confirmed or planned delivery date before or equal to the reference date, are printed on the reminding note.
referenced schedule
A schedule that contains lines with reference numbers. When goods are shipped, received, and invoiced, the reference numbers are used to communicate with suppliers and other LN packages.
regeneration
The process of rearranging schedule lines and moving the lines in time.

Regeneration is only carried out for non-referenced schedules.

rejected
The status assigned to a purchase requisition when an approver rejects a requisition with the Pending Approval status.
rejected quantity
The number of delivered items that is rejected.
relation
A shortened term for trade relation. Relation is a collective term for an employee or buy-from business partner that is entitled to a commission, and a sold-to business partner entitled to a rebate. Relations can be grouped in a relation team for the purpose of assigning the same agreement structure.
relation team
A function used to group relations so that multiple relations can be linked to a sales order. As a result, the appropriate relations will be rewarded for the sales activities that concern a specific sales order.
relation type
A classification that determines whether a commission or a rebate is involved, as well as how commissions are to be paid. The relation is a sold-to business partner to whom a rebate is granted, or a buy-from business partner (agent) or an employee (representative) to whom commission is paid.
release date
The planned date to release the order to Warehousing. The release date is calculated by subtracting the warehouse inbound lead time from the planned delivery date.
release position number
A number used to identify the position of a purchase schedule in a purchase release. Each release line receives a separate release position number.
release revision number
A number that uniquely identifies the revision of the release. The release revision number indicates the updates that are sent to the business partner.
release type
A classification used to specify the type of the release based on which schedule requirements are grouped and EDI messages can be generated. These messages are indicated by the used schedule.
reminder
A purchase order document that urges the supplier to deliver the ordered goods under the conditions agreed upon.
replace structure
Copy an existing structure into another existing structure, replacing the current structure of the target category.
request for quotation (RFQ)
A purchasing document that is used as a request to bidders to submit their terms, such as price, discount, delivery time, and payment terms for delivering a (quantity of a) product.

You can send the RFQ to several bidders. The bidders can submit RFQ responses for the specified items.

You can record the responses, negotiate, and compare the prices and discounts that are offered by different bidders.

An accepted response can be copied to a contract, an order, or a price book.

request for quotation (RFQ) line
The lines that include the item details in a request for quotation (RFQ), such as required quantity, time to be delivered, delivery warehouse and so on.

The item lines are sent to the bidder. As a result, the bidder can respond to each item individually. The bidder can also give alternatives for the required item.

request for quotation date
The date on which the request for quotation is specified.
required cumulative
A schedule's total required cumulative quantity, calculated from the CUM reset date on up to the planned requirement date, which is the planned delivery date or planned shipment date. Required CUMs are updated as soon as receipts are confirmed for the schedule line(s).
requirement type
Three requirement types exist that represent a requirement in time, used for scheduling.

The available requirement types are:

  • Immediate
  • Firm
  • Planned

For non-referenced schedules, requirement types are linked to segments.

For pull forecast schedules, the requirement type is always Planned or Immediate. For pull call-off schedules, the requirement type is always Firm.

response date
The last date on which the bidder can submit an RFQ response on the request for quotation.
response line
A response to a request for quotation line, which includes a bidder's bid for the RFQ line. A bid offers goods or services for a certain price and terms of sale and can be considered as an offer to sell.
retroactive billing
retrobilling
To re-invoice previously shipped items using a price based on a new contract negotiation. Retrobilling can also be performed on individual sales orders/schedules that are not related to a contract.
Synonym: retroactive billing
return note
A note that accompanies purchased goods when they are rejected in an inspection and must be sent back to the buy-from business partner.
return order
A purchase or sales order on which returned shipments are reported. A return order can only contain negative amounts.
return reason
The reason why the delivered goods are rejected and returned.
RFQ criteria set
A list of request for quotation (RFQ) criterions that can be linked to an RFQ header. An RFQ response is valuated according to these criteria.
RFQ criterion
A subjective criterion used to determine which RFQ response is accepted. You can link RFQ criterions to RFQ criterion sets.
RFQ response
A response to a request for quotation, which includes one or more response lines with bids. A bid offers goods or services for a certain price and terms of sale and can be considered as an offer to sell.
rush order
An order that must be executed as soon as possible and that usually requires special payment and delivery terms.
safety time
The time that you can add to the normal lead time to protect delivery of goods against fluctuations in the lead time so that an order can be completed before the order's real need date.
sales acknowledgment code
A code that represents the reasons for a change of a sales order.
sales channel
A structured path in distribution to sell your merchandise.
Synonym: channel
sales contract
Sales contracts are used to register agreements about the delivery of goods with a sold-to business partner .

A contract is comprised of the following:

  • A sales contract header with general business partner data, and optionally, a linked terms and conditions agreement.
  • One or more sales contract lines with price/discount agreements and quantity information that apply to an item or price group.
sales contract header
Comprises general business partner data and data to identify general terms for the contract such as effective date and type of sales contract. Optionally, a terms and conditions agreement can be linked to the header.
sales contract history
A log file that contains information about all sales contracts that are created, modified, copied, or deleted. Whenever a sales contract is maintained, LN writes a copy of that contract to the history. A copy is created for each transaction.
sales contract line history
A log file that contains information about all sales contract lines that are created, modified, copied, or deleted.
sales currency
The monetary unit in which the sales price is expressed.
sales invoice
A bill that relates to the sale of goods or services. A sales invoice is a document, sent by the seller to the buyer, for each sale containing details on the goods sold.
sales office
A department that is identified in the company business model to manage the business partner's sales relations. The sales office is used to identify the locations that are responsible for the organization's sales activities.
sales order
An agreement that is used to sell items or services to a business partner according to certain terms and conditions. A sales order consists of a header and one or more order lines.

The general order data such as business partner data, payment terms, and delivery terms are stored in the header. The data about the actual items to be supplied, such as price agreements and delivery dates, is entered on the order lines.

sales order header
A sales order contains items that are delivered to a customer, according to certain terms and conditions. The header of a sales order contains general data.
sales order installment
An order that is not paid for immediately but in partial amounts or percentages of the total net amount.

You can send invoices for a percentage of the total net amount on the sales order, before or after the ordered goods are actually delivered. In this case, a number of installment lines is added to the sales order. An installment line consists of an amount and a number of additional details.

Billed installments are settled (subtracted from the goods amount) when the goods are delivered and invoiced.

sales order lines
A sales order contains items that are delivered to a customer, according to certain terms and conditions. The lines of a sale order are used to record the items ordered, as well as the associated price agreements and delivery dates.
sales order number
A unique control number assigned to each new customer order, usually during order entry. A sales order number is often used by order promising, master scheduling, cost accounting, invoicing, and so on. For some make-to-order products, a sales order number can also take the place of an end item part number by becoming the control number that is scheduled through the finishing operations.
sales order type
The order type, which determines the sessions that are part of the order procedure and how and in which sequence this procedure is executed.
sales order units of measure
The units in which item dimensions in sales orders are expressed.
sales price
The price for which an item is sold.
sales price list
The highest level used to record prices and discounts for a group of customers and/or suppliers. The price and discount can be determined by linking a price list code to a sales order.
sales process
A standard sales methodology that must be followed when working on an opportunity. A sales process is split up in phases.
sales quotations
A statement of price, the terms of sale, and a description of goods or services offered by a supplier to a prospective purchaser; a bid. The customer data, payment terms, and delivery terms are contained in the header; the data about the actual items is entered on the quotation lines. When given in response to a request for quotation, a bid is usually considered an offer to sell.
sales release
Identifies, by one release number, those sales schedules that share the following common characteristics:
  • Sold-to business partner.
  • Ship-to business partner.
  • Ship-to address.
  • Release type (material release/ shipping schedule/ sequence shipping schedule/ pick-up sheet).
  • Shipment based schedule/ receipt based schedule.
  • Schedule quantity qualifier.
  • Forecast horizon start and end.
  • Sales release origin.
  • Customer release.
  • (Customer order).
sales representative
An employee of your company who maintains contact with the sold-to business partner. The employee number of the sales representative is also used as a sorting criterion in the sales statistics.
sales schedule
A timetable of planned supply of materials. Sales schedules support long-term sales with frequent deliveries. All requirements for the same item, sold-to business partner, ship-to business partner, and delivery parameter are stored in the same sales schedule.
sales schedule revision number
A number that uniquely identifies the revision of the sales schedule. The sales schedule revision number indicates the sales schedule updates that are sent by your business partner.
sales unit
The unit in which an item is sold.
salutations
The phrase used to address the recipient of a letter. For instance: Dear Sir, Miss, or To the Board of Directors.
schedule issue date
The date and time, calculated by the issue pattern, which, for non-referenced schedules, is used to define the moment at which:
  • Schedule lines are clustered.
  • A purchase release is sent.
schedule line
The location where all separate requirements of one specific item delivered by a combination of the same buy-from business partner and ship-from business partner, ordered from a single purchase office, are located.
schedule number
An automatically generated and unique character string that identifies the schedule. This number is used as long as the requirement or the contract exists.

If schedule regeneration takes place, the schedule lines that are affected by the regeneration are copied to a new schedule revision number.

schedule position number
The number of the schedule line. This number uniquely identifies each requirement of an item that a specified business partner must supply at a specific date and time.
schedule quantity
The quantity of the item required for the schedule line(s).
schedule revision number
The original schedule line that starts with revision number one. After each regeneration of the schedule, changed records are inserted with a new revision number. All new lines inserted can be compared against the current revision.
schedule text
A specific text with for example additional reference information.
search argument
A keyword that is used for searching. A search argument is usually linked to a description.
search priorities
Search priorities are used to find a valid agreement for the entered search combination or search level.

If a valid agreement is found for the first priority, the agreement will be used. If not, LN searches for a valid agreement for the second priority and so on.

segment
A part of a schedule that defines a unit of time used for scheduling. A segment contains a requirement type, a segment time unit, and a segment length.
segment code
The code that identifies the schedule segment.
segment length
The period that is assigned to the segment. The period is expressed in the segment time unit.
segment set
A set that is used to define the structure of a schedule. A segment set consists of a number of segments.

The segment set is used for schedule regeneration and for clustering schedule lines. No segment sets are used for pull call-off schedules.

segment time unit
The time unit in which the segment is expressed, for example days, weeks, months, and so on.
selection
A predefined set of data that must be printed or processed. Such a set is defined by a selection expression (or a selection criterion). You can define an expression in the Text Manager, which is used to retrieve data from the database for maintenance/printing.
sequence number
The number used to identify in detail the position number of a sales order (delivery) line or a purchase order line (detail).
sequence shipping schedule
A shipping schedule with precise information about the production or deliveries of the requirements. This schedule can include the production or delivery sequence, and the order, the place, and the time of unloading after shipment.
service item
A standard item that represents services instead of goods.
set number
A number used to group together one or more order lines. Order lines with the same set number are released simultaneously to, for example, warehousing or invoicing.
ship-from business partner capacity
The maximum number of items the ship-from business partner can ship in the specified capacity time unit. LN takes into account this value to create valid requirements.
shipment ID
The code of the shipment created by Warehousing during the advance shipment notice (ASN) process.
shipment sequence
The shipment sequence created by Warehousing during the advance shipment notice (ASN) process for a particular shipment ID.
shipped cumulative
A schedule's total shipped cumulative quantity for which an advance shipment notice is received, calculated from the CUM-reset date on up to the last transaction date, which is the shipment date. If you do not use advance shipment notices, shipped CUMs are not updated in a logistic company.
shipped quantity
The quantity shipped against a particular shipment ID and shipment sequence.
shipping schedule
A schedule on which detailed information is given about shipping times or delivery times and quantities. A shipping schedule facilitates just-in-time (JIT) management.
simulation codes
The simulations that help you calculating the priority sequence in which inventory is allocated to orders.
smoothing factor
The factor used to calculate smoothing data.
sort code
An identifying code and description of a set of data fields grouped in a sequence. These data fields are used in statistics reports and displays. When a report or display is generated, the fields are filled with data from the database and displayed in the report or display according to the sequence defined in the sort code.
source
The places, events, or methods where or through which business partners come in contact with your company (for example, a trade fair or an advertisement).
source code
The code that identifies a source within LN.
sourcing percentage
A percentage used to calculate how orders are divided among suppliers.
sourcing rule
The planning system that contains the rules for allocating demand based on a combination of supplier priority and percentage allocation to specific suppliers.
special contract
A customer-oriented contract, agreed upon by buy-from business partners and sold-to business partners that is used to record specific agreements for specific projects. A special contract can also be a promotional contract.

For special contracts, an overlap in effectivity periods is allowed for the same item/business partner combination.

specific category
A category that is linked to a specific sold-to business partner.
start date
The date and time the activity started.
statistical year
The tax year.
subcategory
Defines lower levels (catalog pages) of a catalog structure.
subcontracted service
The auxiliary item code for recording subcontracting operations. Items of this type also belong to the administrative items. These items are non-physical items which are used to record the subcontracting costs.
subcontractor
A business partner that is hired to perform certain services, such as the execution of a part of a project or production order. The services are delivered via a purchase order.
subjective criterion
A criterion whose rating is based on user judgements that are entered in a questionnaire.

You can classify subjective criteria in a tree structure.

Subjective criteria are taken into account in vendor rating.

subjective value
Subjective values are used to provide the user with an easy to use rating scale on a vendor rating questionnaire and the ranking of RFQ responses. The method of using subjective values prevents the user from rating criteria on percentage scale. You can assign actual values to the subjective values. The actual values are expressed in percentages.
success percentage
A percentage associated with a quotation that represents the probability of the business partner accepting the quotation. Acceptance results in the conversion of the quotation into a sales order.
suggested retail price
The sales price that suppliers recommend and that resellers charge their customers.
supplier capacity
The maximum capacity of a business partner for a given period.
supplier order number
The number the buy-from business partner assigned to the order.
supplier price book

A standard purchase price book that is used to store the following:

  • The default purchase price of an item by buy-from business partner, ship-from business partner, or both
  • The prices copied from RFQ responses
  • The default prices of items
supply chain
The physical entities, people, and processes that lead from acquiring raw materials from suppliers to providing finished products to meet customer requirements.
supply time
The total time required to obtain an item that is forecasted. This time is used to calculate an item's order lead time, based on which a company takes commitment decisions and executes capacity planning and order management.
Example

For item A, the supplier communicated a supply time of 50 days. This is in fact a reduced lead time and is only possible because a three year forecast is sent to the supplier for this item. If additional quantities are needed, which are not included in the forecast, the supplier needs the full supply time, which is 300 days.

surname
A person's last name in personnel data.
surplus
A quantity of one or more shipped components that makes an incomplete kit. The remaining components must still be delivered, unless completion of the sales order line is impossible for some reason.
system date
The current date that is generated by the system.
table fields in CRM
The table fields from the LN database that can be used in selection expressions and letter and report layouts in CRM.
target price
The price that forms the basis for margin control calculations.

A target price can be one of the following prices:

  • The sales price
  • The recommended retail price
  • The cost price of the item
  • The selling price found after a search in Pricing

The target price and the sales price are evaluated in relation to the margin limits registered in the item file.

task
An activity type that specifies an action to be executed for a contact, business partner, opportunity, or activity that you want to track through completion.
termination letter
A letter sent from the customer to the supplier that states that a contract has been ended.
thank-you-for-bidding-letter
A letter sent to buy-from business partners who are involved in the bidding process to thank the buy-from business partners who did not receive the order.
total approved quantity
The total quantity of approved items expressed in the purchase unit.
total contract amount
The total value of the goods recorded on the contract.
total discount
transaction date/time
The date and time when the order/schedule/contract (line) is changed and/or written to the history file.
turnover
The annual sales volume.
unit price
The default unit price calculated by multiplying the price factor by the base price from the most current price book of the price matrix.
upper bound
Time period during which the schedule line quantity can decrease, but not increase, and during which the creation of new schedule lines is not allowed.

Upper bound applies when the end of the frozen zone- lies before the end of the frozen zone+.

upper limit
The highest value or quantity for which you are allowed to add additional costs.
user
The person that works with an application software package.
user defaults (sales)
The default data recorded by the user that substantially affects the creation of sales quotations and sales orders. This data determines the method of order entry, the default values during order input, the degree of acceptance after order entry, and so on.
user profile (sales)
The default data that is recorded by the user and influences the creation of sales quotations, sales contracts, sales orders, and sales schedules. This data determines the method of order entry, default values during order input, and so on.
user profiles (purchase)
The default data that is recorded by the user and influences the creation of purchase requisitions, requests-for-quotation, purchase contracts, purchase orders, purchase schedules, purchase releases, call-offs, and approval rules. This data determines the method of order entry, default values during order input, and so on.
vendor rating
A classification of a supplier based on certain criteria. These criteria can be based on deliveries (on time, sufficient quality) and on other factors.