Your Accounts Payable Payment Processing Data Template

SAP S/4HANA
Your Accounts Payable Payment Processing Data Template

Your Accounts Payable Payment Processing Data Template

This template provides a comprehensive blueprint for mapping your payment lifecycle within SAP S/4HANA to a process mining event log. It outlines the specific data points and process milestones necessary to gain full visibility into your financial workflows. By following this guide, you can ensure your data extraction covers all critical stages from invoice receipt to final payment clearing.
  • Core attributes for vendor and payment analysis
  • Essential process milestones for the payment cycle
  • Specialized extraction logic for SAP S/4HANA systems
New to event logs? Learn how to create a process mining event log.

Accounts Payable Payment Processing Attributes

This section lists the recommended data fields and organizational identifiers required to build a detailed event log for your accounts payable payment analysis.
5 Required 11 Recommended 7 Optional
Name Description
Activity
Activity
The specific task or event status change recorded for the invoice.
Description

This attribute represents the distinct process steps occurring during the lifecycle of the invoice. It captures events such as invoice creation, posting, blocking, approval, and payment clearing. The activity names are derived from transaction codes, change log entries, or workflow status updates found in the source system.

For analysis, this field is critical for mapping the process flow variant. It allows the process mining engine to visualize the sequence of steps, identify rework loops, and determine where the process deviates from the standard happy path. It is the core component of the event log.

Why it matters

It defines the nodes in the process map, allowing for the visualization of workflow and bottlenecks.

Where to get

Derived from Transaction Codes (TCODE) or Change Document Header (CDHDR) and Item (CDPOS)

Examples
Invoice PostedPayment Block AppliedPayment Run ExecutedInvoice Cleared
Event Time
EventTime
The exact timestamp when the activity occurred.
Description

The Event Time records the specific date and time when an activity was committed to the SAP database. It provides the temporal dimension necessary to order events sequentially within a case. This timestamp is usually constructed by combining the CPU Date and CPU Time fields from the system logs or document headers.

In analysis, this attribute is essential for calculating cycle times, duration, and throughput. It enables the measurement of time gaps between steps, such as the time taken between invoice receipt and final approval, which is crucial for identifying bottlenecks and assessing KPI performance like Average Invoice Approval Time.

Why it matters

It provides the chronological order of events and is the basis for all time-based performance calculations.

Where to get

SAP Table BKPF field CPUDT (Entry Date) and CPUTM (Entry Time), or CDHDR fields UDATE and UTIME

Examples
2023-10-12T08:30:00.000Z2023-10-12T14:15:22.000Z2023-10-15T09:00:00.000Z
Invoice Number
InvoiceNumber
The unique identifier for the vendor invoice being processed.
Description

The Invoice Number is the primary key for tracking the lifecycle of a payable item within the SAP S/4HANA system. It specifically refers to the accounting document number generated upon posting the invoice to the general ledger. In standard SAP terminology, this corresponds to the Document Number (BELNR) found within a specific Company Code and Fiscal Year.

In process analysis, this attribute serves as the Case ID. It links all disparate activities—from the initial receipt and parking of the invoice, through various approval blocks and modifications, to the final clearing payment. Grouping events by this identifier allows analysts to reconstruct the full end-to-end history of every payment obligation.

Why it matters

It serves as the definitive Case ID, enabling the end-to-end reconstruction of the payment process flow.

Where to get

SAP Table BKPF (Accounting Document Header) field BELNR or ACDOCA field BELNR

Examples
1900000523510000289119000006015100003002
Last Data Update
LastDataUpdate
The timestamp indicating when the record was last extracted or refreshed.
Description

Last Data Update marks the point in time when the data was successfully loaded into the process mining platform. It does not reflect the time of the business event, but rather the freshness of the dataset itself. This is crucial for maintaining trust in the analytics dashboards.

In analysis, this attribute helps users understand the currency of the information they are viewing. It is particularly important when monitoring near real-time dashboards like the Payment Block Analysis, ensuring that decisions are made based on the most recent state of the SAP S/4HANA system.

Why it matters

It informs users of data freshness, critical for operational dashboards.

Where to get

Generated by the ETL / extraction process

Examples
2023-10-27T23:59:59.000Z2023-11-01T06:00:00.000Z
Source System
SourceSystem
The identifier of the SAP S/4HANA instance where the data originated.
Description

This attribute identifies the specific ERP installation or client from which the process data was extracted. In landscapes with multiple SAP instances or legacy systems running in parallel, this field ensures data lineage is maintained and allows for cross-system comparisons.

For analysis, this field acts as a high-level filter. It helps analysts segregate data when benchmarking performance across different regional system installations or when validating data consistency during system migration projects. It ensures that any process variations attributed to system configuration are properly contextualized.

Why it matters

It distinguishes data sources in multi-system environments, ensuring accurate segmentation.

Where to get

System ID (SY-SYSID) from the SAP installation context

Examples
SAP_PROD_01S4H_NA_100ERP_EU_200
Clearing Date
ClearingDate
The date on which the invoice was cleared by payment.
Description

The Clearing Date records when the open item in the accounts payable ledger was balanced off, typically by a payment run or a manual payment posting. This effectively marks the end of the liability.

In analysis, this attribute is used to calculate the final cycle time of the process. It is the timestamp used for the 'Payment Cleared' activity and is compared against the Net Due Date to determine On-Time Payment Performance. It feeds directly into the Payment Clearing Efficiency dashboard.

Why it matters

It marks the completion of the payment process and is used to determine payment timeliness.

Where to get

SAP Table BSEG or AUGDT field AUGDT

Examples
2023-11-012023-11-15
Company Code
CompanyCode
The organizational unit for which the balance sheet and P&L are created.
Description

The Company Code represents the independent accounting entity within the enterprise. It is the central organizational unit in external accounting and is used to structure the financial data. Every invoice is assigned to exactly one Company Code.

In analysis, this attribute allows for the segmentation of KPIs by legal entity or region. It is used in dashboards to compare the efficiency of accounts payable teams across different subsidiaries. For example, it helps identify if a specific branch has a higher rate of manual payment blocks compared to the corporate standard.

Why it matters

It segments the process by legal entity, facilitating internal benchmarking.

Where to get

SAP Table BKPF field BUKRS

Examples
US01DE1010002000
Document Type
DocumentType
Classifies the accounting document (e.g., Vendor Invoice, Payment, Credit Memo).
Description

The Document Type is a two-character code in SAP that classifies the accounting transaction. Common types include 'KR' for Vendor Invoices, 'KZ' for Vendor Payments, and 'RE' for Invoice Receipt Gross. It dictates the number range and field status of the document.

In analysis, this attribute is used to filter the process scope. For instance, an analyst might want to exclude Credit Memos to focus solely on the efficiency of outgoing payments. It also helps in identifying the mix of transaction types being processed and supports the Process Variant Complexity dashboard.

Why it matters

It categorizes the case (invoice vs. credit memo), allowing for filtered analysis.

Where to get

SAP Table BKPF field BLART

Examples
KRREKZKG
Invoice Amount
InvoiceAmount
The total gross amount of the invoice in the document currency.
Description

This attribute reflects the financial value of the invoice as recorded in the source document. It represents the liability that must be settled with the vendor. In SAP S/4HANA, this is typically stored in the Amount in Document Currency field.

In analysis, the Invoice Amount is used to prioritize work. Dashboards like Manual Touch Point Distribution use this field to highlight if high-effort manual activities are being wasted on low-value invoices. It allows the organization to focus optimization efforts on high-value transactions where process failures carry a larger financial risk.

Why it matters

It provides the financial weight of the case, essential for prioritizing high-value process inefficiencies.

Where to get

SAP Table BKPF or BSEG field WRBTR

Examples
1500.00250.5010000.00
Is Late Payment
IsLatePayment
A boolean flag indicating if the payment was made after the net due date.
Description

This calculated attribute evaluates to true if the Clearing Date is strictly greater than the Net Due Date. It serves as a binary classifier for process performance.

In analysis, this flag is used to count the number of non-compliant cases for the Late Payment Penalty Frequency KPI. It simplifies dashboard creation by allowing a simple count of 'True' values rather than requiring complex date math in the visualization layer.

Why it matters

It simplifies the calculation of on-time performance KPIs.

Where to get

Calculated: Clearing Date > Net Due Date

Examples
truefalse
Is Touchless
IsTouchless
A boolean flag indicating if the invoice was processed without manual intervention.
Description

This attribute is calculated by analyzing the event stream for a case. If the case contains only automated activities (e.g., 'system' user, specific background TCODES) and no manual changes or blocks, it is flagged as touchless.

In analysis, this is the core metric for the Touchless Invoice Rate KPI. It allows the organization to track the success of automation initiatives and identify which case types (e.g., by Vendor or Region) are successfully flowing through the system without human touches.

Why it matters

It is the primary measure of process automation and efficiency.

Where to get

Calculated based on the sequence of activities and user types

Examples
truefalse
Net Due Date
NetDueDate
The calculated date by which the invoice must be paid to avoid penalties.
Description

The Net Due Date is the final deadline for payment. It is calculated by adding the maximum payment term days to the Baseline Date. While sometimes stored explicitly, it is often a calculated field in analysis views.

In analysis, this is the primary benchmark for the Late Payment and Penalty Tracker. Comparing the actual Clearing Date to the Net Due Date generates the 'Days Paid Late' metric, which helps quantify the efficiency of the AP team and the risk of vendor friction.

Why it matters

It is the target deadline for the process; missing it impacts credit rating and incurs costs.

Where to get

Calculated: Baseline Date + Max Payment Term Days (ZBD1T/ZBD2T/ZBD3T)

Examples
2023-11-302023-12-01
Payment Block Reason
PaymentBlockReason
The code indicating why an invoice is blocked for payment.
Description

This attribute contains the specific reason code applied to an invoice that prevents the automatic payment run from picking it up. Examples include 'A' for Blocked for Payment, 'R' for Invoice Verification, or manual blocks set by users.

In analysis, this field is the primary driver for the Manual Payment Block Analysis dashboard. By aggregating the frequency of different block reasons, the organization can diagnose systemic issues, such as frequent price variances or missing goods receipts, that are stalling the payment process.

Why it matters

It identifies the specific cause of process stoppages, enabling targeted root cause analysis.

Where to get

SAP Table BSEG field ZLSPR

Examples
ABR*
Payment Terms
PaymentTerms
The key representing the agreed conditions for payment and discounts.
Description

Payment Terms define when an invoice is due and whether any cash discounts apply for early payment. This code (e.g., 'Z001') maps to rules such as 'Net 30' or '2% 10, Net 30'. It is copied from the Vendor Master to the Invoice but can be manually changed.

In analysis, this attribute is central to the Early Payment Discount Optimizer and Vendor Payment Term Compliance dashboards. It allows the system to calculate the baseline due date and identify if the payment was made within the optimal window to capture savings.

Why it matters

It dictates the expected timeline and financial incentives, key for discount analysis.

Where to get

SAP Table BSEG field ZTERM

Examples
Z001NT300001
User Name
UserName
The ID of the user who performed the specific activity.
Description

The User Name captures the login ID of the person or system agent responsible for executing a process step. This could be a manual user entering data or a background job ID (e.g., 'BATCH_USER') performing automated tasks.

In analysis, this attribute allows for the calculation of the Activity Automation Rate. By distinguishing between human users and system accounts, analysts can measure the level of automation in the process. It is also used in the Manual Touch Point Distribution dashboard to assess workload across teams.

Why it matters

It distinguishes between manual and automated work, enabling automation rate calculations.

Where to get

SAP Table BKPF field USNAM or CDHDR field USERNAME

Examples
BSMITHWF-BATCHRJONES
Vendor Number
VendorNumber
The unique identifier for the supplier associated with the invoice.
Description

The Vendor Number corresponds to the specific creditor account in the SAP sub-ledger. It links the invoice to the master data containing payment terms, bank details, and contact information. In S/4HANA, this is often linked to the Business Partner concept but retains the legacy field name LIFNR in many tables.

In analysis, this attribute is fundamental for the Vendor Payment Term Compliance dashboard. It allows analysts to aggregate process performance by supplier, identifying specific vendors that consistently cause blocks, price variances, or delays. It supports strategic sourcing decisions and supplier relationship management.

Why it matters

It enables performance aggregation by supplier, critical for identifying root causes of delays.

Where to get

SAP Table BKPF field LIFNR or ACDOCA field LIFNR

Examples
100050VEND-US-99200400
Baseline Date
BaselineDate
The date from which payment terms apply and due dates are calculated.
Description

The Baseline Date is the starting point for calculating the net due date and cash discount periods. It is usually the invoice date or the posting date, depending on configuration and vendor master data.

In analysis, this date is a technical prerequisite for calculating the 'Is Late' status. Errors in the baseline date often lead to premature payments (cash flow impact) or late payments (penalty impact). Verifying the accuracy of this date is part of the Vendor Payment Term Compliance analysis.

Why it matters

It is the anchor point for all due date calculations.

Where to get

SAP Table BSEG field ZFBDT

Examples
2023-10-012023-10-15
Cash Discount Days 1
CashDiscountDays1
The number of days from the baseline date during which the first cash discount is available.
Description

This attribute defines the time window for the most favorable payment terms (e.g., '10' in '2% 10, Net 30'). It comes from the terms stored in the invoice line item.

In analysis, this helps determine the 'Target Date' for the Early Payment Discount Optimizer. If the invoice is cleared within this window, the discount is realized. This field helps measure the opportunity cost of slow processing cycles.

Why it matters

It defines the window of opportunity for financial savings.

Where to get

SAP Table BSEG field ZBD1T

Examples
10140
Cash Discount Percentage 1
CashDiscountPercentage1
The percentage of discount available if paid within the first discount period.
Description

This attribute represents the financial incentive rate offered by the vendor for early payment (e.g., '2' in '2% 10').

In analysis, this is used to calculate the 'Potential Cash Discount' value. By multiplying this percentage by the Invoice Amount, the dashboards can visualize the total money left on the table due to process inefficiencies, supporting the business case for automation.

Why it matters

It quantifies the potential savings rate, essential for ROI calculations.

Where to get

SAP Table BSEG field ZBD1P

Examples
2.03.00.0
Currency
Currency
The currency code associated with the invoice amount.
Description

The Currency attribute specifies the denomination of the Invoice Amount, such as USD, EUR, or GBP. It allows for the correct interpretation of financial values and is essential when aggregating data across international company codes.

In analysis, this field ensures that financial KPIs are calculated correctly. It is often used to normalize values into a reporting currency for global dashboards. Without this attribute, aggregate metrics like Total Spend or Average Invoice Value would be meaningless in a multi-currency environment.

Why it matters

It provides context for financial amounts, essential for accurate global reporting.

Where to get

SAP Table BKPF field WAERS

Examples
USDEURGBPJPY
Discount Lost Amount
DiscountLostAmount
The monetary value of cash discounts that were available but not taken.
Description

This calculated attribute represents the 'money left on the table.' It is derived by checking if the payment was made after the discount deadline and, if so, calculating the value of the missed discount percentage applied to the invoice amount.

In analysis, this is a critical financial metric for the Early Payment Discount Optimizer. It quantifies the cost of inefficiency in hard currency, providing a compelling business case for process improvements.

Why it matters

It quantifies the direct financial loss due to process delays.

Where to get

Calculated: If Clearing Date > Discount Date, then Invoice Amount * Discount %

Examples
30.000.00150.00
Fiscal Year
FiscalYear
The financial year to which the invoice belongs.
Description

The Fiscal Year is a time period used for financial reporting. Along with Company Code and Document Number, it forms the composite primary key for a financial document in SAP.

In analysis, this is a technical necessity for uniquely identifying cases, but it also supports year-over-year reporting. It ensures that the 'Invoice Number' Case ID remains unique over decades of data history.

Why it matters

Technical requirement for unique case identification in SAP FI.

Where to get

SAP Table BKPF field GJAHR

Examples
20232024
Purchasing Document
PurchasingDocument
The Purchase Order number associated with the invoice.
Description

This attribute links the invoice to the upstream procurement process. It contains the Purchase Order (PO) number against which the invoice is being matched. Not all invoices (e.g., miscellaneous expenses) will have a PO reference.

In analysis, this field is vital for the Three Way Match Rate Analysis. It allows analysts to separate PO-backed invoices from non-PO invoices, which typically have very different approval workflows. It also facilitates end-to-end process mining by linking Accounts Payable data with Procurement data.

Why it matters

It links AP to Procurement, enabling 3-way match analysis and process extension.

Where to get

SAP Table BSEG field EBELN

Examples
45000012344500009876
Required Recommended Optional

Accounts Payable Payment Processing Activities

This table defines the critical process steps and transaction milestones that you should capture to visualize the end to end payment journey.
6 Recommended 8 Optional
Activity Description
Invoice Posted
Represents the official recording of the liability in the General Ledger. This activity is derived from the creation timestamp in the BKPF table or the entry date in the ACDOCA table.
Why it matters

This is the primary start point for the financial timeline, establishing the baseline for due dates and aging analysis.

Where to get

BKPF table, using CPUDT (Entry Date) and CPUTM (Entry Time).

Capture

Logged when BKPF record created

Event type explicit
Payment Block Applied
Signifies that a payment block has been set on the invoice line item, preventing it from being picked up by the payment run. This is captured by monitoring changes to the ZLSPR field in the BSEG table via change documents.
Why it matters

Blocks are the primary cause of late payments and process friction, directly impacting the Manual Payment Block Analysis dashboard.

Where to get

CDPOS and CDHDR tables (Change Documents), looking for updates to field BSEG-ZLSPR.

Capture

Logged when CDPOS records change in ZLSPR

Event type explicit
Payment Block Removed
Indicates that a previously applied payment block has been lifted, effectively releasing the invoice for payment. This is identified when the ZLSPR field in BSEG changes from a value to null or empty.
Why it matters

Often serves as a proxy for 'Invoice Approved' in systems without explicit workflow logs, marking the end of the bottleneck period.

Where to get

CDPOS and CDHDR tables, looking for BSEG-ZLSPR changing to empty.

Capture

Logged when CDPOS records ZLSPR removal

Event type explicit
Payment Cleared
Marks the final reconciliation where the open item in the vendor account is cleared against the payment. Captured from the AUGDT (Clearing Date) field in the BSEG table.
Why it matters

The final state of the process, indicating the lifecycle is complete and books are balanced. High manual clearing rates indicate reconciliation inefficiencies.

Where to get

BSEG table, field AUGDT (Clearing Date).

Capture

Logged when AUGDT field populated

Event type explicit
Payment Document Created
The generation of the accounting document that credits the bank and debits the vendor. This is found in BKPF with a payment document type (e.g., ZP, KZ).
Why it matters

The financial realization of the payment, used to calculate Days Payable Outstanding (DPO).

Where to get

BKPF table, filtered by Document Type (BLART) specific to payments.

Capture

Logged when BKPF payment doc created

Event type explicit
Payment Run Executed
Represents the execution of the payment run where money transfer instructions are generated. This is tracked via the status update in the REGUH or REGUP tables.
Why it matters

The operational commitment to pay, critical for analyzing the efficiency of the payment batching process.

Where to get

REGUH table, typically correlated with the run date and identification.

Capture

Logged when Payment Run status updates

Event type explicit
Cash Discount Lost
A calculated event marking the date when the eligibility for a cash discount expired. Derived by comparing the discount due date against the current date or payment date.
Why it matters

Essential for the Early Payment Discount Optimizer to visualize lost financial opportunities.

Where to get

Calculated: BSEG-ZFBDT + BSEG-ZBD1T (Discount Days 1).

Capture

Derive from comparing date to Discount Due Date

Event type calculated
Invoice Due
A calculated timestamp representing the moment the invoice reached its net due date. This is derived by adding the payment terms days to the baseline date found in the BSEG table.
Why it matters

Acts as a reference point for On-Time Payment Performance and Late Payment Penalty Tracker.

Where to get

Calculated: BSEG-ZFBDT (Baseline Date) + BSEG-ZBD1T/ZBD2T/ZBD3T (Days).

Capture

Derive from comparing current date to Net Due Date

Event type calculated
Invoice Parked
Indicates that an invoice has been entered into SAP but not yet posted to the General Ledger, often used for preliminary data entry. This is captured explicitly from the VBKPF table or by identifying documents in BKPF with a parked status code before they transition to posted.
Why it matters

Parking indicates the start of the data entry phase and helps measure the lag time between receipt and financial obligation.

Where to get

VBKPF table for header data of parked documents or BKPF with specific document status (BSTAT = V).

Capture

Logged when VBKPF entry created

Event type explicit
Invoice Reversed
Indicates that the invoice document was reversed or cancelled. Captured by checking the STBLG (Reversal Document) field in the BKPF table.
Why it matters

Represents rework and process failure, identifying waste and potential duplicate effort.

Where to get

BKPF table, field STBLG is not empty.

Capture

Logged when STBLG field populated

Event type explicit
Payment Proposal Created
Signifies that the invoice has been included in a payment proposal run (F110), the first step of the automated payment program. Captured from the REGUH table which stores settlement data.
Why it matters

Indicates the invoice has been selected for payment and passed validition checks within the payment program.

Where to get

REGUH table creation timestamp (LAUFD and LAUFI keys).

Capture

Logged when REGUH record created

Event type explicit
Payment Terms Changed
Records an update to the payment terms on an open invoice, which alters the due date or discount eligibility. This is tracked via change logs on the ZTERM field in the BSEG table.
Why it matters

Frequent changes suggest master data errors or manual overrides that impact cash flow forecasting and Vendor Payment Term Compliance.

Where to get

CDPOS and CDHDR tables, looking for updates to field BSEG-ZTERM.

Capture

Logged when CDPOS records change in ZTERM

Event type explicit
Price Variance Detected
Inferred activity indicating a mismatch between the invoice price and the purchase order price. This is derived by observing a specific Payment Block Key (typically 'R' for Invoice Verification) applied automatically upon posting.
Why it matters

Identifies root causes for manual rework and supports the Three Way Match Rate Analysis.

Where to get

Inferred from BSEG-ZLSPR value 'R' (or system specific configuration for price blocks) at time of posting.

Capture

Compare ZLSPR value to 'R'

Event type inferred
Quantity Variance Detected
Inferred activity indicating a discrepancy between the invoiced quantity and the goods receipt quantity. This is derived by observing a specific Payment Block Key (typically 'M' for Quantity Variance) applied to the line item.
Why it matters

Crucial for analyzing matching efficiency and supply chain data quality.

Where to get

Inferred from BSEG-ZLSPR value 'M' (or system specific configuration for quantity blocks).

Capture

Compare ZLSPR value to 'M'

Event type inferred
Recommended Optional

Extraction Guides

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