How To Fix 3W651 - Caution: Duplicate policy number - to be ignored when delimiting records

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: 3W - HR: Message Class South Africa

• Message number: 651

• Message text: Caution: Duplicate policy number - to be ignored when delimiting records

Each employee is given a unique policy number. The system generates
this message if you try to enter a policy number that already exists in
the system.

Error message extract from SAP system. Copyright SAP SE.

Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message 3W651 - Caution: Duplicate policy number - to be ignored when delimiting records ?

  The SAP error message 3W651 indicates that there is a duplicate policy number in the data being processed, which is causing a cautionary warning. This message typically arises during data import or processing activities, particularly in the context of insurance or financial data where policy numbers are unique identifiers.
  Cause:
  
  
  Duplicate Policy Numbers: The primary cause of this error is the presence of multiple records with the same policy number in the dataset being processed. This can occur due to:
  
  Data entry errors.
  Issues during data extraction or transformation processes.
  Merging of datasets without proper deduplication.
  
  
  
  Data Delimiting Process: The error occurs during the delimiting of records, which means that the system is trying to separate or categorize records based on certain criteria (in this case, policy numbers) and finds duplicates.
  
  
  Solution:
  
  
  Identify Duplicates: 
  
  Review the dataset to identify the records with duplicate policy numbers. This can often be done using data analysis tools or SQL queries to group by policy number and count occurrences.
  
  
  
  Data Cleansing:
  
  Remove or consolidate duplicate records. Depending on the business rules, you may need to keep the most recent record, merge information, or delete duplicates entirely.
  Ensure that the data source is clean before importing it into SAP.
  
  
  
  Adjust Import Settings:
  
  If the duplicates are acceptable in certain contexts, you may need to adjust the import settings or the logic in the processing program to handle duplicates appropriately.
  
  
  
  Consult Documentation:
  
  Review SAP documentation or consult with your SAP support team for specific guidelines on handling duplicate policy numbers in your particular implementation.
  
  
  
  Testing:
  
  After making changes, test the import or processing again to ensure that the error does not recur.
  
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  SAP Notes: Check for any relevant SAP Notes that might address this specific error or provide additional context on handling duplicates.
  Data Governance: Implement data governance practices to prevent duplicate entries in the future, such as validation rules during data entry and regular audits of the data.
  User Training: Ensure that users involved in data entry or management are trained on the importance of unique identifiers and how to avoid creating duplicates.
  
  By addressing the root cause of the duplicate policy numbers and implementing proper data management practices, you can resolve the 3W651 error and prevent it from occurring in the future.