How To Fix ESSC_GENERIC401 - Business partner cannot be determined; check search criteria

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: ESSC_GENERIC - ESSC Generic Services

• Message number: 401

• Message text: Business partner cannot be determined; check search criteria

What causes this issue?

The system cannot determine a unique business partner based on the
specified search criteria. The reason might be, for example, that the
specified ID does not correspond to any business partner, or it
corresponds to more than one business partner, or the ID does not match
the personnel number you specified.

System Response

No business partner is determined.

How to fix this error?

Check the search criteria, especially the ID and personnel number.

Procedure for System Administrators

The system issues an error message and will not allow you to continue with this transaction until the error is resolved.

Error message extract from SAP system. Copyright SAP SE.

Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message ESSC_GENERIC401 - Business partner cannot be determined; check search criteria ?

  The SAP error message ESSC_GENERIC401 indicates that the system is unable to determine a business partner based on the search criteria provided. This error typically occurs in scenarios where a business partner is required for a specific operation, such as in Employee Self-Service (ESS) or other related applications.
  Causes:
  
  Incorrect Search Criteria: The search criteria entered may not match any existing business partner records in the system.
  Missing Business Partner: The business partner may not be created or may have been deleted from the system.
  Authorization Issues: The user may not have the necessary authorizations to view or access the business partner data.
  Data Synchronization Issues: If the business partner data is being pulled from a different system (like a CRM or external database), there may be synchronization issues.
  Configuration Issues: There may be configuration settings in the system that are preventing the correct identification of business partners.
  
  Solutions:
  
  Verify Search Criteria: Double-check the search criteria you are using. Ensure that you are entering the correct information (e.g., name, ID, etc.) and that it matches the existing business partner records.
  Check Business Partner Existence: Use transaction codes like BP (Business Partner) to verify if the business partner exists in the system. If it does not exist, you may need to create it.
  Review Authorizations: Ensure that the user has the necessary authorizations to access business partner data. This may involve checking roles and permissions in the user profile.
  Data Synchronization: If the business partner data is sourced from another system, check for any synchronization issues or errors in data transfer.
  Consult Configuration Settings: Review the configuration settings related to business partner determination in the relevant modules (like HR or CRM) to ensure they are set up correctly.
  Check for System Notes: Look for any system notes or logs that might provide additional context or details about the error.
  
  Related Information:
  
  Transaction Codes: Familiarize yourself with relevant transaction codes such as BP for managing business partners, SE11 for data dictionary, and SE80 for development workbench.
  SAP Notes: Search for SAP Notes related to the error message ESSC_GENERIC401 in the SAP Support Portal for any known issues or patches.
  Documentation: Review SAP documentation related to business partner management and the specific module you are working with (e.g., HR, CRM).
  Support: If the issue persists, consider reaching out to your SAP support team or consulting with an SAP expert for further assistance.
  
  By following these steps, you should be able to identify the cause of the error and implement a suitable solution.