How To Fix MDG_BS_CUST_HARM008 - Internal numbering for customer account group (&2) is not recommended

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: MDG_BS_CUST_HARM -

• Message number: 008

• Message text: Internal numbering for customer account group (&2) is not recommended

What causes this issue?

The assignment of the business partner grouping &v1& to the customer
account group &v2& is not recommended for the Customer UI.
You are using the internal number assignment for the customer account
group. Since you only can see the business partner number in the search,
we recommend to use the same numbers for business partner and for
customer.

System Response

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

How to fix this error?

Procedure for System Administrators

Error message extract from SAP system. Copyright SAP SE.

Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message MDG_BS_CUST_HARM008 - Internal numbering for customer account group (&2) is not recommended ?

  The SAP error message MDG_BS_CUST_HARM008 indicates that the internal numbering for a customer account group is not recommended. This typically occurs in the context of SAP Master Data Governance (MDG) for Customer data, where the system is trying to create or manage customer accounts.
  Cause:
  The error is usually caused by the following reasons:
  
  Internal Numbering Configuration: The customer account group is configured to use internal numbering, which may not be suitable for certain business processes or may conflict with existing configurations.
  Business Rules: The system may have business rules that discourage or prevent the use of internal numbering for specific account groups due to compliance, reporting, or operational reasons.
  Custom Settings: There may be custom settings or enhancements in your SAP environment that enforce specific numbering conventions.
  
  Solution:
  To resolve this error, you can consider the following steps:
  
  
  Check Account Group Configuration:
  
  Go to the configuration settings for the customer account group in transaction code OBD2 (or through the SPRO path: Financial Accounting (New) > Accounts Receivable and Accounts Payable > Customer Accounts > Master Data > Define Account Groups).
  Verify if the account group is set to use internal numbering. If it is, consider changing it to external numbering if that aligns with your business processes.
  
  
  
  Review Business Rules:
  
  Check if there are any specific business rules defined in your MDG system that restrict the use of internal numbering for the account group in question. You may need to adjust these rules if they are too restrictive.
  
  
  
  Consult Documentation:
  
  Review the SAP documentation or notes related to MDG and customer account management to understand the implications of using internal versus external numbering.
  
  
  
  Engage with SAP Support:
  
  If the issue persists or if you are unsure about making changes, consider reaching out to SAP support for guidance specific to your system configuration and business requirements.
  
  
  
  Testing:
  
  After making any changes, ensure to test the creation or modification of customer accounts in a development or quality assurance environment before applying changes to production.
  
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  Transaction Codes: Familiarize yourself with relevant transaction codes such as BP (Business Partner), OBD2 (Account Group Configuration), and MDG (Master Data Governance).
  SAP Notes: Search for SAP Notes related to MDG and customer account management for any known issues or additional guidance.
  Training and Documentation: Consider training sessions or documentation on MDG best practices to ensure compliance with your organization’s data governance policies.
  
  By following these steps, you should be able to address the MDG_BS_CUST_HARM008 error and ensure proper configuration of customer account groups in your SAP system.