How To Fix WN461 - Existing BP &1 with supplier &2 will be assigned; maintain customer

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: WN - Plant master data maintenance (integrated)

• Message number: 461

• Message text: Existing BP &1 with supplier &2 will be assigned; maintain customer

What causes this issue?

You are creating a plant and need to assign a business partner to the
plant.
The business partner you want to assign has the required supplier
maintained, but currently no customer is assigned.

System Response

It is not possible to assign a business partner without a customer to a
plant.

How to fix this error?

Use the business partner maintenance to extend the business partner by a
customer.

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 WN461 - Existing BP &1 with supplier &2 will be assigned; maintain customer ?

  The SAP error message WN461 indicates that there is an existing Business Partner (BP) that is already assigned as a supplier, and the system is prompting you to maintain the customer data for that Business Partner. This typically occurs in scenarios where you are trying to create or modify a Business Partner that has conflicting roles (e.g., both customer and supplier) in the system.
  Cause:
  
  Existing Business Partner: The Business Partner you are trying to create or modify already exists in the system with a supplier role.
  Role Assignment Conflict: The system requires that a Business Partner can have multiple roles (like customer and supplier), but there may be a conflict in how these roles are assigned or maintained.
  Data Inconsistency: There may be inconsistencies in the data related to the Business Partner that need to be resolved.
  
  Solution:
  
  Check Existing Business Partner: Use transaction code BP to check the details of the existing Business Partner. Verify if it is already assigned as a supplier and if it has the necessary customer data.
  Maintain Customer Data: If the Business Partner is intended to be both a customer and a supplier, you need to maintain the customer role. You can do this by:
  
  Navigating to the Business Partner in the BP transaction.
  Adding or updating the customer role data as required.
  
  
  Role Assignment: Ensure that the Business Partner has the correct roles assigned. You may need to add the customer role if it is missing.
  Data Consistency Check: Ensure that all required fields for the customer role are filled out correctly. This includes address, payment terms, and other relevant information.
  Consult Documentation: If you are unsure about the required fields or the process, refer to SAP documentation or consult with your SAP administrator for guidance.
  
  Related Information:
  
  Transaction Codes: 
  
  BP: Business Partner Maintenance
  SE11: Data Dictionary (to check table structures)
  SE16: Data Browser (to view existing Business Partner records)
  
  
  Business Partner Roles: Understand the different roles that can be assigned to a Business Partner in SAP, such as customer, supplier, or both.
  SAP Notes: Check for any relevant SAP Notes that may address specific issues or bugs related to Business Partner management.
  
  By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the WN461 error and successfully maintain the Business Partner data in SAP.