How To Fix WN477 - Referenced customer in supplier master will be overwritten

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

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

• Message number: 477

• Message text: Referenced customer in supplier master will be overwritten

What causes this issue?

You are creating a plant creation and need to assign an existing
business partner.
The supplier of the business partner you want to assign has a reference
to a customer maintained in the supplier master data. This customer is
different to the customer of the plant that you want to create now.

System Response

The assignment of the business partner to the new plant overwrites the
current reference.

How to fix this error?

Check whether the existing business partner should be assigned to the
new plant.

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 WN477 - Referenced customer in supplier master will be overwritten ?

  The SAP error message WN477 ("Referenced customer in supplier master will be overwritten") typically occurs when there is a conflict between the customer and supplier data in the system. This error is often encountered when you are trying to create or modify a vendor (supplier) master record that is linked to a customer master record.
  Cause:
  The error arises when:
  
  A vendor master record is being created or updated, and it references a customer master record that already exists.
  The system detects that the customer data associated with the vendor is different from what is currently stored in the vendor master record.
  The system is set to overwrite the existing customer data with the new data from the vendor master record, which can lead to inconsistencies.
  
  Solution:
  To resolve the WN477 error, you can take the following steps:
  
  
  Check the Vendor and Customer Records:
  
  Review the vendor master record and the associated customer master record to ensure that the data is consistent and correct.
  Look for discrepancies in key fields such as name, address, and other relevant information.
  
  
  
  Decide on Data Consistency:
  
  Determine which data should be retained. If the vendor master record is correct, you may want to update the customer master record accordingly.
  Conversely, if the customer master record is correct, you may need to adjust the vendor master record.
  
  
  
  Update Records:
  
  If necessary, update the vendor or customer master record to ensure that the information is consistent across both records.
  You can do this through transaction codes such as XK02 (Change Vendor) or FD02 (Change Customer).
  
  
  
  Consult with Your SAP Administrator:
  
  If you are unsure about which data to keep or how to proceed, consult with your SAP administrator or a colleague who has experience with vendor and customer master data management.
  
  
  
  Check Configuration Settings:
  
  In some cases, the error may be related to specific configuration settings in your SAP system. Ensure that the settings for vendor and customer data management are correctly configured.
  
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  Transaction Codes: Familiarize yourself with relevant transaction codes such as XK01 (Create Vendor), XK02 (Change Vendor), FD01 (Create Customer), and FD02 (Change Customer).
  Master Data Management: Understanding how master data is managed in SAP can help prevent similar issues in the future. Consider reviewing your organization's policies on vendor and customer data entry and maintenance.
  SAP Notes: Check the SAP Support Portal for any relevant SAP Notes that may address this specific error or provide additional guidance.
  
  By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the WN477 error and ensure that your vendor and customer master records are consistent and accurate.