IDoc (SAP) – Definition, structure and role in logistics
IDoc stands for "Intermediate Document" and is the standardized SAP data format for the electronic exchange of business documents. Through IDocs, SAP systems communicate with each other and with external applications such as the TIKI SHARE platform – without manual input or media breaks.
1. Structure of an IDoc
An IDoc consists of three central components:
- Control Record: contains metadata such as sender, receiver and message type.
- Data Records: contain the actual business data in segmented form.
- Status Records: log the processing status over the entire lifecycle.
2. Key IDoc types: ORDRSP and DESADV
ORDRSP (Order Response): With this IDoc, a supplier confirms the receipt and processing of an order. In the BVG project, the ORDRSP triggers the provision of spare parts at the correct depot.
DESADV (Despatch Advice): This IDoc announces a delivery and contains all details about content, packaging and destination. TIKI SHARE uses the DESADV to prepare the correct locker assignment at the destination location.
3. Role in the BVG project
In the project with Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG), IDoc-based data exchange between SAP and the TIKI SHARE platform ensures that spare parts are distributed fully automatically across three depots – without paper processes, without manual entry. More on this in the BVG case study.
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