Enhancing Standard Infotypes in SAP HR: A Tailored Approach to HR Data Management

SAP HR (Human Resources) provides a robust set of standard info types that cater to essential HR processes and data storage. Infotypes are logical structures that hold specific categories of employee information. Common examples include:

• Infotype 0000: Actions
• Infotype 0001: Organizational Assignment
• Infotype 0002: Personal Data
• Infotype 0006: Addresses

However, there will be times when your organization’s unique HR data requirements may need to align with the standard fields offered in SAP’s predefined info types. This is where the power of enhancement comes in, allowing you to add custom fields to meet your specific needs.

Why Enhance Standard Infotypes?

• Organization-Specific Data: Capture HR data crucial to your business processes but not included in standard info types.
• Process Optimization: Streamline HR processes by making relevant data easily accessible in the desired location.
• Reporting: Improve HR reporting capabilities by including additional data points for analysis.

Steps for Enhancing a Standard Infotype

1. Identify the Target Infotype: Determine the standard infotype that most closely aligns with the type of data you need to add.
2. Analyze Requirements: Thoroughly define the custom fields you want to include, including their data types and characteristics.
3. Create a Customer Include (CI Include):
   • Use transaction code PM01.
   • Enter the info type number, click the “Single Screen” tab, and select the “Customer Include” radio button.
   • Click “Generate Objects” and confirm the creation of the CI Include.
   • Define your custom fields, set the enhancement category, and activate the CI Include.
4. Modify Screen Layout (Optional):
   • Use the Screen Painter within PM01 to customize the appearance and placement of the new fields on the info type screen. This enhances user experience.

Key Considerations

• Namespace: Always use the customer namespace (usually starting with “Z” or “Y”) when naming your custom fields to avoid conflicts with SAP’s standard objects.
• Data Consistency: Establish clear rules and validation to maintain data integrity when working with the enhanced info type.
• Compatibility: Thorough testing is vital to ensure that your enhancements don’t create issues during SAP upgrades or updates.

Example

Let’s say your company requires employees to track specialized certifications they hold. You could enhance the standard “Personal Data” info type (0002) by adding the following custom fields:

• Certification Name (Z_CERT_NAME)
• Certification Authority (Z_CERT_AUTH)
• Issue Date (Z_CERT_ISSUE)
• Expiration Date (Z_CERT_EXP)

Best Practices

• Start by exploring if standard functionality or less invasive customization techniques address your needs before applying info type enhancement.
• Carefully document your enhancements for future reference and maintainability.
• Seek expert advice from an SAP HR functional consultant if you face complex requirements.

Conclusion

Enhancing standard info types in SAP HR allows you to create a system that precisely mirrors your organization’s HR data requirements. By following the steps outlined and adhering to best practices, you can effectively extend SAP’s capabilities and achieve greater efficiency in your HR processes.