Deep Dive into Service Materials in SAP ERP (Material Type DIEN)
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Overview and Purpose
- Material Type DIEN is primarily used for both procurement of services (MM) and sales of services (SD).
- Facilitates intangible (non-stock) services management in a manner similar to physical materials but without tracking inventory.
- After SAP MM 4.0, organizations can opt to use the External Service Master rather than DIEN for procuring services.
Key Functional Highlights
- Integration Between MM and SD
- A single DIEN record can support both service purchasing (MM) and service sales (SD), enabling smoother integration and consistent master data.
- Suitable for scenarios where a service requires billing without a tangible goods movement.
- Business Considerations
- Decide whether to manage services through the Material Master (DIEN) or the External Service Master, depending on complexity, compliance, and reporting needs.
- Understand how it affects pricing, valuation, and contract management throughout the service lifecycle.
- Prerequisites for Implementation
- Correct configuration of material type DIEN in transaction OMS2 (generally set as a non-stocked material with no quantity/value updates).
- End-users must be trained on service-specific master data maintenance to avoid confusion with physical goods materials.
Technical Highlights for SAP Consultants
- Configuration (OMS2)
- In standard SAP, DIEN is often preconfigured as non-stock, with no goods receipt or inventory valuation.
- Verify or adjust attributes in transaction OMS2 to ensure they align with the organization’s service procurement and sales processes.
- Views and Screens in the Material Master
- Basic Data: Ensure correct base unit of measure (e.g., EA, HRS) and descriptions.
- Purchasing View: Needed if DIEN is used for external service procurement (e.g., item category ‘D’ for service POs).
- Sales Views: Essential for setting up service pricing, taxes, and billing in SD.
- MRP Views: Typically not relevant for services, as no stock or MRP processes apply.
- Service Procurement Scenarios
- When raising a Purchase Order with DIEN, you usually create a service entry sheet instead of a goods receipt.
- If using External Service Management (including Service Master Records), ensure correct setup to avoid duplication or confusion with DIEN materials.
- Accounting and Valuation
- DIEN materials are generally non-valuated in the inventory sense.
- Instead, costs are captured via account assignment (e.g., cost centers, projects, or orders), and revenues flow into CO for analysis.
- Post-S/4HANA Considerations
- In SAP S/4HANA, organizations may use the Limit Items approach or the Service Master for service procurement, reducing reliance on DIEN.
- Evaluate whether to continue with DIEN or transition to newer procurement objects based on the S/4HANA roadmap.
Key Takeaways for End-Users
- No Physical Stock
- DIEN materials do not track quantity in inventory or require a traditional goods receipt.
- Basic Master Data Maintenance
- Maintain clear service descriptions and ensure the unit of measure is correct (e.g., hours, jobs) to facilitate accurate ordering and billing.
- Purchasing & Sales Transactions
- Purchasing: A service entry sheet is used to confirm delivered services, replacing a physical goods receipt.
- Sales: When selling services, orders can be billed without a delivery process since there’s no physical shipment.
- Accounting Implications
- No inventory valuation applies to DIEN; costs or revenues are recorded at the time of service entry or billing.
- Reporting
- DIEN-related transactions appear in purchasing and sales reports but not in inventory stock reports. Use the correct reporting tools and parameters for services.






















