Request for Quotation to Purchase Order (ME41, ME47, ME49)
Sourcing a new requirement: RFQs go to three suppliers, their quotations are entered and compared, the best offer — not just the cheapest — is chosen, rejections are recorded, and the PO is created with reference to the winning quotation.
Educational content. SAP behaviour varies by configuration and release. Spotted something off? Report it.
Digital twin
01Send RFQs
RFQs for 500 EA go to three suppliers, grouped under one collective number.
Business scenario
A new project needs 500 EA of RM-1000 in four weeks. Purchasing asks Demo Supplier Ltd. and two other suppliers for quotes.
All companies, numbers and documents are fictional demo data.
Step-by-step flow
- 01
Send RFQs open in twin
RFQs for 500 EA go to three suppliers, grouped under one collective number.
The collective number lets all replies be compared together.
- 02
Enter the quotations (ME47) open in twin
Demo Supplier Ltd. ₹1,000 / 3 weeks; Demo Steel Traders (fictional) ₹960 / 4 weeks; Demo Metals Co. (fictional) ₹940 / 7 weeks.
Prices and conditions become comparable in the system.
- 03
Price comparison (ME49) open in twin
ME49 ranks the cheapest first. The goods are needed in four weeks. Which offer wins?
Delivery time, quality and terms matter as well; the comparison supports, not replaces, the decision.
- 04
Late for the project open in twin
₹10,000 saved, but the goods arrive three weeks after the project needs them.
A late delivery can cost far more than the price difference.
- 05
Award and reject open in twin
Demo Steel Traders (fictional) wins. The other quotations are marked rejected so rejection letters can be sent.
They document the decision and can trigger rejection output.
- 06
PO with reference to the quotation open in twin
PO 4500003200 to Demo Steel Traders (fictional): 500 EA at ₹960 = ₹4,80,000.
The sourcing decision stays traceable; a purchasing info record can also be updated from the quotation.
- 07
Sourced open in twin
RFQ → quotations → comparison → award → PO.
In S/4HANA, RFQs can also be published to suppliers through SAP Ariba Sourcing — configuration dependent.
SAP documents
Stock impact
This part of the process does not change stock.
Accounting impact
No accounting impact in the steps shown.
Typical conceptual flow. Actual G/L accounts and posting behaviour depend on material valuation, automatic account determination and system configuration.
Movement type
This flow spans several documents rather than a single movement type.
Finds the best source for a requirement by collecting and comparing supplier quotations before ordering.
Transactions & Fiori apps
- ME41 — Create RFQ
- ME47 — Maintain Quotation
- ME49 — Price Comparison
- ME21N — Create PO
- Manage RFQsAvailability depends on release and scope
- Manage Supplier QuotationsAvailability depends on release and scope
Differences by SAP version
RFQ and quotation share one document (ME41/ME47).
Classic transactions remain; Fiori apps separate RFQs and supplier quotations.
Manage RFQs / supplier quotation apps; sourcing integration with SAP Ariba possible.
Configuration
RFQ and quotation document types
TypicalAN (RFQ) as standard example; quotation is entered into the RFQ document in ECC.
Prerequisites
- Suppliers
- Requirement (manual or a purchase requisition)
Master data
- Purchasing info record
- Can be updated from the winning quotation.
Organizational structure
- Purchasing organization 1000 (demo)
Tables
| Table | Description |
|---|---|
| EKKO / EKPO | RFQs and quotations (document category A) |
Integration
Common errors
“Quotation not in the comparison list”
Likely causes: Not entered under the same collective number; Price not maintained
Where to look: ME49 selection · RFQ header
Troubleshooting
Something went wrong? Work through these checks in order. They are diagnostic questions, not configuration instructions — confirm changes with your system owner.
CHECK 1
Comparison
- Same collective number?
- Prices entered?
Interview questions
Walk through RFQ to PO in MM.
ME41 creates RFQs (one per supplier, linked by a collective number); ME47 enters the quotations; ME49 compares them; the winner is chosen and the others flagged as rejected; the PO is created with reference to the winning quotation, optionally updating the info record.
Quiz
References
- SAP SE — SAP Help Portal: RFQ and Quotation (source)
- SAP SE — SAP Help Portal: Price Comparison (source)
Explanations are original. They summarize standard behaviour; always validate against your system's release and configuration.
Version history
| Version | Change |
|---|---|
| 1.0.0 | Initial version. |