In SAP S/4HANA Cloud, when combining multiple source documents into a single billing document, certain header-level data must be identical. If this data is not consistent across the documents, the system will trigger an "invoice split," resulting in separate billing documents. The Payer is the most fundamental criterion, as a single invoice can only be addressed to one entity responsible for payment. The Billing Date is another critical header field that must be the same for all items to be included in one invoice, as it determines the posting date for the financial document.

B. Ship-to party: A single consolidated invoice can be sent to a payer for goods delivered to multiple different ship-to party locations.

C. Incoterms: While different Incoterms are a standard criterion for an invoice split, the Payer and Billing Date are more primary and universally non-negotiable criteria for combination.

1. SAP Help Portal for SAP S/4HANA Cloud

"Splitting and Combining Billing Documents": "The system combines items from different documents in one billing document if the header data in these documents is identical. For example

the payer

the billing date

and the destination country must be the same." This source directly confirms that both the Payer and the Billing Date are mandatory identical characteristics for combining documents.

2. SAP S/4HANA Cloud Documentation

Scope Item "Convergent Billing (1MC)": The process overview for this scope item details the creation of a single

unified invoice for a customer from various billable sources. This process relies on the standard billing engine's logic

where the customer (Payer) is the central point of consolidation

and standard combination criteria like the billing date apply.

3. SAP Learning

Course S4C70 "Sales in SAP S/4HANA Cloud

public edition": In the unit covering the billing process

the criteria for invoice combination and splitting are explained. The documentation highlights that fields in the billing document header

such as Payer (VBRK-KUNRG) and Billing Date (VBRK-FKDAT)

must match for documents to be combined.