Simulation
Definition
Simulation (distinct from Billing Simulation) operates as purely projective mathematical runs inside SAP Utilities. It extrapolates expected future charges based on master data setups for any flexible time slice, completely bypassing the requirement for an active Billing Order.
Business Purpose and Architecture
A customer might call and ask, “What would my bill look like next July?” Because there is no active meter read or order for July yet, standard billing fails. Simulation enables predicting that bill flawlessly. Architecturally, the system algorithm projects the missing input operands (like consumption) using historical trends or fixed averages, passes them through the regular Universal Billing Engine, and outputs to an Invoicing Simulation to deliver a hypothetical Print Document without altering the master database.