In SAP S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition for Financial Accounting, especially concerning asset postings, the element that identifies the business transaction is the 'Transaction Type'. This element is critical as it defines the nature of the asset transaction, such as acquisition, retirement, transfer, or depreciation posting. The transaction type determines how the posting impacts the financial and asset accounts, ensuring the correct accounting treatment in accordance with the defined asset accounting rules and principles. It also facilitates tracking and reporting of asset movements and changes in value over time.
References:
SAP S/4HANA Cloud Asset Accounting documentation
SAP Best Practices for Asset Management in S/4HANA Cloud