Leading zeros are there in Alphanumeric material number in APO

Hi Experts,

In APO for alphanumeric material number I have to enter nine leading zeros before material number otherwise it will show material does not exist in APO.

But ECC system automatically takes whether alphanumeric material is with leading zeros or not.

So what is the issue in APO?

Why APO system does not take automatically the alphanumeric material like ECC system?

Please help me out.

Thanks,

Ayaskant