A warehouse is the centerpiece of the digital era of commerce, which ensures the timely delivery of goods and inventory to the end buyer. The efficiency of its performance can be established and tracked by the usage of SAP Extended Warehouse Management (EWM), which brings a new level of performance to every business. However, the benefits of SAP EWM shouldn’t only be limited to warehouses, as the modular SAP ecosystem offers numerous integrations, which help to streamline all the related activities.
What are the possible integrations of SAP EWM with other SAP modules and how do they improve the efficiency of the business functioning? Let’s learn together.
What is SAP EWM?
SAP EWM, Extended Warehouse Management, is a cover-it-all solution that gives every business power and control over all warehouse activities. SAP EWM provides all the tools to systemize and level up inventory management, streamline warehouse operations, and establish 24/7 supply chain visibility.
SAP EWM brings all the ‘scattered performance pieces’ together and puts them all into one big system. The usage of SAP EWM helps to maximize the efficiency of the warehouse performance, which benefits the profitability of the business overall, yet, there is more to take.
Considering the modular structure of SAP solutions, 64 of them overall, SAP EWM can be integrated with other modules, creating a unified and efficiently-operating business environment, where every person, piece of inventory, and activity are traced and monitored. Such a network of visibility helps to build the architecture of the company, with cross-department cooperation and visibility, improving the performance of the business on the whole.
What Are the Integration Options?
1. SAP Transportation Management (TM)
SAP TM (transportation management), as the name suggests, provides visibility and support into all the activities related to the physical transportation of goods from one location to another. It provides efficient logistics management and execution, brings in automation of the end-to-end delivery, and enhances the overall productivity of the transportation department.
When SAP TM is integrated with SAP EWM, the ‘communication’ between transportation and warehouse is taken to a new level and provides real-time inventory tracking, automated order fulfillment, optimizations of the stock flow, 24/7 location tracking, and streamlined functioning of the supply chain.
2. SAP Inventory Management (IM)
SAP IM provides tools to track and document all the stock within the warehouse, SAP EWM helps to track all the inventory movement (stock receipts, issues, status changes, and disposal). When the two solutions are integrated, the management gets visibility into all the inventory across all the locations, with its movements being organized, monitored, and controlled. The merging of solutions helps to reflect the inventory balance in SAP EWM.
3. SAP Yard Logistics (YL)
SAP Yard Logistics maximizes the efficiency of a relatively small particle of the supply chain – the yard. SAP YL provides the tools to streamline and manage all the tasks and operations related to yard functioning. It brings visibility and 24/7 control over all the activities, improves efficiency of every operation, helps to avoid the bottlenecks, enhances the usage of space, monitors loading/unloading, and thus, leads to significant cost reductions.
When SAP YL is integrated with SAP EWM, the logistics operations within the warehouse, distribution center, and freight terminal are taken to a new level of efficiency and seamless performance, eliminating the slightest chance for mistakes or man-made issues.
4. SAP Quality Management (QM)
SAP QM is a set of rules and requirements that accompany the development of the product to ensure it meets the established standards of quality.
SAP QM integrated with SAP EWM facilitates the various business operations related to stock receipts, inventory inspections, and return inspections (customer returns, advanced returns management), and helps to perform a preliminary inspection of the handling units.
5. SAP Internet of Things (IoT)
SAP IoT is a set of services, applications, and sensors that collect data on temperature, humidity, location, and other indicators. The IoT sensors can be placed at any point within the warehouse and send real-time insight about the condition of the environment and goods at every specific moment.
When SAP IoT is integrated with SAP EWM, it becomes possible to track if all regulations regarding inventory quality and safety are being followed.
How to Integrate SAP EWM?
SAP EWM is a perfect stand-alone solution, yet, when integrated with other SAP systems, it complements the overall supply chain (and company) functioning. SAP EWM integrations will unleash their potential only if the customization is done by developers with an extensive level of knowledge and expertise like LeverX.
Lever X is a Global Strategic Supplier of SAP solutions, providing its services for more than twenty years now. One of the best things about LeverX is its extensive understanding of SAP products, their requirements, modifications, and improvements.
If there is a need to systemize the way the company works and bring clarity to every particular area of its functioning, don’t hesitate to contact the SAP Consulting and Implementation services, and address all your questions to the professionals.
The Final Note
The SAP ecosystem is a unique phenomenon in the world of ERP solutions due to its self-sustainable nature and independent functions. Every client can proceed with only one module, like SAP EWM, to streamline the functioning of one unit of business; however, it is always possible to extend the borders and adopt more modules, leveling up the overall functioning of the company.
For more details, contact the developers from LeverX, who are always willing to share their knowledge.