Successful companies depend on an optimized, flexible & agile supply chain to achieve superior customer service levels there by improved customer satisfaction & customer retention rate while reducing their operating costs. This places high demands on the warehouse processes and its integration with other systems.

• Integrating new Customers, Distribution channels, Products, Services and Customer specific processes globally in a rapid and efficient manner.
• Organizing the warehouse in order to fulfill high volumes and as well complying with cost efficient service levels-Warehouse efficiency.
• Coordinating the flow of material and information for maximizing the visibility, inventory accuracy and tighter control on the orders and warehouse load
• Timely identification and resolution of critical situation and managing the situations both proactively and by exception
• Optimize the warehouse resources ( Assets, Labor, Space, Equipments)
• Address the increased compliance and regulatory requirements.

• Best of Breed functionality + the advantage of lower TCO.
• Vendor viability and long term commitment to SCM
• Standard interfaces/integration to SAP ERP Vs Custom or complex interfaces to 3rd Party WMS
• Ability to Adopt new technology & Sense and respond nature to business pain points
• Cost avoidance around legacy WMS solutions

Extended Warehouse Management (EWM) is the SAP’s best of breed solution to handle current & future warehouse operational challenges and dynamic customer demands.

SAP EWM is built on supply chain execution platform that provides integrated planning, orchestration, execution and tracking of the physical movement of goods. SAP net weaver deployment option is also available from EWM 9.1

EWM is designed for the kill with its robust & integrated processes that are evolved for more than two decades since the R2 WM days. Extensive array of features, functionalities, analytics, monitoring dashboards and tools provided in EWM addresses the ever-changing business requirements comprehensively.

It is important to note that SAP EWM is not replacement to ERP- WM and also important is ERP-WM is not being developed any further.

SAP EWM is the strategic positioning and ongoing development platform.EWM in general was designed for high performance, high volume warehouse operations and to support complex warehouse processes with in- depth integration with other modules

• Covers all types of warehouses – Distribution centre, Manufacturing warehouse, Yard warehouse, Spares warehouse and Transit warehouse
• Network focus as opposed to Enterprise focus.
• Supports simple to complex warehouse processes. It can handle any degree of product / Layout complexities, huge delivery volumes and in depth integration needs
• Address industry specific requirements like Serial numbers, Catch weight, Merchandize flow through , Stock specific UOM’s ,Cross docking
• Provide built in optimization, automation and Integration capabilities

ERP-WM is in place since 1993 built initially for small and medium warehouses and having basic integration with production, quality and Logistics Information systems.

Brief history of major releases from 1995 till 2004

• R/3 Release 4.0: Wave picking, two step picking, warehouse monitor and HR integration.
• R/3 Release 4.5 : SAP has released Decentralized WM where WM can be installed in separate box to ensure 24*7 availability and flexible upgrade
• R/3 Release 4.6: SAP has introduced the native Radio frequency and Handling unit Management.
• R/3 Release 4.7: The last major developments were added in 4.7 Extension set 1 where in TRM was introduced and in Extension set 2 cross docking, yard management and VAS.

EWM has continued to evolve more rapidly in the last 10 years, lots of features & functionalities were released starting EWM 5.0 all the way to the current EWM 9.4 with each release offering compelling functionalities.

• Flexible modeling of warehouse( Using Org elements) and processes ( Processes mapped using POSC and LOSC)
• Efficient and robust put away, picking strategies and Slotting & Rearrangement.
• Strong Integration with Other SAP solutions viz Transportation, Yard Management, Quality Management, Production, Advanced Returns Management, CRM, SCM planning and Global Trade Services GTS.
• Integration with RF and RFID
• Integration with Material Flow Systems MFS ( PLC systems- ASRS, Conveyor systems)
• Increased Labor productivity through Labor Management
• Better resource utilization through Resource Management- (Human resources & Equipments like Forklifts, conveyors, cranes, TSP , reach trucks etc.,)
• Supports all value added services-( Eg: Kitting, Oiling, Shrink wrapping, Price marking , Labeling, Customer specific packaging )
• Stock and process transparency
• Manage by exceptions
• Reporting and Analytics