SAP S/4HANA 2022: What to Expect

Recently, we upgraded our insideSCM systems to the S/4HANA 2022 release. We internally familiarized ourselves with this release during the EWM SAT (Solution Acceptance Testing) last summer at SAP Waldorf, and it is now also available to our customers.

The 2022 release of SAP S/4HANA offers numerous new features and capabilities to help businesses streamline their processes and gain deeper insights into their data.

One particularly interesting development is in the area of Advanced Shipping & Receiving, further optimizing the integration between TM and EWM. Highlighted below are some interesting developments of S/4HANA 2022 in the field of EWM.

Since the release of S/4HANA 2020, SAP introduced Advanced Shipping & Receiving (ASR) functionality to enhance the integration between SAP EWM and SAP TM. With ASR, TM and EWM are directly integrated via Freight Orders without the need for familiar Transportation Units. In this release, SAP continues to innovate, introducing features such as 'Order Based Planning.' Additionally, customer returns can now also be processed via ASR.

S/4 2022 offers improved support for warehouse automation through SAP Warehouse Robotics, seamlessly integrated with SAP EWM in S/4HANA 2022. Through Work-In-Process (WIP) Management, SAP introduces the ability to execute warehouse processes for semi-finished goods without the need to create all material master data.

In recent releases, SAP significantly enhanced the integration between warehouse and production. In this release, SAP introduces new functionality where the MES system can adjust the staging process in EWM in response to changes in production resources and the Production Supply Area. SAP refers to this concept as Dynamic Staging.

Before the 2022 release, users had to determine at the article level whether 2-step picking was relevant. From the 2022 release onwards, this can be determined at the wave item level, making the 2-step picking concept much more flexible. Through interleaving, warehouse resources can efficiently combine various tasks to minimize travel distances. With the introduction of interleaving warehouse zones, this concept is further enhanced.

Sometimes, it's the small developments that make users' lives easier. For example, from the 2022 release onwards, SAP allows Goods Receipt and Goods Issue to be booked directly from the warehouse monitor.

Making the switch to SAP S/4HANA?

Of course, you're not alone. insideSCM offers guidance and advice. Want to know how to ensure a smooth transition to SAP S/4HANA? And how insideSCM can help your organization? Then contact us!