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In 2025, SAP S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition ushers in a new age of innovations designed to empower businesses, enhance productivity, and optimize processes. As a vital component of SAP S/4HANA Cloud ERP, Supply Chain Management keeps pace with innovation, delivering new capabilities to optimize the flow of goods and services within our customers organizations. In this blog post, I’ll share a selection of the latest innovations from the supply chain area, and how they can help you run your supply chain operations at top performance
Check out the below video by Markus Oertelt for a summary of his top highlights from the 2502 release!
Order Promising
Display Product Availability Update
The Display Product Availability app is designed to provide business planning and supply chain specialists with real-time information about the availability of products based on multiple criteria such as location, demand, and supply. This intuitive app allows users to quickly view the available quantities of products across various plants, material requirements planning (MRP) areas, and storage locations. It supports the selection of multiple products simultaneously and enables availability checks for any date, starting from today. Users can toggle between the Plant and Storage Location tabs to refine their search based on location-specific data. One of the standout features of this app is its ability to show the carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) footprint of products, helping businesses with SAP Sustainability licenses to track their sustainability goals. Additionally, it displays availability in both the base unit and one alternative unit of measure in parallel, if an alternative unit of measurement is maintained in the master data.
With the 2502 release, the app has been enhanced with new features which show product availability based on a special stock type, such as sales document or customer consignment. A new field has been added for Special Stock type where users can choose between three values. Selecting No Special Stock will display product availability based on the stock and supply and demand documents configured in the scope of availability check. Sales Document displays availability of a specific sales document item and is a useful option when seeking insights for products produced by a make-to-order manufacturing process. Selecting Customer Consignment displays product availability for products allocated as customer consignment stock.
Transportation Management
With the 2502 release of SAP S/4HANA Cloud, Transportation Management has been enhanced with three key features that automate freight document generation and printing, improving efficiency and accuracy. The first new feature allows users to automatically print a loading list or packing list during the checkout of a freight order. This document ensures accurate loading, unloading, and verification of goods, and its automation reduces manual effort while improving communication with carriers. The system generates a loading list for each consignment order, detailing the freight units loaded onto the truck and handed over to the carrier, and sends an automated e-mail notification to the assigned carrier with the loading list attached. Additionally, users can configure extensibility options, allowing for customized e-mail templates and output settings for specific objects like freight orders.
The second feature simplifies communication with freight carriers by introducing an automated e-mail channel for subcontracting or cancelling a freight order or booking. This functionality enables businesses to send e-mails with a PDF attachment containing freight order or booking details, including the waybill and dangerous goods notes. By automating these communications, companies can optimize logistics operations, enhance transparency, and reduce manual workload and costs.
Finally, a new print form for subcontracting freight orders and bookings has been introduced, allowing users to generate and send these forms as e-mail attachments to carriers. This feature supports customization through predefined templates (TM_SUBCONTRACTING_FO, TM_SUBCONTRACTING_FB, TM_TOR_DEFAULT_EMAIL_TEMPLATE) and Adobe LiveCycle Designer, ensuring tailored document generation. These enhancements streamline freight management, reduce errors, and improve overall operational efficiency.
Inventory Management
Support for Split Valuations in the Goods Movement Process
Moving on to inventory where with this release we’ve introduced enhancements to support split valuation of stock, a much-requested feature by our customers which we are excited to roll Split valuation in inventory management refers to the practice of managing and valuing different stocks of the same material in separate categories based on certain criteria, such as different valuation types, origins, or conditions. It allows a company to treat materials of the same type differently depending on factors like their source (e.g., purchased vs. manufactured), quality, or specific use. For example, raw materials may be valued differently than finished goods, or inventory can be split between batches with different costs (e.g., older stock vs. newly purchased stock) or products used as components in the assembly line or sold as standalone components, each with a different price.
We’ve made numerous enhancements that enable our customers to gain more control over their inventory valuation, enabling better decision-making regarding stock handling, pricing, and reporting. Focusing on split valuation in the goods movement process, the Manage Stock app now supports split-valuation materials, allowing users to view the assigned valuation type for split-valuated materials. It is now simple to then select a particular valuation type and make changes to that stock as required. Similarly, the Transfer Stock - In-Plant has also been enhanced to display materials with different valuation types, enabling you to transfer each type individually within a plant, for example adding x amount of valuation type stock stock y to stock in quality transfer. Also, the Transfer Stock - Cross-Plant app was also enhanced to support different stock valuation types, facilitating transfer of stock postings between plants.
Changes made to stock levels as part of goods movement processes will generate a new material document, where the valuation type of stock is also now indicated, alongside the change which was made. Stock monitoring also now reflects different stock valuation types and under Single Material is updated to reflect different valuation types, giving an overview of different stock valuations and displaying the stock history for each type. The Material Documents Overview has also been enhanced, and new columns can be added via the control settings for displaying valuation type and valuation type transfer. Additionally, it offers customization options for storage location control settings and visible columns. Find out more about Split Valuation in Inventory Management in this blog post by Gerhard Welker.
Click the below image to view a demo of Split Valuations in the Goods Movement Process in action.
Schedule Jobs for Stock Data Through the Stock – Multiple Materials App
Through the Stock – Multiple Materials app (App ID: F1595), users can now schedule the export of stock data based on selected filters, ensuring customized and structured inventory analysis. This feature supports processing large volumes of stock data whilst also incorporating additional details such as batch and special stock types in the data set. This efficiently provides users with an easy way to export material stock reports which can be accessed directly in Microsoft Excel via a link in the SAP Fiori app “Display Inventory Analytics Job Results”, enabling seamless stock analysis.
Transition from WebGui to Fiori App
In rolling out the new SAP Fiori app “Material Documents Overview”, with 2502 we ensure a smooth transition for end users by introducing a switch in the existing Display Material Document List app (MB51), allowing them to access the new Fiori app more easily. As a means of introducing the new app, users will notice an additional pop-up providing details of the new app and how it can benefit them, whilst giving them flexibility to choose to continue working with the existing app or provide feedback on the new app via a questionnaire.
Goods Issue for Production And Maintenance Orders and Stock Transfer Reservations
With the Manage Reservation Items App (F5601), users can more efficiently manage the transfer and movements of goods in their systems by posting a goods movement directly from a reservation. The app enables users to create manual reservations for good movements, search and display details of existing reservation items, or edit, mark as deleted or copy the items of an existing reservation. With the 2502 release, enhancements have been made to the app supporting processes in the areas of production and maintenance management. Further reservation categories for post goods issues are now supported, enabling the post goods issue for a production or maintenance order directly from a reservation. Users can now post goods issue for:
- Production Order Reservations & Process Order Reservations,
- Maintenance Order Reservations
- Manual Stock Transfer Reservations, Material Requirements Planning stock transfer reservations
Batch Management in SAP S/4HANA Cloud 2502
With the latest release, new self service configuration objects or configuration items have been added which enable users to specify the message type for system messages (LB 045 and XU 040) and easily switch between error and warning messages. This enhancement improves execution, aligns processes with specific requirements, and boosts usability. Through the Self-Service Configuration UI (SSCUI), users can access new configuration items and make adjustments to existing ones, streamlining Batch Management settings.
Also with the 2502 release of SAP S/4HANA Cloud, the Batch Derivation Strategy Type restriction has been replaced by two new, more specific restriction types: Batch Derivation Strategy Type for Sender (KSCHL_R_DS) and Batch Derivation Strategy Type for Receiver (KSCHL_R_DR). These new restriction types allow for separate control of access for the sender and receiver of a batch derivation, enhancing granularity and authorization management. The previous KSCHL_R restriction type, which applied the same control for both sender and receiver, is now deprecated. As of the 2508 release, the KSCHL_R restriction type will be removed from standard business catalogs, and users must ensure that new restrictions are properly configured to avoid loss of access to batch management functionality. This change aims to provide more flexibility in managing batch derivation strategies based on the user’s role and responsibilities.
Serial Number Management Enhancements in SAP S/4HANA Cloud 2502
The Serial Number History app in SAP S/4HANA Cloud provides a detailed overview of a material’s lifecycle by tracking serial number movements across various business processes. With the 2502, the app has been enhanced with new filters, detailed views and an improved action log. A new Display Change Log button has been introduced, which can be used to track any changes to system status, unit of measure, material number and further criteria. Users benefit from improved data consistency and a clearer view of any serial number status changes.
On top of this, a new cloud Business ad-in (BAdI) has been introduced to validate serial numbers during business processes. Users can implement custom logic and checks to enforce specific serial number formats and trigger custom error messages when entries do not meet predefined criteria. This enhances data consistency across systems, supports extensibility with SAP S/4HANA Cloud ABAP environment, and maintains system integrity without modifying SAP software code.
The 2502 release introduces new configuration options for managing Serial Number Management settings. This enhancement allows users to define serial number attributes for individual movement types. Instead of relying on a general serial number profile, businesses can now apply specific attributes for different movement types, ensuring greater accuracy in inventory control. This provides greater flexibility and precision in goods movement processes and streamlines operations with detailed tracking requirements.
Warehouse Management
For a comprehensive overview of all new innovations in this area, make sure to check out the 2502 blog by Christian Ries. Below, I’ll briefly touch on a few of the highlights.
Split of Outbound Delivery Orders When Loading Completed
This feature enables you to split outbound delivery orders when using Warehouse Management (WM) with Transportation Management (TM). For outbound delivery orders for which you have performed transportation planning, you can now trigger a delivery split as part of the final loading process. When the status “Loading Completed” is set for a freight order, all handling units that have not yet been loaded are split into a new outbound delivery order. This feature enables users to make real-time adjustments to transportation planning during the loading process. For example, if handling units no longer fit on a goods transfer vehicle, they can be split into a new outbound delivery order, ensuring smooth and efficient operations. Once the status "Loading Completed" is set for a freight order (for example, through the "Load or Unload Freight Orders" app or the RF transaction "Loading by HU"), the system automatically splits all handling units that haven’t yet been loaded into a new outbound delivery order. This ensures that the freight order is updated accordingly, enabling accurate tracking and managing of goods throughout the loading process.
Scheduling Inventory Document Creation: Cycle Counting
With 2502 the new Fiori App “Schedule Inventory Document Creation - Cycle Counting” is introduced which supports the scheduling of the creation of physical inventory documents for cycle counting. It streamlines the cycle counting process by allowing users to schedule the automatic creation of physical inventory documents based on product-related, location-related, and physical inventory parameters. Users can specify criteria such as activity area, cycle counting indicator, physical inventory reason, and document printing preferences to tailor the document creation process.
Automating this recurring inventory task eliminates the need for manual document creation, reducing workload and ensuring consistency with minimal user intervention
Lean Customer Returns with Warehouse Management
Customer returns processes have been long supported in Warehouse Management via scope item BKP, which ensures comprehensive and detailed control over return logistics, inspections and refunds. With 2502, we have enhanced returns capabilities in Warehouse Management to also support more streamlined customer returns via scope item BDD. New delivery type LR allows the return of items via this leaner process, avoiding the need for an intermediate step in inventory management and saving time and processing effort. Support of this leaner process will suit users handling high-volume, low value returns who emphasize efficiency in their warehouse management processes.
Click the below image to view a demo of Lean Customer Returns in Warehouse Management,
Integration Enhancements with 2502
With 2502, a new API has been introduced for warehouse order events. This enables event-driven automation in Warehouse Management by allowing users to subscribe to events triggered by warehouse task actions, such as creation, confirmation, cancellation, and activation. This enhances operational efficiency and ensures seamless warehouse task management.
On top of this, the Warehouse Order and Task API, the inbound service used to integrate external applications with warehouse management, has been updated to support control cycles. Users can now create, read, update and delete warehouse management control cycles with their source and destination data.
Watch the Replays of Our SAP S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition 2502 Early Release Series!
Between January 21 and January 24, we conducted a series of 21 engaging live sessions to showcase the thrilling innovations included in the SAP S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition 2502 release. If you missed the live sessions, don't worry! You can still access the whole series or select the sessions that interest you the most. Seize this opportunity to watch them on demand at your convenience – anywhere, anytime.
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