- SAP Managed Tags:
Stock synchronization issues between SAP S/4HANA ERP and EWM are a common challenge in warehouse operations. Too often, sales orders are created based on ERP stock that isn't actually available in the warehouse, leading to:
✅ Fulfillment delays
✅ Last-minute scrambling
✅ Unhappy customers
One of the most effective ways to address this issue is through Availability Groups in SAP EWM. These groups ensure that only stock that is truly available is considered for outbound processing, preventing mismatches between ERP and EWM.
This Blog covers:
✔ What Availability Groups are and why they matter
✔ How they prevent sales order mismatches
✔ The right way to configure Availability Groups in SAP EWM
Understanding Availability Groups in SAP EWM
Availability Groups work alongside Warehouse Process Types and Put away Strategies, which dictate where stock is placed within the warehouse (Covered in my Previous blog:https://community.sap.com/t5/supply-chain-management-blogs-by-members/understanding-warehouse-proces...). Once stock reaches its final storage bin and put away is confirmed, Availability Groups update the stock status in EWM, ensuring that only stock that is physically available is considered for outbound processing and synchronized with SAP S/4HANA
How Availability Groups Work
📌 When putaway is confirmed, the Availability Group updates, triggering a stock status update in SAP S/4HANA.
📌 This ensures that only stock that is genuinely available is reflected in the system.
📌 The result? Fewer errors and smoother outbound processes.
Why Do We Need Availability Groups?
In an ideal world, stock in SAP ERP should always match stock in EWM. But in reality, discrepancies occur because:
🔹 Sales consultants process orders based on ERP stock quantities, without checking whether the stock is physically available.
🔹 Warehouse stock is still in transit or processing, yet ERP marks it as available for outbound.
🔹 Putaway processes take time, so stock may exist in EWM but isn't ready for picking.
In the next section, let’s dive into how to configure Availability Groups in SAP EWM to achieve seamless stock synchronization.
Configuration:
1. Maintain Storage locations
Path: SIMG-->Enterprise Structure-->Definition-->Material Management-->Maintain Storage location |
2. Assign Warehouse Number to plant and Storage location
Path: SIMG-->Enterprise Structure-->Assignment-->Logistic Execution -->Assign Warehouse Number to plant and Storage location |
3. Map Storage location from ERP to EWM
Path: SIMG-->SCM EWM--> EWM -->Interfaces -->ERP integrations-->Goods Movement-->Map Storage location from ERP to EWM |
4. Define Availability Group
Path: SIMG-->SCM EWM--> EWM -->Goods Receipt Process-->Configure Availability Groups for put away-->Define Availability Group |
5. Define non-location dependent stock type
Path: SIMG-->SCM EWM--> EWM -->Goods Receipt Process-->Configure Availability Groups for put away-->Define Non-location dependent stock type |
6. Configure Stock Type
Path: SIMG-->SCM EWM--> EWM -->Goods Receipt Process-->Configure Availability Groups for put away--> Configure Stock type |
7. Assign Availability Group to Storage Type
Path: SIMG-->SCM EWM--> EWM -->Master Data -->Define Storage type |
Test Case:
Create a Purchase Order (ME21N)
A Purchase Order (PO) is created with Plant HLNE and Storage Location ROD, indicating that the products will be received into the ROD storage location.
-Standard PO created under the number 4500004416
Create Inbound delivery (VL31N)
With respect to purchase order Inbound delivery is created and distributed to EWM.
-Inbound Delivery 180003570 was saved and distributed to the WMS.
Maintain Inbound delivery (/N/SCWM/PRDI)
Once the delivery is distributed to EWM, the system, by default, updates the stock type to F1, based on configuration step-6 as listed above. In the PO, ROD is assigned to the product, and the ROD storage location is linked to Availability Group 001, as per configuration step-3.
Let's perform the Goods Receipt (GR), and now the stock is in the ROD storage location. Let's check if this stock has been updated in SAP S/4HANA by navigating to the MMBE transaction
Now, the stock is in the ROD storage location, as shown in the image, and it has been updated in SAP S/4HANA. However, the sales consultant always picks the quantity from AFS, even though the stock exists in the warehouse, it is not yet ready for picking. Since the stock is still in transit, there is no way to create a delivery for these products.
Warehouse Task Creation
Now, create a Warehouse Task (WT) and confirm it, which means the products are moved to their final storage bin. Let’s now observe how the Availability Group updates and impacts stock availability in the system.
Storage type is the key triggering point that helps change the stock type using the Availability Group. HLR1 is the final storage type, where the product is placed in its final bin. The Availability Group 002 is linked with stock type F2, and this Availability Group is assigned to the storage type. Additionally, the mandatory checkbox plays a crucial role in updating the stock, as shown in configuration step-7.
Upon confirmation of the Warehouse Task, the product is placed in its final bin, meaning it is now ready for outbound activities. This approach helps prevent stock availability conflicts and ensures smooth order fulfillment
Let's check whether the stock has been updated in SAP S/4HANA using the MMBE transaction.
See, the stock has been updated to AFS, where Availability Group 002 is assigned to AFS, and it has now been successfully updated. This means the stock is ready for picking
Availability Groups in SAP EWM play a crucial role in ensuring accurate stock visibility and readiness. They prevent premature order confirmations, reduce fulfillment conflicts, and ensure that only physically available stock is considered for outbound processes, leading to smoother warehouse operations.
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