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Process documentationMessage-Based Communication with a Warehouse Management System

 

You use this process to send loading and unloading instructions to an external system and to receive confirmations from an external system. The following section contains a description of an example process:

Prerequisites

  • You have configured your sending system, for example, SAP Transportation Management (SAP TM).

  • Your receiving system, for example, an external warehouse management system, can receive messages.

  • You have configured your XI system, for example, SAP NetWeaver Process Integration (SAP NetWeaver PI).

  • Freight bookings or freight orders exist.

Process

  1. You send a loading instruction to the warehouse by choosing one of the following actions in the freight order or in the freight booking:

    • Start of the navigation path Follow-Up Next navigation step Send Loading/Unloading Instruction End of the navigation path

    • Start of the navigation path Set Item Status Next navigation step Set to Cargo Ready for Loading End of the navigation path (if the current stop is an outbound stop) and save the document

    • Start of the navigation path Set Item Status Next navigation step Set to Cargo Ready for Unloading End of the navigation path (if the current stop is an inbound stop) and save the document

    SAP TM sends the TransportationOrderLoadingAppointment_Out message to the receiving system, for example, an external warehouse management system. This message contains the following information:

    • All relevant containers or unit load devices

    • All assigned forwarding orders including the items

    • If necessary, the assignment of individual items to containers or unit load devices, if these exist

    • Seal information, if this exists

    • Information about the status of cargo items with regard to air cargo security and compliance with foreign trade regulations, if this exists

    • Information about the position and orientation of cargo items that are to be loaded into the freight space of a vehicle or into a container, if this exists

    • Information about the settings that apply to the containers or unit load devices as regards temperature, humidity, and ventilation

  2. The warehouse loads the containers, unit load devices, or vehicles. This means the warehouse assigns the individual items or, if necessary, changes the specified assignment. The warehouse then returns this information to the TM system. SAP TM receives the confirmations with the TransportationOrderLoadingAppointmentNotification_In message. In SAP TM, the status of the items that, according to the message, were loaded, is automatically set to Loaded.

  3. Once a vehicle (that might be loaded with one or multiple containers or unit load devices) has arrived at the receiving warehouse, you send the unloading instruction to the warehouse by choosing Start of the navigation path Follow-Up Next navigation step Send Loading/Unloading Instruction End of the navigation path or Start of the navigation path Set Item Status Next navigation step Set to Cargo Ready for Unloading End of the navigation path in the freight order or in the freight booking. SAP TM sends the TransportationOrderLoadingAppointment_Out message to the receiving warehouse management system. This message contains the current contents of the freight order or freight booking.

  4. The warehouse unloads the containers or unit load devices and confirms this to you. SAP TM receives the confirmations with the TransportationOrderLoadingAppointmentNotification_In message. In SAP TM, the status of the items that, according to the message, were unloaded, is automatically set to Unloaded.

    The TransportationOrderLoadingAppointmentNotification_In message also contains the following information:

    • Discrepancies

    • Updated seal information, if this exists

    • Assignment of forwarding orders that were not originally assigned to the freight booking or the freight order and that were assigned in the warehouse retroactively

    • Assignment of items from other freight orders or freight bookings

    • Items that were split between multiple containers or unit load devices

    • References to business transaction documents