Real-World Success with SAP EWM: Stories from Retail, Manufacturing, and More

Artem Latyshev, SAP EWM MM Consultant, ACBaltica

From retail brands to specialty manufacturers, businesses across all industries are turning to SAP Extended Warehouse Management (EWM) to keep ahead in the race for speed, efficiency and control. At ACBaltica, we work with companies of all sizes to make these transformations real, not just on paper, but in day-to-day operations.

In this blog post, we’re sharing real SAP EWM projects we’ve delivered and the results they brought. These are success stories from:

• A global manufacturer of rail vehicles with a focus on green innovation;
• An e-commerce leader in children's goods across Eastern Europe; 
  
• A large electronics and computer retail chain with 60+ stores in Central Asia; 
• A major dairy producer processing hundreds of thousands of tons of cheese annually; 
• And even a consulting firm optimizing its own logistics with SAP solutions.

Challenges we solved across industries

Rail manufacturer: adapting German SAP standards for a new Eurasian site

A leading European rail vehicle manufacturer, known for hydrogen and battery-powered trains, expanded operations to a new site in the Eurasian region. The goal was to roll out German warehouse and production processes to the new site, but differences in local requirements, language, and culture made it complex.

ACBaltica led the full SAP S/4HANA rollout, aligning European standards with local needs. The team adapted processes for batch and serial number handling , developed PDA tools, and integrated EWM with production and procurement processes. Key functions included custom goods receipt, staging, quality control, internal routing, and production supply.

Over two years, 14 consultants and 5 developers worked across SAP EWM, Production Planning, Material Managements, Financial Accounting, and Sales and Distribution to get the project fully operational. Local teams were trained, supported during go-live, and the plant now runs with optimized planning, traceability, and efficient stock transfers.

Find more details here.

Children’s goods e-commerce: smart putaway and optimized picking

As in the previous case, the warehouse became more complex - not only because the business grew, but also due to the rise of marketplace sales. The client now had to manage many small orders with just a few items each, alongside the larger shipments they were already handling. This new parallel process added complexity and made it more difficult to manage both types of operations efficiently.

Standard SAP tools weren’t sufficient — so our team at ACBaltica stepped in. We created a custom tool to handle surplus, shortages, and stock bin suggestions. For mixed processing units such as kits, clothing in different sizes or food, we developed special RF transactions to replace standard logic. An intelligent “wave-to-unload” algorithm optimized picking and reduced lead times by 17%.

Over the years, we have implemented 4 full-scale projects and 360+ enhancements, helping the client remain agile, integrated, and efficient in an environment of continuous growth.

Electronics retailer: faster outbound processing across 60+ stores

Our client, a major electronics and computer equipment retailer, operates 61 stores across 26 cities in Central Asia. As their online sales grew, they needed to optimize outbound warehouse operations for speed and scalability.

To support this transformation, they relied on SAP EWM 9.5 in a decentralized setup, integrated with a third-party master system via SAP PI and XML messaging. Workers used handheld PDAs for daily tasks.

We implemented several key developments that significantly improved warehouse processes. One of the highlights was a user-friendly interface for canceling the picking of outbound shipping orders. This reduced operational errors and saved time when handling last-minute changes.

The team also set up consignment inventory accounting, enabling precise stock control without exposing sensitive partner data. Additionally, we introduced a pre-picking process to pre-load buffer zones, allowing warehouse staff to prepare orders in advance and reduce peak-time bottlenecks during shipping.

Ongoing support and close collaboration with our consultants further enhanced the skills of the client’s internal SAP EWM team. They greatly appreciated both the quality of our work and the knowledge we shared.

Find more details here.

Dairy producer: digitalizing return logistics across plants

Our next client, the success story we would like to share, is one of the largest dairy producers in Eastern Europe, producing over 400,000 tons of cheese per year, who needed to improve control over inventory movement and returns at their three main plants.

Although SAP EWM 9.5 was in place, return processes (both between sites and suppliers) were handled manually and outside the system, creating inefficiencies and gaps in data visibility. The client wanted returns to be triggered directly from the warehouse, including those based on quality inspection results.

To address this, ACBaltica customized both EWM and ERP to support SAP Best Practice returns, aligned picking processes, and supported the client through testing, demos, and user training.

As a result, warehouse-driven returns are now fully digital, faster, and traceable. The company benefits from increased process transparency, smoother logistics, and fewer manual errors across the entire supply chain.

Consulting firm: boosting internal SAP EWM skills

A well-established consulting firm in Central Europe wanted to level up its internal SAP EWM proficiency. With two decades of SAP experience across industries, they turned to ACBaltica to deepen their hands-on knowledge.

Together, we explored EWM scenarios such as quality-integrated putaway, two-step picking, wave management with hazardous materials, EWM advanced production integration, and specific processes like value-added services and machine learning in slotting.

The result? The client’s consultants gained practical, scenario-based skills, boosting both their confidence and the quality of EWM delivery in future projects.

Conclusion

These success stories show that SAP EWM is not just a technology, but a real operational transformation.

At ACBaltica, we combine deep technical knowledge with a real understanding of business and clients warehouse operations - whether it's simplifying outbound processes, managing complex picking logic or adapting SAP standards to local needs, the correct implementation is essential.

If your organization is planning SAP EWM rollout or implementation, enhancements, or simply needs better support for day-to-day operations, we're here to help. Let's talk about what success could look like in your warehouse.

About the author

Artem Latyshev

Certified SAP EWM MM Consultant at ACBaltica with over 6 years of experience.

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