Faster picking, smarter stock management, and seamless system integration – that’s what one of Central Asia’s top tech retailers achieved thanks to the integration of their EWM solution with the third-party system, performed by ACBaltica.
Faced with growing online order volumes and a complex SAP EWM setup linked to a third-party system, the customer partnered with us to streamline warehouse operations. The result? Advanced picking capabilities, real-time data sync, full consignment stock support, and a major boost in operational speed – all while reducing manual effort.
Customer
A major retail chain specializing in household electrical and computer equipment, operating 61 stores across 26 cities in Central Asia. Their total retail space exceeds 74,000 m², and they manage a growing volume of online orders alongside their physical retail operations.Challenge
As online orders surged, the retailer faced mounting pressure to optimize warehouse outbound processes. The goal was clear: increase order processing speed and reduce manual work. But the situation was complicated – warehouse operations were managed via SAP EWM (decentralized), while key data came from a third-party master system. All communication relied on XML messages and SAP PI. Accordingly, the ACBaltica team was tasked with three main objectives:-
Develop an interface to cancel picking for outbound delivery orders
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Implement consignment stock accounting in SAP EWM
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Create a process for pre-picking goods for upcoming shipments (including PDA management and configuration)
Solution
Based on the customer challenges, our team created custom ABAP solutions that addressed each of them:-
Outbound delivery cancellation interface: A custom-built process allowed users to cancel picking in SAP EWM based on updates from the non-SAP system. The solution covered multiple subtasks:
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Sending cancellation messages to the PDA and GUI operator,
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Canceling open warehouse tasks for an outbound delivery order
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cancelling of picking for already picked items,
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Adjusting order items,
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Creating an outbound delivery for the adjusted order,
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Blocking confirmations for active warehouse orders,
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Updating the delivery order status.
Most operations had to run sequentially in the background – and our team successfully handled it.
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Consignment stock accounting: The team implemented a new “Posting transfer to consignment storage” document, configured new documents and search strategies for shipping from responsible storage, updated the PDA interface, and supported “blind” inventory processing (without showing quantity and stock type). We also developed an interface for data exchange between SAP and non-SAP systems.
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Advance picking process: A pre-picking process was developed to fill buffer zones with products for soon-to-be-created outbound orders, triggered by the third-party systems. If orders were canceled, materials were automatically returned back to storage bins, and all document statuses were synchronized between systems, both SAP and non-SAP, using XML-messages.
Project scope
- Reorganization of picking process
- Accounting of consignment stock
- Integration of decentralized EWM 9.5 with external master system
- Using PI-system as intermediate layer
- Developing custom logical RF-transactions
- Support of internal EWM team (including out of scope logistics processes)
Technical scope
- SAP Decentralized EWM 9.5
- SAP PI
- Custom ABAP Developments
Results and benefits
- Advance picking made possible – no more waiting for trucks to arrive before preparing orders
- Real-time synchronization of document statuses and stock changes in the SAP system based on updates from the non-SAP master system
- Full support for working with third-party consignment stock
- Boosted internal SAP EWM expertise for the customer’s team