# SAP Putaway Strategy Reference

> Source: https://netray.co/tools/sap-putaway-strategy-reference
> Publisher: Netray (netray.co), AI and integration engineering for ERP and manufacturing systems.
> Section: Free Tools

## Short answer

A searchable list of putaway strategies in SAP WM and EWM with how the bin is found, where it is controlled, typical use and pitfalls.

## Category

sap

## Erp

SAP EWM

## Audience

- SAP WM consultant
- SAP EWM consultant
- Warehouse manager

## Tool

**Kind:** worksheet

**Mode:** reference

**Columns:**

#### Strategy

**Key:** strategy

**Type:** text

#### How the bin is found

**Key:** how

**Type:** text

#### Controlled by

**Key:** control

**Type:** text

#### Typical use

**Key:** use

**Type:** text

#### Watch out for

**Key:** watch

**Type:** text

**Rows:**

**Strategy:** Fixed bin

**How:** Stock goes to the bin assigned to the product for that storage type.

**Control:** Fixed bin assignment on the product storage type data

**Use:** Picking areas with a dedicated slot per product.

**Watch:** A product without an assignment cannot be put away there.

**Strategy:** Next empty bin

**How:** The first free bin in the storage type, ordered by the putaway sequence.

**Control:** Storage type putaway strategy and bin sorting

**Use:** General reserve racking and high volume pallet storage.

**Watch:** Without good bin sorting, stock clusters on one aisle.

**Strategy:** Addition to existing stock

**How:** Looks for a bin that already holds the same product and batch and adds to it.

**Control:** Storage type setting for mixed or addition rules

**Use:** Bulk and shelf storage with homogeneous product.

**Watch:** Capacity checks must prevent overfilling.

**Strategy:** Open storage

**How:** Any bin in the type without a pre-defined assignment, typically with a fixed location label.

**Control:** Storage type putaway strategy

**Use:** Floor storage, staging and bulk areas.

**Watch:** Weak traceability if bins are not labeled and counted.

**Strategy:** Near picking bin

**How:** Reserve stock is placed close to the picking bin of the same product.

**Control:** Storage type setting and picking bin assignment

**Use:** Reserve above or next to the pick face.

**Watch:** Needs a reliable replenishment flow or the pick face starves.

**Strategy:** Pallet-based bin type search

**How:** Chooses a bin whose bin type fits the handling unit dimensions.

**Control:** Bin type and handling unit type data

**Use:** Racks with different pallet heights or widths.

**Watch:** A missing bin type on the handling unit type blocks putaway.

**Strategy:** Bulk storage

**How:** Stores handling units in block or lane positions with a maximum count.

**Control:** Storage type and bulk storage settings

**Use:** Fast moving full pallets stored in lanes.

**Watch:** Lane rules must match the physical stacking limits.

**Strategy:** Drive-in storage

**How:** Fills deep lanes from the back so retrieval follows the lane order.

**Control:** Storage type putaway strategy

**Use:** High density storage of uniform products.

**Watch:** FIFO is not guaranteed in drive-in lanes.

**Strategy:** Storage type search sequence

**How:** Tries storage types in a defined order for each product class.

**Control:** Putaway control indicator and search sequence

**Use:** Every putaway with more than one candidate type.

**Watch:** Wrong order sends fast movers to deep reserve.

**Strategy:** Storage section search

**How:** Within a type, searches sections in a defined order.

**Control:** Storage section indicator on product and section sequence

**Use:** Fast, medium and slow zones inside one type.

**Watch:** Stale ABC data on products distorts the placement.

**Strategy:** Capacity check

**How:** Rejects a bin if weight, volume or handling unit limits would be exceeded.

**Control:** Capacity check method on the storage type and bin type

**Use:** Mixed product and rack load limits.

**Watch:** Wrong master weights make the check unreliable.

**Strategy:** Mixed storage

**How:** Allows several products or batches in one bin when the storage type allows it.

**Control:** Mixed storage indicator on the storage type

**Use:** Small parts shelving.

**Watch:** Increases pick errors and complicates counting.

**Strategy:** Block structure

**How:** Stores in lane-based blocks by product and batch.

**Control:** Storage type setting for block or lane layout

**Use:** Large floor stock areas.

**Watch:** Needs lane maintenance to avoid stranded stock.

**Notes:** Strategy names are descriptive and vary between classic WM and EWM. Confirm the exact customizing object in your release. The goal of this list is to compare options during design.

## Content

**Intro:** Putaway strategies decide where received stock goes. Choosing wrongly means longer travel, more replenishment and slower picking. This reference lists the common strategies in SAP WM and EWM with how they work and where they fail.

**Sections:**

#### How to use the reference

**Body:** Search by strategy name or by a typical use, such as pallet reserve or pick face. Compare the how and the watch-out columns for the storage types in your design. Export the filtered list to share with the warehouse lead before configuration. If your system already has live putaway issues, check the controlled-by column to know where to look first.

#### How putaway is decided

**Body:** Putaway is a sequence of decisions. First the system picks a storage type from the search sequence for the product. Then it may pick a section and finally a bin by the storage type strategy. Capacity checks can reject a candidate and send the search to the next one. Understanding this order makes troubleshooting simple. If no bin is found, check the sequence, then sections, then capacity, then bin blocks.

**Bullets:**

- Storage type search sequence first.
- Then storage section if used.
- Then bin selection by strategy.
- Capacity and block checks can reject a bin.

#### Common putaway mistakes

**Body:** The most frequent mistake is a good strategy fed with poor master data: missing weights, wrong handling unit types or unmaintained product indicators. The second is relying on drive-in or bulk storage while expecting strict FIFO. The third is an overly long search sequence that hides a problem by placing stock in the wrong overflow type. Add reporting on overflow usage so the planners see it.

**Cta:** If putaway exceptions take a planner's morning every day, an agent that reads your bin, stock and task data can explain why a bin was not found. We can build one on your own system.

**Faq:**

#### What is the difference between fixed bin and next empty bin?

**Answer:** Fixed bin always sends a product to its assigned bin, which suits pick faces. Next empty bin picks any free bin by sort order, which suits reserve racks where products change location often.

#### Why does putaway say no bin found?

**Answer:** Typical reasons are an empty search sequence, no free bin of the right bin type, a failed capacity check, blocked bins or missing handling unit type data. Check them in that order.

#### Does drive-in storage support FIFO?

**Answer:** Not by itself. Drive-in lanes are accessed from one side, so retrieval depends on lane order. Use lane per batch or date to protect FIFO, or choose a different storage type.

#### Are WM and EWM strategies identical?

**Answer:** They share ideas but not objects. EWM uses storage behaviour, search sequences and putaway control indicators in its own customizing. Treat this list as a design aid and verify names in your release.

## Search terms

sap putaway strategy, sap wm putaway strategies, next empty bin putaway sap, fixed bin putaway sap, sap ewm putaway control, sap addition to existing stock, storage type search sequence sap, sap putaway configuration

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