Manhattan Active WMS with SAP S/4HANA Guide

Manhattan Active Warehouse Management with SAP S/4HANA

Manhattan Active Warehouse Management is a cloud WMS that large manufacturers and distributors run alongside SAP instead of EWM. A third-party comparison site lists SAP ERP as a stated integration, and it is usually built with IDocs, APIs or EDI. SAP's scope item 1ZQ for a third-party WMS is the reference pattern.

How Manhattan Active Warehouse Management connects to SAP S/4HANA

IDoc, API or EDI-based integration

The research record says it is usually built with IDoc, API or EDI, and that comes from a comparison site rather than a vendor certification. Treat it as a project pattern: SAP sends deliveries and receipts, and the WMS returns confirmations and inventory changes.

SAP scope item 1ZQ for third-party WMS

SAP describes a reference scenario for connecting a non-SAP WMS in S/4HANA. It defines the delivery and goods movement handshake that your integration should follow.

What data moves

From	To	Data	When
SAP	Manhattan WMS	Inbound and outbound deliveries, material and location master data	Delivery creation or release
Manhattan WMS	SAP	Picked and packed quantities, goods issue confirmation	Shipment confirmed in the warehouse
Manhattan WMS	SAP	Goods receipt and putaway confirmation	Receipt completed
Manhattan WMS	SAP	Inventory adjustments and stock status changes	Count, damage or status change

Setting it up

1Confirm the integration approachChoose IDoc, API or EDI and agree it with both vendors' teams.
2Review the 1ZQ scenarioUse the SAP third-party WMS scope item as the design baseline.
3Define the stock boundaryDecide which storage locations the WMS owns and how SAP sees stock.
4Map master dataAlign materials, units of measure, plants, storage locations and handling units.
5Build and test delivery flowsTest inbound, outbound, returns and partial confirmations.
6Test inventory reconciliationRun daily stock comparison between SAP and the WMS.
7Plan cutoverMove one warehouse at a time with opening stock reconciled.

What usually breaks

!Stock ownership unclear, so both systems adjust the same inventory.
!Partial deliveries and split batches not handled consistently on both sides.
!Unit of measure and handling unit differences causing quantity mismatches.
!Message failures with no replay process, losing goods issues.
!Batch and serial number attributes that SAP and the WMS store differently.
!Assuming a comparison-site listing equals a certified connector.

A private AI layer across both systems

Daily stock reconciliation

A private assistant compares SAP and WMS stock, groups differences by likely cause and drafts adjustment proposals for inventory control to approve.

Stuck delivery triage

Find deliveries with no goods issue confirmation, trace the failed message, and explain the cause.

Plain-language logistics questions

Ask which shipments are late and why, using data from both systems.

Integration test case drafting

Generate scenarios from real order patterns for testers to review.

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SAP EWM Warehouse Process Types Reference

Open full tool

A searchable lookup of what a warehouse process type controls in SAP EWM, grouped by process category, with the configuration area for each setting.

Download:

Process category	Setting or concept	What it controls	Where it is configured	Consultant note
All	Warehouse process type	Central control object for a warehouse task: it groups the processing rules for a movement.	EWM customizing, Cross-Process Settings, Warehouse Task	Keep the number of process types small. One per distinct business movement, not one per storage type.
All	Warehouse process category	Classifies the movement as putaway, stock removal, internal movement, physical inventory or posting change.	Attribute of the warehouse process type	Pick the category first. It limits which other attributes are relevant.
All	Warehouse process type determination	Rules that pick the process type automatically from document and product data.	Determination of the process type in warehouse task creation	Test the determination with a document that has no match. Missing rules are a common cause of tasks not being created.
All	Storage control	Defines the sequence of steps a handling unit follows, for example a pick point or work center.	Storage control customizing in EWM	Use process-oriented storage control for multi-step flows and layout-oriented for fixed physical paths.
All	Confirmation required	Whether a warehouse task must be confirmed before stock moves in the system.	Attribute of the warehouse process type	Warehouse tasks with confirmation give the best traceability but add an RF or desktop step.
All	Warehouse order creation rule	How warehouse tasks are bundled into warehouse orders for execution.	Warehouse order creation rule customizing	Order bundling affects travel distance directly, review it with the picking design.
Putaway	Putaway control indicator	Product-level setting that selects the storage type search sequence for putaway.	Warehouse product master and storage type search sequence customizing	A missing indicator on the product master is the first thing to check when putaway finds no bin.
Putaway	Storage type search sequence	Order in which storage types are tried for a product.	Storage type search sequence customizing	Place the most specific type first and a general overflow type last.
Putaway	Storage section search sequence	Order in which sections inside a storage type are searched.	Storage section search sequence customizing	Sections let you separate fast and slow movers inside one type without new types.
Stock removal	Stock removal rule	Defines the order in which storage types and strategies are used to find stock for picking.	Stock removal rule customizing	Check the rule per product group. Different rules for hazardous and standard goods are common.
Stock removal	Stock removal control indicator	Selects the stock removal rule for a product through the product master.	Warehouse product master and stock removal customizing	Use it to give a few product families special removal logic without code.
Stock removal	Quantity classification	Distinguishes full handling units from partial quantities for picking decisions.	Stock removal strategy customizing	Partial pallet picks need a clear replenishment rule or the pick face empties fast.
Internal movement	Replenishment	Moves stock from reserve storage types to pick storage types based on fill levels.	Replenishment customizing and product storage type data	Set minimum and maximum quantities at storage-type level and review them after demand shifts.
Internal movement	Ad hoc movement	Manual movement between bins that a user creates to correct or consolidate stock.	Warehouse monitor and warehouse task creation	Restrict by authorization. Unchecked ad hoc moves distort slotting.
Physical inventory	Physical inventory procedure	Counting method such as periodic, continuous or cycle counting.	Physical inventory customizing for the warehouse	Align the procedure with the stock accounting rules of your auditors.
Physical inventory	Count tolerance	Difference limits that decide whether a recount or approval is needed.	Physical inventory difference analysis customizing	Set value and quantity limits separately so high-value parts are always reviewed.
Posting change	Stock type change	Changes the stock type of a quantity, for example unrestricted to blocked, without a physical move.	Posting change warehouse task and process type	A posting change must be reflected in ERP stock. Test the confirmation integration.
Posting change	Owner or product change	Changes ownership or product in the warehouse without moving the bin.	Posting change customizing	Use it for consignment transfers and relabeling flows.

This is a concept map for design workshops. Exact menu paths and delivered process type numbers differ by release, so check your own EWM customizing before you copy a setting.

EWM configuration review

Send us your process type setup and we will point out overlapping types and gaps in determination. Optional, and the reference works without it.

Optional. The tool and every export work without this. No spam.

When something else fits better

Use SAP EWM, embedded or decentralized, if you want a single-vendor warehouse and your processes fit it.
A smaller or mid-market WMS may be enough if you do not need Manhattan's scale.
Stay on SAP WM or IM with RF extensions for simple warehouses.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a certified SAP connector?

The record only cites a comparison site listing SAP as a stated integration and notes it is usually built with IDoc, API or EDI. Ask Manhattan and your integrator what they have delivered for your release.

Why choose it over EWM?

Large operations sometimes pick Manhattan for warehouse-specific functionality or an existing relationship. EWM keeps you in one vendor stack, which can mean simpler support.

Is it on-prem?

Manhattan Active is a cloud product, while SAP can run on-prem. That makes connectivity, latency and downtime handling important design points.

Where can AI help?

Reconciliation, message failure triage and questions across both systems. Stock adjustments should always require human approval.

Pairing documented at erpresearch.com/erp-add-ons/wms/manhattan-active-wms-vs-sap-ewm . Manhattan Active Warehouse Management is a product of Manhattan Associates; Netray is independent and not affiliated with either vendor.

Process category

Setting or concept

What it controls

Where it is configured

Consultant note

All

Warehouse process type

Central control object for a warehouse task: it groups the processing rules for a movement.

EWM customizing, Cross-Process Settings, Warehouse Task

Keep the number of process types small. One per distinct business movement, not one per storage type.

All

Warehouse process category

Classifies the movement as putaway, stock removal, internal movement, physical inventory or posting change.

Attribute of the warehouse process type

Pick the category first. It limits which other attributes are relevant.

All

Warehouse process type determination

Rules that pick the process type automatically from document and product data.

Determination of the process type in warehouse task creation

Test the determination with a document that has no match. Missing rules are a common cause of tasks not being created.

All

Storage control

Defines the sequence of steps a handling unit follows, for example a pick point or work center.

Storage control customizing in EWM

Use process-oriented storage control for multi-step flows and layout-oriented for fixed physical paths.

All

Confirmation required

Whether a warehouse task must be confirmed before stock moves in the system.

Attribute of the warehouse process type

Warehouse tasks with confirmation give the best traceability but add an RF or desktop step.

All

Warehouse order creation rule

How warehouse tasks are bundled into warehouse orders for execution.

Warehouse order creation rule customizing

Order bundling affects travel distance directly, review it with the picking design.

Putaway

Putaway control indicator

Product-level setting that selects the storage type search sequence for putaway.

Warehouse product master and storage type search sequence customizing

A missing indicator on the product master is the first thing to check when putaway finds no bin.

Putaway

Storage type search sequence

Order in which storage types are tried for a product.

Storage type search sequence customizing

Place the most specific type first and a general overflow type last.

Putaway

Storage section search sequence

Order in which sections inside a storage type are searched.

Storage section search sequence customizing

Sections let you separate fast and slow movers inside one type without new types.

Stock removal

Stock removal rule

Defines the order in which storage types and strategies are used to find stock for picking.

Stock removal rule customizing

Check the rule per product group. Different rules for hazardous and standard goods are common.

Stock removal

Stock removal control indicator

Selects the stock removal rule for a product through the product master.

Warehouse product master and stock removal customizing

Use it to give a few product families special removal logic without code.

Stock removal

Quantity classification

Distinguishes full handling units from partial quantities for picking decisions.

Stock removal strategy customizing

Partial pallet picks need a clear replenishment rule or the pick face empties fast.

Internal movement

Replenishment

Moves stock from reserve storage types to pick storage types based on fill levels.

Replenishment customizing and product storage type data

Set minimum and maximum quantities at storage-type level and review them after demand shifts.

Internal movement

Ad hoc movement

Manual movement between bins that a user creates to correct or consolidate stock.

Warehouse monitor and warehouse task creation

Restrict by authorization. Unchecked ad hoc moves distort slotting.

Physical inventory

Physical inventory procedure

Counting method such as periodic, continuous or cycle counting.

Physical inventory customizing for the warehouse

Align the procedure with the stock accounting rules of your auditors.

Physical inventory

Count tolerance

Difference limits that decide whether a recount or approval is needed.

Physical inventory difference analysis customizing

Set value and quantity limits separately so high-value parts are always reviewed.

Posting change

Stock type change

Changes the stock type of a quantity, for example unrestricted to blocked, without a physical move.

Posting change warehouse task and process type

A posting change must be reflected in ERP stock. Test the confirmation integration.

Posting change

Owner or product change

Changes ownership or product in the warehouse without moving the bin.

Posting change customizing

Use it for consignment transfers and relabeling flows.

Manhattan Active Warehouse Management with SAP S/4HANA

How Manhattan Active Warehouse Management connects to SAP S/4HANA

What data moves

Setting it up

What usually breaks

A private AI layer across both systems

EWM configuration review

When something else fits better

Frequently asked questions

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