How Shop Floor Data Collection (SFDC) connects to SAP Business One
SAP Business One add-on (SAP Store listing)
SAP's partner page lists SFDC as a Business One add-on. It surfaces Business One production and warehouse transactions on handheld devices, so operators work against the same orders and items as the office.
Device interfaces for scales and PLCs
The vendor describes interfaces with scales and PLCs. Which protocols and models are supported is set per project, so ask The SMS Group for the supported list and any integration work needed.
What data moves
| From | To | Data | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business One production orders | Handheld | Order, components, quantities and routing information | Operator opens the order |
| Handheld | Business One | Issue to production order of components | Operator confirms issue |
| Business One picklists | Handheld | Items, quantities and locations to pick | Operator opens the picklist |
| Scale | Handheld or Business One transaction | Measured weight captured into the transaction | Operator weighs and confirms |
| PLC | SFDC | Machine counts or status signals for the order | Machine event or polling |
Setting it up
- 1Define the transactions in scopeList which production and warehouse steps will move to handhelds: issue, receipt, pick, move.
- 2Choose devicesSelect Windows, iOS or Android handhelds and check they are supported by the add-on version.
- 3Prepare master dataClean bills of materials, routings, units of measure and warehouse locations before operators scan.
- 4Connect scales and PLCsAgree the interface, test readings against calibrated references, and decide what happens when a device is offline.
- 5Set user rolesGive operators only the transactions they need, aligned to Business One authorisations.
- 6Pilot on one lineRun one work centre for several shifts and reconcile consumption to physical counts.
- 7Document fallbacksWrite the manual procedure for when Wi-Fi, a scale or a PLC link fails.
What usually breaks
- !Backflushed and manually issued components get mixed, so consumption is double counted or missed.
- !Scale readings captured before the weight stabilises post wrong quantities. Add stability checks and tolerances.
- !Wi-Fi gaps near machinery leave transactions unposted, creating negative stock or open orders.
- !Units of measure differ between BOM, picklist and scale, so the posted quantity is off by a conversion factor.
- !PLC signal changes after a machine update break the interface with no error visible in Business One.
A private AI layer across both systems
Production variance triage
A private assistant reading Business One orders and SFDC transaction logs can highlight orders with unusual issue quantities and suggest whether scrap, scale error or a missed backflush is likely.
Unposted transaction watch
It can list handheld transactions that did not complete and tie them to device, user and time for a supervisor to follow up.
Plain-language shop floor questions
Planners can ask which orders are waiting on components or what was issued to an order, and get answers from live data.
Draft BOM corrections
Where actual issues consistently differ from the BOM, it can draft a change for an engineer to review.
Try it here, free
SAP Business One Production Order Checklist
A step-by-step checklist for creating, releasing, issuing to, receiving from and closing a production order in SAP Business One.
When something else fits better
- Standard Business One production order screens work for a small shop with desktop access at each workstation.
- Produmex Scan covers handheld production and warehouse transactions from another vendor if scales and PLCs are not needed.
- A dedicated MES suits plants needing scheduling, quality and machine monitoring beyond data collection.
Frequently asked questions
What does SFDC actually add to Business One?
It extends production and warehouse transactions, such as issuing to an order and picklists, to handheld devices, and adds interfaces with scales and PLCs. It brings the shop floor into the ERP's existing transactions rather than creating a separate system.
Which devices does it support?
The listing mentions Windows, iOS and Android handhelds. Exact models and versions are the vendor's to confirm, so test the devices you plan to buy in a pilot before ordering in quantity. Confirm the details with the vendor for your version and deployment before committing.
Is it an MES?
No, it is data collection. If you need finite scheduling, machine monitoring, quality plans or traceability beyond what Business One records, evaluate an MES alongside it. Confirm the details with the vendor for your version and deployment before committing. Test it in a pilot on your own data before rolling it out widely.
How would AI use this data?
A private assistant can read production orders and the transaction trail together to explain variances and incomplete transactions. It runs on your servers and drafts corrections for approval rather than posting them. Confirm the details with the vendor for your version and deployment before committing.
Pairing documented at www.sap.com/finland/products/erp/partners/the-sms-group-shop-floor-data-collecti . Shop Floor Data Collection (SFDC) is a product of The SMS Group; Netray is independent and not affiliated with either vendor.