SAP Transportation Management (SAP TM) and Visual Aids

Written by Jim Lodwick, Curated by Silvia Ricciardi

Uncover how SAP Transportation Management (SAP TM) implements visualisation options and summary details, making transport management seamless and more efficient.

Quickly visualising and efficiently summarising a plan is key to managing processes nowadays if the aim is to keep a high level of accuracy, not compromising on quality and timeframes.

With time, systems have improved visual representations available while working on a project and have added the option to perform actions using click and drag rather than physically keying data in.

In this revolutionising landscape, SAP Transportation Management (SAP TM) is keeping the pace considering both visualisation options and summary details: it is now possible to view load plans, Gantt charts and routing in one central view, making management seamless and more efficient.

SAP Transportation Management: Why is it pivotal to visualise a load plan?

Unplanned challenges in the loading process

Many organisations believe that years of experience of their qualified warehouse staff is enough to take care of the loading process. Where this can be fine in an integrated environment, issues can arise where there is no consistency between transport and warehouse systems.

For instance, we could consider a scenario where orders planned to fit onto a vehicle in a transport management system do not physically fit when the warehouse staff are in the process of loading the vehicle. It can happen that the experienced warehouse team are otherwise engaged and there is an issue with loading. This can cause a mismatch between systems and unnecessary administration, with an urgent need to adjust transport plans.

Designed solutions with SAP TM

SAP Transportation Management (SAP TM) is now able to calculate and show a load plan representation confirming pallet positions, stacking and much more. The use of colour coding allows to easily see where axle weight limitations are approaching:

• Green = ok
• Yellow = warning
• Red = overweight

As a result, users within the transport environment are assured of a consistent approach to loading which can respect and adhere to any customer’s specific requirement.

SAP Transportation Management: What are the benefits of using Gantt Chart?

A correct visualisation of several steps that occur while dealing with transport planning can make the difference when it comes to detect issues and follow updates. One holistic visualisation of the transport plan allows for seamless analytics and updates, driving added value management techniques. It is not just about clearly displaying a load plan representation showing pallet collocation. When working on transport planning operations, it is useful to implement and correctly use Gantt Charts.

Through Gantt Charts it is possible to:

• Get a visual representation of timelines.
• Easily view and digest information compared to an array of detailed data (confirming departure and arrival times along with loading and unloading for multiple vehicles and drivers etc.).
• Use colour coding, which allows to clearly see the events.
• Adopt a split screen mode to see specific freight orders and any crossover freight orders:
  • Blue = Loading
  • Green = Travel
  • Orange = Unloading
• View warnings, quickly visualising and correcting issues (such as empty stages, drivers’ issues).
• Update planning.
  
  

Detailed routing within SAP TM

Companies often have an array of vehicles at their disposal. In this way they can deal with transport depending on specific requirements. Fundamental is also a reliable connection with the mapping providers within the system, able to guarantee a smooth process management. A call out to one of the major mapping providers can be easily configured from SAP TM. This facilitates a detailed planning view along with vehicle updates throughout the journey.

In addition, it is also possible to plan ‘starting from the map’, for instance, looking for transport demands in close proximity to a specific route or looking for resources in close proximity to a demand.

Advantages of integrating SAP TM with mapping providers

Most of the main mapping providers can be connected to SAP TM providing:

• Detailed route plans based on vehicle type and size.

• Commercial vehicle routing, which means compatible routes respecting weight and height dimensional restrictions.

• Live road traffic conditions.

• Live weather reports (floods, ice, snow etc.)

• Multi-Screen capability, allowing planners to simultaneously view maps and detailed plans consecutively.

There are a few options when deciding how to set up the connection. The user can opt for an HDMI switch. In this way it is possible to connect multiple devices to a single HDMI port or connect two monitors to one computer using just one HDMI port, opting for an HDMI splitter.

Page layouts facilitate not only the control of multi-screen displays but also the assignment to users, creating ultimate flexibility.

Rocket can help companies implementing SAP Transportation Management (SAP TM), getting the most out of its capabilities. Get in touch today for a demonstration of how SAP TM visuals can aid your end to end transport management process.

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