Back in 2002, the development of yard management began with SAP Warehouse Management and its basic functionalities. Since then, SAP has expanded its functionalities further with SAP Extended Warehouse Management (EWM). In this system, the handling of yard activities is managed just like any other warehouse task, considering yard resources as Transportation Units (TUs). With the introduction of SAP Yard Logistics (YL), a dedicated module meant to optimize the efficiency of yards was launched as a standalone solution.
SAP EWM has the features to handle the basic functionalities of the yard integrated into it. In SAP EWM, the yard was observed as an extension of the warehouse, and all the functionalities of the yard were handled as warehouse tasks. Yard Location Management, Yard Movements, and Yard Stock are the three main functional yard components in the SAP EWM. The functions include vehicle check-in and moving it to the parking lot, moving the TU to the door or dock, unloading the TU, moving the vehicle to the checkpoint, and check-out the TU. All the business functions are simple and straightforward.
However, businesses needed a dedicated yard management system to bridge the functional and information gap between warehouse management and transportation management, address all the yard problems, and improve performance. SAP launched this dedicated yard management system - SAP Yard Logistics (YL), with improved capabilities to handle yard processes and resources.
SAP Yard Logistics serves as a bridge between the warehouse management system and transportation management system with its improved and focused end-to-end functionalities. SAP YL empowers with the ability to plan yard operations based on workload. With the information received on inbound and outbound orders, yard operations are executed as yard requests and yard orders. Yard requests form the demand in the SAP YL, yard orders are created with the release of yard requests, and all the tasks are executed as yard tasks. More visibility into the information can be achieved with the integration of SAP Transportation Management (TM) and SAP EWM.
SAP YL also provides enhanced functionalities such as a 3D visual yard, capacity planning, yard cockpit, self-check-in, dock appointment scheduling, yard billing, etc. More advanced functionalities can be achieved by integrating IOT but are not limited to gate automation, drone monitoring, and geo-fencing.
The table below summarizes the functional differences between SAP Yard Management (EWM) and SAP YL.
The comparison between SAP Yard Management in SAP EWM and SAP Yard Logistics reveals a nuanced understanding of the distinct advantages offered by each solution. While SAP Yard Management in EWM provides robust warehouse integration, SAP Yard Logistics emerges as a comprehensive solution tailored specifically for yard management challenges. The significance of SAP Yard Logistics cannot be overstated, as it not only streamlines yard processes but also enhances visibility, efficiency, and control over the entire yard operations. By seamlessly integrating with other SAP modules and offering advanced features like real-time tracking and predictive analytics, SAP Yard Logistics empowers businesses to optimize their yard operations, reduce costs, and improve overall supply chain performance. As organizations navigate the complexities of modern logistics, embracing SAP Yard Logistics proves to be a strategic decision, fostering agility and resilience in an ever-evolving business landscape.
