Rethinking logistics master data from business partners as part of the S/4HANA transformation
Logistics is teamwork across company boundaries. During a transport process, information must be exchanged between many parties — from the recipient of the goods to the supplier and the freight forwarder to the driver. In practice, seamless cooperation does not fail because of the will, but because of the complexity of communication: different systems, changing partners, many special cases — and information that is constantly changing.
The challenge: Logistical requirements do not fit into ERP
In SAP-S/4HANA® projects, the focus is often on harmonizing business and transaction data. Logistic-relevant requirements from customers, suppliers and locations are often carried along pragmatically — for example via free text fields in the customer or material master, via customer-specific extensions or outside of SAP (e.g. Excel, emails, documents). This works in the short term, but reaches limits as soon as processes are to be automated, used across systems or scaled with external partners.
Unstructured requirements can neither be passed on reliably nor updated consistently.
The S/4HANA transformation is therefore the right moment for many companies not only to technically migrate logistical requirements, but also to restructure them.
How Loady complements SAP S4/HANA
Loady specifically supplements SAP S/4HANA® where ERP systems naturally reach their limits: in the structured, collaborative maintenance of logistics-relevant master data from business partners. The distribution of roles is clear:
- SAP S/4HANA® remains a leader for business and transactional data
- Loady becomes the leading source for logistical loading and unloading requirements
In concrete terms, this means:
- Master data on loading and unloading requirements from customers, suppliers and locations is maintained centrally in Loady
- Requirements arise where they are professionally responsible (e.g. by the goods recipient or site operator)
- SAP S/4HANA® remains lean without additional customizing
- Changes have an immediate effect throughout the processes, without manual follow-up
- Logistics partners work with the same, up-to-date information
This creates digital, connectable processes — without overloading the ERP with special logic.
Loady as a neutral connector between systems and partners
Loady is not just another operational system, but a neutral data hub between systems and participants along the logistics process. A typical end-to-end flow:
- Use of data in freight tenders (e.g. SAP® Ariba® or other eProcurement systems)
- Referencing in a freight order (e.g. SAP S/4HANA®/SAP Transportation Management)
- Integration with trucking agencies' TMS
- Transfer to driver apps or telematics systems
- Retrieval by drivers — including subcontractors — via app or multilingual link
- Using the same data for pre-checks and automated gate/yard processing
All participants work with the same validated information — across systems and without media breaks.
Integration without customizing — via SAP text IDs
A key advantage: Loady integrates into existing S/4HANA architectures without deep SAP customizing. By using SAP text IDs, structured Loady content is integrated into SAP objects in a context-related manner. Logistical requirements are:
- structured in standardized information modules
- assigned to defined SAP text IDs
- synchronized automatically (e.g. via SAP BTP/CPI)
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In this way, content remains machine-usable, versioned and consistent — and is also available to partners outside the ERP.
Use of data in freight tenders (e.g. SAP® Ariba® or other eProcurement systems)
Referencing in a freight order (e.g. SAP S/4HANA®/SAP Transportation Management)
Integration with trucking agencies' TMS
Transfer to driver apps or telematics systems
Retrieval by drivers — including subcontractors — via app or multilingual link
Using the same data for pre-checks and automated gate/yard processing
Integration without customizing — via SAP text IDs
A key advantage: Loady integrates into existing S/4HANA architectures without deep SAP customizing.
By using SAP text IDs, structured Loady content is integrated into SAP objects in a context-related manner. Logistical requirements are:
- structured into standardized information components
- assigned to defined SAP text IDs
- synchronized automatically (e.g. via SAP BTP/CPI)
In this way, content remains machine-usable, versioned and consistent — and is also available to partners outside the ERP.
Existing plans are adhered to more reliably
Fewer manual interventions and corrections
Quickly measurable improvements without system changes
Using data along the logistics process
Loady customers confirm
Reduction of incorrect trips and incidents at gates and ramps by 30-60%
Significantly lower costs due to special cases
30-50% fewer queries in operational processes
Reduction of incorrect trips and incidents at gates and ramps by 30-60%
Reduction of incorrect trips and incidents at gates and ramps by 30-60%
Reduction of incorrect trips and incidents at gates and ramps by 30-60%
Reduction of incorrect trips and incidents at gates and ramps by 30-60%
Reduction of incorrect trips and incidents at gates and ramps by 30-60%
Why this is crucial for SAP S4/HANA projects
SAP S/4HANA® creates the technical basis for automation.
Whether this potential can be realized in logistics is decided by the master data.
Companies that are deliberately redesigning logistics-relevant partner master data as part of the S/4HANA transformation:
- avoid subsequent rework and redesigns
- ensure automation capability in transport, yard and handling
- strengthen cooperation with logistics partners and make their SAP landscape scalable in the long term
The decision on logistics master data is not made after the go-live — but before that.
Legal notice:
SAP, SAP S/4HANA, SAP Ariba, and other SAP products and services mentioned here are trademarks or registered trademarks of SAP SE or one of its affiliates.
Stefanie Kraus
Co-Founder & CEO
If necessary, we can help you calculate the benefit case, which shows the benefits and savings potential of Loady for your company — with a comprehensible method, real figures and a clear ROI assessment for a well-founded decision.
Explore Loady
Industry solutions
Precise delivery processes are crucial in the automotive industry — Loady ensures clear transport requirements and prevents delays.
Whether raw materials, specialty chemicals or distribution - Loady delivers clear transportation requirements and prevents delays.
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In the environment of large construction sites, dynamically adaptable, clear loading and unloading requirements are essential for safety, efficiency and on-time delivery.
With clear loading requirements, route planning and time window management run better - and logistics centers can better calculate when goods arrive and are redistributed.
In particular, liquid transport due to the risk of product contamination — but also deliveries of packaged goods — benefits from clear requirements for safe loading and unloading.
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In industrial production, clear requirements help to reduce loading times and errors, and thus also rework, which ensures the flow of materials and has a positive effect on production and logistics costs.
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In mechanical engineering, Loady supports the mostly time-critical delivery of materials and the delivery of finished goods - often in special sizes with special customer requirements.
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Logistics service providers benefit from clear requirements and reduce waiting and downtime, empty and extra km — they also enable new drivers to be onboarded quickly.
Energy generation, waste incineration and recycling are part of KRITIS, whose requirements Loady sustainably supports, particularly when instructing truck drivers and service providers.
Connect Loady to your business processes
Loady fits directly into existing ERP, TMS, yard, eCommerce, procurement and telematics systems, so that all charging requirements are automatically available in its own corporate and logistics systems.
Support as needed
We'll guide you through the onboarding process and, with introductions and best practices, ensure that your team is quickly trained and can take action. If necessary, we can help you create and update data sets in Loady.
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