Sales and shipping processes
SAP Sales & Distribution (SAP SD) is the central module within the SAP ERP and S/4HANA system for handling all sales and distribution processes. It supports companies in efficiently structuring their sales processes - from quotation creation and order entry to delivery, invoicing and revenue recognition. As an integral part of the SAP supply chain, SD forms the interface between the company and its customers.
The module offers comprehensive functions for managing customer master data, pricing, conditions management and monitoring delivery and payment processes. This allows sales activities to be managed and controlled end-to-end - with the aim of achieving faster order processing, greater customer satisfaction and more transparency in order tracking.
Seamless integration with other modules such as Materials Management (MM), Finance (FI), Controlling (CO) and Production Planning (PP) means that all relevant information is provided centrally and enables efficient, cross-departmental collaboration. SAP SD thus ensures an end-to-end process chain from the customer order to the cash receipt posting - without media disruptions or redundant data maintenance.
Extended sales scenarios and flexible pricing
For companies with complex sales structures, SAP SD offers far more than just classic order entry. The module also maps sophisticated scenarios such as consignment warehouses, returns processes, drop shipments or intercompany processing. In addition, the entire price calculation can be controlled granularly - including discounts, surcharges, graduated prices and customer-specific price lists. Pricing follows a flexible condition logic that can be tailored precisely to the respective business processes.
Efficient delivery and dispatch management
Another central component of SAP SD is delivery and dispatch management. This covers all logistical steps from delivery date determination and availability checks (ATP - Available-to-Promise) to shipping with a forwarding agent connection. In combination with the SAP Warehouse Management or SAP EWM module, warehouse movements can be tracked in real time and delivery processes optimized.
Flexible adaptability and modern system architecture
Invoicing is also closely embedded in SAP SD. Whether individual invoices, collective invoices or pro forma invoices - the system generates all documents automatically, monitors payments and transfers the data seamlessly to the SAP FI module for posting. SAP SD also supports extensive reporting and analysis functions, for example for sales statistics, sales performance or margin analysis per customer or region.
Global sales processing with compliance security
Technically, the module can be extensively customized: SAP SD can be precisely configured via customizing (e.g. sales organizations, document types, partner roles). Enhancement options are also available via BAdIs, user exits and customer-specific fields. In SAP S/4HANA, companies also benefit from modern Fiori interfaces, simplified data structures (e.g. the business partner as a central entity for customer and supplier master data) and real-time analyses.
SAP SD demonstrates its strengths particularly in international organizations: Currency management, tax mapping, customs processes and legally compliant invoicing make the module a reliable solution for globally active sales units.
