Understanding Transportation Networks

In this lesson, the focus is on understanding the master data relevant to SAP Transportation Management (SAP TM) in the context of the transportation network. SAP TM uses various types of master data, including locations, transportation zones, transportation lanes, and transshipment locations, to support comprehensive end-to-end logistics scenarios for manufacturers and distributors.

The transportation network is a pivotal component in Transportation Management (TM) that defines the direct reachability between various locations and transshipment locations, providing a comprehensive framework for freight movement. This network lays out clear connections between locations, allowing for the efficient transportation of goods from one point to another.

Transshipment locations play a critical role in this network as well. They are designed to facilitate the reloading of goods from one transportation option to another, ensuring the continuity of the freight movement process. These locations are essential for intermodal transport, where multiple transportation methods, such as road, rail, and sea, are employed to move goods efficiently.

Advanced planning algorithms use transportation network definition to determine the most efficient path through the network, selecting the best routes and assigning the most suitable carriers for given transportation demands. This optimized path ensures timely delivery and minimizes costs by considering various factors, including freight and forwarding agreements that contain rates based on trade lanes.

To fully utilize the transportation network, several critical components must be understood and defined:

• Locations: Locations constitute the basic building blocks of the network, marking the start and end points of transportation routes.
• Transportation Zones: These zones group multiple locations. By aggregating locations into zones, it becomes easier to plan and optimize transportation across broader areas.
• Transportation Lanes: These lanes define the direct routes between locations and zones.
• Transshipment Locations: Transshipment locations ensure that goods can be seamlessly transferred from one mode of transportation to another.
• Default Routes: These routes define specific paths from the source to the destination through a sequence of stops.
• Schedules Schedules outline recurring routes with fixed dates and times along a predefined sequence of locations.
• Trade Lanes: These lanes offer an additional dimension to the transportation network by defining business relationships with customers and carriers.

Transportation Network Cockpit can be used to display the following master data of the transportation network on a map:

• Locations
• Transportation zones
• Transportation lanes
• Trade lanes
• Schedules
• Default routes
• Connections
• Business partner networks

Path finder searches for legs within the transportation network, considering the following elements:

• Locations
• Transshipment locations
• Transportation lanes
• Schedules
• Transportation zones

By using this function, it becomes straightforward to determine whether a connection exists between two locations, which means verifying the correct configuration of master data. This function is available in the Transportation Network Cockpit and on the user interface for transportation proposals. The Path Finder result is displayed on the geographical map in both cases.