| Status | Approved |
| Owner | VAN OS-ext, Nico |
| Stakeholders | Najaite Nidboufker |
Issue
A Geographic Information System (GIS) provides GEO location coordinates for locations, it can calculate real life transportation distance and duration between locations, and provides visual representation on a map for routes. This data is necessary for the following business functions:
Charge Calculation - For xxx shipments charges are calculated based on actual distance. Currently the distance is maintained manually on the shipment. With GIS this distance can be determined automatically. This makes the charge calculation automatic. Also, the distance returned by GIS can be compared with the distance as provided by the carrier. This can then be challenged if the discrepancies are too big.
Milk run validation - During manual planning a milk run can be created. If the milk run is possible is dependent on actual travel duration, loading and unloading time and maximum number of working hours for the driver. With actual duration, configuration of loading/unloading duration and duration limitation settings it is possible to determine if a milk run is feasible.
Automatic planning - To implement automatic planning, actual transportation duration is essential. Similar as with milk run validation, the system has to determine actual durations to be able to generate correct milk run planning results.
Sustainability reporting - For CO2 reporting it is necessary to have the actual distance travelled.
Recommendation
Background & Context
Technical Background
There are three main functions in SAP TM where a Geographic Information System (GIS) is being called:
Location Master Data creation
Distance and Duration Determination
Visualisation
Location Master Data creation
During the creation of Location Master Data, the system stores the geographical data of the location. On default the system is taking country code level coordinates as stored in the system. When GIS server integration is activated, then the system will pass the address data to the GIS server which will return the geographical coordinates based on this address data.
Distance and Duration Determination
There two main processes where distance and duration is being determined;
Freight Order creation
Optimizer Planning
The system doesn't execute a call to the GIS server for each determination. Instead the system will check the buffer table first: Distance and Duration Determination table (DDD). When the combination between two locations is unknown, then the system will do a call to the GIS server to determine distance and duration. Once received, the system will store the result in the buffer table.
Visualisation
In the transportation cockpit and transportation documents a visual representation on a map can be displayed.
SAP TM can use GIS to determine
geo-coordinates for master data locations using their address
distances / duration between addresses (mainly used for planning and charge calculation)
geo-map display (using SAP Visual Business as middleware)
Master Data
When maintaining the location master the system can pull geographical coordinates from the GIS server and store that on the location master.
Distance / Duration
In the processing of Road Freight orders the system can determine the actual real life travel distance between locations. This data can be utilised for the following functions:
Capacity planning for resources, or number of stops for one Freight Order.
Charge calculation when calculation base is distance or duration. This feeds into invoice verification.
Geo-map display
In the transportation cockpit and transportation documents a visual representation on a map can be displayed.
the system can determine the actual real life travel distance between locations. This data can be utilised for the following functions:
Capacity planning for resources, or number of stops for one Freight Order.
Charge calculation when calculation base is distance or duration. This feeds into invoice verification.
Background & Context
Technical Background
There are three main functions in SAP TM where a Geographic Information System (GIS) is being called:
Location Master Data creation
Distance and Duration Determination
Visualisation
Location Master Data creation
During the creation of Location Master Data, the system stores the geographical data of the location. On default the system is taking country code level coordinates as stored in the system. When GIS server integration is activated, then the system will pass the address data to the GIS server which will return the geographical coordinates based on this address data.
Distance and Duration Determination
There two main processes where distance and duration is being determined;
Freight Order creation
Optimizer Planning
The system doesn't execute a call to the GIS server for each determination. Instead the system will check the buffer table first: Distance and Duration Determination table (DDD). When the combination between two locations is unknown, then the system will do a call to the GIS server to determine distance and duration. Once received, the system will store the result in the buffer table.
Visualisation
With the use of SAP Visual Business, a visual representation on a map can be displayed in the Freight Order and Transportation Cockpit.
Business Benefits
Assumptions
n/a
Constraints
n/a
Impacts
GIS server is a 3rd party license. There are several companies providing this service.
Implementing a GIS server takes about 10-15 consulting days.
Business Rules
n/a
Options considered
Yes or No decision. No options to consider.
Evaluation
Visual representation in transportation planning is a really nice feature to have. It can change the experience that a user has with the system, but ultimately this is a nice to have.
If Syensqo would do milk run planning, then proper distance and duration calculation would be really beneficial. However, there is no indication yet that Syensqo engages in this kind of planning process.
For road freight it is not unusual to have charge calculation based on distance. If there are agreements within Syensqo that have this basis, then GIS integration is very helpful.
Workflow history
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