Different dates in SAP delivery and how the date calculation logic works with example

 SAP delivery dates play a critical role in managing the entire shipping process, from order creation to goods issue. Here's a breakdown of the key dates and how they interact:

Key Dates in an SAP Delivery:

Requested Delivery Date: This is the date the customer wants to receive the goods. It's often entered during sales order creation.

Confirmed Delivery Date: This is the date you promise to deliver the goods to the customer. It's typically set during sales order processing or delivery creation and should consider material availability and lead times.

Shipping Date (Loading Date): This is the planned date the goods will leave your warehouse or shipping point. It's crucial for transportation planning.

Goods Issue Date (GI Date): This is the actual date the goods are physically removed from your inventory. It represents the legal change of ownership. This date updates the stock quantities in your SAP system.

Transportation Planning Date: This date is used in Transportation Management (TM) to schedule and manage the shipment.

Material Availability Date: This date indicates when the necessary materials are expected to be available for the delivery. It's based on stock levels, purchase orders, production orders, etc.

Date Calculation Logic:

The calculation of these dates involves several factors and can be quite complex, influenced by various settings in your SAP system. Here's a simplified explanation:

Material Availability Check: SAP checks if the required materials are available or when they are expected to be available. This considers existing stock, planned receipts (purchase orders, production orders), and reservations.

Lead Times: Various lead times are considered, such as:

Planned Delivery Time: Time from order creation to delivery.

Transportation Lead Time (Transit Time): Time for the goods to travel from your warehouse to the customer.

Picking/Packing Time: Time required to prepare the goods for shipment within your warehouse.

Loading Time: Time to load the goods onto the transportation vehicle.

Calendar Settings: SAP uses factory calendars and shipping calendars to account for working days, holidays, and other non-working days. These calendars influence the calculation of shipping dates and goods issue dates.

Route Determination: The transportation route chosen can also impact the delivery date, as different routes may have varying transit times.

Backward Scheduling and Forward Scheduling:

Backward Scheduling: Starts with the requested delivery date and works backward, calculating the required shipping date, picking date, and so on, based on the defined lead times and calendars.

Forward Scheduling: Starts with the material availability date and works forward, adding lead times to determine the earliest possible delivery date.

Simplified Example:

A customer requests delivery on July 10th (Requested Delivery Date). SAP performs a material availability check and determines that the material will be available on July 5th (Material Availability Date). The transit time is 2 days, and picking/packing time is 1 day. Assuming working days, SAP might calculate the following:

Shipping Date (Loading Date): July 7th (July 5th + 1 day for picking/packing + 1 day buffer)

Goods Issue Date: July 7th (same as Shipping Date in this example)

Confirmed Delivery Date: July 9th (July 7th + 2 days transit time)

It's important to note that these are simplified examples, and in reality, the calculations can be much more intricate.

For precise details on how date calculation works in your specific SAP system, consult your company's SAP configuration documentation, your SAP Super User, or your IT support team. They can provide information on the specific settings and customizations that influence date management in your environment.
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