5 Reasons to Migrate from SAP WM to SAP EWM (2025 Guide)

Migrating from SAP WM to SAP EWM is a strategic decision that goes beyond a system upgrade — it is a warehouse operations transformation. With SAP officially ending mainstream support for WM by 2025, businesses still running on WM are facing an urgent timeline to migrate. Here are the top 5 reasons why making the move to SAP Extended Warehouse Management is the right decision.

An effective supply chain relies on a well-planned, efficient inventory management system. Businesses need to have a good governance of their warehouses and ensure the balance between supply and demand. Overstocking can lead to increased storage costs and reduced profit, while insufficient stocking can lead to the disruption of the supply chain. Time management, stock orders, budget control, shipments, return and change requests, and resource management all rely on the effectiveness of the warehouse operations.

SAP Warehouse Management

SAP Warehouse Management (WM) is a module through which businesses can manage warehouse inventories and processes via their SAP system. WM has been widely adopted since its first release in 1995. It enables the tracking of entries and exits of goods, pinpointing goods location at any given time, tracking warehouse movements and managing stock transfer processes. WM is particularly advantageous to businesses that already run their business on SAP, since the warehouse management module works fully integrated with all other SAP modules.

Nonetheless, inventory and stock tracking aren't everything when it comes to warehouse management. As the competitiveness in every industry rises each year, business owners search for new ways to optimize processes and increase efficiency. These developments led to the release of SAP Extended Warehouse Management (EWM) in 2006 — a smarter, more capable and modern offspring of WM. For a detailed comparison of the two systems, see our guide on the difference between SAP EWM and SAP WM.

SAP Extended Warehouse Management

The most recent version of SAP EWM is EWM 9.5, which was introduced in 2017. In addition to the standard functions of WM, users can benefit from features like workforce management, e-commerce applications, warehouse space optimization and packaging solutions. According to the SAP road map, there will be no new development work on the outdated WM module and its official support ended by 2025. Which means it's the right time for your business to migrate to EWM.

1. Optimizing Workforce Management

EWM provides advanced resource and workforce management tools which enable you to plan shifts and systematically measure efficiency for each shift and employee. The system analyzes a multitude of data, such as travel distance for shipments, entry and exit times to the warehouse, and activity reports.

2. Benefiting from E-Commerce Applications

• Pick by Cart is an application developed with SAP Fiori and allows collecting multiple orders on the same journey in the warehouse.
• E-Commerce Returns App 2.0 allows for faster, simpler returns processes for both buyers and sellers by leveraging product barcodes or serial numbers.
• Change Delivery / Order Reduction allows changing information like order quantity or delivery date in a quick and simple manner.

3. Smart and Efficient Use of Space

The Pallet Planning feature ensures you get the most use out of every area in your warehouse. Based on SAP's Transport Management algorithm, this feature optimizes the picking and packaging processes and evaluates empty spaces in the warehouses to maximum advantage.

4. Transformative Insight with Analytics

EWM 9.5 supports Core Data Services (CDS) images. SAP Smart Business or SAP Fiori for Warehouse Experts/Warehouse Shift Supervisors enable you to analyze your warehouse operations in detail, helping you to make informed decisions that will greatly increase your revenue.

5. Lower Total Cost

SAP EWM is a module designed to maintain warehouse activities at the lowest cost and highest efficiency. Through EWM, products subject to different warehouse processes can be collected in the same journey; multiple orders can be grouped and processed by a single resource; warehouse resources are always used at highest capacity.

MDP's SAP EWM Consultancy Services

The EWM consultants at MDP Group have extensive experience in migrating businesses to the Extended Warehouse Management module. We assure a fast and secure transition with no disruption to your warehouse operations and develop tailor-made add-ons per your request. For more information feel free to contact us anytime!