Article 56: What are the key SAP Fiori apps for Inventory Management?
What inventory management insights do Fiori apps provide?
Fiori apps transform inventory management from reactive transaction processing to proactive analytics and control, providing real-time visibility and immediate action capabilities.
What is the Overview Inventory Management app?
Purpose: Comprehensive dashboard for inventory managers providing critical stock information at a glance
Dashboard Cards Include:
- Stock Value by Stock Type - breakdown of inventory value by unrestricted, blocked, and quality stock
- Overdue Materials - Stock in Transit - materials that should have arrived but are delayed
- Warehouse Throughput History - trends in material movements and processing volumes
- ABC Analysis - classification of materials by value and importance
Key Benefits:
- Single-screen overview of all critical inventory metrics
- Exception-based alerts highlighting problems requiring attention
- Trend analysis for better planning and forecasting
- Drill-down capability from summary to detailed transactions
What is the Manage Stock app?
Purpose: Combined reporting and transactional app for real-time stock management
Key Features:
- Real-time stock overview similar to transaction MMBE
- Stock type breakdown (unrestricted, quality inspection, blocked)
- Immediate transaction capability from the same screen
- Material movement history and trend analysis
What transactions can I execute directly?
- Transfer postings between storage locations
- Goods issue for scrapping damaged or obsolete materials
- Stock type transfers (quality to unrestricted after inspection)
- Physical inventory adjustments and corrections
Workflow Example:
- View current stock levels for a material
- Identify excess stock in one location
- Execute transfer posting to another location needing material
- Confirm transaction and see updated stock levels immediately
What is the Stock Overview by Material app?
Purpose: Material-specific stock analysis across multiple dimensions
Analysis Capabilities:
- Stock levels across all plants and storage locations
- Stock aging analysis for slow-moving inventory
- Batch information and expiration date tracking
- Reservation and allocation details
Business Applications:
- Inventory optimization by identifying excess or shortage situations
- Cross-plant balancing of stock levels
- Expiration management for time-sensitive materials
- Allocation planning for reserved materials
How do these apps improve inventory operations?
Real-Time Decision Making:
- Immediate visibility into stock situations across organization
- Quick identification of problems requiring attention
- Instant corrective actions without switching applications
- Better coordination between plants and locations
Operational Efficiency:
- Reduced system navigation with integrated view-and-act capability
- Faster problem resolution through exception-based alerts
- Mobile accessibility for warehouse and field staff
- Streamlined workflows combining analysis and execution
Exception Management:
- Automatic alerts for stock below minimum levels
- Overdue stock notifications for transfers and receipts
- Quality hold monitoring for materials awaiting inspection
- Aging inventory identification for review and action
What should inventory managers monitor daily?
Critical Metrics:
- Stock below minimum levels requiring replenishment
- Overdue receipts from vendors or transfers
- Quality inspection backlogs affecting availability
- Slow-moving inventory candidates for disposition
Weekly Analysis:
- Inventory turnover trends and optimization opportunities
- ABC classification review and adjustments
- Cross-plant balancing opportunities
- Obsolete stock identification and cleanup planning