Explain the basic concept of route process in Sales Order.

By: Kevin

Route is determined automatically in the sales order based on:

1. Departure zone or country of the delivering plant.
2. Destination zone or country of the Ship to Party.
3. Shipping condition from the customer master.
4. Transportation group from the material master.
5. Weight Group.

Follow this:-
Step: 1 - Define Modes of Transport
Path: Spro—Logistics Execution—Transportation—Basic Transportation Function---Routes—Define Routes—Define Modes of Transport.

Step: 2 - Define Shipping Types
Path: Under the Same Menu path---Define Shipping Types
Select New Entries and Assign the Shipping Type (e.g. Road or Train) and Assign Mode of Transport (Mdtr) and Assign Shipping type Procedure group.

Step: 3 - Define Transportation Connection Point
Path: Under the Same Menu path--- Define Transportation Connection Point.

Step: 4 - Define Routes and Stages.
Path: Under the Same Menu path--- Define Routes and Stages.
Select the New Entries and Enter the Details
Then Select the Routes stages and define 

Step: 5 - Maintain Stages for all Routes.
Path: Under the Same Menu path---Maintain Stages for all Routes.

ROUTE DETERMINATION

Step: 6 - Define Transportation Zone
Path: Spro—Logistics Execution—Transportation—Basic Transportation Function---Routes—Route Determination—Define Transportation Zone.

Step: 7 - Maintain County and Transportation Zone for Shipping Point.
Path: Under the Same Menu path--- Maintain County and Transportation Zone for Shipping Point.
Select the Shipping point and enter the Country and Transportation Zone 

Step: 8 - Define Transportation Groups.
Path: Under the Same Menu path---Define Transportation Groups

Step: 9 - Maintain Route Determination
Path: Under the Same Menu path--Maintain Route Determination.
Go to Customer master data.
In Address of General data. Enter the Transportation Zone id. and save
You will get the route.

The system takes into account the following 4 conditions for determining the Route – 

a. The country and the Departure Zone of the shipping point +
b. Shipping Conditions agreed in the sales document type or with the sold to party +
c. Transportation Group assigned to the material +
d. The country & Transportation Zone of the ship to party (in CMR)

Route can be manually overwritten during a sales order processing. You can re-determine the route in the outbound delivery based on weight (weight group) provided it is allowed in the configuration of the delivery type.

Scheduling takes into account the following times – 
a. Transit Time + 
b. Loading Time + 
c. Pick/Pack Time + 
d. Transportation Lead/Planning Time. 
The loading time and pick/pack time come from the shipping point whereas the transit time and transportation lead time come from the route.

The system performs backward scheduling first to confirm the required quantity checking the material availability on the material availability date. If the material availability date or the transportation planning date falls before the order date, the system automatically carries out forward scheduling and will propose a future date. A delivery type can be customized to carry out rescheduling if required during the delivery processing.

Get help for your SAP SD problems
SAP SD Forums - Do you have a SAP SD Question?

SAP Sales and Distribution Books
SAP SD Books - Certification, Interview Questions and Configuration

Delivery Hints
Logistics Execution

SAP Sales and Distribution Tips
SAP SD Discussion Forum and Sales/Distribution Tips

Best regards,
SAP Basis, ABAP Programming and Other IMG Stuff
http://www.erpgreat.com