Industry: Chemical Manufacturing
Solution: SAP Business Network for Logistics (BN4L)
Integrated With: SAP Transportation Management (SAP TM), SAP S/4HANA
Region: Europe & Asia
At a Glance
Industry | Chemical Manufacturing |
Manufacturing Sites | 11 |
Annual Shipments | 38,000+ |
Transport Partners | 140+ |
SAP Landscape | SAP S/4HANA + SAP TM |
Solution | SAP Business Network for Logistics |
Business Outcomes
- 94% On-Time-In-Full delivery
- 41% reduction in detention and demurrage costs
- 89% faster exception detection
- 75% fewer invoice reconciliation issues
- 129 carriers onboarded to one logistics network
About the Client
A global chemical manufacturer operating across Europe, North America, South America, and Asia was managing more than 38,000 shipments annually through a network of over 140 logistics partners.
While SAP managed production and transportation planning effectively, shipment visibility beyond the factory was limited. Logistics teams relied heavily on emails, spreadsheets, phone calls, and multiple carrier portals to track shipments and resolve transportation issues.
As shipment volumes grew, these manual processes became increasingly difficult to manage.
Business Challenges
The client faced several operational challenges that affected efficiency and customer service.
Limited Shipment Visibility
Once freight left the manufacturing plant, transportation teams had no centralized view of shipment progress. Information had to be collected manually from multiple carriers.
Slow Exception Management
Transportation delays were often discovered only after customers reported them, making proactive intervention nearly impossible.
Rising Logistics Costs
Poor coordination at loading docks resulted in increased detention and demurrage charges, impacting transportation budgets.
Manual Freight Settlement
Carrier invoices frequently required manual verification because transportation execution data and contracted freight rates were stored in separate systems.
Regulatory Compliance
Managing hazardous chemical shipments required extensive documentation, making audits both time-consuming and resource-intensive.
The Solution
NAV IT Consulting implemented SAP Business Network for Logistics (BN4L) integrated with the client’s existing SAP Transportation Management and SAP S/4HANA environment.
The implementation created a connected logistics ecosystem where shippers, carriers, logistics providers, and planners worked from the same shipment information in real time.
Key capabilities included:
- Digital freight tendering
- Carrier collaboration
- Real-time shipment tracking
- Predictive ETA monitoring
- Dock appointment scheduling
- Automated freight settlement
- End-to-end shipment traceability
Implementation Approach
The project followed a phased rollout to minimize disruption.
Phase 1 – Assessment & Planning
NAV IT evaluated logistics processes, transportation data, carrier interactions, and existing SAP integrations to define a global implementation roadmap.
Phase 2 – SAP Readiness
Transportation master data was standardized across regions, ensuring consistent freight order and carrier information before deployment.
Phase 3 – Carrier Onboarding
High-volume carriers were onboarded first, followed by regional logistics providers in successive rollout waves.
Phase 4 – Network Deployment
SAP Business Network for Logistics capabilities—including Freight Collaboration, Global Track and Trace, Dock Appointment Scheduling, and Freight Settlement—were deployed site by site.
Phase 5 – Stabilization
Following go-live, NAV IT established operational dashboards, governance processes, and carrier performance monitoring to support long-term adoption.
Business Results
Within twelve months of deployment, the client achieved measurable improvements across logistics operations.
KPI | Before | After |
On-Time Delivery | 81.4% | 94.2% |
Exception Detection | 2–4 days | 6.2 hours |
Manual Invoice Reconciliation | 16.7% | 4.1% |
Dock Appointment Rescheduling | 22% | 7% |
Freight Tender Cycle | 3.8 days | 1.1 days |
Hazmat Audit Preparation | 3–5 days | Same Day |
Key Benefits Delivered
The implementation helped the client achieve:
- End-to-end shipment visibility across the transportation network
- Faster response to logistics disruptions
- Improved collaboration with carriers and logistics partners
- Reduced transportation costs
- Better compliance for hazardous goods
- Faster freight settlement
- Higher customer service levels
- A scalable logistics network built on SAP
Why NAV IT Consulting
NAV IT Consulting combines deep expertise in SAP Transportation Management, SAP Business Network for Logistics, and SAP Supply Chain solutions to help organizations modernize logistics operations.
Our implementation approach focuses on:
- Faster time-to-value
- Business-led process transformation
- Seamless SAP integration
- Carrier onboarding expertise
- Long-term operational governance
With 11+ SAP Business Network for Logistics implementations and 550+ carrier onboardings globally, NAV IT helps organizations build connected, intelligent supply chains.
Ready to Modernize Your Logistics Network?
Whether you’re looking to improve shipment visibility, digitize carrier collaboration, or optimize transportation processes, NAV IT Consulting can help.
Contact our experts to schedule a logistics assessment and discover how SAP Business Network for Logistics can transform your supply chain.
