In today’s fast-paced logistics environment, businesses are constantly seeking ways to streamline warehouse and shipping operations. One of SAP’s powerful yet often underutilized feature is Automatic Packing using Handling Units (HUs) — a functionality that intelligently organizes materials into optimized packaging hierarchies, saving both time and manual effort.
Automatic packing enables SAP to decide what, how, and where to pack materials during logistics processes. It leverages Handling Units (HUs) — unique, trackable entities representing containers, pallets, or cartons — to simplify goods movement, shipping, and inventory tracking.
• Single-Level Packing: Each material is packed into a single container (e.g., one phone → one box).
• Multi-Level Packing: Containers are nested hierarchically (e.g., phone boxes → cartons → pallet).
• Reduces manual packing effort and errors.
• Ensures consistency in packaging rules.
• Improves warehouse efficiency and throughput.
• Enhances visibility of inventory across storage and transport levels.
At the core, automatic packing works by linking Packing Instructions and Determination Records to materials. SAP uses these rules to automatically suggest and execute packing during delivery creation or goods issue.
• Define Packing Instruction Determination Keys – Configure condition tables and access sequences to determine the correct packing rule.
• Set Up Packing Instruction Determination Type and Procedure – Defines how SAP groups packing instructions and searches for applicable rules.
• Maintain Packing Transaction Profile (T-code: OVHU2) – Controls how automatic packing behaves in deliveries or production.
• Create and Assign Packing Instructions (T-code: POP1) – Define packaging materials and components (e.g., carton, pallet) and assign them to materials.
• Maintain Determination Records (T-code: POF1) – Link packing instructions to materials or customers so SAP knows which rule to apply.
Once configured, when users create an Outbound Delivery (VL01N), SAP automatically packs materials based on the assigned rules. The system generates handling units at the right hierarchy level — carton, pallet, etc. — with no manual intervention required.
Product: Mobile Phones
Rule: Each box contains 10 phones → 5 boxes per carton → 10 cartons per pallet.
When the delivery is created, SAP auto-generates this entire hierarchy of HUs, ready for labeling and shipment.
• Automatic packing eliminates repetitive manual work.
• The right configuration ensures accuracy and compliance in packaging.
• When combined with EWM or LE-TRA, it provides end-to-end visibility in warehouse operations.
At Si2Tech, we specialize in helping organizations unlock the full potential of SAP Logistics and Warehouse Management solutions. Whether it’s automating packing, optimizing handling units, or integrating with EWM, our SAP experts can help streamline your end-to-end supply chain.
