FreightPOP Blog

Freight Shipping in SAP: Where Gaps Still Exist

Written by FreightPOP | Jul 1, 2025

SAP powers the core operations of some of the most sophisticated global enterprises. Whether it’s manufacturing, distribution, or retail, SAP’s ERP suite is built to handle scale, complexity, and compliance. But when it comes to freight shipping—particularly when managing and comparing rates across many modes—users often run into roadblocks.

The problem isn’t in SAP’s design—it’s in the disconnect between the ERP and modern freight workflows. Without a transportation management system (TMS) that integrates with SAP, shipping becomes a fragmented process. Teams are left juggling spreadsheets, email threads, and multiple carrier portals just to get freight out the door.

The Disconnect Between ERP and Freight Workflows

Modern freight management involves a complex chain of tasks—from carrier selection and document generation to real-time visibility and invoice auditing. But for many SAP users, these processes take place outside the ERP system, scattered across spreadsheets, emails, and third-party carrier portals.

Here’s what typically happens:

  • Sales or purchase orders are processed in SAP.

  • Teams copy relevant data into a carrier portal or legacy shipping tool.

  • Shipments are booked manually, frequently without comparing rates across available options.

  • Shipping documents are generated outside of SAP, creating version control issues.

  • Tracking numbers are manually retrieved and shared.

  • Invoices arrive later, often without a simple way to verify accuracy.

Each step creates an opportunity for error, delay, or lost savings, especially when shipping volumes are high or supply chains span multiple regions.

 

What’s at Stake Without a Freight Shipping Integration

Shipping might seem like the final step in order fulfillment, but it's far from the end of the process. What happens after the order leaves your dock—carrier performance, delivery timelines, customer satisfaction, and invoice accuracy—has a lasting impact on your business. These critical touchpoints typically fall outside the visibility of your ERP system, making them harder to manage, measure, and optimize.

Below are just a few of the ways these challenges are impacting logistics, customer experience, and cost control:

  • Businesses typically face repeated manual entry across systems, which increases labor costs and the risk of errors.
  • Delays from slow or error-prone carrier selection can lead to missed SLAs and dissatisfied customers.
  • Many companies miss out on savings due to limited rate visibility, as teams default to known carriers instead of selecting based on price or performance.
  • Teams are forced to reactively handle issues—such as missed pickups or delivery delays—because real-time updates aren’t accessible across departments.
  • Inconsistent tracking and documentation create friction for both customer service and warehouse teams.
  • Invoice discrepancies are common, with no simple way to compare actual charges against quoted rates.

These challenges aren't limited to outbound freight. For companies with global or complex supply chains, inbound shipping can be just as critical. Without real-time visibility into inbound shipments tied to purchase orders, inventory planning becomes guesswork—and supplier accountability suffers.

 

How a FreightPOP Integration Changes the Game

FreightPOP is a cloud-based TMS built to integrate directly with SAP via modern APIs. It brings freight operations into the same digital ecosystem as your ERP, eliminating manual work, improving shipment visibility, and unlocking meaningful cost savings.

With FreightPOP, SAP users can:

  • Rate shop in real time: Instantly compare prices and transit times across all your contracted carriers and shipping modes—from parcel to ocean freight—without leaving the SAP workflow.
  • Automate shipment booking: Trigger shipments directly from SAP sales or purchase orders. No double entry, no toggling between systems—just fast, accurate processing.
  • Generate labels and BOLs instantly: Automatically create all required shipping documents using data already housed in SAP. This ensures compliance and reduces the risk of costly errors.
  • Track shipments across all modes: Gain centralized, real-time visibility into your freight—whether you’re shipping LTL domestically or managing international ocean containers.
  • Audit freight invoices automatically: FreightPOP matches invoices to the original quoted rates, flagging overcharges before they go unnoticed or get approved in error.
  • Unify freight reporting: Bring shipping costs, carrier performance, and delivery metrics into your SAP reporting environment. Eliminate data silos and enable smarter decisions across logistics, finance, and customer service.

 

Who Benefits Inside the Business?

Freight integration with SAP benefits far more than just the logistics team. It streamlines collaboration, reduces costs, and improves performance across key departments:

  • Logistics & Shipping Teams: Eliminate manual entry, automate rate shopping, and centralize freight tracking—all within SAP.

  • Procurement & Inventory: Gain visibility into inbound shipments tied to POs, enabling better planning and supplier accountability.

  • Customer Service: Access real-time shipment status and documentation to improve communication and resolve issues faster.

  • Finance & Accounting: Automate invoice audits and integrate freight costs into SAP reporting to catch discrepancies and control spend.

  • Operations & Leadership: Unify freight data with broader business processes, enabling better decision-making and strategic insights.

When freight shipping is integrated into your ERP, every department benefits from smoother operations and better information.

 

See How It Works
If your shipping process still lives in spreadsheets and carrier portals, it might be time to bring freight into your ERP strategy. Book a demo to see how FreightPOP integrates with SAP to simplify shipping from quote to delivery.