What is SAP Global Track and Trace?

SAP Global Track and Trace makes it possible to record, monitor, track and analyse goods and transports along the entire supply chain.

The solution therefore makes a significant contribution to improving logistics processes.

SAP Global Track and Trace (SAP GTT for short) is a cloud-based application for real-time tracking of logistics processes along the supply chain. It enables events in transport and goods flows to be recorded, monitored and analysed.

SAP GTT is technically based on the SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP).

The application is also considered a further development of SAP Event Management (SAP EM). It can also be integrated into the SAP Business Network for Logistics, which means that data from external partners and freight carriers can also be incorporated into tracking.

SAP GTT is primarily aimed at industries with complex, international supply chains and high requirements for transparency and reliability.

Typical users are

• Manufacturing companies (automotive, mechanical engineering, high-tech)
• Consumer goods and retail companies
• Chemical and pharmaceutical industry
• Logistics service providers
• energy companies
• Wholesale trade

In these sectors, close integration with suppliers and freight forwarders as well as real-time information on transport status and incidents play a particularly important role - both for logistical and compliance reasons.

SAP Global Track and Trace provides comprehensive functions for end-to-end shipment monitoring and control.

The most important features are

End-to-end tracking: GTT enables the visual tracking of deliveries along the entire supply chain. Locations and milestones are displayed via global geolocalisation and carrier interfaces. This allows arrival times to be accurately predicted. The arrival of goods can also be proactively monitored.

Real-time updates: Live GPS data and telemetry (e.g. via IoT sensors) are used to record current position data. Users can use Fiori apps and web interfaces to access up-to-date track and trace information from any location.

Notifications and alerts: Thresholds and events can be defined using business rules. If delays or deviations occur, the system automatically generates warnings and notifications (e.g. via email or SMS) to the responsible parties. This allows problems to be dealt with before they escalate.

Analysis and reporting: The platform provides dashboards and analyses to identify trends and deviations in logistics. Among other things, KPIs such as throughput times or on-time deliveries are provided. Simulations and "what-if scenarios" can also be used for supply chain planning.

Worldwide networking: GTT can access a global network of transport and logistics service providers via the SAP Business Network. The integration of multimodal transport systems and regional visibility providers expands the database and ensures even greater transparency.

Environmental and sustainability data: GTT can also record and analyse environmental information (for example CO₂ emissions or temperature data). The solution thus supports companies with sustainable logistics strategies and CO₂ balancing.

At its core, real-time tracking in SAP GTT works by continuously collecting data along the supply chain. Various sources are integrated for this purpose:

• Internal systems: ERP and transport management systems such as SAP S/4HANA, SAP TM (Transportation Management), SAP EWM (Extended Warehouse Management)
• Internet of Things (IoT): for example, GPS trackers in vehicles, RFID tags on transport containers, temperature sensors for refrigerated transport
• Telematics systems: Data from vehicle fleets (for example via SAP Connected Logistics)
• External partners: for example freight forwarders, ports and airlines via APIs or SAP Business Network

SAP Global Track and Trace consolidates this data into a standardised shipment tracking system. The corresponding live information can be accessed via Fiori interfaces or web portals.

Exception management is a key strength of SAP Global Track and Trace. It enables problems to be recognised in supply chains, helping companies to identify disruptions at an early stage and react proactively.

The software recognises deviations from planned operations - such as a delayed departure or a deviating arrival date - and initiates countermeasures.

This includes automated notifications to affected users and the visualisation of problem cases in dashboards. Furthermore, customised escalation paths can be stored so that, for example, defined internal dispatchers or the affected customers are informed in the event of critical incidents.

Technically, this functionality is based on rule-based event filters. Each business process is described by milestones (e.g. "Goods collected from carrier", "Goods arrived at harbour").

The punctual achievement of these milestones is checked automatically. If a freight order is not delivered on time, for example, the software marks this as an exception and issues a warning message. This creates a reliable early warning system for logistics.

SAP GTT indirectly contributes to compliance with customs and trade regulations. Thanks to seamless documentation and tracking of the flow of goods, it is always possible to trace when which goods have passed through the respective regions.

In conjunction with SAP Global Trade Services (GTS), GTT can also provide relevant data (such as Incoterms, HS codes, EORI numbers). This speeds up formalities for international transport. The real-time transparency also helps to recognise deliveries requiring authorisation at an early stage and avoid delays.

In addition, SAP Global Track and Trace ensures that tracking and tracing complies with the applicable security standards. This means that more sensitive shipments (such as hazardous goods or temperature-controlled shipments) can be closely monitored using end-to-end tracking.

The platform also supports industry-specific standards such as GMP (pharmaceuticals), IATF 16949 (automotive) or REACH (chemicals) through integrated documentation and audit trails.

SAP Global Track and Trace supports sustainability strategies by providing detailed environmental data from the supply chain. For example, the platform can calculate CO₂ emissions per transport and present them in reports.

By analysing historical tracking data, inefficient routes can also be identified and optimised - for example by bundling shipments or using environmentally friendly transport modes.

GTT also records sensor data such as temperature or humidity for perishable goods. If a deviation is detected (for example, if the temperature is exceeded), the system immediately displays alarms. This transparency helps to prevent spoilage and avoid losses.

Another aspect is the evaluation of sustainability KPIs. SAP Global Track and Trace can collate environmental data from various sources - such as distance measurements, traffic data or fuel consumption - and thus estimate the carbon footprint of deliveries. Companies use this information to make sustainable transport decisions.

SAP Global Track and Trace (SAP GTT) can be used flexibly - both with and independently of existing SAP applications. The solution is cloud-based and available as an independent service within the SAP Business Network for Logistics (BN4L).

It is technically based on the SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP) and can therefore be connected to both SAP and non-SAP systems.

In principle, GTT functions independently of an SAP ERP system, as it can be supplied with information from third-party systems or partner systems via interfaces. However, the classic application scenario is a combination with solutions such as SAP S/4HANA and SAP Transportation Management (SAP TM). In this case, GTT can be deeply integrated, resulting in optimised supply chain processes.

In conjunction with the Business Network, companies can also integrate their logistics partners into the data flow. This allows information from the entire supply chain to be mapped centrally.

SAP Global Track and Trace (SAP GTT) can be flexibly integrated into existing SAP landscapes.

The integration with

• SAP Transportation Management (SAP TM),
• SAP Extended Warehouse Management (SAP EWM) and
• SAP S/4HANA.

In typical scenarios, GTT takes shipment and order data from SAP TM, enriches it with real-time events from carriers, IoT devices or partners and compares it with planned milestones.

Conversely, GTT can transfer updated information such as estimated arrival times or detected deviations back to SAP TM or SAP ERP - for automated route adjustments, status reports to customer service or optimisation of subsequent processes in the warehouse, for example.

SAP Global Track and Trace (SAP GTT) is available exclusively as a cloud solution.

It is based on the SAP Business Technology Platform (SAP BTP) and is provided as Software-as-a-Service (SaaS). One of the advantages of this is that the information stored in GTT is available regardless of location. A web browser is all that is needed for access.

In order to answer this question clearly, the term SAP Business Network must first be defined. This is a comprehensive cloud-based platform that networks companies with one another in order to optimise business processes along the supply chain. This applies to procurement as well as logistics.

Important networks in the SAP Business Network are

1. SAP Ariba Network: Exchange of purchasing and supplier data
2. SAP Business Network for Logistics: improving logistics processes by networking suppliers, forwarders and customers
3. SAP Business Network for Sustainability: Implementation of sustainable business processes and compliance with environmental guidelines

The SAP Business Network Global Track and Trace is in turn part of Module 2 (the SAP Business Network for Logistics). Its main purpose is to extend purely internal tracking with GTT to external logistics partners.

The latter do not need their own SAP GTT installation or an API interface, but can use the Business Network web-based to provide or retrieve tracking data.

As already briefly mentioned, BN4L (SAP Business Network for Logistics) is a higher-level cloud platform that includes SAP GTT, among other things. BN4L was created to improve collaboration between logistics companies. In addition to SAP Business Network Global Track and Trace, the following solutions are included in the platform:

1. SAP Business Network Freight Collaboration: joint management of logistics transactions, document exchange
2. SAP Business Network Logistics Provider: entry point for freight forwarders and other data providers for Freight Collaboration and Global Track and Trace
3. SAP Business Network Material Traceability: tracking of materials and products, possibility of blockchain integration

The abbreviation SAP LBN GTT refers to Global Track and Trace as part of the SAP Logistics Business Network described above.

This abbreviation therefore refers to SAP Business Network Global Track and Trace.

The introduction of SAP Global Track and Trace brings various advantages for companies. These are summarised as follows:

• Greater transparency: Thanks to real-time data and end-to-end tracking, companies gain a complete overview of their supply chain. Non-transparent transport processes are minimised and every change of location is traceable. This enables better planning and a faster response to changing requirements.
• Early detection of problems: Automatic alerts and forecasting functions increase responsiveness. Problems such as delays are recognised before they escalate so that countermeasures can be taken in good time.
• Cost savings: More accurate information can reduce stock levels and avoid costly rush shipments. This reduces capital and logistics costs.
• Risk minimisation: Targeted tracking with location sensors and warning rules reduces the risk of freight losses or delays. Cancellations and revenue losses are reduced as proactive interventions are possible.
• Improved customer experience: By stabilising delivery times and making the delivery status transparent, customer satisfaction increases.
• Improved collaboration: The standardised platform simplifies collaboration with international freight forwarders, suppliers and branches. A network of centralised master data and services brings everyone involved to a common level of information.
• Flexibility: As a cloud service, GTT can be flexibly adapted to growing requirements. Companies can quickly connect new regions or business partners without having to expand their own IT infrastructure.

SAP Global Track and Trace has been continuously and regularly updated with new functions via the SAP Business Network for Logistics since its release.

Looking at the roadmap and the latest feature releases, it can be deduced that GTT could grow in the coming years, particularly in the following areas:

• AI-powered forecasting and automation: further development of AI models to automatically forecast arrival times, transport risks and cost-driving delays and derive recommendations for action
• Expanded multi-modality and globality: integration of additional transport modes and expansion of global coverage
• Expansion of dashboarding and self-service analytics: further development of existing analysis and visualisation options
• Deepening the topics of compliance and sustainability: realisation of additional features relating to CO₂ calculation, emissions benchmarking and compliance checks