Chemicals is a cost and profitability challenged industry. To automate and execute its business processes, an Enterprise applications solution (like SAP Cloud ERP) should cover its manufacturing complexity (continuous or batch manufacturing), execute safe and sustainable operations, ensure regulatory compliance (related to products storage, transport & their marketability) and help build a customer centric organization.

SAP Cloud ERP is a SaaS ERP with capabilities and functionalities to execute core industry specific processes. SAP Cloud ERP current coverage of Chemical industry processes is illustrated below:

I will cover in detail chemical industry relevant key enhancements and functionalities / capabilities as released in 2602 Cloud ERP in this blog and in subsequent blog.

Asset Management capabilities in 2602 Cloud ERP has been enhanced with following new functionalities:

• Permit to Work (7Z4) enables a Chemical Enterprise to execute high risk asset maintenance jobs (like hot work) in safe and compliant manner.
• Asset Overview is a new intuitive Fiori application which provides a comprehensive perspective / access to enterprise asset hierarchy (equipment and functional location details etc.). In the app – you can review open orders and notifications and create maintenance notifications efficiently.

2602 Cloud ERP with following new functionalities in Environment, Health and Safety enable Chemical enterprises to ensure workplace safety (for its employees), minimize environmental impact and mitigate operational risks / hazards:

• Audit and Inspection Management (7Z7) evaluates an organization's practices, procedures, and performance related to environmental protection, workplace safety, and employee well-being with audits and site inspections
• Occupational Health (7ZA) helps to support employee occupational healthcare. Special (healthcare) surveillance is required for employees who may be exposed to influences of a chemical, physical, or biological nature at their workplace, or who perform activities that pose a health hazard.

Following two transportation management enhancements are worth mentioning:

• Integration of Transportation Management with Subcontracting Purchase Orders (Details). This support transportation planning, execution, and freight settlement for both outbound and inbound subcontracting (purchase orders) flows.
• Integration of Transportation Management with Customer Consignment Orders (Details). It supports performing transportation planning, execution, and freight costs settlement for customer consignment fill-up and pickup orders

In the next blog I will cover enhancements in Product Compliance and Sales.