Modernizing SAP Logistics through Real-Time Event-Driven API Architecture for Multi-Carrier Shipping Systems
Keywords:
SAP S/4HANA, logistics modernization, event-driven architecture, API integration, multi-carrier shipping, transportation visibility, microservices, OTC architecture, shipping orchestration, enterprise integrationAbstract
Many SAP-centered logistics landscapes in ongoing S/4HANA transformation programs still retain fragmented carrier connectivity, delayed shipment visibility, and brittle point-to-point integrations inherited from earlier ERP environments. The proposed analytical model links architectural principles, integration layers, and governance decisions that support scalable shipping across heterogeneous carriers. The materials consist of ten recent academic sources on event-driven systems, microservice event management, digital freight platforms, production logistics, collaborative logistics, and digital transformation, complemented by a practitioner brief that frames SAP OTC, logistics execution, transportation management, and AMS realities. The analysis produces three outputs: a rationale for event-driven modernization, a reference architecture for SAP-centric shipping integration, and an implementation sequence for controlled migration. The model helps architects separate transactional authority in S/4HANA from carrier-facing execution, visibility, and exception services during phased migration.
References
[1]. Calvio, Alessandro, et al. “An Event- and Service-Mesh Architecture Supporting Service Integration in Society 5.0-Enabled Smart Cities.” Proceedings of the 2023 ACM Conference on Information Technology for Social Good (GoodIT ’23), Association for Computing Machinery, 2023, pp. 462–470. https://doi.org/10.1145/3582515.3609568
[2]. Galkin, Andrii, et al. “Navigating the Future of Urban Logistics: Conceptual Framework for Dynamic Freight Management.” Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment, vol. 147, 2025, p. 104956. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trd.2025.104956
[3]. Habjan, A. “Real-Time Shipment Tracking through IT-Enabled Systems and Electronic Logistics Marketplaces.” Business Systems Research Journal, vol. 16, no. 2, 2025, pp. 43–68. https://doi.org/10.2478/bsrj-2025-0018
[4]. Heinbach, C., et al. “Data-Driven Forwarding: A Typology of Digital Platforms for Road Freight Transport Management.” Electronic Markets, vol. 32, 2022, pp. 807–828. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12525-022-00540-4
[5]. Ieva, S., et al. “Enhancing Last-Mile Logistics: AI-Driven Fleet Optimization, Mixed Reality, and Large Language Model Assistants for Warehouse Operations.” Sensors, vol. 25, no. 9, 2025, p. 2696. https://doi.org/10.3390/s25092696
[6]. Khriji, S., et al. “Design and Implementation of a Cloud-Based Event-Driven Architecture for Real-Time Data Processing in Wireless Sensor Networks.” The Journal of Supercomputing, vol. 78, 2022, pp. 3374–3401. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11227-021-03955-6
[7]. Laigner, Rodrigo, et al. “An Empirical Study on Challenges of Event Management in Microservice Architectures.” ACM Transactions on Software Engineering and Methodology, 2025, https://doi.org/10.1145/3776581
[8]. Wurm, B., et al. “A Revised Framework for Digital Transformation Strategies: Contemporary Insights and Future Research Pathways.” Electronic Markets, vol. 35, 2025, article 99. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12525-025-00838-z
[9]. Xu, Liming, et al. “Multi-Agent Digital Twinning for Collaborative Logistics: Framework and Implementation.” Journal of Industrial Information Integration, vol. 45, 2025, p. 100799. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jii.2025.100799
[10]. Zafarzadeh, M., et al. “A Framework and System Architecture for Value-Oriented Digital Services in Data-Driven Production Logistics.” International Journal of Production Research, vol. 63, no. 18, 2025, pp. 6648–6668. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207543.2025.2480204
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Sudeepta Rana

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Authors who submit papers with this journal agree to the following terms.