For companies still working with SAP Business Suite 7 or SAP ECC, a strategic decision is due at the end of 2027. When mainstream maintenance expires, regular support for these systems ends; optional extended maintenance prolongs it for a surcharge until the end of 2030. Many companies use this window to switch to SAP S/4HANA – and, understandably, focus on ERP, the data model, and the technical migration.
One process easily slips out of view, even though it ties up a great deal of time and staff every year, especially in large warehouses: stocktaking. Anyone already putting systems and workflows to the test should factor it in straight away, rather than pushing it off to year-end as a tedious obligation.
Why Stocktaking Becomes an Issue During the SAP Migration
When moving to SAP S/4HANA, many companies also engage with SAP EWM (Extended Warehouse Management). Here they encounter a peculiarity that is easily overlooked in a migration project: unlike the older Inventory Management (IM) and Warehouse Management (WM) modules, SAP EWM does not come with integrated sample-based stocktaking by default. In these environments, SAP relies more heavily on the permanent full inventory.
For operations with large product ranges, this is a noticeable drawback, because sample-based stocktaking can considerably reduce the counting effort – by up to 95 percent in suitable warehouses. So anyone working with SAP EWM, or migrating to it, should clarify early on how stocktaking is to run in future. Specialized software that can dock onto the existing system is often the more pragmatic route than trying to map everything within the SAP standard.
GESTIN by classix: Sample-Based Stocktaking Without Unnecessary Counting Effort
GESTIN is the inventory software from classix for legally compliant sample-based stocktaking. It markedly reduces the counting effort and shortens the duration of the stocktake, because only high-value items are counted in full while the remaining stock is checked by sampling.
GESTIN can be operated either as a cloud solution in the classix.cloud or on-premise within your own network. The application is browser-capable and can be connected to existing inventory, merchandise management, and ERP systems. Book inventory from third-party systems such as WMS or LVS is imported; staff either record the count results directly in GESTIN or take them over from the warehouse management system. This makes the software attractive for SAP users who do not necessarily want to map their stocktaking entirely within SAP.
Legally Compliant Under Section 241 of the German Commercial Code (HGB)
Sample-based stocktaking is expressly permitted in Germany. Under Section 241 (1) HGB, stock may be determined using recognized mathematical-statistical methods on the basis of samples – provided the procedure complies with the principles of proper bookkeeping and the informational value is equivalent to that of a physical stock count.
GESTIN meets these requirements: the software works with mathematical-statistical procedures, forms strata, draws the samples, and produces the documentation needed for closing – including the final report for the auditor. Additional assurance comes from certification by an internationally operating auditing firm. In Austria and Switzerland, sample-based stocktaking is likewise permitted.
Count Less, Finish Faster
Just how big the difference is in practice is shown by two case studies . At OASE GmbH, stocktaking time fell from 15 to 2 calendar days after the introduction of GESTIN, while the number of count items dropped from 12,000 to 1,000 – covering goods worth around 50 percent of the total warehouse stock.
At TECHNO PARTS, the effort was reduced – with the same staffing – from about four days to less than four hours. That corresponds to a saving of 168 person-hours, or 87.5 percent compared with the previous full count, while also shortening the periods in which the warehouse is blocked. Sample-based stocktaking is therefore not a theoretical model; it cuts effort exactly where stocktaking costs a lot of time today.
Why an Early Look at Stocktaking Pays Off
For most companies, an SAP migration is a major project anyway: processes are reviewed, interfaces are redesigned, and data flows are adjusted. Factoring in stocktaking during this phase costs comparatively little additional effort – and spares you pressure later on.
Those who only react shortly before the year-end closing, or who realize after a completed migration that their previous stocktaking solution no longer fits, create unnecessary time pressure for themselves. It makes more sense to include sample-based stocktaking in the system planning from the outset. GESTIN can be flexibly connected to existing systems and operated either as SaaS in the cloud or on your own server – both routes adapt to the respective IT strategy.
Who Benefits from GESTIN
The greatest benefit goes to companies with many warehouse items, high stocktaking effort, and reliable inventory bookkeeping. The software is particularly relevant for industry, trade, and logistics – wherever the classic full count blocks warehouses every year, ties up staff for days, and disrupts operations. If this description fits your warehouse, it is at least worth examining a sample-based stocktake.
The SAP Migration as an Opportunity to Simplify Stocktaking
The year 2027 marks not only an SAP maintenance deadline but also a good occasion to question entrenched processes. Anyone migrating should therefore not talk solely about ERP, EWM, and interfaces, but also clarify how stocktaking can be carried out more easily, faster, and more cost-effectively in future. GESTIN by classix offers a certified, flexibly connectable solution for this, with measurable results from real-world practice.
Try GESTIN now and see how much you can reduce the stocktaking effort in your own warehouse: start a free trial
Frequently Asked Questions About the SAP Migration and Sample-Based Stocktaking
What changes at SAP in 2027?
At the end of 2027, mainstream maintenance for the core applications of SAP Business Suite 7 expires. After that, optional extended maintenance is available for a surcharge until the end of 2030. For many companies, this is the trigger to switch to SAP S/4HANA.
Why is stocktaking relevant when migrating to SAP S/4HANA?
With S/4HANA, many companies adopt SAP EWM. There, sample-based stocktaking – unlike in the older IM and WM modules – is not integrated by default. Anyone wanting to keep the stocktaking effort low should therefore plan a suitable solution early on.
Is sample-based stocktaking even permitted in Germany?
Yes. Section 241 (1) HGB expressly permits determining stock using recognized mathematical-statistical methods on the basis of samples, as long as the procedure complies with the principles of proper bookkeeping and the informational value is equivalent to a physical stock count. It is likewise permitted in Austria and Switzerland.
Can GESTIN be connected to SAP and other systems?
Yes. GESTIN is browser-capable and imports book inventory from existing ERP, merchandise management, and warehouse management systems, including WMS and LVS. This means sample-based stocktaking can be used even when SAP EWM offers no function of its own for it.
How much effort do I save with GESTIN?
That depends on warehouse size and inventory quality. In suitable warehouses, the stocktaking effort can be reduced by up to 95 percent. At OASE GmbH, stocktaking time fell from 15 to 2 calendar days; at TECHNO PARTS, from about four days to under four hours.
Cloud or on-premise – which is the better fit?
Both are possible. GESTIN runs as a SaaS solution in the classix.cloud or independently on your own server within your intranet. Which option makes sense depends on your IT strategy and your compliance requirements.
