When Warehouse Workers Refuse SAP EWM: How LeverX Turned Resistance into Adoption

A logistics provider achieved full SAP EWM adoption with LeverX. Paper was eliminated in 4 months, picking accuracy rose by 30%, and cycle times improved by 20% through tailored change management.

Challenge

A European logistics provider implemented SAP Extended Warehouse Management (EWM)
with handheld scanners to improve efficiency, accuracy, and real-time visibility.

But instead of adoption, the company faced resistance:

• Workers refused to use scanners, returning to paper-based processes.
• Complaints included “the system is too slow” and “too many steps.
  
• Supervisors struggled with delayed, inaccurate data, undermining performance KPIs.

This wasn’t a technical failure — the system worked. Rather, it was a change management failure: the workforce didn’t embrace new workflows.

Left unaddressed, the company risked:

• Lost ROI on its SAP investment,
• Higher error rates and fulfillment delays,
• A workforce disengaged from digital transformation.

LeverX Solution

LeverX deployed a Change Management program designed for warehouse operations, focusing on the following areas:

1. Shop-Floor Engagement Sessions

• Spent time with warehouse staff to understand daily pain points.
• Identified specific frustrations with handheld workflows (e.g., too many fields, unclear navigation).

2. UX Enhancements for SAP Mobile

• Reconfigured mobile workflows to simplify transactions, using clearer, more intuitive layouts that required fewer clicks.
• Prioritized speed of use, ensuring system performance matched the pace of operations.

3. On-the-Job Simulations & Coaching

• Conducted hands-on simulations during real picking and packing tasks.
• Built worker confidence by showing how scanners reduced errors vs. paper.
• Developed “peer champions” — experienced operators who mentored others.

4. Continuous Feedback & Monitoring

• Created simple feedback loops: workers could flag scanner issues daily.
• Leadership received adoption KPIs (scanner vs. paper usage, error rates).

Business Impact

Within just 4 months:

• Paper-based processes were completely eliminated, with all warehouse tasks running on SAP handheld workflows.
• Picking accuracy increased by 30%, reducing costly rework and returns.
• Cycle times improved by 20%, directly impacting customer service levels.
• A complete shift in user sentiment was achieved, with workers championing the scanners as faster and more reliable than the old paper-based system.
• Leadership secured the ROI of SAP EWM, turning resistance into operational excellence.

Why LeverX

Digital transformation in warehouses often fails, not because of technology, but because people don’t adopt it.

LeverX brings:

• 20+ years of SAP supply chain expertise, including EWM, TM, and YL.
• A change management methodology tailored for high-resistance environments like warehouses.
• Proven results in turning frontline skepticism into measurable efficiency gains.

Facing scanner resistance in your SAP EWM project?

👉 Talk to LeverX experts — we help logistics companies achieve the warehouse adoption needed to realize the full value of SAP.