SAP EWM best practices for optimizing warehouse operations, improving inventory accuracy, streamlining fulfillment, and increasing supply chain efficiency.

SAP EWM Best Practices for Efficient Warehouse Management

Warehouse management has become a strategic priority for U.S. companies dealing with complex supply chains, labor constraints, tighter delivery expectations, omnichannel fulfillment, and increasing pressure to control inventory and operating costs.

For manufacturers, distributors, retailers, wholesalers, and third-party logistics providers (3PLs), warehouse performance directly affects order fulfillment, inventory accuracy, customer service, and supply chain resilience. A warehouse may have the right inventory and capacity on paper, yet still underperform when receiving, putaway, picking, replenishment, packing, staging, and shipping are managed through disconnected systems or heavily manual processes.

This is where SAP Extended Warehouse Management (SAP EWM) can provide value. SAP EWM is designed to manage high-volume warehouse operations, improve visibility and control, and connect warehouse execution with broader supply chain processes. SAP supports deployment with SAP S/4HANA as well as standalone scenarios, depending on the organization's architecture and requirements.

SAP EWM should not be viewed simply as another warehouse management system (WMS). Properly implemented, it can become an execution layer that coordinates inventory, warehouse tasks, resources, automation, quality processes, yard activities, and integration with enterprise systems.

Organizations evaluating their broader SAP landscape can also review SAP S/4HANA consulting services to understand how warehouse management fits into an overall ERP transformation.

This guide explains SAP EWM best practices for U.S. warehouse operations, including warehouse layout, inventory management, picking and replenishment, slotting, labor management, warehouse automation, yard management, integration, and implementation strategy.

What Is SAP EWM?

SAP Extended Warehouse Management (SAP EWM) is an advanced warehouse management system designed to control and optimize warehouse processes at a detailed operational level.

Compared with basic inventory functionality, SAP EWM provides capabilities for managing the physical flow of goods inside a warehouse, including inbound and outbound processing, storage, warehouse tasks, inventory, resources, picking, packing, staging, and warehouse monitoring.

SAP positions EWM as a solution for high-volume operations that require greater visibility, process control, and integration across warehouse and supply chain activities. Its capabilities include integrated quality, production, and track-and-trace processes, warehouse automation connectivity, and intelligent slotting.

Depending on the business model and IT landscape, SAP EWM can be deployed in different architectural scenarios, including integration with SAP S/4HANA and standalone deployments. SAP also distinguishes between basic warehouse management requirements and more advanced capabilities such as material flow control, yard management, labor management, value-added services, kitting, and cross-docking.

Why SAP EWM Matters for U.S. Warehouse Operations

U.S. warehouses increasingly need to handle a combination of higher order volumes, shorter fulfillment windows, more complex product portfolios, and multiple sales and distribution channels.

A modern warehouse may need to support high-volume inbound and outbound operations, omnichannel and e-commerce fulfillment, multiple warehouses and distribution centers, batch and serial number management, returns and reverse logistics, cross-docking, automated storage and retrieval, warehouse automation, value-added services, labor planning, yard coordination, and real-time inventory visibility.

SAP EWM can help companies bring these processes into a more controlled execution environment while maintaining integration with ERP, production, transportation, quality, and supply chain systems.

Key SAP EWM Features

A strong SAP EWM implementation should be based on actual operational requirements rather than simply activating every available feature.

Inbound Warehouse Management

SAP EWM can support inbound processes from advance shipping notifications and receiving through inspection, putaway, and internal warehouse processing.

Companies can use warehouse tasks and process controls to standardize receiving and direct inventory to the appropriate storage locations. Typical inbound scenarios include advance shipping notifications, goods receipt, unloading, quality inspection, deconsolidation, putaway, exception handling, and cross-docking.

For U.S. distribution centers, improving inbound accuracy can be particularly valuable when delays at receiving create downstream picking, replenishment, and fulfillment bottlenecks.

Outbound Processing

Outbound execution is often where warehouse efficiency becomes visible to customers.

SAP EWM supports wave management, picking, replenishment, packing, staging, loading, shipping, delivery processing, and returns. SAP also supports flexible picking scenarios, including technologies such as voice picking and augmented-reality-enabled processes, depending on the solution design.

A well-designed outbound process should minimize unnecessary travel, reduce touches, balance workloads, and ensure that inventory reaches the correct staging and shipping areas on time.

Inventory Management

Inventory accuracy is foundational to warehouse performance.

SAP EWM provides detailed visibility into stock at the warehouse level and supports physical inventory and cycle-counting processes. It can also manage complex stock attributes such as batches, serial numbers, and different ownership situations.

Best practices include establishing clear inventory ownership rules, defining cycle-counting strategies based on business risk, separating unrestricted and restricted stock appropriately, controlling inventory discrepancies through structured workflows, linking inventory movements to warehouse tasks, and maintaining consistent master data.

The objective is not simply to achieve a high inventory accuracy percentage. The objective is to make inventory information reliable enough to support purchasing, production, order fulfillment, and customer commitments.

Warehouse Management Monitor

The SAP EWM Warehouse Management Monitor provides centralized operational visibility into warehouse activities.

It can help warehouse managers monitor warehouse tasks, stock, picking and putaway, resource utilization, warehouse orders, exceptions, and inbound and outbound activities.

Real-time operational visibility enables supervisors to identify bottlenecks earlier and take action before they affect service levels.

SAP EWM Best Practices for Efficient Warehousing

Technology alone does not make a warehouse efficient. The highest value typically comes from combining SAP EWM capabilities with disciplined warehouse process design.

1. Optimize Warehouse Layout and Storage Zones

Warehouse layout has a direct effect on travel time, replenishment effort, congestion, and picking productivity.

The design should consider product dimensions, velocity, picking frequency, storage requirements, weight, handling characteristics, product compatibility, seasonal demand, and receiving and shipping patterns.

High-velocity products should generally be positioned where they can be accessed efficiently without creating congestion around packing and shipping areas. Storage zones can also be structured around product characteristics or process requirements, including fast-pick areas, bulk and reserve storage, temperature-controlled areas, high-value inventory, hazardous materials, quality-hold stock, returns, and kitting or value-added services.

SAP EWM provides tools for warehouse structure and storage optimization that can support these decisions.

2. Use Slotting to Improve Space Utilization

SAP EWM slotting can help determine appropriate storage locations based on product and warehouse characteristics.

The objective is to place inventory where it can be stored and retrieved efficiently while making better use of available warehouse space. Slotting strategies can consider product dimensions, weight, demand frequency, stock turnover, storage conditions, packaging characteristics, and picking requirements.

Slotting should not be treated as a one-time warehouse design exercise. Product portfolios, demand patterns, and fulfillment strategies change, so companies should establish a process for periodically reviewing storage assignments.

3. Design Picking Processes Around Order Profiles

There is no single ideal picking strategy for every warehouse. The appropriate SAP EWM configuration depends on order volume, SKU characteristics, warehouse layout, and service requirements.

Possible approaches include single-order, batch, zone, wave, pick-and-pass, cart-based, RF-enabled, voice-directed, and automated picking. SAP EWM supports wave and work-package-based outbound planning, allowing organizations to group and sequence warehouse work according to their operating model.

A good design should answer a simple question: How can the warehouse complete the required orders with the fewest unnecessary movements and manual touches?

4. Separate Replenishment from Picking Priorities

Picking efficiency can suffer when forward-pick locations run out of inventory.

A replenishment strategy should therefore be based on actual consumption patterns and operational priorities. Companies should define minimum and maximum quantities, replenishment triggers, task priorities, reserve storage locations, emergency replenishment procedures, and rules for balancing replenishment with outbound work.

The goal is to prevent pickers from waiting for stock while avoiding unnecessary movement of inventory.

5. Standardize Warehouse Task Management

SAP EWM uses warehouse tasks to control and execute individual warehouse activities.

Rather than relying on informal instructions or manual coordination, companies can structure work around defined warehouse processes and priorities. This includes standardizing task creation, defining clear priorities, grouping tasks into meaningful warehouse orders, balancing workloads between resources, monitoring open and overdue tasks, and designing exception-handling procedures.

This provides supervisors with greater control over warehouse execution and gives employees clearer instructions.

6. Improve Labor Productivity with Data

Labor is one of the largest controllable operating expenses in many warehouses.

SAP EWM supports labor-management capabilities that can be used to plan work assignments, define labor standards, and evaluate productivity. Organizations should avoid measuring labor solely by hours worked. More useful measures include picks per labor hour, putaway productivity, travel time, task completion time, dock-to-stock time, orders processed per shift, overtime, and exception rates.

The goal is to use operational data to identify bottlenecks and improve processes rather than simply increasing employee workload.

7. Integrate SAP EWM with Warehouse Automation

Automation can significantly increase warehouse throughput, but automation should follow process design rather than replace it.

SAP EWM can integrate with automated warehouse equipment and material-flow technologies. Potential technologies include automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS), conveyors, sortation systems, automated guided vehicles, autonomous mobile robots, scanners, RFID, pick-to-light systems, and automated packing equipment.

SAP EWM's Material Flow System can support communication between warehouse processes and automated material-flow equipment. The best approach is to define which decisions belong in EWM, which are handled by warehouse-control technology, and how exceptions move between systems.

8. Use Real-Time Inventory Visibility

Warehouse teams should be able to see inventory status without relying on spreadsheets, disconnected databases, or manual updates.

Real-time visibility can help users understand where stock is located, what has been received, what is available or reserved, what is blocked or under inspection, what is being picked, what is staged, and what has been shipped.

This becomes especially important in multi-warehouse environments where inventory accuracy directly affects customer promise dates and replenishment decisions.

9. Strengthen Yard and Dock Management

Warehouse efficiency does not begin at the picking location. Congestion at the yard or dock can create delays across the entire facility.

SAP EWM provides yard-management capabilities for coordinating activities involving vehicles, parking, gates, loading, and unloading. A strong yard-management process can improve appointment coordination, vehicle visibility, dock utilization, loading and unloading sequences, yard movements, waiting times, and communication between transportation and warehouse teams.

For large U.S. distribution centers, better yard visibility can be an important component of end-to-end warehouse efficiency.

10. Integrate Quality with Warehouse Processes

In regulated or quality-sensitive industries, inventory cannot always move directly from receiving to unrestricted stock.

Warehouse processes may need to recognize quality inspection requirements, blocked stock, release status, batch characteristics, serial numbers, and inspection results.

SAP EWM supports integration with quality processes, helping companies manage material according to its operational and quality status. This can reduce the risk of unauthorized consumption and improve traceability across receiving, storage, production, and distribution.

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SAP EWM and S/4HANA Integration

For organizations building or modernizing an SAP landscape, the relationship between SAP EWM and SAP S/4HANA is a central architectural consideration.

SAP supports EWM in conjunction with SAP S/4HANA, including advanced warehouse-management scenarios, while standalone EWM is also possible depending on requirements.

An integrated landscape can connect warehouse execution with procurement, sales and distribution, manufacturing, inventory management, quality management, transportation, asset management, and supply chain planning.

The key design question is not simply whether EWM should be connected to S/4HANA. It is which system should own each business process and master data object, and how should information move between systems?

SAP EWM Integration with Other Systems

U.S. companies frequently operate heterogeneous technology landscapes that may include SAP S/4HANA, legacy ERP systems, transportation management systems, manufacturing execution systems, warehouse control systems, e-commerce platforms, carrier systems, 3PL platforms, robotics and automation, supplier and customer portals, and enterprise data platforms.

A scalable integration strategy should minimize unnecessary point-to-point dependencies and establish clear ownership of data and processes.

SAP EWM can be integrated into broader SAP architectures using standard interfaces, APIs, and integration technologies. SAP provides APIs and prebuilt integration capabilities through its ecosystem for connecting EWM with other applications.

SAP EWM for Omnichannel and E-Commerce Fulfillment

Consumer expectations have changed warehouse operations.

A modern fulfillment network may need to support store replenishment, direct-to-consumer orders, wholesale orders, marketplace fulfillment, click-and-collect, returns, split shipments, and customer-driven delivery changes.

SAP EWM provides capabilities for flexible picking, e-commerce returns, and other fulfillment scenarios. For U.S. businesses, the warehouse design should therefore reflect the complete order profile rather than focusing on a single fulfillment channel.

SAP EWM for 3PL and Multi-Client Warehouses

Third-party logistics providers often need to manage inventory belonging to multiple customers while maintaining operational visibility and process separation.

SAP EWM supports multi-client warehouse scenarios and can be incorporated into architectures serving multiple ERP environments. For 3PL operations, the design should account for inventory ownership, customer-specific processes, billing-relevant warehouse services, service-level agreements, value-added services, customer reporting, authorization and data separation, and high-volume inbound and outbound processing.

The warehouse model should be designed around both operational efficiency and customer-level visibility.

SAP EWM for Manufacturing Warehouses

Manufacturers need warehouse processes that connect directly with production.

The warehouse may supply raw materials, components, packaging, work-in-progress inventory, production staging materials, and finished goods.

SAP EWM can integrate warehouse execution with production processes, enabling more controlled material staging and movement between warehouse and manufacturing operations. SAP specifically highlights synchronization between warehouse operations and production.

This is especially important when production schedules are tightly linked to material availability.

SAP EWM KPIs to Track

A successful warehouse transformation should be measured through business outcomes rather than the number of SAP transactions processed.

The right KPI framework depends on the warehouse operating model. A high-volume e-commerce fulfillment center will prioritize different metrics than a manufacturing warehouse, pharmaceutical distribution center, or 3PL.

Common SAP EWM Implementation Challenges

A technically successful SAP EWM implementation can still fail to deliver business value when warehouse processes, data, integrations, or user workflows are not properly aligned with operational needs.

Poor Master Data

Incorrect material dimensions, weights, units of measure, packaging data, storage conditions, or warehouse-product relationships can undermine slotting, picking, replenishment, and space planning.

This is especially important for U.S. companies operating multiple distribution centers, fulfillment channels, or complex product portfolios.

Over-Customization

Excessive customization can increase maintenance costs and make future upgrades more difficult. Wherever practical, organizations should use standard SAP functionality and follow a clean-core approach, while using extensions where they provide clear business value.

Incomplete Process Design

Configuring EWM before understanding actual warehouse processes can result in a system that reproduces existing inefficiencies instead of removing them.

U.S. warehouses may also need to account for different order profiles, seasonal demand peaks, and a mix of manual and automated processes.

Weak Integration Architecture

Warehouse execution frequently depends on ERP, transportation, automation, manufacturing, and external systems.

Poorly designed integrations can create data delays, inconsistent inventory information, and operational exceptions. A clear integration strategy is particularly important when SAP EWM connects with S/4HANA, warehouse automation, or legacy systems.

Automation Without Process Readiness

Adding robotics or automated material handling does not automatically improve performance.

Before introducing automation, companies should ensure that warehouse processes, master data, exception management, and system interfaces are ready to support it. SAP EWM can integrate with warehouse automation, but the underlying processes still need to be well designed.

Insufficient User Adoption

Warehouse operators need clear workflows, intuitive interfaces, appropriate mobile devices, training, and realistic testing scenarios.

User adoption is especially important when companies introduce new RF, voice, scanning, or automated warehouse processes. A well-designed system should make day-to-day warehouse work easier and more consistent.

SAP EWM Implementation Best Practices

A successful SAP EWM implementation is not about configuring the system as quickly as possible. The focus should be on designing warehouse processes that are scalable, integrated, and practical for day-to-day operations.

Assess

Start with a structured assessment of the current warehouse environment. Review inbound and outbound processes, inventory flows, warehouse structure, existing WMS and ERP systems, automation, integrations, master data, and performance metrics.

The assessment should also identify process gaps, manual workarounds, operational bottlenecks, and requirements that may influence the future EWM architecture.

Design

Define the target warehouse processes and EWM design based on actual operational requirements.

This typically includes warehouse structure, storage and picking strategies, replenishment, warehouse task management, labor, inventory control, automation, integration points, and reporting.

A key best practice is to distinguish between requirements that can be handled through standard SAP functionality and those that genuinely require extensions or integration with external systems.

Prepare

Prepare the data, integrations, infrastructure, and warehouse organization before configuration moves too far.

Particular attention should be given to material and packaging master data, warehouse master data, integration dependencies, RF and mobile devices, automation interfaces, and user roles.

Early involvement of warehouse operations is also important. Processes that look efficient on paper may not work the same way on the warehouse floor.

Configure and Build

Configure SAP EWM around the agreed target processes, using standard capabilities wherever possible.

Typical configuration areas include storage and picking processes, warehouse orders and tasks, replenishment, physical inventory, labor, handling units, outbound processing, and monitoring.

Custom development should be limited to requirements that cannot be addressed effectively through standard EWM capabilities, configuration, or well-designed integrations. This helps maintain a more sustainable SAP landscape over time.

Test

EWM testing should reflect real warehouse operations rather than isolated system transactions.

End-to-end scenarios should cover inbound, putaway, replenishment, picking, packing, staging, shipping, returns, inventory counting, quality-related stock restrictions, and warehouse exceptions.

Where automation or external systems are involved, testing should also include interfaces, equipment communication, failed transactions, recovery procedures, and peak operational scenarios.

Deploy and Optimize

Go-live should be treated as the beginning of operational optimization, not the end of the project.

After deployment, teams should monitor warehouse KPIs, system performance, integration stability, inventory accuracy, task execution, and user adoption. Early optimization typically focuses on resolving process bottlenecks, fine-tuning warehouse parameters, and addressing issues that become visible only under real operating conditions.

For larger U.S. warehouse networks, a phased rollout can also help validate the solution in one facility or process group before expanding to additional sites.

SAP EWM Best Practices Checklist

Before implementing or optimizing SAP EWM, use the following checklist to confirm that the key design decisions are already in place:

A checklist like this helps identify design and readiness gaps before they turn into configuration issues, integration problems, or operational disruptions after go-live.

SAP EWM vs. SAP WM

Companies running legacy SAP Warehouse Management (WM) often evaluate SAP EWM as part of a broader S/4HANA transformation.

EWM offers more advanced capabilities for detailed warehouse execution, including sophisticated picking and storage control, labor management, yard management, cross-docking, value-added services, material-flow control, and more granular warehouse processes. SAP describes EWM as a solution for both basic and advanced warehouse-management requirements.

A migration should not be treated as a simple technical replacement. It is an opportunity to reassess warehouse processes, master data, integrations, automation, and operating-model requirements.

When Should a Company Consider SAP EWM?

SAP EWM is particularly well suited to organizations where warehouse operations have outgrown basic inventory management or a less advanced WMS.

Typical indicators include:

• High-volume or fast-moving warehouse operations
• Complex inbound, picking, replenishment, packing, or shipping processes
• Multiple distribution centers or warehouses
• Significant warehouse automation
• Integration with manufacturing, transportation, or other supply chain processes
• Batch- or serial-controlled inventory
• Strict traceability or inventory-control requirements
• Multiple inventory owners or 3PL operations
• A need for more detailed warehouse visibility and operational control
• Plans to modernize warehouse operations as part of an SAP S/4HANA transformation

SAP EWM can be especially valuable when companies need to coordinate warehouse execution, automation, inventory, labor, and upstream and downstream processes within a single architecture.

At the same time, EWM is not automatically the right choice for every warehouse. The decision should consider the complexity and scale of operations, transaction volumes, automation, integration requirements, existing WMS capabilities, and the company's target operating model.

For some organizations, SAP EWM may be the right platform for a broader warehouse transformation. For others, extending or integrating the existing WMS may provide a better business and technology fit.

When Should a Company Not Choose SAP EWM?

SAP EWM may be more than a company needs when warehouse operations are relatively simple and the existing WMS already meets business requirements.

EWM may not be the right fit when:

• Warehouse processes are straightforward and do not require advanced task, storage, or resource management.
• Warehouse volumes and operational complexity are limited.
• The existing WMS already provides the required functionality and integrates effectively with the current ERP landscape.
• The organization has no near-term need for advanced automation, detailed warehouse execution, or complex inventory control.
• The cost and implementation effort of EWM would not be justified by the expected operational benefits.
• The company's broader technology strategy does not align with adopting additional SAP capabilities.

The decision should therefore be based on business requirements and total cost of ownership, rather than on the assumption that a more advanced WMS is always a better choice.

For some companies, a simpler warehouse-management solution or the continued use of an existing WMS may be the more practical option. SAP EWM becomes more compelling when warehouse complexity, scale, integration requirements, or automation justify its additional capabilities.

How LeverX Can Help with SAP EWM

LeverX combines global SAP expertise with a direct presence in the U.S.:

• 20+ years of SAP experience
• 1,500+ SAP projects delivered
• 900+ clients across 45+ countries
• 2,200+ professionals
• 500+ SAP-certified experts
• 4 U.S. offices in Miami, Mountain View, Royal Oak, and King of Prussia
• U.S.-based delivery teams with nationwide on-site collaboration capabilities
• SCM CoE (Supply Chain Management Center of Excellence) supporting supply chain strategy, SAP architecture, process standardization, and continuous improvement
• SAP EWM expertise spanning consulting, implementation, migration, integration, automation, optimization, and support

With U.S.-based teams, global delivery capabilities, and dedicated supply chain expertise, LeverX supports SAP EWM transformations from initial assessment through implementation and continuous optimization.

LeverX's SAP EWM services are designed to fit the existing warehouse and IT environment rather than force a one-size-fits-all architecture. The scope can include SAP modernization, legacy-system migration, automation, and integration with existing warehouse processes and technologies.

Conclusion

Modern U.S. warehouses need coordinated processes for receiving, storage, picking, replenishment, packing, shipping, labor, automation, inventory, quality, and yard management.

SAP EWM provides a strong operational foundation for managing these processes and connecting warehouse execution with SAP S/4HANA and other enterprise systems. However, the strongest results come from combining the technology with well-designed processes, reliable master data, appropriate automation, effective integration, and measurable KPIs.

The objective should not simply be to deploy a warehouse management system. It should be to build a warehouse operation that is more visible, scalable, automated, accurate, and responsive to changing business requirements.

FAQ

What is SAP EWM?

SAP Extended Warehouse Management (SAP EWM) is an advanced warehouse management system for controlling and optimizing detailed warehouse processes, including inventory, inbound and outbound operations, picking, storage, resources, and warehouse execution.

What are the main benefits of SAP EWM?

SAP EWM can help organizations improve warehouse visibility, inventory accuracy, resource utilization, space utilization, fulfillment performance, and control over complex warehouse processes.

What are the key SAP EWM features?

Key capabilities include inbound and outbound processing, inventory management, warehouse tasks, picking, packing, slotting, labor management, yard management, value-added services, cross-docking, material-flow control, quality integration, and warehouse automation.

Can SAP EWM integrate with SAP S/4HANA?

Yes. SAP EWM can be deployed with SAP S/4HANA and integrated with broader ERP and supply chain processes. SAP also supports standalone EWM scenarios.

Can SAP EWM support warehouse automation?

Yes. SAP EWM can support integration with automated warehouse equipment and material-flow technologies, including automation and robotics scenarios.

Can SAP EWM help improve inventory accuracy?

SAP EWM provides detailed stock visibility and supports physical inventory, cycle counting, and management of stock characteristics such as batches and serial numbers.

Does SAP EWM support labor management?

Yes. SAP EWM includes capabilities for labor planning, work assignment, labor standards, and productivity measurement.

Does SAP EWM support yard management?

Yes. SAP EWM includes yard-management capabilities covering activities such as vehicle movements, gates, parking, loading, and unloading.

Is SAP EWM suitable for 3PL companies?

SAP EWM can support complex warehouse environments, including scenarios involving multiple inventory owners and warehouse processes. The appropriate architecture depends on the 3PL operating model and customer requirements.

Should a company replace its existing WMS with SAP EWM?

Not necessarily. The decision should consider the existing WMS, warehouse complexity, SAP landscape, automation, integration requirements, operating costs, and transformation strategy. In some environments, integration may be more appropriate than replacement.

Is SAP EWM suitable for manufacturing warehouses?

Yes. SAP EWM can connect warehouse execution with production processes, helping companies coordinate material staging, inventory movements, and warehouse activities supporting manufacturing.

What are the most important SAP EWM implementation best practices?

The most important practices include designing processes before configuration, improving master data quality, minimizing unnecessary customization, planning integrations early, testing real warehouse scenarios, involving warehouse users, and measuring business outcomes after go-live.

Disclaimer: This article is provided for general informational and planning purposes only and does not constitute professional, legal, financial, technical, or implementation advice. SAP products, features, deployment options, integrations, pricing, and recommended practices may change over time. Actual SAP EWM capabilities and the appropriate solution architecture depend on the specific SAP product version, business processes, technology landscape, warehouse requirements, and implementation scope.

Companies should consult qualified SAP professionals and other appropriate specialists before making technology, implementation, compliance, operational, or investment decisions. Any examples, recommendations, or potential benefits described in this article are illustrative and should not be interpreted as guarantees of specific business results.