SAP SD – Return Order Process & Free of Charge Delivery

โšก Smart Summary

Returns, free-of-charge delivery, and subsequent delivery in SAP SD handle post-sales scenarios. A return takes back goods, a free-of-charge delivery ships items at no cost, and a subsequent delivery replaces missing or defective quantities.

  • โ†ฉ๏ธ Return: A return order takes goods back from the customer.
  • ๐ŸŽ Free of Charge: A free-of-charge delivery sends goods without billing.
  • ๐Ÿ“ฆ Subsequent Delivery: A subsequent free-of-charge delivery replaces short or faulty goods.
  • ๐Ÿงพ Return Order: Create the return order, then a return delivery document.
  • ๐Ÿ”ข Transactions: VA01 creates the orders; the delivery follows in VL01N.
  • ๐Ÿ”Ž Order Reasons: An order reason documents why the return or free delivery occurs.
  • ๐Ÿค– Automation: AI predicts return rates and detects fraudulent return patterns.

SAP SD Return and Free of Charge Delivery

What is a Return?

Return is where a customer is not satisfied with the product or the deliverable, & businesses need to create a return the good, based on customer return request.

What is Free of Charge Delivery?

Free of Charge Delivery is where the customer is not charged for shipping. This order type is generally used for sending free sample to customers.

What is Subsequent Delivery?

Subsequent Deliver is when a customer receives lesser number of goods than that ordered, or if the goods have been damaged in the shipment, businesses provide free-of-charge subsequent delivery of goods.

What to do when a customer raises return request?

Sales Department may take any one of the following actions during the return process.

  1. Approve the complaint and create a credit memo. This is done when customer wants refund for the goods. The system creates credit memo to customer with reference to sales order.
  2. Approve the complaint, and implement a free of charge subsequent delivery of the disputed goods. This is done when customer want to replace the goods owing to shortfall in delivery or damage in shipment or any other legitimate reasons.
  3. Reject the complaint if complaint is not valid. For example, customer makes a complaint on wrong data.

How to Create Return Order

Sales Department can create return order by T-code VA01. Return order can be created with reference to sales order or billing documents.

Step 1)

  1. Enter T-code VA01 in command field.
  2. Enter Order Type RE(Returns).
  3. Enter Sales Area data in Organizational Data Block.
  4. Click on Create with Reference Button.

Return Order in SAP SD

Step 2)

  1. Enter Sales order # reference for return order.
  2. Click on Copy Button.

Return Order in SAP SD

Step 3)

  1. Enter PO number.
  2. Enter PO date.
  3. Enter Order reason .
  4. Enter Ordered Quantity.

Return Order in SAP SD

Step 4) Click on saveReturn Order in SAP SDbutton. A Message like “Return 60000295 has been saved” displayed.

Return Order in SAP SD

How to create Return Delivery Document

In order to receive returned goods from customer, Sales department creates return order. Based on return order, return delivery document is created. Return delivery document is created using T-code VL01N. Standard return delivery document type is LR. When return delivery document is created, Logistic departments receives the returned product.

Step 1)

  1. Enter T-code VL01N in command field.
  2. Enter Shipping Point.
  3. Enter Delivery Type LR(Return Delivery).

Return Delivery Document in SAP SD

Press Enter Button.

Step 2) Enter Return Delivery Quantity.

Return Delivery Document in SAP SD

Step 3) Click on save Return Delivery Document in SAP SDbutton.

A message “Return delivery 840000 has been saved” displayed.

Return Delivery Document in SAP SD

How to create Free of Charge Delivery

Free of charge delivery process creates a non-billed sales order .E.g. If some product is shipped for free sample to customer, free of charge delivery is carried out. This document is not relevant for billing because the customer is not billed for the free of charge delivery.

Step 1)

  1. Enter T-code VA01 in command field.
  2. Enter Order type FD(Delivery Free of Charge).
  3. Enter Sales area data in Organizational block.
  4. Click on Create with References.

Free of Charge Delivery in SAP SD

Step 2)

  1. Enter Sales order no. for references.
  2. Click on Copy button.

Free of Charge Delivery in SAP SD

Step 3)

  1. Enter Sold-To party / Ship-To Party.
  2. Enter Order Reason.

Free of Charge Delivery in SAP SD

Step 4) Click on SaveFree of Charge Delivery in SAP SDbutton.

Free of Charge Delivery in SAP SD

How to create Subsequent Delivery

Once return process takes place, customer may request

  1. Good replacement
  2. Refund.

When customer chooses replacement option, then subsequent sales order is created. If customer chooses refund option, then money can be refunded to customer by credit memo.

Step 1)

  1. Enter T-code VA01.
  2. Enter Order Type SDF .
  3. Enter Sales Area data in Organizational Data.
  4. Click on Create with References Button.

Subsequent Delivery in SAP SD

Step 2)

  1. Enter Sales Order no. for references.
  2. Click on Copy button.

Subsequent Delivery in SAP SD

Step 3)

  1. Enter Order Reason.
  2. Enter Order Quantity for which we create Subsequent Delivery free of charge.

Subsequent Delivery in SAP SD

Step 4) Click on Save Subsequent Delivery in SAP SDButton.

A message Subs. Dlv. Free of Ch. 12355 has been saved” displayed.

Subsequent Delivery in SAP SD

FAQs

The standard return order type is RE. It is created in VA01, usually with reference to the original sales order or invoice, and is followed by a return delivery in VL01N.

A free-of-charge delivery (type FD) ships goods at no cost as a standalone order. A subsequent free-of-charge delivery (type SDF or KN) replaces goods that were short-delivered or defective in a previous order.

After creating the return order in VA01, create the return delivery in VL01N with reference to that order. The delivery posts goods receipt back into stock, often into a returns or blocked location.

Yes. AI analyzes return reasons, product quality, and customer behavior to predict and prevent returns, for example by improving size guidance, descriptions, or quality checks before shipment.

artificial intelligence spots unusual return patterns, such as repeated high-value returns or serial-number mismatches, helping teams flag fraudulent returns before refunds or replacements are issued.

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