Lesson 4 of 5
Reversing goods issue
10 min
Sometimes goods issue is posted too early or for the wrong delivery: the truck did not leave, the wrong product was picked, or the quantity was wrong. SAP lets you reverse the goods issue, which puts the stock back and cancels the cost of goods sold. Reversal is common in practice and in testing, and it has rules worth knowing.
How reversal works
In SAP GUI, VL09 lists deliveries whose goods issue can be reversed; select the delivery, choose a reversal posting date, and execute. In Fiori, apps such as Manage Outbound Deliveries offer a reverse goods issue action when the delivery's goods issue status allows it. SAP posts a new material document with the reversal movement type, standard 602 for 601, and a journal entry that is the mirror image of the original.
| Original goods issue | Reversal | |
|---|---|---|
| Movement type | 601 | 602 |
| Stock in 1710 / 171A | -50 pieces | +50 pieces |
| Journal entry | Debit cost of goods sold $7,500; credit inventory $7,500 | Debit inventory $7,500; credit cost of goods sold $7,500 |
| Delivery goods movement status | Complete | Not yet processed |
| Order delivery status | Fully delivered | Unchanged while the delivery still exists; the delivery can now be changed or deleted |
| Billing due list | Delivery is due for billing | Delivery is no longer billable |
Both documents stay in the system. Document flow from the delivery shows the original goods issue and the reversal beneath it. That is the audit trail auditors and Dan's team rely on.
When reversal is not possible
- Has the delivery been billed, fully or partially?Yes → cancel the billing document first (VF11 or the billing app), then reverse · No → continue
- Is the warehouse managed by EWM?Yes → reverse goods issue in EWM, which updates the delivery · No → continue
- Is a reversal movement type defined for the goods issue movement type?Yes → continue · No → custom movement types need a configured reversal
- Is the chosen reversal posting date in an open period?Yes → reverse · No → choose a date in the open period, typically today
The billing rule is the one people hit most. SAP will not let you reverse goods issue for a delivery that has been billed, because the invoice would then refer to goods that, according to SAP, never left. The sequence is: cancel the invoice, then reverse the goods issue, then correct or delete the delivery, then redeliver if needed.
- Mon 9:00Goods issue postedDelivery 80001234: 50 CMC-ALT-100 issued; journal entry posts cost of goods sold
- Mon 18:00Invoice createdNightly billing run bills the delivery
- Tue 8:00Problem foundThe truck never left; 20 pieces were damaged in staging
- Tue 8:30Cancel invoiceThe billing document is cancelled; a cancellation document reverses revenue and receivable
- Tue 8:45Reverse goods issueMovement type 602 puts 50 back into stock; cost of goods sold is reversed
- Tue 9:30Correct and reissueDelivery quantity set to 30, picked, goods issue posted again; 20 pieces handled separately
Effects to check after reversal
- Stock: the quantity is back in the original storage location, in unrestricted stock (not automatically in blocked or quality stock).
- Accounting: the reversal journal entry exactly offsets the original amounts and attributes.
- Statuses: delivery goods movement status reset; delivery no longer on the billing due list.
- Picking: the picked quantity usually remains; with EWM, cancelling picking is a separate step after the goods issue reversal.
- Period: if the reversal is posted in a later period than the original, both periods show a movement, which finance should expect.
What would you do?
A Contoso shipping clerk tries to reverse goods issue for delivery 80001234 in VL09, but the delivery does not appear in the list. Goods issue was posted yesterday. What should you check first?
- Reverse goods issue with VL09 or the Manage Outbound Deliveries app; movement type 602 reverses 601.
- Reversal posts a new material document and a mirror journal entry; the originals remain.
- A billed delivery cannot be reversed until its billing document is cancelled.
- With EWM, reverse in EWM; with custom movement types, a reversal movement type must exist.
Check your understanding · not graded
Lesson check
1. Which movement type reverses a standard goods issue 601?
2. What must happen before goods issue of a billed delivery can be reversed?
3. What does the reversal journal entry post?
4. Goods were damaged after they left the warehouse. Is goods issue reversal the right process?