VL31N — Create Inbound Delivery
VL31N is used to create an inbound delivery, typically with reference to a purchase order or other inbound logistics reference. It is most useful when a receiving process needs an inbound delivery document before warehouse, goods-receipt or transportation execution. Start with the exact document, material, organizational scope and business date, then follow status and document flow before changing configuration or master data.
Verified practitioner reference for VL31N — Create Inbound Delivery. It covers purpose, practical use, key data, proof-in-data checks, S/4HANA context, common errors and related objects so the transaction can be used as part of an end-to-end SAP investigation.
Published 19 Sept 2026· 569 words
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Purpose
create an inbound delivery, typically with reference to a purchase order or other inbound logistics reference. VL31N should be understood in the surrounding business flow: source document or requirement, master data, determined status and follow-on document. Capturing that chain is more reliable than treating the transaction as an isolated screen.
When it is used
VL31N is typically used when a receiving process needs an inbound delivery document before warehouse, goods-receipt or transportation execution. It is also valuable in project testing because it provides a repeatable point in the process. In production, narrow the document/material scope first and capture the before-state before mass actions or configuration changes.
How to use it in practice
- Enter the reference document and appropriate inbound delivery type.
- Review vendor, receiving plant/location and proposed items.
- Correct only data that belongs at inbound-delivery level.
- Save and capture the inbound delivery number.
- Verify warehouse/GR relevance and document flow before downstream processing.
Key data objects
These are the fields and objects that most often explain the result in VL31N. Record them in test evidence and support handovers.
- inbound delivery type — verify the exact value, status, validity and relationship to the source or follow-on document.
- reference purchase order — verify the exact value, status, validity and relationship to the source or follow-on document.
- vendor — verify the exact value, status, validity and relationship to the source or follow-on document.
- delivery date — verify the exact value, status, validity and relationship to the source or follow-on document.
- items/quantities and receiving location — verify the exact value, status, validity and relationship to the source or follow-on document.
How to prove it in the data
Prove the scenario through chronology and document flow. Start with the source order, delivery, requirement or master record; capture the transaction status; then follow the resulting delivery, billing, production or procurement object. Reconcile quantities, dates and statuses using the same organizational scope. A correct diagnosis explains why SAP selected or rejected the object, not just what message appeared.
ECC vs S/4HANA
SAP Help documents VL31N/VL32N/VL33N as classic inbound-delivery transactions; S/4HANA may also expose role-based Fiori and EWM processes. For new S/4HANA designs, use current strategic applications and clean-core guidance even when a classic SAP GUI transaction remains available for support.
Common pitfalls and how to diagnose them
- Creating an inbound delivery against the wrong PO/item. Check the source and follow-on document statuses before applying a workaround.
- Changing quantity to hide a purchasing discrepancy. Check the source and follow-on document statuses before applying a workaround.
- Assuming delivery creation itself posts goods receipt. Check the source and follow-on document statuses before applying a workaround.
Whose problem this is
Primary ownership is the SD/O2C team, with MM, warehouse, Finance or Basis involved when the document flow crosses those components. A strong escalation includes document/material, plant or sales area, date, status, expected result and checks already completed.
Related SAP objects
Reviewed pages this object connects to in the ERPClimb knowledge graph.
Source: ERPClimb — https://erpclimb.com/sap-tcodes/vl31nERPClimb is an independent platform and is not affiliated with SAP SE. Reference pages are written and reviewed by SAP consultants for learning and troubleshooting.