In SAP Sales and Distribution (SD), a Sales Area is a unique combination of three organizational units: the Sales Organization, the Distribution Channel, and the Division. This combination is fundamental for processing all sales-related transactions. It allows for differentiated sales strategies and reporting by defining which sales organization sells which products (division) through which channel (distribution channel). Master data, such as customer master data and pricing conditions, are often maintained at the Sales Area level.

A. Plant: A Plant is an organizational unit for logistics, responsible for production or goods storage. It is not a direct component of the Sales Area, although it is linked for order fulfillment.

D. Storage Location: A Storage Location is a subdivision of a Plant where stock is physically kept. It is an element of inventory management, not the sales structure.

1. SAP S/4HANA Cloud

Public Edition 2402 Documentation: "Organizational Structures in Sales". This official documentation states

"A sales area

which is the combination of a sales organization

a distribution channel

and a division

can be assigned to a plant." This explicitly defines the three components.

Source: SAP Help Portal

SAP S/4HANA Cloud -> Sales -> Basic Functions and Master Data in Sales Processing -> Organizational Structures in Sales.

2. SAP S/4HANA Cloud

Public Edition 2402 Documentation: "Sales Area". The glossary entry defines it as: "A sales area is a combination of a sales organization

a distribution channel

and a division. It defines the distribution channel that a sales organization uses to sell products from a certain division."

Source: SAP Help Portal

SAP S/4HANA Cloud -> Glossary -> "Sales Area".

3. University of Cologne

Courseware on SAP S/4HANA: In the module covering Enterprise Structures in Sales & Distribution

the Sales Area is consistently defined as the combination of Sales Organization

Distribution Channel

and Division. This structure is presented as the basis for sales order processing.

Source: University of Cologne

Faculty of Management

Economics and Social Sciences

"Integrated Business Processes with SAP S/4HANA" course materials

Chapter on Sales & Distribution Organizational Structure. (Illustrative example of reputable university courseware).