How to connect webshops and content catalogs to the ERP without IT effort
The connection of web stores and content catalogs directly in the ERP system (e.g. SAP) usually requires high effort from the IT department. DIG.procure can reduce this effort to a one-time punchout (namely from the ERP system to the platform). It also offers advantages such as the search function across the entire range of products, convenient catalog onboarding, peace of mind when converting to SAP S/4HANA, and much more. Another variant is the operation of a "standalone" variant, here one has a complete order processing on DIG.procure, but still without integration into the ERP system. Even with this variant, there are already enormous process cost advantages; for many, this variant is an "entry drug" into the world of digital procurement processes.
Cumbersome in-house solution overloads IT department
The introduction of a comprehensive e-procurement solution is regularly a major project in which interfaces and complex processes such as account assignments and approvals are defined and implemented. Alternatively, many companies rely on OCI punchouts to web stores or the (relatively costly) transfer of entire supplier catalogs into their own ERP system. However, this strategy entails enormous effort for the IT department. For example, the punchouts for each web store have to be set up separately. The catalog items negotiated by Purchasing are also either transferred to the ERP system line by line, together with master data records, or imported via XLS file, depending on the requirements.
Negative user experience inhibits efficiency
The negative experiences of users with such a solution are also serious: At one DIG customer, the in-house catalog connection in SAP led to delays of up to half a year - even with updates such as changes to offers. The influence of the catalogs on each other led to annoying errors in the ordering process - up to the complete deletion of the laboriously created shopping cart. Another disadvantage: When searching for products, for example, web stores have to be accessed individually via Punchout - a time-efficient search across all connected stores is not possible. All of this is detrimental to user acceptance.
The solution: Punchout to DIG.procure
DIG's e-procurement platform solves all these problems in one fell swoop! A simple punchout to the platform (this option is offered by more and more ERP systems besides SAP) gives the user full access to content catalogs and web stores. Highest usability is offered to the user e.g. by search functions across all catalogs and webshops. Purchasing also benefits from DIG's convenient catalog management, which takes care of onboarding and catalog updates. In particular, the experience gained from over 800 connected webshops comes to bear. DIG ensures that the data from the web stores is delivered in such a way that the ERP system can process it without any problems. In this way, even multi-vendor shopping carts can be compiled without errors.
Cost-effective and quick to implement
The fact that a fully standardized interface is used makes this solution extremely cost-effective and quick to implement. The company's own IT department is only required once (namely to set up the punchout from the ERP to DIG.procure). This means that BANF in SAP (or in other ERP systems that support a punchout) can be used efficiently for a procurement solution and effort can be minimized immediately!
How to save your IT department effort in eProcurement?
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Conversion to SAP S/4HANA
With the new S/4HANA version, SAP is replacing the SRM module. The scope of services that will be available in the future is still unclear. However, with the path described, companies are on the safe side in this respect as well!
