Use catalogs in ERP without detours!
Using catalogs efficiently in ERP
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 the one-time setup of the punchout (namely from the ERP system to the platform).
In addition, various advantages are offered: simple search across the entire range of products, convenient catalog onboarding, peace of mind during the conversion to SAP S/4HANA, and much more. Another variant is the operation of a "standalone" version: This offers complete order processing on DIG.procure, but still without integration into the ERP system. However, even this variant already achieves enormous process cost benefits, which is why it is often used as an entry point into the digitization of procurement processes.
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 can be imported on a case-by-case basis via XLS file.
An in-house connection of catalogs to the ERP system entails work for the IT department that should not be underestimated.
Conversely, tedious searches, errors in the ordering process, etc. also lead to frustration among users.
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 interference of the catalogs with each other also generated 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.
Practical experience with in-house solutions
"By the time catalogs were available, prices were out of date, searching our suppliers' web stores was tedious - and when the shopping cart was ready, it was suddenly gone!"
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 gives the user full access to content catalogs and web stores - this option is offered by more and more ERP systems in addition to SAP. Search functions across all catalogs and webshops, in addition to numerous other advantages, ensure maximum usability in terms of ease of use. But purchasing also benefits from DIG's convenient catalog management, which takes care of onboarding and catalog updates as a service! In particular, the experience from over 800 connected webshops comes into play here. For example, 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). In this way, BANF in SAP (or in other ERP systems that support a punchout) can be used efficiently for a procurement solution and efforts can be minimized immediately! In addition to classic goods, framework agreements and service orders can also be mapped in eProcurement via DIG.procure.
Carefree conversion 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!
eProcurement without burdening the IT department!
We'll be happy to show you how eProcurement can give you full procurement comfort without frustrating your IT colleagues.
Overview Inhouse Connection
- Negotiated catalog items must be transferred individually (import as XLS possible on a case-by-case basis)
- no time efficient search across all connected webshops
- each punchout in webshop has to be set up individually
- in-house catalog connection burdens IT resources and leads to time delays
- Disturbed ordering process due to catalogs influencing each other
- high ongoing IT administration costs
- simple punchout to the eProcurement platform (one-time involvement of IT)
- convenient access to all content catalogs and webshops + search function
- onboarding and catalog updates as a service
- error-free compilation of multi-vendor shopping carts
- extendable e.g. to service procurement
- can be implemented quickly and inexpensively
