How PunchOut can Simplify Purchasing Process of B2B Customers

As we all know, a procurement system, also referred to as a purchasing software is commonly used by B2B customers to do transactions with their suppliers. However, the traditional B2B buying process is tedious and time-consuming, hence buyers are looking for some technology that could make the process convenient and hassle-free. The answer lies in using PunchOut catalog that can shorten the path to purchase and save time and effort, while ordering products. It provides an easy way to connect the user with the supplier’s site.

Considered to be the best alternative to static catalog files, PunchOut is a functionality that establishes an interactive session between the customer’s procurement system and supplier’s product catalog. The feature allows two-way communication using real time synchronous cXML messages. It is a dynamic catalog, which means any changes (product pricing and availability) made to the catalog are available in real time. The customer no longer has to reload catalog data into his procurement system in order to view current information.

With a single click of a button (no login credentials required), the customer gains access to the supplier’s ecommerce site. Moreover, the PunchOut catalog solution ensures that the customer has access only to his agreed-upon contract products and prices. He doesn’t have to browse through non-contractual products in order to view his own catalog.

Once the products are selected from the catalog, the shopping cart is brought back to the customer’s procurement system for further processing. The shopping cart is then electronically routed for approval to the concerned manager. Once the cart is reviewed and approved, an email is dispatched to the supplier indicating that the order is confirmed.

SAP is a popular procurement system that supports PunchOut. On the whole, shopping from SAP PunchOut catalog is one of the most convenient and exciting ways to shop today for B2B customers. It adds convenience, ensures easy accessibility and simplifies the ordering process for both the buying and sales organization.