PunchOut Catalog - How Does it Work?

PunchOut catalog simplifies the way B2B customers do business transactions with their supplier. The buyer no longer has to do the tedious task of importing the supplier’s product catalog into his procurement application. So if you are fed-up of using CIF catalog, it is time to move on to a better option that helps to streamline the purchasing process.

PunchOutcatalog provides a direct connection between the buyer’s and supplier’s system. It enables communication in real time, which means any changes made in supplier’s catalog are accessible in real time to the buyer. Changes in pricing or product availability status are instantly available to the buyer.

PunchOut eliminates the need for login credentials. The customer has to only click a link in order to access the supplier’s site. So the buyer upon clicking the link ‘Punches Out’ of their company’s website and gets connected with the supplier’s site. Here the buyer has direct access to his own catalog that displays pre-approved products and pricing. In other words, upon clicking the PunchOut link, the buyer is taken directly to his contract catalog. As a result, the buyer doesn’t have to browse through the entire site to search his contract products.

After selecting the products and adding them to the Cart, the buyer again clicks the PunchOut link to log out of the session. The Cart returns back to the buyer’s procurement application. Absence of traditional checkout process is another important aspect of PunchOut technology. The cart is then routed to the higher authority where the buying decision is made. Upon receiving the cart approval, the buying organization creates a purchase order which is then electronically sent to the supplier.

PunchOut catalog solution helps to speed up the purchase order process and improves order accuracy in B2B environment. It adds convenience and ease, saves time and cost for both the supplier and customer while conducting business transactions.