SAP Ariba Category Management includes the SAP Workflow Management service, which allows approvers to monitor and manage approval documents submitted for approval. It also provides default workflow process variants for SAP Ariba Category Management for the approval of strategy and plan documents.
It includes two workflow management applications:
- Monitor Workflows (Workflow Instances) allows users with the WorkflowAdmin and WorkflowContextAdmin roles to view technical aspects of workflow process instances, error logs, and other details.
- My Inbox receives strategy and plan documents that need approval. To access this inbox, users must have the CategoryPlanApprover, CategoryManagementViewer, and the WorkflowParticipant roles to approve or reject strategy and plan documents.
This lesson focuses on Workflow instances. Workflow instances define the approval process for strategy and plan documents within SAP Ariba Category Management. There are two workflow instances:
- Automatic Approval Variant
- Stakeholder Approvers & Plan Approver Variant
The Automatic Approval Variant starts when no approver is assigned, causing the phases of the strategy and plan documents to automatically change from Draft to Pending Approval to Approved on the Develop Strategy and Plan page.
The Stakeholder Approvers & Plan Approver Variant begins when approvers are assigned as Level 1 Approver, Category Strategy Approver, or both. The document starts in Draft and moves to Pending Approval on the Develop Strategy and Plan page, remaining in this phase until the approver approves or rejects the document. Once a decision is made, the phase updates to Approved or Rejected.
Note
SAP Ariba Category Management includes the SAP Workflow Management service, which allows approvers to monitor and manage approval documents submitted for approval. It also features default workflow process variants for SAP Ariba Category Management's approval process of strategy and plan documents. It offers two workflow management applications:
- Monitor Workflows
- My Inbox
| Applications | Description |
|---|---|
| Monitor Workflows | Enables viewing of technical details, error logs, and other information about workflow process instances. Accessible to users with these roles:
|
| My Inbox | Receives strategy and plan documents requiring approval. Accessible to users with these roles for approval or rejection:
|
Workflow instances define the approval process for strategy and plan documents within SAP Ariba Category Management. There are two workflow instances:
- Automatic Approval Variant
- Stakeholder Approvers & Plan Approver Variant
The Automatic Approval Variant starts when no approver is assigned; it automatically changes the phases of strategy and plan documents from Draft to Pending Approval to Approved on the Develop Strategy and Plan page.
The Stakeholder Approvers & Plan Approver Variant begins when approvers are assigned as Level 1 Approver, Category Strategy Approver, or both. The document’s phase starts in Draft, then moves to Pending Approval, remaining there until an approver approves or rejects it. Once a decision is made, the phase updates to Approved or Rejected.
Note
A lead category manager can assign a stakeholder as a Level 1 Approver in the Manage Category Profile application.
