Objective
Ariba Network is a cloud-based network where buyers and suppliers collaborate by managing different business processes, either through the Ariba Network portal or through integrated solutions by exchanging commerce extensible markup language (cXML) messages.
SAP ERP and SAP S/4HANA customers integrate their system with Ariba Network when they want to manage their procurement process within their SAP ERP or SAP S/4HANA environment, while also benefiting from the collaboration capabilities and efficiency gains that the Ariba Network can provide.
Supplier integration is the connection of a supplier’s ERP system to Ariba Network via an electronic method (cXML/EDI) to transact POs, OCs, ASNs, invoices and other documents with buyers- via a touchless process.
Previously, suppliers on Ariba Network did not have the option to integrate their SAP ERP with Ariba Network, using SAP Ariba Cloud Integration Gateway. Only buyers were able to integrate their ERP systems using SAP Ariba Cloud Integration Gateway. Now, suppliers using Ariba Network, can use SAP Ariba Cloud Integration Gateway to integrate their SAP ERP with Ariba Network.
Not all systems are structured the same way, which is why SAP provides multiple ways to work on Ariba Network. Within the concept of supplier integration, there are multiple integration methods and connection protocols supported:
Buyers are integrated to Ariba Network by default – due to the native integration of Ariba Network with the SAP Ariba procurement solutions.
Buyers can integrate an SAP ERP or SAP S/4HANA system with Ariba Network and SAP Ariba solutions to efficiently manage supplier interactions across the spend management lifecycle.
The SAP Ariba Cloud Integration Gateway simplifies and accelerates the integrations.
Buyers benefit from smoother upgrades, simpler configurations, and easier testing and monitoring.
Buyers can integrate single or multiple SAP ERP systems with Ariba Network. The systems can be integrated directly using SAP Ariba CIG or by using a middleware to route messages to SAP Ariba Cloud Integration Gateway.
SAP Ariba Commerce Automation
SAP Ariba offers many different integration scenarios to support many business processes, but the most typical process is document automation for purchase order (PO) and invoice automation.
In this scenario, users create POs in their SAP ERP or SAP S/4HANA system, which sends them to the suppliers on Ariba Network for processing. Suppliers confirm orders or let their customers know if items are backordered; they can notify them that items have shipped and send a PO invoice for payment. Business rules enforce process and document compliance. For example, you can require that a supplier must confirm an order, create a ship notice, or wait for a goods receipt notice before they can send an invoice.
Automation of Source-to-Pay with Ariba Network (42K) enables you to seamlessly connect from SAP S/4HANA Cloud to your trading partners in the Ariba Network.
All data is routed through SAP Ariba Cloud Integration Gateway (CIG).
Purchasers in SAP S/4HANA can send requests to suppliers on the Ariba Network, asking for process, quantity information and shipping costs.
In SAP S/4HANA, these documents are created as requests for quotation of a specific document type. The suppliers can send their responses back to SAP S/4HANA, where quotations are created accordingly.
The process for quote automation part of the scenario is as follows:
Supplier Quote Automation is currently different from its predecessor Supplier Quote Automation with SAP Ariba Commerce Automation (1L2) in the following aspects:
Helps buyers and trading partners to have an integrated purchase order collaboration process with SAP S/4 HANA Cloud and SAP Ariba Network using SAP Ariba Cloud Integration Gateway.
As part of purchase order processing, the following key processes are available for buyers:
