Configuring the SAP Business Network Buyer Account

Objectives

After completing this lesson, you will be able to:

  • Configure Purchase Order Collaboration document routing.
  • Set up Purchase Order Collaboration business rules.
  • Set up Purchase Order Collaboration transaction rules.
  • Usage of Supplier Group.
  • Configure Purchase Order Collaboration Invoice rules.
  • Enable Purchase Order collaboration for each Supplier.
  • Configure notifications for Buyers.
  • Set up SAP Business Network roles.
  • Maintain Custom Rejected-Reason Codes for Order Confirmation.
  • Maintain or activate Toggles and features.
  • Configure SAP Ariba Cloud Integration Gateway for SAP Ariba Supply Chain Collaboration.

SAP Business Network Supply Chain Collaboration Entitlement

Before a Buyer can start setting up any SAP Business Network Supply Chain Collaboration features, a specific entitlement must be granted to their SAP Business Network Buyer account.

  1. Ask your designated support contact to log a service request for the SAP Business Network Supply Chain Collaboration entitlement.
  2. An SAP Business Network Customer Support representative will set up the entitlement for you.

Set Up Document Routing

Buyer administrators use end points, system IDs, and document routing to ensure that documents sent from the Buyer’s account in SAP Business Network are delivered to the correct destination.

To learn about end points, sytems IDs, and document routing click on the number icons below.

SAP Business Network Business Rules

SAP Business Network business rules ensure that Suppliers submit transaction documents that meet the requirement of the specific Buyer. SAP Business Network uses these rules to evaluate documents received from Suppliers. As a result, the Buyer only receives documents that are compatible with their procurement system configuration.

The following categories of business rules are important for SAP Business Network Supply Chain Collaboration:

Business RuleDescription
Default Transaction Rules
  • Require the Supplier to provide certain information
  • Control whether a Supplier can include certain information/documentation.
Supplier Group Rules
  • Organize suppliers according to different transaction rule requirement
  • Use specific customization project
  • Use custom PDF layout
  • Use Ariba Discount Management solution
Country-Based Invoice Rules
  • Use one of the invoicing rule templates provided by SAP Business Network as a starting point to define Invoice rules

SAP Business Network Transaction Rules

Simulation

In this simulation, you will learn how to configure:

  • Default transaction rules
  • Supplier group transaction rules
  • Country-based Invoice rules
  • Collaborative supply chain functionality for each Supplier
  • Establishment of a logistic relationship with each Supplier

Usage of Supplier Group

Notifications for Buyers

Notifications are triggered by events that occur on SAP Business Network. This enables Buyers to stay informed about events and activities that affect their SAP Business Network account. Notifications can also be used to monitor account activities, such as catalog updates, and to resolve issues related to the Buyer’s account.

As a Buyer, you can specify which notifications you want to receive. For example, you can choose to be notified by e-mail whenever an Invoice is received or updated.

SAP Business Network sends notifications related to transaction documents, such as Orders, Confirmations, Ship Notices, and Invoices, to the online Inbox. For each notification type, you can specify up to three e-mail addresses, separated with a comma.

Notification Types for Buyers

To view a list of notification types for Buyers, refer to the SAP Help Portal

Simulation

In this simulation, you will learn how to configure notifications for Buyers.

SAP Business Network Roles and Permissions

When the Buyer completes registration, the following SAP Business Network roles are created:

  • A single default administrator role. This administrator role is automatically linked to the e-mail provided during registration.
  • A set of predefined roles to be used as templates for custom roles. A maximum of 25 custom roles can be created.

Before creating a role, it is strongly recommended that you familiarize yourself with the permissions that role grants the user. Only a user with the administrator role can perform the following tasks:

  • Create roles with certain permissions.
  • Add, modify, and delete users.
  • Reset passwords.

Roles and Permissions

Following are the set of roles that are granted to the user.

Administrator

The Administrator role grants the user access to all areas of the account, including Administration Users and test account management.

Catalog Manager

The Catalog Manager role grants the user access to catalogs, administration, configuration, notifications, and catalog service.

Full Access

The Full Access role grants the user access to all areas of SAP Business Network, except areas that are reserved for administrators.

Purchasing Manager

The Purchasing Manager role grants the user access to the inbox, outbox, administration, configuration, default transaction rules, cXML setup, and notifications (transaction-related notifications only).

Vendor Manager

The Vendor Manager Role grants the user access to Supplier enablement, active relationships, contacts, administration, configuration, notifications, Supplier, and company profile.

Simulation

In this simulation, you'll learn how to create and modify roles.

Custom Rejected-Reason Codes for Order Confirmation

Buyer administrators can now upload a custom list of rejected-reason codes, which will be shown to suppliers during order confirmation. This feature allows suppliers to reject items or orders using the custom rejected reason codes provided by the buyer administrator. The same list of custom rejected-reason codes is applicable for both header and line-item level rejections. When a supplier rejects an order, the custom codes uploaded to SAP Business Network are displayed instead of the default list of rejected-reason codes.

Toggle Features

It may be necessary to maintain or activate certain toggles and features in your SAP Business Network Buyer account.

  • For new customers without a live production account, the deployment team can create a Service Request for a test account.
  • All other customers must create a Service Request with the necessary details. SAP Business Network Customer Support will implement the required changes based on this Service Request.

SAP Ariba Cloud Integration Gateway

SAP Ariba Cloud Integration Gateway can be enabled from different SAP Ariba solutions, such as SAP Ariba Sourcing and SAP Ariba Buying and Invoicing. However, for SAP Business Network Supply Chain Collaboration, SAP Ariba Cloud Integration Gateway must be enabled from the Buyer’s SAP Business Network account.

Simulation

In this simulation, you will learn how to enable SAP Ariba Cloud Integration Gateway in SAP Business Network.

SAP System Connection Details in SAP Ariba Cloud Integration Gateway

When you configure the SAP Ariba Cloud Integration Gateway, add-on for SAP ERP or SAP S/4HANA, the connection details are automatically transferred to the SAP Ariba Cloud Integration Gateway. If the synchronization of connectivity information fails, you may need to manually add SAP system details in SAP Ariba Cloud Integration Gateway portal.

To verify whether the synchronization of connectivity was successful, complete the following steps:

  1. Log on to SAP Ariba Cloud Integration Gateway.
  2. In the top, right-hand corner of the screen, choose User＞Basic Data.
  3. In the list of syncronized partners that displays, search for the system you configured.
  4. If it is included in the list, the synchronization of connectivity information was successful. Select the connection and choose Finish.
  5. If it is not included in the list, the synchronization of connectivity information failed. You may need to manually add SAP system details in the SAP Ariba Cloud Integration Gateway portal.

Introducing Integration Project in SAP Ariba Cloud Integration Gateway

Once your SAP system information is transferred to the SAP Ariba Cloud Integration Gateway, the Home screen of your SAP Ariba Cloud Integration Gateway account displays.

Screen AreaDescription
Integration Projects
  • Displays the number of projects, according to their status.
  • Enables users to view, create, edit, or delete the project.
Supplier Reporting
  • Displays all the projects with connected suppliers, sorted by status.
  • Provides the user with visibiilty on the status of supplier onboarding.
Transaction Tracker
  • Tracks the transaction documents you have sent and recieved.
  • Enables users to download payloads and attachments.
My Projects
  • Lists the available integration projects

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