Punch-out catalogues for buyers who order through procurement
We connect your online shop to your customers' procurement systems using OCI or cXML, so their staff can order from you inside the tools they have to use.
In plain English.
Large companies, universities and public bodies often make staff buy through a procurement system such as SAP Ariba, Coupa, Jaggaer, Oracle or Proactis. If you are a supplier, being on their approved list is not always enough. They may ask for a punch-out catalogue: a link from their system to your shop that brings the basket back to them for approval.
There are two main standards. cXML, common with Ariba and Coupa, exchanges structured XML messages for the session set-up, the basket and the purchase order. OCI, the Open Catalog Interface, is the SAP standard and passes the basket back as form fields. Many buyers use one, some use both, and their system tells us which.
We add punch-out to WooCommerce, Magento or a custom shop. Each buyer sees their contract prices, the basket returns to their system with the right units and UNSPSC codes (a standard product classification), and the approved purchase order comes back to you as an order. Invoices can go back by cXML too.
It suits you if.
- A corporate, university or public sector customer has asked for punch-out
- You are bidding for a supply contract that requires OCI or cXML
- Big customers send PDF purchase orders by email that you key in
- Each corporate customer has its own contract prices
- You already sell online on WooCommerce, Magento or a custom platform
What we do.
cXML and OCI
Support for cXML PunchOutSetupRequest and OrderRequest messages and SAP OCI round trips, matched to each buyer's system.
Contract pricing per buyer
Each organisation sees its own agreed prices and product range, with the right units of measure.
Basket returned for approval
The basket goes back to the buyer's procurement system with product codes, UNSPSC classifications and VAT.
Purchase orders become orders
Approved cXML purchase orders arrive in your shop as orders, ready to pick and ship.
Invoices back by cXML
Where the buyer requires it, order confirmations and invoices are sent back electronically.
How it runs.
- 01
Free call
Tell us which customer is asking, which procurement system they use and what platform your shop runs on.
- 02
Get the specification
With your agreement, we contact the buyer's procurement team for their punch-out requirements and test credentials.
- 03
Build and test
We build the connection and run test punch-outs and orders with the buyer's team until they sign off.
- 04
Go live and add more
Once the first buyer is live, adding the next one is mostly configuration and testing.
Questions people ask.
What is the difference between OCI and cXML?
Both let a buyer leave their procurement system, shop on your site and return with a basket. OCI is SAP's simpler standard and passes data as web form fields. cXML is used by Ariba, Coupa and others, and also covers purchase orders and invoices. The buyer's system decides which you need.
How much does punch-out integration cost?
It depends on your shop platform, which standards are needed and whether purchase orders and invoices are exchanged electronically. The first buyer carries most of the cost, and later buyers on the same standard are much quicker to add. You get a fixed quote once we have the buyer's specification.
How long does it take?
The build itself is usually a matter of weeks. The timeline often depends on the buyer's procurement team, who need to provide test access and approve each stage. We plan around their availability and keep you updated, so you can tell your customer when to expect it.
Our shop is quite basic. Can it still support punch-out?
Usually, yes. WooCommerce and Magento can be extended for punch-out, and a custom platform can have it added. If your current shop really cannot cope, we can build a small dedicated punch-out catalogue for corporate buyers alongside it, sharing your product and stock data.
Your next chapter starts with a conversation.
Nottingham & Derby / UK-wideLet’s build
what’s next.
15 minutes with Garreth.
A real conversation about your business.