How do you actually process cXML orders – for example from SAP Ariba® – within PunchCommerce? This is exactly the question we address in this Journal article.
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Reading time 3 minutes
Within our Enterprise version of PunchCommerce we offer you the possibility to receive orders from different cXML customers and at the same time define your own data format for our REST API. We will explain step by step how this works.
What is cXML?
cXML stands for commerce eXtensible Markup Language and is an XML-based exchange format. It maps the entire procurement process conveniently, efficiently and securely. Among other things, the cXML standard offers the possibility to realize a PunchOut catalog.
What are the advantages of the cXML PunchOut process?
Many companies today, especially English-speaking companies, rely on Ariba® as a platform for electronic procurement. Here, the support of cXML for suppliers is usually unavoidable. Thereby cXML is not only a flexible data exchange format with a simple application, but it enables the complete lifecycle of an order. Among other things, this leads to reduced process and personnel costs. Learn more about the cXML PunchOut here.
Step by step: Processing cXML purchase orders (e.g. from SAP Ariba®)
If you follow our step-by-step instructions, you will have created your suitable order profile within PunchCommerce in just a few minutes and can generate the corresponding data models here. In doing so, a transfer from orders of third party systems is also possible.
Step 1: Create your order profile
Within our order module you can create order profiles. In the order profile area, click on "Create new order profile". Here you assign an appealing name for your profile on the one hand and on the other hand you can upload a cXML file of the type "OrderRequest" here. Within the order module, you have the option to define your own data model and use it via a REST API.
Step 2: Create data models
In the second step, you create a data model for your order profile. Here, we generate a proposal for each new order profile based on the cXML data model. You can then further adapt this proposal according to your needs.
Step 3: Transmission of purchase orders from third-party systems.
You have the option of configuring procurement systems (such as Ariba® or Coupa) in such a way that new customer orders are automatically transmitted as cXML requests to the address provided by us .
This address is identical for all customers. It uses the normal authentication of the cXML standard.
Please note that processing via our API is only possible for your customers to whom you have assigned an order profile. Orders from "unknown" customers will be automatically rejected.
Our tip: An overview of all steps including example documents and video overview can be found in our documentation.
