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The ability to use PunchOut catalogs benefits both buyers and suppliers, and Oracle XML Punchout is one format that can be used to modernize the eProcurement process for businesses. Like regular PunchOut catalogs, Oracle XML Punchout allows buyers to click on a link that leads directly to a supplier’s catalog, search for items or products on the supplier’s site, and then return those items directly to the buyer’s shopping cart.
When punching out from Oracle Exchange, buyers can add the supplier’s items to their shopping cart on Oracle Exchange. If buyers are punching out from Oracle iProcurement, external items can be added to their shopping cart in Oracle iProcurement. In order for these processes to transfer data quickly and seamlessly between the buyer’s procurement system and the supplier’s website, a markup language known as Extensible Markup Language, or XML, is used to securely store and transmit this business-critical data.
How Does Oracle PunchOut Work?
Oracle XML login request is made – Similar, though different from cXML, the data within the post often will contain parameters (such as unique identifiers) that may include the user’s email address, business unit ID, DUNS, and others that vary from e-procurement system to system and buyer to buyer that is used by the e-commerce application to properly authenticate the user and reflect the correct offering, pricing, experience, etc. The data from this generally will include the following as examples:
- FullName: John Doe
- Manager: Sally Sue
- title: ceo
- userEmail: [email protected]
- companyDUNS: 12345678
- operatingUnit: 13843
- companyName: ACME
- buyercookie: 7555371f46f7a5d057ac3567a2df12c2
- language: ZH
- loginURL: https://acme_buyer.oracle.com/OA.jsp?OAFunc=…
Login URL Response – The vendors e-commerce application returns a URL that redirects the user to to begin their shopping experience directly on the vendors e-commerce application. The response, if successful, will provide a 200 and redirect the browser to the URL from the response, ie. https://www.SomeSupplier.com
oracleCart Line Data Message – When the user selects to transfer the cart, the data included per line item will generally consist of at least the following parameters that will get posted to “loginURL” referenced in step 1.
- Description: Some Great Product Name
- Classification: 80141611 (UNSPSC or sometimes different and will vary from buyer to buyer)
- PartID: 1234567 (Product SKU)
- PartAuxiliaryID: 8888/65689 (References the cart data against the session)
- Quantity: 1
- Unit Price: 55.68
- UOM: EA (The Unit of Measure (ie. Each, Case, etc., will also vary from buyer to buyer)
- Currency: USD
How to Integrate Oracle XML Punchout With Your eProcurement System?
Digital procurement adoption sounds complicated, but it doesn’t have to be. TradeCentric offers a purpose-built eProcurement solution that enables seamless transactions between buyers and suppliers. Using advanced data mapping and protocols, TradeCentric’s solutions help any systems speak the same language so you can get back to doing what you do best – managing the continuity of your business.
For more answers to your questions about Oracle XML PunchOut, contact us below.
