Understanding the Company Store Punchout Integration

In this article, we’ll explore the Punchout integration feature of our platform, its benefits, potential downsides, and the types we support. This integration streamlines the purchasing process between your company store and your clients' procurement platforms, enhancing efficiency and client satisfaction. 

What is a Punchout Integration?

Punchout integration creates a seamless link between your company store and your clients' procurement systems. With this setup, users can click a link from their procurement platform that takes them directly to your store. Here’s how it works:

• Direct Access: Users are automatically signed in as temporary “punchout users,” directly from their procurement platform. Allowing them to browse and shop without needing to log in to the site each time.
• Shopping Experience: Users can add items to their cart just like any regular shopper.
• Order Completion: Upon clicking “proceed to checkout,” users are redirected back to their procurement platform, where all order data is pre-filled, enabling them to finalize the purchase using their existing procedures.

Benefits of a Punchout Integration

Integrating a Punchout system provides several advantages:

• Streamlined Purchasing: Clients can build a library of multiple vendors within their procurement platform. They can shop from various catalogs while completing the purchase process within their own system, adhering to their standard protocols.
• Direct Sign-In: Users do not need to enter their credentials each time they want to make a purchase, which enhances convenience and reduces login barriers.
• Simplified Approval Process: The integration minimizes manual work required for order approvals, significantly speeding up the purchasing process.
• Improved Client Retention: Establishing a Punchout integration helps you become a more integral part of your clients' vendor ecosystem, making it less likely for them to seek out competitors.
• Order Return: By opting in for the order return function, you will still be able to use all the various reports available to you in the company store admin area. Without order return, you will not see any order information in the company store platform 

Potential Downsides of a Punchout Integration

While Punchout integration offers many benefits, there are some drawbacks to consider:

• No User Accounts: Since users are signed in as temporary users, no user profiles are created in your admin area. This means you won’t have individual account histories or data.
• Bypassing Checkout Process: Users bypass your checkout process when redirected back to their procurement platform. As a result, features such as tax calculations, shipping charges, coupons, and gift cards cannot be applied to the order.

Types of Punchouts We Support 

We currently support two main types of Punchout integrations:

CXML Punchout

CXML (Commerce eXtensible Markup Language) is our recommended method for Punchout integration. It is widely used and compatible with major procurement providers like Ariba, Oracle, and Coupa. CXML facilitates a smooth data exchange, ensuring that product information and order details are accurately communicated between your company store and the client’s procurement system.

OCI Punchout

OCI (Open Catalog Interface) is another type of Punchout integration, but it is less commonly used within our system. This version of punchout is less popular due to its reduced flexibility, as well as the lack of capability to accept order returns.

Key Questions to Consider 

When discussing Punchout integration with your client, here are some important questions to consider:

• What procurement platform does your client use?
  • This is a great way to determine compatibility with our platform
• Is your client interested in leveraging a cXML or OCI Punchout?
  • This will change the initial setup process
• What challenges does your client face with their current purchasing process?
  • Identifying pain points can help demonstrate the benefits of Punchout integration.
• How important is user management for their operations?
  • This can clarify the implications of using a temporary punchout session.
• Would you like to include the order return feature?
  • This would involve having their procurement platform send order information back to your system, allowing you to leverage native reporting within the admin area.

Conclusion

Punchout integration is a powerful tool that can enhance the purchasing experience for both you and your clients. By connecting your Company Store to their procurement platform, you can streamline processes, reduce manual work, and improve client retention. If you have further questions or need assistance setting up Punchout integration, please don’t hesitate to contact our Sales Team!