Simple order entry with OCI/PunchOut

Interfaces from your ERP system directly into the SFS eShop

OCI (Open Catalog Interface) and PunchOut are used in connection with electronic procurement and e-commerce. They control the exchange of data between buyers and suppliers in online ordering systems. Thanks to the interfaces, you can access the SFS eShop directly from your ERP system. You search for the desired items, fill your shopping basket and transfer them with all the necessary data to the order entry of your system. There is no need to maintain master data in your system, prices are always up-to-date and invoice discrepancies are a thing of the past.

What is an OCI interface?

OCI, Open Catalog Interface, is an interface for the exchange of product information. It is used as standard between independent systems. OCI enables you to transfer information between your ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) or merchandise management system and our online shop. This allows you to access information from our catalogue quickly and easily. Call up data such as prices, delivery times and article numbers in real time. OCI makes it possible to avoid double entry of the order in the ERP system, saving valuable time.

Advantages and benefits of an OCI interface

Thanks to an OCI interface, you can access the SFS eShop or Hoffmann eShop directly from the ERP system. Search for the desired items, fill your shopping basket and transfer all the required data to the order entry of your system. There is no need to maintain master data in your system, prices are always up-to-date and invoice discrepancies are a thing of the past. A manual process for entering orders is no longer necessary.

PunchOut Level 1

Here you can access the eShop with updated material information at any time of day or night. The difference to OCI is that the filled shopping basket is transferred to your system and you can repeat this as often as you like. The shopping basket is updated and supplemented each time. PunchOut is an interface based on the cXML standard. Communication does not usually take place directly between customers and suppliers, but via a third-party provider, such as the Ariba platform.

PunchOut Level 2

Whereas with PunchOut Level 1, an external catalogue solution is used to search for articles within PunchOut catalogues, PunchOut Level 2 enables article searches within the company's own procurement solution. This means that both the integrated catalogue articles and the external catalogues, which are connected via PunchOut Level 2, are searched directly in the purchasing solution.

Advantages and benefits of OCI

• Quick and easy access to your individual prices, product and service information including technical data, user tables and data sheets
• Reduction of procurement costs
• No additional administration of access data and users in the online shop
• Simple connection to ERP systems or other procurement platforms
• Standardised purchasing process
• All details are checked in real time
• No time-consuming maintenance of article and catalogue data
• Work in the familiar working environment
• No major change for employees
• Reduction in processing times
• Avoidance of manual input errors
• Additional support of eCl@ss and UNSPSC possible

Challenges with an OCI connection/PunchOut

• When searching across several webshops, each of these shops must be searched individually
• Data sovereignty lies with the supplier
• Initial IT effort is required

Our service

Please contact us if you need further information on the "OCI and PunchOut connection".

Contact customer service