Signs You will Need a PunchOut Catalog
As
a supplier, if you are fed-up of using CIF catalog and looking for an easy way
to setup communication with your B2B customer, it is time to think about
PunchOut, a protocol that has revolutionized the way you exchange data with
your big customers. In fact, your customers will be more than happy to connect
with you using PunchOut technology.
You
will need PunchOut catalog when you have the following:
Huge Product Catalog
When
your product catalog is huge containing large number of products, it is always
better to use PunchOut catalog.
Loading large CIF catalog will require a lot of manual effort. In fact, companies
find it a nightmare to conduct transactions using CIF catalog. On the other
hand, a PunchOut catalog is a direct link between your site and customer’s
procurement system. The customer only has to click PunchOut link to access your
site.
Product Configurations
that require Customizations
If
you are selling configurable products and want to provide options so that the
customer can create a product configuration as per his requirements, it doesn’t
make sense to use CIF catalog. This is because, it is essentially a line item
catalog that can only store basic information about the product. It is not suitable
for your complex products. Lack of direct representation for product
configuration is the biggest drawbacks of CIF catalog. However, a SciQuest PunchOut catalog is
designed to represent configurable products. In fact, whether you are offering
simple, customizable, bundle or configurable products, using a PunchOut is the
best option.
Catalog Content is
Changing Frequently
You
might be having a small catalog – say of 400 items – but if you are changing
product attributes frequently then again it can be a headache. For instance, if
the product pricing is fluctuating every 2 to 3 days then you will have to
frequently upload CIF file manually. Whereas, if you are using Coupa PunchOut catalog,
your customer can view pricing and availability information in real time.
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