Punchout catalogues: how big contractors buy from merchants online
A punchout catalogue lets a contractor’s purchasing system open your online catalogue, fill a basket at their agreed prices and send it back for approval as a requisition. Large contractors, housebuilders and public bodies often ask their suppliers for it.
How punchout works
1. The buyer starts in their own system
For example SAP Ariba, Coupa or Oracle, where all their purchasing is approved.
2. They punch out to your catalogue
Your site opens inside their session, showing their contract prices.
3. They fill a basket
Search, compare and add items as they would on any site.
4. The basket goes back for approval
It returns to their system as a requisition, and once approved the purchase order comes to you.
cXML or OCI?
Punchout runs on one of two standards. cXML is common with systems such as SAP Ariba and Coupa. OCI, the Open Catalog Interface, comes from the SAP world. Your platform or punchout connector needs to support whichever your customer’s system uses.
Punchout, hosted catalogue or EDI?
Punchout
A live session in your catalogue, so prices and stock are always current.
Hosted catalogue
You send a price file that the buyer loads into their system. Simple, but it goes out of date.
EDI
Systems swap orders and invoices automatically. Often used alongside punchout.
What you need
A trade ecommerce site
With account pricing that matches what each customer has agreed.
A punchout connector
Supporting cXML or OCI, built into some platforms or added as an app.
Order import
Approved purchase orders flowing into your ERP without retyping. See purchase order automation.
Where Otis fits
Punchout serves your largest accounts. Everyone else still rings, emails or messages for prices. Otis handles those customers: it answers questions, builds quotes and takes orders on your live prices, around the clock.
Questions people ask
What is a punchout catalogue?
A supplier catalogue that opens from inside a buyer’s purchasing system, with their own prices, and sends the basket back to that system for approval.
What is cXML punchout?
Punchout using the cXML standard, which is common with purchasing systems such as SAP Ariba and Coupa.
Is punchout the same as EDI?
No. Punchout is a live shopping session in your catalogue, while EDI swaps documents such as orders and invoices between systems. Many suppliers use both.
Do smaller merchants need punchout?
Only if customers ask for it, usually larger contractors and public bodies. For most trade customers, online trade accounts and fast quotes matter more.
Serve every customer, big or small
Book a demo and see how Otis handles the customers punchout does not reach.
Related reading: B2B ecommerce platforms, Purchase order automation, Order management software, Merchant automation hub.