Define your own Ariba processes — independent of commodity groups?
Would you like to map internal company processes in Ariba that are not tied to a specific commodity group or qualification?
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Response from Ariba Improvements:
With our experience, we can configure the system to make this possible—for example, for quality assurance workflows or audit processes. We can implement your company-specific processes with all required steps, participants, and logic. Of course, these processes can also generate reports as needed.
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If you have a specific process idea in mind, feel free to share it with us by email. We will gladly let you know, without obligation, whether your idea is technically feasible.
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Risk assessment: alternatives to the Ariba Risk module
Are you looking for a simple way to capture financial and operational risks in Ariba? Have you been introduced to the Ariba Risk module, but found the cost and implementation effort too high? Are you seeking a leaner, more cost-effective solution that allows you to get started with risk management without unnecessary complexity?
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Antwort von Ariba Improvements:
If you need a simple solution for a limited number of risk types, we can offer a cost-effective basic version tailored for procurement. It enables you to manage the risks you are already familiar with (e.g., operational or financial risks) while also laying the foundation for a future transition to the full Ariba Risk module.
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Structured action tracking for identified supplier issues
Do recurring problems with certain suppliers disrupt your business processes? Would you like to address these challenges in a targeted and sustainable way? You are looking for a cost-effective, ready-to-use tool that allows you to monitor progress immediately and transparently?
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Response from Ariba Improvements:
With our proprietary SLP solution Performance Improvement Plan (PIP), you can capture identified findings in a structured manner and track their resolution step by step. Information exchange with your suppliers takes place in real time, and all progress is fully visible and reportable within SLP—without any system breaks. You define urgency and timelines for each measure individually.
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Have your existing suppliers approved by commodity managers in Ariba
Would you like not only to import your existing suppliers into the Ariba SLP module, but also have them approved by your commodity managers based on their respective commodity groups during this process? Have you been told this isn’t possible? Talk to us!
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Response from Ariba Improvements:
It is true that such an approval step is not included in the standard registration process. However, that does not mean your requirement cannot be implemented. We offer smart workarounds that allow you to incorporate commodity-group approval into the registration flow.
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Targeted routing to a specific commodity manager during registration
Would you like to specify, case by case, which primary commodity group a supplier belongs to during registration — and trigger a corresponding approval workflow?
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Response from Ariba Improvements:
This requirement is also entirely feasible with our experience and SmartWorkarounds. To implement it, you will need the expertise of an experienced SLP specialist.
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Supplier Code of Conduct (CoC)
Would you like to require your suppliers to comply with a Code of Conduct and ask the relevant questions during registration? Should problematic responses be escalated to your compliance department? And would you also like to filter your suppliers later based on whether they have accepted or rejected the Code of Conduct?
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Response from Ariba Improvements:
For the topic of “Supplier Code of Conduct,” we can provide commonly used wording, approval workflows, and reporting options — all from a single source.
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Compliance Questions (Due Diligence)
Would you like to ensure legal compliance by fulfilling your due-diligence obligations when onboarding new suppliers? Are you uncertain which formulations and requirements are necessary — and what legal relevance these questions carry?
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Response from Ariba Improvements:
Based on our extensive experience, we can provide concrete, field-tested recommendations that are widely used in practice. Our work with well-known large enterprises gives you the confidence that nothing important will be overlooked.
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Integrating Blacklists in Ariba without SAP GTS
Would you like to flag suppliers in Ariba who appear on a blacklist — but without implementing SAP GTS? Introducing SAP GTS would involve significant costs, and you would still need to import blacklists manually at regular intervals. Since SAP GTS is not integrated with Ariba, the information would not be available directly within Ariba. Is there no simpler and more cost-effective solution?
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Response from Ariba Improvements:
The principle behind blacklists is straightforward: once a company appears on an official blacklist, it does not disappear from it again. Inclusion only occurs in cases of serious violations of law or ethics. It is highly unlikely that a company will “improve” and be removed from the list.
We can configure Ariba so that any of your suppliers appearing on a blacklist are clearly marked — making this information immediately visible to your procurement team. Once a supplier is flagged, the status remains permanent (as explained above). All you need to do is periodically compare newly published blacklists with your supplier base to identify any new additions.
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Optimizing your roles and authorization model with AI
Would you like to know whether your authorization model is truly optimal — meaning whether you could operate with fewer roles? Unfortunately, Ariba contains a large number of roles, many of which overlap. How is anyone supposed to keep an overview without being a specialist?
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Response from Ariba Improvements:
After reviewing your roles and authorization model, our experienced specialists can tell you whether there is optimization potential or whether your role structure should be redesigned.
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Suppliers with Deletion Indicators
Do you have many suppliers in your backend system marked with a deletion indicator, but no idea how to reflect this information in Ariba SLP? Has your Ariba consultant told you that there is no solution for this? Have you therefore avoided setting up automated synchronization with SAP S/4? And do you now manually check, every time a new supplier is requested, whether that supplier already exists in the backend?
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Response from Ariba Improvements:
Talk to us about it! We have more than one solution for this challenge. Together, we review how your business operates: who sets deletion indicators, how Ariba and your backend system are integrated, and more. One way or another, we will find a solution that works for you!
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