There is no uploading or catalog maintenance on your side. Punch out capability means that the ERP system supports a hyperlink to the Dell site and can accept the return of data from that site. Through a supplier-hosted solution, the customer punches out of their ERP system into Premier. Upon completing their shopping, the Dell shopping cart contents are returned electronically to the customers' ERP system where they can be turned into a purchase requisition. Once approved through your standard workflow, the requisition becomes a PO and is transmitted back over the Internet to Dell via the webMethods software for processing.
User starts web browser and logs into the online procurement system.
The entry point in this case is an HTML page served up from the customer's B2B server. User chooses to shop at Dell and is redirected to Dell's online catalog. When shopping is complete the user's shopping basket is forwarded to Dell's B2B server where it is converted to an XML order request and sent to the customer's B2B server as an HTTP response. Customer's B2B server sends the purchase request into the customer's backend procurement system. After being approved, the purchase order is sent to the customer's B2B server.