SAP Ariba

Benefits:

From a vendor side of this software, it was revolutionary. We got paid 10 times faster for our service contracts. Batch invoicing was easy and organized. It was easy to batch invoice monthly for our standard service contracts and also the functionality of specialty services that were not a part of the regular scope of the monthly services. As an account manager, Ariba actually helped me to manage our facilities maintenance service providers. Also, as a project manager, it was easy to submit specialty invoices. They would then be sent to the correct team of our client for review and easy approval.

Drawbacks:

At the start is was difficult to learn. But during the course of using the software, Ariba upgraded features and once we learned how to utilize all the features, the benefits prevailed.

In sum:

I would highly recommend this product for companies looking to manage a large number of properties with a large array of services and vendors that need to be managed. Once you get all your properties, services and vendors setup, you will save so much time and have control over your service contracts.

Benefits:

Super software for purchasing decisions and the management of suppliers. It is easy to handle tenders and purchasing decisions.

Drawbacks:

The solution is a cloud solution and it does not offer that much opportunity for individual processes and developments.

In sum:

Overall in the cloud environment the leading software in this area and a super alternative to on-premise software.

Benefits:

Having worked before with SAP ERP exclusively, coming into Ariba is a fresh breath of air. The UI looks very nice compared to SAP GUI. Still, it integrates nicely with the ERP and keeps all the transactions in sync. It gives you the option of either doing direct connectivity to the ERP (which can be helpful for smaller companies) or integrating through middleware.

Drawbacks:

Customization of business processes can be difficult, since this is a Software as a Service. It mostly focuses on giving you a standardized experience out of the box.

Benefits:

It is a really flexible piece of software for managing spend with vendors. Once vendors and services are set up it makes the whole spend process much easier meaning that purchasing decisions can be dealt with quickly and easily.

Drawbacks:

At first it can be hard to navigate the system and get everything set up.

In sum:

Overall, I would recommend Ariba. Once set up it is simple to use and will save you a lot of time.

Benefits:

The community linked to the tool. It has a lot of features that can be customized too.

Drawbacks:

no ease of use. Can be tricky to use, not friendly enough

Benefits:

What I like most is that you can follow a job, from purchase order to invoice, in one place. You get notified when a purchase order has been entered or changed, and you can go in and submit your invoice against the PO once the job is done. You can also track the invoice's progress through the system on its way to payment.

Drawbacks:

What I like least about this software is that if you make a mistake, it can take some time to get it corrected in the system, sometimes taking away precious time in getting paid for a job.

In sum:

Overall I like Ariba. It is fairly easy to use and navigate, and provides a one-stop SAP for it's clients.

Benefits:

Ariba has allowed us to consolidate our ordering processes under one, simple-to-use dashboard. What before required the use of numerous on-line systems and phone calls to vendors and many hours of time per seek, can now be accomplished in one place, with a time savings of 25%.

Drawbacks:

Roll out was shaky and the learning curve was a bit steep for a number of our users. But, as with anything, practice makes perfect.

In sum:

We're so glad we made this change and are now asking why we didn't do it sooner!

Benefits:

Good for PO tracking and for the customer's end

Drawbacks:

No invoice mass upload feature A lot of steps to submit the invoices Redundant to resubmit the invo

In sum:

Trying to upload invoices. For one invoice, there is a lot of steps, literally rekeying in all the info on the invoice and then attach the invoice. When you have to upload more than 300 invoices per month, that is another story. Please work on a mass upload feature. I could be optimized. For now, I do not recommend Ariba for supplier invoicing.

Benefits:

This software provide 100% clarity to procurement process, encrypting the supplier´s quotetions until deadline, you can see your work in progress and your pending tasks.

Drawbacks:

Is not that easy to use, and may be difficult for new providers to use the platform.

Benefits:

Integration with SAP. I suppose it helps big corporations manage their stock levels in a systematic way.

Drawbacks:

When small businesses are forced to use it, it adds a significant cost of operation without any gains.

In sum:

There has to be a way to waive charges for small businesses