Initiate session: Select Unite in your ERP and click on the PunchOut link. Your ERP system sends a PunchOut setup request message to Unite in cXML format. This message contains information such as your identity, authentication details, and other parameters relevant to the process.
Authentication: Unite receives the PunchOut setup request message, authenticates it, and generates a unique URL for the PunchOut session. This URL is sent back to your ERP system in a PunchOut setup response message.
Catalogue access: You’ll be automatically redirected to the URL provided by Unite. This will open the broad catalogue range in a new browser window or tab, but still within your familiar ERP system.
Purchasing: Now you can browse the catalogue, select products and add them to your shopping basket. During this session, you can get prices, availability, and other information in real time.
Basket transfer: When you’ve added items to your basket, you can proceed to check out. The contents of the basket are sent back to your ERP system as a PunchOut order message in cXML format.
Data enrichment: If you have stored master data such as address, cost centre or cost type in your system, these will be added automatically.
Approval: Once internal approval is complete, the order is transmitted from your system to Unite as a PunchOut order request.
Complete order: Unite processes the order and forwards it to the supplier, who ships the goods directly to you.
The cXML punchout can be customised to your processes by transferring parameters.