FAQ: Move to guided sourcing capability for SAP Ariba Sourcing
Frequently Asked Questions
- Q: What is changing?
A: Customers using the classic sourcing user experience (UX) for their SAP Ariba Sourcing solution will be transitioned to the newer guided sourcing capability, our latest and most advanced UX.
- Q: Why is SAP transitioning SAP Ariba Sourcing customers from the classic UX to the guided sourcing UX?
A: While guided sourcing was launched in 2021, the choice to use it has remained optional while we continued to improve its usability and features. Today, guided sourcing supports the complex scenarios available in the classic UX, along with innovative new capabilities that deliver even greater value for users, including:
• Streamlined event creation all on one screen.
• Contextual help through the SAP Enable Now solution.
• Embedded AI-powered analytics and supplier/content recommendations.
• Smart upload and line-item creation of unstructured Excel data within sourcing events.
• Enhanced supplier search and fast access to risk and spend management data through integration with the SAP Ariba Supplier Risk and SAP Ariba Category Management solutions.
• Extended capabilities through direct access to advanced partner applications, such as Icertis Contract Intelligence (ICI) for SAP Ariba and Scoutbee Discovery.
The automatic shift to guided sourcing will enable every customer to benefit from these and other enhancements. It will also help SAP to accelerate these improvements, since moving forward, innovation will be focused only on the guided sourcing capability. Classic sourcing will be officially retired.
- Q: When and how will the transition from classic sourcing to guided sourcing take place?
A: The transition will begin in 2024 and will be gradually rolled out across different customer groups. You will be notified prior to the start of your group’s transition period. For each group, the process will occur in two phases.
- On the first day of phase one, your users will automatically enter the guided sourcing UX when they log into SAP Ariba Sourcing. At the same time, quick project templates will automatically be copied into guided sourcing. Throughout this phase, lasting approximately five months, users will have the flexibility to switch back and forth between classic and guided sourcing by using the Show Options to Switch to Guided Sourcing feature.
- Phase two occurs on a specific end date when your full transition to guided sourcing will take place. After this date, you will no longer be able to access classic sourcing.
Detailed communications will be sent in advance of your transition period, providing step-by-step information to guide you through the upcoming changes.
- Q: What actions do I need to take as a customer?
A: Once your site is transitioned, you will automatically be directed to the guided sourcing UX upon logging in to SAP Ariba Sourcing.
Before the transition, you must take the following actions to ensure uninterrupted access to SAP Ariba Sourcing:
-
- Update your templates.
For existing full project templates:
- Create a copy of your full project templates.
- Edit the copied template. Go to “Advanced Options” and configure your insight tiles for the template.
Please note that quick project templates will be migrated automatically.
- Set up your users for guided sourcing.
Please refer to our Configuring Users for Guided Sourcing documentation for detailed instructions on how to enable your users for guided sourcing.
To ensure a smooth changeover, please take the opportunity to familiarize yourself with guided sourcing before your phase two transition date by using the Show Options to Switch to Guided Sourcing feature. You will have the option to switch back to classic sourcing until that date.
- Q: What can end users expect?
A: With this update, guided sourcing will become the standard UX for the SAP Ariba Sourcing solution. If you do not perform the required actions before your transition date, your users will not be able to access SAP Ariba Sourcing.
- Q: Is there any change in user or admin functionality?
A: There is no change in the functionality. However, members of the Category Buyer group will have the option to create guided sourcing events. To create, edit, or publish guided sourcing events, a user must also be a member of a group with underlying sourcing permissions, such as the Sourcing Analyst group. Please refer to our Configuring Users for guided sourcing documentation for detailed instructions on how to enable your users for guided sourcing.
- Q: How does this impact back-end processes, integrations, or reporting?
A: As guided sourcing is simply a UX for SAP Ariba Sourcing, back-end processes, integrations, and reporting will remain unchanged.
- Q: Does this change also apply to my production test environment?
A: Yes, the change will apply to all customer environments.
Resources
© 2024 SAP SE or an SAP affiliate company. All rights reserved. See Legal Notice on www.sap.com/legal-notice for use terms, disclaimers, disclosures, or restrictions related to this material.
