Setting Up PeopleSoft eProcurement for Direct Connect

Within PeopleSoft eProcurement, the pages used to set up the direct connect feature are eProcurement Installation Options page, Direct Connect Methods page, Linked Suppliers component, and Supplier Value Cross-Reference page.

Page Name

Definition Name

Usage

eProcurement Installation Options Page

PV_INSTALLATION_PV

At the installation level, activate the transparent punchout feature for your PeopleSoft eProcurement application. In addition, use this page to determine if punchout, roundtrip, or transparent punchout items can be used as favorites or on item templates. This page also determines the number of rows to return from a search that uses transparent punchout.

Direct Connect Methods Page

PV_DC_TYPE

Define Direct Connect integration methods and standards

Linked Suppliers Page

PV_MS_SEC_SUPPLIER

Associate supplier ID, supplier location, and the direct connect node together.

Supplier Properties Page

PV_MS_SEC_SUP_NV

Set up supplier properties, which determines how the supplier interacts with the direct connect method.

Supplier Value Cross-Reference Page

PV_MERCHANT_XREF

Map field values between supplier fields and your fields by creating a cross-reference between the item categories and the values that are returned by Punchout direct connect suppliers.

Use the eProcurement Installation Options page (PV_INSTALLATION_PV) to at the installation level, activate the transparent punchout feature for your PeopleSoft eProcurement application.

In addition, use this page to determine if punchout, roundtrip, or transparent punchout items can be used as favorites or on item templates. This page also determines the number of rows to return from a search that uses transparent punchout.

Navigation:

eProcurement > Administer Procurement > Maintain Overall System Options > eProcurement Installation Options

The eProcurement Installation Options page is used to:

  • Enable the Transparent Punchout feature.

  • Allow direct connect items to be saved as favorites or on a template list.

  • Determine the number of items to request in a Transparent Punchout search.

See ePro Installation Options Page.

See Create Requisition — Favorites Page.

See Create Requisition — Templates Page.

To set up direct connect, use the Direct Connect Methods (PV_DC_TYPE) component.

Use the Direct Connect Methods page (PV_DC_TYPE) to define Direct Connect integration methods and standards.

Navigation:

eProcurement, Administer Procurement, Maintain Supplier Integration, Direct Connect Methods

This example illustrates the fields and controls on the Direct Connect Methods page. You can find definitions for the fields and controls later on this page.

 Direct Connect Methods page

Field or Control

Description

Direct Connect Method

Identifies the type of connection to the supplier's website. Delivered options include:

  • PUNCHOUT: to access a supplier's website using cXML

  • ROUNDTRIP: to access a supplier's website using OCI (Open Catalog Interface).

  • ROUNDTRIP_MP: to access marketplace using roundtrip.

Root Package ID

Identifies the PeopleSoft application package used for this direct connect method.

Application Class Path

Identifies the PeopleSoft application class within the above application package.

Properties

Lists property values that the system uses for this direct connect method.

Use the Linked Suppliers page (PV_MS_SEC_SUPPLIER) to associate supplier ID, supplier location, and the direct connect node together.

Navigation:

eProcurement > Administer Procurement > Maintain Supplier Integration > Linked Suppliers > Linked Suppliers

This example illustrates the fields and controls on the Linked Suppliers page. You can find definitions for the fields and controls later on this page.

 Linked Suppliers page

Use this page to associate suppliers to nodes and then associate suppliers and nodes to their direct connect method. Then use the Supplier Properties tab to store authentication and behavioral properties specific to the method for this supplier and node.

Enter these field values that are specific to Direct Connect Suppliers that use PUNCHOUT:

Field or Control

Description

Type

Select DirectConnect Supplier to set up:

  • Punchout for a single direct connect supplier.

  • Transparent punchout for a singe direct connect supplier or a marketplace.

  • Roundtrip for a single direct connect supplier.

Select MarketPlace Supplier to set up a supplier for marketplaces using Perfect Commerce.

Supplier ID

Enter the supplier ID established for your direct connect supplier. The SetID field and the Location field are also part of the supplier definition.

Direct Connect Method

The options are:

  • ROUNDTRIP: to define a supplier for Roundtrip.

  • ROUNDTRIP MP: to define a marketplace for Roundtrip.

  • PUNCHOUT: to define a supplier for Punchout or Transparent Punchout.

  • PUNCHOUTVIAOBN: to define supplier for OBN Punchout.

Field or Control

Description

Direct Connect Node

Enter the node established for this supplier.

Note: This field appears if the Direct Connect Method is EXCH_ORACLE, PUNCHOUT, ROUNDTRIP, or ROUNDTRIP_MP.

OBN Buyer Node and Sync Supplier

Enter the node established for OBN supplier.

Once the OBN Buyer Node is entered, click Sync Supplier to load the list of suppliers. Properties configuration is required to load the suppliers. Navigate to Supplier Properties tab to enter the required information.

Note: This field appears if the Direct Connect Method is PUNCHOUTVIAOBN.

OBNUserName and OBNPassword are required to load supplier information.

See Linked Suppliers Page.

Use the Supplier Properties page (PV_MS_SEC_SUP_NV) to set up supplier properties, which determines how the supplier interacts with the direct connect method.

Navigation:

Select the Supplier Properties tab from the Linked Suppliers page.

This example illustrates the fields and controls on the Supplier Properties page.

 Supplier Properties page

Use this page to set up or change properties for a direct connect supplier connection. Before defining properties, you should have already discussed descriptions for the fields with the supplier. For example, the authentication paths should be familiar to you because the supplier should have communicated the values they require for these paths in the XML.

Viewing and Editing Requisition Line Items

In addition to connecting to a supplier website to add new requisition line items, the direct connect feature also supports the connection to the supplier's site to view and edit item details for items that have been added to a requisition using direct connect. This is accomplished by using the Description link on a requisition line. The Description link is available from many pages, and can be used for either viewing the item details or editing item information, such as quantity.

In order to accomplish this, the supplier must be set up with the ability to view and edit items, which is specified on the Supplier Properties page. If the supplier supports items to be viewed and edited, then the application connects to the supplier site and lets the site know whether the user is editing the line or viewing line details. Therefore, in addition to the supplier setup, there is one rule that eProcurement follows in order to determine which behavior (view or edit) to specify to the supplier. If the item Description link is in the Create Requisition component, such as the Submit Requisition page, then the user is able to edit the information on the supplier site. All other item description links, such as the links in the Manage Requisition component, are view only.

Note: For Roundtrip items, view mode is the only mode supported. Additionally, in the cXML and Punchout specification, view mode is known as inspect mode.

Punchout and Transparent Punchout

This table lists property values that the system uses for the Punchout and Transparent Punchout direct connect methods:

Property Name

Description

ALLOW_EDIT

Equals Y if supplier allows editing of items using Punchout. This enables users to connect back to the supplier's website to update their shopping carts. This is a behavioral property.

ALLOW_PO_CHNG

Equals Y if supplier allows changes to dispatched purchase orders.

ALLOW_SHIPPING_EDIT

Equals Y if supplier allow editing of shipping information. This enables customers to include or exclude shipping info while editing a Direct Connect item. This is a behavioral property.

ALLOW_VIEW

Equals Y if supplier allows viewing of item descriptions using Punchout. This is a behavioral property.

CATEGORY_ID

Default category for this supplier. This is a behavioral property.

FROM_DOMAIN

Header.From.Credential.domain. This is an authentication property.

FROM_IDENTITY

Header.From.Credential.identity. This is an authentication property.

KEYWORDS

Search keywords. This is a behavioral property.

LOAD_PORTAL

Load portal upon return from supplier's site, (Y or N). This is a behavioral property.

SENDER_DOMAIN

Header.Sender.Credential.domain. This is an authentication property.

SENDER_IDENTITY

Header.Sender.Credential.identify. This is an authentication property.

SHARED_SECRET

Header.Sender.Credential.Shared Secret. This is an authentication property.

Note: Make sure that you select the PUNCHOUT value for the Direct Connect Method field on the Linked Suppliers page to populate Punchout property values on this page. When you click the Load Direct Connect Properties button, the system populates this page with predefined properties for the Punchout method.

Roundtrip

Setting up Roundtrip methods are similar to those for Punchout. The key differences between Roundtrip and Punchout are the authentication method, format of the shopping cart data, and the format of the purchase order.

Use this page to set up or change properties for a Roundtrip supplier connection. Before defining properties, you should have already discussed descriptions for the fields with the supplier. For example, the authentication paths should be familiar to you, because the supplier should have communicated the values they require for these paths.

Note: Make sure that you select the ROUNDTRIP value for the Direct Connect Method field on the Linked Suppliers page to populate Roundtrip property values on this page. When you click the Load Direct Connect Properties button, the system populates this page with predefined properties for the Roundtrip method.

This table describes property values the system uses for the Roundtrip direct connect method:

Property Name

Description

ALLOW_VIEW

Enables the user to connect back out to the supplier's website to view ordered items. (Supplier must support FUNCTION=DETAIL in the outbound request.) This is a behavioral property.

ALLOW_PO_CHNG

Equals Y if supplier allows changes to dispatched purchase orders.

CATEGORY_ID

Default category ID for this supplier. This is a behavioral property.

KEYWORDS

Search keywords. This is a behavioral property.

LOAD_PORTAL

Load portal upon return from the supplier's site, (Y or N). This is a behavioral property.

PASSWORD

Password to load into the supplier's Roundtrip website. This is an authentication property.

RT_BUYER_MPID

Buyer marketplace ID. This is an authentication property.

RT_BUYER_ORGANIZATION

Buyer organization name. This is an authentication property.

RT_LANGUAGE

Buyer language. This is an authentication property.

RT_OCI_VERSION

Version of Roundtrip and OCI. This is an authentication property.

USERNAME

User name to log onto supplier's Roundtrip website. This is an authentication property.

Punchout Via OBN

Punchout Via OBN setup requires authentication. After defining the OBN Buyer Node, when you click Sync Supplier to load the list, it requires OBNUserName and OBNPassword. When you click the Load Direct Connect Properties button, on the Supplier Properties, the system populates this page with predefined properties for the PUNCHOUTVIAOBN Direct Connect Method.

Note: Use this page to set up or change properties for a Punchout Via OBN supplier connection. Before defining properties, you should be aware of the OBN Credentials. For example, the OBNUserName and OBNPassword should be familiar to you, because this is the Buyer account information using which PeopleSoft connects to OBN.

Multiple punchout catalogs can be associated with one Supplier location using OBN.

Property Name

Description

ALLOW_EDIT

Equals Y if supplier allows editing of items using Punchout. This enables users to connect back to the supplier's website to update their shopping carts. This is a behavioral property.

ALLOW_PO_CHNG

Equals Y if supplier allows changes to dispatched purchase orders.

ALLOW_SHIPPING_EDIT

Equals Y if supplier allows editing of shipping information. This enables customers to include or exclude shipping info while editing a Direct Connect item. This is a behavioral property.

ALLOW_VIEW

Equals Y if supplier allows viewing of item descriptions using Punchout. This is a behavioral property.

CATEGORY_ID

Default category for this supplier. This is a behavioral property.

KEYWORDS

Search keywords. This is a behavioral property.

LOAD_PORTAL

Load portal upon return from supplier's site, (Y or N). This is a behavioral property.

OBNPassword

Password corresponding to the Buyer account in OBN.

OBNUserName

User Name corresponding to the Buyer account in OBN.

Use Punchout Catalogs grid to create node and activate the Punchout.

For OBN Punchout, after entering the Direct Connect Properties, on the Supplier Properties page, click Sync Suppliers to view the list of available Punchout Catalogs. Add the Punchout Catalogs and configure.

Note: This configuration is applicable only for OBN. Multiple punchout catalogs can be associated to one Supplier location using OBN.

This example illustrates the fields and controls on the Linked Suppliers page - Punchout Catalogs grid. You can find definitions for the fields and controls later on this page.

 Linked Suppliers - Punchout Catalogs page

Field or Control

Description

Direct Connect Node

You can select an existing Direct Connect Node or create a new one. If creating a new node using Create Node option, the node name appears here.

Create Node

Click to create a new node. Enter the Node name and Node Description. The Node name and Description should be unique.

Note: The Create Node is visible only if the user has access to the Integration Node Definition page.

Update Node

Once a Node is created, Update Node link appears. Click this link to navigate to Integration Node Definition page to update the node details.

Note: The Update Node is visible only if the user has access to the Integration Node Definition page.

Active Punchout

Select this check box to enable punchout for the selected supplier.

Note: The Active Punchout check box is available to select if a node is added to the supplier row.

Keywords

Enter the keyword for the punchout. This is comparable to the keyword property found in the supplier properties tab specific to the Punchout catalog. During Punchout Catalog association, PeopleSoft imports the keywords defined in the OBN system.

Sync UOM and Category

Click to sync the UOM and category. Once the supplier attaches a new file to the OBN system, this will import that list of UOMs and Categories and create a row in the Supplier Value Cross reference page.

Note: The sync happens automatically during the initial Punchout Catalog association. The purpose of the button is to sync later when there is any update in the UOM/Category file attached to OBN by the supplier.

To set up direct connect, use the Supplier Value Cross-Reference (PV_MERCHANT_XREF) component.

Use the Supplier Value Cross-Reference page (PV_MERCHANT_XREF) to map field values between supplier fields and your fields by creating a cross-reference between the item categories and the values that are returned by Punchout direct connect suppliers.

Navigation:

eProcurement > Administer Procurement > Maintain Supplier Integration > Supplier Value Cross-Reference

This example illustrates the fields and controls on the Supplier Value Cross-Reference page. You can find definitions for the fields and controls later on this page.

 Supplier Value Cross-Reference page

When using direct connect, there are times that the data sent by the supplier needs to be translated to the desired data value for the PeopleSoft database. Use this page to map PeopleSoft eProcurement values to values with the same meaning but with different field names that the supplier uses. The most common use of this mapping is when a unit of measure, such as dozen is described by PeopleSoft as DZ and the supplier as DOZ.

There are several fields that might need to have some translation, or mapping, done. These fields may include:

  • Unit of Measure

  • Currency code

  • Country Code

  • Category ID

  • Supplier ID

Translation always occurs after the item data is received from the supplier and transformed into the PV_DC_ITEMS (Direct Connect Items) message format. On each line of this message, every field in the PV_DC_REQ_LINE (Direct Connect Requisition Line) record is examined to determine if translation is required. The system then queries the data within the Supplier Values Cross-Reference page to determine if the field name and value passed need translation. If the system finds translation is needed, the field is updated with the corresponding PeopleSoft Value.

If no data is sent by the supplier for a particular field, you can assign default values. These values are configured on the Supplier Properties page.

The system uses values that you define on this page both for sending and receiving direct connect supplier data. You can add or change the cross references. Before you access this page, you first select the field to which the mapping applies.

Field or Control

Description

Supplier ID

Select the supplier node for which this mapping is to apply.

Supplier Value

Enter the value that the supplier uses to describe this field.

PeopleSoft Value

Enter the value that PeopleSoft uses instead of the direct connect supplier value.

Supplier SetID, Supplier ID and Supplier Location

Select the values for the supplier that you want the system to use when a supplier sends data to PeopleSoft eProcurement.

Setting Up a Supplier Cross-Reference for Punchout or Roundtrip

There are times when the supplier is a marketplace and they broker items from many suppliers. The result of this scenario is a different supplier ID for each item is provided by the supplier. When this happens, the supplier sends only one field value to identify the supplier for the item using direct connect. There are three keys that identify the supplier within PeopleSoft:

  • Supplier SetID

  • Supplier ID

  • Supplier Location

The Supplier Value Cross-Reference page is used to store the mappings from the supplier's value to the three PeopleSoft values.

The system goes through these steps to match supplier IDs for the supplier:

  1. The supplier value cross-reference data is queried to determine if there is a matching supplier ID for this supplier.

    If there is a match, then, instead of using the PeopleSoft Value, all three supplier keys are placed into the PV_DC_ITEMS service operation.

  2. If no match is found, then the three supplier keys that are specified as default values in the linked supplier properties are placed into the PV_DC_ITEMS service operation.

Setting Up a Supplier Cross-Reference for Transparent Punchout

When transparent punchout retrieves item data from marketplace, it can retrieve data from multiple suppliers and display the results on the eProcurement requisition. Use the Supplier Value Cross-Reference page to define cross reference values between the VENDOR_ID field in PeopleSoft and the supplier used in marketplace. If a supplier from a marketplace is not cross-referenced with a PeopleSoft supplier ID, then the supplier ID used on the Linked Supplier page to integrate with the marketplace is used in the search results in PeopleSoft.

Setting up a Category Cross-Reference

Category cross-references have their own process. The system goes through these steps to translate a category ID value that is sent by a supplier:

  1. The system looks up the Category field in the Item Category table to determine if any category codes match the value sent by the supplier.

  2. If the value sent by the supplier is not matched, then the supplier cross reference data is queried to determine if there is a matching category ID for this supplier.

  3. If the supplier value cross reference does not contain the category either, the default value is taken from the linked supplier properties.

Shared Data Synchronization

To prevent validation errors when requisition information is passed between eProcurement and the direct connect supplier's website, the common control data should use these codes:

Control Data

Standard Used by cXML

Units of measure

UN/CEFACT

Currency codes

ISO 4127

Country codes

ISO 3166

Language codes

ISO 639