- SAP Managed Tags:
Problem: Currently have a lot of human interventions in the review and analysis of suppliers in the initial supplier registration process.
Solution: In the supplier registration process we can automate the review of documentation, specific fields and even extract data from documents such as PDFs and images using Document Information Extraction
How:
A. Using SAP Ariba APIs to: approve/deny pending tasks and get task and supplier details, get/update the supplier registration questionnaire, complete internal forms and then approve/deny
B. Using SAP Build Process Automation to manage APIs, process information with artificial intelligence, manage forms and tasks, and execute the process periodically and/or on demand
C. Using SAP AI Core , or any other foundational model supplier dedicated as an AI agent providing the details of the supplier registration questionnaire to validate:
1. The information provided in the registration questionnaire
2. To give a high-level analysis about the supplier (sentiment rating)
Here is the architecture to be followed
For this specific scenario the following APIs are being used:
External Approval API for Sourcing and Supplier Management endpoints: pendingApprovables(Get), Task(Get), Workspace(Get), action(Post)
Supplier Data API With Pagination endpoint: vendors(Post)
At Build Process Automation the following flow is being developed
If you are new in SAP Build Process Automation check this Blog - How-To: Use Script Tasks in SAP Build Process Automation were the basics are defined.
APIs can be called from a custom Script, however as a best practice I highly recommend create a Destination and at Build Process Automation create an Action to be reused at the process flow
"Prepare Call Options" Automation will have a custom script:
With these steps we can now obtain the details of the registration questionnaire in order to make inquiries about documents or specific information. For example, SAP Build Process Automation has the PDF SDK preconfigured which allows us to manipulate this type of documents to extract and manage data. However we can use the Document Processing and Information Extraction which allow us to process data from structured or semistructured information from documents using machine learning models(OCR, Pretrained Models and Templates)
On the other hand, the information obtained can be processed with AI agents, such as SAP AI Core, which can be trained with specific information from suppliers or we can consume information from third-party services specialized in supplier evaluation and management.
The prompt to extract the information could look like this:
As you can see in the example prompt, we can even predefine the response to easily obtain the desired data to insert it into the indicated forms or use it to make decisions on the approval/denial of a form.
Once we have the information processed, it is time to return to SAP Ariba SLP to approve/reject forms or request more information from the supplier in case the information provided is incorrect or incomplete.
More Information Requested - Example
Internal form completed and approved by the information generated by AI - Example
Conclusion
Having said all this, we can use SAP Ariba APIs to extract information but also to update and create content. On the other hand, BTP has tools created that easily adapt to different business needs, all with the aim of automating processes inside and outside SAP solutions.
More Information About:
APIs
Blog - Consume Ariba APIs using PostmanSAP Build Process Automation
Discovery Center
