New SAP Activate Implementation Roadmap for SAP Business Network for Supplier Portal Public Edition

[AnaGoetze]

In today's digital age, building strong networks is essential for both personal and professional growth. This principle applies not only to human connections but also to the systems we rely on every day—especially when collaborating with different teams, partners, and companies. Let's see how this applies in the supply chain world, particularly with the SAP Business Network product.

Previously known as SAP Ariba Network, the SAP Business Network is an innovative and intelligent product that connects buyers' and trading partners’ people, processes, and systems, forming a transparent, resilient, and sustainable supply chain. The platform offers a holistic view and promotes collaboration through shared data and workflows, applying network-wide intelligence to inform decisions. The visual demonstrates its functionalities to both the buyer and supplier. 

To make the implementation process more efficient and profitable, the SAP Activate Methodology for Business Network roadmaps are designed to deliver a simple, self-service, and seamless customer experience.

In line with this commitment, I am pleased to announce that our new SAP Activate Methodology for SAP Business Network for Supplier Portal Public Edition roadmap is now available in the SAP Activate Roadmap Viewer!

The SAP Business Network for Supplier Portal is a digital platform designed to enhance collaboration between buyers and suppliers. It allows an easy communication process, provides access to information and tools that streamline processes, and enhances overall efficiency.

The SAP Activate Methodology for SAP Business Network for Supplier Portal Public Edition provides step-by-step guidelines, best practices, and accelerators to ensure a successful implementation.  This roadmap is available in the SAP Activate Roadmap Viewer and SAP Cloud ALM, with content updates every two weeks. You can also see more on this SAP Activate Minute.

 Currently, the roadmap includes 113 tasks divided into 24 deliverables and 5 phases: Prepare, Explore, Realize, Deploy, and Run. These phases cover various topics, including training opportunities, access and configuration for test and production systems, trading partner connection, Q-Gates, Product Cutover, Go-Live, and enablement.

Each phase addresses different processes, progressing from training and configuration to technical details such as extensibility and integration. Below are the key components of each phase:

1. Prepare: The main goal is to prepare the customer for implementation by understanding the system through Fundamental training, providing access to necessary tools, planning the project, and allocating the correct resources.

2. Explore: this phase intends to refine the configuration set in previous tasks, plan, design, and configure extensions and security, and close the phase with a Q-Gate task.

3. Realize: the main activities are accessing the test system, configuring it, setting up the integration functionalities, and testing them. Furthermore, that is the moment where the connection with the Trading Partners will be established through selection, communication, and integration activities. The phase ends with the Cutover preparation, communication set up, and Scope item configuration.

4. Deploy: in this phase, you will review the previous configuration, execute the planner cutover, and go-live with the production system.

5. Run: the focus is continuous learning and improvement opportunities, continuous adoption, and reporting and monitoring activities.

In conclusion, the SAP Business Network for Supplier Portal Public Edition roadmap was created to speed up the product implementation and so transform the communication and collaboration between buyers and suppliers, enhancing productivity and efficiency across the supply chain.

Introduction of Blog Series:

In the coming weeks, we will be providing this community with more information about the new and updated implementation roadmaps for SAP Business Network. Our blog series will guide you through the project implementation approach, leveraging the SAP Activate Methodology for the following SAP Business Network products:

• SAP Business Network for Supply Chain
• SAP Business Network for Supplier Portal Private Edition
• SAP Business Network for Commerce Automation

All blogs will be tagged with #sapactivate for easy tracking and will also be linked in this introduction blog for convenient access to the entire series. Stay tuned for further details in the coming weeks!