We live in a world of constant change – changes that affect the global economy, culture, local markets, our jobs, families, and daily lives. We at SAP Business Network want to make sure that no matter what technological disruption, natural disaster, pandemic, or conflict comes next, your business can continue to stay successful in your industry and serve your customers well. So, in the year 2024, we have a few overarching goals to provide more value to our supplier customers and help them bring out their best.
Continue Enhancing the Features That Help Suppliers Run Better
The supplier experience on SAP Business Network includes many features and capabilities to help them get discovered by more customers, transact with greater efficiency and ease, have visibility into their operations, and automate their processes. There are several supplier feature enhancements on the 2024 roadmap that will increase the functionality and benefits of our existing features.
- Enhanced responses to SAP Business Network Discovery postings using generative AI
- This enables suppliers to create responses to postings through generative AI using data from demand postings and user prompts.
- Support for UNSPSC version 25
- SAP Business Network private catalogs are now aligned to version 25 of the United Nations Standard Products and Services Code (UNSPSC).
- SAP Ariba Guided Sourcing integration with SAP Business Network Discovery
- Will enable guided sourcing buyers to:
- Create new demand postings for public and private sector events
- Publish them to SAP Business Network Discovery for new suppliers
- Will enable suppliers using SAP Business Network to:
- Forge strategic relationships with new buyers
- Become part of their bidding events for the future
Release New Capabilities to Help Suppliers Better Meet Their Needs
While we continue to enhance the current functionalities of SAP Business Network, our engineers are also hard at work developing new capabilities to further improve the supplier experience and add additional benefits.
- New messaging experience for buyers and suppliers
- This new and improved messaging experience will be available on the trading partner portal and allows buyers and suppliers to exchange messages with each other.
Invest in Enablement Resources
We understand that learning how to best use capabilities offered on SAP Business Network can feel challenging at times. That's why we’re investing more in providing valuable resources for suppliers to learn more about what is being released each quarter and how and why they should use it.
- Enablement and Adoption Webinars
- Our Network Engagement and Adoption team runs webinars every month to better support suppliers in how they use SAP Business Network. Make sure you check out this site to see the latest webinars available and increase the benefits you receive from the network.
- Quarterly Supplier Newsletter
- Each quarter, we send out a newsletter to our suppliers with a recap of what happened that quarter, and what they can expect to come next. This is a great resource for suppliers to stay up to date with the latest and greatest on SAP Business Network. If you’re a supplier on our network and are not already subscribed to the newsletter, you can do so here.
Create Valuable and Memorable Event Experiences for Suppliers
Each year in October, SAP hosts our cornerstone event for the ISBN area of our business, Spend Connect Live. We work hard to ensure this event is an invaluable experience for our customers, suppliers especially. At this event, supplier attendees can expect to:
- Attend dedicated sessions where they can learn more about how to enable their business to run more effectively
- Learn what buyers are looking for in their suppliers
- Learn more about other hot topics
- Hear from customer speakers
- Participate in a special awards ceremony just for SAP Business Network suppliers
- Have the possibility to film a customer testimonial
- Enjoy our celebration night with delicious food, drinks, and entertainment
This is an event you don’t want to miss! Registration for the event will open later this year so be sure to look out for the announcement.
2024 is set to be an exciting year for SAP Business Network suppliers as we put a greater focus on providing an unbeatable, end-to-end experience. It is completely free to join SAP Business Network as a supplier and begin transacting. If you aren’t already a member, sign up today and experience the benefits for yourself!
SAP Business Network Roadmap
**All roadmap items are subject to change
