Digitalization of indirect procurement process
Umicore has implemented the SAP Ariba platform to digitalize its source-to-contract and procure-to-invoice processes and enable a best-in-class procurement organization. Umicore will use SAP Ariba to manage sourcing, contracting, ordering and invoicing.
Through SAP Ariba, suppliers and buyers are able to connect and do business with each other on an online platform. This improves compliance and makes it possible to do business anytime, anywhere and on any device.
Suppliers will be invited to connect with Umicore through the SAP Ariba platform.
The following provides a more detailed overview:
- Upstream
The SAP Ariba modules supporting the source-to-contract process is implemented since mid of February 2022 for suppliers collaborating with sites located in Belgium, Germany and Denmark. Other countries will be activated soon. - Downstream
The modules supporting the procure-to-pay process are enabled for Umicore’s Belgian, German, Danish, Polish, Finnish and French sites. Other sites in the rest of the world will follow soon.
Registration on the SAP Ariba platform
In order to smoothly transact with Umicore, suppliers will need a SAP business network account. Suppliers can either create a new account or use an existing account to login and transact.
Participation in events, providing quotes and responding to questionnaires
Umicore carefully evaluates and selects the suppliers who will be invited via email to participate in a sourcing event (RFx and e-auction) and will be invited to respond to questionnaires to certify as a suitable supplier.
A request for information (RFI) is used to explore a particular market and investigate the options that suppliers can offer to support our business. A request for proposal (RFP) and request for quotation (RFQ) is used to obtain price indications and conditions based on predefined requirements. An e-auction is an online, market-driven negotiation based on total value, often used as part of an RFP in the procurement process.
Additionally for contract signature Umicore asks its suppliers to use the DocuSign application.
Responding to Purchase Orders
Umicore will send all purchase orders for indirect materials over the SAP business network to their selected suppliers.
To ensure smooth processing of all commercial documents and to ensure on-time payment, Umicore requests their suppliers to send order confirmations and invoices on the SAP business network.
Reaching out for support
Umicore has set up multiple support channels, to assist suppliers with issues and questions when collaborating on the SAP Ariba platform:
- The SAP Ariba help center can support suppliers with account-related questions or technical issues. The help center is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- Content-related questions can be tackled by the Umicore contact person.
- All other questions should be directed to ariba.supplier.support@umicore.com