SAP SRM


SAP Spend Management: SRM

When an organization has many suppliers, it is critical to manage them efficiently and build long-term relationships. Establishing long-term relationships allows for more ideas and feedback to flow freely, streamlined operations, cost reductions, and improved customer service.

SRM Defined

SRM stands for Supplier Relationship Management, which falls under supply chain management. The main purpose is to establish two-way relationships between organizations and suppliers via a web-based platform. It covers innovative methods to coordinate business processes with suppliers, so they are more productive. SRM is integrated with the vendor’s systems for greater efficiencies with interactions. With SAP Supplier Relationship Management (SAP SRM), organizations can examine purchasing history, shorten procurement cycles, and collaborate with partners all in real time.

SAP Spend Management: SRM

When an organization has many suppliers, it is critical to manage them efficiently and build long-term relationships. Establishing long-term relationships allows for more ideas and feedback to flow freely, streamlined operations, cost reductions, and improved customer service.

SRM Defined

SRM stands for Supplier Relationship Management, which falls under supply chain management. The main purpose is to establish two-way relationships between organizations and suppliers via a web-based platform. It covers innovative methods to coordinate business processes with suppliers, so they are more productive. SRM is integrated with the vendor’s systems for greater efficiencies with interactions. With SAP Supplier Relationship Management (SAP SRM), organizations can examine purchasing history, shorten procurement cycles, and collaborate with partners all in real time.

Key Capabilities are:

  1. Operational Procurement: Catalog management, invoice creation, processing purchase orders, and shopping cart management.
  2. Strategy Sourcing: RFx and bids management and centralized sourcing.
  3. Operational Contract Management: Centrally managing supplier contracts.
  4. Supplier Self-Service: Self-service capabilities for suppliers.
  5. Services Procurement: Managing services for procurement.
  6. Operational Reporting: With workforce mobility option.

The significance of SRM is that it automates and streamlines the processes for materials that are ordered frequently, optimizing procurement. It allows organizations to maintain long-term relationships with the right suppliers who have proven historically to be reliable partners. SRM supports supplier information management, compliance, risk management, and performance management.

Benefits of SRM

  • Coordinates business operations
  • Automates workflows
  • Standardizes goods and services acquisitions

It is important to note the difference between SRM and procurement. SRM focuses on contracts and relationships, while procurement focuses on purchases, like ordering, invoicing, or paying. SAP has a cloud-based B2B sourcing and procurement application called Ariba where buyers and suppliers can do business in a networked structure. It provides capabilities such as supplier management, strategic sourcing, supply chain, procurement, services procurement and external workforce, and selling and fulfillment.

Vendor partners offering SRM include apexanalytix, SAP, smartShift.

Key Considerations for SAPinsiders are:

  • Increase Supplier Compliance with Sustainable Business Networks. Discover why accurate records of supplier compliance in procurement and ongoing supplier management activities is an important activity.
  • Simplify Supplier Qualification with SAP Supplier Lifecyle Management. Learn the functionality of how to simplify and foster supplier relationships, by reading this article.
  • Understanding the Key Aspect of Supply Chain Visibility. Kumar Singh, SAPinsider describes what supply chain visibility is, how organizations struggle, and explains one method to kickstart your approach.

627 results

  1. Reduce Your Company’s Spending with Automatic Clearing of Vendor Down Payments

    Published: 25/November/2013

    Reading time: 12 mins

    See how to use the down payment process with the automatic clearing option with the materials management (MM) and Financial Accounting (FI) modules in SAP ERP Central Component (SAP ECC) 6.0. These solutions have already been implemented in production environments for MM and FI in SAP ECC 6.0. However, the processes also apply to previous...…

  2. Exploit Standard SAP Kanban Processes to Manage Your Production

    Published: 02/April/2014

    Reading time: 17 mins

    Learn about the processes involved in Kanban production and get details about the main customizing settings to be done in the system in the case of external procurement of materials. Key Concept The Kanban is a Japanese word meaning card signal. It represents any visual method used to show the need for parts or products...…

  3. Manage Your Purchases with Configurable Products

    Published: 28/July/2015

    Reading time: 16 mins

    Learn about the processes involved in purchasing using configurable products. Get details about the master data to be maintained in the system along with the main customizing settings available for this solution. Key Concept Configurable products are useful when a company needs to purchase, manufacture, or sell numerous combinations of parts that form a product....…

  4. Manage Your Sales with Configurable Products

    Published: 29/July/2015

    Reading time: 16 mins

    Learn about the processes involved in sales using configurable products. Read details about the master data to be maintained in the system along with the main customizing settings available for this solution. Key Concept Configurable products are useful if your company needs to purchase, manufacture, or sell numerous combinations of parts that form a product....…

  5. Exploit ERS Functionalities to Streamline Your Three-Way Match Processes

    Published: 26/August/2015

    Reading time: 22 mins

    Learn about the processes involved in evaluated receipt settlement (ERS) in Purchasing and get details about the main customizing settings to be done in the system. Key Concept Evaluated receipt settlement (ERS) is a procedure for settling goods receipts automatically. When you use ERS, you agree with the vendor that the latter will not submit...…

  6. Exploit SAP Quality Management to Handle Subcontracting Activities

    Published: 23/June/2017

    Reading time: 34 mins

    Learn about the main functionalities relevant for subcontracting activities during the production process in the case of discrete manufacturing, using the materials management (MM), Production Planning (PP), Quality Management (QM), and Financial Accounting (FI) modules. Follow details about the main customizing settings to be done in the system from a financial point of view. Key...…

  7. Exploit SAP Quality Management to Handle External Activities

    Published: 29/June/2017

    Reading time: 27 mins

    Learn about the main Quality Management (QM) functionalities relevant for external activities during the production process in the case of discrete manufacturing, using the Materials Management (MM), Production Planning (PP), Quality Management (QM), and Financial Accounting (FI) modules. Follow details about the main customizing settings to be done in the system from a QM point...…

  8. Improve Your Company’s Production Efficiency with SAP Active Ingredient Management

    Published: 29/December/2017

    Reading time: 19 mins

    Learn about the Active Ingredient Management processes using SAP Materials Management, Production Planning, and Financial Accounting modules. Get details about the main customizing settings to be done in the system from a financial point of view. Key Concept Active Ingredient Management affects all of a company’s business processes that contain at least one concentrate or...…

  9. Streamline Your Company’s Production Rates with ATP Using SAP PP

    Published: 29/December/2017

    Reading time: 19 mins

    Learn about the processes involved in production using Available-to-Promise (ATP) functionality. Read about the master data to be maintained in the system along with the main customizing settings available for this solution. Key Concept In SAP Production Planning (PP) the Available-to-Promise (ATP) check is carried out for the components of the main material. SAP Production...…

  10. Improve Your Company’s Revenues with ATP in Sales Using SAP SD

    Published: 30/December/2017

    Reading time: 22 mins

    Learn about the processes involved in sales using Available-to-Promise (ATP) functionality. Read details about the main master data to be maintained in the system along with the main customizing settings available for this solution. Key Concept The Available-to-Promise (ATP) quantity is calculated from the warehouse stock, the planned inward movements of stock (production orders, purchase...…