What is PunchOut?

PunchOut is a system that enables a company’s procurement software or Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system to connect directly with a supplier’s online company store. This allows employees to browse, select, and order products from their swag store while staying within the company’s procurement platform. Single Sign-On (SSO) further enhances this process by allowing users to authenticate once with their secure company login credentials and seamlessly access the PunchOut system without additional logins, making the experience faster and more secure.

Instead of using a static internal catalog, PunchOut redirects users to their company store, which is fully integrated with the company’s procurement system. Once users select products, the system seamlessly transfers the order information back to the company for approval. It then generates a purchase order then pushes it back to the company store vendor. What once required several people and hours to complete can now take mere seconds.

Although setting up a PunchOut system can be a significant process, once companies implement it, they often encourage their vendors to integrate. In many cases, if vendors are unable to support PunchOut, companies may seek other suppliers who can, primarily due to the substantial labor and cost savings.

Who Uses PunchOut Systems?

• Large Corporations: Companies with multiple departments, locations, or high-volume purchasing needs, such as in manufacturing, retail, and technology.
• Government Agencies: Federal, state, and local governments use it to streamline procurement, ensuring compliance with budget and spending policies.
• Healthcare Organizations: Hospitals and medical facilities use it to efficiently procure medical supplies, equipment, and services.
• Educational Institutions: Universities and schools with centralized procurement use it to manage orders for supplies and equipment.
• Financial Institutions: Banks and insurance companies use it to control spending on office supplies, IT equipment, and other goods while ensuring policy compliance.
• Energy and Utilities: Industries such as energy and utilities use it to manage complex purchasing for equipment, safety gear, and tools from multiple suppliers.
• Multinational Enterprises: Global companies use it to standardize purchasing processes and gain visibility into spending across various regions.

What Are The Top ERP Softwares?

• SAP Ariba
• Coupa
• PeopleSoft (Oracle)
• Workday
• Microsoft Dynamics 365
• NetSuite (Oracle)

What are The Benefits of PunchOut For a Company Store?

• Streamlined Purchasing Process: Employees can access supplier catalogs directly from the company’s procurement system, reducing manual steps and simplifying purchasing.
• Real-Time Inventory and Pricing: Suppliers provide up-to-date inventory levels, product details, and real-time pricing, thus ensuring employees make informed purchasing decisions.
• ERP System Integration: PunchOut integrates seamlessly with ERP systems like SAP and Oracle, allowing smooth processing of purchase orders, invoices, and payments.
• Compliance and Control: Employees are directed to approved vendors and products, ensuring adherence to purchasing policies and preventing unauthorized orders.
• Brand Protection: Orders are restricted to approved vendors, ensuring employees can’t make purchases outside the company’s system.
• Cost Savings: PunchOut reduces administrative costs by automating and simplifying procurement processes.
• Reduced Errors: By eliminating manual entry of product details and pricing, PunchOut minimizes errors in purchase orders and invoicing.
• Reduced Lead Times: Automated processes lead to faster purchase order generation and shorter lead times. No more waiting for manual processing.
• Better Supplier Relationships: Efficient communication and transactions foster stronger, long-term partnerships with suppliers.
• Improved Reporting and Visibility: A centralized system provides better visibility into spending patterns, helping companies analyze purchasing behavior and optimize supplier relationships.
• Scalability: PunchOut systems handle high transaction volumes, making them ideal for enterprises managing multiple suppliers and large product catalogs.

At iCoStore, we are fully equipped to integrate with your PunchOut systems for your company store. We believe that PunchOut offers a tremendous advantage, not only for us but also for our clients. By streamlining the purchasing process, enhancing accuracy, and reducing administrative costs, PunchOut helps businesses save time and resources. Whether it’s managing uniforms, swag, or other corporate purchases, integrating PunchOut with your company store can transform your procurement experience. We are proud to offer this capability to help our clients operate more efficiently and effectively.

Our goal at iCoStore is to educate about online company stores, the promotional products industry and what to expect when selecting a vendor. For more insights and helpful tips, explore our additional content in the Resources section.