PunchOut - also known as cXML PunchOut, procurement PunchOut, or OCI roundtrip - is a widely used protocol in the eProcurement industry. It enables secure, seamless online purchasing between eCommerce platforms (such as Magento, WooCommerce, Shopify, Episerver, PrestaShop, BigCommerce, OpenCart, and OroCommerce) and eProcurement systems (such as Coupa, SAP Ariba, Workday, Oracle, Jaggaer, Ivalua, BirchStreet, and SAP SRM).
This protocol has been in use for more than two decades and is now supported by most major eProcurement and ERP systems.
PunchOut allows buyers to access a supplier’s eCommerce catalog directly from their own procurement system, shop in a familiar environment, and return the cart securely for approval and ordering - ensuring a smooth, controlled purchasing process from start to finish.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is PunchOut?
Why is my customer asking for PunchOut?
If your customer (the buying organization) is requesting PunchOut, it is because they are using an eProcurement system to manage and control their purchasing from suppliers like you.
These systems require a secure, automated way to connect directly to your eCommerce platform so that users can access your catalog from within their procurement environment, browse and select products, and add items to a centralized shopping cart - which may also include purchases from other suppliers. The final order is then routed through their internal approval process before being submitted for fulfillment.
PunchOut enables this seamless connection between systems, ensuring a controlled, efficient, and compliant purchasing experience. By implementing PunchOut, you make it easier for your customers to buy from you while fully aligning with their procurement workflows.
Why can't my customer just use my current online web store?
You may wonder why your customer can’t simply use your existing online web store. In many cases, they can browse it, but they cannot purchase through it in a way that aligns with their internal procurement controls.
By adding PunchOut capability to your eCommerce site, you enable a direct connection into your customer’s procurement system. This brings several benefits, including increased brand exposure, lower order processing costs, fewer errors and exceptions, improved customer insight, and tighter integration with customer systems and workflows.
These improvements lead to a more streamlined and efficient purchasing experience for your customers, which can ultimately increase satisfaction, strengthen business relationships, and drive more consistent sales.
What are the benefits to having PunchOut capability?
Adding PunchOut capability to your online web store delivers several key benefits. These include increased brand exposure to customers, lower order processing costs, fewer errors and exceptions, improved customer insights, and tighter integration with customer systems and workflows.
Together, these advantages create a more efficient and reliable purchasing experience for your customers. This not only improves satisfaction but also helps you stand out from the competition and strengthen long-term business relationships.
How can I get my web store "PunchOut-Ready" fast?
If you want to add PunchOut capability to your web store, there are two main options: building it in-house or using a PunchOut plugin.
Building it yourself can be time-consuming and costly, especially if your team or agency is not already experienced with PunchOut implementations.
To get PunchOut-Ready quickly, the Vurbis PunchOut Plugin™ offers a fast, reliable, and cost-effective approach. It allows you to leverage your existing eCommerce investment while maintaining a consistent user experience and brand identity - whether customers access your store directly or through PunchOut.
The solution is also non-invasive, meaning no changes are required to your existing web store. With fixed annual pricing, you can plan ahead for additional customer PunchOut requests with predictable costs.
I don't have a web store yet, but my customer is requesting PunchOut.
If you don’t yet have a stable web store - or your current store lacks B2B functionality - Vurbis offers a PunchOut-Ready B2B Web Store to help you get started quickly.
This solution enables you to support eProcurement customers requesting PunchOut while also accepting direct web orders from other customers. With fixed annual pricing, you can plan ahead for additional PunchOut-enabled customers with predictable costs.
The PunchOut-Ready web store provides speed and simplicity, allowing your business to move from limited eCommerce readiness to a fully functional B2B storefront in a matter of weeks. It is particularly well suited for companies building out a multi-channel eCommerce strategy.
Many B2B sellers begin with the PunchOut-Ready B2B Web Store and later transition to the Vurbis Plugin solution once their existing eCommerce platform is in place.
Does PunchOut generate more sales?
PunchOut can contribute to increased sales by making it easier for customers to buy from you within their existing eProcurement systems. When your web store is PunchOut-enabled, buyers can access your catalog directly from their procurement platform, making your products immediately available within their approved purchasing workflow.
This is especially important as many organizations require purchases to be made through eProcurement systems. By being PunchOut-Ready, you become easier to work with, more compliant with buyer requirements, and more accessible than competitors who do not offer this capability. This can lead to higher order volumes and stronger customer retention.
A well-known example is Amazon Business. After introducing PunchOut capability in 2015, it enabled integration with a wide range of eProcurement systems. Over the following two years, this significantly expanded its reach within enterprise procurement environments and contributed to substantial growth. Their sales increased 10x in just two years.
Does PunchOut open new markets?
Yes - PunchOut can help you access new markets by enabling you to sell to organizations that rely on eProcurement systems for purchasing.
Large enterprises, especially global organizations, commonly use these systems to control and standardize their procurement processes. If you want to work with them, having a PunchOut-Ready web store is often a key requirement.
A well-known example is Amazon Business, which introduced PunchOut capability in 2015 to integrate with enterprise procurement systems. This significantly expanded its reach within the B2B market over time. In fact, in just two years Amazon Business saw a significant increase in sales by more than 10x after they added PunchOut capability to their site.
If you don’t have an extensive technology team, Vurbis can help. Our team of integration experts supports the design, implementation, and management of your PunchOut setup, ensuring it meets your customers’ requirements while remaining simple and efficient to operate. This allows you to focus on growing your business, while we help you stay connected to enterprise buyers.
What happens if I ignore my customer's request to provide PunchOut capability?
If you ignore a customer’s request for PunchOut capability, you risk losing their business.
In many organizations, eProcurement systems are mandatory for purchasing because they increase efficiency, control, and compliance. If you cannot support PunchOut, your orders cannot flow through their approved procurement process, which creates friction and additional manual work for the buyer.
As a result, the customer may be forced to choose another supplier that does support PunchOut. In some cases, this can include large, established platforms such as Amazon Business, which are already fully integrated with enterprise procurement systems.
Supporting PunchOut is therefore not just a technical preference — it is often a requirement to remain a viable supplier within enterprise buying environments.
Can I expect more requests to provide PunchOut capability in the future?
Yes - demand for PunchOut capability is expected to continue growing as eProcurement systems become more widely adopted across industries.
More organizations are standardizing their purchasing processes through digital procurement platforms, making PunchOut an increasingly common requirement for suppliers. This trend is driven by the need for greater efficiency, control, and compliance in purchasing.
To stay competitive, it’s important to be prepared for these requests and have a scalable approach in place. Suppliers that support PunchOut are better positioned to win and retain business, while those that do not may find it harder to meet evolving customer expectations.
My customer specifically asked for cXML PunchOut - is there more than one version of PunchOut?
Yes - there are multiple PunchOut standards.
The most widely used is cXML PunchOut, which is supported by most eProcurement and ERP systems. Another common standard is OCI (Open Catalog Interface), often referred to as OCI roundtrip, which is primarily used in SAP environments such as SAP SRM and S/4HANA.
Some platforms support both standards, but cXML is generally more prevalent due to its flexibility and broad adoption.
It’s also important to note that each eProcurement system may implement its own variations or extensions of these standards. As a result, even within cXML or OCI, there can be customer-specific requirements.
To ensure a successful integration, it’s essential to confirm exactly which standard - and any specific variations - your customer requires.
What is Level 2 PunchOut?
Level 2 PunchOut - often referred to as OCI5 in SAP environments - allows users to begin their search within the eProcurement system’s internal catalog and then “PunchOut” directly to the product detail page on the supplier’s web store.
This approach can streamline the user experience by reducing navigation steps and speeding up product selection.
However, Level 2 PunchOut (OCI5) is not widely used. It requires additional effort from both the buyer and the supplier to create, test, and maintain catalog indexes within the eProcurement system. As a result, most organizations opt for standard PunchOut implementations, which are simpler to deploy and maintain.
Why does a customer want me to join his supplier network?
Joining your customer’s eProcurement provider’s supplier network is a common requirement when enabling PunchOut.
Some platforms - such as Ariba or Coupa - route PunchOut requests through their own supplier networks to manage authentication, connectivity, and transaction flow. Being part of this network ensures your integration works smoothly within their ecosystem.
In most cases, joining a supplier network is a straightforward process that takes only a short time and has minimal impact on your overall PunchOut setup.
By joining, you help ensure that PunchOut connections are processed reliably and efficiently, contributing to a better and more consistent customer experience.
Is there any downside to implementing PunchOut?
PunchOut has no significant drawbacks when implemented correctly. In practice, the benefits far outweigh the effort required to enable it.
Rather than viewing PunchOut as an incremental cost, it should be seen as a core component of a modern, multi-channel sales strategy. It enables you to meet customer requirements, streamline operations, and remain competitive in an increasingly digital procurement landscape.
Like investing in advanced machinery or an efficient distribution center, PunchOut is an investment in the long-term scalability and growth of your business.
