What infrastructure do I need for the Ariba Supplier Network?
The Ariba Supplier Network supports suppliers at any level of technical sophistication. The level you use depends on your order volume and the amount of automation you want. For suppliers with fewer technical resources, the only infrastructure required is a fax machine or Internet connection-you can receive orders via fax, through email, or directly through the Ariba Supplier Network web site. Technically savvy suppliers may opt to obtain orders through EDI (Electronic Data Interchange), which allows direct order entry into an order processing system. This method requires an account with an EDI provider and an order processing system. The most sophisticated suppliers can implement a Web commerce site that receives orders as cXML (Commerce XML) documents and routes them directly into an order processing system. This process requires a cXML-enabled Web site and an order processing system. Such Web sites can be expanded to support PunchOut, which enables end users to view content and conf
