FAQs
General Questions
What is SAP Business Network?
SAP Business Network is a digital platform for e-commerce documents, where documents between buyers and suppliers, such as purchase orders, catalogues, RFQs and proposals are exchanged. It is part of a solution called SAP Business Network.
What infrastructure do I need to use the SAP Business Network?
A regular Internet connection and a web browser are the only requirements.
What browser versions are certified for SAP Business cloud solutions?
If you are a supplier user, go to https://supplier.ariba.com and click Supported browsers and plugins at the bottom right of the page to access a list of currently supported browsers.
How safe is the SAP Business Network? Is my information protected?
The SAP Business Network uses Secure Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTPS) for all communication between procurement applications, suppliers, and the SAP Business Network. If you have any suspicion that your account has been compromised, please contact SAP Business Customer Support via the Help Center.
How do I access the Help Center?
For instructions check out the video demonstration.
Is SAP Business Network GDPR compliant?
For information, please visit the Trust Center.
Is SAP Business Network chargeable or is it free of charge?
There are two types of account in SAP Business. A Standard account is free of charge. It is an account which isn’t interactive, and you receive and create documents via links forwarded to your email. It is designed for low volume suppliers or suppliers new to SAP Business Network. The Enterprise account is a fully enabled SAP Business account and is subject to fees according to volume of transactions and documents. For a full list of functionalities and pricing, please visit the SAP Business Network accounts and pricing page.
What if I don’t want to participate?
Your buyer is committed to the success of this initiative and is working hard to make the transition as seamless as possible for suppliers. Suppliers that are asked to participate are considered strategically important for ongoing business and are thus expected to comply with this process change as a requirement for continuing their relationship with Müller.
I have received the following error: "An unexpected error occurred. If you need assistance, Contact SAP Support with the Error Reference Number: ANERR - 10000000000000000012345678" What do I do?
An unexpected error can occur when:
- Multiple browser windows with SAP Ariba pages are opened
- Multiple users are connected to the same account at the same time
- Previous session is not logged out properly, and a new session is opened
- An expired link (for example, from a password reset email) is being used to log in
To resolve this error:
- Delete the cache, cookies, and browsing history of your Internet browser.
- Close all browser windows.
- Open a new browser window and log into your account via an SAP Ariba login page
- To access SAP Ariba Proposals & Questionnaires directly, go to https://proposals.seller.ariba.com
- To access SAP Business Network, go to https://supplier.ariba.com
Registration
How do I connect with my customer on SAP Business Network?
Typically, Unternehmensgruppe Theo Müller (UTM) invites your company to join the Ariba Network. You will receive an email invitation containing a link for starting the registration process. Ariba Network notifies you through email when the account is active and ready to transact. You can log in with your credentials via https://supplier.ariba.com any time.
Please note: The step described above normally takes place before a purchase order has been created by us. However, if you have not received any invitation from us prior to your first Purchase Order, click the Process order button in the email of the Purchase Order. From the landing page, choose Sign up to register a free, standard account, or choose Log in to add the document to your existing Ariba Network account.
If I upgrade to Enterprise account, could I change to Standard account later?
In case you have paid all open fees, you will be able to downgrade your account with the help of the customer support. This will be assessed per case. For instructions on how to upgrade check the video demonstration.
Can we use the same account for two different entities?
Every legal entity must have their own SAP Business Ariba Network ID (ANID). You are also able to manage multiple accounts in an account hierarchy. Administrators: For each account, you can have only one account administrator, but the account administrator can provide access to multiple users. All users from your company have their own Username and Password to access the account. Read more here.
Is it possible to create more users or shall I create more accounts?
You can create up to 250 different users for any type of SAP Business Network account that you may have. Please search for “User Creation” in the SAP Business Network Help Center for more instructions or check the video demo on User Creation.
We have accidentally created (e.g.) 20 accounts, how can we reduce everything to 1 account?
You first must check internally which accounts are active and in use. Expired accounts can only be terminated by the Account Administrator. For more assistance to merge active accounts, please contact the customer support via Help Center.
I have received the following error: "We have noticed that there may already be an Ariba Network account registered by your company. Please review before you create a new account." What do I do?
When you are registering a new account, SAP Business Network automatically checks for any existing accounts registered under your company name, email domain, DUNS number, etc. If existing accounts are found, a warning message allows you to review them before you create an unnecessary duplicate account.
To check for accounts you or someone in your company may have already registered:
1. Click Review accounts on the pop-up warning message.
2. Review the existing accounts. You can view the details of each account by clicking ... > View profile
If you find an existing account that you want to use, click Contact administrator to send a message to the account administrator requesting access. Then click Send email. Once the administrator of the existing account adds you as a user, you will be able to log in through the invitation using that account.
If none of the displayed accounts are relevant, click Continue account creation to create a new account. Once the account is created and you have signed in, you will be linked to the buyer and any documents / events they have sent you.
I have received the following error: "User already exists. Please enter a different username." What do I do?
You are receiving this message because the username you are entering is already associated with a SAP Business Network, SAP Business Network Discovery, or SAP Business Network Sourcing supplier account. You will still be able to register a new user account, but the new username will need to be unique to satisfy Ariba's system requirements.
SAP Business Network requires that all usernames be formatted like an email address, but they do not have to be a valid email address. For example, if your username of example@ariba.com was not accepted, you can try using example1@ariba.com.
Additional Information: If you would like to access the account that already exists, please use the following site to request a password reset for the registered username: https://supplier.ariba.com (SAP Business Network, SAP Business Sourcing, or SAP Business Contracts). To reset your password, click Forgot Username or Password on the login page.
Where is my password reset email?
After you submit your request for a password reset, SAP Business Network sends instructions to the email address associated with your account. If you didn't receive a password reset email, check the following scenarios to troubleshoot:
1. The username you entered is in the wrong format, or it isn't associated with the email address you are checking.
- Keep in mind, your username is in the format of a full email address, but it can be associated with any email address you entered previously.
- Your username is also case-sensitive.
- To confirm that you are using the correct username and format, return to the Supplier login page and click the Forgot Username link.
- Enter the email address associated with your account and click Submit.
- You will receive an email that lists the exact format of the username associated with the email you entered.
2. You entered the correct username, but you still didn't receive the password reset email notification.
- This can occur if the configured email address is different from the account you are checking.
- Your email address for your account may contain a typo if your account administrator created you as a user.
- You might have multiple accounts for your company, so make sure you are attempting to access the correct account.
- Your email configuration or company's security settings might also prevent you from receiving the password reset email. To find out, check your junk mail folder or email filter settings to verify that automated emails from SAP are not blocked from your email account.
- You might also need to add SAP's originating email address to your allow list. Ask your IT department to allow ordersender-prod@ansmtp.ariba.com.
- If the site is Single-Sign-On (SSO) enabled, the password reset email will not send. If you're not the administrator of the account, contact your admin for help. Contact SAP Support if you are the administrator.
Account Settings
How do I change or update my email address or username?
To update the email address, username, contact information, preferred language, time zone, or currency on your account:
1. Click on top right corner icon > My Account in the menu.
2. Edit any fields as needed.
3. Click Save.
If you update your email address, be sure to click the link in the confirmation email sent to the new email address.
Additional Information: Usernames are unique and cannot be used multiple times. They also need to be formatted like an email, but do not need to be a valid address. For example, if your username of test@ariba.com was not accepted, try test1@ariba.com. You may also consider checking your account notification settings to be sure that the correct email is being used. For more information check out the related article in the Help Center.
How do I access and change the former administrator's account?
If the account administrator is still with your company, they can reassign the administrator account to another user or change their user information to a different person.
If the account administrator is no longer with your company, but you have access to the registered email:
1. Use the Forgot Username or Password links on the login page to request a Password Reset.
2. After accessing the account, you can transfer the account administration role or reassign the administrator account to yourself.
If the account administrator is no longer with your company and there is no access to the email address on file, contact SAP Business Network Customer Support via the Support Center to change the administrator. You will be required to provide the ANID number of the account, the listed administrator name, and email address.
Additional Information: Account Reassignment requests go to a specific team within SAP Business Customer Support who will verify information and work with other users on the account if necessary. You will then be contacted with further instructions.
Can my account have more than one administrator?
Only one user can be named the administrator of your account. Sub-users can be granted all permissions to give them access to everything on the account except for the user's page. Only the account administrator can manage users and roles.
Additional Information: If you are the current administrator, you can reassign the administrator role to another user in your company's account. If you need to become the administrator, contact your account administrator to reassign the role.
How do I transfer the account administration role?
If you're leaving your company or moving to a new position, you need to transfer ownership of the SAP Business Network account by choosing a new administrator. This ensures that your company doesn't experience interruptions in access to the account or in transactions with your customers. For detailed instructions check out the related article in the Help Center.
How can I change the language of my SAP Business Network account?
The SAP Business account is linked with the language preference of your browser.
Using Internet Explorer:
Click Tools > Internet Options > Languages.
1. In the Language Preference window, click Add to add the desired language.
2. Select the language to add and click OK.
3. This language will need to be placed at the top of the list using the Move up button.
4. Click OK and click OK again from the Internet Options window.
Using Mozilla Firefox:
Click Tools > Options> Content> Languages> Choose.
1. Select the language you want and click Add.
2. This language will need to be placed at the top of the list using the Move up button.
3. Click OK and click OK again from the Options window.
Using Google Chrome:
Click the options menu in the upper right corner and choose Settings.
1. Click Show advanced settings.
2. In the Languages section, click Language and input settings.
3. Click Add.
4. Choose the language you want and click OK.
5. Drag this language to the top of the list and click Done.
6. Close the options tab.
Next, close your browser and reopen it for the changes to take effect. If the language you select is not supported by Ariba, it defaults to English. Additional Information: Your browser language does not change the language you specify for email notification.
How do I update my email notification preferences?
Only an account administrator has the authorization to edit order routing settings, notification settings, and user roles for both themselves and for all sub-users with an SAP Business Account.
To change the notifications you receive, and edit the associated email address(es):
1. Click Account Settings icon > Settings in the upper right corner of the Home page.
2. Click Notifications.
3. Click one or all of the tabs depending on desired notification types (General, Network, Discovery, Sourcing & Contracts, and Messaging tabs).
o You can update the email address(es) for each individual notification type by changing the address(es) in the To email addresses (one required) column. Enter up to three email addresses per notification type, separated by commas.
o You can remove a particular notification by unchecking the box next to the specific notification you want to change.
4. Click Save when you are finished.
Purchase Orders
How many email addresses in my company can receive purchase orders from my Supplier account?
You can configure up to 5 email addresses for your purchase order notifications. Potentially you can further customize your PO notifications per customer relationships (click here for instructions). We advise you to add a general inbox or the administrator’s email address for notifications. You can at any time change the email address. When you login into your account, go to Settings ˃ Electronic Order Routing and then update the email address (see here video instructions on the PO Notifications).
How can I find a Purchase order from my customer in my SAP Business account?
Access the Ariba Network via SAP Business Network Supplier (ariba.com) and click on Purchase orders in your Workbench.
How do I accept a customer's trading relationship request / invitation?
We need a Trading Relationship to ensure that our orders are transmitted to you correctly via Ariba. Access the Ariba Network via SAP Business Network Supplier (ariba.com). In the upper-right corner of the application, click [user initials] > Settings and select Customer Relationships. If necessary, select any Pending trading relationships and click Approve.
If you would like current or future trading relationships to be automatically accepted, please ensure that this preference is selected at the top of the page.
How do I create an order confirmation? How do I confirm an order?
For instructions check out the demo video.
How long will the documents stay in the SAP Business Network system before they will be automatically deleted?
You will be able to view the documents in your dashboard for one year. However, you can search manually in your Enterprise account for documents which are older. This does not apply to Standard accounts which store documents only for 12 months. If you are looking for an older document in your Standard account, please contact your Buyer to provide it to you.