The public sector has strict requirements for procurement processes, and for many suppliers PunchOut is a prerequisite to being able to participate in tenders at all. We deliver a complete PunchOut solution. The solution is built on the WooCommerce platform and meets all key requirements for public procurement systems.
The result is a secure, controlled, and fully integrated purchasing flow between the buyer’s procurement system and the supplier’s online store.
What is the PunchOut model?
PunchOut is a standardized purchasing method for B2B commerce, widely used in the public sector and by larger organizations. The solution connects the buyer’s ERP or procurement system directly to the supplier’s online store.
Instead of shopping in an open online store, the buyer starts the purchase in their own system. From there, the user is sent via a secure PunchOut connection to the supplier’s online store.
In the online store, the buyer can:
- View only the agreed assortment
- Purchase at pre-negotiated net prices
- Fill the shopping cart as usual
When the shopping cart is ready, it is returned to the buyer’s system for approval and ordering. The entire purchase is completed within the buyer’s established processes.
Why PunchOut in the public sector?
PunchOut is used because the solution provides full control and compliance with public procurement requirements.
For the buyer, this means:
- No purchases outside the agreement
- Correct pricing on every order
- Full traceability and documentation
- Support for approval and authorization flows
- Less manual work
For the supplier, this means more reliable orders, fewer errors, and a closer connection to the customer’s systems.
What does the PunchOut solution support?
We have established a PunchOut solution that:
- Meets public procurement requirements
- Supports OCI 3.0 / 4.0 and PEPPOL BIS
- Ensures the correct assortment and contract prices
- Reduces cost and lead time
- UNSPSC code per product
- Order confirmation via PDF, email, or PEPPOL
- Built on WooCommerce
How customers purchase with PunchOut from WooCommerce
The solution enables a customer to complete the entire purchase from their own procurement system.
Purchase flow:
- The buyer starts the order in their ERP system
- The user is sent via PunchOut to the online store
- Only the agreed assortment and net prices are shown
- The shopping cart is sent back to the ERP system
- The order is approved and completed in the buyer’s system
This provides a seamless process without manual steps.
The online store is only available to logged-in users, which ensures controlled access. A link is established between customers and their price agreements, and the entire frontend experience is customer-specific, so each customer only sees their own assortment and tailored content.
Real-time ERP integration
The solution is closely integrated with the ERP system to ensure accurate data for every purchase.
The integration retrieves the following to reduce errors, manual work, and discrepancies:
- Product data: SKU, name, description, and UNSPSC
- Customer-specific pricing: Agreed net prices and price matrices
- Inventory levels: Updated in real time
- Customer data
- Order flow: From WooCommerce to ERP
An effective project with clear results
From ordering in the customer’s online store, through automatic registration in the ERP system, to delivery of the goods, the entire process is fully integrated. The solution provides a reliable purchasing flow without manual steps or interruptions. The project shows that WooCommerce is not only suitable for traditional e-commerce, but also a competitive choice for advanced B2B processes and the requirements associated with public procurement.
Is this solution right for your business?
This PunchOut solution is suitable for businesses that:
- Sell to the public sector
- Have requirements for PunchOut and PEPPOL
- Work with customer-specific agreements and pricing
- Require ERP integration
Get in touch for an assessment of the opportunities available for your business. We are happy to help clarify requirements, assess technical feasibility, and identify the right next steps.
