SAP Ariba FAQ

SAP Business Network is an online platform for business transactions such as purchase orders, order confirmations, catalogs and invoices. Using the BN minimizes discrepancies by confirming invoice data upfront. The BN is used by many other (international) organizations, so it is not a specific platform of NS. More information can be found here. To access your BN-account and other information about the BN click here.

NS is renewing its Purchase-to-Pay (P2P) environment. The goal is to optimize the P2P process and increase compliance. Part of this innovation is the connection of NS and its suppliers to the Ariba Business Network. This allows us to collaborate more efficiently and effectively with suppliers.

It may offer us and therefore the supplier the following benefits:
• It is easier to do business with NS, because purchase orders and invoices are processed in a streamlined digital manner. Purchase orders, invoices and order confirmations are sent and received centrally, making documentation and information easily accessible.
• An up-to-date overview of the invoice status means less time is spent on status updates and questions. You can view the payment status of invoices directly from the SAP Business Network. You can also opt for an email notification about the invoice status.
• The invoices are correct and complete, which makes timely payment of invoices possible. A higher matching degree reduces the chance of delays due to corrections and makes it more likely that payments will be processed immediately.
• Operating costs are lower due to less manual work and corrections. Invoices are automatically generated based on the purchase order, which limits the number of corrections.

The SAP Business Network provides a (free) Standard Account and a (paid) Enterprise Account. The free Standard Account is sufficient for business transactions with NS. More information can be found here.

Click here for instructions.

For business transactions with NS, a free Standard Account is sufficient, but there are two different types of accounts: Standard and Enterprise. The enterprise account offers more usage options, but costs apply. Which account you need and what costs are associated with it depends on various factors. More information about this can be found here.

NS does not reimburse any costs related to the connection to and use of the SAP Business Network.

If you have any questions about purchasing, indexations, price adjustments, etc., please contact procurementsupport@ns.nl.

If you have any technical questions, please consult SAP Ariba.

If you have any questions about invoices, please contact finance@ns.nl

SAP Ariba Customer Support can answer the most common questions directly in the Help Center, without having to contact customer support directly. To access the Help Center at https://supplier.ariba.com, follow these steps

• Click the Help icon (question mark) in the upper right corner of the page.
• Click Support in the lower right corner next to the headset icon to open the Help Center.
• Briefly explain your question or problem in the I need help with field.
• Click Start.

The search results will be displayed under your search term. If you were unable to find a solution, please answer the questions under Contact Ariba Customer Support. You will now see which contact methods are available including Click-to-Call, live chat and email. SAP Ariba uses Click-to-Call to provide a streamlined user experience for telephone support.

For documentation click here