Deep-dive into Cherrywork Supplier Collaboration Portal Features for SAP Users

In SAP-driven organizations, supplier trust is often tested by scattered updates and manual processes. Teams frequently rely on emails, spreadsheets, and trackers to monitor purchase orders, production progress, inspections, and shipments. This fragmented approach makes it difficult to have a clear, real-time view of supplier performance, which can affect planning, inventory decisions, and service levels.

Cherrywork Supplier Collaboration Portal (SCP) addresses these challenges by providing a single, structured platform for buyers and suppliers to collaborate in real time. Integrated with SAP ECC and SAP S/4HANA, CW SCP ensures that critical updates, from PO confirmations to production and quality checks, flow directly into SAP, reducing manual coordination and improving control across the Source-to-Pay process.

How CW SCP integrates with SAP procurement workflows

The platform is built on a robust, enterprise-grade architecture designed for scalability, integration, and data consistency:

• SAP BTP foundation: Ensures seamless connectivity with SAP S/4HANA, ECC, and other enterprise systems.
  
  
• Event-driven communication: Real-time updates for PO creation, order confirmation, GR posting, and shipment details.
  
  
• API-based interoperability: Secure APIs enable integration with ERP, third-party logistics, and internal quality systems.
  
  
• Role-based access: Ensures controlled access for internal teams, suppliers, auditors, and quality personnel.
  
  
• Automated workflow engine: Supports approval cycles, notifications, and exception handling.
  
  

Unified data model: Maintains consistency across procurement, supplier records, contracts, and shipments.

Advanced features of Cherrywork SCP for SAP S/4HANA

This section serves as a practical SAP supplier collaboration software how-to, outlining the key CW SCP capabilities used across procurement operations.

1. Requisition to order processing: Buyers create PRs that convert into POs, which suppliers receive instantly. This removes manual handoffs and provides both sides with real-time visibility of order requirements.
2. Order acknowledgement and confirmation: Suppliers confirm PO receipt, accept orders, or request changes based on availability or timelines. This prevents miscommunication and gives buyers clarity on confirmed production plans.
3. Production status tracking: Suppliers update progress for each PO line item with detailed statuses such as raw materials in, production started, assembly completed, QC stages, packing, and ready to ship. Buyers get early visibility, preventing delays or risks.
4. Quality inspection and booking: Quality checks are scheduled and performed by an assigned QC team, with results, approved, rejected, or revision needed, updated directly in CW SCP. This keeps both parties aligned on inspection outcomes, ensuring SAP users have accurate, real-time quality data for production planning.
5. Advanced Shipment Notification (ASN): Suppliers send early dispatch updates with tracking numbers, dates, and quantities. This helps buyers plan receiving activities and manage warehouse resources efficiently.
6. Service entry management: For service POs, suppliers submit service completion entries in CW SCP, triggering automated approvals and speeding up payment cycles while reducing manual errors.
7. Goods Receipt (GR) posting: Buyers record partial or full receipts upon delivery, with updates syncing to SAP ECC or S/4HANA in real time. This prevents mismatches between physical stock and system records.
8. Returnable items management: This is one of the SAP procurement supplier collaboration features that ensures returnable containers, cylinders, tools, and similar assets are tracked end-to-end. SCP shows issued items, returned items, and pending returns to maintain accountability, reduce losses, and streamline inventory planning.
9. Invoice management: This is one of the SAP supplier collaboration platform features that enables suppliers to upload, view, download, and track their invoices. While APA handles processing, SCP provides full visibility into invoice status to reduce follow-ups.
10. Goods return management: Defective or incorrect shipments can be returned digitally. SCP tracks reasons for return and reverse logistics progress until closure. This gives SAP users real-time visibility into returns.
11. Service request management: Users raise system-related requests for issues such as PR creation, PO mismatches, access needs, or technical support. This centralizes helpdesk interactions.
12. Supplier profile management: Supplier data, such as certifications, bank details, compliance documents, and contacts, is stored in a structured repository for easier onboarding and audit readiness.
13. Strategic sourcing: Supports RFQs, RFIs, RFPs, and competitive bidding. Suppliers submit proposals transparently, and procurement teams evaluate responses digitally for better negotiation and continuity.
14. Contract administration/management: Manages digital contract creation, amendments, renewals, and audit trails. Contracts may be standalone or reference PRs or proposals. Ready-to-use formats enable quick PO creation. This ensures SAP users have auditable contract records and reduces compliance risks.

Learn more details about these supplier collaboration SAP S/4HANA features here.

What is included in the CW SCP Bill of Materials for SAP integration?

The Bill of Materials for CW SCP consists of several core components that work together to deliver a secure, scalable, and integrated procurement collaboration platform.

• SAP Cloud Foundry: The core runtime environment on SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP) where the CW Web App runs, ensuring reliable application hosting.
• SAP Connectivity Service: Establishes secure communication between SAP BTP and SAP ERP systems (SAP ECC and S/4HANA), enabling seamless data flow.
• SAP Destination Service: Stores connection configurations, making it easier for the application to access external SAP systems without repeated setup.
• HTML5 Application Repository: Hosts the platform’s UI applications, providing version control and lifecycle management for a consistent user experience.
• SAP Cloud Identity Service: Supports Single Sign-On (SSO) to simplify user access while maintaining secure identity management.
• Business Application Studio: Centralizes business documentation in one place, making it easily accessible to teams based on user roles and improving collaboration.
• SAP Build Process Automation: Powers automated workflows and approvals, reducing manual work and speeding up procurement processes.
• SAP Application Logging Service: Captures logs and system activities for monitoring and troubleshooting, helping maintain platform reliability.
• SAP Event Mesh: Enables real-time, event-driven communication between modules, ensuring updates like PO confirmations and shipment alerts are delivered instantly.
• SAP HANA Cloud: Serves as the primary database, storing transactional and master data efficiently for fast access and reporting.

Document Storage (SharePoint): Provides a secure external repository for structured and unstructured documents, such as invoices and contracts, for easy retrieval and archival.

What differentiates CW SCP from other supplier collaboration tools?

CW SCP enhances Supplier Collaboration Portal automation capabilities in SAP by offering bulk PO updates, automated contract sync, guided workflows, and real-time dashboards.

• Bulk PO change via Excel: Effortlessly update high-volume purchase orders for quantity, price, delivery date, and plant in a single upload, eliminating manual entry and saving time.
• Integrated contract management: Suppliers can create, edit, and renew contracts directly in the portal with full visibility. All changes auto-sync to SAP ECC/S4HANA, ensuring accurate, real-time contract data.
• Dashboards & KPIs: Access over 40 critical metrics spanning PO, production, quality checks, ASN, GR, invoices, lead time, and on-time delivery, empowering informed, data-driven decisions.
• Modern SAP BTP UI: A sleek, intuitive web interface with single-login access for all transactions, delivering a seamless experience at zero additional cost to suppliers.
• Multi-language UI: Available in English, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese, with the flexibility to extend to other languages to serve global supplier networks.
• Self-help: Built-in training modules, FAQs, help videos, and guided workflows equip users and suppliers to resolve issues quickly without dependency on support.

Advanced document management: Documents are organized by transaction and line item, supporting version control, role-based access, and collaborative comment workflows, ensuring compliance and traceability.

FAQs

1. What is Cherrywork’s Supplier Collaboration Portal (SCP)?
   It is a digital platform that helps buyers and suppliers manage procurement, production, quality, and logistics activities in one place.
2. How does CW SCP integrate with SAP systems (ECC / S/4HANA)?
   It connects through SAP BTP services to sync POs, GRs, contracts, and master data in real time.
3. Can suppliers negotiate purchase orders via CW SCP?
   Suppliers can request PO changes, such as quantity, dates, or pricing, through the acknowledgement workflow.
4. How does CW SCP improve visibility and transparency in the procurement process?
   It provides real-time updates across orders, production, quality checks, shipments, and returns for both buyers and suppliers.

5. What ROI or efficiency benefits can SAP users expect from CW SCP?
Users gain faster processing, fewer manual follow-ups, better data accuracy, and improved turnaround times across the Source-to-Pay cycle.

Closing Note

Cherrywork SCP strengthens procurement operations by bringing suppliers and buyers into one connected environment. With real-time visibility, structured workflows, and SAP-ready integration, it reduces delays, improves compliance, and supports better decision-making throughout the supply chain. This overview also captures how SAP users can automate procurement collaboration using CW SCP’s structured processes and unified interface.

To explore how CW SCP can accelerate your procurement operations and create a more collaborative supplier ecosystem, book a demo with our experts today.