Procurement

Spartan Focus Groups

A team of focus group members representing 26 MAUs has helped shape training materials and end-user touchpoints for SAP Ariba. Key takeaways from the focus group members include:
  • Visibility of other user’s PRs is of high importance
    • UPL has since implemented “MAU view-level access” of documents within SAP Ariba, in alignment with our data sharing policy​
  • Improved training materials, including PDF tutorials, video instructions, and synchronous training
  • SAP Ariba is similar to KFS, but with several user experience improvements for an easier procure-to-pay process
Lime green text highlights three items labeled as key takeaways: MAU view-level access, improved training materials, and similar to KFS, with user experience advantages. Each takeaways is preceded by a keyhole icon, and an illustrated key tops the image. The background is forest green

Focus group representatives

With their testing experience and understanding of your MAU's unique needs, the focus group representatives are great resources as you onboard to SAP Ariba.

  • Heather Miller, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources
  • Melissa Flegel, College of Communication Arts and Sciences
  • Amanda McNew, College of Education
  • Nick Bourland, College of Engineering
  • Alexander Scott, College of Human Medicine
  • Sharon Bassette, College of Law
  • Renee Graff, College of Music
  • John Garcia, College of Osteopathic Medicine
  • Elyse Hansen, College of Social Science
  • Ronda Decker, College of Veterinary Medicine
  • Tyler Neal, Contract and Grant Administration (CGA)
  • Stacey Dawson, Culinary Services
  • Brekelle Davis, Eli Broad College of Business
  • Ben Shuart, Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB)
  • Cyndi Finkhouse, Information Technology (MSU IT)
  • Heather Waldofsky, Infrastructure Planning and Facilities (IPF)
  • Rachel Hiatt, MSU Extension
  • Lynn Lee, MSU Finance
  • Lauren Woodworth, Office for Civil Rights and Title IX
  • Sabree Wilson, Office for Undergraduate Education
  • Matthew Thalls, Office of Audit, Risk and Compliance (OARC)
  • Amanda Goll, Office of the President
  • Kaye Horn, Student Life and Engagement (SLE)
  • Lynn Mande, University Arts and Collections
  • Julie Lowman, University Communications
  • Anita Hernandez, University Outreach and Engagement

Future updates

UPL is focused on continually imrpoving the user experience in SAP Ariba. To that end, several updates are already planned for future releases.

 

Catalog approval limits

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Spartan Marketplace orders will route to FOs for approval based on their order limit settings.

Purchase order (PO) auto-closure

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After 180 days of inactivity, the ourchase order (PO) will automatically close.

University Stores modernization

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The University Stores catalog will be upgraded for a more modern shopping experience.