Procurement Glossary
OCI: Open Catalog Interface for seamless e-procurement integration
November 19, 2025
OCI (Open Catalog Interface) is a standardized protocol for the seamless integration of external supplier catalogs into e-procurement systems. This interface enables companies to access external catalogs and place orders directly from their purchasing system without media disruptions or manual data entry. Find out below what exactly OCI is, how the integration process works and the strategic benefits for modern procurement organizations.
Key Facts
- OCI is an open standard for integrating external supplier catalogs into e-procurement systems
- Enables seamless ordering processes without media disruptions between different systems
- Supports both punch-out and round-trip scenarios for flexible catalog usage
- Reduces manual data entry and minimizes sources of error in the procurement process
- Standardized URL parameters enable cross-system compatibility
Contents
What is OCI?
OCI defines the technical standards for integrating external catalogs into internal procurement systems and thus creates the basis for efficient digital purchasing processes.
Basic mode of operation
The Open Catalog Interface works via standardized URL parameters that are exchanged between the e-procurement system and the external catalog. User information, cost centers and other relevant data are transferred to ensure seamless integration.
- Transfer of user and organizational data
- Automatic forwarding to external catalogs
- Returning the shopping cart data to the original system
OCI vs. other integration standards
Compared to cXML or EDI, OCI is characterized by its simplicity and broad support. While cXML uses more complex XML-based messages, OCI works with simple URL parameters that are easier to implement.
Importance of OCI in Procurement
OCI enables purchasing organizations to optimize their catalog management strategies while increasing user-friendliness. Standardization reduces implementation efforts and creates interoperability between different systems.
Process steps and responsibilities
Successful OCI implementation requires structured processes and clear responsibilities between IT, Procurement and suppliers.
Technical implementation
OCI integration begins with the configuration of the URL parameters in the e-procurement system. Standard fields such as user name, cost center and return address are defined. The IT department is responsible for the technical implementation and ERP integration.
- Configuration of the OCI parameters
- Setting up authentication
- Testing the data transmission
Supplier onboarding
Vendor onboarding includes training suppliers on OCI standards and providing the necessary technical specifications. Procurement coordinates this process and ensures that all relevant catalog data is transferred correctly.
Quality assurance and monitoring
Continuous monitoring of the OCI connections ensures smooth processes. This includes data quality control, performance monitoring and regular updates of the interface parameters.
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Important KPIs for OCI
Measuring the success of OCI implementations requires specific metrics that reflect both technical performance and business benefits.
Technical performance indicators
The availability and response times of the OCI interfaces are critical success factors. An availability of at least 99.5% and response times of less than 3 seconds are considered the benchmark for professional implementations.
- System availability (target: >99.5%)
- Durchschnittliche Antwortzeit (<3 Sekunden)
- Fehlerrate bei Datenübertragungen (<0,1%)
Process efficiency key figures
OCI integration should lead to measurable improvements in procurement efficiency. Reducing order times and increasing catalog usage are important indicators of implementation success.
Compliance and data quality
Adherence to release limits and procurement guidelines through OCI-based orders is an important compliance indicator. In addition, the completeness and timeliness of catalog data should be measured regularly.
Risks, dependencies and countermeasures
OCI implementations entail specific risks that can be minimized by taking appropriate measures.
Technical dependencies
Dependence on external supplier systems can lead to outages if their catalogs are not available. Companies should develop backup strategies and define alternative procurement channels. Service level agreements with suppliers help to ensure availability standards.
- Establish redundant catalog sources
- Define offline fallback processes
- Carry out regular availability tests
Data quality and compliance
Inconsistent or outdated catalog data can lead to incorrect orders and compliance violations. Regular data validation and the implementation of workflow rules help to ensure data quality and compliance with approval processes.
Security risks
The transmission of sensitive company data via OCI interfaces requires robust security measures. Encryption, secure authentication and regular security audits are essential to protect against data misuse and unauthorized access.
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Practical example
A medium-sized manufacturing company implements OCI to integrate the office supplies catalog of its main supplier. Employees can now access the external catalog directly from the internal e-procurement system, select items and add them to their shopping cart. After selection, the order data is automatically transferred back to the internal system, where the usual approval processes take effect. The implementation reduced the average ordering time from 15 to 5 minutes and completely eliminated input errors for article numbers.
- 50% time saving on ordering processes
- Elimination of manual data entry
- Seamless integration into existing approval workflows
Current developments and effects
The further development of OCI is being driven by new technologies and changing requirements in digital Procurement .
Cloud-based OCI solutions
Modern cloud platforms offer extended OCI functionalities with improved scalability and security. This development also enables smaller companies to benefit from standardized catalog integrations without having to set up extensive IT infrastructures.
- Reduced implementation times
- Automatic updates and maintenance
- Improved reliability
AI-supported catalog optimization
Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing catalog content management with automatic product classification and intelligent search functions. AI algorithms analyse user behaviour and optimize catalog structures for better findability and compliance.
Mobile OCI integration
Increasing mobility in Procurement is leading to extended OCI standards that support mobile devices. This development enables mobile approval processes and location-independent catalog access for decentralized procurement organizations.
Conclusion
OCI has established itself as a proven standard for integrating external catalogs into e-procurement systems and offers companies a cost-efficient way to digitize their procurement processes. The simplicity of the standard enables quick implementations while ensuring interoperability between different systems. With increasing digitalization and the emergence of new technologies such as AI, OCI will continue to play a central role in modern procurement architectures. Companies that use OCI strategically will benefit from reduced process times, higher data quality and improved user-friendliness in their procurement processes.
FAQ
What distinguishes OCI from other e-procurement standards?
OCI is characterized by its simplicity, as it works with URL parameters instead of complex XML messages such as cXML. This makes implementation cheaper and faster, while still ensuring standardized integration.
What are the technical requirements for OCI?
OCI only requires a web browser and the ability to process URL parameters. Most modern e-procurement systems support OCI natively, so no additional software is required. A stable Internet connection is required for communication with external catalogs.
How is data security guaranteed for OCI transfers?
OCI implementations should use HTTPS encryption and avoid sensitive data such as passwords. Instead, user IDs and session tokens are transmitted. Additional security measures include IP whitelisting and regular security audits of the systems involved.
What cost savings can be realized through OCI?
Companies report 30-50% time savings in ordering processes and a significant reduction in data entry errors. Automation reduces administrative effort and allows purchasing teams to focus on strategic tasks instead of manual data entry.
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