What is a PunchOut Catalog in Business Central?

A supplier's online catalog that connects to a buyer's ERP system via cXML or OCI protocol, allowing direct cart data transfer.

A PunchOut Catalog is an e-procurement protocol (typically cXML or OCI) that creates a direct connection between a buyer's procurement system and a supplier's e-commerce site. When a buyer 'punches out' to a supplier, they shop on the supplier's website and the cart data is automatically sent back to the ERP.

Traditional PunchOut requires each supplier to implement the cXML/OCI protocol on their website. This integration typically costs CHF 1,000-5,000 per supplier and takes weeks to months to set up. The buyer also needs a compatible procurement system.

The main limitation is scale: most companies can only afford to integrate their top 5-10 suppliers, leaving dozens or hundreds of smaller suppliers uncovered. These 'long tail' purchases are still done manually.

Zentriq PunchOut takes a fundamentally different approach: instead of requiring supplier integration, AI reads any cart page on any e-commerce website. This means you get PunchOut-like functionality for unlimited suppliers — including sites that would never support traditional PunchOut (Amazon, Galaxus, small specialty shops).

Related terms

• Requisition Worksheet — A planning tool in Business Central used to create purchase suggestions and consolidate demand before issuing purchase orders.
• EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) — A standard for exchanging business documents (POs, invoices, shipping notices) between trading partners electronically.
• Vendor (Supplier) — A company or person from whom you purchase goods or services, represented as a Vendor Card in Business Central.
• cXML (Commerce XML) — An XML-based protocol for B2B e-commerce transactions, commonly used in traditional PunchOut catalog integrations.

How Zentriq helps

Zentriq's AI tools automate many of the manual processes around punchout catalog in Business Central. Learn about the Zentriq Agent or try Zentriq PunchOut to see how AI simplifies procurement in BC.