Tactical sourcing refers to the process of sourcing goods and services from low to medium-value, often non-strategic categories that still require supplier competition but do not demand full-scale strategic sourcing efforts. These are typically short-cycle sourcing events that deliver quick wins without lengthy negotiations or complex category strategies.

Tactical sourcing in SAP Ariba enables businesses to respond to short-term supply needs by leveraging the SAP Ariba Guided Buying and Sourcing to create and manage RFQs, invite suppliers (including unregistered ones), and facilitate efficient sourcing processes.

Key Scenarios in SAP Ariba Tactical Sourcing

1. No-Touch (Self-Service) Scenario

Description: In the No-Touch Scenario, the process is managed completely by the requester without the involvement of the sourcing team. The requesters interact directly with suppliers via an RFQ within the SAP Ariba Guided Buying, operating under pre-defined policy guidelines.

Business Use Case: A requester needs a small, low-value item and submits an RFQ directly to a few preferred suppliers to get quotes. The requester accepts the best quote, and a purchase requisition is automatically created with details from the winning quote. The purchase requisition goes through the approval process, is finally converted to a purchase order, and is sent to the supplier.

2. Low-Touch Scenario

Description: The Low-Touch Scenario requires some involvement of the sourcing team. The user initiates and submits an RFQ through the SAP Ariba Guided Buying, which is then reviewed, adjusted, and published (manually) by the sourcing team in the SAP Ariba Sourcing.

Business Use Case: A user requests a service by filling out and submitting a form in the SAP Ariba Guided Buying. This step creates an RFQ event, which the sourcing team then reviews, adds necessary details, and sends to multiple suppliers for quotes. In Guided Buying, the user accepts one of the quotes received from the suppliers, and a purchase requisition is automatically created with details from the winning quote. Once the purchase requisition is approved, a purchase order is created and sent to the supplier.

3. High-Touch Scenario

Description: In the High-Touch Scenario, the sourcing team manages the entire RFQ process, from publishing the RFQ to awarding the bid. This tactical sourcing scenario requires a huge involvement of the sourcing team.

Business Use Case: A complex or high-value purchase is initiated by a requester, but the sourcing team takes full control, creating and managing the entire sourcing event in SAP Ariba Sourcing. Once suppliers send their quotes in, the sourcing managers review them and award the bid to a supplier. In the SAP Ariba Guided Buying, the requester then creates a requisition from the awarded quote. Once the purchase requisition is approved, a purchase order is created and sent to the supplier.

Conclusion

Tactical sourcing in SAP Ariba is not just about handling small or urgent purchases; it is about ensuring that procurement teams remain agile, compliant, and cost-effective in every transaction. By leveraging Ariba’s tactical sourcing capabilities, organizations can unlock hidden savings, strengthen supplier relationships, and maintain governance across the procurement lifecycle.