In SAP Ariba Sourcing, managing user roles and permissions effectively is crucial for ensuring that projects are handled securely and efficiently. This tutorial will guide you through understanding the Access Controls in SAP Ariba Sourcing available for different user groups, helping you ensure that each team member has the appropriate level of access for their role.
By the end of this tutorial, you’ll have a clear understanding of who can perform which actions, making your sourcing process more streamlined and compliant with organizational policies.
Access Controls in SAP Ariba
Access controls determine what actions users can perform within the SAP Ariba Sourcing platform. Properly assigning permissions ensures that users can only perform activities relevant to their responsibilities, thereby protecting sensitive data, maintaining workflow integrity, and avoiding potential errors from unauthorized changes.
Key User Roles in SAP Ariba Sourcing
The primary user roles in SAP Ariba Sourcing include:
- Junior Sourcing Agent
- Sourcing Agent
- Sourcing Approver
- Sourcing Manager
Each of these roles has different levels of access within the platform, depending on their job responsibilities. Let’s look at what each role can do.
Junior Sourcing Agent
Junior Sourcing Agents have limited permissions, including the ability to create and view projects. They cannot publish their own projects, translate projects, administer events, or manage suppliers. Their role is primarily focused on assisting with sourcing activities under supervision
Sourcing Agent
Sourcing Agents can create, view, and publish their own projects. They are more actively involved in managing sourcing events compared to Junior Sourcing Agents but cannot run reports or manage suppliers. Their focus is on executing sourcing activities while adhering to the set processes.
Sourcing Approver
Sourcing Approvers have permissions to create, view, and publish projects, including the ability to publish projects for Junior Sourcing Agents. They play a key role in overseeing sourcing activities and ensuring that projects meet organizational standards before being published
Sourcing Manager
Sourcing Managers have broad visibility, including viewing all projects and running reports. However, they have limited permissions to create or administer projects. Their role is primarily focused on overseeing sourcing activities, analyzing data, and ensuring strategic alignment with business objectives.
Understanding Role-Based Permissions
| Activity / User Groups | Junior Sourcing Agent | Sourcing Agent | Sourcing Approver | Sourcing Manager |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Can create projects | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| View all projects | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Publish their own projects | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Translate projects | No | No | No | No |
| Administer events | No | No | No | No |
| Surrogate bid | No | No | No | No |
| Run reports | No | No | No | Yes |
| Add, edit, or delete suppliers | No | No | No | No |
| Publish projects for buyers in the Junior Sourcing Agent group | No | No | Yes | No |
Overview of Permissions by Role
| User Role | Permissions |
|---|---|
| Junior Sourcing Agent | Create Projects: Yes View All Projects: Yes Publish Own Projects: No Other Permissions: Limited ability; cannot translate, administer events, or add suppliers. |
| Sourcing Agent | Create Projects: Yes View All Projects: Yes Publish Own Projects: Yes Other Permissions: Cannot run reports or handle supplier management. |
| Sourcing Approver | Create Projects: Yes View All Projects: Yes Publish Own Projects: Yes Publish Projects for Junior Sourcing Agents: Yes |
| Sourcing Manager | View All Projects: Yes Run Reports: Yes Create or Administer Projects: Limited, cannot create projects or administer events. |
Summary
Understanding and configuring access controls in SAP Ariba Sourcing is essential for efficient and secure project management. The access control table ensures that each role has the appropriate permissions, aligning with their tasks and responsibilities. By following best practices and using role-based permissions effectively, you can create a well-organized and secure sourcing environment that supports collaboration while protecting sensitive data.
Use this guide to assign user roles and permissions properly, ensuring a smooth and compliant sourcing process within SAP Ariba Sourcing.