Preparing to Implement PeopleSoft Enterprise Strategic Sourcing

This chapter provides an overview of PeopleSoft Enterprise Strategic Sourcing implementation and discusses how to:

Set up UDDI support for public strategic sourcing events.
Set up instant messaging by using MultiChannel Framework.
Set up bidder categorization trees.
Set up the registration homepage.
Set up discussion forums.
Set up file attachment servers.
Set up the uniform resource locator (URL) location for notifications.
Prepare terms and conditions.
Set up reason codes.
Set up user preferences.
Create standard comments.

Understanding PeopleSoft Enterprise Strategic Sourcing Implementation

This section discusses:

Bidder groups.
Standard comments.
Terms and conditions.
Discussion forums.
Implementation order.

Bidder Groups

You can create additional groupings for bidder invitations that enable you to save frequently used bidders as a group and invite the group to future sourcing events. This feature will expedite the process for searching and selecting bidders. Groups can contain any number and combination of bidders, vendors, and customers, therefore providing the maximum flexibility for maintaining lists containing different bidder types.

See Creating Bidder Groups.

Standard Comments

You can create various comments that you use regularly in various types of events. By creating standard comments, you do not have to rewrite them for each event or remember which comments need to go with which type of event.

You attach comments to events when you create the event.

You can display the comments on the event to the bidder or, if they are comments for internal use, you can hide them from bidders.

You can include comments on the award. If you are awarding to a purchase order or contract, the comments on the event also appear on the awarded purchase order or contract.

Terms and Conditions

Terms and conditions are the legal parameters that you establish to govern bidding on events. The Terms and Conditions document is displayed to users when they register to bid; they must accept the terms and conditions to complete their registration.

The document is also available for registered bidders to review at any time.

Discussion Forums

Bidders can use discussion forums to communicate with the event creator. PeopleSoft Enterprise Strategic Sourcing provides an event-specific forum for bidders to ask questions regarding the event and have them answered by the buyer. The forum administrator can delete messages from the forum, and delete entire forums as well.

Implementation Order

Implement PeopleSoft Enterprise Strategic Sourcing in the following order:

Strategic Sourcing Installation Options, including UDDI registry support (optional) and the MultiChannel Framework for chat.
Autonumbering.
Bidder categorization trees.
Bidder registration defaults.
Discussion forums.
File attachment server.
URL location for notifications.
Bidder terms and conditions.
UDDI support.
Sourcing reason codes.
User preferences.
Standard comments.

Setting Up UDDI Registry Support

This section discusses how to set up to use the UDDI Registry support feature.

Understanding the UDDI Registry

The UDDI Registry support feature enables you to search a specific UDDI registry to find appropriate suppliers to invite to the bidding process for an event. This functionality enables event creators to establish relationships with new vendors.

Note. This feature can only be used for those events marked as a Public Event.

To set up the UDDI Registry support:

Select the Allow Search of UDDI Registry option on the Strategic Sourcing Installation Options page (Set Up Financials/Supply Chain, Install, Installation Options, Strategic Sourcing).
Select the Public Event option on the Invite Bidders page (Sourcing, Create Events, Event Details, Event Summary, Bidder Invitations).

See Inviting Bidders.

Note. If you want to set up additional registries, use the Node Definitions page (PeopleTools, Integration Broker, Integration Setup, Node Definitions).

See Enterprise PeopleTools 8.46 PeopleBook: Integration Broker

Pages Used to Set Up the UDDI Registry

Page Name	Object Name	Navigation	Usage
Sourcing Installation Options	INSTALLATION_AUC	Set Up Financials/Supply Chain, Install, Installation Options, Strategic Sourcing	Select the Search of UDDI Registry option.
Invite Bidders	AUC_DISPATCH_PG	Sourcing, Create Events, Event Details, Event Summary, Bidder Invitations	Indicate that the event is a public event. See Inviting Bidders.
Node Definitions	IB_NODE	PeopleTools, Integration Broker, Integration Setup, Node Definitions	Define nodes to be used with the UDDI Registry feature.
Connectors	IB_NODECONN	PeopleTools, Integration Broker, Integration Setup, Node Definitions	Define other connection parameters for the nodes that will use the UDDI Registry feature.
Transactions	IB_NODETRXLIST	PeopleTools, Integration Broker, Integration Setup, Node Definitions	Enable the AUC_UDDI_MSG to enable the system to send messages to the internet for UDDI support.
Messages	IB_NODETRXMSG	PeopleTools, Integration Broker, Integration Setup, Node Definitions, Find an Existing Value	Set up message responses for the node you previously created.

Creating Node Definitions

Access the Node Definitions page.

Important! All node names should follow the naming convention of ‘UDDI_%’—where ‘%’ is the name of the UDDI repository. For example, if you are creating the IBM node, the Node Name should be UDDI_IBM.

To create new node definitions for the UDDI Registry feature:

Access the Node Info page, and enter the name of the new node.
Enter a Description for the node that you are creating.
Select the Active Node check box.
Select External in the Node Type field.
Select Explicit in the Routing Type field.
Leave the default value of None in the Authentication Option field.
Access the Connectors page.
Select LOCAL in the Gateway ID field.
Select HTTPTARGET in the Connector ID field.

The system automatically adds some properties to the node definition.
Modify these property IDs:
1. PRIMARYURL: This value should be equal to the URL for the UDDI registry owner.
  
  See http://www.uddi.org
2. HEADER: Add a value of SOAPAction and set the value to “” (null).
3. HEADER: Add a value of Content-Type and select the value of to text/xml; charset=utf-8.
Click Save.
Access the Transactions page, and click the Add Transactions button to add a new transaction for the node you just created.
Select Outbound Synchronous in the Transaction Type field.
Select AUC_UDDI_MSG in the Request Message field.
Select UDDI_MSG in the Request Message Version field.
Click Save.

The system adds the new transaction to the node.
Access the Messages page and select the node you just created.
Add these values:
1. Synchronous Logging: The default value is No Logging. If you want to debug the feature, select Header Only or Header and Detail.
2. Request Message and Response Message: The values in these group boxes must be identical.
Click Save.

See Also

Enterprise PeopleTools 8.46 PeopleBook: Integration Broker

Setting Up Instant Messaging Using MultiChannel Framework

To set up instant messaging for Strategic Sourcing, use the Installation Options - Strategic Sourcing page.

The PeopleTools MultiChannel Framework is used to enable instant messaging among bidders and event creators. Bidders can initiate chats with an event owner, which enables bidders to receive immediate responses on questions or clarifications for a selected event.

To set up the MultiChannel Framework:

Create and configure clusters.
Configure REN servers.
Configure MCF queues.
Access the Installation Options - Strategic Sourcing page.

Set up MultiChannel Framework defaults.
Maintain MCF agents (optional).

See Enterprise PeopleTools 8.46 PeopleBook: PeopleSoft MultiChannel Framework

Note. To maintain a chat log for events, select PeopleTools, MCF, Universal Queue, Configuration, Cluster Tuning. Change the Key log_chat_ses value to Yes to turn on the log. You must reboot the application server for the system to start maintaining a chat log.

Setting Up Bidder Categorization Trees

To set up bidder categorization trees, use the Maintain Categorization Trees (AUC_SLF_CAT_CREATE_GBL) component.

This section provides an overview of bidder categorization and discusses how to set up bidder categorization trees.

Understanding Bidder Categorization

You can set up bidder categorization trees, which bidders can use to register for interest in selected categories. You can use predefined trees or manually add nodes. You can select the number of node levels to display to the bidders; for example, you can display only the top three node levels of a four-node tree to the bidders.

Registered bidders can select bidding categories when they register to personalize the events in which they want to participate. Bidders can also maintain their lists of categories after they register and after becoming a vendor or customer. Event creators can use these categories to target event invitations to the group of bidders that is most interested in those events.

Pages Used to Set Up Bidder Categorization Trees

Page Name	Object Name	Navigation	Usage
Maintain Categorization Trees	AUC_CAT_CREATE_HP	Set Up Financials/Supply Chain, Product Related, Sourcing, Create SelfCategorization Tree	Create new and view existing self-categorization trees.
Self Categorization Tree	AUC_SLF_CAT_CREATE	Set Up Financials/Supply Chain, Product Related, Sourcing, Create SelfCategorization Tree. Click Edit to view an existing tree or create a new one.	Create and modify categorization trees that can be associated to bidders.

Setting Up Bidder Categorization Trees

Access the Maintain Categorization Trees page.

SetID

Select the setID for the tree.

Create Tree

Click this button to create a new self categorization tree.

Editing and Viewing Self Categorization Trees

Access the Self Categorization Tree page by clicking the Edit button next to the tree that you want to edit or view on the Maintain Categorization Trees page.

Sourcing, Sell, or Buy

Click to create a tree for sourcing, sell, or buy events.

Note. Sell categories appear as purchase categories to bidders. Buy categories appear as sell categories to bidders.

Click to edit the selected tree node. The system displays the group box. Select a category and click the Submit button to add it to the tree.

Click to add a child branch to the node.

Click to add a sibling branch to the node.

Click to cut the selected child.

Click to paste a child.

Click to remove a child.

Click to add an existing PeopleSoft Enterprise tree as a node to the self-categorization tree. If you have an existing item or asset category tree, it saves time to copy it into the buy or sell node.

Setting Up the Registration Homepage

To set up bidder registration, use the Bidder Registration Setup (AUC_BID_REG_SETUP_GBL) component.

This section discusses how to set up bidder registration.

Pages Used to Set Up the Registration Homepage

Page Name	Object Name	Navigation	Usage
Bidder Registration Setup Homepage	AUC_BID_REG_SETUP	Set Up Financials/Supply Chain, Product Related, Sourcing, Bidder Registration Setup	Identify the information that bidders must enter as part of registration and indicate whether approvals are required
Bid Factor Question	AUC_RG_BF_CMMT_SEC	Click the Bid Factor Question button on the Bidder Registration Setup Homepage.	Define profile questions for business or individuals to answer as part of the registration process.

Setting Up Bidder Registration

Access the Bidder Registration Setup Homepage.

Default Bidder Registration Setup

Click to make the values that you enter a default guest user for the selected setID.

User ID

Select to apply roles that are assigned to a default bidder to this bidder. This default bidder user ID is set up by using the User Profile - Roles page.

Important! You send the default user ID to new bidders when you invite them to events. They use this value as their ID and password, after which, they can create their own bidder information.

Tree ID

Assign a default bidder categorization tree to bidders when they register.

See Setting Up Bidder Categorization Trees.

Workflow Approval Required	Indicate whether bidder registrations must be approved before bidders can use PeopleSoft Enterprise Strategic Sourcing. Important! If you select this value, all bidder registration must be approved.
Role Name	Assign the user role that is responsible for approving all bidder registration requests if workflow is required.
Event Preferences	Select the type of event to set up workflow approval for each role. Values are Both, Purchase Good/Services, Sell Good/Services.
SIC Codes (standard industry code codes)	Indicate whether bidders can enter standard industry codes that are related to their businesses. If selected, you can indicate the type of standard industry codes that bidders can select from.
Standard ID Qualifier	Select which ID numbers must be provided by the bidders during registration. Options include: Comp Tax Reg Number - Brazil Company Identification Number Company Number - Australia DUNS Number Dun & Bradstreet Number Fiscal ID - Company - Italy Fiscal ID - Indiv - Italy Fiscal ID Number - Spain Ind Tax Reg Number - Brazil Municipal Reg Number - Brazil NIC Number - France SIREN Number - France SIRET Number - France State Reg Number - Brazil Tax Identification Number
Required Flag	Select to make each standard ID qualifier required for bidder registration.
Profile Questions	Enter to obtain bidder-identified information from the bidders. For example, you may want to know how many years the bidder has been in business. You create a profile code of YEARSBUS, make it a numeric type, and click the Bid Factor Question button to ask the question: How many years have you been in business? If you select the required check box, the bidder must answer to register successfully.
Bidder Type	Indicate whether the profile question is for bidders registering as a business, an individual, or both.
Profile Factor Type	Select standard bid factor types for profile codes: Date List Multi-select List Monetary Numeric Text Yes/No
Required Flag	Select to make each profile factor required for bidder registration.

See Also

Enterprise PeopleTools 8.46 PeopleBook: Security Administration

Defining Strategic Sourcing User Preferences

Setting Up Discussion Forums

To set up discussion forums, use the Sourcing Forum Administration (AUC_FORUM_ADMIN_GBL) component.

This section discusses how to set up discussion forums.

Pages Used to Set Up Discussion Forums

Page Name	Object Name	Navigation	Usage
Manage Forum Settings	AUC_FORUM_MGR	Set Up Financials/Supply Chain, Product Related, Sourcing, Forum Administration	Use to create and manage discussion forums. You also can set up forum user permissions.
Manage Forum Messages	AUC_MESSAGE_MGR	Click the Manage Forum Messages link on the Manage Forum Settings page.	View and delete message threads.
Forum User Lookup	AUC_FORUM_LOOKUP	Click the Load Binds button for a user type on the Manage Forum Settings page.	Search for forum users.

Setting Up Discussion Forums

Access the Manage Forum Settings page.

To create permissions for a discussion forum user:

Click Event Specific Forum to designate this forum as related to a specific event rather than a general forum.
You can optionally set this as the forum for which all event discussion threads are maintained by selecting the Default Event specific forum check box.
Enter a user type of Bidder, Customer, Role, User, or Vendor.

If you want to assign permission for a group of users by role, select Role.
Click Read Only to assign read permission to a user or role but not the ability to create messages.
Click Block to prevent the user type from accessing the discussion forum.

Setting Up File Attachment Servers

This section discusses how to set up file attachment servers.

Page Used to Set Up File Attachment Servers

Page Name	Object Name	Navigation	Usage
Maintain File Att Servers	PV_ATT_SRV_ADMIN	Set Up Financials/Supply Chain, Common Definitions, File Attachments, Administer File Attachments	Used to set up the FTP server location for PDF and XML file attachments which are included with notifications.

Setting Up File Attachment Servers

Access the Maintain File Att Servers page.

Click the Add FTP Server button.
Enter the login name, password, FTP server name, and pathname for the attachments.

This section discusses how to set up the URLs.

Page Used to Set Up URL Locations

Page Name	Object Name	Navigation	Usage
URL Maintenance	URL_TABLE	PeopleTools, Utilities, Administration, URLs	Enter the URL, pertinent description, and comments.

Setting Up URLs

Access the URL Maintenance page.

You must set up the following URLs:

AUC_TEMP
AUC_TEMP_UPLOAD
EMP_SERVLET
SUP_SERVLET

Preparing Terms and Conditions

To set up terms and conditions, use the Terms and Conditions Setup component.

This section discusses how to create terms and conditions.

Pages Used to Prepare Terms and Conditions

Page Name	Object Name	Navigation	Usage
Define Terms and Conditions	AUC_TERMS_PG	Set Up Financials/Supply Chain, Product Related, Sourcing, Define Terms and Conditions	Create legal terms for bidder agreement.
Terms and Conditions	AUC_VIEW_TERMS	Event Responses, View Terms and Conditions	Display terms and conditions for review.

Creating Terms and Conditions

Access the Define Terms and Conditions page.

Sections	Create several sections within a terms and conditions document. An unlimited amount of text can go into each section.
Message Text	Enter the text of the terms and conditions.

Setting Up Reason Codes

This section discusses how to set up reason codes.

Page Used to Set Up Reason Codes

Page Name	Object Name	Navigation	Usage
Reason Codes	REASON_CD	Set Up Financials/Supply Chain, Common Definitions, Codes and Auto Numbering, Reason Codes	Define reason codes, which provide explanations for occurrences such as pausing and resuming auction events, disallowing bids, or disapproving a bidder's registration request.

Using Reason Codes

Access the Reason Code page.

You can set up reason types and codes within PeopleSoft Enterprise Strategic Sourcing. Reason types correspond to actions; codes are the reasons given for the action.

PeopleSoft Enterprise delivers the following reason types and codes in PeopleSoft Enterprise Strategic Sourcing, but you can add more to meet business requirements:

Bid Rejection
Bidder Registration Denial
Decline Event Invitation
Disallow Bid
Pause Event
Resume Event

Setting Up User Preferences

This section discusses how to create PeopleSoft Enterprise Strategic Sourcing user preferences.

Page Used to Set Up User Preferences

Page Name	Object Name	Navigation	Usage
User Preferences - Sourcing	OPR_DEF_TBL_SS	Set Up Financials/Supply Chain, Common Definitions, User Preferences, Define User Preferences. Click the Strategic Sourcing link on the User Preferences page.	Define PeopleSoft Enterprise Strategic Sourcing specific user preferences and defaults.

Creating PeopleSoft Enterprise Strategic Sourcing User Preferences

Access the Strategic Sourcing User Preferences page.

Use this page to set up permissions and defaults for the selected user, including whether or not they can create buy, sell, or RFI events, event authorizations, copy from transactions, sourcing constraint permissions, and sourcing template permissions.

Note. To award to purchase orders or contracts, users must have access on the Procurement User Preferences page to create contracts, purchase orders, and enter and approve vendors.

Creating Standard Comments

To set up standard comments, use the Standard Comments component. To set up standard comment types, use the Standard Comments Types component.

This section lists the pages used to create standard comments.

See Also

Creating Events

Creating Standard Comments

Pages Used to Create Standard Comments

Page Name	Object Name	Navigation	Usage
Standard Comments	AUC_STD_COMMENTS	Sourcing, Create Events, Standard Comments	Boilerplate comments that you use regularly for many events.
Standard Comment Type	AUC_STD_COMM_TYPE	Sourcing, Create Events, Standard Comment Type	Identify categories of comments, such as comments specific to sale events, for ease in identifying which comments to attach to which events.

SetID	Select the setID for the tree.
Create Tree	Click this button to create a new self categorization tree.

Sourcing, Sell, or Buy	Click to create a tree for sourcing, sell, or buy events. Note. Sell categories appear as purchase categories to bidders. Buy categories appear as sell categories to bidders.
	Click to edit the selected tree node. The system displays the group box. Select a category and click the Submit button to add it to the tree.
	Click to add a child branch to the node.
	Click to add a sibling branch to the node.
	Click to cut the selected child.
	Click to paste a child.
	Click to remove a child.
	Click to add an existing PeopleSoft Enterprise tree as a node to the self-categorization tree. If you have an existing item or asset category tree, it saves time to copy it into the buy or sell node.