Körber develops Supplier Portal to Optimize Ordering Processes for Alnatura

Bad Nauheim, February 2, 2024. Alnatura, a German organic food retailer, has commissioned Körber to develop a portal aimed at further enhancing the ordering processes for Alnatura's suppliers. In addition to user-friendliness, the focus of this development was particularly on the data security of the newly designed solution. The SAP Supplier Portal is targeted at fruit, vegetable, and egg suppliers.

After just over a year since the commissioning, the OGE Portal, short for “Obst-Gemüse-Eier” (Fruit-Vegetable-Eggs), by Alnatura is now live. The organic food retailer sought a way to digitally optimize the procurement process in the OGE sector. Körber, chosen as the partner, consists of SAP Supply Chain experts. The software experts collaborated with Alnatura on conception and requirements and took charge of all process steps from realization to implementation and final optimization.

The solution implemented by Körber operates in the front-end using SAP Fiori and in the backend using SAP Retail. Alnatura prioritized the usability of the Supplier Portal, serving both small and large OGE suppliers. Körber consciously conducted user tests through Alnatura and selected suppliers. Another crucial aspect was the security of the solution, as external suppliers access it via the internet. To address this, Körber's SAP experts implemented a front-end-only proxy system. Additionally, penetration tests were carried out, employing an external service provider to attempt hacking into the Supplier Portal. The aim is for the Supplier Portal to be used and optimized in the long term, and Alnatura and Körber will continue their collaboration accordingly.

Karl-Heinz Kern, CEO Consulting, Körber Business Area Supply Chain, comments: "Our goal was not only to establish a well-functioning Supplier Portal for Alnatura but to create a solution that guarantees long-term security and generates added value for both suppliers and markets. Weekly exchanges allowed us to delve deep into the processes to optimize all functions, such as SAP Fiori apps."

Ramon Roos, Project Manager at Alnatura, also looks positively on the collaborative project: "Alnatura maintains high-quality standards, and cooperation with our suppliers is a crucial key to this. Körber's SAP expertise efficiently helped us digitize and standardize our OGE orders. We were able to cover the entire process from creating item master data, submitting and reviewing weekly offers, order transmission, and notification to invoicing suppliers. This enables our suppliers and markets to benefit from a straightforward and smooth ordering process, ensuring the end customer continues to enjoy a fresh and high-quality assortment."