SAP Ariba Consultant

Support the implementation, enhancement, and optimization of SAP Ariba procurement solutions.

Focus on Guided Buying, catalogs, approval workflows, SAP Business Network, and downstream procurement processes.

Support configuration and implementation activities in SAP Ariba.

Contribute to the design and implementation of process improvements in Guided Buying and related procurement scenarios.

Support additional SAP Ariba solutions, such as Buying and Invoicing, Sourcing, and Supplier Management, where applicable.

Support custom development and enhancements within the relevant add-on environment.

Ensure the functional and technical quality of project deliverables.

Contribute to the standardization, reusability, and continuous improvement of SAP Ariba solutions.

Integration and Technical Architecture Support

Support and coordinate integration scenarios between SAP Ariba and SAP ECC or SAP S/4HANA systems.

Contribute to CIG-based integration scenarios and SAP Business Network connectivity.

Support API- and service-based integration topics, including REST APIs, web services, SCIM APIs for user provisioning, and SSL-encrypted SOAP API calls.

Contribute to the understanding and implementation of enterprise Ariba architecture involving MDG-S, SAP IPS, SAP IAS, and IAM.

Coordinate with integration specialists, middleware teams, master data teams, and external partners.

Analyze and resolve interface-related defects, data inconsistencies, and integration failures.

Support stable and reliable end-to-end procurement processes across connected systems.

Project Delivery, Stakeholder Management, and Governance

Work closely with procurement stakeholders, key users, global process owners, IT colleagues, and external implementation partners.

Lead or co-lead international SAP Ariba projects and rollout activities.

Coordinate the implementation of cross-functional business requirements.

Provide consulting and guidance regarding solution options, dependencies, risks, and implementation approaches.

Support project planning, prioritization, status reporting, and issue management.

Contribute to governance, standardization, and continuous improvement of digital procurement processes.

Work effectively in agile or hybrid project environments, including Scrum and Kanban where applicable.

Testing, Quality Assurance, and Troubleshooting

Prepare and support unit tests, integration tests, regression tests, and user acceptance tests.

Conduct functional and technical validation of implemented solutions.

Analyze defects, incidents, support tickets, and process disruptions.

Perform root-cause analysis and coordinate sustainable resolution.

Support troubleshooting across configuration, integration, catalog, workflow, user provisioning, and authorization-related topics.

Support productive deployments, hypercare phases, and post-go-live stabilization.

Ensure that solutions meet defined functional, technical, and quality requirements.

Documentation, Change Management, and User Adoption

Create and maintain process documentation, system documentation, solution concepts, and test evidence.

Prepare operational guidance and knowledge-transfer materials.

Support change management and user adoption activities during implementation and rollout projects.

Support training preparation and the enablement of key users and support teams.

Assist internal customers during solution introduction and productive use through support, consulting, and coordination.

Contribute to the continuous improvement of internal processes, templates, and methodologies.

Interfaces

Internal:

Procurement and purchasing business stakeholders

Global procurement process owners

Key users

IT Application Services

SAP Ariba consultants and administrators

SAP MM consultants and ERP procurement teams

Integration specialists and middleware teams

Enterprise and solution architecture teams

Identity and access management teams

Master data teams

Project managers

Release managers

Test coordinators

Change management stakeholders

Application support and operations teams

Regional and global IT organizations

Management stakeholders

External:

External SAP Ariba consultants

SAP implementation and rollout partners

SAP integration partners

External development and support providers

Technology and middleware service providers

Suppliers and partner organizations involved in SAP Business Network scenarios

Third-party vendors involved in procurement-related integrations

We offer:

Experience:

• Minimum five years of relevant professional experience in SAP Ariba consulting, implementation, rollout, or support.
• Strong hands-on experience in SAP Ariba Procurement.
• Ideally, experience in both upstream and downstream SAP Ariba process areas.
• Proven experience with Guided Buying, catalogs, approval workflows, and SAP Business Network.
• Strong experience with CIG and SAP Ariba integration scenarios.
• Experience integrating SAP Ariba with SAP ECC and SAP S/4HANA systems.
• Experience with international SAP Ariba implementation and rollout projects.
• Experience coordinating cross-functional and internationally distributed teams.
• Experience working with business stakeholders, IT teams, and external implementation partners.
• Experience in requirements analysis, solution design, implementation coordination, testing, and productive support.
• Experience in troubleshooting and resolving cross-system issues.
• Experience with global procurement templates is an advantage.
• Experience with agile delivery approaches is desirable.
• Experience with change management and user adoption is desirable.

Tasks and Qualifications:

Position

Job Title:

Expert Professional SAP Ariba Consultant

Employer:

KION INDIA Pvt Ltd

Name of Employee:

Job location:

Department:

Pune

IT

KION Grade

(based on job evaluation)

Expert Professional

Solid reporting line to:

Dotted reporting line to:

Position:

Manager Supply Chain Supplier Collaboration

Position:

Name:

Vanessa Postel

Name:

Department:

IT Supply Chain Supplier Collaboration

Department:

Job Dimensions

Number of direct reports

(solid line):

Number of reports

(dotted line):

Span of control (disciplinary)

Span of control (including dotted line, matrix organisations):

Key metrics (e.g. annual turnover, production cost, purchase volume, budget):

With Weightage

SAP Ariba solution delivery and enhancement quality

Quality, timeliness, and effectiveness of SAP Ariba implementations, enhancements, support activities, and procurement process optimization. Business requirement analysis and solution design

Quality and feasibility of requirements analyses, functional concepts, solution designs, and implementation approaches. Integration quality and system reliability

Stability and effectiveness of integrations between SAP Ariba, SAP ECC, SAP S/4HANA, SAP Business Network, and connected applications. Stakeholder collaboration and consulting effectiveness

Effective collaboration with business stakeholders, key users, process owners, IT teams, and external implementation partners. Project execution and rollout support

Contribution to international implementation projects, rollout activities, testing, deployment, and post-go-live support. Incident resolution and troubleshooting

Timely and sustainable resolution of defects, incidents, support tickets, and integration-related issues. Documentation and knowledge transfer

Quality of process documentation, solution documentation, test evidence, operational guidance, and knowledge-sharing activities.

Main purpose of the position (% of Time)

• The Expert Professional SAP Ariba Consultant is responsible for the design, implementation, enhancement, integration, rollout, and support of SAP Ariba procurement solutions in an international environment.
• The position supports internal customers in setting up, further developing, and improving digital procurement processes. The role acts as a senior functional and technical counterpart for business stakeholders, key users, global process owners, internal IT teams, and external implementation partners.
• The position focuses on SAP Ariba Procurement, particularly Guided Buying, catalog-based procurement, approval workflows, SAP Business Network, and CIG-based integration scenarios. The role is responsible for analyzing business requirements, translating them into robust and sustainable solution concepts, supporting configuration and implementation activities, and ensuring alignment between business requirements and SAP Ariba capabilities.
• The position also supports the integration of SAP Ariba with SAP ECC and SAP S/4HANA systems, as well as connected applications and platforms. Additional responsibilities include testing, troubleshooting, documentation, quality assurance, international rollouts, change management, user adoption, and continuous improvement.
• The role requires comprehensive SAP Ariba knowledge, a sound understanding of procurement processes, strong integration capabilities, excellent stakeholder-management skills, and the ability to work effectively in international and cross-functional teams.

Accountabilities (% of Time)

Business Requirement Analysis and Solution Design

• Analyze incoming business requirements together with key users, procurement stakeholders, and process owners.
• Translate business requirements into functional and technical SAP Ariba solution concepts.
• Assess requirements against existing procurement processes, global templates, system architecture, and integration standards.
• Define scalable, maintainable, and business-oriented solution approaches.
• Prepare functional concepts, solution designs, process flows, and implementation documentation.
• Assess dependencies, risks, solution alternatives, and implementation effort.
• Ensure alignment between business requirements and SAP Ariba solution capabilities.

Required functional Core competencies & Skill sets

• Comprehensive knowledge of SAP Ariba Procurement.
• Strong expertise in Guided Buying and SAP Business Network.
• Strong expertise in CIG and current SAP Ariba integration scenarios.
• Good understanding of procurement and purchasing processes in international environments.
• Experience with catalogs, catalog integration, PunchOut catalogs, forms, and approval workflows.
• Good understanding of SAP ECC and SAP S/4HANA integration in procurement-related scenarios.
• Knowledge and understanding of enterprise Ariba architecture, including MDG-S, SAP IPS, SAP IAS, and IAM.
• Good understanding of REST APIs, web services, SCIM APIs for user provisioning, and SSL-encrypted SOAP API calls.
• Experience with integration scenarios, APIs, middleware, and connected procurement platforms.
• Good ABAP development and debugging skills for analysis and issue resolution.
• Experience with custom development within the relevant add-on environment.
• Knowledge of SAP Fiori and modern SAP UX concepts.
• Ability to conduct requirements analyses and translate business requirements into functional and technical solution concepts.
• Experience in creating functional concepts, solution designs, process documentation, and system documentation.
• Experience in testing, error analysis, troubleshooting, and quality assurance.
• Strong understanding of SAP MM procurement processes.
• Experience with SAP Ariba Buying and Invoicing, Sourcing, or Supplier Management is desirable.
• Knowledge of Supplier Enablement is an advantage.
• Knowledge of global procurement templates is an advantage.
• Knowledge of change management and user adoption concepts.
• Experience with agile project methodologies such as Scrum or Kanban.
• Strong stakeholder-management, communication, and coordination skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
• Structured, quality-oriented, and solution-driven working style.
• Ability to work effectively in international, multicultural, and cross-functional teams.
• Very good English skills, both written and spoken.
• Willingness to travel for project-related assignments, where required.

Required experience & qualifications

Qualifications/Specialization:

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Business Informatics, Engineering, Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, or a comparable discipline.
• Alternatively, equivalent professional qualifications combined with strong relevant work experience may be considered.
• Specialization in SAP Ariba, digital procurement, enterprise applications, procurement transformation, or related technologies.
• Strong knowledge of SAP Ariba Procurement and related integration architecture.
• Good knowledge of SAP MM and procurement processes required.
• SAP Ariba certification is an advantage.
• Knowledge of SAP Business Network is an advantage.
• Knowledge of SAP Integration Suite and related middleware technologies is an advantage.
• Knowledge of APIs, web services, CIG, and current SAP Ariba integration scenarios is an advantage.
• Experience with SAP Fiori and modern SAP UX concepts is an advantage.
• Very good English skills, both written and spoken.