Tag: SAP Ariba alternative

Posted on by Bert Paesbrugghe

Which Tool Is Best for Modern SRM?

Procurement teams across the globe are under pressure to deliver supplier accountability, sustainability, and risk transparency — without adding headcount. As a result, supplier scorecard software is moving from a “nice to have” to a strategic necessity.

But which tool is best?

In this guide, we compare EvaluationsHub, SAP Ariba, Jaggaer, Synertrade, Coupa, MeRLIN, Zycus, and other key players. We evaluate how each performs across what really matters in 2025: integration, automation, usability, actionability, and collaboration.

Let’s find the best match for your business.

📊 At a Glance: Top Supplier Scorecard Software Tools in 2025

Tool Best For ERP Integration Supplier Collaboration Templates & Automation Strengths Weaknesses
EvaluationsHub Mid-large companies using ERP, wanting accountability layer ✅ Native on-top integration (SAP, Oracle, Excel) ✅ Full two-way ✅ Yes, with workflow builder Lightweight layer, “close-the-loop”, action-tracking Newer brand, fewer built-in sourcing tools
SAP Ariba Scorecarding SAP-heavy enterprises ✅ Deep SAP integration ❌ Mostly internal view ⚠️ Limited automation Native SAP compatibility Complex, expensive, poor supplier UI
Jaggaer Universities, large supply chains ✅ Jaggaer One ecosystem ⚠️ Partial ✅ Extensive forms Strong in education/Gov UX is dated, admin-heavy
Coupa Enterprises with spend focus ✅ Coupa-native ⚠️ Moderate ✅ Good analytics Strong for finance/procurement ops Scorecarding not central
Zycus iPerform Indian/global MNCs ✅ via Zycus iSource/iSupplier ❌ Internal only ⚠️ Semi-automated Suite cohesion Slower rollouts, rigid
Synertrade European mid-market ✅ SAP/Oracle APIs ❌ Internal-focused ⚠️ Manual workflows Flexible pricing UX/UI not intuitive
MeRLIN Emerging markets & value-focused orgs ✅ Moderate ⚠️ Light portals ⚠️ Templates available Modular and low-cost Limited brand trust, not plug-and-play

🏆 Why EvaluationsHub Stands Out

EvaluationsHub is designed specifically for companies that:

  • Already have an ERP system (SAP, Oracle, Dynamics, etc.)

  • Need a scorecarding and evaluation layer — without replacing existing systems

  • Want to close the loop with suppliers, not just “score” them

  • Care about automation, external collaboration, and template-driven deployment

It delivers what many of the legacy SRM tools don’t:

Feature EvaluationsHub Others
Designed as a lightweight SRM layer ✅ ❌ (mostly full-suite, heavy)
Pushes full evaluations to suppliers ✅ ❌ (internal-only or form-based)
Built-in follow-ups & action plans ✅ ⚠️ (manual tasking)
Real-time dashboards + feedback loop ✅ ⚠️
Fast deployment (days, not months) ✅ ❌
Supplier-friendly portal ✅ ⚠️ (Ariba, Zycus = poor UX)

🔍 Deep-Dive Comparison

1. ERP Integration

Tool Comment
EvaluationsHub Integrates on top of SAP, Oracle, Excel, etc. — no data duplication
SAP Ariba Native SAP, but requires full Ariba suite setup
Coupa Requires Coupa Spend suite — not agnostic
Jaggaer Works best inside its ecosystem
Synertrade, MeRLIN Uses APIs, some setup complexity
Zycus Built into their own platform; not open-layer friendly

➡️ Winner: EvaluationsHub — best for augmenting, not replacing, your ERP.

2. Supplier Collaboration Features

Tool Can suppliers log in? Can they respond or take actions?
EvaluationsHub ✅ Yes ✅ Yes — feedback, uploads, improvements
SAP Ariba ⚠️ Complicated supplier UI ⚠️ Limited two-way interaction
Jaggaer ⚠️ Possible with config ❌ Typically internal-focused
Coupa ⚠️ Some modules ⚠️ Not purpose-built for scorecarding
Zycus, Synertrade ⚠️ Very limited ❌ Often PDF-based or Excel uploads

➡️ Winner: EvaluationsHub — purpose-built for transparent supplier collaboration.

3. Close-the-Loop Functionality

Most tools show performance, but don’t help suppliers act on it. Here’s who closes the loop:

Tool Scorecard → Action Plan → Monitoring
EvaluationsHub ✅ Yes – native action flows + task assignment
SAP Ariba ⚠️ Possible via workflows, not default
Coupa ⚠️ Good analytics but not built-in action tracking
Jaggaer ❌ Manual follow-up
Zycus ⚠️ Form-based
Synertrade, MeRLIN ❌ No built-in feedback/action loop

➡️ Winner: EvaluationsHub — one of the only tools with embedded improvement workflows.

4. Template Library & Workflow Automation

Tool Pre-built scorecards? Automation of surveys / reminders?
EvaluationsHub ✅ Yes — ESG, delivery, risk, etc. ✅ Fully automated with branching
Ariba ⚠️ Basic templates, not dynamic ⚠️ Manual scheduling
Jaggaer ✅ Extensive but complex ⚠️ Partial automation
Coupa ⚠️ Spend-focused templates ⚠️ Requires setup
Zycus, MeRLIN ⚠️ Static ❌ Limited

➡️ Winner: EvaluationsHub — designed for fast starts and repeated use at scale.

5. Ease of Use and Setup Speed

Tool Time to Go Live User-Friendliness
EvaluationsHub Days ✅ Clean UI for buyers + suppliers
SAP Ariba Months ❌ Often requires consultants
Coupa Weeks–Months ⚠️ Better for power users
Jaggaer Weeks ⚠️ Admin-heavy
Zycus, Synertrade Months ⚠️ Clunky interfaces

➡️ Winner: EvaluationsHub — the fastest time-to-value with the lowest friction.

🛠️ Which Tool Should You Choose?

Use Case Recommended Tool
You already use SAP, but don’t want to buy Ariba EvaluationsHub
You want real collaboration with suppliers EvaluationsHub
You need fast deployment and action tracking EvaluationsHub
You’re already deep in the Coupa ecosystem Coupa
You need scorecarding plus full sourcing suite Jaggaer, Zycus
You want low-cost solution in emerging markets MeRLIN

Real-World Insight

Most tools in this space were built as part of full SRM suites. They’re heavy, slow to deploy, and focused on internal processes. EvaluationsHub flips that model.

It’s the only tool in this comparison that:

  • Was designed from day one to be a smart supplier-facing layer

  • Emphasizes accountability and collaboration

  • Supports automated scorecarding at scale

  • Enables corrective actions, not just evaluations

For companies that already have ERP but want better SRM without massive IT projects, the best tool is clear.

TL;DR: EvaluationsHub vs. the Rest

Criteria EvaluationsHub Most Others
Deployment time Days Months
ERP Layered Integration ✅ ⚠️ / ❌
Supplier Portal Built-in, seamless Clunky or absent
Close-the-loop actions ✅ Yes ⚠️ / ❌
Template library ✅ With ESG, quality, etc. ⚠️ Partial
AI/automation ✅ Smart flows ❌ Mostly manual
Ideal for Companies with ERP wanting better SRM Companies buying full suites

Final Word

Supplier performance management is no longer about scoring vendors once a year.
It’s about building continuous accountability, transparency, and alignment.

That means:

  • Structured, repeatable evaluations

  • Two-way collaboration

  • Automated follow-up and improvement

  • Deep insights from existing ERP data

That means: EvaluationsHub.

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Posted on by DigitalMarket

SAP Ariba vs EvaluationsHub: Which Supplier Performance Management Solution Fits Your Needs?

When organizations look to strengthen their supplier management processes, two names often come up: SAP Ariba and EvaluationsHub. While SAP Ariba is a well-established platform within the SAP ecosystem, EvaluationsHub represents a new generation of supplier evaluation software — designed to act as an extra layer on top of ERP systems such as SAP S/4HANA.

This blog post compares both solutions, explains their strengths, and shows why EvaluationsHub is increasingly becoming the preferred choice for organizations that want automated supplier scorecards, customer and supplier feedback loops, and a seamless bridge between internal and external workflows.

What Is SAP Ariba?

SAP Ariba is part of SAP’s procurement suite. It connects buyers and suppliers via the Ariba Network, enabling companies to manage procurement, contracts, sourcing, and supplier risk. Its main strengths include:

  • Deep integration with SAP ERP and S/4HANA

  • Supplier onboarding and qualification workflows

  • Spend visibility and sourcing optimization

  • Contract lifecycle management

  • Access to a global supplier network

SAP Ariba is widely used by large enterprises that already run SAP ERP. It is a powerful procurement tool — but it was primarily designed for transactional purchasing processes, not for continuous supplier performance evaluation or customer feedback automation.

What Is EvaluationsHub?

EvaluationsHub is a modern supplier performance management (SPM) and customer evaluation platform. It does not replace SAP or other ERP systems. Instead, it acts as an extra layer over your ERP, focused on external collaboration with suppliers and customers.

Where SAP Ariba covers transactions, EvaluationsHub focuses on relationships and performance improvement.

Key strengths of EvaluationsHub include:

  • Automated supplier scorecards: push structured evaluations to internal stakeholders or external partners.

  • Customer and supplier feedback management: close the loop with clients and suppliers in one place.

  • Template-based project journeys: launch initiatives such as sustainability, ESG, compliance, or quality improvement across your supplier base.

  • ERP integration: pull supplier data from SAP S/4HANA (or other ERP systems) and enrich it with real-time performance insights.

  • Multi-tenancy and subdomains: invite suppliers or customers into a branded collaboration portal.

  • Analytics dashboards: track performance trends, risk signals, and procurement analytics across your network.

In short: EvaluationsHub transforms static ERP supplier data into actionable insights and continuous improvement workflows.

SAP Ariba vs EvaluationsHub: A Side-by-Side Comparison

Feature / Focus Area SAP Ariba EvaluationsHub
Core Purpose Procurement transactions, sourcing, supplier onboarding Supplier performance management, customer & supplier feedback, project journeys
ERP Role Deeply integrated with SAP S/4HANA for transactions Sits on top of ERP (SAP, Oracle, Microsoft, etc.) to enrich supplier and customer data
Supplier Network Global Ariba Network Collaborative evaluation portals with suppliers & customers
Supplier Evaluation Basic questionnaires & risk checks Automated, recurring scorecards across quality, delivery, sustainability, innovation, etc.
Feedback Loops Limited customer engagement Two-way feedback: suppliers and customers both contribute insights
Sustainability & ESG Procurement focus (supplier risk, compliance) Template-based journeys for ESG, CSR, compliance, and performance improvement
User Experience Designed for procurement specialists Designed for cross-functional teams (purchasing, quality, operations, CSR, customer success)
Deployment Enterprise-scale, IT-heavy setup Cloud-based, agile deployment, branded subdomains for each company

Why EvaluationsHub Complements SAP Ariba

Many companies use SAP Ariba as part of their procurement backbone. However, they often struggle with:

  • Collecting structured feedback from internal teams or customers.

  • Engaging suppliers in improvement projects beyond transactional performance.

  • Turning ERP data into actionable performance insights.

This is where EvaluationsHub fits perfectly as an extra layer over SAP S/4HANA. By integrating with ERP data, EvaluationsHub can automatically:

  • Trigger supplier scorecards when spend crosses a threshold.

  • Launch a sustainability evaluation project for selected suppliers.

  • Compare supplier delivery performance from ERP with qualitative customer feedback.

  • Create continuous feedback loops that go far beyond procurement transactions.

The result? Reduced supplier churn, stronger collaboration, and measurable performance improvements across the supply base. Learn more about how to reduce supplier churn with EvaluationsHub.

SEO-Relevant Takeaways

If you are searching for:

  • SAP Ariba alternatives

  • Supplier evaluation software

  • Supplier performance management platform

  • SAP S/4HANA supplier scorecard integration

  • Customer and supplier feedback automation

→ EvaluationsHub delivers what Ariba does not.

Final Thoughts

Choosing between SAP Ariba and EvaluationsHub is not an either/or decision. In fact, the two solutions complement each other:

  • SAP Ariba provides the backbone for procurement and transactional supplier management.

  • EvaluationsHub adds the collaborative layer for performance evaluations, feedback loops, and strategic initiatives that ERP systems and procurement suites don’t natively cover.

For organizations that already rely on SAP S/4HANA, adding EvaluationsHub is the fastest way to close the gap between internal ERP data and external collaboration with suppliers and customers.

👉 If you want to move from static supplier data to actionable performance management, EvaluationsHub is your answer.