Introduction to PunchCommerce | Create OCI and cXML PunchOut Catalogues | PunchCommerce                            ![](//analytics.punchcommerce.de/matomo.php?idsite=1&rec=1)

Introduction to PunchCommerce
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PunchCommerce is a specialised cloud-based solution that enables companies to connect their online shops or product catalogues directly to their customers’ procurement systems (ERP / e-procurement).

Instead of developing a separate, expensive interface for each customer, PunchCommerce offers a central platform that acts as a translator between your system and the various standards used in the procurement world. We charge on a per-customer, per-month basis – regardless of which protocol (OCI, cXML or IDS) is used for access.

Supported communication standards
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PunchCommerce covers the three key industry standards to ensure the seamless transfer of catalogue and order data:

- **OCI (Open Catalog Interface):** The standard developed by SAP. It is the most widely used standard in Europe for connecting supplier shops to ERP systems.
- **cXML (Commerce Extensible Markup Language):** An international standard (initiated by Ariba) used worldwide for e-commerce and integration with cloud platforms.
- **IDS Connect (Integrated Data Interface):** The essential standard for the trades and wholesale sectors (plumbing, heating and electrical). It connects tradespeople’s software directly to suppliers’ shop systems to transfer shopping baskets and enable product deep links.

Operating modes: Gateway vs. Hosted Catalogue
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Depending on your technical setup, PunchCommerce offers two ways to connect your customers:

### 1. Gateway mode (connection to your online shop)

In this mode, PunchCommerce acts as an intermediary between your customer’s procurement system and your existing online shop.

- **Advantage:** You only need **a single interface** to PunchCommerce. We handle the conversion into the format required by the customer (OCI, cXML or IDS).
- **Integration:** We provide ready-made plugins for common systems such as Shopware (5 & 6), Magento 2 or JTL-Shop. Other systems can be connected via our standard interface.
- **Benefits:** Reduction in manual processes, avoidance of data transfer errors and a seamless shopping experience for your key accounts within your familiar shop design.

### 2. Hosted Catalogue (Static Catalogue on PunchCommerce)

If you do not operate your own online shop or wish to provide exclusive product ranges for specific customers, the catalogue mode is the ideal solution.

- **How it works:** You submit your product data to PunchCommerce via a file (Excel/CSV) or via our REST API. We use this to create a customised catalogue that can be searched via OCI, cXML or IDS.
- **Advantage:** Rapid provision of customer-specific prices and product ranges without the need for your own e-commerce infrastructure.
- **Benefits:** Tailor-made shopping experiences and fully automated data exchange with minimal IT effort.

Next steps in the documentation
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To begin the setup, select the section that matches your scenario:

- **Gateway-PunchOut** – If you wish to connect your own shop (OCI, cXML or IDS).
- **Static catalogues** – If you wish to manage products directly in PunchCommerce.
- **Online shop extensions** – Information on installing our plugins for Shopware, Magento and others.

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