If you’re responsible for sourcing lab supplies in a biotech, pharma, or research setting, you’ve likely experienced the frustration of juggling multiple supplier logins, contract pricing discrepancies, and order entry errors. Punchout catalogs were designed to address these issues, but managing them can become increasingly challenging as the number of suppliers grows.
Below, we break down how punchout catalogs work, how they differ from hosted catalogs, and how lab procurement teams can optimize their use across suppliers and systems, from seed to IPO.
What Is a punchout catalog?
A punchout catalog is a type of e-procurement integration that allows buyers to access a supplier’s catalog directly from within their organization's ERP or purchasing/P2P system (like Coupa, SAP Ariba, Oracle, or Jaggaer).
Rather than logging into separate supplier portals or uploading spreadsheets, the buyer “punches out” to the supplier’s catalog from inside their own system. After selecting products and quantities, the cart is sent back into the procurement workflow for internal approval and order submission.
How punchout catalogs work
While no longer widely used, hosted catalogs were the predecessor to punchout catalogs in most e-procurement systems. These were essentially static product lists, usually spreadsheets or XML files, that suppliers sent over to be uploaded into the buyer’s ERP system. While quick to set up, they have real limitations. Product and pricing info can go out of date fast, there is little to no visibility into inventory, and it is up to the buyer to manage and update everything manually.
Punchout catalogs vs. hosted catalogs
Hosted catalogs came first and are still used in some settings, but punchout catalogs have largely replaced them for organizations that need real-time data and scalable supplier access.
Benefits of punchout catalogs for lab procurement teams
Lab procurement teams benefit from punchout catalogs in several meaningful ways:
- Real-time product visibility: no more out-of-date hosted files
- Streamlined ordering: fewer manual entry errors
- Policy compliance: internal approval chains remain intact
- Custom pricing: negotiated rates are applied automatically
- Better forecasting and spend tracking: especially when integrated with lab-specific platforms like ZAGENO
Why punchout catalogs matter for scientific procurement
Punchouts are especially powerful in lab supply procurement because:
- Supply chains are often volatile
- SKU complexity and volume are high
- Researchers value speed, but procurement teams need control
- Lab environments require up-to-date safety and documentation (SDS, COAs, etc.)
Punchout catalogs reduce time-to-order while maintaining necessary oversight and compliance, a critical balance for regulated industries.
Drawbacks of punchout catalogs as labs scale
While punchout catalogs help streamline procurement by integrating supplier catalogs directly into internal purchasing systems, they also come with limitations, especially as labs grow and diversify their vendor base.
Here are a few of the most common challenges:
- Complex integrations. Each punchout connection often requires IT setup, testing, and ongoing maintenance. Managing dozens of individual connections can quickly become unmanageable for lean procurement teams.
- Inconsistent user experiences. Every supplier’s punchout catalog may look and function differently, which can lead to confusion and errors for scientists and lab managers placing orders.
- Limited supplier coverage. Not all suppliers offer punchout capabilities, which can fragment your procurement process and push some purchases outside of your system.
- Lack of visibility across vendors. With separate punchout connections, it's difficult to get a unified view of product availability, pricing, and fulfillment performance across your entire supply base.
These drawbacks don’t negate the value of punchout technology, but they highlight the need for a more scalable approach.
How ZAGENO simplifies punchout catalog management
Managing multiple punchout integrations across hundreds of suppliers can be a heavy lift for procurement and IT teams. Each vendor often requires its own technical setup, user credentials, and testing. This can slow down procurement digitization, especially in labs where supplier diversity is high.
ZAGENO simplifies this with one connection.
With ZAGENO, procurement teams connect once to access punchout functionality for thousands of lab suppliers through a single integration. That means:
- One punchout connection into your ERP or procurement system
- One monthly invoice that consolidates orders from multiple suppliers
- One platform to compare, select, and source lab supplies
ZAGENO delivers a single entry point to the entire lab supply ecosystem, reducing complexity and expanding choice.
Frequently asked questions about punchout catalogs
- What is the main advantage of a punchout catalog?
Answer: Punchout catalogs give buyers access to real-time product data and custom pricing within their procurement system, reducing errors and streamlining approvals. - How is a punchout catalog different from a hosted catalog?
Answer: Hosted catalogs are static and manually maintained, while punchout catalogs connect live to a supplier’s system, offering up-to-date pricing and inventory. - Can a lab use punchout catalogs with multiple suppliers?
Answer: Yes, but managing multiple punchouts can be complex. Platforms like ZAGENO simplify this by offering one punchout connection to thousands of lab suppliers. - Do punchout catalogs support approval workflows?
Answer: Yes. Items selected from a punchout catalog are routed back into your internal procurement system for review, approval, and order submission. - Are punchout catalogs only for large organizations?
Answer: Not necessarily. While more common in enterprise settings, punchout catalogs are increasingly used by growing labs that want more control and efficiency in procurement.
Simplify your lab’s procurement process
If your lab or R&D team is juggling too many supplier portals or struggling to keep internal systems aligned with external purchasing, it’s time to consider punchout catalogs.
ZAGENO’s platform makes it easy. You get the flexibility of a multi-vendor marketplace with the control and compliance of a single integration.
Learn how ZAGENO enables punchout integration across your entire lab supply ecosystem.
