LANXESS Catalog System: Back from SAP Ariba
LANXESS has bought through our catalog system since 2015. It moved to SAP Ariba in 2021 and came back in 2025. More than 5 million items, connected to SAP.
The starting point: catalog buying that works with SAP
Initial situation & goals
In 2014, LANXESS was looking for a catalog procurement system that would work with the company's SAP contracts and material numbers. The standard products did not fit its purchasing processes.
We built the catalog system for LANXESS. It went live worldwide in 2015.
The problem
Challenges
SAP contracts and material numbers
The catalog has to know the contracts and material numbers from SAP. Otherwise nobody orders through it.
More than 5 million items
In a catalog this size, search has to find the right item fast.
Orders without a catalog item
Not everything is in a catalog. Free-text requests need a structured path too.
As easy as online shopping
Requesters across the company should be able to order without training.
From 2014 to today
Implementation
In 2019, LANXESS chose SAP Ariba, and the migration started in 2021. Our system kept running in parallel and was scaled down step by step from around 2023. It was never switched off.
In the summer of 2025, LANXESS wanted to come back. Cost was not the reason. LANXESS named the quality of the software, its reliability and our support.
- 2014
Kickoff
We start building the catalog system for LANXESS procurement.
- 2015
Global rollout
The system goes live across the company.
- 2019
Decision for SAP Ariba
LANXESS chooses SAP Ariba. The migration starts in 2021.
- 2025
The return
In the summer, LANXESS contacts us and asks to come back.
- 2026
Second rollout
System renewed, catalogs moved over from Ariba, connected to SAP S/4HANA. The global rollout was completed in mid-August.
What the system does
Catalog management
- Manages and searches more than 5,000,000 items.
SAP integration
- Contracts and material numbers come from SAP, and orders go back to it. Connected today: SAP S/4HANA.
SmartForms
- Forms for requests that do not map to a catalog item.
Users and permissions
- Fine-grained control over who can see, order and approve what.
Reporting
- Dashboards and statistics on how the catalogs are used.
AI features
- Since the 2026 renewal, AI helps with day-to-day catalog work.
Result
Results
Where things stand
Since mid-August 2026, the catalog system has been live worldwide again.
The catalogs from SAP Ariba have been moved over.
More than 5 million items are searchable.
What came out of it
The project grew into Ovenca Procure, our software for indirect procurement.
Onveda builds and runs the system.
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The LANXESS project grew into Ovenca Procure. If you need to replace SAP SRM or you are not happy with Ariba, let's talk.
Jens Bohl Founder and Managing Director