Alphabet/Google has transitioned to a source-to-pay solution from Ariba. Suppliers are requested to register an Ariba Network account to continue to transact with Alphabet/Google.
With the transition to Ariba to do business with Alphabet/Google, suppliers will use the Ariba Network to:
| 1 | Update and self-manage their account information with Alphabet/Google (e.g. banking information, contact details, account administrator) |
| 2 | Receive NEW purchase orders (created on or after the go-live date for the suppliers’ region -- see question 4 for more details global launch dates) |
| 3 | Submit invoices against new purchase orders through an Ariba Network account* (see question 5 for more details on Ariba Network account types) |
*Some countries will not have all functionality accessible on Ariba based on regional requirements and restrictions. Please refer to this country-specific guide for more information.
All suppliers will have the option to register a fee-based Enterprise account or a free of charge Standard account on the Ariba Network. There is no obligation to use either account type - suppliers will choose the option that meets their business needs. Please see question 5 for more details.
Will these changes impact Google and all other Alphabet companies?
These changes will impact the Alphabet companies (in addition to Google) that are supported by Alphabet/Google’s central finance function.
The following companies are not part of the upcoming changes:
- Waymo
- Verily
- Calico
- Sidewalk Labs
Yes, we are requesting for all suppliers* to transact with Alphabet/Google on the Ariba Network through an account type of their choice (Standard or Enterprise). The main goal of this transition is to streamline business transactions with Alphabet/Google** (e.g. electronically submitting invoices for processing and payment against new purchase orders, self-managing, and updating supplier account information). Ariba provides a centralized platform for suppliers to access and update their information, and take action on business transactions. This in turn will improve communication between suppliers and Alphabet/Google and provide visibility into the status of orders and invoices.
*Government entities and certain utilities organizations will be excluded from this change due to legal regulations that limit the amount of information that can be shared on POs sent through the Ariba Network.
**Please note: some countries will not have all functionality accessible on Ariba based on regional requirements and restrictions; an example being suppliers in certain countries may not be able to send invoices back to Google through Ariba.
The transition to Ariba occurred in multiple waves for regions globally on the following launch dates:
| OCTOBER 28, 2019 | All suppliers based in the U.S. |
| MAY 18, 2020 | A subset of North America (outside of the U.S.), Latin America, Europe, Middle East and Africa-based suppliers |
| JULY 27, 2020 | A subset of Asia Pacific-based suppliers |
| AUGUST 24, 2020 | Any supplier in any region that has not already transitioned to Ariba |
Transacting with Alphabet/Google on the Ariba Network will be required, but the choice of which account to use is the suppliers’ choice. Suppliers have the option of using one of two Ariba account types: a free of charge Standard account or a fee-based Enterprise account.
For additional information, please go here.
Standard Accounts
- free of charge to suppliers
- Provides transaction functionality through interactive emails and view access of purchase orders and invoices
- No limit on the volume of transactions, but view history limited to the latest 200 documents (e.g. purchase orders or invoices). View a short video here.
Enterprise accounts
- Incurs fees based on transaction volume (see Question 6 for more details on fees)
- Unlimited purchase order and invoice view access
- 24/7 online support from Ariba
- Centralized supplier dashboard
- Ability to run reports
For a more detailed comparison of standard and enterprise accounts, please visit Ariba’s official site.
In some cases, Alphabet/Google is recommending that some suppliers choose to transact on the Ariba Network with Alphabet/Google using a fee-based Enterprise account due to their historical volume of transactions. However, these suppliers may choose to decline the recommendation and instead register a free of charge Standard account if this account type better meets their needs. Suppliers that do not select a fee-based Enterprise account will be defaulted to a free of charge Standard account and will have the option to upgrade to Enterprise at any time.
Suppliers who have already registered a fee-based Enterprise account and are interested in downgrading to a free of charge Standard account should begin the downgrade process by opening a ticket with the Ariba Help Desk.
Suppliers choosing to transact with Alphabet/Google on the Ariba Network using an enterprise account incur costs in the form of fees. The cost structure for enterprise suppliers depends on the volume of transactions (i.e. total spend) and the number of documents (e.g. purchase orders, invoices, service entry sheets, and service entry sheet responses) that are transmitted through the Ariba Network.
Pricing may vary by country or currency so please access this overview video. You can estimate your fees by visiting this site and navigating to ‘Calculate the value to your business’ for a full breakdown of your Ariba Network fees.
No. As Alphabet/Google is only requiring suppliers to sign up for a free of charge Standard account at minimum, Alphabet/Google is not mitigating Ariba Network fees for suppliers opting to register a fee-based Enterprise account.
Existing purchase order updates and invoices that were received via your Alphabet/Google point of contact before the go-live date for your region can continue to be processed through the current tools and methods (e.g. Google Invoice Submission Portal is fully deprecated as of May 2021). Alphabet/Google will monitor to ensure no legacy purchase orders or invoices are missed.
Suppliers who already have an Ariba account have the option of linking their existing Ariba Network ID with Alphabet/Google during the Ariba registration process. These suppliers will need to associate their existing account with Alphabet/Google as a trading partner on the Ariba Network. However, if an existing Enterprise account is used to link with Alphabet/Google, the supplier will be registered with Google as an Enterprise account by default. Please contact the Google team by Contact Us button below if you are interested in linking an existing Ariba account with Alphabet/Google over the Ariba Network. You can also view this tutorial for more information on linking different Ariba Network accounts.
We value our relationship and are here to work with you. We have teams dedicated to supporting you through this process:
- For support related to Google’s transition to Ariba, PO and invoice inquiries, reach out to Google using the Contact Us button below.
- For help navigating Ariba, reach out to Ariba Support Teams for your region:
- Enterprise suppliers: North America, EMEA, LATAM, APAC
- Standard suppliers: Access the Help Center from your account dashboard for additional tutorials. Here’s how!