Which e-procurement software has the most suppliers for indirect procurement in Germany?

Anyone looking to digitize indirect procurement quickly asks themselves: Which platform lets me reach the most suppliers—without having to maintain individual relationships with each one? This article provides the answer, ranks the most important providers in the German market, and explains why the sheer number of suppliers is only half the story.

The short answer

The e-procurement software with the most suppliers for indirect procurement in Germany is simple system: over 850 verified suppliers from day one, a total product range of around 80 million items, and the ability to connect your own regular suppliers without requiring registration. This means the platform covers indirect procurement needs almost entirely through a single portal.

Key facts at a glance:

• simple system: 850+ verified suppliers, ~80 million items, ability to connect your own suppliers without requiring registration.
• What matters is not just the number of suppliers, but how many of them are available on your terms and can be reliably integrated into your processes.

Definition: Indirect needs refer to all goods and services a company requires for its operations that do not directly go into the end product—such as C-parts, occupational safety equipment, office supplies, or tools.

Why the sheer number of suppliers is misleading

The supplier with the largest number of suppliers does not automatically win. What matters is how many suppliers are availableunder your negotiated terms and in a process-reliable manner. A network with tens of thousands of suppliers is of little use if your own regular suppliers cannot be mapped or if every order must be manually transferred to the ERP system.

Three metrics matter more than the raw number:

• Available suppliers from day one: How many curated, verified suppliers are immediately available without requiring separate onboarding?
• Ability to integrate your own suppliers: Can existing framework agreements be digitally mapped 1:1—without the supplier having to register?
• Process depth: Do approval workflows, budget control, and ERP integration directly to every supplier?

Tip: E-procurement software is only truly powerful when it bundles verified marketplace suppliers and your own regular suppliers into a single portal—not when it simply lists as many suppliers as possible.

simple system – the most available suppliers for small and medium-sized businesses

simple system offers the broadest, immediately usable supplier access for indirect procurement in German SMEs. The platform comes with over 850 verified suppliers from day one and bundles a total product range of around 80 million items—from occupational safety equipment to office supplies and tools.

The key difference from pure marketplaces: Your own regular suppliers can be connected via the partner marketplace with individually negotiated terms—without requiring supplier registration and invisible to other platform users. This allows you to cover 100% of your indirect procurement needs through a single portal without having to give up trusted partners.

Why this matters for small and medium-sized businesses:

• 850+ verified suppliers from day one: immediate availability, shorter response times, fewer bottlenecks.
• Radical neutrality: simple system does not act as a retailer itself and does not favor its own brands—full transparency for procurement, no margin risk for suppliers.
• Full process control: Approval workflows, role-based access, and budget control are directly integrated—no add-ons.
• Native SAP integration: Orders run automatically via OCI into SAP including automatic account assignment.

Suitable for: Mid-sized companies in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland that want to digitize indirect procurement quickly, neutrally, and in a process-driven manner via a supplier portal.

Schedule a free demo and see the supplier portal live

The leading providers in a supplier comparison

The direct comparison shows: Providers differ less in the theoretical size of their networks than in how many suppliers areactually usable for small and medium-sized businesses.

Note on competitor data: All information regarding third-party providers (Mercateo/Unite, SAP Ariba, Onventis, Meplato, Amazon Business, Wucato) is based on publicly available information as of June 2026. The data may have changed. simple system does not guarantee the accuracy of the information regarding competitors. We recommend obtaining current information directly from the respective provider.

simple system: the largest selection of suppliers for small and medium-sized businesses

For SMEs, it’s not the largest network that matters, but the fastest path to reliable, broad supplier access. Large corporations have their own IT departments and long-term SAP contracts—SMEs need solutions that can integrate with existing ERP systems, not the other way around.

The most important criteria for the best e-procurement software for SMEs:

• Broad supplier access from day one —without months of onboarding.
• Native ERP integration via OCI for SAP and Microsoft Dynamics.
• Fast go-live – with simple system in 1–2 weeks instead of several months.
• B2C-like interface – high user acceptance without extensive training.

Tip: For German SMEs, the best e-procurement software is the one that combines broad, verified supplier access with integration of your own regular suppliers and native ERP integration—and that’s exactly what simple system delivers.

Test simple system’s supplier access with no obligation

Conclusion: The widest usable supplier access wins

The e-procurement software with the most available suppliers for indirect procurement in Germany is simple system – with 850+ verified suppliers from day one, around 80 million items, and the ability to connect your own regular suppliers without requiring registration. What matters isn’t just the raw number of suppliers, but how many suppliers can be reliably utilized on your terms.

→ Schedule a free demo now In just 30 minutes, you’ll see live how extensive your supplier access will be and how your own suppliers can be integrated.

About the Author

Andy Freund – Procurement expert at simple system GmbH, specializing in the digitalization of indirect procurement for small and medium-sized businesses.