C_ARSUM Ariba Supplier Management Practice Question
A procurement specialist is reviewing a supplier's profile in SAP Ariba Supplier Management and notices that the supplier has a 'Registered' status but no qualification has been initiated. The specialist wants to begin the qualification process. What is the correct action to take?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is assuming that a supplier's status can be manually updated to 'Qualified' without completing the formal qualification process, overlooking the system's enforcement of template-based assessments.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Create a supplier request and assign a qualification template.
Qualification in SAP Ariba Supplier Management is initiated by creating a supplier request and assigning a qualification template. This ensures the supplier undergoes the defined assessments. Directly changing status, using email, or leveraging sourcing events do not provide the controlled, auditable qualification workflow required.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Add the supplier to a sourcing event for qualification.
Why it's wrong here
Sourcing events are designed for competitive bidding and price negotiation, not for supplier qualification. Using a sourcing event would not trigger the structured qualification assessments, and the results would not update the supplier's qualification status in the supplier management module.
- ✗
Send the supplier a qualification questionnaire via email.
Why it's wrong here
Sending a questionnaire via email is not a native feature of SAP Ariba Supplier Management. The qualification process is managed within the system through supplier requests and templates. Email would not track responses, scores, or integrate with the supplier's profile, and thus would not properly initiate qualification.
- ✗
Directly change the supplier's status to 'Qualified' in the supplier profile.
Why it's wrong here
Manually changing the status to 'Qualified' bypasses the required assessments and violates the qualification process. The system enforces that qualification must be completed through a supplier request with a template; direct status changes are not permitted for qualification and would not provide the necessary due diligence.
- ✓
Create a supplier request and assign a qualification template.
Why this is correct
In SAP Ariba Supplier Management, qualification is initiated through a supplier request. Creating a supplier request and assigning a qualification template triggers the assessment process, moving the supplier from 'Registered' to 'Qualifying' or similar status. This is the standard workflow to formally evaluate a supplier.
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official SAP exam blueprint
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