C_ARSUM Ariba Supplier Management Practice Question
In the Ariba Supplier Lifecycle and Performance (SLP) module, what is the primary purpose of the 'Supplier Request' stage?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many candidates confuse the initial Supplier Request stage with the detailed Supplier Registration stage, assuming extensive compliance data is collected at the very beginning.
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
✓
To initiate the onboarding process and prevent duplicate suppliers.
The Supplier Request is the initial point of entry in the SLP module. It allows internal users to submit a formal request for a new supplier, which triggers a workflow to ensure that the supplier is not already in the system and that the business need is valid. This prevents duplicate entries and enforces governance before any sensitive data is collected or integrated into the organization's master data systems.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
To negotiate pricing and contract terms.
Why it's wrong here
Contract negotiations take place within the Sourcing or Contract workspaces. The request phase is purely for identifying a new business entity and ensuring the need for that entity exists, not for the transactional or legal negotiations that occur later in the procurement lifecycle after initial vetting.
- ✗
To perform deep risk analysis on geopolitical stability.
Why it's wrong here
Risk analysis is a specialized process handled by the Supplier Risk module, which monitors ongoing external factors. Requesting a supplier is a low-level administrative task that focuses on identifying the vendor, not performing complex external risk assessments that are typically reserved for established relationships or high-risk categories.
- ✓
To initiate the onboarding process and prevent duplicate suppliers.
Why this is correct
The supplier request process is specifically designed to capture minimal information to start the onboarding journey. A critical function of this stage is checking against existing supplier records to prevent the creation of duplicate master data, which is essential for maintaining a clean and accurate vendor database.
- ✗
To evaluate the quality of delivered goods via scorecards.
Why it's wrong here
Scorecards and performance evaluations are part of the Supplier Performance Management (SPM) cycle. These tools require an active, qualified supplier with historical transaction data. Requesting a supplier occurs long before any goods are ordered or delivered, making performance evaluation impossible at this stage of the lifecycle.
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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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