Virtual Reality-Built Prototype as a Next-Gen Environment for Advanced Procurement Reporting and Contract Negotiation

Levchenko A., Ivanov V., Taratukhin V.

Abstract
Lockdowns and remote working styles create demand for specialized software for business communication. This article describes the design and results of user testing of a Virtual Reality (VR) collaborative environment for advanced procurement reporting and contract negotiation between a supplier and a buyer. We have designed and implemented a VR application that allows analyzing operational, tactical, and strategic procurement reports in a virtual room, meeting with a supplier in the virtual café, discussing the contract data, demonstrating the 3D model of the goods, and signing the contract. The prototype included integrated procurement software SAP Ariba what contains all necessary transactional and master data, and SAP BTP as an integration tool. We developed an introduction and testing scenario for users and presented the prototype at business conferences in EMEA and NA regions. Structured feedback about the desirability, feasibility, and usability of the prototype was collected. We used the Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM), including Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) methods, to summarize the feedback scores. The feedback was positive, indicating potential for further research; we share insights, discuss improvement areas and directions for future design efforts.

Keywords
Enterprise information systems; User interface design; Procurement; Virtual Reality; User studies