PURCHASE REQUISITION: What PR Means & Why Is It Important

purchase requisition
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Businesses of all sizes use purchase requisitions to monitor company spending and employee product demands. Purchase requisitions are internal paperwork firm employees use to request their manager purchase a product for corporate usage. However, any professional working in an office or needing unique materials to accomplish their duties may need to understand how a purchase requisition works. Lucky for you, this article explains what a purchase requisition is, what information it contains, how it differs from a purchase request, and how to make one.

What Is a Purchase Requisition?

A purchase requisition is a company’s internal document that indicates its intention to purchase products or services. An employee completes a purchase requisition and submits it to the appropriate individuals or departments for review and approval. The employee’s line manager and the company’s central procurement or purchasing department may be reviewers.

How to Prepare a Purchase Requisition

Each company’s procurement procedure and protocol for creating purchase requisitions are most likely unique. To construct a general buy requisition form, follow these steps:

#1. Locate a Product that You Want Your Firm to Purchase

Because professionals must fill out numerous facts on a buy requisition form, knowing about the goods and the vendor is best. Try to find out the vendor’s address and contact information, as well as the pricing and quantity of the product. Finding the relevant information aids in the efficiency of the procurement process.

#2. Make Use of a Purchase Order Template

Though you can build a buy requisition form without a template, it is much easier. This allows you to enter information without thinking about the process’s format. This technique will also save you time and energy. Look for a downloadable document online to obtain a template.

#3. Enter Your Contact and Shipping Information

To begin your purchase order, specify the date you want to submit your request, the vendor’s address and contact details, and the area to which you want the product shipped. In a separate section, include delivery information, such as the shipping method and expected arrival time.

#4. Include Product Details

Create a new section for product details. On the vendor’s website, try to include the product name, identification number, price, and quantity required. If you require many products, try listing them on the same request form to save time for you and your supervisor. It is better if your buy request paper contains all the information your supervisor requires to order the merchandise or establish an official purchase order.

#5. Make Product Notes and Remarks

This could include a statement about why you desire these things or a caution about delivery details. Consider using this part to submit any information your supervisor may require to authorize your requisition form.

What is the Purchase Requisition Form?

A purchase requisition form is an internal document an employee uses to purchase products or services on behalf of their company. These purchases could be for operational purposes (such as office supplies), inventory, or manufacturing inputs. 

A Purchase Requisition Form’s Contents

In general, purchase request forms require the following information:

  • The requestor’s name and department 
  • The date of the request 
  • The products or services sought
  • Item description, quantity, and price 
  • Reason for purchase

Why Should You Make Purchase Requisitions Mandatory in Your Procurement Process?

#1. Transparency in the Procurement Process

This workflow generates documentation that a department issued and filed a form and that the department that requested the supplies had a legitimate business reason for doing so. Most organisations include the applicable budget and purchase limits on the purchase requisition form to advise the requestor before purchasing.

#2. Simplifies the Purchase Procedure

When a company centralizes its purchasing process and engages its employees, it is a well-defined and manageable workflow. The procedure simplifies inventory management by easily categorizing and identifying incoming products and services.

A centralized procurement system speeds up the purchasing process and avoids delays caused by individual departments, which can otherwise impede efficiency.

#3. Aids in Preventing Fraud

The lack of well-defined standards allows employees to commit fraudulent acts, such as ordering items for personal use or coordinating with vendors to steal from the company. Purchase requisitions end this by preventing fraud from occurring in the first place and ensuring that employees do not order products directly from vendors without a proper process.

#4. Aids in the Avoidance of Repeated Orders

In large firms, purchasing is typically handled by a complete team rather than just one employee. Purchase requisition forms assist the purchasing department in keeping track of what has been requested and avoiding making numerous purchases for the same order by accident.

#5. Improves Business Accountability and Security

A purchase requisition form confirms that a department has required and ordered particular supplies. A document trail also shows that the materials were supplied once they were received and matched with the demand. This record can be used as backup evidence if there are concerns with the things ordered or the negotiated price later.

#6. Boosts Cost Savings

Your company can save money and time by developing a single platform to manage purchase requests. Aggregating your purchases lets you know just how much you’re buying, putting you in a better position to negotiate preferred prices with your merchants.

#7. Serves as Evidence During Audits

Purchase requisition forms are important in auditing since most audits require managers’ consent as evidence for the company’s purchasing decisions. Purchase requisition forms are ideal evidence since they provide all the information about the requestor, the approver(s), the time of approval, and the approved products.

Steps for Purchase Requisition Workflow

The steps in a purchase requisition procedure may differ from company to company. However, the process’s core outline stays the same:

#1. Purchase Requisition Form Submission

They accomplish this by issuing and filling out a buy requisition form with the specifics of the desired purchase. Some businesses prefer manually filling out the form, while others use spend management software.

#2. The Line Manager’s Approval

The purchase requisition form is then subjected to an internal approval process, which the requestor’s department’s line manager checks. The line manager’s responsibility is to guarantee that the purchase is legitimate and does not exceed the department’s allowed expenditure limit.

#3. Inventory Department Stocktaking

The requisition form is then directed to the inventory department, which compares it to the company’s current stock. The request is forwarded to the purchasing department if the items are unavailable.

#4. Purchasing Department Screening

To complete this form, the officer determines the business requirement for the products or services, verifies the purchase’s authenticity, and validates that the appropriate authorities sign and authorize the requisition is properly. If crucial facts are lacking from the form, the officer may either fill them out or return the form to the requestor for completion.

#5. Making a Purchase Order

A purchase order is prepared and sent to the vendor if the buy request form passes all required approvals. When the vendor accepts it, the purchase becomes a legally binding contract.

#6. Order Fulfillment and Evaluation

When the vendor delivers the products or services, the receiving department inspects the order for quality and quantity. A three-way matching method verifies the order’s accuracy by comparing the purchase order, order receipt/packaging slip, and invoice. This ensures that the finance or accounting team only pays for the things they purchased and received and nothing else.

#7. Invoice Settlement

The purchase order is closed after completing the documentation requirements. The vendor’s invoice is then approved by the finance team, recorded into accounts payable, and paid under the payment terms and conditions.

The Importance of Purchase Requisition 

Purchase requisitions are significant because they allow businesses to plan their procurement processes and assess supply requirements. Professionals use this internal document as an organizational tool and a technique to track purchase requests. Here are some additional reasons why purchase requisitions are important:

#1. They keep Track of Purchases

While purchase orders are commonly used to track purchases, purchase requisition documents assist businesses in anticipating future financial obligations and predicting expenditure trends. For example, if a professional files a purchase requisition for staples and other office supplies every few months, the supervisor in charge of the department’s budget can identify this trend and set aside an appropriate amount of money for this purchase.

#2. Employees are Involved in the Purchase Process

Because employees typically submit purchase requisitions, these documents assist professionals in feeling more involved in their company’s spending. It serves as physical proof of an employee inquiry and assists managers in remembering specific supply requirements rather than depending on word-of-mouth for a purchase request.

#3. Creates a safe procurement process

A buy requisition form is the initial step in ordering an office supply. This stage ensures that staff follow proper procedures when spending business funds. It also lowers the possibility of employees spending business funds on useless items.

What is the Purchase Requisition Approval Process?

The buy requisition approval process is used to obtain permission to purchase goods and services. Supervisors use it to approve or refuse a purchase requisition based on company standards, the authenticity of the purchase, and business requirements.

What are the 5 Parts of Purchase Requisition?

  • The requestor’s name and department
  • The request date
  • The required goods or services
  • The reason behind the purchase
  • The supplier’s legal name

What are the Risks of Purchase Requisition?

Inadequate authorization is one of the most serious dangers associated with purchase requisitions. Requisitions can be processed, and items or services purchased that are superfluous or outside the organization’s budget without proper authorization.

Is a Purchase Requisition a Contract?

A purchase order (also known as a PO) is a document that a buyer sends to a seller, distributor, or manufacturer requesting the purchase of a product. Furthermore, once the seller accepts the order, it becomes a legally enforceable contract.

What are the Different Types of Purchase Requisition?

In summary, procurement has three types of purchase requisitions: direct, internal, and external. Understanding these contrasts is critical for any procurement manager or company looking to ensure a smooth purchasing process.

Conclusion

A requisition is a formal request for a product or service that can be handed in or filed electronically. A well-structured requisition procedure boosts a company’s efficiency and accountability. Procure-to-pay solutions completely automate the procurement process, from requisition to payment, further improving accuracy and efficiency.

References

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