Purchasing & Procure-to-Pay

Purchase Order (PO)

Also known as: PO

A purchase order (PO) is the official document a buyer sends to a supplier to confirm the order of goods or services at agreed prices and terms.

A PO is a legally binding offer once accepted by the supplier. It states the items, quantities, agreed prices, delivery details and terms, and carries a unique number used to track the order through receipt, invoicing and payment. POs create a clear commitment and an audit trail.

In a mature process, a PO is generated from an approved requisition and later matched against the goods received note and the supplier's invoice — the three-way match — before payment. Blanket POs cover repeated deliveries over a period under a single order.

Frequently asked questions

What is a purchase order?
A purchase order is the official document a buyer issues to a supplier confirming an order — the items, quantities, prices, delivery and terms — and it becomes binding once the supplier accepts it.
What is a PO number used for?
The unique PO number links the order to its requisition, goods received note and invoice, so the purchase can be tracked and reconciled through to payment.

Explore related across the knowledge graph

GuideERP integrationConnecting the procurement channel to the ERP so requisitions, orders and invoices flow between systems without manual re-keying.GuideProcure-to-payThe operational cycle that turns an approved need into a purchase order, a delivery, a matched invoice and a payment.SolutionE-Procurement Platform in MalaysiaWhat an e-procurement platform is, a capability checklist to evaluate one — catalogue, approvals, budget controls, three-way matching, punchout — how rollouts work, and where Lapasar fits.SolutionProcure-to-Pay Software in MalaysiaProcure-to-pay software for Malaysia — one connected flow from requisition to payment, with approvals, three-way matching and credit terms for buyers.SolutionProcurement Automation Software in MalaysiaAutomate purchasing in Malaysia — replace manual requisitions and email approvals with AI-driven workflows for categorisation, GL coding and price benchmarking.TemplateProcurement SOP TemplateAn editable Word and PDF standard operating procedure covering the buying process from requisition to payment.ComparisonLapasar vs e-procurement softwareCompare Lapasar's free AI-first procurement software and connected sourcing marketplace with standalone e-procurement: approvals, audit trails and supply.ResearchThe Hidden Cost of Manual Procurement in Malaysian EnterprisesWhat manual purchase orders really cost Malaysian enterprises — USD 30–506 per PO, millions in hidden overhead, and new Government Procurement Act 2025 exposure.GlossaryAccrualsAccruals are accounting entries that recognise expenses which have been incurred but not yet invoiced, so costs appear in the correct period.GlossaryApproval WorkflowAn approval workflow is the defined sequence of authorisations a purchase must pass through before it can proceed, based on rules such as value or category.GlossaryBack OrderA back order is an order for goods that cannot be fulfilled immediately because they are out of stock, to be delivered when stock is replenished.GuideCatalogue managementCurating the products, prices and data buyers order from — the foundation that makes catalogue and marketplace buying fast, accurate and compliant.ToolCost per Purchase Order CalculatorFind out what each purchase order costs you to process.ToolE-Procurement ROI CalculatorModel the net benefit and payback period of an e-procurement rollout.ToolFree Procurement Tools & TemplatesEvery Lapasar procurement calculator plus editable RFQ, purchase order, policy and evaluation templates.

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Operating model · diagram

  1. 01

    AI-first software

    AI-first procurement software for long-tail spend

  2. 02

    Live marketplace

    A live B2B marketplace

  3. 03

    Human services

    Human sourcing and support

  4. 04

    Optional add-on

    Fulfilment support for merchants