Purchasing & Procure-to-Pay

Three-Way Matching

Also known as: 3-way match

Three-way matching is a control that checks the purchase order, goods received note and supplier invoice agree before an invoice is paid.

Before releasing payment, the process compares three documents: what was ordered (the PO), what was actually received (the goods received note), and what the supplier is billing (the invoice). Only when quantities and prices match across all three is the invoice approved for payment.

Three-way matching prevents overpayment, catches billing errors and blocks fraudulent or duplicate invoices. Automating the match — so the system flags only exceptions for human review — removes a large amount of manual accounts-payable work.

Frequently asked questions

What is three-way matching?
Three-way matching verifies that the purchase order, goods received note and invoice all agree on quantity and price before an invoice is paid, preventing errors and fraud.
What three documents are matched?
The purchase order (what was ordered), the goods received note (what was received) and the supplier invoice (what is being billed).

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.

AI-first procurement software. Live marketplace. Human services.

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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