Purchase Module
Complete procurement workflow from requisition to payment.
📊 Overview
The Purchase Module manages:
- Purchase Requisitions (PR) - Request for purchase
- Purchase Orders (PO) - Formal orders to suppliers
- Goods Receipt Note (GRN) - Receiving documentation
- Purchase Invoices - Supplier billing
- Supplier Management - Vendor relationships
- Payment Terms - Credit management
📋 Purchase Request (PR)
Access: Purchase → Purchase Request
Creating Purchase Request
Who Creates: Store Supervisor, Department Manager
Step 1: New Request
- Click New Purchase Request
- Fill header:
- Request Date: Today
- Required By: Deadline
- Request By: Auto (your name)
- Location: Requesting branch
- Priority: Normal/Urgent
- Purpose: Reason for purchase
Step 2: Add Items
- Click Add Item
- Search product
- Enter:
- Quantity needed
- Unit
- Preferred supplier (optional)
- Notes/specifications
- Add more items
Step 3: Justification
-
For Stock Items:
- Current stock level
- Minimum level
- Usage forecast
- Lead time consideration
-
For New Items:
- Purpose
- Expected usage
- Alternative options considered
Step 4: Submit
- Review all items
- Click Submit Request
- Status: Pending Approval
- Manager notified
Approval Workflow
Manager Review:
- Receives notification
- Reviews request
- Checks:
- Budget availability
- Stock levels (really needed?)
- Quantity justified
- Pricing reasonable
- Options:
- ✅ Approve → Becomes draft PO
- ❌ Reject → Returns with reason
- ✏️ Request Changes → Sent back for revision
📦 Purchase Order (PO)
Access: Purchase → Purchase Order
Creating Purchase Order
From Approved PR:
- PR auto-converts to draft PO
- Or manually: PO → New PO
- Select PR to reference
Manual PO (Without PR):
Step 1: PO Header
PO Number: Auto-generated
PO Date: Today
Supplier: *required* (Select from list)
Delivery Location: *required*
Expected Delivery: Date
Payment Terms: Net 30 / Net 15 / COD
Step 2: Add Items
- Click Add Item
- Select product or enter description
- Enter:
- Quantity
- Unit
- Unit Price
- Tax Rate
- Discount (if any)
- Subtotal auto-calculates
- Add more items
Step 3: Calculate Totals
Subtotal: (Sum of all items)
Discount: (If applicable)
Tax (VAT): (Calculated)
Shipping: (If applicable)
Grand Total: (Final amount)
Step 4: Terms & Conditions
- Select from templates
- Or enter custom terms
- Delivery instructions
- Quality requirements
- Return policy
Step 5: Review & Submit
- Verify all details
- Click Create PO
- Status: Open
- Options:
- Print PO: For fax/mail
- Email PO: Send to supplier
- Download PDF: Save copy
PO Status Workflow
DRAFT → OPEN → PARTIALLY RECEIVED → CLOSED
↓
CANCELLED
- Draft: Being prepared
- Open: Sent to supplier, awaiting delivery
- Partially Received: Some items received
- Closed: All items received
- Cancelled: Cancelled before receipt
📥 Goods Receipt Note (GRN)
Access: Purchase → Goods Receipt
Receiving Goods
When Supplier Delivers:
Step 1: Find PO
- Go to Receive Goods
- Search for PO by:
- PO number
- Supplier name
- Date range
- Click PO to open
Step 2: Physical Verification
Check Delivery:
- ✅ Right items?
- ✅ Right quantities?
- ✅ Good condition?
- ✅ Correct specifications?
- ✅ Not expired?
- ✅ Packaging intact?
Step 3: Create GRN
- Click Create GRN
- Enter:
- GRN Date: Today
- Delivery Note #: From supplier
- Received By: Your name
- Vehicle #: Delivery vehicle (optional)
Step 4: Enter Received Quantities
For each item:
- Ordered Qty: From PO
- Received Qty: Enter actual
- Accepted Qty: After quality check
- Rejected Qty: If any
- Reason: If rejected/short
Step 5: Quality Inspection
- Check quality standards
- Mark pass/fail
- Note any defects
- Take photos (if required)
Step 6: Complete GRN
- Review all items
- Add general notes
- Click Save GRN
- Print GRN (3 copies):
- One for supplier's driver
- One for accounts
- One for warehouse
System Actions:
- Stock updated (received quantities added)
- PO status updated
- If all items received: PO closes
- If partial: PO remains open
- GRN ready for invoice matching
Handling Discrepancies
Short Delivery (Less than ordered):
- Enter actual quantity
- Note reason
- PO remains open for balance
- Follow up with supplier
Over Delivery (More than ordered):
- Accept if within tolerance
- Reject excess if not agreed
- Contact manager for approval
Wrong Items:
- Reject items
- Don't add to stock
- Request replacement
- Document with photos
Damaged Items:
- Reject damaged items
- Note in GRN
- Request credit note
- Inform supplier immediately
🧾 Purchase Invoice
Access: Purchase → Purchase Invoice
Invoice Matching
When Supplier Invoice Arrives:
Step 1: Find GRN
- Go to Purchase Invoice
- Click Create from GRN
- Select pending GRN
Step 2: Enter Invoice Details
Supplier Invoice #: *required*
Invoice Date: From supplier invoice
Due Date: Based on payment terms
Currency: Default or select
Step 3: Verify 3-Way Match
System compares:
- Purchase Order (What was ordered)
- GRN (What was received)
- Invoice (What supplier is charging)
Check Match:
- ✅ Items match
- ✅ Quantities match (received qty)
- ✅ Prices match PO
- ✅ Calculations correct
- ✅ Taxes applied correctly
If Discrepancies:
- Price difference: Contact supplier
- Quantity mismatch: Check GRN
- Extra charges: Verify with PO
- Resolve before proceeding
Step 4: Additional Costs
Add if applicable:
- Freight/Shipping
- Insurance
- Customs duty
- Handling charges
- Other fees
Step 5: Review Totals
Subtotal: (Items total)
Additional Costs: (Freight, etc.)
Tax (VAT): (Calculated)
Total Amount: (Final)
Amount Due: (If credit note applied)
Step 6: Post Invoice
- All verified ✅
- Click Post Invoice
- System creates accounting entry:
- Debit: Inventory/Expense
- Debit: Input Tax (VAT)
- Credit: Accounts Payable (Supplier)
- Status: Posted
- Moves to accounts payable
💰 Payment Terms
Access: Purchase → Payment Terms
Managing Terms
Default Terms:
- Cash: Immediate payment
- COD: Cash on Delivery
- Net 7: Pay within 7 days
- Net 15: Pay within 15 days
- Net 30: Pay within 30 days
- Net 60: Pay within 60 days
- Advance: Pay before delivery
Creating Custom Terms
Step 1: Add Term
- Click Add Payment Term
- Enter:
- Term Name
- Days Until Due
- Description
- Discount (if early payment)
Example - 2/10 Net 30:
Name: 2/10 Net 30
Days: 30
Discount: 2% if paid within 10 days
Step 2: Assign to Suppliers
- Edit supplier
- Select default payment term
- Applied to all POs for that supplier
- Can override per PO
👥 Supplier Management
Access: Purchase → Suppliers
Supplier List
View Suppliers:
- Supplier name
- Contact person
- Phone, email
- Outstanding balance
- Last purchase date
- Status
Adding Supplier
Step 1: Basic Info
Supplier Name: *required*
Supplier Code: Auto or manual
Contact Person: Name
Phone: Contact number
Email: For PO/correspondence
Website: URL
Step 2: Address
Address Line 1, 2
City
State/Province
Postal Code
Country
Step 3: Financial
Payment Terms: Default term
Credit Limit: Maximum outstanding
Tax ID: For tax purposes
Bank Account: For payments
Step 4: Categories
- Supplier Type (Food/Beverage/Equipment/Service)
- Products supplied
- Preferred for (categories)
- Rating/Performance
Step 5: Contacts
- Add multiple contacts
- Sales rep
- Accounts person
- Delivery coordinator
Supplier Performance
Track Metrics:
- On-time delivery rate
- Quality acceptance rate
- Price competitiveness
- Response time
- Issue resolution
Supplier Rating:
- Excellent (★★★★★)
- Good (★★★★)
- Average (★★★)
- Poor (★★)
- Blacklist (★)
🔄 Purchase Returns
Access: Purchase → Purchase Return
Returning Items to Supplier
When to Return:
- Wrong items delivered
- Damaged goods
- Quality not acceptable
- Expired or near expiry
- Over-supply (not ordered)
Process:
Step 1: Create Return
- Click New Purchase Return
- Select original PO/GRN
- Select invoice (if already posted)
Step 2: Add Return Items
- Select items to return
- Enter return quantity
- Select reason:
- Damaged
- Wrong item
- Quality issue
- Expiry issue
- Over-supply
- Other (specify)
- Add photos/evidence
Step 3: Return Authorization
- Contact supplier
- Get RMA (Return Merchandise Authorization) number
- Confirm return accepted
- Shipping arrangements
Step 4: Process Return
- Enter RMA number
- Pack items
- Attach return note
- Ship to supplier
- Get proof of delivery
Step 5: Credit Note
- Wait for supplier credit note
- Match credit note to return
- Apply to outstanding invoice
- Or request refund
System Impact:
- Stock reduced (returned qty)
- Accounts payable reduced (credit)
- Original invoice adjusted
📊 Purchase Reports
Access: Reports → Purchase
Key Reports
Purchase Summary:
- Total purchases by period
- By supplier
- By category
- By location
Purchase by Supplier:
- Volume per supplier
- Amount spent
- Number of POs
- Average order value
Outstanding PO:
- Open purchase orders
- Expected delivery dates
- Value pending receipt
Outstanding Invoices:
- Unpaid supplier invoices
- Due dates
- Overdue amounts
- Payment priority
GRN Pending Invoice:
- Goods received
- Not yet invoiced
- Supplier follow-up list
Price Analysis:
- Price trends by product
- Supplier price comparison
- Best price indicators
🎯 Best Practices
Purchase Planning
✅ DO:
- Forecast demand accurately
- Order in economic quantities
- Consider lead times
- Compare supplier prices
- Negotiate payment terms
- Build supplier relationships
Quality Control
✅ DO:
- Inspect all deliveries
- Document issues immediately
- Reject substandard items
- Maintain quality standards
- Communicate with suppliers
Cost Management
Control Costs:
- Bulk ordering discounts
- Seasonal purchasing
- Multi-supplier quotes
- Annual contracts
- Early payment discounts
🔍 Troubleshooting
GRN Not Creating Stock
Check:
- Items marked as "Accepted" (not rejected)
- Quantities entered correctly
- Location selected
- Product set to "Manage Stock"
- No pending approvals
Invoice Not Matching PO
Common Issues:
- Price differences: Check PO terms
- Quantity mismatch: Verify GRN
- Extra charges: Not in PO
- Tax calculation: Different rates
Solution:
- Contact supplier for clarification
- Get approval for variances
- Create debit/credit note if needed
Efficient purchasing keeps your business supplied and costs controlled! 🛒✨