Source & order
Give every requirement a clear starting point.
A purchase starts with a need. Indents and requests give that need a place in the process, carrying its context into sourcing and the purchase order.
Capture what the team needs.
Keep the requirement and quantity together. A clear request helps purchase understand what it is being asked to source instead of rebuilding the context from messages.
Connect the material requirement.
Inventory and purchasing belong in the same conversation. Review how stores and buying teams use stock-related information when considering a request.
Carry the context forward.
The original requirement remains relevant when suppliers respond and a choice is made. A connected process keeps that starting point associated with the work downstream.
Questions
Does an indent place an order?
No. It records a requirement. Supplier selection, approval and the PO are separate parts of the purchase process.
Where does the request go next?
The requirement provides context for sourcing and the buying decision that follows.
More in Source & order
Connect the requirement to the purchase.
Walk through how departments raise requests today.