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Procurement insights and buyer guides
Our guides on how procurement works and how to buy software for it, grouped by the job you are trying to do.
By Procurement VMS Editorial TeamLast updated
How to use this page
Start with the job in front of you
Nobody reads a procurement library cover to cover. You arrive with a problem, such as a late approval, a messy supplier list or a renewal you nearly missed. The links below are grouped by that kind of problem. Pick the closest one, read it, and follow its related guides when you are ready for more.
Start here
The 25 pillar guides
Each one explains a core topic from first principles, with examples, checklists and plain definitions.
- What is procurementThe whole picture, start to finish.
- What is vendor managementChoosing, onboarding and reviewing suppliers.
- Procure to pay processRequest to payment in nine steps.
- Procurement vs purchasingSame words, different jobs.
- Purchase ordersTypes, fields and mistakes.
- Purchase requisitionThe request that starts a purchase.
- Direct vs indirect procurementTwo kinds of spend.
- Types of procurement contractsWho carries the risk.
- Procurement KPIsWhat to measure, with formulas.
- Procurement lifecycleEight stages and their owners.
- Vendor risk managementTiering, checks and exit plans.
- Vendor onboardingSetting up a supplier safely.
- Vendor performance managementScorecards and reviews.
- Invoice approval and GRNThe three-way match explained.
- What is strategic sourcingSeven steps for a category.
- What is spend analysisSeeing where the money goes.
- RFI vs RFP vs RFQWhich request to send.
- Supplier relationship managementGetting more from key suppliers.
- What is contract managementLife after signature.
- Maverick spendBuying outside the rules.
- Tail spend managementThe long list of small suppliers.
- What is eProcurementBuying through online systems.
- Procurement policyRules people will follow.
- How to choose a supplierCriteria, scoring and red flags.
- Total cost of ownershipBeyond the price.
Understand the basics
Foundations
- Procurement lifecycle guideThe stages from need to renewal, and who owns each one.
- Procurement versus purchasingWhere the two terms overlap and where they differ.
- Procurement versus supply chain managementHow the two functions connect.
- Direct versus indirect procurementTwo kinds of spend, two ways to manage them.
- Procurement glossarySixty terms in plain language.
Run the process
Process and control
- Procure to pay processFrom request to payment, step by step.
- Purchase requisition guideHow to write and approve a requisition.
- Purchase order guideWhat a PO needs and how to track it.
- Invoice approval and GRN guideMatching invoices to orders and receipts.
- Procurement challengesEight common problems and how to fix them.
Choose software
Software selection
Want a shortlist for your team?
Tell us your company size and region. We use AI to match you to products, and a person checks the list before it reaches you, with the reason behind each pick.
Disclosure: Zapro AI appears on some comparison pages as an editor's pick, and the people behind this site have a professional connection to Zapro AI.
Request received
We will email your shortlist, usually within one business day. While you wait, browse the related guides above.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How often do you add guides?
We add and update guides on a rolling basis. Each page shows its last updated date.
Can I suggest a topic?
Yes. Use the contact page.