This article applies to you as a buyer in a private business, and shows how a procurement moves from idea to signed agreement.
The five phases
Under Procurements in the menu there is one item per phase. The number beside it tells you how many are there right now, so you see at a glance where your work sits.
In progress are procurements you are still setting up. No suppliers can see them yet.
Invitations sent are the ones that have gone out. Suppliers can read them and submit bids until the deadline passes.
Under evaluation are the ones where the deadline has passed and the bids need assessing.
Award are the ones where you have decided who won and are letting them know.
Completed are the ones that are finished. They stay, so you can look back at what was done.
Where you start
Most procurements start with a need someone reports. Under Needs you find Inbox with what has been reported, and Approved needs with what has been cleared for purchase.
You can also skip the need step and go straight to New procurement if you already know what to buy.
💡 Tip: If you are buying something you have bought before, look for a ready-made template under Library. It saves you setting up the same requirements again.
From procurement to contract
Once you have chosen a supplier, you can create the contract directly from the procurement. The details carry over, and the agreement lands under Contracts, where you find deadlines and renewals later.
Next
See Create a procurement for how to set up your first one.