Purchase Requisition

A purchase requisition is an internal request to buy something — raised by an employee or team, specifying what's needed, how much, and why — used to get approval before any commitment to a supplier is made.

Once approved, a purchase requisition becomes a purchase order, the formal document sent to the supplier. The requisition is internal; the PO is external and forms the basis for the eventual invoice match.

A requisition normally carries what is needed, the quantity, the cost centre or budget, a requested date, and the requester. Approval rules often depend on value or category.

Once approved, the requisition is converted into a purchase order for the chosen supplier. Consolidating similar requisitions before ordering can improve pricing.