The document discusses the outdated nature of the purchase request process, which has largely remained unchanged for 100 years despite the prevalence of electronic solutions that introduce complexity and require training. It proposes a new mobile-friendly format that simplifies the process and offers a more intuitive design for approvers to access necessary information easily. The new approach aims to improve efficiency in purchasing while ensuring that detailed supplier and spend data is readily available for better decision-making.

1. Purchase Request (R)evolution
100 Year Old Purchase Request Format Ready For A Change
Bill Kohnen April 2015
$4,750
For
project
X
DellLaptopsJoe

2. Overview
• 95% of all organization still have a requirement to use a
purchase request process
• The purchase request format whether paper or electronic
has not changed much in 100 years
• Electronic Purchasing solutions which all digitized paper
forms have added complexity and often require user
training.
– Reference example of 34 page training course at Purdue University
http://edit.education.purdue.edu/download/misc/ariba/P2P%20200%20-%20Creating%20Requisitions%20in%20Ariba%20%28Student%29.pdf
• Time for new format that is mobile and works across
platforms with no log in required

3. Paper to Electronic
Simple Digital Replica of Paper Form and
Now People Need to be trained how to complete form

4. Something Better
$4,750
For
project
X
DellLaptopsJoe
Details Supplier Buyer Info
APPROVE REJECT
Comment:
Purchase Request

5. Approvers Get “Lite” Message
$4,750
For
project
X
DellLaptopsJoe
Details Supplier Buyer Info
APPROVE REJECT
Comment:
Purchase Request
If Approvers
Need More
Information
Just Click

6. $4,750
For
project
X
DellLaptopsJoe
Details Supplier Buyer Info
APPROVE REJECT
Comment:
Purchase Request
• Project X Team
• Need clean and fast systems
for X development
Justification
• Approver wanted to see Justification

7. $4,750
For
project
X
DellLaptopsJoe
Details Supplier Buyer Info
APPROVE REJECT
Comment:
Purchase Request
• Project X Team
• Need clean and fast systems for X
development
Justification
QTY UOM Item Unit
Price
Total Delivery
5 EA 5180 $950 $4,750 5 Days
• Approver
wants to see
details

8. $4,750
For
project
X
DellLaptopsJoe
• Project X Team
• Need clean and fast systems for X
development
Justification
QTY UOM Item Unit Price Total Delivery
5 EA 5180 $950 $4,750 5 Days
Supplier
Dell Jane sales Jane@Dell.com
HP
Lenovo
Other
Suggested
Suppliers
Supplier Rating
“Last PO on time with free
memory upgrade”
MGR
Director
VP
Approval Status
0
5
10
15
Total Dell
Spend
HP Lenovo
Category Spend
Buyer and Requestor See All Details, Approvals and Reference Info

9. Purchase Request (R)evolution
• Intuitive Design
• Approvers see relevant information and can get details as needed
• Purchasing gets detail as needed plus sourcing and spend data to
help plan purchase
• Detailed information (cost centers, accounts, division etc.) drawn
from data base and held “behind the scene”
• Nobody owned the old formats they “evolved” through 100 years of
practice and experience. Likewise newer formats should remain
“open” and driven by purchasing needs.