Do purchase requests become POs automatically once they are approved?

Tools like Coupa, Zip, Ramp and Procurify route requests to the right approvers, remind them, and create the PO when everyone has said yes.

How to automate it

How to automate “chase budget holders to approve purchase orders”

Here are 2 ways to spend less time on this, best first. Each comes with steps you can follow today.

20 min

typically, every day

60%

of the time can be automated

Easy

to set up

Fix 1 of 2

Software featureBest fix

Run purchase requests through an intake-to-PO tool with approval rules

Coupa, Zip, Ramp Procurement, Procurify and Precoro turn a request form into an approved PO, routing approvals by amount and budget and reminding approvers.

Typically saves about 55% of the time8 h to set up

1Write approval rules by amount, department and category (e.g. IT and legal review for software).
2Set up a request form in your procurement tool or ERP.
3Turn on automatic reminders and mobile approvals.
4Let approved requests create the PO and send it to the supplier automatically.

Tools: Coupa · Zip · Ramp Procurement · Procurify · Precoro · SAP Ariba · NetSuite

Fix 2 of 2

Automation

Move approvals into a tracked workflow with reminders

Approvals in Teams/Power Automate, Slack Workflows, or your e-signature tool remind people for you and show what is stuck.

Typically saves about 60% of the time1 h to set up

1List the approvals you chase most.
2Set up an approval flow (Power Automate Approvals, Slack Workflow Builder, DocuSign or your HR/finance system).
3Add automatic reminders after 24 hours.
4Agree a default: no answer in 48 hours means it goes ahead (where safe).

Tools: Power Automate Approvals · Slack Workflow Builder · DocuSign or Adobe Acrobat Sign

Quick wins

Have you tried…

Do purchase requests become POs automatically once they are approved?: Tools like Coupa, Zip, Ramp and Procurify route requests to the right approvers, remind them, and create the PO when everyone has said yes.

Who does this task

Roles in our library that list this as one of their common tasks. Each guide covers the rest of that role’s week.

Procurement / purchasing specialist

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