Automated Purchasing System

What Does Automated Purchasing System Mean?

An automated purchasing system is a system in which a Web service or other technology and interface may display pricing from multiple pre-approved vendors for the convenience of purchasers. This kind of technology is generally used in enterprise resource planning (ERP) for large purchasers in various industries.

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Techopedia Explains Automated Purchasing System

Experts often talk about an automated purchasing system as a procurement tool, which implies that the interface is enterprise-oriented, that smaller purchases are elements of a larger supply chain, and that purchasers are relatively sophisticated buyers in a particular industry. Experts and those using an automated purchasing system may talk about real-time pricing points where raw materials, simple products, or auxiliary products and services are presented clearly in the interface to allow for a more streamlined procurement process. In general, an automated purchasing system as part of ERP is designed to allow all parties involved in the buying process to get more available data in order to make long-term purchasing more efficient. Software products like automated purchasing systems may be set up to be delivered through innovative new hosted models, such as Software as a Service setups, to further provide convenience and efficiency to users.

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Margaret Rouse

Margaret Rouse is an award-winning technical writer and teacher known for her ability to explain complex technical subjects to a non-technical, business audience. Over the past twenty years her explanations have appeared on TechTarget websites and she's been cited as an authority in articles by the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine and Discovery Magazine.Margaret's idea of a fun day is helping IT and business professionals learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages. If you have a suggestion for a new definition or how to improve a technical explanation, please email Margaret or contact her…