[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n
Procurement is how a company buys the goods and services it needs to operate. If you are new to it, this guide covers what procurement is, the main types, the steps involved, and how it differs from purchasing.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/static.sheetgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/procurement-scaled.webp” alt=”procurement process overview” title_text=”procurement process overview” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n
Procurement is the full process of acquiring goods and services, from working out what you need to choosing suppliers, agreeing terms, and managing those relationships over time. Purchasing, the act of placing the order, is one part of it. Done well, procurement gets a company the right resources at fair terms without surprises later.<\/p>\n
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What procurement looks like depends on the industry, the company’s size, and what is being bought. The common types are:<\/p>\n
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Most procurement follows the same sequence:<\/p>\n
If you want a simple way to handle the purchase-order part, we have a free purchase order template in Google Sheets. Log your suppliers and orders, record deliveries as they arrive, and the Open POs tab shows what is still outstanding. Click below, then choose Make a copy.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_button button_url=”https:\/\/docs.google.com\/spreadsheets\/d\/1uO1s0AD12DqQwmvk5qB81lJAwTxoV2a9X6nX1LxXatM\/copy” url_new_window=”on” button_text=”Get the free template” button_alignment=”center” _builder_version=”4.27.7″ _module_preset=”default” custom_button=”on” button_text_size=”16px” button_text_color=”#FFFFFF” button_bg_color=”#2979FF” button_border_width=”0px” button_border_color=”#2979FF” button_border_radius=”6px” button_font=”|600|||||||” button_use_icon=”off” custom_padding=”15px|20px|15px|20px|true|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” button_bg_color__hover_enabled=”on|hover” button_text_color__hover_enabled=”on|desktop” button_border_color__hover_enabled=”on|hover” button_border_color__hover=”#2666E2″ button_text_color__hover=”#FFFFFF” button_bg_color__hover=”#2666E2″ button_bg_enable_color__hover=”on” theme_builder_area=”post_content” custom_margin=”30px||30px||true|false” sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_button][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/static.sheetgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/purchase-order-template-open-pos-2.png” alt=”purchase order template open POs report in Google Sheets” title_text=”purchase order template open POs report in Google Sheets” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n
The two words get used interchangeably, but purchasing is really a part of procurement. Purchasing is the transaction: placing the order and getting the goods. Procurement is the wider process around it, including supplier research, relationship management, and contract negotiation.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/static.sheetgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/procurement-purchasing-comparison.png” alt=”procurement vs purchasing comparison” title_text=”procurement vs purchasing comparison” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n
Most procurement work still runs on spreadsheets, and for good reason: they are flexible and everyone can use them. A tool like Sheetgo builds on that, cutting the manual copying between files, keeping records in one place, and giving you a clearer view of orders and suppliers.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][difl_faq faq_item_gap=”25px” enable_schema=”on” close_icon_color=”#82afff” close_icon_size=”28px” open_icon_color=”#82afff” faq_anime_duration=”200″ faq_item_wrapper_bg_bgcolor=”#FFFFFF” que_text_margin=”10px|20px|10px|20px|true|true” ans_text_padding=”0px|20px|10px|20px|false|true” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” question_text_font=”|600|||||||” question_text_font_size=”19px” design_answer_text_font=”|300|||||||” design_answer_text_font_size=”16px” design_answer_text_line_height=”1.6em” border_radii_faq_item_wrapper_border=”on|12px|12px|12px|12px” border_color_all_faq_item_wrapper_border=”#deeaf7″ global_colors_info=”{}” que_wrapper_bg_bgcolor__hover=”1px||||false|false” que_wrapper_bg_bgcolor__hover_enabled=”on|hover” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][difl_faqitem question=”What are the main goals of procurement?” question_title_tag=”h3″ _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” que_wrapper_bg_bgcolor__hover=”1px||||false|false” que_wrapper_bg_bgcolor__hover_enabled=”on|hover” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n
To get the goods and services a company needs at a fair cost and quality, and within the time it needs them.<\/p>\n
[\/difl_faqitem][difl_faqitem question=”Do small businesses need a formal procurement process?” question_title_tag=”h3″ _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” que_wrapper_bg_bgcolor__hover=”1px||||false|false” que_wrapper_bg_bgcolor__hover_enabled=”on|hover” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n
Even a light one helps. Knowing who you buy from, at what price, and on what terms saves money and avoids scrambling when you need to reorder.<\/p>\n
[\/difl_faqitem][difl_faqitem question=”Can technology replace human judgment in procurement?” question_title_tag=”h3″ _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” que_wrapper_bg_bgcolor__hover=”1px||||false|false” que_wrapper_bg_bgcolor__hover_enabled=”on|hover” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n
No. Tools take the repetitive work off your plate, but choosing suppliers and negotiating terms still needs a person.<\/p>\n
[\/difl_faqitem][\/difl_faq][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Procurement is how a company buys the goods and services it needs to operate. If you are new to it, this guide covers what procurement is, the main types, the steps involved, and how it differs from purchasing.What is procurement?Procurement is the full process of acquiring goods and services, from working out what you need […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":50,"featured_media":47418,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[53],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-47321","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-procurement-processes"],"acf":[],"permalink_manager":null,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sheetgo.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47321","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sheetgo.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sheetgo.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sheetgo.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/50"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sheetgo.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=47321"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.sheetgo.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47321\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sheetgo.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/47418"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sheetgo.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=47321"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sheetgo.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=47321"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sheetgo.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=47321"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}