Trying to place purchase orders without a process in place is a bit like cooking without a recipe. You don’t know what you need to include, and you end up with a big mess and disappointing results.
In fact, global inventory distortion, the cost of lost sales due to overstocked and out-of-stock items, results in a staggering $1.1 trillion loss, with annual inventory and manufacturing waste reaching $163 billion, largely due to human error.
To avoid confusion, delayed shipments, low inventory, and strained supplier relationships, you need a purchase order template that works for your business and the types of goods or services you purchase.
Here are five free, customizable templates for businesses of all kinds, as well as tips and best practices for creating different types of purchase orders to enhance efficiency and decrease waste.
A standard purchase order (PO) contains the essential information required for a straightforward transaction. It follows purchase order best practices like maintaining consistency in formatting and language throughout the document.
It also includes standard elements like:
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Beyond basic contact details and other elements found in a standard PO, retail purchase orders often emphasize comprehensive supplier information.
This extra information is included to help manage inventory levels more effectively, negotiate favorable terms with suppliers, and ensure a consistent and timely flow of merchandise.
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E-commerce purchase orders don’t differ a whole lot from retail POs. However, some e-commerce items may be digital and require different fields than physical items. Additionally, e-commerce POs may prioritize more detailed product descriptions in general since the buyer relies heavily on digital representations of products.
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It’s essential to address the specific requirements of the production process within a manufacturing purchase order. This type of PO includes details like materials, dimensions, production timelines, and quality standards.
By precisely specifying material requirements, you can prevent manufacturing waste resulting from defects. Laying out effective production scheduling in a purchase order can also prevent time and labor waste from waiting for machines to be available, overprocessing, or long transportation times.
Packaging details: Including packaging specifications helps protect products during transit and storage.
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If you work in wholesale, you need a purchase order that caters to larger quantities and diverse product ranges. In addition to standard items like product details, quantities, and prices, a wholesale PO typically includes specific provisions for bulk pricing, volume discounts, and other items that address the scale of the order.
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A purchase order is a formal contract between a buyer and seller, specifying details like product specifications, quantities, prices, delivery dates, and terms and conditions. It minimizes misunderstandings and disputes, providing a transparent framework for inventory management, financial planning, and recordkeeping.
A well-designed purchase order form is crucial for maintaining clarity and efficiency in business transactions. You may want to create your own instead of using a template if your business requires specific fields for its orders.
Here are the key elements you need to start with, as well as best practices for your PO system.
To create a professional branded purchase order form, you first need to open a new document using your preferred editing software like Google Sheets, Excel, or Microsoft Word.
Focus on incorporating company branding, like your logo, brand colors, and fonts. Integrating your branding elements enhances the overall professionalism and recognition of your purchase order documents.
Designate specific sections of the document for supplier details and order information. Leave placeholders for the following elements:
Save a copy of your order form with the empty placeholders. You now have a systematic template you can use later to streamline the process of creating purchase orders and ensure you never exclude a piece of vital information.
When you’re ready to send a purchase order, complete your template with your company’s and vendor’s information in the designated placeholders. Then fill in details specific to this transaction like:
After you’ve finalized your purchase order, make sure to save a copy for your records. This ensures effective recordkeeping and mitigates the risk of losing information.
Plus, if you work with the same vendor again or have repeat transactions with them, you can save time by simply adjusting dates and shipping details on future purchase orders.
Establish a system for updating your template. Regularly review it to ensure it reflects any changes in your company’s branding or contact details. Consistently maintaining your purchase order template reduces the likelihood of errors and ensures a standardized approach over time.
Purchase order templates can make a world of difference in improving the efficiency of your ordering and inventory management process.
If you want to take your purchase order management to the next level, consider switching from spreadsheets to purchase order software. Learn more about how Cin7 makes automating stock availability and supplier management easier than ever.
Start a free trial of Cin7 and start reducing inefficiencies today.
The biggest difference between a purchase order and an invoice is that a purchase order comes before a transaction, while an invoice follows the completion of a transaction.
A purchase order is a document issued by a buyer to a seller to initiate a product or service purchase. It outlines details like quantity, price, and delivery terms. An invoice is a bill the seller sends to the buyer after the goods or services have been delivered. It indicates the amount owed and the payment terms.
A purchase order is a document sent by a buyer to a seller that specifies the products or services they want to purchase. In contrast, a seller creates a sales order in response to a customer’s purchase request.
It confirms the sale and details the agreed-upon terms to create a contractual obligation for the seller to deliver the goods or services. Essentially, a purchase order starts with the buyer, while a sales order starts with the seller.
Yes, Microsoft Word provides predesigned purchase order templates you can customize for your specific needs. These templates usually include fields for product details, quantities, prices, and terms.
Yes, Excel offers pre-built PO templates you can use to create detailed and organized purchase orders. Like Word templates, Excel PO templates include fields for buyer/seller details, product specifications, prices, and shipping terms.
There are a few ways to create a purchase order PDF, but a common method is to use a program or software like Google Sheets, Microsoft Word, or Excel. Once you’ve finalized your document, you can convert it to PDF format using the “Save As” or “Export” feature within the software.
You can also use online converters with Adobe or with a dedicated PDF creation tool like Adobe Acrobat Pro. This route ensures the purchase order retains its formatting and can be easily shared and viewed.
