The Procurement Glossary » Guided Buying

Guided Buying

Procure-to-Pay

Definition

A buying experience that steers users to compliant, preferred choices with a simple, consumer-like interface.

Explanation

Guided buying makes the right choice the easy one: it surfaces catalog and preferred-supplier items first, applies policy invisibly, and routes edge cases for help. It is the main antidote to maverick spend for everyday purchases.

Example

When a user searches 'laptop', guided buying shows the two standard models and hides non-compliant options.

Related terms

• Maverick Spend — Purchasing done outside agreed processes, contracts or preferred suppliers — 'off-contract' buying.
• Catalog — A curated, priced list of items available for purchase, from which buyers requisition without needing a fresh quote.
• PunchOut — A connection that lets a buyer leave their procurement system, shop on a supplier's live website, and return the cart for approval and PO.
• Self-Service Procurement — An arrangement where employees raise their own compliant requisitions through an easy interface, without going through a buying desk.

Related concepts

• Procure-to-Pay (P2P) — The end-to-end operational buying cycle — from requisition and approval to purchase order, receipt, invoice matching and payment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Guided Buying?

A buying experience that steers users to compliant, preferred choices with a simple, consumer-like interface. Guided buying makes the right choice the easy one: it surfaces catalog and preferred-supplier items first, applies policy invisibly, and routes edge cases for help. It is the main antidote to maverick spend for everyday purchases.

Can you give an example of Guided Buying?

When a user searches 'laptop', guided buying shows the two standard models and hides non-compliant options.

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