Intake-to-procure software provides a centralized interface for employees to request, approve, and collaborate on procurement processes. Common use cases for intake-to-procure software include purchase request intake, vendor onboarding, contract execution, and more.

Procurement processes typically involve multiple teams. A single request may need approval from finance, security, IT, and legal. With Zip’s user-friendly intake-to-procure software, you can easily set up customizable workflows so each request is routed to the right approver at the right time.

Procurement workflows can vary a bit between organizations, but it typically begins with a request to purchase something – a tool, a SaaS product, or even a consultation service. Next, the finance team will review and approve the request from a budgetary standpoint. Various teams like IT, security, and legal may also need to review the request to ensure it complies with internal policies. The final steps of the intake-to-procure process typically involve signing a contract with the vendor and finalizing the details of the purchase in order to generate an accurate purchase order. POs, invoicing, and payments are typical steps in a procure-to-pay process.

Organizations of all sizes often struggle with disorganized and slow intake-to-procure processes, but the problem can become especially pronounced in large organizations where systems have grown in complexity. Relying on manual processes and coordinating details over Slack or email can significantly delay purchases. Customers who implement Zip’s Intake-to-Procure software have seen their cycle times fall dramatically, from days or even weeks to mere hours.

One of the many advantages of supporting procurement processes with intake-to-procure software is that it provides early visibility for the procurement team on what an organization needs to buy. That early visibility is key – procurement teams need adequate time to research, identify, and select vendors as well as to negotiate the best pricing.

Intake-to-procure software replaces outdated, manual procurement processes that frustrate employees and hamper productivity. Adopting a platform like Zip means that people get what they need faster, while organizations can spend their money more strategically and reduce IT, security, and legal risks.

Zip makes it simple to build custom workflows that route requests to the right people at the right time. Requesters stay updated with a real-time view of the process that allows them to check in at any time to see the status of their request. Reviewers receive notifications when it’s time for them to weigh in, and they can approve requests or ask for more information without leaving the tools they prefer to work in.