Definition
A purchase requisition is an internal request asking the purchasing team to buy goods or services, approved before any supplier is contacted or order placed.
What is a purchase requisition used for?
A requisition separates the need from the purchase. The requester says what’s needed, how much, by when and why; a manager approves the spend; a buyer then sources it. That split stops staff committing the company to suppliers on their own. Common purposes are replenishing stock, buying for a specific customer order and internal use.
Example: a storekeeper raises a requisition for 40 rolls of copper pipe needed by the 15th; the branch manager approves it and the buyer sends a request for quotation to suppliers.
A requisition isn’t a purchase order and creates no commitment with any supplier. Follow the whole process in the procure-to-pay guide.