1. Simple Tab
The most common way to raise a requisition is through the workpad by using the ‘simple tab’.
The simple tab is a collection of fields that are the minimum number of fields required to create what is required for a valid requisition.

2. Advanced workpad tabs
The additional tabs on the workpad can be used to raise a requisition. Many of the fields that are on the simple tab are present on the individual tab e.g. the ‘Item code’ and corresponding item details also appear on the Item tab.

3. Shopping Cart
Users are able to navigate to items via a hierarchy defined by your organisation to make selecting items easier. Your organisation may choose to also optionally include an image of the item to assist in identifying the item. Users continue to select items, adding to the ‘shopping cart’ before finalising their selections by adding them to a requisition.

4. Catalogues
Catalogues allow your organisation to group together items under a common grouping. Typically I have seen catalogues grouped together by supplier. Having a catalogue by supplier name allows you to easily identify all of the items that you are able to purchase form the one supplier. Catalogue selection is available by selecting the ‘catalogue selection on the bottom of the workpad that appears when you select ‘Add Item’.

5. Templates
A similar principal to Catalogue grouping. Templates are typically used to group together items commonly purchased together. These items can be available from multiple suppliers. Templates are available from the bottom of the workpad screen.

6. Favourites
Users are able to flag items they find themselves regularly purchasing and may then pick from their favourite listing via the ‘Favourites’ option at the bottom of the requisitions work pad.

7. Previous Items
Users are able to select from a listing of all previous items they have purchased previously. Users simply pick from the listing of previously purchased items via the ‘Previous Items’ option at the bottom of the requisitions work pad.

8. Requisition copy
From within the requisition search screen locate the requisition/(s) that you wish to copy. Either select individual requisition lines to ‘copy lines’ onto a single requisition or select a single line and then select to ‘copy requisition’ to copy all other lines that the selected requisition was created on.

9. Contracts
Users may select items attached to Supplier Attached Item contracts. Users select the appropriate contract number and are then presented with the items and quantities available from that contract. Contract requisitions may be created via the ‘Contact’ option located at the bottom of the workpad screen.

10. Importing
Importing of requisition items are available to the system, this is used widely in the iPOS user-base by organisations who desire to have operational and business functions working seamlessly. iPOS supports the import of data in XML format.
Professional Advantage has worked with many clients to build an interface to assist with converting data from other sources into a suitable format for importing into the system as a requisition

11. iPOS XL
Designed to assist those organisations with large and complex requisitions that may require minor changes or additions to the data. Enables the creation of a requisition within the familiar Excel spreadsheet tool. This tool performs all standard iPOS validation checks and budget checking controls before creating a requisition directly to the requisition portal.

12. Punchout
Punchout directly to a supplier’s online in-house order catalogue, fill the shopping cart from the website, ‘check-out’ to transfer the items back into iPOS for:
• budget checking controls (optional)
• iPOS approval requirements.

Most suppliers offering this service also offer electronic invoicing, reducing the need for any manually invoice processing.