Updated 9/17/2025
At some point or another, every organization needs to purchase products, services, or other items for its business. Some are recurring purchases like office supplies, but others are less frequent and more expensive, such as new equipment or technology.
Without a structured process, these purchases can lead to duplicate orders, overspending, or gaps in accountability. That’s where purchase requisitions come in.
Unlike a purchase order, which is the document sent to acquire goods or services, a purchase requisition is created internally by employees to request approval before a purchase is made. It provides details such as:
- Item description and quantity
- Price and vendor information
- Department and requester details
- Reason for purchase
Once approved, the requisition becomes a purchase order. This creates a consistent approval trail, improves budget control, and prevents costly mistakes.
The Challenges of Manual Requisitions
Traditional requisition processes often involve:
- Paper forms passed from desk to desk
- Email requests that are difficult to track
- Delays when approvers are unavailable
- Limited visibility into overall spending
These inefficiencies cost organizations both time and money, while creating frustration for staff and finance teams alike.
What is Purchase Requisition Automation?
Purchase requisition automation uses digital forms, workflows, and integrations to eliminate paperwork and create a streamlined, transparent process. Employees can submit requests online, managers can approve with a click, and accounting teams gain instant visibility into pending spend.
Benefits include:
- Faster approval cycles
- Accurate tracking and audit trails
- Reduced risk of duplicate purchases
- Seamless integration with ERP and AP systems
Real-World Efficiency: Wood-Mizer’s Paperless Transformation
A leading example of automation in action comes from Wood-Mizer, the global manufacturer of sawmills and wood processing equipment.
Wood-Mizer processes approximately 60,000 invoices annually, and after experimenting with an outsourced AP platform, they returned to DocStar ECM with Intelligent Data Capture (IDC). The result was remarkable:
“We’re probably at least at a 96% efficiency or greater. You’ve done such a phenomenal job!”
By digitizing their requisitions and AP workflows, Wood-Mizer:
- Eliminated a $4,300/month outsourced invoice processing cost
- Integrated DocStar directly with their Infor Cloud Suite Industrial (CSI) ERP
- Reduced manual data entry and approval bottlenecks
- Created audit-ready trails for every requisition and invoice
This efficiency improvement freed up staff time for higher-value tasks and strengthened vendor relationships through faster, more accurate payments.
ERP Integration for Seamless Processes
Automation is most effective when it connects with the systems you already use. Mosaic’s solutions integrate with leading ERP platforms, including:
- Infor CSI, Epicor, Microsoft Dynamics, Sage Intacct, and more
- Automatic syncing of requisition data into ERP modules
- Real-time updates to financial records
- Error reduction through elimination of duplicate entry
Benefits of Automating Purchase Requisitions
- Efficiency Gains – Faster cycle times and reduced manual handling
- Cost Savings – Lower labor and processing costs, fewer errors
- Visibility – Clear audit trail and spending insights for finance teams
- Scalability – Ability to handle higher purchase volumes without adding staff
- Compliance – Enforces organizational approval rules and budget discipline
Want to see how leading organizations cut costs, improve visibility, and thrive in today’s fast-paced business environment? Download our free resource: The Guide to Achieving Sustainable Improvements with AP Automation.
Driving Manufacturing Success
The Wood-Mizer story shows how manufacturers and other industries can achieve dramatic efficiency gains and cost savings by automating requisitions and AP. A flexible, integrated system not only streamlines approvals but also adapts to the specific needs of the business.
Automation is no longer optional; it’s the foundation of efficient, paperless operations that allow organizations to grow while controlling costs.
Manufacturers aren’t the only ones seeing dramatic savings. Utility companies are also cutting costs and improving efficiency with document management. See how they’re saving over $100K annually in our blog.
Your Paperless Purchase Requisition Partner
Mosaic has deep experience designing customized, integrated requisition solutions. Our team helps clients transition from manual, paper-based processes to digital systems that scale with their needs.
From Wood-Mizer’s 96% AP efficiency achievement to countless other client successes, Mosaic demonstrates how automation drives measurable results.
Contact us today to learn how we can help your organization streamline requisitions, improve efficiency, and achieve your digital transformation goals.
