Manufacturing Industry PO System Key Features and Benefits

Simple PO Process for Manufacturers

Manufacturers can create purchase orders in two easy steps!

  • First, fill in the supplier, budget, delivery details and any special requirements.
  • Second, add as many lines of individual items as required, you can also add supporting documents. Once you are happy simply save the Purchase Order.

Learn how easy it is to create a new purchase order for your facility using Cloud B2B's manufacturing PO system.

Advanced Approval Workflow

  • Customise your approval process to fit your manufacturing operation's needs.
  • Manage approval workflows for all Purchase Orders, Invoices and Budgets effectively.
  • Easily Approve, Reject, or Cancel Purchase Orders as necessary.
  • Establish approval limits and rules to maintain full control.  

Manufacturing purchase orders follow an efficient approval workflow process.

Thorough Reporting and Budget Control

  • Budgets can be established for specific projects, departments or company-wide purchases.
  • Budget access is based on user roles within your manufacturing organisation.
  • Only system administrators can modify budget settings.
  • Budgets can be aligned with fiscal periods, such as monthly or annually.

Track maintenance expenses using our purchase order system.

Accurate Goods & Service Receipting

  • Authorised users can receive goods against Purchase Orders seamlessly
  • The system displays only open PO lines for receiving.
  • Supports full or partial receipts with an option for comments.
  • Includes both line-by-line and bulk receipting options as standard.

Handle incoming materials and services in accordance with purchase orders.

Bespoke Reports & Searching Ability

  • Export data in various formats (e.g. CSV, Excel and PDF) for flexibility.
  • Access records like Purchase Orders and Invoices sorted by status.
  • Reports are displayed clearly, tailored to your manufacturing organisation's needs.
  • Generate detailed reports on Purchase Orders, Invoices, Budgets and other key metrics.

Perform customised searches within the purchase order system.

Dynamic Administration Tools

  • Manage accounting codes such as Cost Centers, Nominal Codes, and Project Codes.
  • Set up detailed approval rules including shared workflow approval groups.
  • Complete workflow management and administration.
  • User management tools with individual out-of-office settings.

Utilise enhanced admin tools within the manufacturing industry PO system.

Data Exports to Accounts System

  • Export approved supplier invoices and credit notes with customised data formats for compatibility with your accounting software (e.g. to SAGE / XERO / Quick Books for payment).
  • Meta data can be exported from the full POPIA systems in CSV format.
  • API integration available as an optional feature for automated connections.

Retrieve purchasing data from our purchase order system with data exports.

Adaptable for Future Growth

  • Achieve complete automation of supplier invoice processing with AI capabilities.
  • Begin with the Purchase Order module and 'hide' certain features for gradual introduction.
  • Customisation options are available to meet your evolving needs.
  • Expand functionality as your manufacturing operations grow and change.

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What are the benefits of purchase order software for the manufacturing industry?

Comprehensive Reporting and Accurate Purchasing

Accurate Purchasing and Comprehensive Reporting

Ensure accuracy and consistency with our purchase order platform's ability to import supplier price lists, standardizing all purchasing activities. The system provides a full Goods Receipt Note (GRN) function to ensure auditability of purchases and deliveries. Access a comprehensive suite of custom reports 24/7, with export capabilities to support detailed analysis and informed decision-making.

Comprehensive Purchase Approvals and Budget Control

Comprehensive Budget Control and Purchase Approvals

Our purchase order system offers robust budget control at the company, department or project level, ensuring adherence to financial limits and eliminating overspending. Staff can raise purchase orders with supporting documents, which follow a structured approval workflow. Approvers have the ability to agree, query, or cancel all purchasing requests, maintaining strict budget compliance and process integrity.

Secure User-Friendly Access

Flexible, Secure, and User-Friendly Access

Our secure, private internet-based system operates on a concurrent user model, so you don't need a license for every user, reducing overall costs. It's compatible with a wide variety of devices such as tablets or smartphones and requires no internal software or hardware. Users receive email alerts and daily updates for required actions, and can manage user access and functionality with full administrative controls.

Included as standard with all our Manufacturing Industry PO Systems

Secure and Scalable Infrastructure

  • Cloud-based procurement system hosted in a secure facility.
  • Customisable user roles and permissions for precise data access.
  • Access electronic purchase orders across various devices seamlessly.
  • Supplier performance evaluation with regular audit reviews.
  • Scalable solution for both small manufacturers and large enterprises, supporting growth.

Full Function User Control and Management Module

  • Detailed user management for adding, role-changing, and status updates.
  • Out-of-Office notifications and task re-assignment capabilities.

Customised Searching and Reporting

  • Tailored, configurable reporting for all purchase order data.
  • Import and update supplier price lists, with search for products and best prices.
  • Accurate assignment of nominal codes and cost centers for purchases.
  • Export data for approved invoices and credit notes for easy integration with accounts systems.

System Monitoring and Communication

  • Dashboards display crucial system metrics for manufacturing material or service orders.
  • Users receive email notifications for all order updates and daily reminders.

Vendor and Document Management

  • Vendor oversight with supplier rating and detailed reporting features.
  • Enhanced system security with Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) and tiered access controls.
  • Attach supporting documents for internal reviews (e.g. quotes) and external files for orders (e.g. diagrams and spreadsheets).

Budgetary Control and Visibility

  • Complete budget oversight for production, department, or project orders.
  • Insight into allocated used, and remaining budgets for order creators.
  • Option to establish budgets for production, departments, or projects with financial settings.

Customised Approval Workflows

  • Intuitive interface for all staff levels, enhancing efficiency.
  • Tailored approval workflows with options to approve, reject or cancel at each stage.
  • 24/7 online access to the electronic purchase order system from any location with web connection.

Full Feature Separate Web Portal For Support

  • Our technical support team is UK-based and reachable through a secure online portal.
  • Each purchase order system designates up to 3 key users for portal access, with flexibility for changes as needed.
  • The portal provides access to your purchase order software's account and billing details.

Secure UK Private Cloud Hosted

  • Systems hosted on our secure, private cloud via Azure UK infrastructure
  • Secure access via SSL encrypted connections
  • Automatic additional back up to Acronis platform for resilience

Fully Functional on All Devices

  • Full system access and functionality on any device with internet access (including smartphones and tablets)
  • No hardware or software required
  • Fully set up and maintained by our UK-based development and support teams

Concurrent Licensing Pool Model

  • More economical than having a dedicated licence for each user, reducing costs to suit staff turnover
  • Licences are shared by all users, based on the number of active user sessions, providing flexibility for your business

Full Support via Separate Web Portal

  • Cloud B2B provide UK-based support via a secure web portal
  • Full support available to your system's power users
  • Access your account and billing information via the portal

A selection of our clients

Tour of the Cloud B2B Purchase Ordering software

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Our pricing starts from just £135 plus VAT per month

For a personalised, no-obligation quote tailored to your specific requirements, simply complete the form below, a member of our team will be in touch via email shortly.


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Questions and Answers about purchase order systems for manufacturers

How do you support users of your manufacturing order management systems?

Designated users can access our online support portal to submit support tickets whenever required. We also provide Teams-based user training to ensure users are confident in navigating the system. Additionally, we offer comprehensive documentation outlining the features of the purchase order software for the manufacturing industry. To access this documentation, click here: Purchase Order System - Documentation.

Is there a facility that allows us to keep track of incoming materials?

Yes, the manufacturing order management system includes a Goods Receipting module which allows you to track incoming goods against the purchase order. This ensures a higher level of control over your material deliveries from suppliers. Not only does the manufacturing order management system allow for tracking receipt of materials, it provides built-in functionality to track discrepancies and financials.

Can I use a PO system for all our manufacturing purchasing needs?

Yes, whether for components or for general company purposes – in fact everything- our  purchase order software means each purchase request with supporting documents such as quotations can be routed via workflow for approval by relevant staff, such as project managers or directors.  Approvers will have the ability to challenge the PO raiser on any item, until all those in the approval chain are satisfied to proceed with the order.

Is your purchase order software system suitable for all sizes of manufacturing company?

Yes. It may not be an ERP system, but at a fraction of those sort of costs, clients can control the whole procurement process using our software, enabling companies of any size in to operate more efficiently, especially in today’s business climate.

We purchase a number of materials from overseas – can your system accommodate this?

Our system has the ability to handle multiple currencies as is linked to an automated daily exchange rate, meaning that any rates are kept up to date for arcuate budget reporting.

How does the goods receipting function work?

With most deliveries, a paper-based document will be available for signature and capture. This can then be scanned (or photo’d) and uploaded to our system against the relevant Purchase Order and line item(s). The system keeps PO’s open until all items have been delivered. And if you don’t have a physical document, you can create an ‘in system’ version that does the same.

Does the purchasing software allow full visibility as to processing of orders?

Of course. Our systems are controlled by roles and permissions, so users can be restricted (or not) to being able to access data for all the purchases they are involved in. At top level e.g., system controllers, have full access across all Purchase Orders and is available 24 x 7 via the customised and expansive search and report facilities.

What about supplier invoices and credit notes – can you import these and match to PO’s?

Yes, the full purchase order and supplier invoice version allows your whole procurement process to be controlled in our system. It allows for matching both supplier invoices and credit notes (usually as PDF’s that come via email) to purchase orders, and individual PO lines. Approval can be carried out at Finance level (with tolerances) or sent back to the PO creator for approval. Once fully approved clients have the ability to export the approved invoices and credit notes to your accounts system, via CSV file format

We purchase goods and services using a number of different payment methods, can the system support this?

Yes, the system accommodates multiple payment methods, such as credit cards, debit cards and even cash. There is also the facility to add new payment methods if required.

How does the system help me deliver projects within budget?

The system provides an end-to-end solution for your procurement process from raising a purchase order to the receipt and invoice of goods or services. It gives you a clear overview of spend and contains budget functionality, ensuring that you do not overspend and have full visibility of purchasing budgets at all times.

We use a large number of suppliers; how can the system assist in managing these?

There is a supplier rating system available within the system in which each supplier is rated on a 1-5 star basis, this information can then be displayed on your dashboard, giving you an effective overview of how each supplier is performing.

Do I have to be on-site to access the system?

No, our system is easily accessible from any device with an internet connection. This gives you the flexibility to control procurement from anywhere in the world 24/7.

Find out today how a customised Purchase Ordering System will improve your purchasing process

Please contact me to set up an initial discussion of our requirements / book a free remote demo

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