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Aavenir Atlas early access is open Contractflow on the ServiceNow Store since 2019 Runs on ServiceNow, or standalone ProcureTech100 2025/26 Pioneering Digital Solution ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certified, SOC 2 Type 2 compliant

Glossary

What is the procure to pay process?

The procure to pay process is how an organization buys and pays for the goods and services it needs, from the first requisition to invoice approval and payment.

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Steps in procure to pay

  1. Identify the need and find the product or service
  2. Create a purchase requisition
  3. Approve the purchase
  4. Issue the purchase order
  5. Receive the goods or services
  6. Check the delivery against the order
  7. Receive the invoice
  8. Match and approve the invoice
  9. Pay the supplier
  10. Update accounts payable

Why the order matters

Procure to pay, also called purchase to pay, works only when the steps run in sequence. An invoice with no purchase order, or a purchase made before approval, breaks the controls that stop overpayment and fraud. Done well, the process gets the right goods at the agreed price, pays suppliers on time and gives finance an accurate picture of what is owed.

How Aavenir handles it

Invoiceflow captures invoices, matches them to the purchase order and receipt, and checks rates, discounts and tax terms against the signed contract. Exceptions go to a person before anything is paid. On ServiceNow, it works alongside Sourcing and Procurement Operations.

Common breakdowns

  • Invoices that arrive with no purchase order
  • Purchase orders raised at prices different from the contract
  • Goods receipts entered late, which holds up payment
  • Approvals that sit in inboxes until discounts are lost

Keep reading

Procure to pay software Procure to pay software connects purchasing and accounts payable in one system, handling requisitions, purchase orders, receipts, invoices and supplier payments.Read more Source to pay Source to pay is the end to end procurement process, from spend analysis and sourcing through contracting and purchasing to processing invoices and paying suppliers.Read more Invoice approval Invoice approval is reviewing and authorizing a supplier invoice before it is recorded and paid, to confirm the goods or services arrived at the agreed price.Read more

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Common questions

What is the difference between procure to pay and purchase to pay?

They are two names for the same process, from requisition to supplier payment. Both are often shortened to P2P. Some organizations use one name for the operational process and the other for the software. Read about procure to pay software.

What is three way matching in procure to pay?

Three way matching compares the invoice with the purchase order and the goods receipt before payment. Adding the contract as a fourth check catches rates or discounts that differ from what was agreed. Many teams add the contract as a check. See Invoiceflow.

How does procure to pay differ from source to pay?

Procure to pay starts at the requisition. Source to pay adds the sourcing and contracting work that comes before it. Both should connect to the same contract terms. Read about source to pay.

Have a question we have not answered? Ask the Expert

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See your contracts run on one record.

  • 1 A 30 minute walkthrough Built around your team, whether that is procurement, legal, IT or finance.
  • 2 Your contracts, not ours Bring a few sample agreements and watch Aavenir AI extract and review them.
  • 3 ServiceNow or standalone We show the deployment that fits the systems you already run.

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