Understanding PeopleSoft Purchasing Workflow

Many daily tasks are part of a larger process that involves several steps and people working together. The term workflow refers to this process, which could encompass, for example; approving a purchase order or notifying a manager of an exception. To facilitate this type of multiuser process, PeopleSoft can automatically trigger workflow notifications to inform the next person in the process of work awaiting them.

Use PeopleSoft workflows to:

  • Automate the information flow.

  • Enforce business process rules.

  • Combine the tasks of several users into a business process.

PeopleSoft offers two types of workflow:

  1. PeopleTools Workflow Technology documented in the PeopleTools : Workflow Technology. This method is used to approve transactions and generate workflow notifications of various events. To setup this workflow, users must possess technical skills in PeopleSoft PeopleTools to create and maintain workflow using PeopleSoft Application Designer, PeopleCode, and Workflow Administrator.

  2. PeopleSoft Approval Framework documented in the PeopleSoft FSCM 9.2 : Approval Framework. This method is used to approve transactions. The approval framework requires less technical skills than the PeopleTools workflow technology. For example, all of the steps in approval framework are defined by means of PeopleSoft pages rather than the underlying PeopleSoft PeopleCode, so functional users can design and maintain workflow using these online PeopleSoft pages without technical developers having to create workflow rules. In addition, the approval framework enables you to approve transactions at the line level and use several additional approval features.

Within PeopleSoft Purchasing, the PeopleTools workflow technology is used for all workflow notifications. Purchase orders and requisitions can be approved using the approval process within the PeopleTools workflow technology or the approval framework. This choice of workflow method is made at the business unit level. PeopleSoft eProcurement uses the approval framework to approve requisitions and purchase orders.