---
title: What is and how to use the Purchase orders feature
description: "The **purchase orders** feature is designed to help you organize supplier information, pricing, and delivery schedules all in one place. SkyPlanner uses these arrival dates when building the production schedule. Even if a supplier is delayed for any reason, SkyPlanner…"
url: "https://skyplanner.ai/docs/what-is-and-how-to-use-the-purchase-orders-feature/"
updated: "2025-04-30"
category: Orders / Purchase Orders
---

# What is and how to use the Purchase orders feature

The **purchase orders** feature is designed to help you organize supplier information, pricing, and delivery schedules all in one place.

SkyPlanner uses these arrival dates when building the production schedule. Even if a supplier is delayed for any reason, SkyPlanner can quickly adjust and optimize the plan, helping minimize downtime and avoid production delays.

As a whole, a **purchase order** is crucial for production planning. It gives production planners the information they need to schedule work properly — planning around when raw materials or parts are expected to arrive.

To use the purchase order feature:

- Go to **Orders** and select **Purchase orders**.
- You will be taken to the **Purchase orders panel**. On the top right, click the blue **+ Create purchase order**button.
- A window will pop up. Fill in the information.

![](https://skyplanner.ai/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/purchase-orders-panel-1024x589.webp)

**Purchase order number**: The number of the purchase you have created. SkyPlanner can create this sequence automatically or take the information from another system, like an ERP, if it is integrated.

**External purchase order number**: If there is one, write it here.

**Customer**: Write the name of the customer whose order needs this purchase.

**Status**: Here, you can inform what is the status of the purchase.

**Update status for all items**: You can check this box if you want SkyPlanner to consider this purchase information for the scheduled orders already in the system.

**Purchase date**: Select the date the purchase has been made.

**Delivered date**: The day you need it.

**Estimated delivered date**: The date the supplier tells you this purchase might arrive.

**Confirmed delivered date**: The date the supplier confirms you this purchase will arrive.

The other fields are optional.

![](https://skyplanner.ai/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/purchase-order-settings-705x1024.webp)

- Finally, click **Save**.
- Now, you will see that your new purchase appears on the list. Click on it and then click on **+ Create purchase order item**.

![](https://skyplanner.ai/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/purchase-order-item-process-1024x188.webp)

![](https://skyplanner.ai/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/purchase-order-item-panel-1024x589.webp)

**External identifier**: Add the external ID of the item being purchased here.

**Product**: The item being purchased. This item needs to be in the product or material registry.  

[Read how to create a new material](https://skyplanner.ai/docs/how-to-create-new-material-into-skyplanner/)

[Learn how to create a new product](https://skyplanner.ai/docs/add-a-new-product-to-skyplanner/)

**Ordered quantity**: The amount purchased.

**Units**: When you have selected the product, SkyPlanner will automatically pick the unit.

**Attach this item to a production order**: Check this box if you want this information attached to a specific order. If you select this, new options will appear.

**Production order**: The order you want this information attached.

**Production order item**: The item you want this information attached.

**Production workstage**: The process step this purchase will be attached.

**Estimated delivery date**: The date the supplier tells you this purchase might arrive.

**Confirmed delivery date**: The date the supplier confirms you this purchase will arrive.

**Delivery status**: the status of the purchase. It is vital to update it.

![](https://skyplanner.ai/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/purchase-order-item-settings.png)

[Learn how to update the information and status of a purchase order item](https://skyplanner.ai/docs/how-to-update-the-information-of-a-purchase-order-item/).

Then, click **Save**.

Done! You have created a new Purchase order.

**Note:** Remember to go to **Production Scheduling** and click the **King button** to update your schedule. Suppose you have one or more work orders that are missing the item you just created a purchase order for. In that case, **SkyPlanner** will automatically move those work orders to the delivery date confirmed by the supplier.