The modern procurement technology stack: ERP, eProcurement, and workflow orchestration

At a glance

Procurement technology has evolved beyond ERP into a connected stack of eProcurement, catalogs, contracts, and AP automation.

Despite integration, gaps persist where human approvals and vendor coordination create delays.

True efficiency comes from orchestrating workflows that connect systems, people, and documents seamlessly.

Moxo bridges these gaps with secure workflow automation that unifies vendors, approvers, and data in one platform.

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Procurement technology is at a tipping point

Procurement has become a high-stakes function. McKinsey estimates that digitizing procurement can reduce costs by up to 10% while minimizing supply risks by 20%.

Yet many organizations are stuck with fragmented systems. An ERP may manage financials, an eProcurement tool may handle sourcing, and an AP platform may track invoices but coordination across these tools and stakeholders is still manual.

Think of procurement as a relay race. The baton (a purchase request, a contract, or an invoice) must pass through multiple runners: ERP, eProcurement, contracts, finance approvals, and vendors. Without orchestration, the baton gets dropped.

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Components of the procurement stack

The procurement technology stack is a combination of foundational and specialized tools. Understanding each piece is critical to seeing where coordination challenges arise.

ERP as the backbone

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems sit at the core. They provide financial oversight and record-keeping. However, they were never designed to manage complex sourcing events, supplier catalogs, or contract workflows.

eProcurement for sourcing and requisitions

eProcurement tools build on ERP by streamlining requisition requests, approvals, and supplier engagement. They ensure compliance and standardized processes but often operate in silos.

Catalog management for spend control

Catalogs provide structured access to approved items and suppliers. While this reduces rogue spending, managing multiple vendor catalogs across geographies can quickly become complex.

Contract lifecycle management (CLM)

CLM platforms mitigate risk by tracking contract terms, renewals, and compliance. Yet, without coordination, contracts can be approved in one system but missed in ERP updates.

Accounts payable automation

AP tools automate invoice capture, matching, and payments. They close the loop financially but rely heavily on accurate data flowing from upstream processes.

A real-world example: A regional manufacturer implemented an eProcurement solution to improve sourcing but struggled with delays because contract approvals were still routed through email. This disconnect caused missed discounts and late payments.

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Where the system fails: Bottlenecks in human coordination

Even the most advanced tools can’t eliminate all manual steps. Procurement involves people – vendors, managers, approvers – and without orchestration, bottlenecks emerge.

Vendor onboarding delays

New supplier onboarding often requires compliance checks, tax forms, and signed agreements. Without a central workflow, vendors chase multiple contacts, leading to weeks of delay.

Approval bottlenecks

Purchase requests may sit idle on a manager’s desk or in an overflowing inbox. Delayed approvals frustrate both procurement teams and vendors awaiting confirmation.

Exceptions handling

When invoices don’t match purchase orders or contracts, AP teams escalate manually. These exceptions can take days to resolve without an orchestrated path.

Cross-team communication

Finance, procurement, and compliance often work in parallel but lack shared visibility. The result? Duplicate requests, missed approvals, and avoidable errors.

A customer review of Moxo captures this frustration: “Before using a portal, we spent hours chasing approvals and lost visibility on supplier documents. Having one platform streamlined everything and reduced back-and-forth.”

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Orchestration that connects systems and people with Moxo

Procurement technology works best when systems connect, not compete. Moxo complements ERP and eProcurement platforms by managing the human and cross-organizational workflows those systems can’t.

With Moxo’s integrations, teams can connect to ERPs like SAP or Oracle and eProcurement tools while orchestrating approvals, document collection, and collaboration within one platform.

The workflow builder helps automate actions between systems, such as creating POs from approved requests or routing invoices for sign-off. Magic links enable vendors and stakeholders to participate without access to internal tools.

Performance dashboards provide visibility into process health across technologies, while security and compliance controls ensure safe, auditable data sharing.

Moxo becomes the connective tissue of the modern procurement stack, linking people, processes, and platforms into one cohesive flow.

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Example procurement architectures

To bring this to life, let’s look at two sample procurement environments.

Mid-sized business with ERP + eProcurement + AP

This business uses ERP for finance, an eProcurement platform for sourcing, and an AP tool for invoice automation. Yet, onboarding vendors still requires endless email chains. By layering Moxo’s vendor portal, vendors submit documents in a portal, managers approve requests within workflows, and AP exceptions trigger real-time resolution – all in one orchestration layer.

Large enterprise with multiple ERPs and regional catalogs

A global enterprise may run different ERPs across regions, each tied to local catalogs. Vendors face inconsistent processes. Moxo’s client portal centralizes vendor interaction into a branded experience, ensuring consistency across markets while connecting back to each ERP in the background.

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Building a future-proof procurement technology stack

Procurement technology continues to evolve, but simply adding more tools won’t solve coordination challenges. The future lies in orchestration: connecting systems, people, and processes into one seamless workflow.

Organizations exploring procurement modernization should start by mapping their current stack, identifying where approvals or vendor communication break down, and exploring orchestration platforms that bridge these gaps.

For deeper exploration, see Workflows, Integrations, and Project management.

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FAQs

What is procurement technology?

Procurement technology refers to the software systems that support sourcing, purchasing, contract management, and supplier collaboration. It includes ERP, eProcurement, catalogs, CLM, and AP automation.

Why isn’t ERP enough for procurement?

ERP handles financial records but lacks specialized functions for sourcing, supplier management, or contracts. That’s why organizations add eProcurement, catalogs, and AP tools.

What does orchestration mean in procurement?

Orchestration connects systems and people, ensuring vendor onboarding, approvals, and exceptions move seamlessly without manual delays.

How does Moxo support procurement workflows?

Moxo provides role-based portals, workflow automation, secure document exchange, and AI-powered review agents to bridge gaps across ERP and eProcurement.

Is procurement technology relevant for small businesses?

Yes. Even small businesses benefit from structured procurement tools. Orchestration ensures that approvals, vendor documents, and payments flow efficiently without adding headcount.