Process Framework

Business Process Pack for SMEs

Order to Cash, Procure to Pay & Inventory process frameworks

Order to Cash Process Framework

From customer inquiry to payment receipt
1

Customer Inquiry / Quotation

Customer requests a quote. Sales team prepares and sends quotation with pricing, delivery timeline, and terms.

  • Verify customer credit status before quoting
  • Check stock availability
  • Get approval for discounts above threshold
2

Sales Order Creation

Customer confirms. Sales order is created in the system with agreed price, quantity, delivery date, and payment terms.

  • Credit limit check must pass before order confirmation
  • Attach customer PO to the sales order
3

Picking, Packing & Dispatch

Warehouse receives pick list. Items picked, packed, quality checked, and handed to logistics for delivery.

  • Update stock immediately on pick confirmation
  • Delivery note must be signed by warehouse supervisor
4

Delivery & Proof of Delivery

Goods delivered to customer. Signed delivery note (POD) collected and filed. System updated with delivery confirmation.

  • No invoice to be raised without signed POD
5

Invoicing

Invoice raised based on the delivery. Invoice must match the sales order (price, quantity, customer details).

  • 3-way match: PO → Delivery → Invoice
  • Invoice sent within 24 hours of delivery
6

Payment & Reconciliation

Customer pays. Payment allocated against the invoice. Overdue accounts escalated to collections team.

  • Daily bank reconciliation against open invoices
  • Statements sent to customers monthly

Order Fulfilment Rate

% of orders fulfilled on time and in full (OTIF). Target: >95%

Days Sales Outstanding (DSO)

Average days to collect payment. Target: within agreed payment terms

Invoice Accuracy

% of invoices raised without errors. Target: >98%

Order Cycle Time

Time from order receipt to delivery. Measure and set target per product type

Procure to Pay Process Framework

From purchase need identification to supplier payment
1

Purchase Requisition (PR)

Department identifies a need and raises a Purchase Requisition. Must include item description, quantity, required date, and cost centre.

  • All PRs must be approved by department head before processing
  • Budget check must be performed at PR stage
2

Vendor Selection & RFQ

Procurement team selects approved vendors. For purchases above threshold, minimum 3 quotes required (Request for Quotation).

  • Maintain approved vendor list
  • RFQ threshold: define per company policy (e.g., above $5,000)
3

Purchase Order (PO)

PO raised against preferred vendor with agreed price and delivery date. PO approved per authorization matrix before sending to vendor.

  • PO must reference the original PR number
  • PO must be sent to vendor before goods are received
4

Goods Receipt (GR)

Goods received at warehouse. Quality check performed. Goods Receipt Note (GRN) raised in the system. Discrepancies reported immediately.

  • GR only possible against an open PO
  • Quantity variances >5% must be flagged to procurement
5

Invoice Verification

Vendor invoice received and matched against PO and GR (3-way match). Any discrepancy blocked for payment until resolved.

  • Invoice must match PO price within tolerance
  • Invoice must not exceed GR quantity
6

Payment

Approved invoice paid on due date per agreed payment terms. Payment run processed by Finance. Remittance sent to vendor.

  • No payment without completed 3-way match
  • Early payment discounts captured where available

PO Compliance Rate

% of purchases made with a PO raised first. Target: >98%

Invoice Match Rate

% of invoices that pass 3-way match without manual intervention. Target: >90%

On-Time Payment Rate

% of invoices paid within agreed terms. Target: >95%

Maverick Spend

% of spend outside approved vendors/PO process. Target: <5%

Inventory Control Process Framework

Managing stock accuracy, movement, and reconciliation
1

Stock Receipts

All incoming stock recorded immediately on physical receipt. GRN raised, bin location assigned, stock labels applied.

  • Never receive goods without a PO reference
  • Condition check at point of receipt — reject damaged goods
2

Stock Storage & Binning

Items stored in designated locations. Bin cards maintained. FIFO (First In, First Out) applied for perishables and dated goods.

  • High-value items in locked/restricted area
  • Bin locations mapped in system for easy picking
3

Stock Issues & Transfers

Stock issued only against an approved document (Sales Order, Production Order, Internal Request). Transfer between locations recorded.

  • No informal stock issues — every movement must be recorded
  • Return to store process documented and followed
4

Cycle Counts

Regular counting of stock in rotation rather than shutting down for a full count. High-value items counted monthly; others quarterly.

  • Count schedule published at start of each month
  • Discrepancies investigated before system adjustment
5

Annual Physical Stock Take

Full physical count of all stock at least once per year. System vs physical reconciliation completed and signed off by finance.

  • System frozen during count period (no transactions)
  • Variance report reviewed and approved by management
6

Slow-Moving & Obsolete Stock (SLOB)

Monthly review of stock not moved in 6+ months. Decisions made on write-off, return to supplier, or markdown and disposal.

  • SLOB report distributed to sales and procurement monthly
  • Write-offs require CFO/management approval

Stock Accuracy Rate

% match between system stock and physical count. Target: >98%

Stock Turnover Ratio

How many times stock is used and replenished per year. Higher = more efficient

SLOB %

Slow-moving & obsolete stock as % of total inventory value. Target: <5%

Stockout Rate

% of times an item was out of stock when needed. Target: <2%

Process Responsibility Matrix (RACI)

Who is Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, and Informed for each activity

R = Responsible (does the work)   A = Accountable (owns the outcome)   C = Consulted (provides input)   I = Informed (kept updated)

ActivitySalesWarehouseProcurementFinanceManagement
Create QuotationR/AICCI
Create Sales OrderR/AICI
Pick & Pack GoodsIR/AI
Raise Customer InvoiceCR/AI
Collect PaymentCR/AI
Raise Purchase RequisitionCRAC
Approve Purchase OrderRCA
Receive Goods (GRN)R/AII
3-Way Match & Pay InvoiceCR/AI
Cycle CountR/AIII
Annual Stock TakeRCAI
SLOB Review & Write-OffCRCAA