Better Purchasing Time Management. In this hypothetical batch system, the purchasing
department is directly involved with all purchase decisions. For many firms, this
creates additional work that extends the time lag in the ordering process. A vast number
of routine purchases could be automated. By freeing purchasing agents from routine
work, such as preparing purchase orders and mailing them to the vendors, attention
can be focused on problem orders (such as special items or those in short supply), and
the purchasing staff can be reduced.