When a suitable supplier is identified, the buyer issues a purchase order (PO) in duplicate to the selected supplier.
The purchase order is the buyer’s offer and becomes a legally binding contract when accepted by the supplier
The supplier may offer the goods at the supplier’s own terms and conditions, especially if it is the sole producer or holds the patent to the product. Then, a supplier’s sale order will be used.
The sale order is the supplier’s offer and becomes a legally binding contract when accepted by the buyer.