What is "e-procurement"?

E-procurement refers to the use of electronic methods to facilitate the purchasing process, encompassing a range of activities such as sourcing, purchasing, and payment. This approach leverages technology to streamline procurement operations, enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and improve transparency in the purchasing cycle.

By employing electronic platforms, organizations can automate many procurement functions, manage supplier relationships more effectively, and accelerate transactions. This approach supports better inventory management and enables data-driven decisions, as the electronic systems can provide analytics and insights that are not easily achievable through traditional methods.

In contrast, other options describe outdated or less efficient procurement methods. For instance, relying on phone calls or manual tracking processes can lead to delays and errors, while face-to-face negotiations might be beneficial for complex contracts but does not reflect the broader scope and benefits of modern e-procurement techniques.