What is a BANF (Purchase Requisition)?

A BANF (Bestellanforderung, or Purchase Requisition) is an internal request within an organization to initiate the procurement of goods or services. It is not yet a purchase order, but the formal trigger that alerts the procurement department to source or order the requested item.

BANFs are commonly used in indirect procurement (e.g. office supplies, IT equipment) as well as for services and project-related needs.

What Does a BANF Contain?

A typical Purchase Requisition (BANF) includes:

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Example: "10 HDMI cables for conference rooms, delivery by August 15, cost center IT Support."

BANF vs. Purchase Order (PO)

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The BANF is the internal “shopping cart” – the PO is the formal “order confirmation.”

Why Are BANFs Important?

Purchase requisitions help ensure:

• Budget compliance before placing orders
• Internal approval workflows are followed
• Demand transparency across departments
• Procurement policy enforcement
• Avoidance of maverick buying

They serve as the foundation of controlled, traceable purchasing in mid-sized and large organizations.

Common Challenges with Manual BANFs

• Incomplete or inconsistent data (e.g. vague descriptions)
• Lack of transparency on approval status
• Delays due to email-based routing
• No connection to budgets or contracts
• Difficulties with reporting or controlling

Digital solutions like Mercanis solve these issues through guided forms, workflows, and integration.

Conclusion: The BANF as the First Step Toward Smart Procurement

A Bestellanforderung (BANF) is more than just a request – it’s the starting point for structured, traceable, and cost-conscious procurement. Digitizing the BANF process reduces friction, improves compliance, and strengthens spend visibility.