25/05/2026
A lot of people use these terms interchangeably, but they actually mean completely different things in the business world! I found this great infographic that breaks it down perfectly:
👉 Purchasing is the action. It’s tactical and short-term (ordering, paying, and receiving goods).
👉 Procurement is the strategy. It’s about building supplier relationships, negotiating great contracts, and looking at the Total Cost of Ownership.
👉 Supply Chain is the entire journey. It’s the whole network—from raw materials and manufacturing to shipping, warehousing, and delivering the product to the final customer.
Think of it like this: Purchasing is a step inside Procurement, and Procurement is a link inside the massive Supply Chain! ⛓️
Check out the handy comparison chart at the bottom of the image for a quick cheat sheet! 📊