ANS-1146 · PURCHASE & VENDOR MANAGEMENT

How to Capture and Display Purchase Request Rejection Reasons in NetSuite

Implement a custom record and workflow to track and display why Purchase Requests are rejected, enhancing transparency in the approval process.

Short answer

To capture Purchase Request rejection reasons, create a custom record linked to the Purchase Request. A workflow action, ideally using custom scripting or actions for pre-rejection capture, prompts the user for the reason. This reason is stored on the custom record, automatically linked, and then displayed on a subtab within the Purchase Request for visibility to the requestor.

Scenario

Organizations often require a clear audit trail for rejected Purchase Requests, including the specific reason for rejection. Without a structured method, approvers may reject requests without providing adequate context, leaving requestors unaware of why their request was denied and how to proceed.

Solution

To implement a system for capturing and displaying Purchase Request rejection reasons, follow these steps:

  1. Create a Custom Record:

    • Define a custom record type with a field that links to the Purchase Request (set as the parent record). This custom record will store the rejection reason.
    • Include a field on this custom record for the user to input the rejection reason (e.g., a long text field).
  2. Configure a Workflow:

    • On the Purchase Request record, create a workflow that triggers when the 'REJECT' button is clicked.
    • Within this workflow, configure an action to capture the rejection reason. While 'Go To Record' (leaving the ID blank to create a new record) can be used to initiate this, more robust solutions involving custom scripting or custom actions are now often recommended to ensure the reason is provided *before* the Purchase Request transitions to a rejected state.
    • The workflow should copy the Purchase Request number to the newly created custom record, automatically linking it to the parent Purchase Request.
    • Once the custom record is submitted with the rejection reason, it becomes visible on a subtab within the Purchase Request.
  3. User Experience:

    • The approver rejects the Purchase Request.
    • The system prompts the approver to fill in the rejection reason on the custom record screen that appears.
    • Upon submission, the requestor receives a rejection email and can view the reason for rejection on a dedicated subtab within the Purchase Request.

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