BuySite
BuySite, the University’s web-based, electronic Purchase Order system, is an application for creating, submitting, approving and tracking the status of Purchase Orders. In the eProcurement ordering application, purchase orders are identified by having the initial “W” letter description followed by six digit number.
BuySite, which uses a shopping cart methodology, allows users to select merchandise, review what they have selected, make necessary modifications or additions, and submit a request for the purchase of the merchandise in the cart. Users can shop for items by:
- Commodity/SKU numbers
- Category
- Supplier
- Advance Search
- Favorites List
Other features include cart editing, requisition history, favorite’s management, PO tracking and email notifications. Departments are held accountable for the review of need, approval by account administrator, issuance and control of all electronic purchase orders.
News and Notices
7/19/13: BuySite Weekend Maintenance - V13.2 Release
Beginning Friday 7/19/13 at 9pm CDT and ending Sunday 7/21/13 at 11am CDT, BuySite will be undergoing maintenance and unavailable for use as the system is upgraded to its latest version (13.2). For a brief overview and preview of the updates, please view the 13.2 Release Webinar document (PDF).
If you have any questions regarding the updates/new release, please contact Matthew Vogel (eProcurement Systems Administrator) at mvogel@uchicago.edu or (773) 702-5664.
5/28/13: New Agilent Punch-Out Catalog
Agilent Technologies is now a punch-out catalog supplier in BuySite. The punch-out catalog connects to a managed Agilent website containing the University's contracted items and pricing. Users will still be able to look up Agilent products via the search pane located within the Home/Shop section.
Please see the screenshots below for a preview of how the catalog displays within BuySite. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact BuySite Support at buysite@uchicago.edu or by phone at (773) 702-3320.
3/22/13: BuySite Weekend Maintenance - V13.1 Release
Beginning Friday 3/22/13 at 9pm CST and ending Saturday 3/23/13 at 1pm CST, BuySite will be undergoing maintenance and unavailable for use as the system is upgraded to its latest version (13.1). For a brief overview and preview of the updates, please view the 13.1 Release Webinar document (PDF).
If you have any questions regarding the updates/new release, please contact Matthew Vogel (eProcurement Systems Administrator) at mvogel@uchicago.edu or (773) 702-5664.
2/25/13: New Bio-Rad Punch Out Catalog
Bio-Rad Laboratories is now a punch-out catalog supplier in BuySite. The punch-out catalog connects to a managed Bio-Rad website containing the University's contracted items and pricing. Users will still be able to look up Bio-Rad products via the search pane located within the Home/Shop section.
Please see the screenshots below for a preview of how the catalog displays within BuySite. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact BuySite Support at buysite@uchicago.edu or by phone at (773) 702-3320.
11/9/12: New Solution Center Catalog
With the start of business on Monday 11/12/12, the Solution Center's oStore catalog will be replaced with a more robust and user-friendly online catalog system. To recognize this change, IT Services is moving from ostore.uchicago.edu to techstore.uchicago.edu. When looking for new computers, software, or computer accessories for your personal use, you can now log in using your CNetID and easily browse and search for products. For departmental purchases, you can continue to visit BuySite and select the Solution Center catalog punch-out to utilize the new TechStore catalog.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Kevin Brooks (Manager, Solution Center, (773) 702-0917).
UPDATE [11/13/12]: The Solution Center punch-out is currently experiencing technical difficulties and is unavailable at this time. Please continue to monitor BuySite for availability, and check back as we will post status updates as they become available. Orders can also be placed using the Non-Catalog Item link on the BuySite home page by choosing NSIT Solution Center as the supplier.
If you have any questions or require assistance in placing your order, please contact the Solution Center at solutioncenter@uchicago.edu or (773) 702-6086.
UPDATE [11/16/12]: The NSIT Solution Center is now known as ITS Solution Center, and has been restored for punch-out use in BuySite with the new logo shown below. Please contact solutioncenter@uchicago.edu or buysite@uchicago.edu if you have any questions regarding this update.
11/2/12: BuySite Weekend Maintenance - V12.3 Release
Beginning Friday 11/2 at 9pm CST and ending Sunday 11/4 at 11am CST, BuySite will be undergoing maintenance and unavailable for use as the system is upgraded to its latest version (12.3).
After the upgrade, the approval interface will be enhanced, allowing approvers to toggle the view of pending requisitions between a folder-approval interface (current) or by list-form (new). Other enhancements include a single My Approvals tab, requisition aging information, simplified approval actions by button, filters, outbox (history), workflow notifications, and a easier way to manage substitutions. For a brief overview and preview of the updates, please view the 12.3 Release Webinar PowerPoint document.
If you have any questions regarding the updates/new release, please contact Matthew Vogel (eProcurement Systems Administrator) at mvogel@uchicago.edu or (773) 702-5664.
8/15/12: Staples Punch-out Connectivity Issues
Staples has reported connectivity issues caused by an outage from their internet service provider that is impacting ability to access their BuySite punch-out. SciQuest (BuySite provider) is aware of the issue and is working to resolve the intermittent availability. Please continue to monitor the site for Staples punch-out access, as the estimated time of resolution is still undetermined at this time. We apologize for the inconvenience, and will provide updates as the latest information become available.
UPDATE [8/16/12]: Full functionality has been restored. If you continue to experience any lingering issues, please contact buysite@uchicago.edu.
8/10/12: Bio-Rad Kiosk Integration for Supply Center Orders
Bio-Rad Supply Center orders are now processed via a kiosk system that automates a user's order into a SciQuest draft cart which, when submitted, follows normal requisition workflow approval. (Previously, users would be required to fill out a non-catalog order form to validate the item taken from the storeroom to complete their purchase order.) Please consult the quick reference guide "Completing a Bio-Rad Kiosk/Supply Center Order through BuySite" for additional information.
Note: For users experiencing a "Kiosk Cart Status" error on both Bio-Rad and non-Bio-Rad orders, you may be required to delete your previously established saved carts and recreating the order before proceeding. This can be accomplished by navigating to Carts > Saved, and deleting all carts found. Please see below for further detail, or view the tutorial Resolving the "Kiosk Cart Status" Error (click here for mobile version).
If deleting your cart is unavailable as an option, or your cart contains multiple line items that cannot be recreated with expedition, please contact Matthew Vogel (eProcurement Systems Administrator) at mvogel@uchicago.edu or (773) 702-5664.
8/8/12: Applied Biosystems Punch-out Integration with Life Technologies
Please note that all content that had been previously available in the Applied Biosystems punchout catalog is now available via the Life Technologies punchout catalog. Please use the Life Technologies punchout catalog for all future orders, and consult the following diagram for how this change is reflected in BuySite.
BEFORE
AFTER
5/1/12: Segregation of Duties
Over the past year, Financial Services has engaged in an effort to identify any instances within BuySite – the University's eProcurement ordering tool – which lack of segregation of duties. This separation of requestor and approver roles and responsibilities reduces the University's risk of fraud or error.
Based on the effective cooperation of departmental involvement over the past year, we have been able to drastically reduce the number of orders/requisitions which were requested and approved by the same individual. As a result, as of April 30, 2012, the BuySite system will no longer allow users to request and approve the same order/requisition.
If you experience any issues as a result of this change, please contact buysite@uchicago.edu, Claudia Bakken (Help Desk Supervisor) at (773) 702-3781, or Matthew Vogel (eProcurement Systems Administrator) at (773) 702-5664.
4/1/12: Email Approval Enhancements
BuySite Email Approval gives approvers the ability to take action on documents via a computer or mobile device without having to directly access the application. Additionally, improved email notification for documents pending approval gives approvers the ability to see more detailed order information.
To activate the enhancements, first visit the Email Preferences section of your BuySite user profile (via User Settings) and select the "PR pending Workflow approval" permission under 'Shopping, Carts & Requisitions' to receive the email notification portion.
Once saved, navigate back to your profile main page of User Identification (via User Settings) and enter an Email Approval Code of a minimum length of four characters. [Please note: for security purposes, the number entered will be obscured and may appear to be of a different length after it is saved.] This code can be changed at any time.
