A returned cart is not a purchase order
During a PunchOut session, the buyer selects products in the supplier catalog and returns the cart to procurement. At that point the buyer has a requisition or request to review, not necessarily an approved order for the supplier.
The buyer may change quantities, route the request for approval or reject it. The supplier should wait for the approved purchase order defined by the buyer connection before treating the transaction as the final order handoff.
The six stages to follow
- 01
PunchOut started
A buyer session opens the supplier catalog.
- 02
Cart returned
The selected cart goes back to procurement.
- 03
Buyer approved
The buyer completes its internal review and approval.
- 04
PO received
The approved purchase order reaches the supplier connection.
- 05
Store order created
The corresponding Shopify order is created.
- 06
Invoice generated
The invoice stage remains visible in the tracked journey.
What to investigate when the order is missing
- Was the PunchOut session launched for the intended buyer and store?
- Did the cart return successfully to the buyer requisition?
- Did the buyer complete its approval process?
- Was the approved PO sent to the configured connection?
- Which transaction stage shows the stop and what reason is recorded?
Keep the buyer and supplier teams aligned
The buyer owns its approval process; the supplier owns the catalog and order operation. A useful implementation conversation names the handoff clearly so support teams do not treat a returned cart as a failed Shopify order or an unapproved request as a missing PO.
PunchOut Central tracks the session, cart, approval, PO, store order and invoice so the team can review the whole transaction instead of guessing from one event.