3-Way Matching & Vendor Credits

3-way matching checks a vendor's invoice against the purchase order you sent and what you actually received, so you only pay for what you ordered and got. When something doesn't line up, vendor credits help you track the money the vendor owes you back.

3-Way Matching Overview

What it is: A match links one purchase order to one vendor invoice and compares them line by line, along with the quantities you received.

Why you'd use it:

• Catch short shipments before you pay
• Spot price increases the vendor didn't tell you about
• Keep a clear record of what was approved for payment and why

How it fits together:

Purchase Order  (what you ordered)
      +
Receiving       (what arrived)
      +
Invoice         (what you're billed)
      ↓
Match → Matched, Variance, or Disputed
      ↓
Vendor Credit   (for anything the vendor owes back)

Lines are paired by vendor item, so the invoice items need to be matched to your vendor items first (see Matching Items).

Match Statuses