Arguably, one of the driving forces behind creation of human civilization has been the human need to fulfill itself through exchange of the need object. Initially, the exchange took place in the form of Barter trade but later currencies became the common denominator for such exchanges. Purchasing , as an activity, thus seeks to fulfill the need for a good or a service through exchange of money (currency).

One of the key determinants of the economic health of a society , purchasing became more complex , as a function, as the economic competition grew world wide.

Purchasing or procurement , as a function , became the profit centre and its efficiency started determining the bottom line of businesses. Purchasing within the country , indigenous, and from outside i.e. import  started to assume its own professional body and language.

The INCO terms FOB, FOT, CIF etc ,for transnational purchases, is the recognised language of the profession.

Due to its key importance in business, purchasing too is undergoing a continuously evolving process. Over the period its various aspects too became highly professional. Warehousing, Inventory, Logistics management , Supply Chain Management are the buzz words for  industry.

The advancement witnessed in the Information technology has quickened the pace of the purchasing function. From expressing the need for a good or service in the form of an Request For Quotation (RFQ) to receiving and processing it online and finally placing order, all can be done with the click of a mouse.

The B2B , B2C , C2C etc are the modern trade names determined by the Purchasing function. Internet has become the market place and Credit card , the money !! There is the concept of a virtual market now where purchasing, evolving continuously, is known as reverse auction and Selling as forward auction !! Buyers and sellers meet on the cyberspace to deal and negotiate !!