Previously, Enterprise clients lacked visibility into how much of their P.O.s were used on Upwork Enterprise, often resulting in spending over their approved budget.
Only admins (and on rare occasions, hiring managers who are given the right permissions by their admin) can:
- Edit P.O.s (make changes to the P.O. Description, Valid Through Date, Permissions to Use, and Alert Thresholds)
- Archive P.O.s
- Add funds to P.O.s
- Create P.O. email alerts
However, all users can do the following with their assigned P.O.s:
- View their P.O. burndown reports
- Select P.O.s when filling out a job post form
- Select P.O.s when extending an offer
- Receive notifications via email and in-product
Why is this feature important?
Thanks for your question. Many companies require a hiring manager to enter a purchase order (P.O.) to show that project spend is company-approved. P.O.s are often created with set budgets, timelines, and project parameters so the company can accurately forecast their financial health and not overspend.
How can I start using a P.O.?
Thanks for reaching out. Only clients who have the purchase order functionality turned on by their Enterprise Admin can use P.O.s. If you need this option, contact your Account Manager or Account Admin.
Can I edit an existing or archived P.O.?
Thanks for your question. Yes, you control all aspects of the P.O. on your account. Once logged into your Upwork account you can click “Reports” then choose “Purchase Orders.” Note: If the P.O. is expired you’ll first need to extend the expiration date to unarchive it before editing.
What does it mean to archive a P.O.?
Thanks for your question. Archived P.O.s. are no longer viewable/selectable by hiring managers on a job post, Bring Your Own Freelancer, or offer pages but are still viewable/searchable on associated active contracts.
What types of permissions can I add to my P.O. to make sure it’s used appropriately?
Thanks for your question. Any admin can create new P.O.s. with distinct permissions. These include:
- Giving specific people or teams access to the P.O.
- Making P.O. use mandatory
- Making P.O. use mandatory but allowing exceptions (which means hiring managers can select “I don’t have one yet” on a job post, offer, or Bring Your Own Freelancer pages)