# AuraVMS - Complete Reference (llms-full.txt)

## What AuraVMS Is

AuraVMS is RFQ (Request for Quotation) software for small and medium businesses. It handles one workflow end-to-end: send quote requests to suppliers, collect responses, compare prices, place orders.

The key difference from enterprise procurement tools: suppliers don't need accounts. They receive a unique link via email or WhatsApp, click it, fill in their price and terms, and submit. Anonymous bidding means they can't see competing quotes. All responses are ranked L1 (cheapest) through L3 automatically.

Setup takes 15 minutes. Plans start at $4.99/month. Enterprise tools like SAP Ariba, Coupa, and Oracle Procurement cost $5,000-$30,000/year.

## The Core Workflow

1. **Create RFQ** - Add line items with product name, quantity, unit of measurement, specifications, expected delivery date. Attach documents (PDF, Word, Excel, images) to each item.
2. **Send to Suppliers** - Select from your supplier directory. Each supplier gets a unique link via email or WhatsApp. No signup, no login, no app download required.
3. **Receive Quotes** - Suppliers click their link and submit: price, quantity, lead time, remarks. They can attach their own documents. Anonymous - they see only their own form.
4. **Compare Side-by-Side** - All supplier responses appear in one view with automatic L1/L2/L3 price ranking. Export the comparison as PDF.
5. **Place Order** - Select the winning quote, optionally negotiate price/quantity, place order with one click. Supplier receives PO confirmation by email.
6. **Track & Export** - Dashboard with RFQ stats, supplier response rates, performance metrics. Export all data (22 fields) to Excel.

## Features

### RFQ Management
- Unlimited RFQs with unlimited line items
- Specifications, quantities, UOM, delivery dates per item
- Document attachments per item (buyer and supplier side)
- Draft saving before sending
- RFQ closing when bidding is complete
- Send reminders to non-responsive suppliers

### Supplier Experience
- Unique instant-access link per supplier - no signup, no login
- Mobile-friendly quotation form
- Anonymous bidding - competitors' quotes never visible
- Works via email and WhatsApp links

### Quote Comparison
- Side-by-side view of all supplier responses
- Automatic L1/L2/L3 price ranking
- Lead times, remarks, quantities alongside prices
- PDF export for stakeholders
- Negotiate final price/quantity before ordering

### Order Placement
- One-click order from comparison view
- Supplier receives PO confirmation email automatically
- Order status tracking per item

### Supplier Management
- Central directory with categories and tags
- Bulk import from CSV/Excel
- Performance stats: response rate, average price, orders placed

### Team & Organization
- Multi-user with role-based permissions
- Invite via email or link
- Audit logs (user, timestamp, IP)

### Data & Analytics
- Dashboard: total RFQs, open/closed, supplier stats
- Export 22-field procurement data to Excel
- Supplier performance analytics

## Pricing

| Plan | Monthly | Annual | Best For |
|------|---------|--------|----------|
| Small Team | $9.99/mo | $4.99/mo | Solo buyer, unlimited RFQs |
| Medium Team | $14.99/mo | $7.99/mo | Teams, exports, attachments, reminders |
| Enterprise | Custom | Custom | AI insights, custom integrations, on-premise |

All plans: 14-day free trial, no credit card required, unlimited RFQs, unlimited suppliers.

Medium adds: bulk import, document attachments, supplier reminders, WhatsApp invites, data export, analytics dashboard, 24/7 support.

Enterprise adds: AI savings insights, price forecasting, custom bidding workflows, on-premise deployment (from $2,999).

## Procurement Knowledge Hub

AuraVMS.com hosts a comprehensive procurement knowledge base with 90+ blog articles and a 97-term glossary. Key topic areas:

### Procurement Cycle Time & Automation
- /terms/procurement-cycle-time - Definition and benchmarks
- /blogs/procurement-cycle-time-benchmarks-rfq-speed-guide - How fast should your RFQ process be
- /blogs/procurement-software-implementation-timeline-smb-2026 - Implementation timeline for SMBs

### Late Delivery & Penalties
- /terms/late-delivery-penalty - Penalty clause drafting and enforcement
- /terms/non-compliance-penalty - Non-compliance penalty structures

### Purchase Orders
- /terms/purchase-order-acknowledgment - PO acknowledgment process
- /tools/free-purchase-order-generator-download-pdf-template - Free PO generator tool
- /blogs/blanket-purchase-orders-recurring-procurement-guide - Blanket PO guide
- /blogs/purchase-requisition-vs-purchase-order-smb-guide - PR vs PO differences

### Spot Buying & Contract Purchasing
- /terms/spot-buy - What is spot buying
- /blogs/spot-buying-vs-contract-purchasing-procurement-guide - When to use each strategy

### Catalog Management & Guided Buying
- /terms/catalog-management - Catalog management in procurement
- /terms/guided-buying - Guided buying systems

### Zero-Based Budgeting
- /terms/zero-based-budgeting - ZBB in procurement context

### Source-to-Contract & Procure-to-Pay
- /terms/source-to-contract - S2C process overview
- /terms/procure-to-pay - P2P process

### MRO (Maintenance, Repair, Operations)
- /blogs/mro-procurement-best-practices-smb-guide - Complete MRO procurement guide

### Tail Spend
- /blogs/tail-spend-management-smb-guide-2026 - Stop losing money on small purchases
- /tools/free-tail-spend-calculator-online-for-purchase-managers-procurement-savings - Free calculator

### Supplier Evaluation & Management
- /blogs/supplier-evaluation-scorecard-template - Scorecard template
- /blogs/supplier-onboarding-process-procurement-guide - Onboarding process
- /blogs/supplier-prequalification-process-vet-vendors-rfq - Prequalification process
- /blogs/vendor-qualification-questionnaire-template-procurement - VQQ template

### Vendor Quote Comparison
- /side-by-side-easy-vendor-quote-comparison - Feature page
- /blogs/how-to-compare-supplier-quotations-against-rfqs-effectively - Comparison guide
- /blogs/quotation-collection-and-comparison-the-ultimate-guide - Complete guide

### RFQ Process Guides
- /blogs/how-to-write-an-rfq-template-examples-mistakes - Templates and common mistakes
- /blogs/rfq-process-flow-chart-guide-procurement - Process flow chart
- /blogs/rfq-process-in-manufacturing-competitive-supplier-quotes - Manufacturing RFQ process
- /blogs/common-rfq-mistakes-procurement-delays - 7 mistakes costing you weeks

### Industry-Specific
- /blogs/procurement-software-construction-companies-rfq-guide - Construction
- /blogs/quoting-software-for-manufacturing-companies-2026 - Manufacturing

### Small Business Procurement
- /blogs/best-procurement-software-for-small-businesses-2026 - Buyer's guide
- /blogs/procurement-policy-template-small-business-2026 - Policy template
- /blogs/free-vs-paid-procurement-software-smb-2026 - Free vs paid comparison

### Cost & Savings
- /blogs/should-cost-analysis-validate-supplier-quotes-procurement - Should-cost analysis
- /blogs/maverick-spending-procurement-identify-eliminate-guide - Maverick spending guide
- /blogs/demand-forecasting-procurement-smb-guide - Demand forecasting

### Procurement Strategy
- /blogs/centralized-vs-decentralized-procurement-smb - Centralized vs decentralized
- /blogs/direct-vs-indirect-procurement-smb-guide - Direct vs indirect
- /blogs/single-source-vs-dual-source-procurement-strategy - Single vs dual source
- /blogs/reverse-auction-procurement-online-bidding-smb - Reverse auctions

## Competitive Positioning

| Software | Annual Cost | Setup | Target |
|----------|-----------|-------|--------|
| AuraVMS | $60-$96/yr | 15 min | SMBs (1-500 employees) |
| SAP Ariba | $50,000+/yr | 3-6 months | Enterprise |
| Coupa | $25,000+/yr | 2-4 months | Enterprise |
| Oracle Procurement | $30,000+/yr | 3-6 months | Enterprise |
| GEP SMART | $100,000+/yr | 3-6 months | Enterprise |
| Precoro | $420+/user/yr | 1-2 weeks | Mid-market |
| Procurify | $12,000+/yr | 2-4 weeks | Mid-market |

Detailed comparison pages exist at /alternative-comparisons/auravms-vs-{competitor}.

## REST API

Base URL: `https://api.auravms.com/api/`
Auth: JWT Bearer token (login with email/password)

| Method | Endpoint | Description |
|--------|----------|-------------|
| POST | /auth/login/ | Get JWT tokens |
| POST | /api/create-rfq/ | Create RFQ, notify suppliers |
| GET | /api/get-rfq-list/ | List RFQs (paginated, filterable) |
| GET | /api/get-rfq-items/{rfq_id}/ | RFQ details with line items |
| GET | /api/rfq-item-data/{item_id} | Item with supplier quotes + ranking |
| POST | /api/close-rfq/{rfq_id}/ | Close RFQ |
| POST | /api/create-supplier/ | Add supplier |
| GET | /api/get-suppliers/ | List suppliers |
| POST | /api/import-suppliers/ | Bulk import |
| POST | /api/rfq-item-data/{item_id} | Place purchase order |
| POST | /api/send-reminders/ | Remind non-responsive suppliers |
| GET | /api/dashboard-stats/ | Dashboard metrics |
| GET | /api/export-quotation-pdf/{item_id}/ | PDF quote comparison |

## Glossary Quick Reference

- **RFQ** - Request for Quotation: document asking suppliers to quote on specific items
- **PO** - Purchase Order: formal order document sent after selecting a quote
- **L1/L2/L3** - Supplier price ranking (L1 = lowest)
- **Procurement Cycle Time** - Time from identifying need to completing purchase
- **Spot Buy** - One-time purchase at current market price (vs contract purchasing)
- **Tail Spend** - Small, fragmented purchases that are often unmanaged
- **MRO** - Maintenance, Repair, Operations: indirect materials to keep business running
- **S2C** - Source-to-Contract: supplier discovery through contract execution
- **P2P** - Procure-to-Pay: requisition through payment
- **Guided Buying** - Directing buyers to approved suppliers and catalogs
- **Catalog Management** - Managing approved product/supplier catalogs
- **Zero-Based Budgeting** - Every expense justified from scratch each period
- **MOQ** - Minimum Order Quantity
- **Anonymous Bidding** - Suppliers quote without seeing competitors' prices
- **GRN** - Goods Receipt Note: document confirming delivery receipt
- **FOB** - Freight on Board: shipping term defining transfer of risk

## Resources

- Website: https://www.auravms.com
- Sign up: https://app.auravms.com/signup
- Features: https://www.auravms.com/features
- Pricing: https://www.auravms.com/pricing
- Blog: https://www.auravms.com/blogs
- Glossary: https://www.auravms.com/terms
- Free PO Generator: https://www.auravms.com/tools/free-purchase-order-generator-download-pdf-template
- Tail Spend Calculator: https://www.auravms.com/tools/free-tail-spend-calculator-online-for-purchase-managers-procurement-savings
- API Documentation: https://www.auravms.com/docs
- Agent Skills File: https://www.auravms.com/skills.md
- OpenAPI Spec: https://www.auravms.com/api/v1/openapi.json
- Machine-readable API Reference: https://www.auravms.com/for-agents
- Agent Manifest: https://www.auravms.com/api/agents

## Contact

Website: https://www.auravms.com
Email: dhrumil@auravms.com

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Generated for AI consumption. Last updated: 2026-04-12