What is the purpose of the supplier's invoice?

The supplier's invoice triggers the three-way match and the AP recognition process. During the course of the transaction, the AP department has received and temporarily filed copies of the PO and receiving report. The organization has received inventories from the vendor and has realized an obligation to pay for them. The firm has not, however, received the supplier's invoice which contains financial information needed to record the transaction. The firm will thus defer recording (recognizing) the liability until the invoice arrives.