Guide 3: Introduction to GrizMart
Dedicated to the University of Montana Mission and with the support of key members of the executive staff, our goal was to improve efficiency by simplifying and streamlining the purchasing, invoicing, and approval processes while realizing cost savings by directing purchases through contracted vendors.
GrizMart is a web-based marketplace (located: which provides an easy to use shopping cart style environment for University of Montana faculty and staff. GrizMart contains product catalogs from many of popular vendors, including office, laboratory, computer, and maintenance supplies and equipment. In addition to catalog shopping, GrizMart allows shoppers to create purchase requisitions (for non-catalog (items that cannot be found on the online catalogs) products and servicesusing a custom form templates.
GrizMart also allows shoppers to combine more than one vendor in a cart. However, doing so may delay the approval process so we recommend that shoppers limit each cart to just one vendor. Of course there is not a limit to the number of line items that can be added to a vendor. In addition, GrizMart gives shoppers the ability to browse and compare products from the most current vendor catalogs that reflect pre-negotiated discounted pricing. And best of all, there is no dollar limit on purchases made. When an item cannot be found from a punch-out catalog or through product search, simply fill out a non-catalog product form, add it to the other items in your shopping cart, and submit the cart for approval by your department. GrizMart also allows you to save personal and organizational favorites to further simplify ordering of those frequently purchased items. A particularly useful feature, GrizMart provides greater transparency into order status both through the web-site as well as through email notifications.
The easy to use interface includes the ability to add comments, notes and attachments to orders. GrizMart also provides an automated routing and approval workflow process.
Adding GrizMart to the University of Montana’s portfolio of financial services software has allowed us to reduce paper based processing associated with the purchasing process and at the same time centralize procurement and invoice audit information. In addition, GrizMart is integrated with our existing financial system, which allows for ease of budget reconciliation and reporting.
GrizMart encourages purchasing through contracted vendors that provide the University of Montana with discounted pricing while simplifying the purchasing process with a rich full featured easy to use environment.
If you have any questions about the process or more on what GrizMart is, please email