Ostutöö

Ostutöö is an Estonian term for the activities involved in acquiring goods and services for an organization. It covers the full procurement cycle from planning and needs assessment to contract management and post-purchase evaluation, with the aim of obtaining the right products or services at the right time, in the right quantity, and at the right price while maintaining quality and risk controls. Ostutöö is a core component of procurement and supply chain management.

The typical process includes: identifying needs and defining specifications; researching the market and evaluating potential suppliers; issuing requests for information, proposals, or quotations; comparing bids and negotiating terms; selecting a supplier and signing a contract; issuing purchase orders; receiving and inspecting deliveries; processing invoices and approving payments; and finally assessing supplier performance and contract outcomes. Throughout the process, ethical standards, compliance with applicable laws, and sustainable procurement practices are emphasized.

To support ostutöö, organizations use tools such as e-procurement systems, supplier databases, catalogues, and framework agreements. Procurement can be centralized or decentralized, depending on organization size and policy, and often involves cross-functional collaboration with finance, legal, and operations.

In Estonia and other jurisdictions, ostutöö is aligned with general procurement principles including transparency, competition, and accountability, especially in public sector purchases. See also procurement, supplier management, and supply chain management.