Search for a Commodity Code

This page describes how to search for a commodity code and add it to an order line.

Commodity codes determine which Purchasing team reviews a request. These codes also categorize how IU spends its resources and are used for high-level reporting.

Some supplier records and check request forms have a default commodity code, others do not. In either case, update or add a commodity code to every order line so that it accurately reflects what is being purchased.

Click the shopping cart icon then View My Cart.

Review each line of your cart to identify commodity code fields that are blank or that need to be updated to more accurately reflect what is being purchased.

Click the magnifying glass in the Commodity Code field to search for a commodity code.

A new window opens. You can search for a commodity code using a code prefix, or search by entering a word that describes what you’re purchasing.

Enter a prefix in the Code starts with… field to review a list of commodity codes in that category. Click the menu below if you’d like to see a table of code prefixes.

We recommend searching by keyword first. Enter a keyword in the Description contains… field. Keep your search term as broad as possible and search for one keyword at a time. Click Filter to view results.

In this example, we’re searching for a commodity code that relates to maintenance, so we entered “maintenance” in the Description contains… field and clicked Filter.

Review your results. If more than 20 commodity codes match your search term there will be multiple pages of results to review.

Once you’ve identified the commodity code that best describes what is being purchased on the current order line, click the plus icon next to it to add it to your order.

In this example, MRO7 – Building and Facility Construction & Maintenance Services is the best fit, so we clicked the plus icon next to that code.

Your cart reloads and the commodity code was added to the order line.

Repeat these steps until the commodity code field for every order line accurately reflects what is being purchased.