Why the Purchase Order (PO) Is the Most Important Part of Your Production Partner’s Process

When you invest in world-class production, you’re not just paying for lights, sound, or gear—you’re investing in process. Behind every exceptional show is a disciplined internal system that makes quality predictable, prices fair, and outcomes reliable. At Stratum, the heart of that system is the Purchase Order (PO).

What Is a PO, and Why Should You Care?

In basic terms, a purchase order is a formal document we use internally to authorize and track spending—whether that’s for cross-rented equipment, freelance talent, freight logistics, or scenic builds.

But in the production world, a PO is so much more than a form. It’s a map of financial clarity. It’s how we take a client's vision, translate it into real-world services, and deliver that vision without sacrificing quality, profitability, or accountability.

POs Help Us Serve You Better

When clients ask for a premium production experience, our job is to deliver exactly that—but with transparency and discipline. Here’s how the PO process helps us do that:

• Cost Control Without Cutting Corners: Every internal PO we issue helps our team track hard costs in real time—before a proposal is sent out, single truck is loaded, or a mic is turned on. This means we can spot overages early, negotiate better rates, and stay on budget without compromising on execution.

• Better Vendor Rates, Passed to You: Because we consistently use POs to organize and forecast needs—especially for cross-rentals or freelance partners—we’re often able to secure better rates. Those savings directly benefit our clients. You get the best price available, not just the price we happen to get that week.

• Margin Protection = Long-Term Partnership: Maintaining healthy internal margins doesn’t mean charging more—it means working smarter. POs help us preserve profitability, which keeps our team healthy, our service consistent, and our partnership with you sustainable for the long haul.

  
  

Why Price Alone Doesn’t Tell the Whole Story

In recent months, we’ve noticed a growing challenge: clients increasingly evaluate production quotes solely by the bottom-line number. While budgets matter (we work hard to respect them), that number doesn’t tell the full story.

Behind every number is a process. At Stratum, our PO process is how we:

• Align pricing with real market costs

• Manage fluctuating vendor rates

• Prevent last-minute surprises

• Ensure fair pay for the talent and vendors who make your show great

The Takeaway

If you’re working with a production company that doesn’t have a formal PO process, you may not be getting the clarity—or the value—you deserve. And if you're comparing proposals, it's worth asking how those numbers were built, not just what they are.

At Stratum, we believe process is the product. The PO is our compass—it keeps us grounded, efficient, and accountable to the clients who trust us with their most important moments.