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# Supplier Merge - Old DPO Design

The **Supplier Merge** feature lets you combine duplicate or obsolete suppliers into a single **Target Supplier**, helping keep your supplier data clean and consistent. To avoid accidental changes, the merge requires **user confirmation** before it’s completed.
 
||| **Already using DPO's new design?** [You can find the corresponding article here](https://help.digitalpurchaseorder.com/en/article/supplier-merge-in-dpo-i12dxl/)

###### What happens during a Supplier Merge

* **All related** documents are **automatically updated to** use the **Target Supplier**
* **No manual amendments** are required
* **Duplicate** suppliers are **removed**
* All changes are tracked in the **Activity Log**

###### Before you Start

The **Supplier Merge** feature is available by default to users with the **Default Admin** role.
If a user is assigned only the **User** role, you must create and assign an additional **Supplier Merge** role. Once assigned, the **Supplier Merge** tab will appear in the menu ([see below for setup instructions](#6-create-a-supplier-merge-role)).

In the **Supplier Merge** view:
* The **Source Supplier** appears on the left
* The **Target Supplier** appears on the right

###### How to Merge Suppliers

1. Choose the **Source Supplier** and **Traget Supplier** 
2. Once both suppliers selected, click **'Preview Merge'**.
 
![](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/-/7/e/f/8/7ef8b3dbb012a000/screenshot-2026-02-10-at-14180_ghiwpo.png =821xauto)

||| Once the merge has been completed, the source supplier is soft-deleted in DPO.

3. Confirm the merge by clicking **"Yes, merge Suppliers"**

![](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/-/7/e/f/8/7ef8b3dbb012a000/screenshot-2026-02-10-at-14203_1ylosak.png =794xauto)

4. Once confirmed, the system replaces the **Source Supplier** with the **Target Supplier** in all related records, including:
* **Purchase Orders (P.O.)**
* **Invoices**
* **Expenses**

5. **A note** is automatically **added to each affected** **document** to indicate that a supplier merge was performed.


![](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/-/7/e/f/8/7ef8b3dbb012a000/screenshot-2026-02-10-at-14252_mxjdoe.png =731xauto)

 
###### Activity Log 

* The **Activity Log** shows how many records were affected by the supplier merge.
* A note is also added to each affected document to indicate that a supplier merge was performed.

![](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/-/7/e/f/8/7ef8b3dbb012a000/screenshot-2026-02-10-at-14235_w3j919.png =731xauto)


###### Create a Supplier Merge Role

1. Go to **Administration → User Role**
2. Click **+ Add Rol**e


![](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/-/7/e/f/8/7ef8b3dbb012a000/screenshot-2026-02-10-at-12124_1uge70u.png =812xauto)


3. Enter a role name (for example: **Supplier Merge**)

![](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/-/7/e/f/8/7ef8b3dbb012a000/screenshot-2026-02-10-at-12262_inednc.png =435xauto)

4. Open the **Authorizations** tab and set **Administrator** to **Yes**



![](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/-/7/e/f/8/7ef8b3dbb012a000/screenshot-2026-02-10-at-12281_75n7dw.png =472xauto)


5. Under **General Administration → Supplier**, set the permission to **at least Read**

Available options:
* **Read & Write** – Create and edit suppliers
* **Read, Write & Delete** – Create, edit, and delete suppliers

![](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/-/7/e/f/8/7ef8b3dbb012a000/screenshot-2026-02-10-at-12294_bcrsil.png =463xauto)

6. In the **Supplier Merge** section, set the permission to **Read & Write**
         *This permission is required to merge suppliers.*


![](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/-/7/e/f/8/7ef8b3dbb012a000/screenshot-2026-02-10-at-12303_oyx4ns.png =506xauto)

7. Under **Members**, assign users who need access 
8. Click **Add** to save the role


![](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/-/7/e/f/8/7ef8b3dbb012a000/screenshot-2026-02-10-at-12314_1hmddbn.png =506xauto)


**Result: The selected users can now see the Supplier Merge** tab in **Administration**.


![](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/-/7/e/f/8/7ef8b3dbb012a000/screenshot-2026-02-10-at-12431_ql2viu.png =1097xauto)



 
|| To learn more about suppliers, [see here](https://help.digitalpurchaseorder.com/en/article/suppliers-tjhnbg/). This function is not available for books with a PSL+ integration.