Purchasing and procurement are both processes that involve obtaining goods or services. The difference between them lies largely in the level of complexity involved with each. Purchasing is a simpler process, where buyers simply purchase materials from vendors based on price and other factors. Procurement involves selecting suppliers through a more rigorous process that takes into account quality, reliability, delivery times, and other criteria. It also generally deals with larger contracts or agreements for multiple products or services. Therefore, purchasing is the simpler act of buying what you need, while procurement is a more comprehensive process of selecting the best supplier to meet your needs.