This article - intended for Buyers - is designed to give an overview of DeepStream’s Requests module and help you understand what each part of its dashboard does, giving you a clear starting point before diving into specific tasks or setup guides.
The Requests module of DeepStream enables buyer organisations to create, issue, and manage sourcing requests such as RFQs, RFPs, and tenders. It centralises all request activities such as exchanging documents, asking qualification questions, requesting pricing, and running auctions, and provides tools to track statuses, collaborate with suppliers, and organise documentation, ensuring a streamlined and transparent procurement process from initiation to award.
When you first enter the Requests module, you are greeted with a clean dashboard that provides a convenient way to view and manage all the requests your team has issued, received, or drafted, making it easy to navigate through ongoing or past work.
Request status folders
On the left-hand side, Requests are organised into folders based on their current status. The main folders include:
Sent: Requests that have been issued to Suppliers
Received: Requests received from external parties
Public: Requests marked as publicly visible
Drafts: Requests in preparation but not yet issued
Templates: Reusable request templates for future use
By clicking on each folder, you are are taken to a specific Request table tailored to that category and can further refine your search using a range of filters or sorting attributes. The overview details shown will differ depending on the type of requests being viewed:
Sent category
Display: Status, Reference number, Your role, Owner, Issuer, Created date
Sub-categorisation options:
Filter (User, Tag, Status, Supplier, Active stage, Final deadline)
Sort (Creation date, Creation date, Issue date, Final deadline, Automated reference, Request name)
Request actions:
When you hover over any request within the Sent category, a ‘...’ action button appears, allowing you to select options such as 'Use as template'.
Received category
Display: Bid status, From (sender), Your role, Issue date, Current deadline
Sub-categorisation options:
Tag
Bid status (No response, Active, Awarded)
From
Your role
Sort (Creation date, Creation date, Issue date, Final deadline, Automated reference, Request name)
Drafts category
Display: Status, Reference number, Your role, Owner, Issuer, Created date and Suppliers.
Sub-categorisation options:
Filter (User, Tag, Supplier, Final deadline)
Sort (Creation date, Creation date, Issue date, Final deadline, Automated reference, Request name)
Request actions:
When you hover over any request within the Drafts category, a ‘...’ action button appears, allowing you to select options such as 'Use as template' or 'Delete'.
Templates category
Display: Creator, Date created, Updated date
Sub-categorisation options:
Creator
Sort (Creation date, Creation date, Update date, Template name)
Request actions:
When you hover over any request within the Templates category, a ‘...’ action button appears, allowing you to select options such as 'Edit', 'Duplicate' or 'Delete'. Besides, a '+ New request' button also shows up, allowing you to turn your template into a new Request.
Tags
Below the Request status folders section is the Tags section, where you can create and manage Tags to help categorise and organise Requests. Tags are often used to indicate categories such as location, product type, or project area, enabling easier retrieval and tracking of related Requests. To create a Tag, follow these simple steps.
Clicking the + New tag button.
Define the Tag name.
Optionally, if you have already created other Tags, specify the new one's position using the Nest tag under dropdown.
Once created, Tags become visible and usable across your entire organisation, making them a shared tool for maintaining structure, enhancing collaboration, and improving overall visibility within the sourcing process.
New request
On the top right, the + New request button allows you to create a new Request either from scratch (Blank request) or using an existing template (Use template).
For more information about creating a New request, refer to our Building and Sending a Request article [link].
Got a question or need clarification? Send us a message by clicking the Help chat button in the bottom right - our AI assistant, FIN, will help you right away, and connect you to our team if needed.