System and method for ordering items using a electronic catalog via the internet

US7082408B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• International Business Machines Corporation · US

Inventors

• Carl S. Baumann · Vestal, US
• Susan Bumgardner Cirulli · Simpsonville, US
• Michael Randy May · Johnson City, US
• Glenn Paul Modrak · Conklin, US
• Amy Jeanne Snavely · Binghamton, US
• Brian Taylor · Maldon, GB
• Sherry L. Wilson · Conklin, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 30, 1999
• Grant date: Jul 25, 2006
• Expiry date: Dec 1, 2020

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06Q30/0641
• WIPO field: IT methods for management
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A system and method for procuring non-production commodities for use by employees of a commercial enterprise includes associating the employee with a user profile comprising information relating a status of the employee within the enterprise, automatically generating a requisition for the employee indicating a desired commodity and quantity thereof, and, utilizing the user profile information and the desired commodity to enable employee searching of specific catalogs provided in a database storage device for indication of the desired commodity in a requisition. The system and method further provides for the automatic generation of a purchase order based on the requisition, the forwarding of the purchase order to the vendor for processing the order without a third party intervenor, and provides a mechanism for receiving vendor purchase order acknowledgments and approving vendor initiated changes to the purchase order without third party intervention.