System and method for leveraging procurement across companies and company groups

US8666903B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• International Business Machines Corporation · US

Inventors

• Susan Bumgardner Cirulli · Simpsonville, US
• Robert M. Evans · Cranbury, US
• Gerald R. Robinson · Perrysburg, US
• Sherry L. Wilson · Conklin, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 21, 2006
• Grant date: Mar 4, 2014
• Expiry date: Sep 1, 2027

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06Q40/12
• WIPO field: IT methods for management
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A leveraged procurement network (LPN) system for leveraging purchasing across company and company groups includes a front-end requisition and catalog system accessible by users from a plurality of companies in different company groups. Access to procurement resources is controlled by user profiles and resource profiles specifying for each user and resource the applicable company group. Purchases against volume specific contracts are leveraged by requisitions for a plurality of company groups, while user access to procurement resources within the front-end system are controlled by company and/or company group.