Method and apparatus for purchase order processing

• US 20050240488A1
• Filed: 01/31/2005
• Published: 10/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Welter, Markus, Grendel, Alexander
• Granted Patent: US 7,962,377 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0635 Processing of requisition or of purchase orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0637 Approvals

Abstract

A method of processing a purchase order is disclosed. The method includes receiving an electronic purchase order in a current one of a plurality of order periods for a designated delivery period, accessing a budget allocation corresponding to said delivery period, and providing an acceptance or a rejection of the electronic purchase order based at least partially on a budget portion of the current order period. The budget allocation includes a budget portion corresponding to each of the plurality of order periods.

Claims

1. A method of processing a purchase order, comprising:

receiving an electronic purchase order in a current one of a plurality of order periods for a designated delivery period;

accessing a budget allocation corresponding to said delivery period, said budget allocation including a bucket corresponding to each of said plurality of order periods; and

providing an acceptance or a rejection of the electronic purchase order based at least partially on a bucket of said current order period.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of providing an acceptance or a rejection includes:

calculating a cost of said electronic purchase order; and

determining whether said cost is greater than or less than a sum of said bucket of said current order period and any remaining budget from prior order periods of said plurality of order periods.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said step of providing an acceptance or a rejection provides an acceptance when said step of determining determines said cost is less than said sum.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein said step of providing an acceptance or a rejection provides a rejection when said step of determining determines said cost is greater than said sum.

5. The method of claim 4, when said step of determining determines said cost is greater than said sum, said step of providing an acceptance or a rejection includes providing one or more options to a user.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said options include an option to cancel said electronic purchase order.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein said options include an option to modify said electronic purchase order to maximize a size of said purchase order while reducing said cost of said purchase order below said sum.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein said options include an option to modify said electronic purchase order to minimize a size of said purchase order while ensuring a desired delivery schedule.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein said options include an option to modify said budget allocation.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said option to modify said budget allocation includes modifying said budget allocation to accommodate said electronic purchase order.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein said option to modify said budget allocation includes modifying said budget allocation to ensure a desired delivery schedule.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said option to modify said budget allocation includes modifying said electronic purchase order.

13. A program product for purchase order processing, comprising machine-readable program code for causing, when executed, one or more machines to perform the following method steps:

receiving an electronic purchase order in a current one of a plurality of order periods for a product category having a designated delivery period;

accessing a budget allocation corresponding to said product category and said delivery period, said budget allocation including a bucket corresponding to each of said plurality of order periods; and

providing an acceptance or a rejection of the electronic purchase order based at least partially on a bucket of said current order period.

14. The program product of claim 13, wherein said step of providing an acceptance or a rejection includes:

calculating a cost of said electronic purchase order; and

determining whether said cost is greater than or less than a sum of said bucket of said current order period and any remaining budget from prior order periods of said plurality of order periods.

15. The program product of claim 14, wherein said step of providing an acceptance or a rejection provides an acceptance when said step of determining determines said cost is less than said sum.

16. The program product of claim 14, wherein said step of providing an acceptance or a rejection provides a rejection when said step of determining determines said cost is greater than said sum.

17. The program product of claim 16, when said step of determining determines said cost is greater than said sum, said step of providing an acceptance or a rejection includes providing one or more options to a user.

18. The program product of claim 17, wherein said options include an option to cancel said electronic purchase order.

19. The program product of claim 17, wherein said options include an option to modify said electronic purchase order to maximize a size of said purchase order while reducing said cost of said purchase order below said sum.

20. The program product of claim 17, wherein said options include an option to modify said electronic purchase order to minimize a size of said purchase order while ensuring a desired delivery schedule:

21. The program product of claim 17, wherein said options include an option to modify said budget allocation.

22. The program product of claim 21, wherein said option to modify said budget allocation includes modifying said budget allocation to accommodate said electronic purchase order.

23. The program product of claim 21, wherein said option to modify said budget allocation includes modifying said budget allocation to ensure a desired delivery schedule.

24. The program product of claim 23, wherein said option to modify said budget allocation includes modifying said electronic purchase order.