System and method for reduced cost purchasing

• US 7,035,816 B2
• Filed: 04/12/2002
• Issued: 04/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Elie Jankelewitz
• Original Assignee: Elie Jankelewitz
• Inventors: Jankelewitz, Elie
• Primary Examiner(s): Pond, Robert M.
• Application Number:
  US10/123,002
• Publication Number:
  US 20030023507A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,474 Days
• Field of Search: 705 26- 27, 705/400
• US Class Current: 705/26.81
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0623 Item investigation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0629 for generating comparisons
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0631 Item recommendations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0635 Processing of requisition or of purchase orders

Abstract

A system and method which enables a customer, for example a business or individual, to purchase one or more goods/services from one of a plurality of suppliers offering the one or more goods/services at the lowest aggregate price.

Claims

1. A system for providing at least two sellables to a customer, said at least two sellables offered by a plurality of suppliers, said system comprising:

computer code operating on at least one host system computing device connected to a communication network to which said plurality of suppliers and said customer connect;

computer code operating on said at least one host system computing device providing a request module that receives a request for said at least two sellables from a customer;

computer code operating on said at least one host system computing device providing a price receiving module that receives a respective price for at least each of said at least two sellables from each of said plurality of suppliers prior to receiving said request for said at least two sellables;

computer code operating on said at least one host system computing device that electronically stores said respective price from each of said plurality of suppliers in a database, said database being operably connected to said at least one host system computing device;

computer code operating on said at least one host system computing device providing an aggregating module that aggregates said respective price for each of said at least two sellables to provide a final respective aggregate price for said at least two sellables from the price receiving module; and

computer code operating on said at least one host system computing device providing a display module that displays each said final respective aggregate price for each respective one of said plurality of suppliers.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said display module sorts said aggregate of prices in ascending order.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising computer code operating on said at least one host system computing device providing a price selection module receiving a selection of one of said aggregate of prices from said customer, said selection representing a commitment by said customer to purchase said at least two sellables represented by said one of said aggregate of prices received from one of said plurality of suppliers.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said display module displays the price for each respective one of said at least two sellables after receiving said selection by from said customer.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising computer code operating on said at least one host system computing device providing a customer registration module receiving customer registration information from said customer, said customer registration information representing financial credit of said customer.

6. The system of claim 5, further comprising computer code operating on said at least one host system computing device providing a customer categorization module categorizing said customer as at least one of administrative customer and staff customer;

wherein said administrative customer is afforded at least all of the same authorization as said staff customer.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said administrative customer is authorized to perform at least one of:

restricting choices of said staff customer of said at least two sellables, canceling a request by said staff customer for said at least two sellables, modifying a request by said staff customer for said at least two sellables, and transmitting a request for at least two sellables.

8. The system of claim 5, further comprising computer code operating on said at least one host system computing device providing a credit comparison module performing a comparison of said financial credit with said selected aggregate of prices, and communicating said comparison to at least one of said one of said plurality of suppliers and said customer.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said customer cancels said request for said sellables in response to said comparison.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising computer code operating on said at least one host system computing device providing a supplier registration module receiving supplier registration information from each of said plurality of suppliers, said supplier registration information representing at least one of:

categories of said at least two sellables;

descriptions of said at least two sellables;

prices of said at least two sellables;

availability of said at least two sellables; and

descriptions of delivery of said at least two sellables.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising computer code operating on said at least one host system computing device providing a supplier sellable comparison module comparing said supplier registration information with said at least two sellables represented by said selected aggregate of prices, and communicating said comparison to at least one of said customer and said one of said plurality of suppliers.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein supplier sellable comparison module receives a cancellation from said customer of said request for said sellables in response to said comparison.

13. The system of claim 1, further comprising computer code operating on said at least one host system computing device providing an archive module storing said plurality of requests for said at least two sellables from said customer, and using said stored requests for future procurement of said at least two sellables.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said archive module further generates a history of said requests for said at least two sellables made by said customer, and displaying said history to said customer.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein said archive module further provides a history of said requests for said at least two sellables offered by said supplier, and displaying said history to said supplier.

16. The system of claim 1, further comprising computer code operating on said at least one host system computing device providing a price range module displaying a range of prices for each of said at least two sellables, said range of prices including a lowest price and a highest price for each of said at least two sellables offered by said plurality of suppliers.

17. The system of claim 1, further comprising computer code operating on said at least one host system computing device providing a cost center module receiving at least one delivery location where at least one of said at least two sellables are to be delivered.

18. The system of claim 1, further comprising computer code operating on said at least one host system computing device providing a purchase order module, said purchase order module generating an invoice for said at least two sellables selected by said customer, and communicating said invoice to at least one of said customer and said one of said plurality of said suppliers.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said invoice module consolidates a plurality of requests placed by at least one customer for said at least two sellables with at least one supplier into a single invoice.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein said customer modifies said request for said at least two sellables, said modification of said request comprising changes to at least one of said at least two sellables.

21. The system of claim 1, further comprising a search control to locate at least one of said two sellables, said search control automatically provided when said at least one of said two sellables cannot be located.

22. The system of claim 1, further comprising computer code operating on said at least one host system computing device providing a replacement module, said replacement module providing at least one alternative sellable when at least one of said at least two sellables cannot be located.

23. The system of claim 1, further comprising computer code operating on said at least one host system computing device providing a procuring habits module, said procuring habits module analyzing procurement habits and providing at least one suggestion to said customer.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein said at least one suggestion includes at least one of changing said request for said at least two sellables, adding a request for said at least two sellables, and removing said request for said at least two sellables.

25. The system of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of suppliers offers the same sellables.

26. A method for providing at least two sellables to a customer, said at least two sellables offered by a plurality of suppliers, said method comprising:

providing by at least one host system an electronic site connected to a communication network to which said plurality of suppliers and said customer connect;

electronically receiving a request for said at least two sellables from said customer on said electronic site;

electronically receiving a respective price for at least each of said at least two sellables from each of said plurality of suppliers on said electronic site prior to receiving said request for said at least two sellables;

electronically storing said respective price from each of said plurality of suppliers in a database, said database being operably connected to said at least one host system;

aggregating said previously received prices from each of said plurality of suppliers for said at least two sellables to provide a final respective aggregate price for said at least two sellables from each of said plurality of suppliers;

electronically providing said final respective aggregate price for each of said plurality of suppliers; and

receiving a selection of one of said final respective aggregate price from said customer for one of said plurality of suppliers, said step of receiving said selection representing a commitment from said customer to purchase said at least two sellables at said final respective aggregate price from said selected one of said plurality of suppliers.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein said step of receiving a request for said at least two sellables comprises at least one of:

electronically providing a category for each of said at least two sellables;

electronically providing a description of each of said at least two sellables;

electronically receiving a selection of said description of each of said at least two sellables.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising electronically receiving customer registration information, said customer registration information representing financial credit of said customer.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising performing a comparison of said financial credit with said selected aggregate of prices, and communicating said comparison to said one of said plurality of suppliers and to said customer.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising stopping said method of providing at least two sellables to said customer in response to said comparison.

31. The method of claim 26, further comprising electronically receiving supplier registration information from each of said plurality of suppliers, said supplier registration information representing at least one of:

categories of said at least two sellables;

descriptions of said at least two sellables;

prices of said at least two sellables;

availability of said at least two sellables; and

descriptions of delivery of said at least two sellables.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising performing a comparison of said supplier registration information with said at least two sellables represented by said selected aggregate of prices, and communicating said comparison to said customer and said one of said plurality of suppliers.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising stopping said method of providing at least of goods and services to said customer in response to said comparison.

34. The method of claim 26, further comprising offering at least one alternative to said at least one of said at least two sellables when said at least one of said at least two sellables cannot be located.

35. The method of claim 26, further comprising storing said requests for said at least two sellables from said customer, and using said stored requests for future procurement of said at least two sellables.

36. The method of claim 26, further comprising storing a history of all previous requests for said at least two sellables made by said customer, and displaying said history to said customer.

37. The method of claim 26, further comprising displaying a range of prices for each of said at least two sellables, said range of prices including a lowest price and a highest price for each of said at least two sellables offered by said plurality of suppliers.

38. The method of claim 26, further comprising receiving at least one delivery location where said at least two sellables are delivered.

39. The method of claim 26, further comprising generating an invoice for said at least two sellables selected by said customer, and communicating said invoice to said customer and said one of said plurality of said suppliers.

40. The method of claim 26, further comprising receiving a modification of said request for said at least two sellables, said modification of said request comprising changes to at least one of said at least two sellables.

41. The method of claim 26, wherein each of said plurality of suppliers offers the same sellables.

42. A system for providing at least two sellables to a customer, said at least two sellables offered by a plurality of suppliers, said system comprising:

at least one host system computing device connected to a communication network to which said plurality of suppliers and said customer connect;

computer code operating on said at least one host system computing device providing a price quote module receiving from a plurality of suppliers at least identifiers representing a plurality of sellables, and a respective price for each of said of at least two sellables from each respective one of said plurality of suppliers prior to receiving a request for said at least two sellables;

a price database operably connected to said at least one host system computing device that stores said respective price for each of said of at least two sellables from each respective one of said plurality of suppliers, said price database providing at least said identifiers and said respective prices;

computer code operating on said at least one host system computing device providing a request module receiving said request for at least two sellables from a customer;

computer code operating on said at least one host system computing device providing a matching module matching said respective price for said each of said at least two sellables in said price database;

computer code operating on said at least one host system computing device providing a combining module combining said matched respective prices for said each of said at least two sellables to provide a final respective combined price for said at least two sellables; and

computer code operating on said at least one host system computing device providing a display module displaying said final respective combined prices received from said combining module.

43. A system for providing at least two sellables to a customer, said at least two sellables offered by a plurality of suppliers, said system comprising:

at least one host system computing device connected to a communication network to which said plurality of suppliers and said customer connect;

computer code operating on said at least one host system computing device providing a request module receiving a request for said at least two sellables from at least one customer;

computer code operating on said at least one host system computing device providing a price receiving module receiving a respective price for at least each of said at least two sellables from each of said at least two suppliers prior to receiving said request for said at least two sellables;

computer code operating on said at least one host system computing device electronically storing said respective price from each of said plurality of suppliers in a database, said database being operably connected to said at least one host system computing device;

computer code operating on said at least one host system computing device providing an aggregating module aggregating said respective price for each of said at least two sellables from each respective one of said at least two suppliers to provide a final respective aggregate price for said at least two sellables from each of said plurality of suppliers;

computer code operating on said at least one host system computing device providing a display module displaying each said final respective aggregate price for each respective one of said at least two suppliers; and

computer code operating on said at least one host system computing device providing a price range module displaying a range of prices for final respective aggregate price of said at least two sellables, said range of prices including a lowest price and a highest price for said at least two sellables offered by each of said at least two suppliers.

44. The system of claim 43, wherein each of said at least two suppliers offers the same kind of at least two sellables.