Method and system for dynamic purchase order handling

• US 7,707,070 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2006
• Issued: 04/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Rothley, Martina, Finke, Sabine
• Primary Examiner(s): Zeender; F. Ryan
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHAAWAT, MUSSA A
• Application Number:
  US11/396,416
• Publication Number:
  US 20070233576A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,488 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 705/26.5
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0621 Item configuration or customization

Abstract

A method and system are provided for dynamic purchase ordering functionality in a business information system according to one embodiment of the present invention. The dynamic purchase ordering functionality receives a purchase order confirmation from a supplier and notifies the purchaser. If the supplier provides a deviating quantity in the purchase order confirmation (i.e., the supplier confirmed quantity is different than the purchaser ordered quantity), a dynamic availability of the product and/or service with the deviating quantity is determined and presented to the purchaser along with the purchase order confirmation in order to assist the purchaser in responding to the supplier'"'"'s purchase order confirmation and to provide the purchaser with an integrated set of data in order to allow the purchaser greater flexibility and efficiency in responding to the supplier'"'"'s purchase order confirmation. In this manner the purchase ordering system may be enhanced from the purchaser'"'"'s perspective.

Claims

1. A method for resolving a purchase order confirmation including a deviating quantity using a computer implemented business information system, comprising:

receiving, by a purchaser from a supplier, the purchase order confirmation, the purchase order confirmation including the deviating quantity of a product;

determining, at the time the purchase order confirmation is received, a purchaser existing stock availability for the product using a dynamic purchase ordering functionality module of the computer implemented business information system;

presenting both the purchase order confirmation and the purchaser existing stock availability to the purchaser in an integrated computer display; and

selecting one of a plurality of resolution options using both the purchase order confirmation and the purchaser existing stock availability to resolve a deviation between a requested amount of the product presented in a purchase order and the deviating quantity,

wherein the plurality of resolution options includes;

making up for a gap between a purchase order quantity of the product and the deviating quantity using the purchaser existing stock availability as a function of accepting the purchase order confirmation; and

generating a new purchase order to a second supplier as a function of accepting the deviating quantity in the purchase order confirmation and as a function of the gap between the purchase order quantity of the product and the deviating quantity.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

including an action element for selecting the resolution option in the integrated computer display.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the action element is at least one of a button, a radio field, a drop-down option list box, and a menu item, a selection of the action element initiating program code for at least partial resolution of the purchase order confirmation including the deviating quantity.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of resolution options further includes:

filling the purchase order quantity of the product from the purchaser existing stock availability as a function of rejecting the purchase order confirmation; and

issuing a second purchase order to the second supplier as a function of rejecting the purchase order confirmation and as a function of not using the purchaser existing stock availability.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the gap is a difference of the deviating quantity subtracted from the purchase order quantity.

6. A system for resolving a purchase order confirmation including a deviating quantity using a business information system, comprising:

a program memory;

a storage device; and

a processor, wherein the processor is adapted to;

(i) receive, by a purchaser from a supplier, the purchase order confirmation, the purchase order confirmation including the deviating quantity of a product;

(ii) determine, when the purchase order confirmation is received, a purchaser existing stock availability for the product using a dynamic purchase ordering functionality module of the business information system;

(iii) present both the purchase order confirmation and the purchaser existing stock availability to a purchaser in an integrated computer display; and

(iv) select one of a plurality of resolution options using both the purchase order confirmation and the purchaser existing stock availability to resolve a deviation between a requested amount of the product presented in a purchase order and the deviating quantity, wherein the plurality of resolution options includes;

making up for a gap between a purchase order quantity of the product and the deviating quantity using the purchaser existing stock availability as a function of accepting the purchase order confirmation; and

generating a new purchase order to a second supplier as a function of accepting the deviating quantity in the purchase order confirmation and as a function of the gap between the purchase order quantity of the product and the deviating quantity.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the processor is further adapted to include an action element for selecting the resolution option in the integrated computer display.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the action element is at least one of a button, a radio field, a drop-down option list box, and a menu item, a selection of the action element initiating program code for at least partial resolution of the purchase order confirmation including the deviating quantity.

9. The system according to claim 6, wherein the plurality of resolution options includes:

making up for a gap between the purchase order quantity of the product and the deviating quantity using the purchaser existing stock availability as a function of accepting the purchase order confirmation;

generating a new purchase order to a second supplier as a function of accepting the deviating quantity in the purchase order confirmation and as a function of the gap between the purchase order quantity of the product and the deviating quantity;

filling the purchase order quantity of the product from the purchaser existing stock availability as a function of rejecting the purchase order confirmation; and

issuing a second purchase order to the second supplier as a function of rejecting the purchase order confirmation and as a function of not using the purchaser existing stock availability.

10. A computer readable storage medium including instructions adapted to be executed by a computer to perform a method for resolving a purchase order confirmation including a deviating quantity using a business information system, the method comprising:

receiving, by a purchaser from a supplier, the purchase order confirmation, the purchase order confirmation including the deviating quantity of a product;

determining, when the purchase order confirmation is received, a purchaser existing stock availability for the product using a dynamic purchase ordering functionality module of the business information system;

presenting both the purchase order confirmation and the purchaser existing stock availability to a purchaser in an integrated computer display; and

selecting one of a plurality of resolution options using both the purchase order confirmation and the purchaser existing stock availability to resolve a deviation between a requested amount of the product presented in a purchase order and the deviating quantity, wherein the plurality of resolution options includes;

making up for a gap between a purchase order quantity of the product and the deviating quantity using the purchaser existing stock availability as a function of accepting the purchase order confirmation; and

generating a new purchase order to a second supplier as a function of accepting the deviating quantity in the purchase order confirmation and as a function of the gap between the purchase order quantity of the product and the deviating quantity.

11. The computer readable storage medium according to claim 10, the method further comprising:

including an action element for selecting the resolution option in the integrated computer display.

12. The computer readable storage medium according to claim 11, wherein the action element is at least one of a button, a radio field, a drop-down option list box, and a menu item, a selection of the action element initiating program code for at least partial resolution of the purchase order confirmation including the deviating quantity.

13. The computer readable storage medium according to claim 10, wherein the plurality of resolution options includes:

filling a gap between the purchase order quantity of the product and the deviating quantity using the purchaser existing stock availability as a function of accepting the purchase order confirmation;

generating a new purchase order to a second supplier as a function of accepting the deviating quantity in the purchase order confirmation and as a function of the gap between the purchase order quantity of the product and the deviating quantity;

filling the purchase order quantity of the product from the purchaser existing stock availability as a function of rejecting the purchase order confirmation; and

issuing a second purchase order to the second supplier as a function of rejecting the purchase order confirmation and as a function of not using the purchaser existing stock availability.

14. A method for resolving a purchase order confirmation using a computer implemented business information system, comprising:

responsive to a purchase order for a purchase order quantity of a product, determining an available quantity of the product to fulfill the purchase order;

if the available quantity is less than the purchase order quantity,

verifying whether to substitute an alternate product to fulfill the purchase order;

verifying whether the alternate product has been identified for the product,

wherein if the alternate product is to be substituted to fulfill the purchase order and has been identified, replacing the product with the alternate product in the purchase order confirmation;

receiving, by a purchaser from a supplier, the purchase order confirmation, the purchase order confirmation including the purchase order quantity of the alternate product;

determining a purchaser existing stock availability for the product using a dynamic purchase ordering functionality module of the computer implemented business information system;

presenting both the purchase order confirmation and the purchaser existing stock availability to a purchaser in an integrated computer display; and

selecting one of a plurality of resolution options using both the purchase order confirmation and the purchaser existing stock availability to resolve a deviation between a requested amount of the product presented in a purchase order and the purchase order quantity of the substitute product presented in the purchase order confirmation, wherein the plurality of resolution options includes;

making up for a gap between a purchase order quantity of the product and a deviating quantity using the purchaser existing stock availability as a function of accepting the purchase order confirmation; and

generating a new purchase order to a second supplier as a function of accepting the deviating quantity in the purchase order confirmation and as a function of the gap between the purchase order quantity of the product and the deviating quantity.