Purchase orders based on purchasing list, capacity plans, assortment plans, and area spread assortment plans

• US 7,853,491 B2
• Filed: 07/30/2004
• Issued: 12/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Welter, Markus, Freitag, Andreas, Wittmer, Holger
• Primary Examiner(s): LEVINE, ADAM L
• Application Number:
  US10/903,467
• Publication Number:
  US 20050197910A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,328 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26, 705/27, 705/28
• US Class Current: 705/28
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0635 Processing of requisition or of purchase orders

Abstract

A method and system for organizing purchasing data for a plurality of items is disclosed. The method includes receiving purchasing data for the plurality of items, and generating a purchase order list from the purchasing data. The purchase order list comprises a list of the plurality of items and purchasing data for each item. The system includes means for receiving purchasing data for the plurality of items, and means for generating a purchase order list from the purchasing data, wherein the purchase order list comprises a list of the plurality of items and purchasing data for each item.

Claims

1. Computer-readable media for organizing purchasing data for a plurality of items using an automated process, the computer-readable media comprising program code stored in one or more machines comprising one or more processors and executable by the one or more processors to perform the automated process, the automated process comprising:

receiving via the one or more processors purchasing data for the plurality of items;

generating via the one or more processors a purchasing list from the purchasing data;

generating via the one or more processors a first capacity plan for a first store, the first capacity plan comprising data related to available shelf space and available floor space at the first store;

generating via the one or more processors a second capacity plan for a second store, the second capacity plan comprising data related to available shelf space and available floor space at the second store;

assigning via the one or more processors the first store and the second store to a first store group;

generating via the one or more processors an assortment plan, the assortment plan defines ranges of retail sales articles that may be assigned to the first store group;

generating via the one or more processors a first area spread assortment plan for the first store based on a first capacity spread of the first store;

generating via the one or more processors a second area spread assortment plan for the second store based on a second capacity spread of the second store;

generating via the one or more processors a first grouped order document for the first store based on the purchasing list, the first capacity plan, the assortment plan, and the first area spread assortment plan;

generating via the one or more processors a second grouped order document for the second store based on the purchasing list, the second capacity plan, the assortment plan, and the second area spread assortment plan; and

storing in a program module at least one of the purchasing data, the purchasing list, the first capacity plan, the second capacity plan, the assortment plan, the first grouped order document, and the second grouped order document.

2. The computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein the purchasing data includes strategic planning data used to determine quantities of specific items that are to be procured utilizing at least one of a first purchase order and a second purchase order during a specific time period.

3. The computer-readable media of claim 2, wherein the automated process further comprising:

determining via one or more processors a first cost of the first grouped order document;

determining via one or more processors a second cost of the second grouped order document;

comparing via one or more processors a budget to the sum of the first cost and the second cost to determine at least one of a first result or a second result, the first result being that the budget exceeds the sum of the first cost and the second cost, the second result being that the sum of the first cost and the second cost exceeds the budget;

when the second result occurs, storing a determination that the first purchase order and the second purchase order cannot be generated at a current time because of the second result;

when the first result occurs, generating a first purchase order based on the first result and the first grouped order document;

when the second result occurs, generating a second purchase order based on the second result and the second grouped order document.

4. The computer-readable media of claim 3, wherein when the sum of the first cost and the second cost exceeds the budget, the automated process further comprising:

transmitting the first grouped order document and the second grouped order document to an authorized entity for approval of the creation of the first purchase order and the second purchase order;

receiving an approval signal from the authorized entity; and

generating the first purchase order and the second purchase order based on the second result and the approval signal.

5. The computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein the assortment plan comprises data related to at least one of a product color and a product size.

6. The computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein the plurality of items include at least one of a retail sales article and a service.

7. The computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein the purchasing list is a list of retail sales articles and corresponding planned purchasing quantities for selected planning levels.

8. A system for organizing purchasing data for a plurality of items including computer-readable media, the computer-readable media comprising program code stored in a memory therein executable by one or more processors to perform an automated process, the automated process comprising:

receiving via one or more processors purchasing data for the plurality of items;

generating via one or more processors a purchasing list from the purchasing data;

generating via one or more processors a first capacity plan for a first store, the first capacity plan comprising data related to available shelf space and available floor space at the first store;

generating via one or more processors a second capacity plan for a second store, the second capacity plan comprising data related to available shelf space and available floor space at the second store;

assigning the first store and the second store to a first store group;

generating via one or more processors an assortment plan, the assortment plan defines ranges of retail sales articles that may be assigned to the first store group;

generating a first area spread assortment plan for the first store based on a first capacity spread of the first store;

generating a second area spread assortment plan for the second store based on a second capacity spread of the second store;

generating via one or more processors a first grouped order document for the first store based on the purchasing list, the first capacity plan, the assortment plan, and the first area spread assortment plan;

generating via one or more processors a second grouped order document for the second store based on the purchasing list, the second capacity plan, the assortment plan, and the second area spread assortment plan;

determining via one or more processors a first cost of the first grouped order document;

determining via one or more processors a second cost of the second grouped order document;

comparing via one or more processors a budget to the sum of the first cost and the second cost to determine at least one of a first result or a second result, the first result being that the budget exceeds the sum of the first cost and the second cost, the second result being that the sum of the first cost and the second cost exceeds the budget;

when the second result occurs, storing a determination that the first purchase order and the second purchase order cannot be generated at a current time because of the second result;

when the first result occurs, generating via one or more processors a first purchase order based on the first result and the first grouped order document;

when the first result occurs, generating via one or more processors a second purchase order based on the first result and the second grouped order document; and

storing in a program module at least one of the purchasing data, the purchasing list, the first capacity plan, the second capacity plan, the assortment plan, the first grouped order document, the second grouped order document, the first cost, the second cost, the first purchase order, and the second purchase order.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the purchasing data includes strategic planning data used to determine quantities of specific items that are to be procured utilizing at least one of the first purchase order and the second purchase order during a specific time period.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the automated process further comprising determining at least one vendor for the plurality of items.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the strategic planning data includes a purchaser'"'"'s projected revenues, planned expenses and budget.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein when the sum of the first cost and the second cost exceeds the budget, the automated process further comprising:

transmitting the first grouped order document to an authorized entity for approval of the creation of the first purchase order and the second purchase order;

receiving an approval signal from the authorized entity; and

generating the first purchase order and the second purchase order based on the second result and the approval signal.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the assortment plan comprises data related to at least one of a product color and a product size.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the plurality of items include at least one of a retail sales article and a service.

15. The system of claim 8, wherein when the sum of the first cost and the second cost exceeds the budget, the automated process further comprising:

modifying at least one of the first grouped order document and the second grouped order document to fit the sum of the first cost and the second cost within the budget to determine a new first result; and

generating a third purchase order and a fourth purchase order based on at least two of the new first result, a modified first grouped order document, and a modified second grouped order document.

16. The system of claim 8, wherein the purchasing list is a list of retail sales articles and corresponding planned purchasing quantities for selected planning levels.

17. A program product for organizing purchasing data for a plurality of items, the program product comprising machine-readable program code embodied in computer-readable media and stored in a memory for causing, when executed, one or more machines to perform the following method steps:

receiving via one or more processors purchasing data for the plurality of items;

generating via one or more processors a purchasing list from the purchasing data;

generating via one or more processors a first capacity plan for a first store, the first capacity plan comprising data related to available shelf space and available floor space at the first store;

generating via one or more processors a second capacity plan for a second store, the second capacity plan comprising data related to available shelf space and available floor space at the second store;

assigning the first store and the second store to a first store group;

generating via one or more processors an assortment plan, the assortment plan defines ranges of retail sales articles that may be assigned to the first store group;

generating a first area spread assortment plan for the first store based on a first capacity spread of the first store;

generating a second area spread assortment plan for the second store based on a second capacity spread of the second store;

generating via one or more processors a first grouped order document for the first store based on the purchasing list, the first capacity plan, the assortment plan, and the first area spread assortment plan;

generating via one or more processors a second grouped order document for the second store based on the purchasing list, the second capacity plan, the assortment plan, and the second area spread assortment plan;

determining via one or more processors a first cost of the first grouped order document;

determining via one or more processors a second cost of the second grouped order document;

comparing via one or more processors a budget to the sum of the first cost and the second cost to determine at least one of a first result or a second result, the first result being that the budget exceeds the sum of the first cost and the second cost, the second result being that the sum of the first cost and the second cost exceeds the budget;

when the second result occurs, storing a determination that the first purchase order and the second purchase order cannot be generated at a current time because of the second result;

when the first result occurs, generating a first purchase order based on the first result and the first grouped order document;

when the first result occurs, generating a second purchase order based on the first result and the second grouped order document;

storing in a program module at least one of the purchasing data, the purchasing list, the first capacity plan, the second capacity plan, the assortment plan, the first grouped order document, the second grouped order document, the first cost, the second cost, the first purchase order, and the second purchase order.

18. The program product of claim 17, wherein the purchasing data includes strategic planning data used to determine quantities of specific items that are to be procured utilizing at least one of the first purchase order and the second purchase order during a specific time period.

19. The program product of claim 18, further comprising determining at least one vendor for the plurality of items.

20. The program product of claim 18, wherein the strategic planning data includes a purchaser'"'"'s projected revenues, planned expenses and budget.

21. The program product of claim 17, wherein when the sum of the first cost and the second cost exceeds the budget, the method further comprising:

transmitting the first grouped order document and the second grouped order document to an authorized entity for approval of the creation of the first purchase order and the second purchase order;

receiving an approval signal from the authorized entity; and

generating the first purchase order and the second purchase order based on the second result and the approval signal.

22. The program product of claim 17, wherein the assortment plan comprises data related to at least one of a product color and a product size.

23. The program product of claim 17, wherein the plurality of items include at least one of a retail sales article and a service.

24. The program product of claim 17, wherein when the sum of the first cost and the second cost exceeds the budget, the method further comprising:

modifying at last one of the first grouped order document to fit the sum of the first cost and the second cost within the budget to determine a new first result; and

generating a third purchase order and a fourth purchase order based on at least two of the new first result, a modified first grouped order document, and a modified second grouped order document.

25. The program product of claim 17, wherein the purchasing list is a list of retail sales articles and corresponding planned purchasing quantities for selected planning levels.