Method, medium, and system for purchase requisition importation

• US 9,245,291 B1
• Filed: 09/29/2008
• Issued: 01/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SciQuest Incorporated
• Original Assignee: SciQuest Incorporated
• Inventors: Ballaro, Charles A., Sabino, Phillip J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Matthew
• Application Number:
  US12/286,507
• Time in Patent Office: 2,675 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26.81, 705/26.82, 705/26.4, 705/26.1, 705/26.3
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0635 Processing of requisition or of purchase orders

Abstract

In an embodiment, a computer-implemented method operating at a server system is disclosed. The server hosts and electronic procurement system. One or more user instructions for importing a purchase requisition are received. In response to the one or more instructions, a purchase requisition is received, where the purchase requisition originates from outside the electronic procurement system. The purchase requisition is converted from a first format to a second format, wherein the second format is native to the electronic procurement system. The converted purchase requisition verified to be consistent with business rules associated with the electronic procurement system, including at least a rule to verify that the purchase requisition originates from a recognized user of the electronic procurement system. Then, the purchaser requisition is routed for approval. Related methods and systems are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

by a server system, in response to one or more user commands to an electronic procurement system;

receiving a purchase requisition, where the purchase requisition originates from outside the electronic procurement system;

converting the purchase requisition from a first computer-readable format to a second computer-readable format, wherein the second computer-readable format is native to the electronic procurement system;

verifying that the purchase requisition that originates from outside the electronic procurement system includes one or more required fields, including at least a field used to verify that the purchase requisition originates from a recognized user of the electronic procurement system;

determining that the verified purchase requisition includes an item that is in short-supply or includes a large volume of items;

in accordance with the determination that the verified purchase requisition includes an item that is in short-supply or includes a large volume of items, requesting bids from a plurality of vendors;

receiving a plurality of bids from the plurality of vendors for the verified purchase requisition;

receiving a user selected bid;

updating the purchase requisition with the user selected bid; and

routing the purchase requisition including the user selected bid for approval.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising prior to routing,

receiving at the electronic procurement system edits by a user to the purchase requisition, and updating the purchase requisition with the edits.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, further comprising verifying that the updated purchase requisition includes the one or more required fields.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising after receiving the purchase requisition

preventing a user associated with the purchase requisition from editing the purchase requisition;

or

verifying that a purchaser required information is associated with the purchase requisition, and if not, notifying a sender of the purchase requisition that the purchase requisition is refused;

or

verifying that at least one line item is associated with the purchase requisition, and if not, notifying a sender of the purchase requisition that the purchase requisition is refused;

or

verifying that required information is present, and if not, saving the purchase requisition in the electronic procurement system and notifying a user associated with the purchase requisition that required information is missing, and

wherein the required information is specified by a purchasing organization associated with the purchase requisition or is a next approver associated with a user submitting the purchase requisition.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein converting the purchase requisition includes:

importing an attachment associated with the purchase requisition into the electronic procurement system;

or

identifying a respective restricted item in the purchase requisition and applying a respective restriction to the purchase requisition;

or

identifying a form associated with the purchase requisition and mapping data from the purchase requisition into the form, and storing the mapped form data at the electronic procurement system;

or

identifying the purchase requisition as an imported requisition;

or

identifying and storing a requisition identifier associated with a user submitting the requisition, and wherein the electronic procurement system supports searching by the requisition identifier.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the second computer-readable format native to the electronic procurement system is an Extensible Markup Language.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, further comprising identifying in the purchase requisition a restriction override request for a respective restricted item.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein receiving a purchase requisition includes receiving a plurality of purchase requisitions in a single operation.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein routing the purchase requisition for approval includes:

preventing a re-order based on the purchase requisition;

or

routing the purchase requisition to an approval process for imported requisitions.

10. A server system, comprising:

one or more processors;

memory; and

one or more programs stored in the memory, the one or more programs comprising instructions to;

by a server system, in response to one or more user commands to an electronic procurement system;

receiving a purchase requisition, where the purchase requisition originates from outside the electronic procurement system;

converting the purchase requisition from a first computer-readable format to a second computer-readable format, wherein the second computer-readable format is native to the electronic procurement system;

verifying that the purchase requisition that originates from outside the electronic procurement system includes one or more required fields, including at least a field used to verify that the purchase requisition originates from a recognized user of the electronic procurement system;

determining that the verified purchase requisition includes an item that is in short-supply or includes a large volume of items;

in accordance with the determination that the verified purchase requisition includes an item that is in short-supply or includes a large volume of items, requesting bids from a plurality of vendors;

receiving a plurality of bids from the plurality of vendors for the verified purchase requisition;

receiving a user selected bid;

updating the purchase requisition with the user selected bid; and

routing the purchase requisition including the user selected bid for approval.

11. The server system of claim 10, further comprising instructions for prior to routing,

receiving at the electronic procurement system edits by a user to the purchase requisition, and updating the purchase requisition with the edits.

12. The server system of claim 11, further comprising instructions for verifying that the updated purchase requisition includes the one or more required fields.

13. The server system of claim 10, further comprising instructions for after receiving the purchase requisition,

preventing a user associated with the purchase requisition from editing the purchase requisition;

or

verifying that a purchaser required information is associated with the purchase requisition, and if not, notifying a sender of the purchase requisition that the purchase requisition is refused;

or

verifying that at least one line item is associated with the purchase requisition, and if not, notifying a sender of the purchase requisition that the purchase requisition is refused;

or

verifying that required information is present, and if not, saving the purchase requisition in the electronic procurement system and notifying a user associated with the purchase requisition that required information is missing; and

wherein the required information is specified by a purchasing organization associated with the purchase requisition or is a next approver associated with a user submitting the purchase requisition.

14. The server system of claim 10, wherein instructions for converting the purchase requisition includes instructions for:

importing an attachment associated with the purchase requisition into the electronic procurement system;

or

identifying a respective restricted item in the purchase requisition and applying a respective restriction to the purchase requisition;

or

identifying a form associated with the purchase requisition and mapping data from the purchase requisition into the form, and for storing the mapped form data at the electronic procurement system;

or

identifying the purchase requisition as an imported requisition;

or

identifying and storing a requisition identifier associated with a user submitting the requisition, and wherein the electronic procurement system supports searching by the requisition identifier.

15. The server system of claim 10, wherein the second computer-readable format native to the electronic procurement system is an Extensible Markup Language.

16. The server system of claim 14, further comprising instructions for identifying in the purchase requisition a restriction override request for a respective restricted item.

17. The server system of claim 10, wherein instructions for receiving a purchase requisition includes instructions for receiving a plurality of purchase requisitions in a single operation.

18. The server system of claim 10, wherein instructions for routing the purchase requisition for approval includes instructions for:

preventing a re-order based on the purchase requisition;

or

routing the purchase requisition to an approval process for imported requisitions.

19. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing one or more programs configured for execution by a computer, the one or more programs comprising instructions to:

by a server system, in response to one or more user commands to an electronic procurement system;

receiving a purchase requisition, where the purchase requisition originates from outside the electronic procurement system;

converting the purchase requisition from a first computer-readable format to a second computer-readable format, wherein the second computer-readable format is native to the electronic procurement system;

verifying that the purchase requisition that originates from outside the electronic procurement system includes one or more required fields, including at least a field used to verify that the purchase requisition originates from a recognized user of the electronic procurement system;

determining that the verified purchase requisition includes an item that is in short-supply or includes a large volume of items;

in accordance with the determination that the verified purchase requisition includes an item that is in short-supply or includes a large volume of items, requesting bids from a plurality of vendors;

receiving a plurality of bids from the plurality of vendors for the verified purchase requisition;

receiving a user selected bid;

updating the purchase requisition with the user selected bid; and

routing the purchase requisition including the user selected bid for approval.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 19, further comprising instructions for prior to routing,

receiving at the electronic procurement system edits by a user to the purchase requisition, and updating the purchase requisition with the edits.

21. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 20, further comprising instructions for verifying that the updated purchase requisition includes the one or more required fields.

22. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 19, further comprising instructions for after receiving the purchase requisition,

preventing a user associated with the purchase requisition from editing the purchase requisition;

or

verifying that a purchaser required information is associated with the purchase requisition, and if not, notifying a sender of the purchase requisition that the purchase requisition is refused;

or

verifying that at least one line item is associated with the purchase requisition, and if not, notifying a sender of the purchase requisition that the purchase requisition is refused;

or

verifying that required information is present, and if not, saving the purchase requisition in the electronic procurement system and notifying a user associated with the purchase requisition that required information is missing, and

wherein the required information is specified by a purchasing organization associated with the purchase requisition or is a next approver associated with a user submitting the purchase requisition.

23. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein instructions for converting the purchase requisition includes instructions for:

importing an attachment associated with the purchase requisition into the electronic procurement system;

or

identifying a respective restricted item in the purchase requisition and applying a respective restriction to the purchase requisition;

or

identifying a form associated with the purchase requisition and mapping data from the purchase requisition into the form, and for storing the mapped form data at the electronic procurement system;

or

identifying the purchase requisition as an imported requisition;

or

identifying and storing a requisition identifier associated with a user submitting the requisition, wherein the electronic procurement system supports searching by the requisition identifier.

24. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the second computer-readable format native to the electronic procurement system is an Extensible Markup Language.

25. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 19, further comprising instructions for identifying in the purchase requisition a restriction override request for a respective restricted item.

26. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein instructions for receiving a purchase requisition includes instructions for receiving a plurality of purchase requisitions in a single operation.

27. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein instructions for routing the purchase requisition for approval includes instructions for:

preventing a re-order based on the purchase requisition;

or

routing the purchase requisition to an approval process for imported requisitions.