Methods and systems for consolidating purchase orders

Abstract

A method is provided for electronically ordering items. The method includes receiving consolidation information at a server computer. The consolidation information includes at least one consolidation criterion for determining how to consolidate purchase requests. The method further includes receiving a plurality of requests to purchase one or more items at the server computer and evaluating the requests, using the consolidation criterion. A purchase order, containing the items meeting the consolidation criteria, is transmitted from the server computer to a supplier a purchase order containing the items meeting the consolidation criterion.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for electronically ordering items, comprising: 
 receiving consolidation information at a computer system over a network, the consolidation information comprising at least one consolidation criterion for determining how to consolidate purchase requests;    receiving a plurality of requests to purchase one or more items at the computer system over the network;    evaluating the requests using the consolidation criterion; and    generating with the computer system one or more consolidated purchase orders containing the items satisfying the consolidation criterion.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising electronically transmitting the purchase orders from the computer system to one or more suppliers.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the consolidation criterion is selected from a group consisting of hourly consolidation, daily consolidation, consolidation at a specified time, consolidation on specified days of the week, consolidation on specified dates, consolidation upon attainment of a specified monetary threshold, consolidation upon attainment of a specified minimum number of items, shipping location consolidation, cost center consolidation, and consolidation upon attainment of a specified maximum number of items.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 transmitting an approval request from the computer system to a supervisor computer;    receiving approval information from the supervisor computer at the computer system; and    transmitting the purchase order only if the received approval information is affirmative.    
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 receiving the purchase order at a supplier computer; and    fulfilling the purchase order.    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of generating the consolidated purchase order further comprises segregating the items into a plurality of purchase orders according to supplier.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the purchase order is transmitted to the supplier via facsimile.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the purchase order is transmitted to the supplier via an electronic data interchange.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the purchase order is transmitted to the supplier via the Internet.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the purchase order is transmitted to the supplier via electronic mail.  
     
     
         11 . A method for providing purchase consolidation information to a computer system over a network, the method comprising: 
 receiving at a requester computer over the network a form having data for entering consolidation information;    entering consolidation information into one or more of the data fields, wherein the consolidation information comprises at least one consolidation criterion specifying when items for purchase are to be consolidated into a purchase order; and    transmitting the consolidation information from the requestor computer to the computer system over the network.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the consolidation criterion is selected from a group consisting of hourly consolidation, daily consolidation, consolidation at a specified time, consolidation on specified days of the week, consolidation on specified dates, consolidation upon attainment of a specified monetary threshold, consolidation upon attainment of a specified minimum number of items, shipping location consolidation, cost center consolidation, and consolidation upon attainment of a specified maximum number of items.  
     
     
         18 . A method purchasing items over a computer network, the method comprising: 
 transmitting from a computer system to a requester computer over a network a form having data fields for entering consolidation information;    receiving at the computer system consolidation information from the requester computer over the network, the consolidation information comprising at least one consolidation criterion for determining how to consolidate purchase requests;    receiving a plurality of requests to purchase one or more items at the computer system over the network;    evaluating the requests using the consolidation criterion; and    generating with the computer system one or more consolidated purchase orders containing the items satisfying the consolidation criterion.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the consolidation criterion specifies that consolidation should occur every hour.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the consolidation criterion specifies that consolidation should occur daily.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the consolidation criterion specifies that consolidation should occur at a specified time.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the consolidation criterion specifies that consolidation should occur on specified days of the week.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the consolidation criterion specifies that consolidation should occur on specified dates.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the consolidation criterion specifies that consolidation should occur when a specified monetary threshold has been attained.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the consolidation criterion specifies that consolidation should occur upon attainment of a specified number of items.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the consolidation criterion specifies that a consolidated purchase order should contain a specified maximum or minimum number of line items.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the consolidation criterion specifies consolidated based on shipping locations.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the consolidation criterion specifies consolidation based on cost centers.  
     
     
         22 . A computer system for electronically ordering items, the computer system comprising a memory, a processor and a computer readable medium, wherein the computer readable medium contains instructions executable by the processor to: 
 receive consolidation information, the consolidation information comprising at least one consolidation criterion for determining how to consolidate purchase requests;    receive a plurality of requests to purchase one or more items;    evaluate the requests using the consolidation criterion; and    generate one or more consolidated purchase orders containing the items satisfying the consolidation criterion.    
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the computer system further includes an interface for transmitting the purchase order to a supplier.  
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the computer system comprises a server computer and an associated database containing the consolidation criterion.  
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the database contains a list of suppliers.  
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the consolidation criterion is selected from a group consisting of hourly consolidation, daily consolidation, consolidation at a specified time, consolidation on specified days of the week, consolidation on specified dates, consolidation upon attainment of a specified monetary threshold, consolidation upon attainment of a specified minimum number of items, shipping location consolidation, cost center consolidation, and consolidation upon attainment of a specified maximum number of items.  
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the computer readable medium further includes instructions to segregate the items into a plurality of purchase orders according to supplier.  
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the computer readable medium further includes instructions to: 
 transmit an approval request to a supervisor computer;    receive approval information from the supervisor computer; and    transmit the purchase order only if the received approval information is affirmative.    
     
     
         29 . A computer system for electronically ordering items, the computer system comprising a processor, a memory and a computer readable medium, wherein the computer readable medium contains instructions executable by the processor to: 
 transmit to a requester computer a form having data fields for entering consolidation information;    receive consolidation information, the consolidation information comprising at least one consolidation criterion for determining how to consolidate purchase requests;    receive a plurality of requests to purchase one or more items;    evaluate the requests using the consolidation criterion; and    generate one or more consolidated purchase orders containing the items satisfying the consolidation criterion.    
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the computer system comprises a server computer and an associated database.