Christopher W Kuhn

US Patent:

20040019572, Jan 29, 2004

Filed:

Apr 12, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/120842

Inventors:

Carrie Metz - San Francisco CA, US
Christopher Kuhn - West Chester PA, US

International Classification:

G06F017/60

US Classification:

705/080000

Abstract:

A system and method for using a multi-parametric marketplace during business-to-business commerce. The system includes an enterprise procurement platform, a collaborative commerce tool, multiple suppliers and multiple public and/or private business-to-business marketplaces. The enterprise procurement platform includes multiple business units, a contract manufacturer and a completion center. Data and business processes associated with the business units for supply chain partners are tightly integrated in the enterprise procurement platform. When buyers in the system select suppliers, the contract manufacturer creates contracts based on information obtained from trading partners and the completion center ensures that contract negotiations are completed and successfully awarded. The collaborative commerce tool includes multi-parametric mechanisms and it is available to all participants of the system to provide a competitive advantage to all trading partners by enabling efficient negotiations between a buyer and multiple suppliers. The system consolidates requirements among intra-enterprise and extra-enterprise suppliers to ensure consistency in providing procurement leverage to all participants in the system.