Patent ID: 7039606
Filing Date: 2006-05-02
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
1. A method for handling contracts in a supply chain management framework, comprising: a) an independent supply chain manager pre-negotiating master contract parameters for orders between a plurality of independent suppliers and independent distributors and including assigning independent distributor—independent supplier relationships; b) the independent supply chain manager assigning one of the independent distributors for each of a plurality of stores; c) electronically receiving sales information from the plurality of stores of a supply chain utilizing a network, the sales information comprising amounts of goods sold by the stores; d) generating an electronic order form for one of the independent distributors based on the sales information for placing an order with the distributor; e) selecting one of a plurality of contract templates for a supplier—distributor order; f) electronically populating a plurality of fields in the selected contract template with the pre-negotiated master contract parameters to obtain a draft contract; g) transmitting the draft contract to one of the independent suppliers and one of the independent distributors; h) receiving data from the independent supplier and independent distributor utilizing a network where the data was generated independently of the network, the data relating to the sale of products between the supplier and distributor in accordance with a contract resulting from the draft contract; i) selecting at least one contract term from the contract and comparing that contract term to the received data; j) generating a contract communication if there is a discrepancy between the at least one contract term and the received data; and k) maintaining an electronic database of details of the sales information, substantially all electronic orders to distributors, master contract parameters for orders between suppliers and distributors, and the data from the independent supplier and independent distributor relating to the sale of products between the supplier and distributor.