Patent ID: 7693749

Claim:
Machine-readable media for managing purchasing orders for a plurality of items to be purchased using an automated process, the machine-readable media comprising program code stored therein executable by one or more machines to perform the automated process for managing purchasing orders, the automated process comprising: receiving a personal variant including search criteria associated with retail items to be used in populating an order list; populating a purchase order list based upon the personal variant; displaying the purchase order list including order list items satisfying criteria in the personal variant; receiving a selection of purchase order list items and providing a list of functions associated with the selected purchase order list items; determining a selected function; performing the selected functions on the order list item; comparing a cost of a purchase order to a budget; transmitting an approval request based on the cost of the purchase order exceeding the budget; receiving an approval responsive to the approval request; transmitting the purchase order to a supplier based on the approval; and storing at least one of the personal variant, the order list, the purchase order list, or the selected function; wherein the approval comprises instructions for approving the purchase order where the cost of the purchase order exceeds the budget.