Patent ID: 8271336

Claim:
A method, implemented using computer hardware, for a first business entity to provide order management between at least second and third independent business entities, comprising: (a) receiving a service level agreement for at least one of the second business entity and the third business entity, at an automated system having a processor and operated by the first business entity, utilizing an electronic communications network, wherein the second business entity is a service provider providing a service to customers and the third business entity is a manufacturer supplying to the second business entity products for the service; (b) storing the service level agreement; (c) receiving inquiries from at least one of the second business entity and the third business entity concerning a service being performed under the service level agreement; (d) generating events based on the service level agreement and at least one of the inquiries; (e) determining whether to apply at least one of charges, discounts, rebates, or modified rates, based on a deviation from the service level agreement; (f) receiving over the network, with the automated system operated by the first business entity, a first request for a first order from at least the second business entity; (g) transmitting over the network, with the automated system, the first order to at least the third business entity; (h) receiving, at the automated system via the network from the third business entity, first information relating to a status of completion of the first order by the third business entity; (i) tracking progress of completing the first order in the automated system based on the first information; (j) generating progress reports from the tracking with the automated system; (k) transmitting the progress reports from the automated system to the second business entity using the network; (l) forecasting, by the first business entity, future orders of the second business entity for products of the third business entity, the forecasting comprising: collecting, by the first business entity, using the network, data relating to customer usage of the service provided by the second business entity; analyzing the data to determine customer demand trends for the service; and using the trends to predict when demand of the products will exceed supply of the products; and (m) receiving, by the first business entity, at the automated system via the network, a subsequent request, sent from the second business entity, for a subsequent order based on the forecasting.