Patent ID: 8065202

Claim:
A computer-implemented method, comprising: at a server apparatus hosting an electronic procurement system: receiving a user request from a buyer for access to the electronic procurement system, wherein the buyer user belongs to a first buyer organization; granting the buyer user access to the electronic procurement system; receiving a request from the buyer user to add a new item to a database of items in the electronic procurement system, wherein the database and the new item are accessible to buyer users of the electronic procurement system from the first buyer organization or one or more second buyer or supplier organizations; receiving data for the new item by entry of the new item data into a field accessible by the buyer user and storing the new item data in the database for access by buyer users of the electronic procurement system from the first buyer organization and one or more second buyer and supplier organizations; and providing an option to the buyer user to associate a supplier with the new item wherein if the buyer user selects the option to associate a supplier with the new item, then providing a list of known suppliers for selection or allowing the buyer user to manually enter the supplier; or if the buyer user does not select the option to associate a supplier with the new item, then querying a super user to associate a supplier with the new item.