Abstract: The present invention represents an inventory management and process control system that enables suppliers, distributors, retailers and wholesalers to share their physical inventories with each other. It also provides facilities for publishing that data to retailers' web sites while providing innovative pricing and incentive schemes.

Abstract: The present invention represents a web service that enables suppliers, distributors, retailers and wholesalers to share their physical inventories with each other and consumers. The database of the web service can contain products from multiple suppliers, wholesalers, and distributors and can also accept entries from retailers who may or may not choose to make their inventory items available to other users on the system. Inventory data is made available to retail users either by adding the features of the present invention to a user web site directly or as an intermediary wherein a retail client can choose a store and search the database for item specifications and pricing.