Abstract: A computer-implemented method for performing searching for products and services is disclosed. The method includes receiving a commodity database, the commodity database including commodity records, each commodity record including supplier name, a commodity description, a commodity code and an inventory level for the commodity, receiving one or more search attributes, a purchasing strategy, and a manufacturing strategy, the purchasing strategy identifying one or more preferred suppliers based on the commodity code in each commodity record, the manufacturing strategy based on a target inventory level for a commodity described in at least one of the commodity records, and searching the commodity database to obtain one or more located commodity records that satisfy the one the one or more attributes, the purchasing strategy and the manufacturing strategy.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention is a computer-implemented method for managing supplier access to transaction information. In general, the method is comprised of receiving transaction information, selectively permitting access to the transaction information, and selectively prohibiting access to the transaction information. In certain embodiments, the transaction information is comprised of a first set of transaction information regarding transactions of a first plurality of items conducted between a first supplier and a buyer and a second set of transaction information regarding transactions of a second plurality of items conducted between a second supplier and the buyer. The first and second supplier are granted access to the first and second set of transaction information, respectively. The first and second supplier are denied access to the second and first set of transaction information, respectively.