Abstract: Provided is a method and system for normalizing catalog item data to create higher quality search results. In one example, the method may include receiving a record comprising an unstructured description of an object, identifying a type of the object from among a plurality of object types and identifying a predefined attribute of the identified type of object, extracting a value from the unstructured description corresponding to the predefined attribute and modifying the extracted value to generate a normalized attribute value, and storing a structured record of the object in a structured format comprising a plurality of values of a plurality of attributes of the object from the unstructured description including the normalized attribute value for the predefined attribute of the object.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a program that receives, from a first system, a copy of master data. The program also receives a master data modification rule. The program further receives, from a second system, a first request to modify a value of a second field of data in the second system with a new value. In response to the first request, the program also identifies the master data modification rule. The program further performs a set of validation operations specified in the master data modification rule. Based on the performance of the set of validation operation, the program also modifies the first field in the copy of the master data with the new value based on the supplier identifier and sends a second request to the first system to modify the first field in the master data managed by the first system.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a non-transitory machine-readable medium that stores a program. The program receives a request for questions associated with a location and a category. The program also identifies a matrix, a hierarchy of locations associated with the matrix, and a hierarchy of categories associated with the matrix. The program further determines an aggregate collection of questions from a plurality of sets of questions based on the matrix, the hierarchy of locations, and the hierarchy of categories. The program also generates the aggregate collection of questions.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a non-transitory machine-readable medium that stores a program. The program receives a request for questions associated with a location and a category. The program also identifies a matrix, a hierarchy of locations associated with the matrix, and a hierarchy of categories associated with the matrix. The program further determines an aggregate collection of questions from a plurality of sets of questions based on the matrix, the hierarchy of locations, and the hierarchy of categories. The program also generates the aggregate collection of questions.

Abstract: In response to a request received from a client device to view an item, a program determines a category associated with the item and a location associated with a user of the client device. The program also identifies a form based on the category and the location. The form comprises a set of fields. The program then provides a graphical user interface (GUI) that includes the form to the client device. The program also receives, through the GUI, data values for the set of fields from the client device and a request to add the item to a collection of items. The program then identifies a policy based on the category and the location. The program also applies the policy to the data values for the set of fields. The program then sends a notification to the client device indicating a result of the application of the policy.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a program that receives from a client device a request for data feed items relevant to a user, determines a set of categories associated with the user, and queries a database for a first set of data feed items specify the user as a recipient of the data feed item. The program retrieves a second set of data feed items from an external content provider. The program modifies relevance scores of the first set of data feed items and the second set of data feed items based on the set of categories associated with the user and a set of factors, generates a result set of data feed items comprising the first and second sets of data feed items ordered based on the modified relevancy scores from highest relevancy score to lowest relevancy score, and provides the result set of data feed items to the client device.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a program. The program receives a state change that occurred for an event created by an application. The event includes a creator of the event, a set of objects, and a set of sources. The program further identifies a schema definition in a plurality of schema definitions based on a type of the state change that occurred for the event. Each scheme definition in the plurality of schema definitions specifies a type of state change and a set of information associated with the event. The program also generates a message comprising the set of information associated with the event specified in the identified schema definition and a set of targets. The program further sends the message to a message management platform in order for the message management platform to send to an application for presentation to each target in the set of targets through a web portal provided by the application.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a program. The program receives from a client device a request specifying a plurality of variables comprising set of sources and a set of objects. The program further receives a set of values from the set of sources. Each value in the set of values specifies an object in set of objects. The program also receives a selection of a set of defined scenarios for the request and the set of values. The program further generates a set of linear programming models based on the set of defined scenarios, the request, and the set of values.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a non-transitory machine-readable medium that stores a program. The program determines a first identifier encoding for a location associated with a user requesting procurement of the item based on a hierarchy of locations. The program further determines a second identifier for a category associated with the item based on a hierarchy of categories. The program also determines a first set of search identifiers based on the first identifier encoding for the location. The program further determines a second set of search identifiers based on the second identifier encoding for the category. The program also determines a set of combinations of search identifiers based on the first and second sets of search identifiers. The program further identifies a set of policies from a plurality of policies based on the set of combinations of search identifiers.

Abstract: In response to a request received from a client device to view an item, a program determines a category associated with the item and a location associated with a user of the client device. The program also identifies a form based on the category and the location. The form comprises a set of fields. The program then provides a graphical user interface (GUI) that includes the form to the client device. The program also receives, through the GUI, data values for the set of fields from the client device and a request to add the item to a collection of items. The program then identifies a policy based on the category and the location. The program also applies the policy to the data values for the set of fields. The program then sends a notification to the client device indicating a result of the application of the policy.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a non-transitory machine-readable medium that stores a program. The program receives a request for suppliers associated with a location and a category. The program also identifies a matrix, a hierarchy of locations associated with the matrix, and a hierarchy of categories associated with the matrix. The program further determines a set of suppliers by based on the location, the category, the matrix, the hierarchy of locations, and the hierarchy of categories.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a non-transitory machine-readable medium that stores a program. The program receives a request for suppliers associated with a location and a category. The program also identifies a matrix, a hierarchy of locations associated with the matrix, and a hierarchy of categories associated with the matrix. The program further determines a set of suppliers by based on the location, the category, the matrix, the hierarchy of locations, and the hierarchy of categories.

Abstract: Example embodiments for evaluating programmable conditions applicable to an operation are described. In an example embodiment, a request to evaluate one or more programmable conditions applicable to an operation is received. The request includes data associated with the operation. One or more objects representing the one or more programmable conditions are retrieved from a database. The one or more objects include executable code for determining compliance of the operation with the one or more programmable conditions. At least a portion of the executable code is executed based on the data associated with the operation. An output of the executable code is returned to a computing system issuing the request. The output includes an indication as to whether the operation complies with the one or more programmable conditions.

Abstract: Example embodiments for defining programmable conditions applicable to an operation are described. In an example embodiment, definition information is received that includes a definition for each of one or more programmable conditions applicable to an operation. The definition information is translated into one or more objects representing the one or more programmable conditions. The objects include executable code for determining compliance of the operation with the programmable conditions. For each object, a lookup key is generated for the object based on the definition information. A database is checked to determine whether a prior version of the object is stored in the database using the generated lookup key. If stored in the database, the prior version of the object in the database is updated using the object. Otherwise, the object is stored in the database using the generated lookup key.

Abstract: The embodiments in this disclosure include a system for receiving search requests for one or more items from a client device having access to a local database that stores primary catalogs containing items of contracted entities. If the items are not found in the primary catalogs, the system may be configured to execute an API for processing the search request by routing the search request to a proxy vendor computer in a cloud network. The cloud network may be configured to store vendor master records for one or more non-contracted entities. The proxy vendor computer can conduct a text search of secondary catalogs associated with non-contracted entities, and can transmit search results to the client device for the requested items. The items may correspond to one or more vendor master records associated with a non-contracted entity and may have a matching entry in one or more of the secondary catalogs.

Abstract: Embodiments for methods, systems and apparatuses of a commerce network for completing a commercial transaction are disclosed. One computer-method includes receiving, by one or more commerce network servers, a buyer-initiated demand for fulfillment of the commercial transaction, identifying suppliers to satisfy the buyer-initiated demand based on buyer policies and supplier characteristics, requesting quotes from the identified suppliers, receiving quotes from the identified suppliers, evaluating and selecting, by the one or more commerce network servers, one or more of the received quotes, wherein evaluating and selecting the one or more of the received quote comprises applying evaluating criteria to the received quotes, wherein the evaluation criteria includes applying a weighted combination of a plurality of evaluating factors, and facilitating presentation of the one or more selected quotes to the buyer.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a program that receives, from a first system, a copy of master data. The program also receives a master data modification rule. The program further receives, from a second system, a first request to modify a value of a second field of data in the second system with a new value. In response to the first request, the program also identifies the master data modification rule. The program further performs a set of validation operations specified in the master data modification rule. Based on the performance of the set of validation operation, the program also modifies the first field in the copy of the master data with the new value based on the supplier identifier and sends a second request to the first system to modify the first field in the master data managed by the first system.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a non-transitory machine-readable medium that stores a program. The program receives a request for questions associated with a location and a category. The program also identifies a matrix, a hierarchy of locations associated with the matrix, and a hierarchy of categories associated with the matrix. The program further determines an aggregate collection of questions from a plurality of sets of questions based on the matrix, the hierarchy of locations, and the hierarchy of categories. The program also generates the aggregate collection of questions.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a non-transitory machine-readable medium that stores a program. The program determines a first identifier encoding for a location associated with a user requesting procurement of the item based on a hierarchy of locations. The program further determines a second identifier for a category associated with the item based on a hierarchy of categories. The program also determines a first set of search identifiers based on the first identifier encoding for the location. The program further determines a second set of search identifiers based on the second identifier encoding for the category. The program also determines a set of combinations of search identifiers based on the first and second sets of search identifiers. The program further identifies a set of policies from a plurality of policies based on the set of combinations of search identifiers.

Abstract: In response to a request received from a client device to view an item, a program determines a category associated with the item and a location associated with a user of the client device. The program also identifies a form based on the category and the location. The form comprises a set of fields. The program then provides a graphical user interface (GUI) that includes the form to the client device. The program also receives, through the GUI, data values for the set of fields from the client device and a request to add the item to a collection of items. The program then identifies a policy based on the category and the location. The program also applies the policy to the data values for the set of fields. The program then sends a notification to the client device indicating a result of the application of the policy.