Abstract: A rules engine uses a set of sequenced rules in determining which rule to apply when assigning buyers in a procurement organization to requisitions submitted to the procurement organization. The rules are user-configurable to provide flexible reconfiguration of how the rules engine determines buyer assignments. Attributes of the requisitions may be utilized to determine the appropriate buyers by comparing the attributes with the rules. Sequencing of the rules allows for prioritization of the rules in instances where multiple rules may be applicable to a received requisition. Updates to a rule set can be tested on sample requisitions to allow users to see the results of the updates.

Abstract: In one embodiment, controls for an agreement from a supplier are set up. The agreement includes a plurality of items for purchase. The controls may be used to determine a degree of touchlessness in the buying of the items. The controls may be configured at the agreement level. A requisition from a requester for a target item is received. In one embodiment, sourcing rules and ASLs may be searched to determine if a sourcing rule and ASL applies to the item. If so, then the sourcing rule and ASL may be used to determine an agreement. If a sourcing rule and ASL do not apply, agreements can be searched to determine an agreement for the target item. Once the agreement is determined, controls are determined from the agreement, where the controls govern the plurality of items of the agreement.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for providing document security for procurement agents. The method commences by establishing user authentication credentials for at least two procurement agents. Then, initially granting limited access to a first set of documents where the first set of documents is initially under control of the first procurement agent (and initially inaccessible by the second procurement agent), and initially granting limited access to a second set of documents, where the second set of documents is initially under control of the second procurement agent. A procurement application receives an access request from the first user to access a document from among the second set of documents, causing the procurement application to confirm the first user authentication credentials, retrieve the document access rule for the first procurement agent, and allow/deny access by the first user to the document from among the second set of documents.

Abstract: A method of modifying a requisition within approval and budgetary constraints by a procurement organization may include receiving the requisition from a requesting organization, where the requisition may comprise one or more lines, each having been approved by the requesting organization. The method may also include receiving a change to be applied to a first line associated with a first budget allocation, where the change may be received from a buyer in the procurement organization, and the change may be associated with a second budget allocation. The method may additionally include determining that the change violates a threshold, sending the change to the requesting organization for a second approval, receiving, from the requesting organization, an indication as to whether the second approval is granted, and creating a purchase order based on the indication as to whether the second approval is granted.

Abstract: A method of calculating accounting encumbrance adjustments for a purchase order associated with a first allocation of a budget includes determining that the purchase order has been closed, where the closure prevents additional processing associated with the purchase order by an invoice processing system; receiving a request to reopen the purchase order, where the request is associated with an additional cost; causing a determination to be made as to whether a second portion of the budget should be allocated, where the second portion of the budget corresponds to the additional cost; and in response to a determination that the second portion of the budget can be allocated: causing the second portion of the budget to be allocated, reopening the purchase order, and sending an indication to the invoice processing system that the purchase order is reopened.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to methods and systems for processing purchase requisitions and purchase orders in a procurement system and more particularly systems and methods for returning single or individual requisition lines back to the requester without affecting other associated requisition lines under the same requisition. Generally speaking, embodiments allow users of a procurement system to return individual requisition lines instead of returning all the requisition lines in the purchase requisition. In some cases, policies require all or some subset of all lines of a requisition be processed together when possible. Hence, if there are more than one requisition lines, the buyer can be presented with a choice whether he or she would like to return the individual line or whether he would like to return all or some subset of all of the lines allowing a buyer to make a more informed decision.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention includes a computer-implemented method for supplier update of a procurement system. The method includes providing a customizable procurement entity to a supplier, receiving a modified procurement entity from the supplier, wherein the modified procurement entity comprises an update made by the supplier to the customizable procurement entity, reviewing and approving the modified procurement entity, and publishing the modified procurement entity to the procurement system.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for providing document security for procurement agents. The method commences by establishing user authentication credentials for at least two procurement agents. Then, initially granting limited access to a first set of documents where the first set of documents is initially under control of the first procurement agent (and initially inaccessible by the second procurement agent), and initially granting limited access to a second set of documents, where the second set of documents is initially under control of the second procurement agent. A procurement application receives an access request from the first user to access a document from among the second set of documents, causing the procurement application to confirm the first user authentication credentials, retrieve the document access rule for the first procurement agent, and allow/deny access by the first user to the document from among the second set of documents.

Abstract: A system, computer-implemented method, and computer program product for performing integrated transactional and data warehouse business intelligence analysis using a correlated report constructed from data correlations between current transactional data and historical data from a data warehouse. The method commences by retrieving a transactional data record from an online transactional processing (OLTP) system, the transactional data record comprising at least one OLTP business intelligence value of a particular business intelligence attribute, then receiving from a storage system, results of a query to a data warehouse, the results comprising a historical business intelligence value of the same business intelligence attribute. Modules within the system (e.g., a business intelligence application) perform processing to combine the OLTP business intelligence value with the historical business intelligence value to form a correlated report and transmit the correlated report for displaying on a single surface.

Abstract: Particular embodiments provide for a user configurable purchase order template. A list of attributes for a purchase order template may be created and output to a user. The user may then select which attributes in the list are internal attributes or external attributes. After the purchase order document has been approved by the supplier and the purchaser, changes may be necessary. When a change is desired, the system determines if the changed attribute is an external attribute or an internal attribute. If the changed attribute is an external attribute, the external entity may be contacted for approving the change. After the external entity has approved the change, the purchase order may be amended. If the changed attribute is an internal attribute, the attribute may be changed without contacting the external entity. If the change is an internal change, then the purchase order may not be amended, but an internal change relating to the purchase order may be made.

Abstract: A computer-readable medium, computer-implemented method, and apparatus are provided. In one embodiment, a change order for a purchasing document is created, and one or more attributes of the change order are modified. Approval of the change order is submitted and approved, and a change type of the change order is determined. When the change type is external, acknowledgment of the change order is requested and a revision number attribute of the purchasing document is incremented. The purchasing document is updated with the change order and the change order is archived.

Abstract: A computer-readable medium, computer-implemented method, and apparatus are provided. In one embodiment, a change order for a purchasing document is created, and one or more attributes of the change order are modified. Approval of the change order is submitted and approved, and a change type of the change order is determined. When the change type is external, acknowledgment of the change order is requested and a revision number attribute of the purchasing document is incremented. The purchasing document is updated with the change order and the change order is archived.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention includes a computer-implemented method for supplier update of a procurement system. The method includes providing a customizable procurement entity to a supplier, receiving a modified procurement entity from the supplier, wherein the modified procurement entity comprises an update made by the supplier to the customizable procurement entity, reviewing and approving the modified procurement entity, and publishing the modified procurement entity to the procurement system.

Abstract: In one embodiment, controls for an agreement from a supplier are set up. The agreement includes a plurality of items for purchase. The controls may be used to determine a degree of touchlessness in the buying of the items. The controls may be configured at the agreement level. A requisition from a requester for a target item is received. In one embodiment, sourcing rules and ASLs may be searched to determine if a sourcing rule and ASL applies to the item. If so, then the sourcing rule and ASL may be used to determine an agreement. If a sourcing rule and ASL do not apply, agreements can be searched to determine an agreement for the target item. Once the agreement is determined, controls are determined from the agreement, where the controls govern the plurality of items of the agreement.

Abstract: A document management system creates a copy of a first purchase document when a request to modify the first purchase document is received. The copy of the first purchase document is a second purchase document. The system receives modifications for the second purchase document. The system requests approval of the modifications of the second purchase document. The system receives approval of the modifications of the second purchase document. The system integrates the modifications of the second purchase document into the first purchase document. The first purchase document remains active at least after the second purchase document is created and before the receiving approval.

Abstract: Techniques for supporting shared procurement services in an enterprise application. According to one set of embodiments, associations between procurement service providers and procurement clients are stored, where the associations represent outsourcing relationships between these entities in the operational structure of an enterprise. The associations are then used by the application to facilitate the management of procurement-related content and the processing of procurement transactions. In one embodiment, the associations enable procurement-related content to be created/managed centrally by a procurement service provider and then made accessible to procurement clients serviced by the procurement service provider. In another embodiment, a rules-driven mechanism is provided for routing procurement requisitions from procurement clients to associated procurement service providers for processing.

Abstract: Techniques for supporting shared procurement services in an enterprise application. According to one set of embodiments, associations between procurement service providers and procurement clients are stored, where the associations represent outsourcing relationships between these entities in the operational structure of an enterprise. The associations are then used by the application to facilitate the management of procurement-related content and the processing of procurement transactions. In one embodiment, the associations enable procurement-related content to be created/managed centrally by a procurement service provider and then made accessible to procurement clients serviced by the procurement service provider. In another embodiment, a rules-driven mechanism is provided for routing procurement requisitions from procurement clients to associated procurement service providers for processing.

Abstract: Particular embodiments provide for a user configurable purchase order template. A list of attributes for a purchase order template may be created and output to a user. The user may then select which attributes in the list are internal attributes or external attributes. After the purchase order document has been approved by the supplier and the purchaser, changes may be necessary. When a change is desired, the system determines if the changed attribute is an external attribute or an internal attribute. If the changed attribute is an external attribute, the external entity may be contacted for approving the change. After the external entity has approved the change, the purchase order may be amended. If the changed attribute is an internal attribute, the attribute may be changed without contacting the external entity. If the change is an internal change, then the purchase order may not be amended, but an internal change relating to the purchase order may be made.