US 11,783,250 B2
Systems, methods, and media for harmonizing procurement across distribution networks with heterogeneous product availability
William L. Avery, Jr., West Chicago, IL (US); James R. Grant, Menomonee Falls, WI (US); Andrew J. Novotny, Whitefish Bay, WI (US); and Natasha D. Tomasik, Milwaukee, WI (US)
Assigned to Direct Supply, Inc., Milwaukee, WI (US)
Filed by Direct Supply, Inc., Milwaukee, WI (US)
Filed on Feb. 21, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/676,485.
Application 17/676,485 is a continuation of application No. 15/931,814, filed on May 14, 2020, granted, now 11,282,010.
Application 15/931,814 is a continuation of application No. 16/279,690, filed on Feb. 19, 2019, granted, now 10,685,308, issued on Jun. 16, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0180278 A1, Jun. 9, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G06Q 10/00 (2023.01); G06N 20/00 (2019.01); H04L 67/00 (2022.01); G06Q 10/0631 (2023.01); H04L 67/10 (2022.01)
CPC G06Q 10/06315 (2013.01) [G06N 20/00 (2019.01); H04L 67/10 (2013.01)] 25 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for automatically generating order guides for a plurality of facilities associated with an organization, the method comprising:
receiving, using at least one processor, a set of login information associated with a user via an application program interface (API);
in response to receiving the set of login information, generating, using the at least one processor, a request for authentication data associated with the user, wherein the authentication data includes credentials stored in a unified database;
upon authentication, causing a user interface to be presented to the user;
receiving, via the user interface, a request to present items available in at least a first portion and a second portion of a distribution network that includes one or more distributors,
wherein the organization is associated with at least the first portion of the distribution network corresponding to a first geographic area and the second portion of the distribution network corresponding to a second geographic area that is different from the first geographic area, and
wherein a first facility of the plurality of facilities is located within the first portion of the distribution network and is not located within the second portion of the distribution network;
causing the user interface to present a plurality of selectable user interface elements, each of the plurality of selectable user interface elements corresponding to an item of a plurality of items available from at least one of the one or more distributors included in the distribution network;
receiving, via the user interface, a request to create a general order guide for the organization that is useable to create a plurality of facility order guides, each of the plurality of facility order guides corresponding to a respective facility of the plurality of facilities associated with the organization, such that each of the plurality of facility order guides includes a plurality of items available in a portion of the distribution network in which the respective facility is located;
receiving, via the user interface, a request to add a first item that is available from at least one of the one or more distributors to the general order guide, the request to add the first item generated in response to selection of a first selectable user interface element associated with the first item;
receiving, via the user interface, a request to associate the general order guide with the plurality of facilities;
identifying at least one potential substitute for the first item,
wherein the at least one potential substitute includes a second item;
determining that the second item is available in the distribution network;
adding the second item to the general order guide;
receiving a request to generate the plurality of facility order guides based on the general order guide,
wherein each facility order guide of the plurality of facility order guides is to include items from the general order guide that are available in a portion of the distribution network associated with the respective facility;
automatically selecting the second item for inclusion in a first facility order guide;
causing the first facility order guide to be associated with the first facility for use when creating an order for one or more items to be delivered to the first facility via the distribution network; and
providing the first facility order guide to a procurement system, the procurement system configured to:
use the first facility order guide to populate a procurement system user interface that facilitates generation of an order by a user associated with the first facility such that the order includes items from the first facility order guide, and
place the order with the one or more distributors.