Method and system for matching complex customer requirements with provider solutions

An electronic exchange for providing an information technology (IT) solution, comprising:

• a matching system for matching IT requirements with a set of candidate IT components that are able to provide the IT solution;
• a supplier exchange system for interfacing with suppliers of the set of candidate IT components;
• and
• an exchange catalog for storing information relating to available IT components, including supplier information.

A computerized method for forming an integrated solution to meet a set of requirements for a system, comprising:

• providing a database of solution components, wherein the solution components are associated with supplier data that details at least one supplier capable of supplying each solution component;
• matching the set of system requirements with a set of candidate components that can form the integrated solution by interrogating the database of solution components;
• identifying suppliers of the set of candidate components by examining the supplier data associated with the set of candidate components;
• and
• interfacing with suppliers of the set of candidate components via a network interface;
• and
• selecting a final set of components to form the integrated solution.

A computerized method for forming an integrated solution to meet a set of requirements for a system, comprising:

• providing an electronic exchange that allows entities to communicate over a common platform;
• receiving a request for information (RFI) from a user to the electronic exchange;
• posting the RFI to participating suppliers;
• receiving responses at the electronic exchange from interested suppliers;
• forwarding the responses to the user;
• facilitating additional communications as necessary between the user and the interested suppliers to expedite the identification of candidate components that can fulfill at least one system requirement.

A computerized method for forming an integrated solution to meet a set of requirements for a system, comprising:

• providing an electronic exchange that allows entities to communicate over a common platform;
• receiving at least one solution component from a user to the electronic exchange;
• posting the at least one solution component to participating suppliers;
• receiving responses at the electronic exchange from interested suppliers;
• forwarding the responses to the user;
• facilitating additional communications as necessary between the user and the interested suppliers to obtain the at least one solution component.