Increased visibility during order management in a network-based supply chain environment

A system for a first business entity to provide a network-based supply chain framework for collaborative order management between at least a second and a third independent business entity, such as a service provider, vendor, reseller, manufacturer and the like, comprising:

• (a) circuit logic for receiving over a network, with an automated system, a request for an order from at least the second business entity;
• (b) circuit logic for transmitting over a network, with an automated system, an order to at least the third business entity;
• (c) circuit logic for using a network to receive information from the third business entity relating to a status of completion of the order by the third business entity;
• (d) circuit logic for tracking the progress in completing the order based on the information received from the third business entity;
• (e) circuit logic for generating periodic progress reports from the tracking;
• and
• (f) circuit logic for transmitting the periodic progress reports to the second business entity using the network.

A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium for a first business entity to provide a network-based supply chain framework for collaborative order management between at least a second and a third independent business entity, such as a service provider, vendor, reseller, manufacturer and the like, comprising:

• (a) code segment for receiving over a network, with an automated system, a request for an order from at least the second business entity;
• (b) code segment for transmitting over a network, with an automated system, an order to at least the third business entity;
• (c) code segment for using a network to receive information from the third business entity relating to a status of completion of the order by the third business entity;
• (d) code segment for tracking the progress in completing the order based on the information received from the third business entity;
• (e) code segment for generating periodic progress reports from the tracking;
• and
• (f) code segment for transmitting the periodic progress reports to the second business entity using the network.