# US 2014/0207516 A1 · Methods and Apparatus for Procurement > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0207516 A1 - Document ID: US20140207516A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/970,697 - Filed: 2013-08-20 - Published: 2014-07-24 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-21 - Assignees: International Business Machines Corporation - Applicants: International Business Machines Corporation - Inventors: Pawan R. Chowdhary; Youssef Drissi; Kaan K. Katircioglu; Scott W. Pollyea - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140207516A1 ## CPC - G06Q 10/06315: {Needs-based resource requirements planning or analysis} - G06Q 30/0201: Market modelling; Market analysis; Collecting market data - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract Systems and techniques for procurement of equipment and services are disclosed. Data is collected relating to operations of an organization and the information is made accessible to vendors who may supply goods and services for carrying out the operations. The collected data may include information relating to inputs of the operations, size, shape, and weight of objects handled in the operations, actual and desired throughput, energy use, waste, and other data. Data may be anonymized before being made accessible to vendors, and proposals made by vendors in response to data from a particular organization may be directed to the organization from which the data is collected. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: collecting data relating to carrying out an operation, wherein data is collected relating to at least one of inputs to and results of the operation, material usage of the operation, and waste produced by the operation; and making the collected data accessible to one or more vendors providing at least one of products and services relating to carrying out the operation. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising assembling data into at least two groups, wherein each of the groups is associated with an aspect of the operation. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the groups comprise at least one of data associated with supply chain management, data associated with product production, data associated with handling of goods, and data associated with transportation. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the collected data comprises data relating to energy usage in the operation. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the collected data comprises data relating to carbon dioxide production in the operation. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the collected data comprises data relating to characteristics of goods handled in the operation. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the collected data comprises data relating to at least one of weight, shape, and size of goods handled in the operation. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein making the collected data accessible comprises directing the data to at least one vendor. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein making the collected data accessible comprises separating the data from identification of an entity collecting the data. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein making the collected data accessible comprises storing the data using a data service protecting identity information of an entity furnishing the data. ### Claim 11 A method comprising: storing data collected from a plurality of organizations, data from each organization relating to carrying out at least one operation of the organization, wherein the data further relates to at least one of inputs to and results of the operation, material usage of the operation, and waste produced by the operation; separating the collected data relating to carrying out the at least one operation of the organization from identifying data identifying the organization; and making the collected data accessible to one or more vendors providing at least one of products and services relating to carrying out the operation. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein making the collected data accessible comprises storing the collected data in a publicly accessible repository. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising, upon receiving proposal information from a vendor relating to data collected from an organization, associating the collected data with the organization from which the data was collected and forwarding the proposal information to the organization. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein making the collected data accessible comprises associating the collected data from each organization with an anonymous identifier. ### Claim 15 A method comprising: collecting data relating to carrying out an operation, wherein data is collected relating to inputs to and outputs of the operation, energy usage of the operation, and carbon dioxide production of the operation, wherein the collected data comprises data relating to characteristics of goods handled in the operation, and wherein data relating to the characteristics of goods comprise data relating to at least one of weight, shape, and size of goods handled in the operation; assembling data into at least two groups, wherein each of the groups is associated with an aspect of the operation, and wherein the groups comprise at least one of data associated with supply chain management, data associated with product production, data associated with handling of goods, and data associated with transportation; and making the collected data accessible to at least one vendor providing at least one of products and services relating to carrying out the operation. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising receiving vendor information from the at least one vendor, wherein the vendor information recommends at least one of products and services for carrying out the operation, and wherein the recommendation is based on analysis by the at least one vendor of the collected data made accessible to the vendor. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the vendor information comprises at least one recommendation directed to improving efficiency of the operation. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the vendor information comprises at least one recommendation directed to reducing energy usage in the operation. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the vendor information comprises at least one recommendation directed to reducing waste produced by the operation. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein the vendor information comprises at least one recommendation directed to reducing carbon dioxide produced in the operation.