Methods and systems for auto expanding vendor selection

A computer implement method comprising:

• storing, by at least one processor, a database in a storage medium comprising a plurality of vendors, each of the plurality of vendors characterized by one or more vendor characteristics;
• associating, by the least one processor, a requested product or service with a plurality of order characteristics;
• comparing, by the least one processor, the one or more vendor characteristics for each of the plurality of vendors with the plurality of order characteristics;
• filtering, by the least one processor, the plurality of vendors to yield a set of viable vendors according to the comparison;
• ranking, by the least one processor, the set of viable vendors according to the extent to which the plurality of order characteristics is matched with the one or more vendor characteristics;
• selecting, by the least one processor, a first predetermined number of the plurality of vendors comprising the set of viable vendors according to the ranking to yield a first preferred vendor set;
• simultaneously transmitting, by the least one processor, to each of the plurality of vendors in the first preferred vendor set an order request identifying the requested product or service;
• determining, by the least one processor, whether at least one of the plurality of vendors comprising the first preferred vendor set accepts the order request within a first predetermined time period;
• upon a determination that at least one of the plurality of vendors comprising the first preferred vendor set accepts the order request within a first predetermined time period, facilitating, by the least one processor, completion of the order request with the first in time of the at least one of the plurality of vendors to accept the order request.