System and method for automating invoice processing with positive confirmation

A computer implemented method for generating a goods receipt for approving and paying an invoice for commodities triggered by a three way match whereby said invoice must match terms and conditions of a purchase order, and goods received must match those stated in quality and quantity against said purchase order, said method comprising the steps of:

• receiving, by a front end server from a requestor, a purchase request for goods, said goods having a designation denoting that the goods are receivable which requires a positive confirmation from the requestor to provide authorization to pay for the goods, said designation being stored in the front end server, an invoice processing system comprising the front end server, an application server and a back end server, said back end server coupled to the front end server via the application server, said front end server comprising a positive confirmation application and a database, said application server comprising a positive confirmation bridge;
• sending, by the front end server to the back end server, a requisition comprising requirements relating to the received purchase request and including the designation;
• generating, by the back end server in response to receiving the requisition sent by the front end server, said purchase order based on the requisition;
• said back end server transmitting or delivering the purchase order to a vendor that can provide the requested goods;
• after said transmitting or delivering the purchase order to the vendor, said application server receiving an invoice from the vendor, said invoice referencing the purchase order and requesting payment for the goods;
• after said application server receiving the invoice from the vendor, said positive confirmation bridge marking the invoice to indicate that said positive confirmation is required;
• after said positive confirmation bridge marking the invoice, said back end server receiving the invoice from the application server;
• responsive to said back end server receiving the invoice from the positive confirmation bridge, said back end server communicating transaction information pertaining to the invoice to the front end server;
• after said communicating transaction information, said positive confirmation application providing notice to the requestor that the invoice has been received and that the invoice includes the required positive confirmation;
• after said providing notice to the requestor, said front end server receiving a response from the requestor for authorizing or rejecting payment for the goods;
• if the received response is for authorizing payment, then creating an automated receipt transaction file including a goods receipt and entering said transaction file into an enterprise resource planning system for payment;
• and
• if the received response is for rejecting payment, then creating an e-mail notification to an accounts payable system for returning said invoice to said vendor.