Architectural design for ad-hoc goods movement software

A system, comprising:

• a computer system comprising at least one hardware platform for executing computer instructions, the computer instructions structured as a plurality of process components interacting with each other through service interfaces, each hardware platform including at least one processor for executing the computer instructions;
• memory storing a plurality of process components executable by the respective processor of the particular hardware platform, each of the process components comprising a modular and application-independent package of reusable granular software implementing a respective and distinct business process, the business processes comprising functionality exposed by the process component via at least one service interface, the plurality of process components including:
• an inventory processing process component that handles the management of inventory and the recording of inventory changes;
• a site logistics processing process component that handles the preparation, physical execution, and confirmation of logistics processes within a site;
• a supply and demand matching process component that handles the management of the tasks performed to ensure that sufficient material receipt elements exist to cover material demand while taking available capacity into account;
• and
• an accounting process component that records relevant business transactions for valuation and profitability analysis;
• and
• the memory further storing a plurality of service operations, each service operation being implemented for exactly one process component, the operations comprising inbound and outbound operations, the outbound operation for a first process component being operable to send a message to a second process component of the plurality of process components, the second process component having an inbound operation for receiving the message, the sending and receiving of messages between an inbound and an outbound operation defining a message-based pair-wise interaction between the respective process components of the respective operations, the pair-wise interactions between pairs of the process components including interactions between:
• the inventory processing process component and the supply and demand matching process component, where the pair-wise interaction between the inventory processing process component and the supply and demand matching process component includes transmission of:
• a logistics confirmation inventory change notification message from the inventory processing process component to the supply and demand matching process component, the logistics confirmation inventory change notification message comprising a request to notify supply and demand matching of an inventory change associated with the inventory processing process component, and
• a planning view of inventory reconciliation notification message from the inventory processing process component to the supply and demand matching process component, the planning view of inventory reconciliation notification message comprising a request to notify supply and demand matching of a reconciliation of inventory quantities aggregated on a material or supply planning level;
• the inventory processing process component and the accounting process component, where the pair-wise interaction between the inventory process component and the accounting process component includes the transmission of:
• an inventory change and activity confirmation accounting notification message from the inventory process component to the accounting process component, the inventory change and activity confirmation accounting notification message comprising a request to notify accounting of an inventory change associated with the inventory process component;
• and
• an inventory change and activity confirmation accounting cancellation request message from the inventory process component to the accounting process component, the inventory change and activity confirmation accounting cancellation request message comprising a request to cancel at least one request received from the inventory process component;
• the site logistics processing process component and the site logistics processing process component;
• the site logistics processing process component and the supply and demand marketing process component, where the pair-wise interaction between the site logistics processing process component and the supply and demand matching process component includes transmission of:
• a logistics confirmation inventory change notification message from the site logistics processing process component to the supply and demand matching process component, the logistics confirmation inventory change notification message comprising a request to notify supply and demand matching of an inventory change associated with the site logistics processing process component;
• and
• the site logistics processing process component and the accounting process component, where the pair-wise interaction between the site logistics process component and the accounting process component includes the transmission of:
• an inventory change and activity confirmation accounting notification message from the site logistics process component to the accounting process component, the inventory change and activity confirmation accounting notification message comprising a request to notify accounting of an inventory change associated with the site logistics process component;
• and
• an inventory change and activity confirmation accounting cancellation request message from the site logistics process component to the accounting process component, the inventory change and activity confirmation accounting cancellation request message comprising a request to cancel at least one request received from the site logistics process component.