Procurement information access via electronic mail

1 . A procurement information system, comprising:

a database configured to store information;

an electronic mail interface configured to receive a first information request over a communication link, and to transfer over the communication link first retrieved information relating to the first information request; and

a processor configured to process the first information request to determine the first retrieved information, and to retrieve the first retrieved information from the database;

wherein the first information request comprises a price quote request for a first item unavailable for shipment at the time the first information request is received, and

wherein the first retrieved information comprises a price quote for a second item available for shipment at the time the first information request is received.

2 . The procurement information system of claim 1 , wherein a first electronic mail message comprises the first information request in plain-text format.

3 . The procurement information system of claim 1 , wherein a second electronic mail message comprises the first retrieved information in plain-text format, rich-text format, or hypertext transfer protocol.

4 . The procurement information system of claim 1 , wherein:

the electronic mail interface is further configured to receive a second information request over the communication link, and to transfer over the communication link second retrieved information relating to the second information request; and

wherein the processor is configured to process the second information request to determine the second retrieved information, and to retrieve the second retrieved information from the database.

5 . The procurement information system of claim 4 , wherein the processor is further configured to recognize within the second information request a partial part number for a third item.

6 . The procurement information system of claim 4 , wherein the second information request comprises a product information request for a third item.

7 . The procurement information system of claim 6 , wherein the second retrieved information comprises at least one of a photograph, computer-aided design information, a product data sheet, and a product review for the third item.

8 . The procurement information system of claim 6 , wherein the second retrieved information comprises at least one of a photograph, computer-aided design information, a product data sheet, and a product review for a substitute of the third item.

9 . The procurement information system of claim 4 , wherein the second information request comprises a product information request for an item category.

10 . The procurement information system of claim 9 , wherein the second retrieved information comprises a list of item numbers associated with the item category.

11 . The procurement information system of claim 4 , wherein the second information request comprises a price quote request for a third item.

12 . The procurement information system of claim 11 , wherein the second retrieved information comprises at least one of a part number, a brief description, a list price, a net price, a quantity in stock, a lead time, a time and date stamp, and an expiration date for the third item.

13 . The procurement information system of claim 11 , wherein the second retrieved information comprises at least one of a part number, a brief description, a list price, a net price, a quantity in stock, a lead time, a time and date stamp, and an expiration date for a substitute of the third item.

14 . The procurement information system of claim 13 , wherein the substitute of the third item is in stock.

15 . The procurement information system of claim 4 , wherein the second information request comprises a purchase order for a third item.

16 . The procurement information system of claim 15 , wherein the processor is further configured to place the purchase order in the database.

17 . The procurement information system of claim 15 , wherein the second retrieved information comprises an acknowledgement of the purchase order, the acknowledgement comprising at least one of a purchase order number, a customer number, a net monetary amount, and a shipping date for the third item.

18 . The procurement information system of claim 4 , wherein the second information request comprises a status request for a purchase order for a third item.

19 . The procurement information system of claim 18 , wherein the second retrieved information comprises an internal order number, a point-of-sale number, an item code for the third item, a purchased quantity of the third item, a shipped quantity of the third item, a backordered quantity of the third item, a scheduled ship date, an actual ship date, a net monetary amount, and a shipment tracking number.

20 . The procurement information system of claim 19 , wherein the shipment tracking number comprises a link to a webpage of a carrier.

21 . A method of providing procurement information, comprising:

receiving over a communication link a first electronic mail message comprising a first information request;

processing the first information request to determine first retrieved information;

retrieving the first retrieved information from a database; and

transferring over the communication link a second electronic mail message comprising the first retrieved information;

wherein the first information request comprises a price quote request for a first item unavailable for shipment when the first information request is received, and

wherein the first retrieved information comprises a price quote for a second item available for shipment when the first information request is received.

22 . The method of claim 21 , wherein first information request is presented in plain-text format in the first electronic mail message.

23 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the first retrieved information is presented in plain-text format, rich-text format, or hypertext transfer protocol in the second electronic mail message.

24 . The method of claim 21 , further comprising:

receiving over the communication link a third electronic mail message comprising a second information request;

processing the second information request to determine second retrieved information;

retrieving the second retrieved information from the database; and

transferring over the communication link a fourth electronic mail message comprising the second retrieved information.

25 . The method of claim 24 , wherein processing the second information request comprises recognizing a partial part number for a third item.

26 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the second information request comprises a product information request for a third item.

27 . The method of claim 26 , wherein the second retrieved information comprises at least one of a photograph, computer-aided design information, a product data sheet and a product review for the third item.

28 . The method of claim 26 , wherein the second retrieved information comprises at least one of a photograph, computer-aided design information, a product data sheet, and a product review for a substitute of the third item.

29 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the second information request comprises a product information request for an item category.

30 . The method of claim 29 , wherein the second retrieved information comprises a list of item numbers associated with the item category.

31 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the second information request comprises a price quote request for a third item.

32 . The method of claim 31 , wherein the second retrieved information comprises at least one of a part number, a brief description, a list price, a net price, a quantity in stock, a lead time, a time and date stamp, and an expiration date for the third item.

33 . The method of claim 31 , wherein the second retrieved information comprises at least one of a part number, a brief description, a list price, a net price, a quantity in stock, a lead time, a time and date stamp, and an expiration date for a substitute of the third item.

34 . The method of claim 33 , wherein the substitute of the third item is in stock.

35 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the second information request comprises a purchase order for a third item.

36 . The method of claim 35 , further comprising placing the purchase order in the database.

37 . The method of claim 35 , wherein the second retrieved information comprises an acknowledgement of the purchase order, the acknowledgement comprising at least one of a purchase order number, a customer number, a net monetary amount, and a shipping date for the third item.

38 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the second information request comprises a status request for a purchase order for a third item.

39 . The method of claim 38 , wherein the second retrieved information comprises an internal order number, a point-of-sale number, an item code for the third item, a purchased quantity of the third item, a shipped quantity of the third item, a backordered quantity of the third item, a scheduled ship date, an actual ship date, a net monetary amount, and a shipment tracking number.

40 . The method of claim 39 , wherein the shipment tracking number comprises a link to a webpage of a carrier.

41 . A procurement information system, comprising:

means for storing information;

means for receiving an information request over a communication link;

means for processing the information request to determine retrieved information;

means for retrieving the retrieved information from a database; and

means for transferring over the communication link the retrieved information;

wherein the information request comprises a request for a price quote for a first item unavailable for shipment at the time the information request is received, and

wherein the retrieved information comprises a price quote for a second item available for shipment at the time the information request is received.