System and method for effectuating the creation and management of customer pick-up/backhaul programs between buyers and sellers in a supply community

摘要

A business method and system that effectuates collaboration on Customer Pick-UP (CPU) between one or many buyers (customers) and sellers (suppliers) in a supply community. The method and system have particular utility in markets where the standard terms of sale are Destination Delivered. The method and system enables sellers to create, configure and maintain seller-specific CPU programs having at least one strategy option and at least one CPU allowance unit rate structure option which can be contemporaneously accessed by buyers to identify potential CPU opportunities and then submit a CPU proposal/request, each based on a single CPU strategy option, to one or more sellers, wherein the CPU proposal/request is a collaboration invitation, a supply bid or a request for a lane allowance quotation structured to facilitate structured to facilitate the agreement of a mutually acceptable CPU allowance unit rate consistent with the selected CPU strategy option. The system includes an internet-based program tool within which the seller can specify the rules used to select the most appropriate CPU allowance unit rate structure option for calculating the CPU shipment allowance and the seller can utilize a gainshare module to pay the buyer the agreed CPU allowance for any CPU shipments.