Method and computer program for the acquisition of capital equipment using web-based purchase pooling

摘要

A method, computer program and system are provided for the acquisition of capital equipment using web-based purchase pooling including storing a default specification for capital equipment in a database, assigning a plurality of potential buyers to a purchasing pool, providing access to the default specification via a web-based system in communication with the database to the plurality of potential buyers using client devices over a network, receiving by the web-based system a plurality of customized specifications based on the default specification from one or more of the plurality of potential buyers via the client devices, determining by the web-based system common portions and non-common portions of the plurality of customized specifications based on a comparison of the plurality of customized specifications, selecting at least one of the non-common portions, and providing a request for proposal to at least one potential seller of capital equipment. The default specification is associated with the purchasing pool. The plurality of customized specifications are stored in the database. The request for proposal includes the common portions and the selected non-common portions.