AN ONLINE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

摘要

Provided is an online distribution system (10) for making online purchasing and/or reserving inventory items from suppliers. The system comprises a database which contains relevant data of inventory items allocated by the suppliers and packaging components associated with any of the inventory items, and a computer server (14) in communication with user communications terminals (12) and supplier communications terminals (13) over a communications network (18). The computer server has an online inventory allocation arrangement (20) for the suppliers to access it using a supplier communications terminal (13) to provide relevant inventory data (22 - 30, 44 - 46) for each inventory item to be allocated for distribution for transfer to the database, and an extrapolation arrangement (56) for the suppliers to selectively associate any of the package components (32 - 42) with any of the inventory items for distribution. The online inventory allocation arrangement further has a set up procedure for the at least one supplier to set up allocations of inventory items and any associated package components. The set up procedure includes a set up interface for the at least one supplier to enter the relevant data of the inventory items and any associated package components for allocations, and an extension procedure for extending the relevant data of a relatively small number of inventory items and any associated package components into allocations for a relatively large range of corresponding inventory items. The computer server is arranged to provide an item search page (62) on a user communications terminal in communication therewith for a user to enter one or more search parameters and to generate a list containing an item or items matching the search parameter(s) and where applicable, packaged with associated component(s).