FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to the field of business management software systems, and more particularly, to systems and methods for providing procurement solutions for the products for a given enterprise.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In many enterprises, an employee can purchase products through the procurement infrastructure offered by the enterprise. The number of products offered through the procurement services of the enterprise may be extremely large. In order to manage all these effectively, all the products often are classified in certain categories, like Products and Services. In this way, both the employees and the procurement department of the enterprise can manage the products lists more efficiently.
But problems may occur when someone purchases a product that is not listed nor interlinked in any of the previously mentioned categories. In this case the employee needs to add the category by himself. Most of the time, this is difficult and complicated, since the number of categories of products may be large and the difference between some of them may not be obvious. Then the employee may assign or link the product to the wrong category or even not assign or link it to any of them. This leads to a delays in processes in the hierarchical structure of the product categories. Even in the case where the user assigns a product to the correct category, it may take too long to navigate through the whole list and decide the corresponding category. In other cases,

to alleviate the issue, the system defaults the category to Miscellaneous resulting in a large spend being categorized in the miscellaneous bucket or incorrectly classified due to human error.
At present the procurement related software available in the market includes contract management solutions, electronic auctions, eProcurement, supplier management, spend management, financial management) there are various procurement objects related to each such procurement software for e.g. contracts as procurement object stored and core aspect of contract management software, then for eProcurement the procurement objects would be invoices, purchase orders, requisition, GRN etc., for electronic auctions the procurement objects would be sourcing event RFQ, bids etc.
However, the challenge is that if any information about any procurement object is required for any particular software while the user is using some other software then the user has to log in in that particular software and then see the info, for e.g. if a user using contract management then hewill have info about contracts but if he want to know how many purchase orders and invoices have been raised against that contract he cannot link that info while the user in contract management, have to login separately into eProcurement software to fetch the information about invoices and purchase order related to that contract, this is a real challenge in the field of procurement software and the users of procurement software really needs interconnected info from various tools.
Thus there exists a need to have a computer implemented system and method to overcome alleviate the drawbacks disclosed above.

OBJECT OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
The main object of the present invention is to provide a computer implemented system and method particularly the linking feature for the users, to remove the boundaries between the listed products and provide user a single Source-to-Pay Suite experience to manage their procurement related activity cycles seamlessly.
It is yet another object of the present invention is provide a computer implemented system and method wherein a framework which removes the need for a user to switch between the various products and manually browse to find actionable information by introducing a single webpage based, customizable and personalizable card based interface to manage all the activities available from the given list of the products.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a computer implemented system and method providing aheader that houses a drillable suite menu to reach to the most granular webpages in the suite, a Suite level intelligent search, a Suite wide common help center and suite level activity notifications. This simplifies the way the user looks out for information and navigate into and out of the given listed products.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a computer implemented system and method wherein the home page groups and docks list of activities in a card based widget framework enabling the users to have one click access to all their procurement related activities.
It is an important object of the present invention to a computer implemented system and method wherein a suite user is able to manage all their Sourcing events, Suppliers, Requisitions,

Invoices, and Projects etc. from one single web page. In addition to this the Linking, Sharing, Social Forumhelps the users to have an integrated view of the entire procurement cycle with platform to share ideas and effectively collaborate with all stakeholders.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the following specification and appended claims. There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A further understanding of the nature and advantages of particular embodiments may be realized by reference to the remaining portions of the specification and the drawings, in which like reference numerals are used to refer to similar components. In some instances, a sub-label is associated with a reference numeral to denote one of multiple similar components. When reference is made to a reference numeral without specification to an existing sub-label, it is intended to refer to all such multiple similar components.

Figure 1 is a screen shot of Linking notifications panel which is a component of the right hand side Connect Panel on the home page of the procurement suite according to an exemplary embodimentof the present invention.
Figure 2 is a screen shot oflinking notifications panelwherein the user gets to see all linking activity notifications on this panel in the form of a list and the linking notification is pushed to the user only if the user is a stakeholder in any one of the procurement object part of the linking activityaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 3 is a screen shot of linking notification panel wherein user can link two procurement objects by clicking on 'New Link' button on the header of linking notification Panel according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 4 is a screen shot of linking notification panel wherein the user gets to choose two procurement objects that the user wants to link each other from a pop up according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 5 is a screen shot of linking notification panel wherein When the user navigates to view a Procurement Object, he/she gets to see all the procurement objects linked to it, in a panel called 'Linked Procurement Objects' according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. This is a context sensitive panel that can be collapsed. This panel understands the context (i.e., which procurement object is currently being viewed by the user) and automatically renders the associated linked procurement objects.
Figure 6 is a screen shot of linking notification panel wherein the user will be able to link, more procurement objects to the procurement object currently being viewed by clicking on "Link

More". The user can navigate to the linked procurement objects by clicking on the links that would lead to them according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 7 is a screen shot of linking notification panel wherein the user also link a procurement object from a Home Page Card or from a Listing Page by clicking on 'Link' action on a procurement object Tile according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The detailed description set forth below is intended as a description of various embodiments of the present invention and is not intended to represent the only embodiments in which the present invention may be practiced. Each embodiment described in this disclosure is provided merely as an example or illustration of the present invention, and should not necessarily be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. The detailed description includes specific details for the purpose of providing a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details.
In accordance to the present embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a computer implemented system and a method for organic and inorganic linking of any procurement object such assourcing event, purchase order, contract, spend reportof the procurement software suite with similar or any another procurement object such assourcing event, purchase order, contract, spend report, facilitating easy flow of information from one procurement object to another and

for quick access to linked objects from a procurement object, with highly user friendly interface and sending the notification of the linking activity with its relevant activity information to the stakeholders of the respective procurement objects of the procurement software suite in the activity.
In an exemplary embodiment, as the sourcing projects happen with multiple individuals and multiple teams working together with the help of a procurement suite to help them manage various blocks of information and actions. Linking feature helps a user to interlink these activities in order to track them back for quick reference, for meaningful decision making.
In an exemplary embodiment, the spend analysts identify savings opportunities using iAnalyze, the sourcing managers organize and manage RFQs and auctions to invite competitive bids using iSource and a contract manager works with the legal to negotiate the winning vendors into a commercial contract through iContract. The purchase managers later over several years of contract manage the Requests, POs and Invoices to properly utilize the contractual terms. Therefore, it becomes difficult for a contract manager to trace back the spend report from which the savings opportunities were identified and to trace all Invoices that has led to utilization of the Contract.
In an exemplary embodiment, linking helps the user to bundle organically and also manually all these procurement objects so as to make it easy to track, access and consume related information. The user can link the Spend Report with the RFQ event, the Contract, all related PRs, POs and Invoices. And when the user opens any one of these Objects say Contract the user can see links to Spend Report, RFQ event, all related PRs, POs and Invoices available on the same webpage in a collapsible panel. Making it easy for the user to navigate to these objects with just one click.

In an exemplary embodiment, linking notifications panel is a component of the right hand side connect panel on the home page of the procurement suite.The user gets to see all linking activity notifications on this panel in the form of a list.The linking notification is pushed to the user only if the user is a stakeholder in any one of the procurement object part of the linking activity.Stakeholder examples are: Event owner of a sourcing event, contract author of a contract, Approver of a purchase order etc. The company admin can customize and roll out the visibility of a linking activity to its users using a Linking admin panel. The user gets to see latest three notifications on his/her home page on this panel. To see more & history of linking notifications, he/she can click view all and navigate to a new webpage where all the listing notifications are displayed in a Timeline format.
In an exemplary embodiment, linking is done based on mapping of ids of related procurement objects. User can link two procurement objects by clicking on 'New Link' button on the header of linking notification Panel.The user gets to choose two procurement objects that the user wants to link each other from a pop up.The user gets to search for the intended procurement objects from the pop up or browse and select them using a list.When the user navigates to view a procurement object, he/she gets to see all the procurement objects linked to it, in a panel called 'Linked Procurement Objects'.This is a context sensitive panel that can be collapsed. This panel understands the context (i.e., which procurement object is currently being viewed by the user) and automatically renders the associated linked procurement objects.The user will be able to link more procurement objects to the procurement object currently being viewed by clicking on "Link

More".The user can navigate to the linked procurement objects by clicking on the links that would lead to them.The user can also link a procurement object from a Home Page Card or from a Listing Page by clicking on 'Link' action on a procurement object Tile.
While certain features and aspects have been described with respect to exemplary embodiments, one skilled in the art will recognize that numerous modifications are possible. Merely by way of example, which is hereby incorporated by reference, describes several additional embodiments in further detail. As noted above, however, the details described with respect to any particular embodiment should not be considered essential to all embodiments or limiting in any way.
The methods and processes described herein may be implemented using hardware components, software components, and/or any combination thereof Further, while various methods and processes described herein may be described with respect to particular structural and/or functional components for ease of description, methods provided by various embodiments are not limited to any particular structural and/or functional architecture but instead can be implemented on any suitable hardware, firmware and/or software configuration. Similarly, while various functionality is ascribed to certain system components, unless the context dictates otherwise, this functionality can be distributed among various other system components in accordance with the several embodiments.
Moreover, while the procedures of the methods and processes described herein are described in a particular order for ease of description, unless the context dictates otherwise, various procedures may be reordered, added, and/or omitted in accordance with various embodiments. Moreover, the procedures described with respect to one method or process may be incorporated within other

described methods or processes; likewise, system components described according to a particular structure and/or with respect to one system may be organized in alternative structure and/or incorporated within other described systems. Hence, while various embodiments are described with—or without—certain features for ease of description and to illustrate exemplary aspects of those embodiments, the various components and/or features described herein with respect to a particular embodiment can be substituted, added and/or subtracted from among other described embodiments, unless the context dictates otherwise. Consequently, although several exemplary embodiments are described above, it will be appreciated that the invention is intended to cover all modifications and equivalents within the scope of the following claims.

CLAIM:
1. A computer implemented system and method for organic and inorganic linking of any procurement object such as sourcing event, purchase order, contract and spend report of the procurement software suite; with similar or any another procurement object such as sourcing event, purchase order, contract and spend report, facilitating easy flow of information from one procurement object to another and for quick access to linked objects from a procurement object, UI and sending the notification of the linking activity with its relevant activity information to the stakeholders of the respective procurement objects of the procurement software suite in the activity;
2. A system and method as claimed in claim 1 wherein, said linking enables user to interlink these activities in order to track them back for quick reference, for meaningful decision making;
3. A system and method as claimed in claim 1 wherein, said linking helps enables user to bundle organically and also manually all these procurement objects so as to make it easy to track, access and consume related information;
4. A system and method as claimed in claim 1 wherein, user links the spend report with the RFQ event, the contract, all related PRs, POs and Invoices wherein the user opens any one of these objects such as contract, the user access links to spend report, RFQ event, all related PRs, POs and Invoices available on the same webpage in a collapsible panel;
5. A system and method as claimed in claim 1 wherein, linking is done based on mapping of ids of related procurement objects, user links two procurement objects by clicking on

'New Link' button on the header of linking notification panel thereby the user gets to choose two procurement objects that the user wants to link each other from a pop up.
6. A system and method as claimed in claim 1 wherein, said user gets to search for the intended procurement objects from the pop up or browse and select them using a list, when the user navigates to view a procurement object, he/she gets to see all the procurement objects linked to it, in a panel called 'Linked Procurement Objects;