System and method for ordering items using a electronic catalog via the internet

[0034]FIG. 2 depicts a world wide procurement system 200 including a System Applications Product (“SAP”) processing engine 250 which is the existing purchasing engine used to electronically receive product requests—Requisitions—and automatically generate Purchase Orders (POs) for electronic delivery to a supplier / vendor 299 of the requested product. As shown in FIG. 2, a variety of internal / external systems interface with the SAP purchasing engine 250. One system includes a browser enabled computing system 220, running a global procurement application 225, hereinafter referred to as “Req / Cat” which is a web-based system that enables users / customers to generate on-line, general procurement Requisitions for input to the SAP beyond a firewall 275. Particularly, customers may search through supplier Catalogs 240 to select items and fill in order information. Submitted requisitions may be routed through an approval process 245 using FormWave™ which is a commercially available produc