An automatic system and method optimizes the purchasing of goods and
services by a buyer. A request for a quote for goods or services required
is received from a buyer. This request is processed and dealers are
selected based on the criteria of the buyer and other criteria. The
selected dealers are then sent the request for goods and services and
quotes are solicited. Quotes from the selected dealers, for the goods or
services, are then receivable within a predetermined time period.
Thereafter, the received quotes of the providers of the goods or services
are ranked. The ranking and the report of the providers are then
outpribed in steps S.sub.2 and S.sub.3 of FIG. 2.