A business method and system that effectuates collaboration on Customer
Pick-UP (CPU) between one or many buyers (customers) and sellers
(suppliers) in a supply community. The method and system have particular
utility in markets where the standard terms of sale are Destination
Delivered. The method and system enables sellers to create, configure and
maintain seller-specific CPU programs having at least one strategy option
and at least one CPU allowance unit rate structure option which can be
contemporaneously accessed by buyers to identify potential CPU
opportunities and then submit a CPU proposal/request, each based on a
single CPU strategy option, to one or more sellers, wherein the CPU
proposal/request is a collaboration invitation, a supply bid or a request
for a lane allowance quotation structured to facilitate structured to
facilitate the agreement of a mutually acceptable CPU allowance unit rate
consistent with the selected CPU strategy option. The system includes an
internet-based program tool within which the seller can specify the rules
used to select the most appropriate CPU allowance unit rate structure
option for calculating the CPU shipment allowance and the seller can
utilize a gainshare module to pay the buyer the agreed CPU allowance for
any CPU shipments.