A system and method (100, 310, 510) of inventory tracking and custom
ordering over a computer network (316). The system includes a multimedia
user interface (318) delivered over the computer network to a user, and a
configuration and pricing database (324) storing product pricing data
according to user-entered product configuration. An inventory database
(322) stores product availability data in inventory of retail sales
facilities, in-transit from product manufacturing facilities to the
retail sales facilities, in-plant at the product manufacturing
facilities, and on a ordering bank at the product manufacturing
facilities. The user is able to search, via the multimedia user interface
(318), the inventory database (322) for the user-entered product
configuration and receive pricing data and product availability data. A
sales processor (332) is operable to receive, via the multimedia user
interface (318), user reservation of an available product determined by
the search. An order processor (352) is operable to receive, via the
multimedia user interface, a custom order for a product not available in
inventory from the user. A status processor (354) also provides the user
product availability status report.