Automated Vendor Selection Technology is integral to e-commerce
AVS Technology® is the basic procedural component of any automated solution for buying custom goods and services that must be defined by production or performance specifications at the time of purchase. It includes the following steps:

• ENTER vendor attributes
• ENTER project specifications
• MATCH vendor attributes to project specifications to determine sub-set of qualified vendors
• SEND project specifications to sub-set of qualified vendors
• RECEIVE a bid response from at least one vendor

When these steps are applied using a computer-operated system, a unique competitive bidding environment can be established where vendors of custom goods and services are now willing to offer their lowest prices to fill idle production capacity. This strategy is called "contribution pricing”. When vendors bid work (even when bidding well below normal rates), any income obtained above out-of-pocket costs “contributes” to fixed costs and overhead and, when absorbed, to their bottom lines.