Unified classification approach for different types of items in enterprise procurement catalogs

Abstract

Particular embodiments provide an order procurement application to allow users to search for items in an order procurement catalog. A classification of items in the order procurement catalog is determined. A plurality of different types of items are classified. The different types may be characterized by different methods of ordering that are needed to order an item of the type. During searching, a query for the order procurement catalog may be received. A classification position may be determined based on the query. For example, a node in a hierarchy may be determined. Ancestor and descendant positions in the classification may also be determined, such as ancestor and descendant nodes for the current node. A plurality of items is then determined for the classification position, ancestor position, and descendant position. The plurality of items that are determined may then be displayed to a user in response to the query.