In connection with and to facilitate providing services of fabricating, finishing, and distributing aluminum coil, extrusion, sheet, plate, and panel (aluminum fabrication, finishing, and distribution services), providing to customers of the aluminum fabrication, finishing, and distribution services a web-based system and online portal that allows interaction and transactions between the customers and the service-provider for automation and management of business processes, customer service, and customer-provider relationships, by means of which the customers may communicate with the service-provider, obtain sales quotes, place orders, submit order-related requests, receive acknowledgements, packing tickets, invoices, and other communications from the service-provider, upload and download documents, track the progress of orders, track shipments, and view information regarding historical orders