DE10064532A1 - Data storage and exchange between a supplier and a number of customers via the Internet - Google Patents

Abstract

The computer (10) of the supplier is connected to the Internet and can have capability for different websites . If the supplier is a bank it may have a number of partners with web site servers (18,22,26). Links are provided (20,24,28) to the computer units (12,14,16). Relevant data is stored in a memory (34).

Description

The invention relates to a device (system) and a Ver drive between for data storage and data exchange at least one provider and potential customer. In particular The invention relates to the management of a customer file in a such a device and such a method. The before The direction and the method are particularly suitable for data storage and data exchange between two or more users providers and for the acquisition of customers of a provider another provider. Under a "provider" is here to ver are a provider of goods and / or services, esp special financial services.

For the acquisition of customers use goods and / or Service providers more and more the Da networks, especially the Internet. Because of the increasing Entanglement and diversification of the market make the sub increasingly take targeted offers for target groups, with the Target groups are selected according to criteria that are special justify messenger. For example, members receive certain The clubs have a club card, which they can, if they so wish can use as a credit card. In such cases, the the credit card leading bank partnered with the club a because it assumes that club members usually have a certain credit rating and therefore do business with the credit cards paid, so that special Kon ditions can be granted.

The now widely ramified and widely available enable accessible data networks, especially the Internet an increasing improvement of the information in this area too mation exchange between providers and potential customers and with it a qualitative improvement of the relationship from both the provider and the Customers, especially increased selectivity in the sense that both the providers with increased information density  their customers as well as customers can choose their providers and special due to the additional information Can agree terms and conditions.

For this purpose, the invention teaches a system for data storage and data exchange between at least one provider and potential customers

• - A computer unit, the information, in particular a Website, of a provider that is available via a data network address, in particular an Internet address are callable, the computer unit being designed and pro is grammed that a user of the data network, the Informa calls, then, if he is interested, customer of the provider ters, enter customer data in a peripheral device can who the computer unit supplied via the data network the, one for the customer data in the computer unit the specified data network address specific identifier automatically is added, and
• - A central storage unit, which is the computer unit Feeds customer data with the specific identifier that is in the central storage unit are stored, in the zentra len storage unit also stores customer data of other customers are to whom this specific identifier is not or another Identifier is added, so that the customer data Telbar is who originally after calling the data address has become a potential customer and what identifier they have possibly assigned.

The invention therefore uses a data network, for example the In ternet, potential customers contacting it of a provider towards other customers who, for example via a personal contact with the provider or through written communication customers have become recognizable do. This opens up the possibility of this via the To give preference to customers won over the Internet, d. H. z. B. to grant them discounts, additional gifts or bonuses to send them, or to them through the data network mentioned to give defined special information etc. at For example, special information can be found on the provider's website  about offers made only on the Internet are accessible, and only the one who is on the Internet, so online, contacting and via the network its relevant Entering data receives this special information and / or Deals. A contract on these special terms will possibly completed with an electronic signature sen, or it will be confirmed later by normal mail.

According to a preferred embodiment, the system is like this placed that the computer unit provides information that can be called up via different data network addresses, and wherein specific identifiers used by a user of the data network entered customer data are added, with differ Chen data network addresses, about which the customer the information retrieved, are different, and with all customer data in the central storage unit are stored so that there the customer data shows who was originally opened call which data network address has become a potential customer is.

In this case there are in the central storage unit not necessarily data stored by customers outside of the data network or the Internet, but on in any case there is a technical distinction between ver different types of customers that stand out through the data network addresses distinguish them about which they originally once, at least potentially, have become a customer. This is especially so useful when different customer groups have different data network addresses are communicated, and if these different Different conditions should be granted to customer groups len.

The above-mentioned embodiments are particularly easy to implement if the data network address is an Internet address that via a link on a partner's website or website of the provider that manages outside the computer unit is available.  

In this case, the data network address need not be special Sun circles are made known; the subject is preferred insert link on the homepage or website of the partner of the umpte way to call this address at all. Then they will Customer groups "filtered" to a certain extent. On the way over the You can only become a respective Internet address if you previously the homepage or website of the partner of the provider be has searched, and do so, at least generally, each time certain persons. The partner is selected so that certain target groups can be addressed.

A special selectivity in customer acquisition is then reached when the supplier's partner mentioned above his website only to selected groups of people or members or if the partner has the link on his Website only according to predetermined selection criteria for certain Makes people accessible, e.g. B. by means of a personal access gang codes (PIN or the like). For example and preferably the "Provider" means a bank and the aforementioned "partner" of the Provider also a provider of goods and / or service be stungen, so that with the system according to the invention customers or members of one provider (previously partner ge goods from another provider (e.g. a bank) order or services of the other provider (bank) in Can claim. This is made possible in information tech nisch simple way a high selectivity in the data exchange between providers and potential customers of this provider ter in the sense that according to certain criteria better together the right provider and customer, e.g. B. from the point of view the creditworthiness, find each other.

The information that can be called up via the Internet address are also preferably a website, especially a home page, namely a website of the provider, but which is advantageous is designed so that the one who runs this site calls on the link, is specifically addressed by the same basic design on the site of the provider as on the site of the partner of the provider is used. Under basic design here is the background color of the site, the font used  and font size, certain graphic elements and others to understand more.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention is the website of the provider (the term "provider" is here to be understood within the meaning of the penultimate paragraph, d. H. there are a provider (e.g. a bank) and partner of this provider) structured in such a way that they have a so-called coresite and the Coresite assigned so-called presites. In the server of the provider (e.g. a bank) the coresite is prepared provides, the Coresite preferably not directly above a URL address is accessible. Rather are the coresite several presites upstream that a potential customer about can select a URL address, e.g. B. by entering the Address in a web browser. In this configuration, the Er the presites mentioned are preferably the respective part assigned to the providers. Is the provider z. B. a bank, which offers financial services, the partners in whose business areas are active, e.g. B. an airline, another company, or a club etc. The presites are then assigned to the partner companies, in particular in such a way that they are linked to the websites of these partner companies. In this way, access to the provider's coresite runs through the websites of the various partners and the latter Presets of the provider assigned to partners. The websites of the Partners are, of course, in the servers of these partners settled.

The above structure includes a special kind access to the provider's coresite, namely (preferably only) over a variety of presites of the type mentioned, whereby these presites can be selected from different websites. The communication structure thus resembles an "inverted" Tree structure. While traditionally a portal on the Internet Starting point for access to a variety of websites is, by the direction of the links a branched tree structure is given, which breaks down more and more, is with a central to the structure according to the invention explained above  Portal (the coresite) in reverse from target point a ramified structure of presites and websites.

The invention also includes preferred data structure regarding customer data. Each preferably has one (potential) customers assigned data set three different components, namely 1. Customer master data (e.g. a Customer number), 2. an account number, and 3. a partner-specific cal identifier. The partner-specific identifier preferably indicates whether the respectively assigned account directly with the provider was opened or indirectly through a partner of the contractor Bidder. With this data structure he can easily be determined whether a customer for whom a single customer base set has multiple accounts. For the case The customer can play through different partners of the offer ters have become customers. In this case, he can have several Keep accounts with the provider (e.g. the bank).

The addition of an "identifier" to the data record, i.e. the regi partner or type of partner, does not have to necessary in the context of the first electronic contact of the potential customer. It is also possible that the Identifier only immediately before or when a contract is concluded opening is awarded.

The invention also includes a method for maintaining a customer file of a provider, comprising the steps:

• - Providing at least one data network address, in particular an Internet address via which a user of the data network In Get information from the provider, especially a website can
• - Provide the possibility that the user who has the data has called up the network address if he wants to become a customer, customer can enter data,
• - Automatic addition of a special for the data network address specific identifier for customer data,
• - Storage of customer data with the identifier in a central Storage unit in which customer data without this specific Identifier or are stored with another identifier, so that  on the basis of the customer data it can be determined who was originally based on Calling the data network address has become a potential customer is.

With the system according to the invention, a method for acquiring new customers for a provider can be implemented, which comprises the steps:

• - Providing information about special conditions of the Provider that only applies to customers of a partner of the provider ten, on a partner’s website,
• - Provide a link on the partner's website too a specific website of the provider,
• - Provide the opportunity for potential customers, according to Calling up the specific website of the provider, yourself as a customer by entering customer data in a user interface (al so over the Internet) in a computer unit of the provider to register,
• - Detect the fact (condition) that customers are about the partner's website reaches the specific website are,
• - Central storage of the entered customer data with one Reference to this fact, and
• - Granting the special conditions for the so obtained Customers.

The websites can also be used in this variant of the invention be structured in the manner explained above, i. H. the An provider (e.g. the bank) places the named on its server Coresites and the Presites ready, the latter each the are assigned to different partners of the provider. Here too are the terms "provider" on the one hand and "partner" on the other on the part to be understood in the sense explained above. The presites in The provider's server can be aesthetically and also in terms of content be coordinated with the respective partner.

In a modification of the invention described above, the detection the fact that the customers through the partner's website have reached the particular coresite, also by not a special identifier, but by using the  corresponding customer data in a predetermined storage area filed richly and thus become identifiable. In this Case, the memory area is the "identifier".

The process of winning new customers is then special selectively if a data network address under which the particular Website of the provider is accessible, not publicly known and even if there are no links to the specific website of websites other than that of the partner exist, so that gesi What is certain is that everyone who visits the particular website beforehand has accessed the partner's website or homepage. Thereby it is ensured that the special contract conditions only are granted to the customers who had the occasion to use the website of the partner.

For example, the partner's website can be a website via which an account balance can be queried or on which be agreed events of a club are reported regularly, etc. automatic) check with the partner that the new customers of the provider actually customers of the partner are, if you want to exclude people who are only allowed to due on the partner's website, the particular one received their contractual terms.

It is also possible to have access to the specific website there by only selected prospects and customers or members to make it accessible to the partner that access to the Link is secured by a password or the like or also access to the website or certain areas of the website of the partner is selectively designed in this way.

Here, too, the process can be carried out with several partners are on their homepages links for different be agreed websites of the provider are provided and it will records the website of a partner via which the customers access the Providers have arrived. For customers who have websites from below different partners have reached the provider different conditions apply.  

As already explained above, the partners can other suppliers of goods and / or Services.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are described below described on the figures by way of example. It shows:

Fig. 1 shows schematically a basic structure of a system for data storage and for data exchange, with which the invention can be realized according to a first embodiment;

2 shows a second embodiment of an inventive SEN system for data storage and data exchange, wherein the server provides a provider in particular those designed websites manner. and

Fig. 3 schematically shows a preferred data structure for individual NEN customers assigned data.

A computer unit 10 is located at a provider who wishes to win new customers, for example a bank that offers fund investments for customers. This computer unit 10 is connected to the Internet. About z. B. three different addresses three different series of websites can be called. For each of these series, a sub-unit 12 , 14 or 16 of the computer unit 10 is shown schematically here. In a real system, these units 12 , 14 , 16 cannot be implemented in a structurally separate manner.

The bank has now z. B. with three partners on the Internet in the manner described in more detail below. The three partners, like the bank as the provider, provide 18 , 22 and 26 websites on the Internet via servers (i.e. other computer units). For example, the first partner can be an airline that has a website on which members can use an authorization code to query their "Miles and More" account, ie their account balance regarding credited flight kilometers or other rewarded services or purchases. The second partner could, for example, be an automobile club or another club with a wide distribution, which also generally guarantees a certain creditworthiness with regard to its members. A third partner could e.g. B. an association for the promotion of arts or the like. By such a selection of the provider or partner is statistically significantly achieved that not just anyone call the respective website of the server 18 , 22 and 26 , rather a preliminary selection in the manner described in the introduction takes place in this way. For example, the partner can be a company that provides its employees in the digital pay slips with information about a bank that offers funds or the like under special conditions, where employees have direct access to a website via a link provided received by the offering bank.

A link to one of the three addresses mentioned is now provided on each of the servers 18 , 22 and 26 . This is shown schematically in the figure by lines 20 , 24 and 28 . Since this is a computer network such as the Internet, these lines are not actually material lines but virtual lines. The respective servers are all connected to one another via the network, as shown schematically by lines 30 and 32 , and the network is in turn connected to the computer unit 10 via a real line, in which case the Internet address called in each case leads to different processing of the Data sent over the network leads in the computer unit 10 . The illustration in the figure makes it clear that only the series of website or homepage pages managed by the subunit 12 can be called up by the server 18 via the corresponding link, and only that series of websites can be called up by the server 22 can, which is managed by the subunit 14 and that only those websites can be called up from the server 26 which are administered by the subunit 16 . The embedding of the sub-units 12 , 14 and 16 in the computer unit 10 shows that it does not have to be physically separate but virtually separate units. In particular, after calling up a respective series of website pages, pages can then be called up that are the same when each of the three Internet addresses is used.

The computer unit 10 is connected to a central storage unit 34 . Data which were generated in the sub-units 12 , 14 or 16 can be stored in the storage unit 34 . In addition, data can also be entered independently of the Internet, for example via a computer unit 36 (this can also be replaced by a simple keyboard with a screen).

The data exchange between the bank chosen here by way of example and its potential future customers takes place as follows: A user 38 with a screen 40 calls up the website of the server 22 via the Internet (indicated here by the line 30 ), e.g. B. the airline's website. An account maintained on this website can only be queried by entering a code, which ensures that only the customer himself has access to information about his account balance.

After entering the identification code, still offered by the server 22 , another page opens, which is displayed on the screen 40 , and information about the bank in question is placed on this page. This can be based on an agreement between the bank and the airline which, for example, results in the airline being financially involved in the acquisition of new customers in this way.

A computer link can be clicked on the partner's homepage or website, i.e. part of the user interface, when clicked a different address than the previous address is called up on the Internet. This link is schematically identified in the figure by line 24 . The subunit 14 then provides information, that is to say a series of website pages, which are shown on the screen 40 of the user. These pages are initially still in the design of the airline, for example their logo is used, the same color as in the case of the airline's website provided by the server 22 , etc. This customer, who came via the airline's website, gets a very special one made a tailored offer that may have already been advertised as such in the advertising on the airline's website (e.g. "Offer of the month for airline X customers"). This offer consists in the granting of special terms and conditions, for example cheaper account management fees when opening a stock pots at the bank, lower bank fees when opening a current account etc.

In this series of specially for airline customers designed pages, the customer is asked to create an individual Enter all of the identifiers. This will identify him later bar. This identifier can be the customer's name or a phanta siename, whereby the customer then at the later business return to the bank to identify himself as the one who has chosen this fancy name, or it can already be in the at this stage that the customer is customer data enter a full name with the address etc.

If the user 38 decides to actually become a customer of the bank, for example by entering this data or by additionally pressing a specific key (“OK”), an identifier is added in the computer unit 10 to the entered customer data, from which it can be seen that this data belongs to a customer who has reached the computer unit 10 , ie the bank, via the server 22 , ie via the second address (line 24 ).

For example, the data can be stored in the form of a table, in the individual columns of which the family name, first name, street, house number and place of residence of the customer are entered with the zip code. In a further column of the table there is then a specific entry, for example the entry "airline customer" or a corresponding abbreviation. Such a table can also be saved as an array of strings, among other things. Alternatively, the identifier can consist of the customer following a code or being assigned a customer number, one or more digits of the code or number indicating the way in which the customer 38 originally became the customer of the bank.

For example, in the case of a customer number, the leading, that is to say first, digit represents the data network address via which the customer 38 came to the bank. For example, if the customer number begins with a "1", the customer has reached the bank via the server 18 , if the number begins with a "2", then the customer has reached the bank via the server 22 and begins with a "3" , the customer has reached the bank via the server 26 . The code can also include a customer number that the customer has with the partner of the provider. If the number begins with a "0", the customer did not get to the bank at all via the Internet, but in a conventional manner, and this customer data was then entered via the computer 36 .

The different identifiers of the in different ways Customers who have reached the bank can use data technology different customer groups, different conditions those who are tailor-made for you or with whom they are to be acquired.

This is especially true if the later business traffic with customers in other ways, e.g. B. in writing or over the phone, because they are not always there again by having to distinguish that they can communicate with the Bank contact, it suffices the fact that On the bank side, the identifier makes it clear which conditions for apply to customers.

Fig. 2, a preferred modification shows and embodiment of the above-described embodiment of the invention. Fig. 2 shows an example of the server 10 of a bank and the server 22 of a single partner of the bank, that is, for. B. an airline. This goes without saying that in addition to the server 22 , a large number of other corresponding servers can also be added in the above sense in FIG. 2. In this exemplary embodiment, the bank server 10 provides a so-called Coresi te C, which can also be referred to as a portal in the sense of the Internet. The Coresites C are a multitude of individual presites A, B, D, E, F, G, H.. , assigned.

In this embodiment, a potential customer has various options to gain access to the bank's corsite (portal). For example, the potential customer can get access to the preset F via a link on a partner's website in his server 22 , as indicated by the file in FIG. 2. The Presite F is this partner, z. B. the airline assigned. In addition, each Presite is assigned a URL address, via which the potential customer can also gain access to the relevant Presite, e.g. B. by entering the corresponding URL address in his web browser. The fact that in the preferred embodiment, the Coresite C has no direct URL address, this variant guarantees that access to the Coresite, on which the crucial sales information and offers are contained, is only possible via a defined preset.

Fig. 3 shows preferred data record structures for individual customers. As shown in FIG. 3, in this variant each data set basically consists of three components 40 , 42 , 44 . The first component 40 contains customer master data, such as. B. a customer number or his name etc. A second component 42 contains account numbers and a third component contains a specific identifier in the above sense, that is, an identifier that is related to the partner company if the potential customer has come through a partner. The third component 44 also contains an identifier as to whether the customer may have come directly to the provider (for example the bank UBS) and in this way opened a separate account (account no. 2 in the example) has been. For example, customer number 1 also came through his employer (whose name may be included in identifier 44 ) and was given a special account number 3 for this.

Different accounts can have different conditions be assigned.

So a customer may have multiple accounts. Nevertheless, only a single customer master data record 40 is created for him. Accordingly, a single customer master data record 40 'can be created for customer no. 2, one or more account numbers 22 ' and one or more identifiers 44 ', depending on the manner in which the customer accesses Coresite C. found in FIG. 2.

Another way to match the records with one the identifier of a partner of the provider (e.g. Bank UBS) provided that a potential customer has a Call center contact the provider (Bank UBS) for the first time takes. As part of this communication with the call center the customer then specifies the respective partner of the provider (e.g. the airline) and the call center or the Providers (UBS) can, if necessary, after a necessary Verification of the information of the potential customer that corresponds Add the appropriate identifier to the customer master data. Finally it is also possible to use the partner-related identifier achieve that a customer on a website of the provider (UBS) his "partner relationship" (e.g. his membership in a Bonus program of an airline) manually.

Claims (8)

1. System for data storage and data exchange between at least one provider and potential customer, with
a computer unit ( 10 ) which provides information, in particular a website, from a provider which can be called up via a data network address, in particular an Internet address, and the computer unit ( 10 ) is designed and set up in such a way that a user ( 38 ) of the data network, which retrieves the information, can enter customer data into a peripheral device, which are fed to the computer unit ( 10 ) via the data network ( 20 , 24 , 28 , 30 , 32 ), one for the customer data in the computer unit ( 10 ) the data network address specific identifier is added automatically, and
at least one storage unit ( 34 ), which feeds the computer unit ( 10 ) customer data with the specific identifier, which are stored in the storage unit ( 34 ), wherein in the storage unit ( 34 ) also customer data are stored for which this specific identifier is not or another identifier has been added so that the customer data can be used to determine who originally became a potential customer after calling up the data network address and which identifier is assigned to him. 2. System according to claim 1, wherein the computer unit ( 10 ) is designed to provide information which can be called up via different data network addresses, and wherein specific identifiers which are automatically added by a user ( 38 ) of the data network entered customer data , with different data network addresses, via which the customer ( 38 ) has called up the information, are different, and all customer data are stored in the central storage unit ( 34 ), so that there it can be seen from the customer data who originally called up which data network address has become a potential customer. 3. System according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the data network address is an Internet address, which via a link ( 20 , 24 , 28 ) on a website ( 18 , 22 , 26 ) of a partner of the provider, which manages outside the computer unit ( 10 ) is available. 4. System according to one of claims 2 or 3, wherein the computer unit ( 10 ) has a coresite (C) which is accessible via a plurality of presites (A, B, D, E, F, G, H), in particular via a link from a website of a server ( 22 ) through which the coresite (C) and the presites (A, B, D, E, F, H) are not managed. 5. Data structure for use in particular in a system according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by at least three components, a first component ( 40 ) with master data assigned to a customer, a second component ( 42 ) with one or more account numbers assigned to the customer , and a third component ( 44 ) with identifiers which are assigned separately to the individual account numbers and, when the customer has called up the information via a predetermined data network address, contain an identifier assigned to this data network address. 6. A method of maintaining a provider's customer file, comprising the steps:

• Providing at least one data network address, in particular an Internet address, via which a user ( 38 ) of the data network ( 20 , 24 , 28 , 30 , 32 ) can call up information from the provider, in particular a website,
• Providing the possibility that the user ( 38 ) who called up the data network address when he wants to become a customer can enter customer data,
• - automatic addition of an identifier specific to the data network address to the customer data,
• - Storing the customer data with the identifier in a central storage unit ( 34 ), in which customer data of other customers are also stored without this specific identifier, so that it can be seen from the customer data which customer originally became the customer after calling the data network address.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein a plurality of data network addresses are provided, the specific identifiers added to the customer data entered by a user of the data network given different data network addresses ( 20 , 24 , 28 ) about which the customer ( 38 ) has called up the information, ver are different, and all customer data are stored in the central storage unit ( 34 ), so that the customer data can be used to identify who originally became a potential customer after calling which data network address. 8. The method according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the data network address is an Internet address, and wherein on a website ( 18 , 22 , 26 ) of a partner of the provider a link ( 20 , 24 , 28 ) is offered, via which the data network address is called can be.