EP2410481A1 - System and method for controlling and allocating orders - Google Patents

Abstract

The system (10) has a request module (54) for sending requests (24) corresponding to input orders (20) to contractors (40a-40c). An offering module (56) accepts tenders (26) with performance attributes from the contractors. A selection unit (58) evaluates the tenders and compares product attributes with the performance attributes and selects the contractors. The selection unit executes the input orders based on the comparison of the product and performance attributes. A control unit (50) comprises a testing module (59) for testing other contractors with other performance attributes. Independent claims are also included for the following: (1) a method for executing orders (2) a control unit for controlling a method for executing orders (3) a computer program product comprising instructions to perform a method for executing orders.

Description

The invention relates to a system and a method for controlling and assigning orders. The invention also relates to a control unit for controlling the method for controlling and assigning orders and a computer program product for carrying out the method.

Several prior art patent applications for a system and a procedure for the management of offers are known from the prior art. For example, US patent application no. US 2002/0049642 (Moderegger et al. ) a system and procedure for managing the drafting, submission and evaluation of offers for products and / or services. The system has a database of information about the services and prices of potential contractors. After receiving offers, the system evaluates the offers and selects a contractor to complete the order.

From US patent application no. US 2006/0265308 (Jennings ) are also known computer servers that are connected via the Internet with multiple clients and contractors. A supplier (contractor) manages a database on the computer server where the supplier stores a description of the goods and services that the supplier can supply. Buyers can query these stored descriptions and request a price for the goods and / or services from the supplier.

The US patents US 6,397,197 . US 7,451,106 and US 4,478,143 reveal a system and procedures for competitive pricing and procurement of goods and services. The system and process selects the lowest price offer from a variety of contractors. The system receives from the contractor both the attributes, the capabilities of the Represent contractor as a supplier, as well as inquiries from the client about the desired goods and services. The requests are compared with the attributes of the contractor and a request is sent to one or more contractors. The offers received from the contractor are compared and the client is notified of the best offer.

From international patent application no. WO 2008/118499 (Donnelley ) discloses a system for managing an order according to a specification including a database, a configuration unit, and a control unit. The Donnelley patent application discloses a system wherein the configuration module accepts the information about a job and generates, via the control unit, a command sequence necessary for the execution of the job.

US patent application no. US 2007/0247650 (Manchala et al. ) discloses a method for managing information about a print job. The process generates a large number of possible work sequences for carrying out the print job, determines the materials and resources required for the conversion and estimates the costs for the complete execution of the print job.

From US patent application no. US 2003/0041765 (Hewlett-Packard) is a system and method for managing a printing company for conducting a print job. In this process, an order is sent to various printers and upon receipt of the offers, the printers select one of the offers received which best meets the criteria for the execution of the print job. The control unit for managing the print jobs is available either on a computer that generates the print job or on a network server. However, the control unit in the HP patent application can only elaborate a single print job and pass the print job to the printer. The Hewlett-Packard patent application does not disclose a system and method for merging multiple print jobs and evaluating the performance of the same from various print shops.

The prior art discloses several systems and methods for Obtaining offers by means of a call for tenders. However, the problem of utilization is not yet recognized by contractors, eg printers or suppliers. According to experience, the contractor endeavors to optimally utilize his machine park due to the high investment costs. Optimum utilization of the equipment in the machine park therefore not only allows better pricing when submitting offers, but also more efficient use of the equipment, which can extend the service life.

The client also has an interest in an efficient selection of offers. By capturing the capabilities of each contractor, the contractor can only submit offers to the contractors who are able to execute the offer. This saves the client time and resources in creating tenders and costs by making better use of the data lines, as he only sends the tender to relevant contractors and receives the response from the contractors who are able to meet the conditions of the tenders.

In addition, the described system and method can be used for efficient warehouse management and thus save space and costs. The client may only send offers to potential contractors who have the corresponding products (or components thereof) in their warehouses.

Summary of the invention

The invention relates to a system for controlling and assigning orders with a plurality of clients and a plurality of contractors and a control unit. The control unit is connected via first lines to the majority of clients and via second lines to the plurality of contractors. The control unit further comprises an acceptance module for accepting orders with a plurality of product attributes from the plurality of clients, a request module for sending the requests corresponding to the received orders to a plurality of the plurality of contractors, an offer module for accepting offers with a plurality of performance attributes from one or more of the plurality of contractors and a selection unit for evaluating the Offers and to select the contractor to carry out the orders received. With this system according to the invention, one or more clients can jointly submit an order, which is carried out economically and technically efficient by means of the control unit. The connections via the request module with the plurality of contractors also allow the control unit to obtain multiple offers for an order and to accept one of the offers with the aid of the selection unit and the product and performance attributes. Unlike in the known state of the art, an open system has thus been developed which cooperates with several clients and several contractors "in order to operate a system which is both technically and economically optimal.

In one aspect of the invention, the selection unit may select the contractor according to one or more criteria predetermined by the clients or systemic. Such criteria are for. For example, technical criteria such as delivery times, use of machinery at the contractor, etc. The criteria may also correspond to economic criteria, such as: As payment target, numbers, destination and maximum prices and delivery dates.

In one aspect of the invention, the control unit is not only connectable to connected contractors who are constantly in communication with the system, but also to other possible contractors. These further connections allow for obtaining further competing offers together with the technical capabilities of the other possible contractors with their performance attributes.

The system also has a database for storing information about the orders with the product attributes, the requests, the criteria and the offers with the performance attributes. This database allows a comparison of the individual contractors, the selection of suitable contractors and also the preparation of final and recommended prices for orders.

In one aspect of the invention, the system also has a comparison module that checks a sample from a contracted contractor with the predetermined expectations. This comparison can be done either automatically or with the help of an operator become.

The invention is directed to a method for controlling and assigning the orders. The inventive method comprises accepting requests with product attributes from a plurality of clients, merging the requests, querying the feasibility of the merged requests with a plurality of clients, obtaining offers with performance attributes about the feasibility of the merged requests, evaluating the bids received and an assignment from one or more contractors to carry out the work. As mentioned above, this procedure allows the merging of inquiries from different clients in order to obtain better conditions for the execution of the orders.

In a further aspect of the invention, the method allows a combination of products from different clients and a common shipping the products to customers.

• Fig. 1 ein System zur Durchführung von Aufträgen;
• Fig. 2 ein Flussdiagramm über die Durchführung der Aufträge;
• Fig. 3 ein Ausführungsbeispiel für die Durchführung von Druckaufträgen; und
• Fig. 4 ein Flussdiagramm über die Abarbeitung von Druckaufträgen.

The invention also relates to a control unit and a computer program product which controls the method for controlling and assigning orders. The computer program product runs on a commercial computer, which is configured so that the computer can perform the procedure.
Show it:

• Fig. 1 a system for executing orders;
• Fig. 2 a flowchart about the execution of orders;
• Fig. 3 an embodiment for the execution of print jobs; and
• Fig. 4 a flow chart about the processing of print jobs.

Fig.1 FIG. 10 shows a system 10 for controlling, awarding, and executing orders 20 according to one aspect of this invention. Fig. 1 shows a plurality of clients 30a-30c, which are connected via a plurality of first lines 60 to a control unit 50. A plurality of contractors 40a-40c are also connected to the control unit 50 via a plurality of second lines 70. The control unit 50 includes various software modules for processing the jobs 20 sent from the plurality of clients 30a-30c to the control unit 50. The control unit 50 has an acceptance module 52 for accepting orders 20, a request module 54 for sending the orders 20 received via the first lines 60 as requests 24 to one or more of the plurality of contractors 40a-40c. The acceptance module 52 performs the communication with the clients 30a-30c and can access a product database 55 in the control unit 50. The product database 55 contains information about offered products and options from which the client 30a-30c can choose. The product database 55 stores this information, inter alia, in the form of so-called product attributes which describe the product. The control unit 50 also includes an offer module 56 for receiving offers 26 received from one or more of the plurality of contractors 40a-40c. The control unit 50 further has a selection unit 58 which checks the offers 26 received and selects one of the offers 26 received.

A database 80 is connected to the control unit 50 and stores data 82 about the orders 20 and the offers 26. The database 80 may later be used to generate indicative prices for the orders 20. The database 80 contains i.a. so-called performance attributes from the contractors 40a-40c.

The product attributes are the attributes of the product to be ordered by the customer 30a-30c, which is described in order 20. These product attributes may be, for example, the nature of the product, the size and color of the product, the quality of the product. An example of such a product is a printed product, eg a brochure. The product attributes include paper weight, paper type, print quality, ink, etc. Each product attribute can also have sub-product attributes. Values of the product attributes may also be a certain range, eg between 80 g / m ² and 120 g / m ² in paper weight. Some product attributes may be optional and other product attributes be obligatory. The mandatory product attributes are product attributes that must be in the product in each case. The optional product attributes are product attributes that are desirable in the product.

The performance attributes are the attributes of the contractor 40a-40c that he or she can fulfill when performing the job 20. Performance attributes include, but are not limited to Type of product ordered, color, size, etc. The example of a printing company can exemplify the line attributes. Some printers can only print certain types of printing, e.g. Perform offset litho. These printers communicate their capabilities to the controller 50 by indicating the performance attributes. The performance attributes may also have sub-performance attributes. Such sub-performance attributes are dependent on the "main" performance attribute. The performance attributes can have values in a range. The performance attributes will be sent with the offer.

A verification module 59 is also connected to the control unit 50. The checking unit 59 can make contact with other possible contractors 45 via further lines and receive further offers 26 from the other contractors 45. The verification module 59 may also receive the performance attributes from the other contractors 45.

The control unit 50 further comprises a payment management module 53 which monitors incoming payments from the clients 30a-30c upon billing. The payment management module 53 may make the payments to the contractors 40a-40c. The payment management module 53 enables efficient management of the cash flow by billing and setting payment terms.

Clients 30a-30c are, in one example, advertising agencies or graphic designers who print print products from printers. Such printed products include brochures, posters, pictures, advertising objects such as key fobs or pens. In this example, the job is a print job and the job creators 40a-40c are print shops that receive the request 24 and submit a corresponding offer 26. The invention is not limited to the assignment of print jobs. The invention can also z. B. for the procurement of office supplies and the purchase of Standard materials used in industry (tools, consumables, automotive parts, etc.). The control unit 50, with the aid of the selection unit 58, selects the order 28 according to predetermined criteria by comparing the product attributes with the performance attributes, which depend on the type and scope of the order 28.

For the example of a print job, the predetermined product attributes could e.g. Print quality, paper type and weight, paper size, color design and printing process. The contractors 40a-40c receive the offers 20 together with the product attributes 28 as the request 24 from the control unit 50, and can indicate in their offer 26 to the request 24 those product attributes 28 as performance attributes that they can fulfill. In addition, the contractor 40a-40c may indicate other performance attributes that the contractor 40a-40c considers important to perform the job 20. The performance attributes may also include information about supplies (paper, ink, etc.).

It is not necessary for the contractor 40a-40c to fulfill all of the product attributes 28. As stated above, some product attributes are optional and others are mandatory. The contractor 40a-40c need only be able to execute the job 20 (in this case the print job). In other words, the contractor 40a-40c has to fulfill the obligatory product attributes. Contractor 40a-40c may also indicate which of the optional product attributes are achievable. It is the task of the selection unit 58 to review the offers 26 coming from different contractors (printers) and select the best offer 26 by examining the overlap between the product attributes and the performance attributes or, depending on the agreement with the client, giving it a number of the best offers 26 and commission the contractor 40a-40c to carry out the order 20. The selection unit 58 has a plurality of criteria according to which the selection unit 58 makes the selection. The criteria may be, for example, the payment terms that are predetermined by the payment management module 53. Other criteria are, for example, the utilization of the machine park at the respective contractors 40a-40c, the capacity of the lines for the necessary data transport and the proximity to the customer 30a-30c or place of delivery.

The contractors 40a-40c are usually contractors of the operator of the control unit 50. The operator of the control unit 50 usually has a framework contract with the contractors 40a-40c for their services and thus obtains preferred conditions for the execution of the orders 20. Um In order to achieve the best prices and conditions for the execution of the orders 20, the operator of the control unit 50 has made a contractual agreement with several independent contractors 40a-40c. Contractors can periodically populate database 80 with the most up-to-date performance attributes. It is in the interest of the contracting parties to update the database 80 regularly, as the contracting party thereby gains a better utilization of the machine park. By updating performance attributes, contractors can "generate" work and search for jobs.

Contractors 40a-40c are largely independent of each other. It could of course be that one or more of the principals 40a-40c are economically intertwined or in the same location. However, as a rule, the contractors 40a-40c are distributed over different locations and economically separated from each other. The contractors 40a-40c are capable of performing the orders 20 independently of each other.

In some cases, some of the orders 20 from one of the plurality of clients 30a-30c must be merged together with another order 20 from another of the clients 30a-30c. In this case, the control unit 50 is also connected to a logistics center 90. The logistics center 90 may be in contact either with the control unit 50 or directly with the individual contractors 40a-40c via lines to control the logistics of the finished products, e.g. B. printed products to control.

The verification module 59 is usually connected to the other contractors 45. These other contractors 45 are not contractors of the operator of the control unit 50, but independent contractors 45. The verification module 59 also sends the requests 24 for performing the orders 20 to the independent further contractors 45 and also receives from the other contractors 45 Offers 26 with performance attributes that are forwarded to the control unit 50 for review. The verification module 59 serves as a further possibility for executing orders 20.

Another use of the system is the purchase of products. A buyer (customer) can enter the product attributes of the product sought in the system and sellers (contractors) can submit offers by submitting the corresponding performance attributes. The verification module 59 compares the product attributes with the performance attributes and selects a seller. The system thus allows efficient use of storage space, as the seller controls his inventory better. The seller can also control his own purchasing better if he knows the future orders from buyers better. It saves space, transport costs and material.

Fig. 2 1 shows a flow chart for the execution of the orders 20. In a first step 210, the control unit 50 receives the orders 20 with the product attributes of several of the clients 30a-30c via the first lines 60 via the acceptance module 52. These orders 20 are retrieved by querying the product database 55 and selection of products offered with options. The query and selection of the offered products provides a file with a list of product attributes. For a printed product, these product attributes are e.g. The client 30a-30c may also enter product attributes and classify the product attributes as optional or mandatory. The customer 30a-30c can also enter the delivery address for the finished products. In one aspect of the invention, these product attributes are selected by filling in a mask on a screen. If the client 30a-30c desires, the client receives a target price for the order 20 by querying the database 80.

The control unit 50 merges these received orders 20 in step 220 and prepares a request 24 which the control unit 50 sends to several possible contractors 40a-40c via the second lines 70 in step 230. In one aspect, the control unit 50 checks the general feasibility of the orders 20 by comparing one or more of the performance attributes in the database 80 with the product attributes. The control unit 50 sends the orders 20 only to the contractors 40a-40c, who can fulfill the mandatory product attributes. This check allows for a more efficient processing of offers, since only a limited number of contractors 40a-40c are inquiring 24. Thus, computer resources and data lines are saved.

In another aspect, the control unit 50 sends the request 24 only to the contractors 40a-40c who have spare capacity in their machinery. Thus, a technically efficient execution of orders 24 is possible. Also, requests 24 may only be sent to contractors 40a-40c who have inventories in their storeroom.

The contractors 40a-40c examine the request 24 for feasibility and, in case the contractors 40a-40c can basically execute the order 20, in step 240 the principals 40a-40c send an offer 26 to the offer module 56 via the second lines 70 ,

The contractors 40a-40c are basically free in their decision whether to give the offer 26 or not. Some of the clients 40a-40c could, for. B. be busy with other orders so that they are not able to perform the additional order 20 at that time. Likewise, due to technical or logistical issues, some of the contractors 40a-40c could not be able to complete the contract 20 at that time. However, it is possible that the contractor 40a-40c may not fulfill all the product attributes 28 after reviewing the request 24, but the contractor 40a-40c may nonetheless make an offer 26. An example of a non-viable product attribute 28 would be the observance of deadlines or deadlines for submitting the finished products from the offer 26. In this case, the contractor 40a-40c will issue the offer 26 with some restrictions.

In step 250, the offers 26 are forwarded from the offer module 56 to the selection unit 58 and evaluated. The selection unit 58 evaluates the offers 26 received by comparing the mandatory product attributes and the optional product attributes with the offer 26, and selects the offer 26 which the Product attributes 28 best met. In this case, the selection unit 58 can access additional criteria which require the control of the orders according to economic and technical conditions. Such criteria include the utilization of machinery and storage space, previous experience with contractor 40a-40c, proximity to client 30a-30c or delivery location. The comparison can also be done "step by step". In a first step, only some of the product attributes are compared with the corresponding performance attributes. In the following steps, further product attributes are compared with the corresponding performance attributes. This stepwise comparison allows efficient selection of the contractor 40a-40c.

Basically, the selection unit 58 is designed such that the selection unit 58 instructs the contractor 40a-40c in step 260 directly even after comparing the performance attributes with the product attributes. In some cases, the selection unit 58 must consult the client 30a-30c to select the best possible offer 26. Such a consultation with the clients 30a-30c comes z. B. in question, if one of the contractor 40a-40c is not able to meet an appointment, but offers a low price for the execution of the orders 20. In part, such "discretionary decisions" are taken into account by programming the criteria for the selection of contractors 40a-40c.

The selection unit 58 can likewise take into account offers in the evaluation step 250 via the verification module 59 of the further contractors 40d.

By merging the orders 20 in the merge step 220, the control unit 50 can usually achieve good conditions and prices as well as optimal utilization of the machinery from the contractors 40a-40c, since the control unit 50 processes a larger quantity of orders 20 and to the contractor 40a -40c passes. The merge allows better utilization of resources at the contractors 40a-40c. The control unit 50, and in particular the selection unit 58, does not necessarily have to consider the best price in the selection of contractors 40a-40c for the execution of the orders 20. For example, the selection unit 58 may also consider transportation costs and environmental conditions, both utilization and reliability. For example, the Selection unit 58 distributes orders 20 across multiple contractors 40a-40c to provide better utilization of contractors 40a-40c. It is also possible to place regional orders 20 on site to one of the principals 40a-40c to keep the transportation costs of the finished products to a minimum. With this, the logistics center 90 can control the coordination of the further distribution of the orders 20.

In one example, the control unit 50 may distribute the orders 20 such that a portion of the orders 20 are performed at one of the principals 40a-40c and another portion of the orders 20 at another of the orderers 40a-40c. The merging of the finished products will be handled by the Logistics Center 90.

Due to the large number of orders 20 from multiple customers 30a-30c, the control unit 50 has the opportunity to get better conditions even when purchasing the necessary raw material. In the case of the above-mentioned printed products, the control unit 50 may be e.g. Purchase paper or ink in bulk and make that paper available when completing the jobs. In such a case, the contractor 40a-40c (printing house) will either have a paper store in the printing shop or the contractor 40a-40c will get the paper delivered when the job 20 is performed.

Fig. 3 shows the example of the execution of print jobs 320 after commissioning and Fig. 4 shows the corresponding process as a flowchart. In the present case, one of the contractors 40a-40c has received the print job 20 in step 410. This printing house is in Fig. 3 designated by reference number 340. The printer 340 receives the print job 320 via the second lines 70 and is to execute the print job 320. The print job 320 is in a printable PDF format. This format is used because it is a compressed format that occupies least the second lines 70. Other formats such as JPEG or GIF are possible. The printer 340 can process the order 320 directly and produce the finished products (here: printed products 350) directly. Typically, however, the printer 340 processes the print job 320 at step 420 and at step 430 sends a pattern or banner 335 back to the controller 50 via the second lines 70. The print flag 335 is shipped in a printable PDF format. Of course, others are Formats possible.

The control unit 50 may compare the pattern 335 with the print job from the client 30a-30c in a comparison module 360 in step 440 and issue a final release 338 in step 450. This release 338 may either be done automatically by matching the pattern 335 with the stored print job 320, or the controller 50 may pass the pattern 335 to the client 30a-30c to make a decision.

After comparison of the pattern 335 with the print job 320, a so-called preflight check is performed. In this case, the print data uploaded by the client 30a-30c are checked separately for compatibility with the printer 340 and, if necessary, an error log is created. This preflight check allows the customer 30a-30c to make a change in the final release 338 via the second lines 70 to the printer 340, which executes the print job 320 and produces the finished products 350. As mentioned above, the logistics center 90 can take over the further logistics distribution of the finished products 350. It is also possible for the customer 30a-30c to have the printed products 350 collected or picked up directly by the printer 340.

reference numeral

10

system

20

assignment

22

product

23

template

24

inquiry

26

offer

28

performance attributes

30

customer

40

contractor

45

Another contractor

50

control unit

52

acceptance module

53

Payment Management Module

54

request module

55

Product Database

56

Proposal module

57

comparison module

58

selector

59

Checking module

60

First lines

70

Second lines

80

Database

82

dates

90

logistics center

320

print job

335

Print banner / pattern

338

release

340

printing house

350

printed matter

Claims (18)

System (10) for carrying out and placing orders (20) with - a plurality of clients (30a-c); - a plurality of contractors (40a-c); - A control unit (50) which is connected via first lines (60) to the plurality of clients (30a-c) and via second lines (70) to the plurality of contractors (40a-c), and wherein the control unit (58 ) - an acceptance module (52) for accepting orders (20) having a plurality of product attributes from the plurality of clients (30a-c); a request module (54) for sending the requests (24) corresponding to the received orders (20) to a plurality of the plurality of contractors (40a-c); - an offer module (56) for receiving offers (26) having a plurality of performance attributes from one or more of the plurality of contractors (40); and - a selection unit (58) for evaluating the offers (26) and comparing the product attributes with the performance attributes and selecting the contractor (40a-c) to perform the received orders (20) by comparing the product attributes with the performance attributes. The system of claim 1, wherein the selection unit (58) is arranged such that selecting the contractor (40a-c) is according to one or more criteria predetermined by the clients (30a-c). The system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control unit (50) has a verification module (59) for checking further possible contractors (45a-c) with additional performance attributes. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a database (80) for storing information about e.g. the orders, the inquiries, the criteria, the product attributes, the performance attributes and the offers, as well as the corresponding principals (30a-c) and contractors (40a-c). A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the contractors (40a-c) are printers. System according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a comparison module for comparing a sample (338) from the instructed contractor (40a-c) with the order (20). System according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a payment management module (53) for monitoring the cash flow. Procedure for carrying out orders with the following steps Accepting requests (24) with product attributes from a plurality of clients (30a-c); - Merging of requests (24); - querying the feasibility of the merged requests (24) with a plurality of clients (40a-c); - Obtaining bids (26) with performance attributes on the feasibility of the merged requests (24); - Evaluating the offers received (26) and comparing the product attributes with the performance attributes; and - commission one or more contractors (40a-c) to carry out the orders. The method of claim 8, further comprising: - Obtain criteria for the execution of contracts (20); and - Use of the criteria (28) in the evaluation of tenders received (26). The method of any one of claims 8 to 9, further comprising - assembling products (22) from different ones of the clients (30a-c); and - joint shipping of the products (22). The method of any one of claims 9 to 10, further comprising querying other contractors (45a-c) prior to placing the order. A method according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the products (22) are printed products. The method of any one of claims 9 to 12, further comprising comparing a pattern (23) with the order (20) prior to performing the orders (20). The method of any one of claims 9 to 13, further comprising a payment to the contractor 40a-40c upon receipt of incoming payments from the clients 30a-30c. Control unit (50) for controlling a method for executing orders (20) with - an acceptance module (52) for accepting orders (20) with product attributes from the plurality of clients (30a-c); - a request module (54) for sending requests (24) corresponding to the received orders (20) to a plurality of the plurality of contractors (40a-c); - an offer module (56) for receiving offers (26) with performance attributes from one or more of the plurality of contractors (40); and - a selection unit (58) for evaluating the offers (26) and for selecting the contractor (40a-c) to carry out the received orders (20). The control unit of claim 15, further comprising an interface for entering orders. Control unit according to claim 15 or 16, further comprising a comparison module for comparing a pattern (23) with the order (20) before executing the orders (20). Computer program product for the execution and placing of orders (20) with a first module for accepting requests (24) with product attributes from a plurality of clients (30a-c); - a second module for merging requests (24); - querying the feasibility of the merged requests (24) with a plurality of clients (40a-c); - a third module for obtaining offers (26) with performance attributes on the feasibility of the merged requests (24); - a fourth module for evaluating the received offers (26) by comparing the performance attributes with the product attributes; and a fifth module for contracting one or more contractors (40a-c) to carry out the orders.

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