WO1999062010A1 - Apparatus and method for preparing quotes - Google Patents
Apparatus and method for preparing quotes Download PDFInfo
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- WO1999062010A1 WO1999062010A1 PCT/AU1999/000393 AU9900393W WO9962010A1 WO 1999062010 A1 WO1999062010 A1 WO 1999062010A1 AU 9900393 W AU9900393 W AU 9900393W WO 9962010 A1 WO9962010 A1 WO 9962010A1
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- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G06Q30/00—Commerce
- G06Q30/06—Buying, selling or leasing transactions
Definitions
- the present invention relates generally to a system and method for preparing quotes and particularly, but not exclusively, to a system and method for preparing quotes relating to multi-component apparatus, such as computer equipment.
- One of the major tasks relating to the sale and distribution of multi-component apparatus is the provision of quotations by salesmen to potential customers.
- a quote will need to include information on the price of the equipment, as well as possibly variations on components of the system, e.g., more memory, a "clone" monitor, a CD-ROM drive etc.
- the volatility of the market in this area also requires a substantial amount of effort to be put into a quote.
- the present invention provides a processing system for preparing quotation data for facilitating quotations for multi-component apparatus, comprising a product database storing product data on a plurality of multi-component apparatus and/or a plurality of components for multi-component apparatus, the product data including identification data identifying the multi-component apparatus type and components, and associated attribute data for providing information on attributes of the multi-component apparatus and components; quote assembling means for assembling quotes and including selection means for selecting identification data of multi-component apparatus and/or components to assemble identification data for a quote; supplier update means arranged for updating attribute data in the product database, and quote update means responsive to the supplier update means updating attribute data to determine whether the attribute data updated is associated with the identification data of any quote and to flag any quotes that have updated associated attribute data to alert a user of the system that the associated attribute data is updated.
- the attribute data may include price data of components and multi-component apparatus and may also include data on the availability of components and multi-component apparatus.
- availability includes information on whether a component is in stock at a particular suppliers or whether it is no longer being produced (i.e. it has reached the end of its life).
- a user e.g., salesman
- the salesman views his quotes (for example first thing in the morning in the office) he can find out what information has changed, e.g., the price, and immediately contact the customer and advise them of the changes. He does not have to monitor price and availability changes himself. The processing system does it for him.
- the attribute data is readable in the quote is updated so that the salesperson is made aware of the changes without having to consult the product database.
- the multi-component apparatus and components may be computer equipment, and the rest of this description will use computer equipment as an example. It will be appreciated, however, that the processing system of the present invention may be used with other multi-component apparatus and is not limited to computer equipment. Examples include the building industry (e.g., configuration of buildings from components, components of rooms e.g., bathrooms, kitchens, etc.), hi-fi equipment, the car industry (cars and extras for cars, etc).
- the product database may include information on all multi-component apparatus and components for the multi-component apparatus available from suppliers.
- the quote assembling means preferably enables a salesman to select identification data for the multi-component apparatus and components from the database in order to satisfy a customers requirements.
- the associated attribute data preferably provides the salesman with cost information and availability information to convey to the customer.
- the availability information may incorporate stock availability information, and information on whether or not a product has reached the end of its life (and it is no longer being supplied).
- the supplier update means is arranged to obtain supplier and update data from a remote location, and the information is preferably provided automatically by a supplier who has a supplier provider means for providing the supplier update data.
- the supplier update data may thus be provided at regular intervals or when a supplier considers convenient over a network, such as the
- the supplier update data includes updated attribute data which is used by the supplier update means to update the attribute data in the product database.
- the supplier update data may include further data, such as updated identification data, which can also be used by the supply update means to update identification data.
- the updated identification data may, for example, in a computer equipment area, include new computer systems, upgraded computer systems and the like.
- Another preferred feature of the present invention is the provision of a control means responsive to customer data associated with quotes to adjust the associated attribute data.
- a control means responsive to customer data associated with quotes to adjust the associated attribute data.
- a reseller may wish to adjust his profit margin e.g., increase profit by 10% on each quote and the system, by means of the control means, allows this to be done so that attribute data provided to a particular quote will automatically be adjusted in accordance with the customer data (the customer data provides data indicative of the adjustment to be implemented by the control means).
- Another problem with the present method of carrying out quotes is that when data on a product changes (i.e., price and availability, type of product, configuration of product) over a period of time, there is no convenient system for tracking the change. Note that by the term "product” we mean multi-component apparatus and/or components.
- the system of the present invention also comprises means for producing product history data for providing information on the history of attribute data updates for multi-component apparatus and/or components whereby a user may track the development of multi-component apparatus and/or components.
- the quote assembly means preferably also includes a quote configuration means which, for each multi-component apparatus, provides identification data for one or more components which are compatible with the multi-component apparatus, for selection by a user, so that identification data for components may be added to the quote or substituted for identification data relating to originally included components in the quote (this is useful, for example, where a component is no longer available, then the salesman may easily select another, compatible component) the quote configuration means therefore preferably facilitates configuration of computer equipment by providing for convenient selection by a user identification data for available compatible components.
- the quote configuration means preferably includes selection lists which are viewed by a salesman and which include the identification data for the compatible products, and associated attribute data.
- the system also preferably includes a configuration management means which tracks assembly of a quote and will alert the salesman if the salesman attempts to add to a quote identification data for a component where the physical limitations ofthe multi-component apparatus (with any components that may already have been added) would not allow for the addition of that component. In computer systems, for example, this enables the monitoring ofthe physical limitations of a particular system being assembled by the salesman in order to ensure that the salesman does not exceed the physical limitations.
- the configuration management means is arranged to provide the salesman with an indication ofthe available physical resources of a system.
- a computer In computers, a computer has physical resources available for receiving a number of components, e.g. a 5.25 inch external bay for receiving CD ROMs, back-up units, etc. Attribute data associated with a component may indicate which physical resource of a system the component would occupy, e.g. identification data for a CD ROM component would have attribute data associated with it indicating that it occupies a 5.25 inch external bay. This enables the configuration management means to monitor the physical resources of a multi-component apparatus and determine whether resources are available to receive a particular component. In a preferred embodiment, attribute data associated with a component may indicate that it can take up more than one "resource" ofthe multi-component apparatus.
- Such a component may be "moved", therefore, from one resource to another, to allow space for another component to take up the resource formerly occupied by the first component.
- the configuration management means can therefore move components to different physical parts ofthe multi-component apparatus to obtain the optimum configuration, as the quote is being billed.
- the present invention provides a processing system for preparing quotation data for facilitating quotations for multi-component apparatus, comprising a product database storing product data on a plurality of multi-component apparatus and/or a plurality of components for multi-component apparatus, the product data including identification data identifying the multi-component apparatus and components, quote assembling means for assembling quotes and including selection means for selecting identification data of multi-component apparatus and or components to assemble identification data relating to a quote, wherein the quote assembling means includes a quote configuration means, which, for each multi-component apparatus, provides identification data for one or more components which are compatible with the multi-component apparatus, for selection, whereby enabling identification data for components to be added to the quote or substituted for identification data relating to originally included components.
- This aspect ofthe present invention preferably includes the configuration management means discussed above and may include any or all ofthe features ofthe first aspect ofthe invention discussed above.
- Figure 1 is a block diagram of a system architecture for a processing system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention
- Figure 2 is a representation of a display screen for a user interface ofthe processing system of figure 1 showing a contact management screen;
- Figure 3 is a block diagram showing a structure ofthe contact management information
- Figures 4 to 13 show representations of user interface displays for various operations ofthe processing system of figure 1 ;
- FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a supplier/reseller interface for the processing system in accordance with this embodiment.
- Figure 15 is a block diagram of an alternative supplier/reseller interface for the processing system of this embodiment.
- product names which have been used in the following examples are not, in all cases, names of real products. It will be appreciated by a skilled person, however, that the actual application ofthe system the names used will generally be real-life brand names.
- Figure 1 illustrates a system architecture for a processing system in accordance with an embodiment ofthe present invention, for facilitating the provision of quotes on multi-component apparatus.
- the system may be implemented with any appropriate computing hardware and comprises a product database 1 which stores product data on a plurality of multi-component apparatus, such as computer systems, and a plurality of components for multi-component apparatus (e.g., where the multi-component apparatus is computer systems, the components will be products such as replacement memories, monitors, etc).
- the product data includes identification data identifying the multi-component apparatus and the components and also attribute data providing information on attributes ofthe multi-component apparatus and components.
- the attribute data may include data such as the price ofthe components and the multi-component apparatus, and data on whether or not a component or multi-component apparatus is available e.g., whether it is no longer made or whether it is just not available from a particular supplier. Whether it is out of stock, etc.
- the processing system also includes a quote assembling means 2 which includes a selection means which in this embodiment can be accessed by a user to select identification data of multi-component apparatus and/or components and to assemble the identification data for a quote.
- the quote assembling means 2 enables a user to assemble identification data for a computer system and any add-on or substitute components, such as a monitor, CD-ROM drive, etc., in order to provide a quote for the total computer equipment.
- the attribute data associated with the identification data enables the user to provide information from the quote on price, availability, etc.
- computer equipment includes computer systems, being the computer itself with any components that a supplier normally provides or is included in the computer, and components, which may be substitute components for originally included components or add-on components which are not originally included with the computer systems.
- a CD-ROM drive or DVD drive new technology to replace CD-ROM
- the processing system also includes a supplier update means 3 which is arranged to receive supplier update data for updating attribute data in the product database e.g., for updating the price of components and multi-component apparatus identified in the product database.
- the supplier update means may also update the product database by adding identification data for new multi-component apparatus and components.
- the supplier update data may be provided via a number of routes (see later) such as, for example, a network connection to a supplier for the down loading of data (reference numeral 4).
- a quote update means 6 flags any affected quotes 5 to alert a user ofthe system that the associated attribute data is updated. The user then may access these quotes and find out exactly what has changed e.g., has there been a price update; is a product identified in a quote no longer available? The user can then alert the potential buyer that their quote has been changed.
- the quote update means 6 may be arranged to automatically scan and flag affected quotes 5 or may carry out the scan and flag the affected quotes in response to instructions from a user, e.g., mouse click.
- the quote assembling means 2 also includes a quote configuration means which provides for user selection identification data for one or more components which are compatible with a multi-component apparatus and also includes a configuration management means which tracks assembly of a quote and monitors the physical limitations ofthe multi-component apparatus as the quote is assembled.
- the system also comprises a contact management module 7 which stores data on "contacts"
- the system in accordance with this embodiment ofthe present invention may be implemented by appropriate software as will be appreciated by a skilled person.
- the following description is made with reference to preferred "screens" which are viewed by a user in accessing the system and assembling a quote.
- a skilled person would be able to formulate appropriate software to implement this embodiment, from the previous and the following description.
- a main contact screen ofthe contact management module 7 is illustrated and designated by reference numeral 10.
- contact management modules in various degrees of complexity, form the basis of most customer information systems and the system in accordance with the present invention would still work without a contact management module. Nevertheless, in a preferred embodiment it is important to link the system ofthe present invention and the building of quotes to a customer and therefore a contact management module is advantageous.
- the screens shown in figures 2 through 12 are exemplary only. A system in accordance with the present invention may be implemented with different screens.
- the contact management module provides information on customers and any contacts that the user ofthe system has with particular customers. For example, in figure 2, the customer is "Big Government Organisation”. The contact presently displayed on the main section 11 ofthe screen is "David Smith”. Other contacts are displayed on the customer contacts section 12 ofthe screen and their details can be displayed by clicking on them. If there are any quotes associated with this customer they are displayed in summary in the right top part ofthe screen 13 and in the illustrated example there are two quotes which have a "Quote ID", "Description, and date”.
- Buttons and mouse actions allow the user to alter, view, create and perform and/or initiate quotation functions.
- the "New” button enables a user to start assembling a new quote.
- the "Modify” button allows modification of an existing quote.
- the "Remove” button allows a quote to be removed and the “Order” button allows an order to be placed with a supplier, to fill a quote. Note that the order may be generated e-mailed automatically to a supplier (see later).
- a customer may have many contacts (persons) e.g., David Smith (MIS Director), Samantha West (Applications Manager), Jack Gellie (Help Desk Manager) (see figures 2 and 3). All these contacts may be displayed and selecting anyone will change details on the screen (e.g., telephone, address, etc) to those belonging to the selected contact.
- personnel e.g., David Smith (MIS Director), Samantha West (Applications Manager), Jack Gellie (Help Desk Manager) (see figures 2 and 3). All these contacts may be displayed and selecting anyone will change details on the screen (e.g., telephone, address, etc) to those belonging to the selected contact.
- the main multi-component apparatus in this example, computer systems "Satellite” and Vectra
- additional components selected for each system are also shown.
- the computer system Vectra has additionally, in the quote for "system 2", a number of components such as "15 inch” for display, and the other components as listed in figure 8.
- the user therefore has access to all information on a quote.
- the quote update means 6 responsive to updated supplier data is arranged to scan all the quotes and locate affected quotes (i.e., quotes including attribute data which has been updated). These quotes are then flagged so that when a user accesses the contact management screen any associated quote will be flagged. He can then access the quote to determine exactly what has been updated and what affect it will have on his quote.
- Another major feature of this preferred embodiment is the manner by which quotes may be assembled by the quote assembling means 2.
- Product data is preferably arranged in two major accessible ways from the product database 1.
- “systems” files These are files which list multi-component apparatus e.g., computer systems which are supplied including the components that make up the "system”.
- Figure 4 shows a "Systems File” screen listing for computer systems. Note that the brief description ofthe computer systems which is listed in the section ofthe screen designated with the reference numeral 15 includes a brief "Description” ofthe system, a description ofthe "Monitor”, “Memory”, “Hard Disk” and “Cost". Note that some systems do not have monitors or hard disks.
- a component may be added to a system or substituted for components already included.
- a CD-ROM may be added to an existing system - the memory may be expanded, etc.
- This screen includes a screen section 16 which provides information on the components ofthe system and a section 17 providing information on the total resources ofthe system.
- the Resources screen 17 is driven by the configuration management means to monitor assembly of a quote and track the system resources. Components can be added to the system or substitute components already available in the system on the screen section 16 by accessing the quote configuration means.
- Figure 6 shows a Build System Screen when a system has been selected, in this case being a "Vectra XA system". The details of components ofthe system are illustrated in the section 16 ofthe screen. Additional components are detailed when the "Additional" tab is clicked.
- the Resources screen 17 shows the "Total”, “Used” and “Free” resources.
- the configuration management means "knows” the resources of a system on the product database. It tracks these resources as a quote is built and updates the resources screen 17 so that the user can immediately see what resources are available and what resources are free. If a resource is exceeded by a proposed addition of a component to a system, the configuration management means will not allow that component to be added to the quote.
- computers have a finite number of expansion areas for adding additional hardware such as Tape Backup Drives, CD-ROM's, Floppy Disks, Memory, Expansion Cards, etc.
- the configuration management means prevents the user from exceeding the physical limitations by keeping track of which physical resources have been used and what additional hardware products are being added to the quote by the user. It tracks internal and external devices, memory, and expansion cards. For example, if all 5.25 inch bays have been used with 5.25 inch hardware devices such as CD-ROM's, Backup Units, etc., the user will not be allowed to add another 5.25 inch device to the quote. Another example is that internal devices can be placed in external bays because there is always a covering "face plate". External devices, as the name implies, require external access.
- a floppy drive is a good example of a 3.5 inch device that requires external access.
- the configuration management means understands these principals and, for example, if all the internal bays are occupied, then external bays could be used for 3.5 inch or 5.25 inch devices. That is, the configuration management means will allow these bays to be used when the internal bays are used up.
- the configuration management means not only monitors the resources of a system, therefore, but also understands how a system is configured and what options are open to a user to use all the available resources ofthe system. It understands how computer systems are built.
- the configuration management means is provided with information on what resources a computer system has (see later), such as how many front access and internal access bays it has, for example. It knows what resources are available and what resources are already taken up by components, from this information. It can then, as a system is being configured, check the available resources against the additional components being added by a user, by a simple algorithm (as will be appreciated by a skilled person) and determine whether the system has the resources to allow the addition ofthe component. Configuration management means is also aware "what fits where". For example, it knows that internal devices can be placed in external bays because there is always a covering "face plate". External devices, as the name implies, require external access. Therefore, the face-plate has to be removed prior to installation.
- a floppy drive is a good example of a 3.5 inch device that requires external access.
- the configuration management means knows this and knows what components go where by virtue of attribute data associated with the identification data ofthe components e.g. a floppy drive will have attribute data that indicates that it is a 3.5 inch device that requires external access, and will monitor the resources associated with the system where a floppy drive is being added, accordingly.
- attribute data associated with components which are to be fitted to the multi-component apparatus indicates to the system exactly what physical locations the components may be added to in the multi-component apparatus (i.e. what "resource" does the component occupy).
- the configuration management means When a user selects identification data for a component for addition to the multi-component apparatus, the configuration management means is able to determine if the item can be fitted into the system. Further, the configuration management means can move components around to optimise the addition of components. For example:
- PIC Cards can occupy PCI slots or Shared PCI/ISA slots (Shared slots are mutually exclusive resources - they can be occupied by a PCI Card or an ISA Card) Imagine a situation where all PCI and Shared PCI/ISA slots are fully occupied, but there are some free ISA slots.
- the PCI Card could not be inserted into an ISA Slot, however, it is possible that one ofthe components in the Shared PCI/ISA slots (if it is an ISA Card) could be moved to a spare ISA slot to free up a Shared PCI/ISA.
- the configuration management means facilitates this.
- the resources information given on screen section 17 and figure 6 and figure 7 is exemplary only. Where there are further resources, the processing system ofthe present invention may be arranged to indicate them, for any particular multi-component apparatus.
- buttons indicate that changes and options are available for the components that they are next to. Where a shade of a button is lighter, this indicates that no changes or options are available. Where the shade is darker, it means that there are options and replaceable components available.
- the information enabling the configuration management means to be aware ofthe resources of a particular system may be provided with the supplier update data.
- the information enabling the configuration management means may be manually entered. That is, for each system, one would enter the memory areas available, the slots and bays available and the components coming with the system.
- the quote configuration means is arranged to present the most appropriate components to the user.
- the Vectra XA system illustrated in figures 6 and 7 does not have a monitor.
- the down arrow button 18 next to the monitor field in screen section 16 is clicked.
- the quote configuration means selects, from the product database, identification data for monitors which are compatible with the Vectra XA system and displays a "list” ofthe compatible monitors, as illustrated in figure 9, reference numeral 20.
- the lists gives a description ofthe component (monitor in this case), the identity of the "Supplier”, the "Product Code”, any "Tax", the "Buy Price” and the recommended retail price "RRP".
- the user is able to select an appropriate display from this list and details ofthe monitor will then appear in the "Monitor" field in the system screen 16.
- the monitor has been added to the quote.
- the quote configuration means provides “Preferred” and in some cases “Alternative” components.
- the quote configuration means lists the best and most workable choices for each component so that the salesperson is given a list of components that will work on the equipment they are configuring. In other words, it is not just the manufacturers memory that is displayed, it is the correct manufacturers memory for the system. In alternative choices, the quote configuration means lists "non-genuine" parts e.g., clones.
- Figure 1 1 illustrates an "Alternative" list for memory for the Vectra XA system. Note that the lists of components which are provided by the quote configuration means may be shared by different systems, i.e., access to each ofthe lists may be shared. These lists can be updated by supplier update data from a supplier.
- the lists may be manually updated by data input operators (in a similar way to the way in which the information for the configuration management means may be input).
- the user can configure equipment by selecting first of all a system and then adding or substituting components utilising the quote configuration means.
- the configuration management means monitors the resources available for the system and prevents the resources being exceeded, and also presents the available resources to the user. Referring to figure 6 again, if a down arrow button 18 next to the "Memory" field is clicked, a screen is illustrated in figure 10, reference numeral 21, is presented. This displays memory banks with current memory configuration. The user may then select a replacement or additional memory components using the quote configuration means (see figure 11).
- Figure 12 illustrates the memory screen 21 after the KIN 0604 memory has been chosen from the "Alternative" list (figure 1 1).
- Figure 13 illustrates the build systems screen for this particular quote once the memory has been selected (note that the monitor has not been selected here). This also shows the "Costings” screen which is selected by clicking on the "Costings” tab.
- a cost calculation means automatically calculates the cost ofthe equipment from the components costs and systems costs given as attribute data in the product database.
- customer data including "Discount” data, "Percentage Points", "Adjustments” data the cost data can be adjusted. This is useful where a customer has a particular deal with a reseller. For example, a reseller may wish to sell to one customer at a discount.
- the customer data affects a control means to automatically adjust the price in accordance with the customer data.
- Customers can have default pricing structures on the basis of cost up or cost down for a range of products, groups of products, manufactures, or just a single item. eg- • customer gets 10% off the recommended retail price for IBM PCs
- the processing system in accordance with the present invention is able to obtain supply data from any supplier that agrees to provide data. This has the advantage of allowing a supplier to disburse updates to resellers according to what fits best, according to security considerations and technologies. Any method of communications could be used.
- Figures 14 and 15 illustrate two, "pull-technology" and E-Mail.
- E-mail messages can contain file attachments that the processing system is able to read, decrypt, and merge into its databases.
- the supplier can therefore determine when to send supplier data to the reseller.
- Such a system minimises bottle necks caused by thousands of resellers down loading updates all at the same time from one Internet Site connection.
- the system is also more secure as the supplier can decide who should receive the information. There is a reduced risk of hackers.
- the supplier can also send tailored price lists down to different resellers.
- "Pull-technology" (figure 14) the system transfers "Product Update Files"
- Suppliers may participate voluntarily or involuntarily in so much as their product information must be in an electronic form such that it can be merged (unassembled in the case of involuntary participation) with the product database ofthe system.
- Involuntary participation means a given Supplier has not co-operated in producing compatible types of data files for simple integration with the system. None-the-less, in some cases it may be possible to program a module to un-assemble a source of data for integration.
- the system can be programmed to process pricing differently for each supplier. That is, one supplier's information may present itself in structure and content that requires a variation or additional processing from others, eg. Supplier's data only shows the RRP of a product, and the reseller buys a certain percentage off RRP depending on what type of product it is, i.e., Printers 20% less, Computers 25%, Software 30%, all else $18%. 4. Data coming from the Suppliers can be encrypted for security reasons. The system is designed with this at the forefront of its product data integration module. Decryption codes, issued by the Supplier to a Reseller, must be entered into the system (manual entry, disk, email, etc). Basically, the system can be made to be compatible with Suppliers, and the Reseller should perceived little or no difference what so ever.
- a history of change made to each product may be kept to allow reporting and analysis of trends. Without this tracking, even in the simplest form, their would be no way to perform "before and after" analysis reporting.
- the processing system ofthe present invention facilitates this.
- a history of change of each product is kept in the database including:
- the quote update means 6 runs through all quotes which have not been closed ("open” i.e., "where there has been no sale yet") looking for ones which are affected (price change, end of life product, and replacements for end of life products), then flags them for further attention.
- This processing can be run manually or scheduled upon receipt of new data or at a pre-defined time of day.
- Price Change Increase in prices warn Salespersons of possible loss. The salesperson decides whether or not to maintain the sell price and accept diminished profits, or resend an updated quote to the customer (Land Mail, Email, Fax, Verbal). Decrease in product costing I: Tells the Salesperson which quotes are now "more affordable” to the customer. These have a higher probability of developing into an order, and should command attention.
- Sensitivity Levels are defined by the user to prevent notification of negligible variations, eg. i. From $0 to $100 - No action where cost price increases or decreases by less than $3. ii. From $100 to $400 - No action where cost price increases or decreases by less than $10. iii. From $400 above - No action where cost price decreases by less than 2%. iv. From $400 above - No action where cost price increases by less than 1%. v. Warning if any cost price increases produces a profit situation less than a 5%. EOL Volatility in the market place can see massive change in what is available on a day to day basis. Product life cycles for Notebooks are only about 2 months and for
- EOL affects products at different times all through the year with thousands upon thousands of changes taking place without any ability to adequately respond.
- the system dramatically improves this situation by allowing the salesperson to see what quotes are affected before it causes problems to the customer. It develops a pro-active approach to the problem that giving an edge over competitors who are unable to process information in the same manner.
- REOL Replacing end-of-life products is an extension of EOL processing where the system will suggest what the most appropriate replacement product If one is selected the quote will be automatically adjusted and the user can decide from list of options, how and if to contact their customer. Turning quotations into purchase orders completes the sales life cycle that effects this system. It is essential to provide feedback to reporting areas ofthe system, and allow the purchasing department to join the work ofthe salesperson with other internal systems.
- the system produces a file, structured appropriately, to be processed either by the Resellers internal accounting system or for some other linkup with the Supplier.
- Management can quickly report on the activities of salespersons to discover reasons for low achievement, who closes the most sales per quote, what business areas are doing best overall or per salesperson. For example:
- Order Trends Linking quote(s) to order(s) enables salesperson and their managers to play a pro-active roll, based on order to quote ratios, in increasing business volume, correcting errors, and re-shifting focus onto problem areas and/or to those that are more profitable.
- the quote update means "flags" the quotes which are affected by supplier update data.
- the term “flag” includes any way in which a user can be alerted that a quote has been affected. For example, the user may be provided with a list of affected quotes.
- the system ofthe preferred embodiment stores data on both multi-component apparatus (systems including a number of components) and components which can be used to replace or add to the multi-component apparatus.
- the processing system ofthe present invention could merely store data on components which could be assembled to provide a finished apparatus i.e., the invention is not limited to a system which includes data on multi-component apparatus as well as components.
Abstract
Description
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Priority Applications (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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AU41221/99A AU4122199A (en) | 1998-05-22 | 1999-05-24 | Apparatus and method for preparing quotes |
EP99924571A EP1114378A1 (en) | 1998-05-22 | 1999-05-24 | Apparatus and method for preparing quotes |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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AUPP756398 | 1998-05-22 | ||
AUPP7563 | 1998-05-22 |
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WO1999062010A1 true WO1999062010A1 (en) | 1999-12-02 |
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PCT/AU1999/000393 WO1999062010A1 (en) | 1998-05-22 | 1999-05-24 | Apparatus and method for preparing quotes |
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WO (1) | WO1999062010A1 (en) |
Cited By (5)
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US6604088B1 (en) * | 1995-09-12 | 2003-08-05 | Monarch Marking Systems, Inc. | Automatic barcode printing supply price quote system and method |
EP1531413A1 (en) | 2003-11-14 | 2005-05-18 | International Business Machines Corporation | Systems and method for costing of service proposals |
EP1646004A1 (en) * | 2004-09-06 | 2006-04-12 | Hitachi Ltd. | Renewal proposal support system |
US8843548B2 (en) | 2010-03-31 | 2014-09-23 | Prospx, Inc. | System for providing information and information experts to a plurality of users |
US8886713B2 (en) | 2010-03-31 | 2014-11-11 | Prospx, Inc. | System for providing information to a plurality of users |
Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO1997031322A1 (en) * | 1996-02-22 | 1997-08-28 | Joseph Giovannoli | Computerized quotation system and method |
WO1997040460A1 (en) * | 1996-04-19 | 1997-10-30 | American International Group, Inc. | An electronic out-trade insurance system |
US5870719A (en) * | 1996-07-03 | 1999-02-09 | Sun Microsystems, Inc. | Platform-independent, usage-independent, and access-independent distributed quote configuraton system |
-
1999
- 1999-05-24 EP EP99924571A patent/EP1114378A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1999-05-24 WO PCT/AU1999/000393 patent/WO1999062010A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
Patent Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO1997031322A1 (en) * | 1996-02-22 | 1997-08-28 | Joseph Giovannoli | Computerized quotation system and method |
WO1997033215A2 (en) * | 1996-02-22 | 1997-09-12 | Joseph Giovannoli | Computerized quotation system and method |
WO1997040460A1 (en) * | 1996-04-19 | 1997-10-30 | American International Group, Inc. | An electronic out-trade insurance system |
US5870719A (en) * | 1996-07-03 | 1999-02-09 | Sun Microsystems, Inc. | Platform-independent, usage-independent, and access-independent distributed quote configuraton system |
Cited By (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US6604088B1 (en) * | 1995-09-12 | 2003-08-05 | Monarch Marking Systems, Inc. | Automatic barcode printing supply price quote system and method |
EP1531413A1 (en) | 2003-11-14 | 2005-05-18 | International Business Machines Corporation | Systems and method for costing of service proposals |
EP1646004A1 (en) * | 2004-09-06 | 2006-04-12 | Hitachi Ltd. | Renewal proposal support system |
US8843548B2 (en) | 2010-03-31 | 2014-09-23 | Prospx, Inc. | System for providing information and information experts to a plurality of users |
US8886713B2 (en) | 2010-03-31 | 2014-11-11 | Prospx, Inc. | System for providing information to a plurality of users |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP1114378A1 (en) | 2001-07-11 |
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