Import declaration/foreign supplier invoice payment reconciliation process

• US 20030078885A1
• Filed: 10/18/2001
• Published: 04/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Varra, Ronald P., Felton, Robert S., Skubish, William S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,032,454 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/40
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting

Abstract

A system and method for verifying the value of goods on a supplier invoice comprises inputting a first value (import declaration value) and second value (payment invoice value) of imported goods in a computer system, and comparing the values. Next, a user is alerted if the values are unequal, or a payment is made if the values are equal. Then, the process is repeated for subsequent invoices. The values are compared for every occurrence, or alternatively, it occurs selectively. The method further comprises selecting a statistical sample of invoices having the first value greater than a predetermined amount. Alternatively, the method comprises selecting a statistical random sample from all invoices in the system, and identifying an amount of occurrences of unequal values, attributed to a common supplier. Then, all invoices of the common supplier are selected if the amount of occurrences exceeds a predetermined amount, and the user is alerted.

Claims

1. A method for verifying a value of goods on a supplier invoice, said method comprising:

inputting a first value of imported goods in a data processing system;

inputting a second value of imported goods in said data processing system;

comparing said first value with said second value;

performing a logic step, wherein said logic step comprises one of;

alerting a user if said first value does not equal said second value; and

making an automated payment if said first value equals said second value; and

repeating said method for subsequent supplier invoices.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of inputting a first value of imported goods into a data processing system comprises inputting a value claimed on an import declaration, and wherein said step of inputting a second value of imported goods into said data processing system comprises inputting a value claimed on a payment invoice.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of comparing said first value with said second value occurs for every occurrence of said inputting a first value of imported goods into a data processing system and said step of inputting a second value of imported goods into said data processing system.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of comparing said first value with said second value occurs selectively.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising selecting a statistical sample of supplier invoices having said first value greater than a predetermined amount.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising selecting a statistical random sample from all supplier invoices in said data processing system, and identifying an amount of occurrences of unequal first values compared with second values, attributed to a common supplier.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising selecting all invoices of said common supplier if said amount of occurrences exceeds a predetermined amount, and alerting said user.

8. A computer system executing a method for verifying a value of goods on a supplier invoice, said method comprising:

inputting a first value of imported goods in a data processing system;

inputting a second value of imported goods in said data processing system;

comparing said first value with said second value;

performing a logic step, wherein said logic step comprises one of;

alerting a user if said first value does not equal said second value; and

making an automated payment if said first value equals said second value; and

repeating said method for subsequent supplier invoices.

9. The computer system of claim 8, wherein in said method, said step of comparing said first value with said second value occurs for every occurrence of said inputting a first value of imported goods into a data processing system and said step of inputting a second value of imported goods into said data processing system.

10. The computer system of claim 8, wherein in said method, said step of comparing said first value with said second value occurs selectively.

11. The computer system of claim 10, wherein said method further comprising selecting a statistical sample of supplier invoices having said first value greater than a predetermined amount.

12. The computer system of claim 10, wherein said method further comprising selecting a statistical random sample from all supplier invoices in said data processing system, and identifying an amount of occurrences of unequal first values compared with second values, attributed to a common supplier.

13. The computer system of claim 12, wherein said method further comprising selecting all invoices of said common supplier if said amount of occurrences exceeds a predetermined amount, and alerting said user.

14. A program storage device readable by machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform a method for verifying an import declaration with an invoice for value of goods, said method comprising:

inputting a first value of imported goods in a data processing system;

inputting a second value of imported goods in said data processing system;

comparing said first value with said second value;

performing a logic step, wherein said logic step comprises one of;

alerting a user if said first value does not equal said second value; and

making an automated payment if said first value equals said second value; and

repeating said method for subsequent supplier invoices.

15. The program storage device in claim 14, wherein in said method, said step of inputting a first value of imported goods into a data processing system comprises inputting a value claimed on an import declaration, and wherein said step of inputting a second value of imported goods into said data processing system comprises inputting a value claimed on a payment invoice.

16. The program storage device in claim 14, wherein in said method, said step of comparing said first value with said second value occurs for every occurrence of said inputting a first value of imported goods into a data processing system and said step of inputting a second value of imported goods into said data processing system.

17. The program storage device in claim 14, wherein in said method, said step of comparing said first value with said second value occurs selectively.

18. The program storage device in claim 17, wherein said method further comprises selecting a statistical sample of supplier invoices having said first value greater than a predetermined amount.

19. The program storage device in claim 17, wherein said method further comprises selecting a statistical random sample from all supplier invoices in said data processing system, and identifying an amount of occurrences of unequal first values compared with second values, attributed to a common supplier.

20. The program storage device in claim 19, wherein said method further comprises selecting all invoices of said common supplier if said amount of occurrences exceeds a predetermined amount, and alerting said user.