Sales tracking and forecasting application tool

• US 20030208394A1
• Filed: 05/01/2002
• Published: 11/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Torque-Traction Technologies Incorporated (Dana, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Torque-Traction Technologies Incorporated (Dana, Inc.)
• Inventors: Burris, Todd, Rouse, Christina
• Application Number:
  US10/137,184
• Publication Number:
  US 20030208394A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/10
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0202 Market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities

Abstract

A sales tracking and forecasting system and method for integrating and manipulating data from two or more sources and then allowing a user to forecast the demand for a range of products, a specific product, a part utilized in a product, or raw materials used to manufacture a product. Possible sources of data retrieved by the system include sources internal to a seller and external to a seller.

Claims

1. A system for tracking and forecasting product sales, comprising:

at least two different input sources of data; and

a central processor that selectively retrieves data from the at least two different input sources.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the central processor includes:

an integration subsystem for integrating at different levels data acquired from the at least two data sources;

an analysis subsystem for manipulating the integrated data at different levels of detail; and

an output subsystem for reporting the manipulated data at different levels of detail as selected by a user.

3. The system according to claim 2, further comprising means for integrating the manipulated data with an ordering system.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein the ordering system places orders for raw materials used in a manufacturing process.

5. The system according to claim 3, wherein the ordering system places orders for parts used in a manufacturing process.

6. The system according to claim 3, wherein the means for integrating the manipulated data with the ordering system is automatic.

7. The system according to claim 2, further comprising means for integrating the manipulated data with an accounting system.

8. The system according to claim 2, further comprising means for integrating the manipulated data with a scheduling system.

9. The system according to claim 2, wherein at least one input source of data is external to a manufacturing process.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein at least one of the external input sources of data is a customer.

11. The system according to claim 9, wherein at least one of the external input sources of data is a third party.

12. The system according to claim 2, wherein at least one input source of data is internal to a manufacturing process.

13. A method for forecasting the demand for a product, comprising the steps:

acquiring data from two or more different sources;

performing different levels of analysis on the acquired data; and

producing forecast reports with varying levels of detail as selected by a user.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein at least a portion of the data is acquired from sources external to a manufacturing process.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein one source of data is the World Wide Web.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein one source of data is sales reports from official equipment manufacturers (OEMs).

17. The method according to claim 14, wherein one source of data is customer reports.

18. The method according to claim 13, wherein at least a portion of the data is acquired from sources directly related to the manufacturing process.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein one source of data is internal management forecast reports.

20. The method according to claim 18, wherein one source of data is a production schedule of a particular part.

21. The method according to claim 18, wherein one source of data is a current inventory listing.

22. The method according to claim 13, further comprising predicting a demand for raw materials based on the acquired data.