System and method for managing direct mail campaigns

• US 20040107127A1
• Filed: 05/28/2003
• Published: 06/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Chang, Chen-Hu, Skalinder, Brian T., Marshall, Shampra, Zhang, Qing, Kanzinger, Charles G.
• Application Number:
  US10/446,593
• Publication Number:
  US 20040107127A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/9
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063114 Status monitoring or status determination for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06315 Needs-based resource requirements planning or analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06375 Prediction of business process outcome or impact based on a proposed change
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0639 Performance analysis of employees; Performance analysis of enterprise or organisation operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1097 Task assignment
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

A method for managing a direct mail job for an organization includes defining a direct mail job within a web-based application; defining a plurality of tasks associated with the direct mail job; scheduling the tasks including defining a start time and a completion time; executing the assigned tasks; and tracking status of the tasks until all tasks have been completed. The method provides automated methods to efficiently and effectively identify, schedule, execute and track all the tasks involved in a direct mail campaign. The method of the invention can be used to create a traditional direct mail campaign (where printed collaterals are snail mailed to prospective clients on a list) or in a push distribution system, where items of content are sent to prospective clients on a list electronically (typically via email).

Claims

1. A method for managing a direct mail job for an organization, comprising:

defining a direct mail job within a web-based application;

defining a plurality of tasks associated with the direct mail job;

scheduling the tasks including defining a start time and a completion time;

executing the assigned tasks; and

tracking status of the tasks until all tasks have been completed.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

assigning tasks to identified parties within the organization for execution of the tasks.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein one of tasks includes creating collaterals to be distributed to the direct mail recipients.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein creating collaterals comprises obtaining quotes from vendors;

selecting a vendor and assigning a purchase order to the selected vendor.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

tracking vendor pricing information.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein each job includes a job ID, a name, a due date, scheduled start and end dates, job price and a job manager.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising managing a plurality of direct mail jobs.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising grouping tasks within the plurality of jobs.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein each task includes a task ID, a name, a description, estimated start and end dates, actual start and end dates, baseline price, estimated price and actual price.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein each task includes an item ID for linking to another database and a purchase order tracking number for linking to a purchase order module.

11. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

tracking vendor pricing information;

tracking cost savings; and

reviewing and selecting a vendor for each task based on tracked cost savings.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising automatically creating a purchase order upon selection of a vendor for a task in the job.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising automatically creating a link to a requisition module for requisitioning print materials.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein one of the tasks includes creating of a printed document and further comprising defining pricing of the printed document based on attributes and specifications of the printed document.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising tracking vendor pricing.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein vendor pricing is tracking using task attributes and quantity and using lowest cost vendors for the task.