Business improvement program with on-line access
First Claim
1. A customer incentive and business improvement program for non-retail customers, including a computer system accessible for on-line interactive communication with customers, said computer system comprising:
- a first memory area or database for storing an awards catalog, said awards catalog including descriptions of the awards offered by the program and award point values for each award;
a frequency database storing account information and award points for each enrolled user of said incentive award program;
a purchase history database for storing purchase history information for each enrolled user; and
means for updating said frequency database with information based on customer'"'"'s shopping history that is stored in the purchase history database, wherein the awards offered by the program are selected from the group consisting of award business services and business tools.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A fully integrated customer loyalty and business enhancement program for non-retail, i.e., corporate, customers is disclosed. A user may access the program on-line and may browse a product catalog for shopping. The user may electronically place an order, upon which the program automatically checks the user'"'"'s credentials and electronically issues a purchase order to the supplying company. The program also calculates loyalty points based on each purchase, updates the award account of enrolled users, and communicates that number of awarded points to the user. Enrolled users may browse through a business award catalog, which includes value added business services and business tools that have the ability to enhance the user'"'"'s business, and electronically redeem an amount of awarded points towards an award. The program preferably then electronically places an award redeeming order with the fulfillment house and updates the user'"'"'s loyalty account.
35 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A customer incentive and business improvement program for non-retail customers, including a computer system accessible for on-line interactive communication with customers, said computer system comprising:
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a first memory area or database for storing an awards catalog, said awards catalog including descriptions of the awards offered by the program and award point values for each award;
a frequency database storing account information and award points for each enrolled user of said incentive award program;
a purchase history database for storing purchase history information for each enrolled user; and
means for updating said frequency database with information based on customer'"'"'s shopping history that is stored in the purchase history database, wherein the awards offered by the program are selected from the group consisting of award business services and business tools. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A customer incentive and business improvement program for non-retail customers, including a computer system accessible for on-line interactive communication with customers, said computer system comprising:
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a first memory area for storing a product catalog, said product catalog including product descriptions and product prices for each product available to purchase, a second memory area for storing an awards catalog, said awards catalog including descriptions of award services and business tools offered by the program and award point values for each award;
a frequency database storing account information and award points for each enrolled user of said incentive award program;
a purchase history database for storing purchase history information for each enrolled user; and
means for updating said frequency database with information based on customer'"'"'s on-line and off-line shopping history that is stored in the purchase history database, wherein the award services and business tools offered by the program are selected from the group consisting of technical training, business training, safety training, process training purchasing programs, marketing support, business improvement support, legal support, and co-branding programs that will allow the customer to use the brand name of the supplier. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A computer readable substrate having a computer program saved thereon, said computer program capable of providing a user with on-line access to a customer incentive program having a frequency database and a purchase history database and an awards catalog associated therewith, whereby each user can access their loyalty account to review bonus points and redeem awards, whereby the awards offered by the program consist essentially of business services and business tools that can be used to enhance the customer'"'"'s business.
Specification