Customer value chain business analysis

• US 20050228713A1
• Filed: 09/29/2004
• Published: 10/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: United States Postal Service (Government of the United States of America)
• Original Assignee: United States Postal Service (Government of the United States of America)
• Inventors: Whiteman, Gregory Matthew, Manzolillo, John C.
• Application Number:
  US10/952,175
• Publication Number:
  US 20050228713A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/10
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063 Operations research, analysis or management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0201 Market modelling; Market analysis; Collecting market data

Abstract

A system and method for analyzing a relationship with a business target according to the business target'"'"'s customer value chain. The customer value chain includes the links of customer acquisition, customer fulfillment, and customer retention. A business target is identified, and a decision maker within the business target for each link of the business target'"'"'s customer value chain is identified. Each identified decision maker is interviewed according to a template. The template is stored on a processing system and reflects an interview outline including each link of the business target'"'"'s customer value chain. The data from the interview is entered into the processing system through the template. The template provides a user interface with the data processing system. A relational database stores and organizes the data, and a processor analyzes the data stored in the relational database using the processor.

Claims

1. A method for analyzing a relationship with a business target according to the business target'"'"'s customer value chain, the customer value chain comprising the links of customer acquisition, customer fulfillment, and customer retention, the method for analyzing comprising the steps of:

identifying a business target;

identifying a decision maker within the business target for each link of the business target'"'"'s customer value chain;

interviewing each identified decision maker according to a template stored on a processing system, the template comprising an interview outline including each link of the business target'"'"'s customer value chain;

entering data from the interview into the processing system, the template providing a user interface with the data processing system;

storing the data in a relational database; and

analyzing the data stored in the relational database using the processor.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the template comprises a computer spreadsheet.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the template includes open ended and closed ended questions.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the customer acquisition link includes information related to the business target'"'"'s advertising budget.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein customer acquisition link includes information related to the type of mail used by the business target.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the business target is a potential client or customer.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the business target is a current client of customer.

8. A method, executed by a processor, for analyzing a relationship with a business target according to the business target'"'"'s customer value chain, the customer value chain comprising the links of customer acquisition, customer fulfillment, and customer retention, the method for analyzing comprising the steps of:

receiving data through a template, the data originating from a decision maker within the target for each link of the target'"'"'s customer value chain, the template comprising an interview outline including each link of the business target'"'"'s customer value chain;

storing the data in a relational database; and

analyzing the data stored in the relational database.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the template comprises a computer spreadsheet.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the template includes open ended and closed ended questions.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the customer acquisition link includes information related to the business target'"'"'s advertising budget.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein customer acquisition link includes information related to the type of mail used by the business target.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the business target is a potential client or customer.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the business target is a current client of customer.

15. A system for analyzing a relationship with a business target according to the business target'"'"'s customer value chain, the customer value chain comprising the links of customer acquisition, customer fulfillment, and customer retention, the system comprising:

means for receiving data through a template, the data originating from a decision maker within the target for each link of the target'"'"'s customer value chain, the template comprising an interview outline including each link of the business target'"'"'s customer value chain;

a relational database for storing the data; and

means for analyzing the data stored in the relational database.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the template comprises a computer spreadsheet.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the template includes open ended and closed ended questions.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the customer acquisition link includes information related to the business target'"'"'s advertising budget.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein customer acquisition link includes information related to the type of mail used by the business target.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the business target is a potential client or customer.

21. The system of claim 15, wherein the business target is a current client of customer.

22. The system of claim 15, wherein the means for receiving data comprises a personal computer.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the personal computer comprises a portable computer.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the computer comprises a handheld computer.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the handheld computer includes means for wireless communication with the relational database.

26. A computer readable medium having contents for causing a computer-based information handling system to perform steps for analyzing a relationship with a business target according to the business target'"'"'s customer value chain, the customer value chain comprising the links of customer acquisition, customer fulfillment, and customer retention, the steps comprising:

receiving data through a template, the data originating from a decision maker within the target for each link of the target'"'"'s customer value chain, the template comprising an interview outline including each link of the business target'"'"'s customer value chain;

storing the data in a relational database; and

analyzing the data stored in the relational database.