Method and system for establishing relationship between business organizations

• US 20070067202A1
• Filed: 07/18/2006
• Published: 03/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company
• Original Assignee: Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company
• Inventors: Jacobs, Siedle, Siroko, Gary
• Application Number:
  US11/489,044
• Publication Number:
  US 20070067202A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/9
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/016 After-sales
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0281 Customer communication at a business location, e.g. providing product or service information, consulting

Abstract

A relationship between a first business organization, which offers a plurality of services, and one or more second business organizations is established. Vendors that support business activity applications are identified. The business activity applications are associated with a plurality of business processes and technology. A business relationship is negotiated with the vendors using at least one of a bargaining power of the first business organization, an existing relationship between the first business organization and the vendors, a volume of potential business for the vendor based on an aggregation of needs of the second business organization, and brand recognition of the first business organization. A portal is maintained through which the second business organization accesses, using a single interface, the business activity applications. In connection with maintaining the portal, the technology and business processes associated with the business activity applications are aggregated and integrated, respectively, with the technology and business processes associated with other of the business activity applications. A relationship between the first and second organizations is a established as a result of the portal, thereby allowing the first business organization to performs services for the second business organization.

Claims

1. A method for creating a relationship between a first business organization and at least one second business organization, wherein the first business organization offers a plurality of services, comprising:

(A) identifying a plurality of vendors each supporting at least one business activity application,

wherein at least some of the business activity applications are each supported by a different vendor and wherein each of the business activity applications are associated with a plurality of business processes and technology;

(B) negotiating a business relationship with the vendors using at least one of a bargaining power of the first business organization, an existing relationship between the first business organization and the vendors, a volume of potential business for the vendor based on an aggregation of needs of the second business organization, and a brand recognition of the first business organization;

(C) maintaining a portal through which the second business organization accesses, through a single interface, the business activity applications, said maintaining comprising;

(i) aggregating at least some of the technology associated with at least one of the business activity applications with at least some of the technology associated with at least one other of the business activity applications; and

(ii) integrating one or more of the business processes associated with at least one of the business activity applications with one or more of the business processes associated with at least one other of the business activity applications; and

(D) as a result of, at least in part, step (C), establishing a relationship between the first business organization and the second business organization comprising performing by the first business organization at least one of the services for the second business organization.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

(E) providing a single training experience comprising training activities associated with all of the business activity applications.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

(F) maintaining a call center that supports all of the business activity applications.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

(G) maintaining an on-line help service that supports all of the business activity applications.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

(H) managing the technology for all of the business activity applications comprising at least one of providing upgrades, conducting maintenance, scanning for viruses.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the second business organizations and the business activity applications are associated with at least one industry type, further comprising:

(I) grouping the business activity applications according to the industry type; and

(J) offering the business activity applications in accordance with the groupings.

7. A system to support a relationship between a first business organization and at least one second business organization, comprising:

the first business organization that offers a plurality of services;

the at least one second business organizations;

a plurality of vendors each supporting at least one business activity application,

wherein at least some of the business activity applications are each supported by a different vendor and wherein each of the business activity applications are associated with a plurality of business processes and technology; and

wherein a business relationship is negotiated between the first business organization and the vendors using at least one of a bargaining power of the first business organization, an existing relationship between the first business organization and the vendors, a volume of potential business for the vendor based on an aggregation of needs of the second business organization, and a brand recognition of the first business organization;

a portal through which the second business organization accesses, through a single interface, the business activity applications;

wherein, through the portal, at least some of the technology associated with at least one of the business activity applications is aggregated with at least some of the technology associated with at least one other of the business activity applications; and

one or more of the business processes associated with at least one of the business activity applications is integrated with one or more of the business processes associated with at least one other of the business activity applications;

wherein a relationship between the first business organization and the second business organization is established comprising performing by the first business organization at least one of the services for the second business organization.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein a single training experience is provided comprising training activities associated with all of the business activity applications.

9. The system of claim 7 further comprising:

a call center that supports all of the business activity applications.

10. The system of claim 7 further comprising:

an on-line help service that supports all of the business activity applications.

11. The system of claim 7 wherein the technology for all of the business activity applications is managed, the managing comprising at least one of providing upgrades, conducting maintenance, scanning for viruses.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein each of the second business organizations and the business activity applications are associated with at least one industry type and wherein the business activity applications are grouped according to the industry type;

and the business activity applications are offered in accordance with the groupings.