System and method for automated processing of returns

• US 20080082346A1
• Filed: 09/29/2006
• Published: 04/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Swearingen, Mary J., Agbodjan-Prince, Pauline C., Meyer, Douglas C., Hoopes, John M.
• Application Number:
  US11/529,483
• Publication Number:
  US 20080082346A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/20 Administration of product repair or maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

A system and method are disclosed that provide for processing dealer returns. The system and method include receiving a list of parts from a dealer, wherein the list of parts includes at least one part the dealer seeks to return to a supplier of the part, and determining a return recommendation for each part included in the list of parts, wherein the return recommendation includes a suggested disposition for the part. The system and method further includes providing the return recommendation to the dealer and receiving a response to the return recommendation from the dealer. In addition, the system and method includes providing a return authorization to the dealer based on the return recommendation and the dealer response, wherein the return authorization includes an authorized disposition for each part on the list of parts.

Claims

1. A method for processing dealer returns, comprising:

receiving a list of parts from a dealer, wherein the list of parts includes at least one part the dealer seeks to return to a supplier of the part;

determining a return recommendation for each part included in the list of parts, wherein the return recommendation includes a suggested disposition for the part;

providing the return recommendation to the dealer;

receiving a response to the return recommendation from the dealer; and

providing a return authorization to the dealer based on the return recommendation and the dealer response, wherein the return authorization includes an authorized disposition for each part included in the list of parts.

2. The method as in claim 1, wherein determining the return recommendation further includes:

accessing a database, wherein the database includes data associated with each part included in the list of parts; and

providing the return recommendation based on the data.

3. The method as in claim 1, wherein providing the return authorization further includes:

providing, for each part included in the list of parts and authorized for return, at least one tag; and

providing to the dealer a return authorization number.

4. The method as in claim 3, wherein providing a return authorization further includes:

determining, for each part included in the list of parts and authorized for return, a country of origin of the part; and

including the determined country of origin on the generated tag.

5. The method as in claim 1, wherein the return recommendation is selected from a list of return recommendations.

6. The method as in claim 1, wherein the return recommendation includes a recommendation to keep one or more parts.

7. The method as in claim 1, wherein the return recommendation includes a recommendation to transfer one or more parts.

8. The method as in claim 1, wherein the return recommendation includes a recommendation to reorder one or more parts.

9. The method as in claim 1, wherein the dealer response includes at least one of an acceptance or a rejection of the return recommendation.

10. The method as in claim 1, further including:

receiving one or more returned parts based on the return authorization;

inspecting the one or more returned parts; and

issuing a credit to the dealer for the one or more returned parts.

11. A computer-readable medium including instructions for performing a method, when executed by a processor, for processing dealer returns, comprising:

receiving a list of parts from a dealer, wherein the list of parts includes at least one part the dealer seeks to return to a supplier of the part;

determining a return recommendation for each part included in the list of parts, wherein the return recommendation includes a suggested disposition for the part;

providing the return recommendation to the dealer;

receiving a response to the return recommendation from the dealer; and

providing a return authorization to the dealer based on the return authorization and the dealer response, wherein the return authorization includes an authorized disposition for each part included in the list of parts.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein determining the return recommendation further includes:

accessing a database, wherein the database includes data associated with each part included in the list of parts; and

providing the return recommendation based on the data.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein providing the return authorization further includes:

determining, for each part included in the list of parts and authorized for return, a country of origin of the part;

generating, for each part included in the list of parts and authorized for return, at least one tag, wherein the tag includes the determined country of origin; and

providing to the dealer a return authorization number and the at least one tag.

14. The method as in claim 11, wherein the return recommendation is selected from a list of return recommendations.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the return recommendation includes a recommendation to keep one or more parts.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the return recommendation includes a recommendation to transfer one or more parts.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the return recommendation includes a recommendation to reorder one or more parts.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, further including:

receiving one or more returned parts based on the return authorization;

inspecting the one or more returned parts; and

issuing a credit to the dealer for the one or more returned parts.

19. A system for processing dealer returns, comprising:

a first computer system configured to generate and transmit a list of items for potential return, wherein the list of items includes at least one item; and

a second computer including;

a memory including program code configured to process dealer returns; and

a processor configured to execute the program code to determine a return recommendation for each item included in the list of items received from the first computer system, determine a return recommendation for each item on the list of items, wherein the return recommendation includes a suggested disposition for the item, and provide a return authorization based on the return recommendation for any item identified for return by the first computer system.

20. The system as in claim 19, wherein the second computing system is further configured to execute program to process one or more returned items based on the return authorization and issue a credit for the one or more returned items.