SALES FORCE AUTOMATION AND METHOD

• US 20080103946A1
• Filed: 10/30/2007
• Published: 05/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/1995
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SFA Systems LLC (f/k/a Triton IP, LLC) (Legacy Patent Holdings, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Triton IP LLC (Legacy Patent Holdings, LLC)
• Inventors: Lundberg, David, Johnson, Jerome, Krebsbach, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 7,949,578 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/30
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06311 Scheduling, planning or task assignment for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06316 Sequencing of tasks or work
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0637 Strategic management or analysis, e.g. setting a goal or target of an organisation; Planning actions based on goals; Analysis or evaluation of effectiveness of goals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0201 Market modelling; Market analysis; Collecting market data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0281 Customer communication at a business location, e.g. providing product or service information, consulting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0635 Processing of requisition or of purchase orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting

Abstract

A salesforce automation system which integrates computerized, intelligent automated salesperson support for multiple phases of the sales process. Various subsystems may be provided to facilitate the sales process which may include pre-sales lead generation, maximize time spent with the customer, effectively manage an order, ensure customer satisfaction and retain the customer for future sales. Also provided to support the phases of the sales process are additional tools, integrated in the system. The additional tools may include self management subsystems, sales management subsystems and training subsystems.

Claims

1. A sales force automation system for a price information update in a sales process, comprising:

data component configured to store price data;

communication component configured to support remote access communications with a back office system;

management module configured to detect a price information update from the back office system and update the price data stored in the data component and mark old information as invalid in a configuration database of the data component, the management module being configured to operate even when disconnected from the back office system such that a price information update in the back office system is received in the communication component and automatically processed at a next connected session with the back office system.

2. The sales force automation system of claim 1 wherein the management module is configured to leave an audit trail message for transfer to the back office system during a next connected session after the price information update.

3. A method for a price information update in a sales process, comprising:

detecting in a communication component a price information update from a back office system, the communication component being configured to support remote access communications between the sales force automation system and the back office system such that the detection of the price information update occurs at a next connected session between the sales force automation system and the back office system such that the sales force automation system operates properly even when disconnected from the back office system; and

updating price data stored in a data component and marking old information as invalid in a configuration database stored the data component data component.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising a step of leaving an audit trail message for transfer to the back office system during a connected session after the price information update.

5. The sales force automation system of claim 3 further comprising a step of notifying a salesperson of any outstanding quotes where are affected by the price information update.