Systems, Methods, and Computer Program Products for Supply Chain Finance

• US 20090187482A1
• Filed: 01/22/2008
• Published: 07/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Inventors: Preston, Bryan K., Cronin, Brian A., Castillo, Humberto, Blount, Calvin E., Reulbach, Raymond A., Vukas, Christopher M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,843,410 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.100
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/03 Credit; Loans; Processing thereof

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing supply chain financing that include receiving a request to finance an asset of a borrower, where the asset is associated with goods provided by a supplier to a buyer under the control of a supply chain/logistics entity. Attributes of a trade ecosystem of the supplier and/or the buyer are evaluated to determine whether to finance the asset. Financing of the asset is then established based upon the analyzed attributes of the trade ecosystem, where the terms of the financing permit control over movement of goods before and/or after default of the terms of the financing. Information associated with movement of the goods is monitored and analyzed to determine adjustments to at least one of the financing terms based on the information associated with movement of the goods.

Claims

1. A computerized method for providing supply chain financing, comprising:

receiving a request to finance an asset of a borrower, wherein the asset is associated with goods provided by a supplier to a buyer under the control of a supply chain/logistics entity;

evaluating a plurality of attributes of a trade ecosystem associated with the supplier and the buyer, wherein the plurality of the attributes include at least one attribute associated with the movement of inventory from the supplier to the buyer;

determining to finance the asset based at least in part on the evaluated attributes; and

providing the financing of the asset, wherein at least one term of a plurality of financing terms permits control over movement of the inventory both before and after default of one of the plurality of financing terms.

2. The computerized method of claim 1, wherein the borrower is at least one of the supplier and the buyer.

3. The computerized method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of attributes of the trade ecosystem are associated with one or more of (i) the supplier, (ii) the buyer, (iii) a relationship between the supplier and the buyer, or (iv) the inventory provided from the supplier and the buyer.

4. The computerized method of claim 1, further comprising:

collecting payment at a time earlier than specified in the plurality of terms of financing, wherein the collected payment is a discounted payment.

5. The computerized method of claim 1, wherein control over movement of the inventory includes at least one of stopping further movement of the inventory or redirecting movement of the inventory.

6. The computerized method of claim 1, wherein the supply chain/logistics entity is the lender.

7. The computerized method of claim 1, wherein the asset is associated with at least one of an accounts payable, an accounts receivable, or inventory.

8. The computerized method of claim 7, wherein the inventory includes in-transit inventory.

9. The computerized method of claim 7, wherein the inventory includes inventory located in at least one of a warehouse, bonded logistics park, or free trade zone.

10. The computerized method of claim 7, further comprising purchasing the accounts receivable at a discount.

11. The computerized method of claim 10, wherein the lender receives payments associated with the accounts receivable.

12. A computerized system for providing supply chain financing, comprising:

a memory for storing executable instructions;

a processor in communication with the memory, wherein the processor is operable to execute the stored executable instructions to;

receive a request to finance an asset of a borrower, wherein the asset is associated with inventory provided by a supplier to a buyer under control of a supply chain/logistics entity;

communicate the request for financing to a lender, wherein the lender evaluates a plurality of attributes of a trade ecosystem associated with the supplier and the buyer to determine a plurality of financing terms for the asset; and

receive, from the lender, acceptance of the request for financing, wherein at least one term of the plurality of financing terms permits the lender control over movement of the inventory both before and after default of one of the plurality of financing terms.

13. The computerized system of claim 12, wherein the borrower is at least one of the supplier or the buyer.

14. The computerized system of claim 12, wherein the plurality of attributes of the trade ecosystem are associated with one or more of (i) the supplier, (ii) the buyer, (iii) a relationship between the supplier and the buyer, or (iv) the goods provided from the supplier and the buyer.

15. The computerized system of claim 12, wherein the processor is further operable to execute the stored instructions to:

collect payment at a time earlier than specified in the plurality of terms of financing, wherein the collected payment is a discounted payment.

16. The computerized system of claim 12, wherein control over movement of the inventory includes at least one of stopping further movement of the inventory or redirecting movement of the inventory.

17. The computerized system of claim 12, wherein the supply chain/logistics entity is the lender.

18. The computerized system of claim 12, wherein the asset is associated with at least one of an accounts payable, an accounts receivable, or inventory.

19. The computerized system of claim 18, wherein the inventory includes in-transit inventory.

20. The computerized system of claim 18, wherein the inventory includes inventory located in at least one of a warehouse, bonded logistics park, or free trade zone.

21. The computerized system of claim 18, wherein the processor is further operable to execute the stored instructions to purchase the accounts receivable by a lender at a discount.

22. The computerized system of claim 21, wherein the lender receives payments associated with the accounts receivable.

23. A computerized system for providing supply chain financing, comprising:

a memory for storing executable instructions;

a processor in communication with the memory, wherein the processor is operable to execute the stored executable instructions to;

evaluate a plurality of attributes of a trade ecosystem associated with a supplier and a buyer to determine whether to finance an asset of a borrower, wherein the asset is associated with inventory provided by the supplier to the buyer under the control of a supply chain/logistics entity;

provide the financing of the asset based at least in part on the evaluated attributes, wherein the financing is adjustable based on information relating to the inventory obtained by the supply chain/logistics entity;

receive, from the supply chain/logistics entity, information associated with movement of the inventory; and

in response to receiving information associated with movement of the inventory, automatically adjust at least one term of financing based on the information associated with movement of the inventory.

24. The computerized system of claim 23, wherein the borrower is at least one of the supplier and the buyer.

25. The computerized system of claim 23, wherein the processor receives, from the supply chain/logistics company, information associated with movement of the inventory;

and

automatically adjusts at least one term of financing based on the information associated with movement of the inventory in substantially real time.

26. The computerized system of claim 23, wherein the inventory includes in-transit inventory located in at least one of a warehouse, bonded logistics center, or free trade zone.

27. The computerized system of claim 23, wherein the information associated with movement of the inventory includes at least one of location information, identifying information for the inventory, or valuation information for the inventory.

28. The computerized system of claim 23, wherein the at least one term of financing permits control over movement of the inventory upon default of one of the at least one term of financing.

29. The computerized system of claim 23, wherein the at least one term of financing permits the supply chain/logistics entity to obtain ownership of the inventory upon default of the at least one term of financing.

30. The computerized system of claim 23, wherein automatically adjust the at least one term of financing based on the information associated with movement of the inventory includes adjusting at least an advance rate associated with the borrower.

31. The computerized system of claim 23, wherein the supply chain/logistics entity is at least one of the entities transporting the inventory from the supplier to the buyer.

32. The computerized system of claim 23, wherein the supply chain/logistics entity provides an audit of the financing for a lender associated with the financing.

33. The computerized system of claim 23, wherein the at least one term of financing provides that a supplier receives funds from the supply chain/logistics entity and the supply chain/logistics entity takes a collateral interest in the inventory, and wherein the inventory is shipped in at least one container.