SALES MANAGEMENT TOOL

• US 20110246258A1
• Filed: 02/14/2011
• Published: 10/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vivint Incorporated (NRG Energy, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Vivint Incorporated (NRG Energy, Inc.)
• Inventors: Cragun, Jason, Kyser, Lonnie
• Granted Patent: US 8,812,345 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/7.31
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3811 Point data, e.g. Point of Interest [POI]
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3867 Geometry of map features, e.g. shape points, polygons or for simplified maps
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/047 Optimisation of routes or paths, e.g. travelling salesman problem
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/103 Workflow collaboration or project management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0202 Market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0203 Market surveys; Market polls
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0204 Market segmentation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

A sales management tool utilizes a mobile device configured to request data from a database regarding a neighborhood within proximity of that sale. The mobile device sends results back to the database, wherein the results are flagged as verified. A simplified prequalification system is shown where a salesperson may select a house on a map to run a prequalification on the residents.

Claims

1. A sales management tool, comprising:

a database containing data;

a mobile device configured to request data from the database regarding a potential sale and further configured to send results back to the database; and

a server configured to flag the results as verified.

2. The sales management tool according to claim 1, wherein the mobile device displays a plurality of pieces of information regarding one or more persons residing at particular property selected from the group consisting of, name, address, previous contact history, and prequalification.

3. The sales management tool according to claim 1, wherein the mobile device displays screens for a plurality of pieces of information regarding attempts by a salesperson to sell product at a particular property from the group consisting of the resident'"'"'s interest in the product, whether there is evidence of agreements with competing companies, whether the resident is hostile or does not want to be contacted in the future, whether the resident has need of the product being sold, and whether the resident has need of other products.

4. The sales management tool according to claim 1, wherein the mobile device graphically identifies homes which should not be approached.

5. The sales management tool according to claim 1, wherein the mobile device graphically displays homes which have purchased the product or products being sold.

6. The sales management tool according to claim 1, wherein the mobile device displays a message if a resident of a location is not qualified to purchase the product.

7. A sales management tool, comprising:

a database containing neighborhood data, the neighborhood data containing information about expected occupants at addresses within the neighborhood;

a mobile device configured to send a current position, and receive a list of expected occupants at addresses near the current position; and

a server configured to prepare a pre-qualification check for one of the homes using the expected occupants information retrieved from the address.

8. A sales management process, comprising:

requesting information about a potential sale from a database while near the site of the sale;

surveying the sales site for referral information;

sending the results of the survey back to the database; and

flagging the survey results as verified.

9. The sales management process according to claim 8, wherein the process further comprises obtaining information regarding prior contact history of a resident of an intended sales location from a remote source.

10. The sales management process according to claim 8, wherein the process further comprises obtaining information regarding contractual obligations of a resident of an intended sales location from a remote source.

11. The sales management process according to claim 8, wherein the process further comprises obtaining information whether a resident at an intended sales location his financially qualified to purchase a product.

12. The sales management process according to claim 8, wherein the process further comprises entering information regarding whether the resident was interested in purchasing a product.

13. The sales management process according to claim 12, wherein the process further comprises identifying why the resident was not interested in purchasing the product.

14. A sales management process, comprising:

sending a current position to a server;

receiving a list of addresses and expected occupants from the server based on the current position;

requesting a credit check on an address constructed from the expected occupant data; and

receiving the results of the credit check.

15. A sales management process, comprising:

sending a current position of a salesperson to a server;

receiving a list of addresses and expected occupants from the server based on the current position;

enhancing the data with a status associated with each address;

receiving an update to the status associated with an address after a status change has occurred; and

sending an update to the status associated with an address after a status change has occurred by the salesperson.

16. A sales management process, comprising:

selecting a house on a map on a mobile device;

selecting an expected occupant name, the name retrieved based on the house'"'"'s address on the mobile device;

selecting to run a pre-qualification on the expected occupant name on the mobile device; and

receiving a result of the pre-qualification on the mobile device.

17. A sales management process, comprising:

inputting a house number into mobile device;

using the house number in a request to a server;

returning data to the mobile device about the house;

restricting the mobile device from more data until a survey is complete;

sending results of the survey to a server;

unrestricting the mobile device once the results of the survey have been sent; and

marking the results of the survey as verified.

18. A sales management process, comprising:

requiring a plurality of sales agents to survey a plurality of sales sites in the vicinity of sales attempts;

marking the survey data as verified; and

plotting sales routes based on the survey data.