WHOLESALE PRODUCT DISPLAY AND ORDERING SYSTEM

• US 20120010935A1
• Filed: 07/06/2011
• Published: 01/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RepZio, LLC
• Original Assignee: RepZio, LLC
• Inventors: Fraser, Alexander D., Fraser, Maxwell M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,494,912 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.23
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0222 During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0617 Representative agent

Abstract

A wholesale product ordering system is disclosed. The system comprises a remote server having an associated database of products of the at least one manufacturer and at least one portable access unit. The portable access unit has a video display and an associated keypad. The database of products includes images of the products and alphanumeric data (product identification numbers, prices, sizes, etc.) about the products. The portable access unit is used by a sales representative when visiting a potential customer (retail business) to access selected products of the database to display them and to enable direct ordering.

Claims

1. A wholesale product ordering system for use by a sales representative representing at least one manufacturer or vendor of products for ultimate sale by a retail business, said system comprising a remote server having an associated database of products of said at least one manufacturer or vendor and at least one portable access unit, said portable access unit having a video display and an associated keypad, said database of products being preselected by the sales representative and including images and alphanumeric data about said products, said portable access unit being arranged to be used by the sales representative to access selected products of the database for display on the video display screen to enable examination of those products and ordering of products by a client for its retail business.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said portable access device is arranged to access the remote server wirelessly via the Internet.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said portable access device comprises an iPad, tablet, netbook or portable computer.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said database comprises data about the retail business.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said system makes use of a GPS system to automatically determine the identity of the client when the representative is at the location of the client.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said portable access device is arranged to be used with a wireless barcode scanner to enable bar coded items to be added directly to an order.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said system is password protected.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the system includes tags or descriptor data for the products in the database.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein said portable access unit is arranged to be operated by a user to input his/her name and password, whereupon said display is populated with the list of the representative'"'"'s clients and the manufacturer(s) or vendor(s) that the representative represents.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein said portable access unit is arranged to be operated by a user to input his/her name and password, whereupon said display is populated with open orders, parts orders or client notes.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein said system is arranged to provide a copy of an order placed using said system to a client via email from said portable access unit.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein selected actuation of the portable access unit provides preview order data on the screen so that the client can preview the order before the order is placed.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein a running total of all products order can be displayed on the display of said portable access unit.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein the system is capable of customization to configure products through a series of drop down menus appearing on the display.

15. The system of claim 1 wherein selection of a particular product results in the automatic display of related products on the portable access unit'"'"'s display.

16. The system of claim 1 wherein a particular product selected can be placed in a favorites group for the client.

17. The system of claim 1 wherein discount data can be input into the system via the portable access unit by the representative to provide a selected type of discount to be applied to the order.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein said discount can be a quantity discount to discount either a specific monetary amount or a percentage to the individual products ordered.

19. The system of claim 1 wherein said display comprises a touch screen and wherein said associated keypad forms a portion of said touch screen.