SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PLANNING A SCHEDULE FOR A WORKER BASED ON SCHEDULED EVENTS AND SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES

• US 20140229216A1
• Filed: 05/07/2013
• Published: 08/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Aktana, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Aktana, Inc.
• Inventors: Choy, Derek, Hunt, William, Willson, Robert, Ehrlich, David, O'Holleran, John, BERNIER, Clark
• Application Number:
  US13/889,283
• Publication Number:
  US 20140229216A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/7.16
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0631 Resource planning, allocation, distributing or scheduling for enterprises or organisations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063116 Schedule adjustment for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06316 Sequencing of tasks or work
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0633 Workflow analysis
• 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

Abstract

A system and method for managing workflow including the ability to manage system-level workflow strategy, manage individual workflow activity, and provide suggestions to optimize individual workflow activity, is provided. The system may provide suggestions to workers based on their schedules and activities that the workers have to perform. Users of the system may configure the criteria used in determining which suggestions to provide to workers. The system may refine the suggestions provided to workers based on feedback received regarding the suggestions previously provided.

Claims

1. A system for determining suggested activities relating to sales of products for one or more workers of a company, the system comprising:

a non-transitory electronic storage configured to;

store information related to a schedule for a first worker, the schedule comprising a plurality of scheduled activities for the first worker; and

one or more physical processors configured to execute computer program instructions, comprising;

a suggestion management component configured to;

determine

a first suggested activity for the first worker, wherein the first suggested activity comprises a sales activity of a first product to a first customer, and wherein the determination of the first suggested activity is based on a first set of activities for the first worker for a first time period, the schedule for the first worker, and an activity value that learned knowledge by the system regarding a value of performing the first suggested activity in the first time period, wherein the activity value is calculated based

a performance metric that considers historical performance of a previous execution of the first suggested activity; and

an activity management component configured to;

output, to the first worker, the schedule for the first worker for the first time period;

output, to the first worker, the first suggested activity for the first worker with the schedule.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the activity management component is configured to:

output, to the first worker, with the first suggested activity, a first rationale for the first suggested activity, wherein the rationale comprises a narrative, the narrative comprising information related to a value of the first suggested activity to the first customer.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the activity management component is configured to:

output, to the first worker, with the first suggested activity, a best time to perform the suggested activity.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the activity management component is configured to:

provide a proposed time and date for the first suggested activity based on information related to availability of the first worker associated with the first suggested activity and a location of the worker near the proposed time and proposed date.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the activity management component is configured to:

prompt the first worker for feedback in response to a determination that the first worker has dismissed the first suggestion.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the activity management component is configured to:

prompt the first worker for feedback in response to a determination that the first worker has performed a scheduled activity of the schedule of the first worker.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the first set of activities comprise a first activity related to selling the first product to the first customer and a second activity related to selling the first product to a second customer;

wherein the suggestion management component is configured to;

calculate a first score for the first activity of the set of activities based on a first activity value associated with performing the first activity;

calculate a second score for the second activity of the set of activities based on a second activity value associated with performing the second activity; and

wherein the activity management component is configured to;

output, to the first worker, the first score associated with the first suggested activity responsive to a determination that the first activity was output to the user as the first suggested activity.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the activity management component is configured to:

prepare a proposed schedule for the first time period based on the plurality of scheduled activities of the schedule, the first suggested activity, and a second suggested activity available for the first time period, wherein the second suggested activity comprises a sales activity of the first product to a second customer, and the second suggested activity is determined by the suggestion management component.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the suggestion management component is configured to:

output, to the first worker, a triggered activity for the first worker with the schedule, wherein the triggered activity may be provided to the first worker based on a trigger, the trigger comprising one or more of;

receiving, from a second worker, the triggered activity as a suggested activity for the first worker;

compliance with a regulation related to the company, or a change in behavior in a customer of the company.

31. The system of claim 2, wherein the suggestion determination component is configured to:

determine a factor with the highest influence in determining the first suggested activity as the value of the first suggested activity, the factor comprising one of;

the performance metric, the schedule of the first worker, information relating to the first product, information relating to the first customer, or a location of the first suggested activity.

4. (canceled)

11. A method for determining suggested activities relating to sales of products for one or more workers of a company, the method being implemented in a computer system comprising one or more physical processors configured to execute computer program instructions, the method comprising:

storing, by the one or more physical processors, information related to a schedule for a first worker, the schedule comprising a plurality of scheduled activities for the first worker; and

determining

by the one or more physical processors, a first suggested activity for the first worker, wherein the first suggested activity comprises a sales activity of a first product to a first customer, and wherein the determination of the first suggested activity is based on a first set of activities for the first worker for a first time period, the schedule for the first worker, and an activity value that represents learned knowledge by the system regarding a value of performing the first suggested activity in the first time period, wherein the activity value is calculated based

a performance metric that considers historical performance of previous execution of the first suggested activity; and

outputting to the first worker, by the one or more physical processors, the schedule for the first worker for the first time period; and

outputting to the first worker, by the one or more physical processors, the first suggested activity for the first worker with the schedule.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

outputting to the first worker, by the one or more physical processors, with the first suggested activity, a first rationale for the first suggested activity, wherein the rationale comprises a narrative, the narrative comprising information related to a value of the first suggested activity to the first customer.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

outputting to the first worker, by the one or more physical processors, with the first suggested activity, a best time to perform the suggested activity.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

providing, by the one or more physical processors, a proposed time and date for the first suggested activity based on information related to availability of the first worker associated with the first suggested activity and a location of the worker near the proposed time and proposed date.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

prompting, by the one or more physical processors, the first worker for feedback in response to a determination that the first worker has dismissed the first suggestion.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

prompting, by the one or more physical processors, the first worker for feedback in response to a determination that the first worker has performed a scheduled activity of the schedule of the first worker.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the first set of activities comprise a first activity related to selling the first product to the first customer and a second activity related to selling the first product to a second customer, the method further comprising:

calculating, by the one or more physical processors, a first score for the first activity of the set of activities based on a first activity value associated with performing the first activity;

calculating, by the one or more physical processors, a second score for the second activity of the set of activities based on a second activity value associated with performing the second activity; and

outputting to the first worker, by the one or more physical processors, the first score associated with the first suggested activity responsive to a determination that the first activity was output to the user as the first suggested activity.

19. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

preparing, by the one or more physical processors, a proposed schedule for the first time period based on the plurality of scheduled activities of the schedule, the first suggested activity, and a second suggested activity available for the first time period, wherein the second suggested activity comprises a sales activity of the first product to a second customer.

20. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

outputting to the first worker, by the one or more physical processors, a triggered activity for the first worker with the schedule, wherein the triggered activity may be provided to the first worker based on a trigger, the trigger comprising one or more of;

receiving, from a second worker, the triggered activity as a suggested activity for the first worker, compliance with a regulation related to the company, or a change in behavior in a customer of the company.

32. The method of claim 12, further comprising, wherein the suggestion determination component is configured to:

determining, by the one or more physical processors, a factor with the highest influence in determining the first suggested activity as the value of the first suggested activity, the factor comprising one of;

the performance metric, the schedule of the first worker, information relating to the first product, information relating to the first customer, or a location of the first suggested activity.

14. (canceled)

21. A non-transitory electronic storage media storing information related to determining suggested activities relating to sales of products for one or more workers of a company, the stored information comprising:

information related to a schedule for a first worker, the schedule comprising a plurality of scheduled activities for the first worker; and

instructions configured to cause a client computing device to;

determine

a first suggested activity for the first worker, wherein the first suggested activity comprises a sales activity of a first product to a first customer, and wherein the determination of the first suggested activity is based on a first set of activities for the first worker for a first time period, the schedule for the first worker, and an activity value that represents learned knowledge by the system regarding a value of performing the first suggested activity in the first time period, wherein the activity value is calculated based

a performance metric that considers historical performance of a previous execution of the first suggested activity; and

output, to the first worker, the schedule for the first worker for the first time period;

output, to the first worker, the first suggested activity for the first worker with the schedule.

22. The non-transitory electronic storage media of claim 21, wherein the instructions are configured to cause the client computing device to:

output, to the first worker, with the first suggested activity, a first rationale for the first suggested activity, wherein the rationale comprises a narrative, the narrative comprising information related to a value of the first suggested activity to the first customer.

23. The non-transitory electronic storage media of claim 21, wherein the instructions are configured to cause the client computing device to:

output, to the first worker, with the first suggested activity, a best time to perform the suggested activity.

25. The non-transitory electronic storage media of claim 21, wherein the instructions are configured to cause the client computing device to:

provide a proposed time and date for the first suggested activity based on information related to availability of the first worker associated with the first suggested activity and a location of the worker near the proposed time and proposed date.

26. The non-transitory electronic storage media of claim 21, wherein the instructions are configured to cause the client computing device to:

prompt the first worker for feedback in response to a determination that the first worker has dismissed the first suggestion.

27. The non-transitory electronic storage media of claim 21, wherein the instructions are configured to cause the client computing device to:

prompt the first worker for feedback in response to a determination that the first worker has performed a scheduled activity of the schedule of the first worker.

28. The non-transitory electronic storage media of claim 21, wherein the first set of activities comprise a first activity related to selling the first product to the first customer and a second activity related to selling the first product to a second customer, and wherein the instructions are configured to cause the client computing device to:

calculate a first score for the first activity of the set of activities based on a first activity value associated with performing the first activity;

calculate a second score for the second activity of the set of activities based on a second activity value associated with performing the second activity; and

output, to the first worker, the first score associated with the first suggested activity responsive to a determination that the first activity was output to the user as the first suggested activity.

29. The non-transitory electronic storage media of claim 21, wherein the instructions are configured to cause the client computing device to:

prepare a proposed schedule for the first time period based on the plurality of scheduled activities of the schedule, the first suggested activity, and a second suggested activity available for the first time period, wherein the second suggested activity comprises a sales activity of the first product to a second customer.

30. The non-transitory electronic storage media of claim 21, wherein the instructions are configured to cause the client computing device to:

output, to the first worker, a triggered activity for the first worker with the schedule, wherein the triggered activity may be provided to the first worker based on a trigger, the trigger comprising one or more of;

receiving, from a second worker, the triggered activity as a suggested activity for the first worker;

compliance with a regulation related to the company, or a change in behavior in a customer of the company.

33. The non-transitory electronic storage media of claim 22, wherein the instructions are configured to cause the client computing device to:

determine a factor with the highest influence in determining the first suggested activity as the value of the first suggested activity, the factor comprising one of;

the performance metric, the schedule of the first worker, information relating to the first product, information relating to the first customer, or a location of the first suggested activity.

24. (canceled)