SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS FOR MANAGING FUEL COSTS

• US 20150088613A1
• Filed: 09/23/2013
• Published: 03/26/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Comdata SPA (NHI-2, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Comdata Network Incorporated (Ceridian HCM Holding, Inc.)
• Inventors: Pierce, Thomas L. Jr., Morgan, Randall K., Joseph, Charles T.
• Application Number:
  US14/033,965
• Publication Number:
  US 20150088613A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/7.35
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0206 Price or cost determination based on market factors

Abstract

Systems, methods, and computer program products are provided for managing fuel costs. Fuel-related data, including a request for authorization of a fuel transaction, is received from a fuel-related data source via a communications network. A fuel-related score is computed based on the fuel-related data and a predetermined weighting factor. The fuel-related score is presented through a user interface. In one example aspect, a fuel-related notification is generated for the fuel transaction based on the fuel-related score and a predetermined alert rule stored in an alert rule database. The predetermined alert rule is one of a plurality of sets of predetermined alert rules stored in association with a plurality of corresponding fleets, in another example.

Claims

1. A method for managing fuel costs, the method comprising steps of:

receiving, from a fuel-related data source via a communications network, fuel-related data including a request for authorization of a fuel transaction;

computing a fuel-related score based on the fuel-related data and a predetermined weighting factor; and

presenting, through a user interface, the fuel-related score.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the computing the fuel-related score includes:

identifying, based on the fuel-related data, a geographical location of the fuel transaction;

identifying, based on the geographical location of the fuel transaction, a plurality of nearby alternative fuel provider locations;

retrieving, from a database, fuel-related data associated with the plurality of nearby alternative fuel provider locations; and

computing the fuel-related score based on the fuel-related data associated with the plurality of nearby alternative fuel provider locations.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined weighting factor includes any one or a combination of a price-related weighting factor and a non-price-related weighting factor, and wherein the predetermined weighting factor is one of a plurality of predetermined weighting factors stored in association with a corresponding fleet.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of generating, based on the fuel-related score and a predetermined alert rule stored in an alert rule database, a fuel-related notification for the fuel transaction, the predetermined alert rule being one of a plurality of predetermined alert rules stored in association with a plurality of fleets, correspondingly.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of presenting, via the user interface, any one or a combination of a list of notable transactions, a ranking of a plurality of drivers, and a ranking of a plurality of fuel provider locations.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising steps of:

aggregating, from a plurality of fuel-related data sources via the communications network, a plurality of fuel-related data associated with any one or a combination of a plurality of fuel providers, a plurality of geographical locations, and a plurality of drivers; and

presenting, through the user interface, a comparison of the aggregated fuel-related data.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

matching, in a database, the transaction to a fleet and a merchant; and

retrieving, from the database, pricing agreement information associated with the fleet and the merchant, wherein the computing the fuel-related score includes computing the fuel-related score based on the pricing agreement information.

8. A system for managing fuel costs, the system comprising at least one processor configured to:

receive, from a fuel-related data source via a communications network, fuel-related data including a request for authorization of a fuel transaction;

compute a fuel-related score based on the fuel-related data and a predetermined weighting factor; and

present, through a user interface, the fuel-related score.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to compute the fuel-related score by:

identifying, based on the fuel-related data, a geographical location of the fuel transaction;

identifying, based on the geographical location of the fuel transaction, a plurality of nearby alternative fuel provider locations;

retrieving, from a database, fuel-related data associated with the plurality of nearby alternative fuel provider locations; and

computing the fuel-related score based on the fuel-related data associated with the plurality of nearby alternative fuel provider locations.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the predetermined weighting factor includes any one or a combination of a price-related weighting factor and a non-price-related weighting factor, and wherein the predetermined weighting factor is one of a plurality of predetermined weighting factors stored in a memory in association with a corresponding fleet.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to generate, based on the fuel-related score and a predetermined alert rule stored in an alert rule database, a fuel-related notification for the fuel transaction, the predetermined alert rule being one of a plurality of predetermined alert rules stored in a memory in association with a plurality of fleets, correspondingly.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to present, through the user interface, any one or a combination of a list of notable transactions, a ranking of a plurality of drivers, and a ranking of a plurality of fuel provider locations.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

aggregate, from a plurality of fuel-related data sources via the communications network, a plurality of fuel-related data associated with any one or a combination of a plurality of fuel providers, a plurality of geographical locations, and a plurality of drivers; and

present, through the user interface, a comparison of the aggregated fuel-related data.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

match, in a database, the transaction to a fleet and a merchant; and

retrieve, from the database, pricing agreement information associated with the fleet and the merchant, wherein the computing the fuel-related score includes computing the fuel-related score based on the pricing agreement information.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon sequences of instructions that, when executed by a computer processor, cause the computer processor to:

receive, from a fuel-related data source via a communications network, fuel-related data including a request for authorization of a fuel transaction;

compute a fuel-related score based on the fuel-related data and a predetermined weighting factor; and

present, through a user interface, the fuel-related score.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the computing of the fuel-related score includes:

identifying, based on the fuel-related data, a geographical location of the fuel transaction;

identifying, based on the geographical location of the fuel transaction, a plurality of nearby alternative fuel provider locations;

retrieving, from a database, fuel-related data associated with the plurality of nearby alternative fuel provider locations; and

computing the fuel-related score based on the fuel-related data associated with the plurality of nearby alternative fuel provider locations.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the predetermined weighting factor includes any one or a combination of a price-related weighting factor and a non-price-related weighting factor, and wherein the predetermined weighting factor is one of a plurality of predetermined weighting factors stored in association with a corresponding fleet.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein, when executed by the computer processor, the sequences of instructions further cause the computer processor to generate, based on the fuel-related score and a predetermined alert rule stored in an alert rule database, a fuel-related notification for the fuel transaction, the predetermined alert rule being one of a plurality of predetermined alert rules stored in association with a plurality of fleets, correspondingly.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein, when executed by the computer processor, the sequences of instructions further cause the computer processor to present, through the user interface, any one or a combination of a list of notable transactions, a ranking of a plurality of drivers, and a ranking of a plurality of fuel provider locations.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein, when executed by the computer processor, the sequences of instructions further cause the computer processor to:

aggregate, from a plurality of fuel-related data sources via the communications network, a plurality of fuel-related data associated with any one or a combination of a plurality of fuel providers, a plurality of geographical locations, and a plurality of drivers; and

present, through the user interface, a comparison of the aggregated fuel-related data.

21. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein, when executed by the computer processor, the sequences of instructions further cause the computer processor to:

match, in a database, the transaction to a fleet and a merchant; and

retrieve, from the database, pricing agreement information associated with the fleet and the merchant, wherein the fuel-related score is computed based on the pricing agreement information.