Automated Software Tools for Improving Sales

• US 20150112756A1
• Filed: 10/18/2013
• Published: 04/23/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: MAKANAWALA, PRERNA, KALLA, PRAVEEN, SHIROOR, KEDAR, MITRA, ABHIJIT, SOOD, KARAN, POTDAR, SUSHANT, YIP, BRIAN, SUN, KE, SUBRAMANIAN, VENKITESH, KUDUMULA, NIYANTH, KULAVIL, PREETA, GAUTHIER, JEAN-FRANCOIS DESJEANS, AUGUSTINE, SEBASTINE
• Granted Patent: US 9,665,875 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/7.29
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0201 Market modelling; Market analysis; Collecting market data

Abstract

A sales application is described that includes multiple automated sales tools that can be combined to help improve sales within a sales team. A deal finder sales tool is described to help identify sales opportunities. A deal playbook sales tool is also described to help structure the sales opportunity into a sales play by recommending products to sale in conjunction and also constructing a sales team. An influencer sales tool is also described to help identify business relationships that can be utilized to influence members of the sales team.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

providing a graphical user interface in the form of a spiral that includes a center icon and a plurality of icons that revolve around the center icon, wherein the center icon represents a root object and each of the plurality of icons represent an object from an ordered list of objects, the ordered list being associated with the root object and the objects being ordered relative to at least one property, wherein the plurality of icons are positioned in the spiral according to the ordered list;

receiving an input representative of dragging a selected icon from the plurality of icons to a new location; and

updating a first property of a selected object that is represented by the selected icon according to the input.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the visual appearance of the selected icon is proportional to a second property of the selected object.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the first property of the selected object is updated according to the first property of a first object and the first property of a second object when the new location of the selected icon is in between a first icon representing the first object and a second icon representing the second object.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the first property of the selected object is updated according to the first property of a last object in the ordered list when the new location is outside the spiral.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein a new icon representing another object from the ordered list is appended to the spiral when the selected icon is dragged outside the spiral.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the spiral further includes an additional icon appended to the end of the spiral, the additional icon being configured to identify the number of objects in the ordered list of objects that are not represented by the plurality of icons.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the root object represents a person of interest and the objects represent acquaintances of the person of interest.

8. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions for:

providing a graphical user interface in the form of a spiral that includes a center icon and a plurality of icons that revolve around the center icon, wherein the center icon represents a root object and each of the plurality of icons represent an object from an ordered list of objects, the ordered list being associated with the root object and the objects being ordered relative to at least one property, wherein the plurality of icons are positioned in the spiral according to the ordered list;

receiving an input representative of dragging a selected icon from the plurality of icons to a new location; and

updating a first property of a selected object that is represented by the selected icon according to the input.

9. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the visual appearance of the selected icon is proportional to a second property of the selected object.

10. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the first property of the selected object is updated according to the first property of a first object and the first property of a second object when the new location of the selected icon is in between a first icon representing the first object and a second icon representing the second object.

11. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the first property of the selected object is updated according to the first property of a last object in the ordered list when the new location is outside the spiral.

12. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein a new icon representing another object from the ordered list is appended to the spiral when the selected icon is dragged outside the spiral.

13. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the spiral further includes an additional icon appended to the end of the spiral, the additional icon being configured to identify the number of objects in the ordered list of objects that are not represented by the plurality of icons.

14. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the root object represents a person of interest and the objects represent acquaintances of the person of interest.

15. A computer implemented system, comprising:

one or more computer processors; and

a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions, that when executed, control the one or more computer processors to be configured for;

providing a deal finder component configured to identify a sales opportunity based on received input;

providing a deal playbook component configured to generate a sales play based on the sales opportunity, wherein the sales play identifies a product and a sales team;

providing an influence component configured to identify an ordered list of people who can influence a member of the sales team.