Method and system for inventory management
DCFirst Claim
1. A method for inventory management, comprising the steps of:
- (a) receiving a customer request for an inventory item;
(b) generating a table of one or more inventory items that most closely correspond to the customer request using a price forecasting system;
(c) selecting an item from the table;
(d) generating a price quotation associated with the selected inventory item using the price forecasting system, which price quotation has been predetermined by a yield management system using a pricing strategy;
(e) inputting customer request information associated with the customer request into a traffic billing system;
(f) inputting information needed for price recalculation associated with the customer request into the yield management system;
(g) recalculating pricing data with the yield management system in a manner consistent with a pricing strategy implemented by the yield management system, so that price changes caused by a reduction in available inventory due to the customer request are taken into account; and
(h) updating the pricing data accessed by the price forecasting system in step (d) prior to repeating steps (a) to (g) for a subsequent customer request.
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Abstract
A method is provided for inventory management which includes an initial step of receiving a customer request for an inventory item and then generating a table or menu of one or more inventory items that most closely correspond to the customer request using a price forecasting system. Based on negotiations concerning price, timing and other typical concerns, an item is selected from the table and a price quotation associated with the selected inventory item is generated using the price forecasting system, which price quotation has been predetermined by a yield management system using a pricing strategy. The customer information associated with the customer request is input into a traffic billing system. Information needed for price recalculation associated with the customer request is input into the yield management system. The yield management system recalculates pricing data with in a manner consistent with a pricing strategy implemented by the yield management system, so that price changes caused by a reduction in available inventory due to the customer request are taken into account, and the pricing data accessed by the price forecasting system when a price quotation is generated is updated prior to repeating the process for a subsequent customer request. This method provides more accurate pricing than known systems where order information must be entered manually before a price recalculation can take place, and the yield management system overestimates the amount of available inventory. If the customer request comprises a reservation having an associated probability of later becoming an order, the reservation is taken into account when recalculating prices based on available inventory. Such a process may be integrated for an enterprise made up of a number of member stations each having associated inventory for sale.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method for inventory management, comprising the steps of:
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(a) receiving a customer request for an inventory item; (b) generating a table of one or more inventory items that most closely correspond to the customer request using a price forecasting system; (c) selecting an item from the table; (d) generating a price quotation associated with the selected inventory item using the price forecasting system, which price quotation has been predetermined by a yield management system using a pricing strategy; (e) inputting customer request information associated with the customer request into a traffic billing system; (f) inputting information needed for price recalculation associated with the customer request into the yield management system; (g) recalculating pricing data with the yield management system in a manner consistent with a pricing strategy implemented by the yield management system, so that price changes caused by a reduction in available inventory due to the customer request are taken into account; and (h) updating the pricing data accessed by the price forecasting system in step (d) prior to repeating steps (a) to (g) for a subsequent customer request. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for management of inventory items associated with future events, comprising the steps of:
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(a) receiving a customer request for an inventory item; (b) generating a table one or more inventory items that most closely correspond to the customer request using a price forecasting system; (c) selecting an item from the table; (d) generating a price quotation associated with the selected inventory item using the price forecasting system; (e) determining if the customer request comprises an order for which the customer is expected to pay or a reservation of the selected inventory item, which reservation has an associated probability of later becoming an order; (f) storing information describing the customer request, including an indication of whether the request is an orders or reservation; (g) inputting information needed for price recalculation associated with the customer request into a yield management system; and (h) recalculating pricing data with the yield management system in a manner consistent with a pricing strategy implemented by the yield management system, so that price changes caused by a reduction in available inventory due to the customer order or reservation are taken into account. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An inventory management system, comprising:
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a price forecasting system for generating a table of inventory items that meet specified customer request criteria; a yield management system for generating and maintaining inventory pricing information for use by the price forecasting system in accordance with a pricing strategy; a traffic billing system for generating confirmations of orders for inventory and for maintaining scheduling, processing and accounting information in data files relating to such orders; and a system for recalculating pricing data with the yield management system in a manner consistent with the pricing strategy implemented by the yield management system so that price changes caused by a change in available inventors can be taken into account, wherein the recalculating system is configured to operate with sufficient frequency such that the effect of each customer order on pricing is taken into account before a price quote for a subsequent customer order is generated. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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Specification