System, method and computer program product for order confirmation in a supply chain management framework

• US 6,954,736 B2
• Filed: 03/23/2001
• Issued: 10/11/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Restaurant Services Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Restaurant Services Incorporated
• Inventors: Menninger, Anthony Frank, Burk, Michael James
• Primary Examiner(s): ZEENDER, FLORIAN M
• Application Number:
  US09/815,973
• Publication Number:
  US 20030061102A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,663 Days
• Field of Search: 705/28, 705/27, 705/26
• US Class Current: 705/28
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/203 Inventory monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces

Abstract

A system, method and computer program product are disclosed for order confirmation in a supply chain management framework. A network is utilized to collect from a plurality of stores of a supply chain data relating to the sale of goods by the stores. Access is allowed to the data utilizing a network-based interface. Electronic order forms are generated based on the data for ordering goods from a plurality of distributors of the supply chain. These electronic order forms request a confirmation of the receipt of the electronic order forms. A determination is made as to whether the confirmation of the receipt of the electronic order forms is received from the distributors. If it is determined that the confirmation of the receipt of the electronic order forms was not from the distributors, then an alert is generated.

Claims

1. A method for order confirmation in a supply chain management system generating alerts for the purpose of managing a franchise supply chain, comprising:

a) an independent supply chain manager receiving an authorization to negotiate prices for the provision of products by distributors to independent stores in the franchise supply chain;

b) the independent supply chain manager negotiating with a distributor a mark up amount to be added to a cost of products obtained from a supplier;

c) the independent supply chain management system collecting sales data from a plurality of independent stores of a supply chain utilizing a network on at least a daily basis, the data relating to the sale of goods by the independent stores;

d)allowing access to the data utilizing a network-based interface;

e)electronically tracking the sales data against forecasted sales;

f) generating a first alert if a deviation of the sales data relative to the forecasted sales exceeds a threshold;

g) the independent supply chain management system generating and then sending out directly or indirectly via at least one of the independent stores to a distributor an electronic order form to be fulfilled to the at least one of the independent stores based on the sales data relating to multiple completed sales of goods by the at least one independent store of the supply chain, the electronic order form requesting a confirmation of the receipt of the electronic order form to be sent upon receipt of and prior to fulfillment of the order;

h) determining whether the confirmation of the receipt of the electronic order form is received by the independent supply chain management system from the distributor;

i) the independent supply chain management system generating a second alert upon determining that the independent supply chain management system did not receive the confirmation of the receipt of the electronic order form from the distributor;

j) the independent supply chain management system determining a mark up added to the products delivered to one of the independent stores;

k) the independent supply chain management system comparing the mark up added to the mark up negotiated by the independent supply chain manager; and

l) generating a third alert if a discrepancy in the mark is found.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the confirmation is received utilizing the network.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the network includes the Internet.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the alert is transmitted to the stores utilizing the network.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the alert is displayed on the network-based interface.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the alert includes an electronic mail message.

7. A system for an independent supply chain management system generating alerts for the purpose of managing a franchise supply chain, comprising:

an independent supply chain manager receiving an authorization to negotiate prices for the provision of products by distributors to independent stores in the franchise supply chain;

the independent supply chain manager negotiating with a distributor a mark up amount to be added to a cost of products obtained from a supplier;

an electronic storage; and

a set of processors that use the electronic storage and include among them the following logic elements;

a) logic for the independent supply chain management system collecting sales data from a plurality of independent stores of a supply chain utilizing a network on at least a daily basis, the data relating to the sale of goods by the independent stores;

b) logic for allowing access to the data utilizing a network-based interface;

c) logic for electronically tracking the sales data against forecasted sales;

d) logic for generating a first alert if a deviation of the sales data relative to the forecasted sales exceeds a threshold;

f) logic for the independent supply chain management system generating and then sending out directly or indirectly via at least one of the independent stores to a distributor an electronic order form to be fulfilled to at least the one of the independent stores based on the sales data relating to multiple completed sales of goods by the at least one independent store of the supply chain, the electronic order form requesting a confirmation of the receipt of the electronic order form to be sent upon receipt of and prior to fulfillment of the order;

g) logic for determining whether the confirmation of the receipt of the electronic order form is received by the independent supply chain management system from the distributor;

h) logic for the independent supply chain management system generating a second alert upon determining that the independent supply chain management system did not receive the confirmation of the receipt of the electronic order form from the distributor;

i) logic for the independent supply chain management system determining a mark up added to the products delivered to one of the independent stores;

j) logic for the independent supply chain management system comparing the mark up added to the mark up negotiated by the independent supply chain manager; and

k) logic for generating a third alert if a discrepancy in the mark up is found.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the confirmation is received utilizing the network.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the network includes the Internet.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the alert is transmitted to the stores utilizing the network.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the alert is displayed on the network-based interface.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the alert includes an electronic mail message.

13. A computer program for an independent supply management system generation alert for the purpose of managing a franchise supply chain, wherein an independent supply chain manager receives authorization to negotiate prices for the provision of products by distributors to independent stores in the franchise supply chain, and wherein the independent supply chain manager negotiates with a distributor a mark up amount to be added to a cost of products obtained from a supplier,comprising;

a set of computer usable media having computer readable program code embodied therein to be executed by a computer, the computer readable program code comprising;

a) computer code for the independent supply chain management system collecting sales data from a plurality of independent stores of a supply chain utilizing a network on at least a daily basis, the data relating to the sale of goods by the independent stores;

b) computer code for allowing access to the data utilizing a network-based interface;

c) computer code for electronically tracking the sales data against forecasted sales;

d) computer code for generating a first alert if a deviation of the sales data relative to the forecasted sales exceeds a threshold;

f) computer code for the independent supply chain management system generating and then sending out directly or indirectly via at least one of the independent stores to a distributor an electronic order form to be fulfilled to at least the one of the independent stores based on the sales data relating to multiple completed sales of goods by the at least one independent store of the supply chain, the electronic order form requesting a confirmation of the receipt of the electronic order form to be sent upon receipt of and prior to fulfillment of the order;

g) computer code for determining whether the confirmation of the receipt of the electronic order form is received by the independent supply chain management system from the distributor;

h) computer code for the independent supply chain management system generating a second alert upon determining that the independent supply chain management system did not receive the confirmation of the receipt of the electronic order form from the distributor;

i) computer code for the independent supply chain management system determining a mark up added to the products delivered to one of the independent stores;

j) computer code for the independent supply chain management system comparing the mark up added to the mark up negotiated by the independent supply chain manager; and

k) computer code for generating a third alert if a discrepancy in the mark up is found.

14. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the confirmation is received utilizing the network.

15. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the network includes the Internet.

16. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the alert is transmitted to the stores utilizing the network.

17. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein one of the alert is displayed on the network-based interface.

18. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein one of the alert includes an electronic mail message.