Apparatus for merchandise price optimization
First Claim
1. An apparatus for determining optimum prices of products for sale, comprising:
- a scenario/results processor, configured to enable a user to prescribe an optimization scenario, and configured to present the optimum prices to said user, wherein the optimum prices are determined by execution of said optimization scenario, wherein said scenario/results processor comprises;
an input/output processor, configured to acquire data corresponding to said optimization scenario from said user, and configured to distribute optimization results to said user, said input/output processor comprising;
a template controller, configured to provide first price optimization templates and second price optimization templates, wherein said price optimization templates are presented to said user to allow for prescription of said optimization scenario, and for distribution of said optimization results, wherein said first price optimization templates comprise;
a plurality of new scenario templates, configured to enable said user to prescribe scenario parameters corresponding to said optimization scenario, said plurality of new scenario templates comprising;
a category template, for specifying a product category for price optimization, said product category comprising;
a plurality of demand groups, each of said plurality of demand groups configured to categorize a set of highly correlated products, wherein said highly correlated products are normally substitute products, but may also be complementary products; and
a command interpreter;
configured to extract commands from said first price optimization templates executed by said user, and configured to populate said second price optimization templates according to result data provided for presentation to said user; and
a scenario controller, coupled to said input/output processor, configured to control the acquisition of said data and the distribution of said optimization results in accordance with a price optimization procedure;
a demand engine, coupled to said scenario/results processor, configured to model relationships between potential prices of the products and market demand for the products;
an activity based cost engine, coupled to said demand engine, configured to estimate demand chain costs for the products based upon said market demand; and
a price optimization engine, coupled to said demand engine and said activity based cost engine, configured to employ said market demand and said demand chain costs to determine the optimum prices, wherein the optimum prices are a subset of said potential prices, and wherein the optimum prices maximize a merchandising performance figure of merit according to said optimization scenario.
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Abstract
A technique for determining optimum prices of products. The apparatus includes a scenario/results processor, a demand engine, an activity based cost engine, and a price optimization engine. The scenario/results processor enables a user to prescribe an optimization scenario, and presents the optimum prices to the user, where the optimum prices are determined by execution of the optimization scenario. The demand engine models relationships between potential prices of the products and market demand for the products. The activity based cost engine estimates costs for the products based upon market demand. The price optimization engine employs the market demand and the demand chain costs to determine the optimum prices, where the optimum prices are a subset of the potential prices, and where the optimum prices maximize a merchandising performance figure of merit according to the optimization scenario.
131 Citations
17 Claims
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1. An apparatus for determining optimum prices of products for sale, comprising:
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a scenario/results processor, configured to enable a user to prescribe an optimization scenario, and configured to present the optimum prices to said user, wherein the optimum prices are determined by execution of said optimization scenario, wherein said scenario/results processor comprises; an input/output processor, configured to acquire data corresponding to said optimization scenario from said user, and configured to distribute optimization results to said user, said input/output processor comprising; a template controller, configured to provide first price optimization templates and second price optimization templates, wherein said price optimization templates are presented to said user to allow for prescription of said optimization scenario, and for distribution of said optimization results, wherein said first price optimization templates comprise; a plurality of new scenario templates, configured to enable said user to prescribe scenario parameters corresponding to said optimization scenario, said plurality of new scenario templates comprising; a category template, for specifying a product category for price optimization, said product category comprising;
a plurality of demand groups, each of said plurality of demand groups configured to categorize a set of highly correlated products, wherein said highly correlated products are normally substitute products, but may also be complementary products; anda command interpreter;
configured to extract commands from said first price optimization templates executed by said user, and configured to populate said second price optimization templates according to result data provided for presentation to said user; anda scenario controller, coupled to said input/output processor, configured to control the acquisition of said data and the distribution of said optimization results in accordance with a price optimization procedure; a demand engine, coupled to said scenario/results processor, configured to model relationships between potential prices of the products and market demand for the products; an activity based cost engine, coupled to said demand engine, configured to estimate demand chain costs for the products based upon said market demand; and a price optimization engine, coupled to said demand engine and said activity based cost engine, configured to employ said market demand and said demand chain costs to determine the optimum prices, wherein the optimum prices are a subset of said potential prices, and wherein the optimum prices maximize a merchandising performance figure of merit according to said optimization scenario. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification