System, method and computer program product for cross-selling in network environment

• US 8,321,271 B2
• Filed: 01/04/2012
• Issued: 11/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dale LeFebvre
• Original Assignee: Dale LeFebvre
• Inventors: LeFebvre, Dale
• Primary Examiner(s): Dagnew, Saba
• Application Number:
  US13/343,569
• Publication Number:
  US 20120101892A1
• Time in Patent Office: 328 Days
• Field of Search: 705/14.34
• US Class Current: 705/14.34
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0234 Rebates after completed purchase

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention provide a robust rebate cross-sell network in which business entities, including financial institutions, can make targeted offers, including pre-approved or pre-qualified credit offers, to a desirable consumer utilizing information submitted by the consumer during a rebate redemption process. These business entities may but need not be associated with a rebate-issuing entity (i.e., rebate sponsor) or a rebate processing center which processes rebate claims for the rebate sponsor. In one embodiment, a cross-sell network manager can determine the consumer'"'"'s identity, look-up the consumer at credit bureau(s), and perform a passive, real-time inquiry. Contingent upon a plurality of factors (e.g., the results of the inquiry or look-up against the pre-approved/qualified customer list, etc.), one or more targeted offers are identified. A Web page can be dynamically generated with the selectively identified offers and presented to the consumer as disbursement options, perhaps after authenticating the consumer'"'"'s identity.

Claims

1. A method of cross-selling in a network environment, comprising:

at a first computer, while processing a rebate submitted by a consumer for redemption after said consumer made a purchase of an item or service associated with said rebate, presenting at least one cross-sell offer to said consumer on at least one device associated with said consumer, wherein said at least one cross-sell offer is presented to said consumer after said first computer performing the steps of;

analyzing rebate redemption information associated with said purchase, said rebate redemption information being collected during said processing said rebate submitted by said consumer;

obtaining from at least one second computer communicatively connected to said first computer one or more cross-sell offers for said consumer, said one or more cross-sell offers being prepared by said at least one second computer based at least in part on said rebate redemption information, said first computer and said at least one second computer being associated with different entities; and

selecting said at least one cross-sell offer from said one or more cross-sell offers for said presenting said at least one cross-sell offer to said consumer on said at least one device associated with said consumer.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein none of said at least one cross-sell offer presented to said consumer is associated with said item or service.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said consumer is required to make a selection from said at least one cross-sell offer presented to said consumer.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said consumer makes a selection of a first cross-sell offer from said at least one cross-sell offer presented to said consumer, further comprising:

at said first computer, in response to receiving said selection by said consumer, communicating said selection by said consumer to said at least one second computer.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the act of communicating said selection by said consumer to said at least one second computer causes a benefit associated with said first cross-sell offer to be delivered to said consumer.

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein the act of communicating said selection by said consumer to said at least one second computer causes a benefit associated with said first cross-sell offer to be delivered to an entity other than said consumer.

7. The method according to claim 4, wherein said processing, said presenting, and said communicating occur in real time in a single online rebate fulfillment session.

8. The method according to claim 4, further comprising:

determining, in real time, whether said consumer is pre-approved or pre-qualified for said first cross-sell offer.

9. The method according to claim 4, wherein said presenting comprises dynamically generating a page with said first cross-sell offer.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein said rebate redemption information associated with said purchase is collected at a third computer, and wherein said first computer is communicatively connected to said third computer over a network connection and further configured to receive or obtain said rebate redemption information associated with said purchase from said third computer over said network connection.

11. A computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions translatable by a first computer to perform:

while processing a rebate submitted by a consumer for redemption after said consumer made a purchase of an item or service associated with said rebate;

analyzing rebate redemption information associated with said purchase, said rebate redemption information being collected during said processing said rebate submitted by said consumer;

obtaining from at least one second computer communicatively connected to said first computer one or more cross-sell offers for said consumer, said one or more cross-sell offers being prepared by said at least one second computer based at least in part on said rebate redemption information, said first computer and said at least one second computer being associated with different entities;

selecting at least one cross-sell offer from said one or more cross-sell offers; and

presenting said at least one cross-sell offer to said consumer on at least one device associated with said consumer.

12. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein said consumer makes a selection of a first cross-sell offer from said at least one cross-sell offer presented to said consumer, and wherein said instructions are further translatable by said first computer to perform:

in response to receiving said selection by said consumer, communicating said selection by said consumer to said at least one second computer.

13. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein said instructions are further translatable by said first computer to cause a benefit associated with said first cross-sell offer to be delivered to said consumer.

14. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein said instructions are further translatable by said first computer to cause a benefit associated with said first cross-sell offer to be delivered to an entity other than said consumer.

15. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein said instructions are further translatable by said first computer to perform:

determining, in real time, whether said consumer is pre-approved or pre-qualified for said first cross-sell offer.

16. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein said presenting comprises dynamically generating a page with said first cross-sell offer.

17. A system for cross-selling in a network environment, comprising:

a first computer configured to, in a single online transaction;

process a rebate submitted by a consumer for redemption after said consumer made a purchase of an item or service associated with said rebate;

analyze rebate redemption information associated with said purchase, said rebate redemption information being collected during said processing said rebate submitted by said consumer;

obtain from at least one second computer communicatively connected to said first computer one or more cross-sell offers for said consumer, said one or more cross-sell offers being prepared by said at least one second computer based at least in part on said rebate redemption information, said first computer and said at least one second computer being associated with different entities;

selecting at least one cross-sell offer from said one or more cross-sell offers; and

present said at least one cross-sell offer to said consumer on at least one device associated with said consumer.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein none of said at least one cross-sell offer presented to said consumer is associated with said item or service.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein said consumer makes a selection of a first cross-sell offer from said at least one cross-sell offer presented to said consumer, and wherein said first computer is further configured to communicate said selection by said consumer to said at least one second computer in response to receiving said selection by said consumer.

20. The system of claim 17, further comprising:

a third computer communicatively connected to said first computer over a network connection, wherein said rebate redemption information associated with said purchase is collected at said third computer, and wherein said first computer is further configured to receive or obtain said rebate redemption information associated with said purchase from said third computer over said network connection.