System and method for generating customer surveys and promotional offers

• US 8,595,061 B2
• Filed: 05/05/2011
• Issued: 11/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Infor (Canada), Ltd. (Infor Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Vivonet Incorporated (Infor Incorporated)
• Inventors: Falk, Kevin Bernhard, Volberg, Ryan Walter
• Primary Examiner(s): BORISSOV, IGOR N
• Application Number:
  US13/101,278
• Publication Number:
  US 20120116878A1
• Time in Patent Office: 936 Days
• Field of Search: 705/7.11, 705/7.29, 705/7.35, 705 141- 18, 705 20- 30, 705/35, 705/37, 705/400
• US Class Current: 705/14.25
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0255 based on user history

Abstract

A method and system for automatically generating targeted promotional offers for specific subscribers to an Internet based service. A database that stores details regarding subscriber purchases is accessed for purchased items data relating to a specific subscriber'"'"'s purchases. This purchased items data is then analyzed to determine the specific subscriber'"'"'s buying patterns. From this analysis of what the specific subscriber has previously purchased, a suitable item or service is determined to be offered to the specific subscriber to the Internet based service. The promotional offer may be made in conjunction with the gathering of customer or survey feedback data by way of questionnaires.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method executed on data processing system for generating specific and targeted offers for a specific subscriber, the method comprising:

a) receiving, by a processor, data for storage at a server, said data being received from a first group of different retail establishments, said data being sent by said first group of retail establishments as part of a previously established datawarehousing agreement for storing and managing retail data between said first group of retail establishments and an operator of said server, said data being retail data generated by each one of said first group of retail establishments, said retail data including customer names, customer credit cards, customer credit cards, customer loyalty cards, items purchased by a customer, and prices for said items;

b) storing, by said processor, said data in a database at said server;

c) determining, by said processor, which retail data received in step a) comprises subscribers data, said subscribers are customers subscribing an Internet-based paid service operated by said operator for providing specialized promotional offers to subscribers;

d) segregating in said database, by said processor, said retail data relating to said subscribers determined in step c);

e) receiving, by said processor, a request for a specific and targeted offer for a specific subscriber, said specific subscriber being a subscriber to said Internet-based paid service;

f) determining, by said processor, that purchased items data for said specific subscriber is part of data segregated in step d) and, once determined, retrieving, by said processor, said purchased items data for said specific subscriber from said database, said purchased items data relating to items or services previously purchased by said specific subscriber from members of said first group of different retail establishments;

g) determining, by said processor, at least one buying pattern of said specific subscriber based on said purchased items data;

h) based on at least one of said at least one buying pattern, determining by said processor, at least one item or service to be offered to said specific subscriber;

i) determining, by said processor, from a second group of retail establishments, which retail establishments offers said at least one item or service to be offered to said specific subscriber, said second group of retail establishments being a group of retail establishments which have a previously established membership agreement with said operator to receive preferential treatment from said operator when said operator selects suppliers for said specific and targeted offers;

j) selecting, by said processor, from retail establishments determined in step i) which at least one retail establishment is to be used for offering said at least one item or service to said specific subscriber, said at least on retail establishment to be selected offering said at least one item or service determined in step h);

k) communicating, by said processor, with said specific subscriber, to offer said at least one item or service from said at least one retail establishment selected in step j).

2. A method according to claim 1 where in step e) further comprises determining types of items bought by said specific subscriber.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein step e) further comprises determining types of items bought by said specific subscriber over a predetermined period of time.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein step e) comprises determining a frequency of purchases of specific items or services made by said specific subscriber.

5. A method according to claim 4 wherein step e) further comprises determining a frequency of purchases of specific items or services made by said specific subscriber over a predetermined period of time.

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein step e) further comprises determining how many of a specific item has been bought by said specific subscriber.

7. A method according to claim 6 wherein step d) comprises determining how many of a specific item has been bought by said specific subscriber over a predetermined period of time.

8. A method according to claim 1 wherein said data received from said first group of different retail establishments are gathered from point of sale terminals at said different retail establishments of said first group.

9. A method according to claim 1 wherein, for step g), said at least one retail establishment selected from said second group is a retail establishment which is running at least one promotional offer.

10. A method according to claim 1 wherein, for step f), said at least one item or service to be offered to said specific subscriber is within a predetermined price range.

11. A method according to claim 10 wherein, for step f), said predetermined price range is based on prices of items or services previously purchased by said specific subscriber.

12. A method according to claim 1 further including the step of offering to said specific subscriber for immediate purchase said at least one item or service determined in step f) from said at least one retail establishment selected in step g).

13. Non-transitory computer-readable media having encoded thereon non-transitory computer-readable instructions which, when executed, implements a computer-implemented method for generating specific and targeted offers for a specific user, the method comprising:

a) receiving, by a processor, data for storage at a server, said data being received from a first group of different retail establishments, said data being sent by said first group of retail establishments as part of a previously established datawarehousing agreement for storing and managing retail data between said first group of retail establishments and an operator of said server, said data being retail data generated by each one of said first group of retail establishments, said retail data including customer names, customer credit cards, customer credit cards, customer loyalty cards, items purchased by a customer, and prices for said items;

b) storing, by said processor, said data in a database at said server;

c) determining, by said processor, which retail data received in step a) comprises subscribers data, said subscribers are customers subscribing an Internet-based paid service operated by said operator for providing specialized promotional offers to subscribers;

d) segregating in said database, by said processor, said retail data relating to said subscribers determined in step c);

e) receiving, by said processor, a request for a specific and targeted offer for a specific subscriber, said specific subscriber being a subscriber to said Internet-based paid service;

f) determining, by said processor, that purchased items data for said specific subscriber is part of data segregated in step d) and, once determined, retrieving, by said processor, said purchased items data for said specific subscriber from said database, said purchased items data relating to items or services previously purchased by said specific subscriber from members of said first group of different retail establishments;

g) determining, by said processor, at least one buying pattern of said specific subscriber based on said purchased items data;

h) based on at least one of said at least one buying pattern, determining by said processor, at least one item or service to be offered to said specific subscriber;

i) determining, by said processor, from a second group of retail establishments, which retail establishments offers said at least one item or service to be offered to said specific subscriber, said second group of retail establishments being a group of retail establishments which have a previously established membership agreement with said operator to receive preferential treatment from said operator when said operator selects suppliers for said specific and targeted offers;

j) selecting, by said processor, from retail establishments determined in step i) which at least one retail establishment is to be used for offering said at least one item or service to said specific subscriber, said at least on retail establishment to be selected offering said at least one item or service determined in step h);

k) communicating, by said processor, with said specific subscriber, to offer said at least one item or service from said at least one retail establishment selected in step j).