Systems, methods, and computer program products for supply chain finance

• US 8,843,410 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2008
• Issued: 09/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Inventors: Blount, Calvin E., Reulbach, Raymond A., Castillo, Humberto, Cronin, Brian A., Preston, Bryan K., Vukas, Christopher M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zeender, F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Amsdell, Dana
• Application Number:
  US12/018,190
• Publication Number:
  US 20090187482A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,436 Days
• US Class Current: 705/38
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/03 Credit; Loans; Processing thereof

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing supply chain financing that include receiving a request to finance an asset of a borrower, where the asset is associated with goods provided by a supplier to a buyer under the control of a supply chain/logistics entity. Attributes of a trade ecosystem of the supplier and/or the buyer are evaluated to determine whether to finance the asset. Financing of the asset is then established based upon the analyzed attributes of the trade ecosystem, where the terms of the financing permit control over movement of goods before and/or after default of the terms of the financing. Information associated with movement of the goods is monitored and analyzed to determine adjustments to at least one of the financing terms based on the information associated with movement of the goods.

Claims

1. A computerized method for providing supply chain financing, comprising:

receiving a request to finance an asset of a borrower, wherein the asset is associated with inventory provided by a supplier to a buyer under the control of a supply chain/logistics entity;

evaluating, by one or more computers, a plurality of attributes of a trade ecosystem associated with the supplier and the buyer, wherein the plurality of the attributes include at least one first attribute associated with a reorder rate of the inventory from the supplier by the buyer, and at least one second attribute characterizing a length of relationship between the supplier and the buyer;

determining, by one or more computers, to finance the asset based at least in part on the evaluated attributes;

arranging, by one or more computers, for the financing of the asset from a lender, wherein at least one term of a plurality of financing terms permits the lender control over movement of the inventory both before and after default of one of the plurality of financing terms;

receiving, by one or more computers, information associated with the movement of the inventory along a supply chain;

determining, by one or more computers based upon the received information, that a physical supply chain event has occurred while the inventory is in-transit along the supply chain; and

automatically adjusting, by one or more computers in accordance with at least one term of the plurality of financing terms, an advance rate defined by a percentage of a valuation of a borrower'"'"'s collateral for the financing from a first advance rate to a second advance rate, wherein the automatic adjustment is based upon the determination that the physical supply chain event has occurred while the inventory is in-transit along the supply chain.

2. The computerized method of claim 1, wherein the borrower is at least one of the supplier and the buyer.

3. The computerized method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of attributes of the trade ecosystem are associated with one or more of (i) the supplier, (ii) the buyer, (iii) a relationship between the supplier and the buyer, or (iv) the inventory provided from the supplier and the buyer.

4. The computerized method of claim 1, further comprising:

collecting payment at a time earlier than specified in the plurality of terms of financing, wherein the collected payment is a discounted payment.

5. The computerized method of claim 1, wherein control over movement of the inventory includes at least one of stopping further movement of the inventory or redirecting movement of the inventory.

6. The computerized method of claim 1, wherein the supply chain/logistics entity is the lender.

7. The computerized method of claim 1, wherein the asset is at least one of (i) an accounts payable related to the inventory, (ii) an accounts receivable related to the inventory, or (iii) the inventory.

8. The computerized method of claim 1, wherein the inventory includes in-transit inventory.

9. The computerized method of claim 1, wherein the inventory includes inventory located in at least one of a warehouse, a bonded logistics park, or a free trade zone.

10. The computerized method of claim 7, wherein the asset is the accounts receivable, and wherein the financing of the asset comprises purchasing the accounts receivable at a discount.

11. The computerized method of claim 10, wherein the lender receives payments associated with the purchased accounts receivable.

12. A computerized system for providing supply chain financing, comprising:

a memory for storing executable instructions;

a processor in communication with the memory, wherein the processor is operable to execute the stored executable instructions to;

receive a request to finance an asset of a borrower, wherein the asset is associated with inventory provided by a supplier to a buyer under control of a supply chain/logistics entity;

communicate the request for financing to a lender, wherein the lender evaluates a plurality of attributes of a trade ecosystem associated with the supplier and the buyer to determine a plurality of financing terms for the asset, wherein the plurality of attributes include a first attribute characterizing a length of first historical relationship between the supplier and the buyer, and a second attribute characterizing a second historical relationship of either the supplier or buyer to another entity outside of the trade ecosystem;

receive, from the lender, acceptance of the request for financing, wherein at least one term of the plurality of financing terms permits the lender control over movement of the inventory both before and after default of one of the plurality of financing terms;

receive information associated with the movement of the inventory along a supply chain;

determine, based upon the received information, that a physical supply chain event has occurred while the inventory is in-transit along the supply chain; and

automatically adjust, in accordance with at least one term of the plurality of financing terms, an advance rate defined by a percentage of a valuation of a borrower'"'"'s collateral for the financing from a first advance rate to a second advance rate, wherein the automatic adjustment is based upon the determination that the physical supply chain event has occurred while the inventory is in-transit along the supply chain.

13. The computerized system of claim 12, wherein the borrower is at least one of the supplier or the buyer.

14. The computerized system of claim 12, wherein the plurality of attributes of the trade ecosystem are associated with one or more of (i) the supplier, (ii) the buyer, (iii) a relationship between the supplier and the buyer, or (iv) the goods provided from the supplier and the buyer.

15. The computerized system of claim 12, wherein the processor is further operable to execute the stored instructions to:

collect payment at a time earlier than specified in the plurality of terms of financing, wherein the collected payment is a discounted payment.

16. The computerized system of claim 12, wherein control over movement of the inventory includes at least one of stopping further movement of the inventory or redirecting movement of the inventory.

17. The computerized system of claim 12, wherein the supply chain/logistics entity is the lender.

18. The computerized system of claim 12, wherein the asset is at least one of (i) an accounts payable related to the inventory, (ii) an accounts receivable related to the inventory, or (iii) the inventory.

19. The computerized system of claim 12, wherein the inventory includes in-transit inventory.

20. The computerized system of claim 12, wherein the inventory includes inventory located in at least one of a warehouse, a bonded logistics park, or a free trade zone.

21. The computerized system of claim 18, wherein the asset is the accounts receivable, and wherein the processor is further operable to execute the stored instructions to purchase, in accordance with the acceptance of the request for financing, the accounts receivable by a lender at a discount.

22. The computerized system of claim 21, wherein the lender receives payments associated with the purchased accounts receivable.

23. A computerized method for providing supply chain financing, comprising:

receiving, by one or more computers, a request to finance an asset of a borrower, wherein the asset is associated with inventory provided by a supplier to a buyer under control of a supply chain/logistics entity;

communicating, by one or more computers, the request for financing to a lender, wherein the lender evaluates a plurality of attributes of a trade ecosystem associated with the supplier and the buyer to determine a plurality of financing terms for the asset, wherein the plurality of attributes include a first attribute characterizing a length of first historical relationship between the supplier and the buyer, and a second attribute characterizing a second historical relationship of either the supplier or buyer to another entity outside of the trade ecosystem;

receiving, by one or more computers from the lender, acceptance of the request for financing, wherein at least one term of the plurality of financing terms permits the lender control over movement of the inventory both before and after default of one of the plurality of financing terms;

receiving, by one or more computers, information associated with the movement of the inventory along a supply chain;

determining, by one or more computers based upon the received information, that a physical supply chain event has occurred while the inventory is in-transit along the supply chain; and

automatically adjusting, by one or more computers in accordance with at least one term of the plurality of financing terms, an advance rate defined by a percentage of a valuation of a borrower'"'"'s collateral for the financing from a first advance rate to a second advance rate, wherein the automatic adjustment is based upon the determination that the physical supply chain event has occurred while the inventory is in-transit along the supply chain.

24. The computerized method of claim 23, wherein the borrower is at least one of the supplier or the buyer.

25. The computerized method of claim 23, wherein the plurality of attributes of the trade ecosystem are associated with one or more of (i) the supplier, (ii) the buyer, (iii) a relationship between the supplier and the buyer, or (iv) the goods provided from the supplier and the buyer.

26. The computerized method of claim 23, further comprising:

arranging, by one or more computers, for collecting payment at a time earlier than specified in the plurality of terms of financing, wherein the collected payment is a discounted payment.

27. The computerized method of claim 23, wherein control over movement of the inventory includes at least one of stopping further movement of the inventory or redirecting movement of the inventory.

28. The computerized method of claim 23, wherein the supply chain/logistics entity is the lender.

29. The computerized method of claim 23, wherein the asset is at least one of (i) an accounts payable related to the inventory, (ii) an accounts receivable related to the inventory, or (iii) the inventory.

30. The computerized method of claim 29, wherein the asset is the accounts receivable, and wherein the processor is further operable to execute the stored instructions to purchase, in accordance with the acceptance of the request for financing, the accounts receivable by a lender at a discount.

31. The computerized method of claim 29, wherein the lender receives payments associated with the purchased accounts receivable.

32. The computerized method of claim 23, wherein the inventory includes in-transit inventory.

33. The computerized method of claim 23, wherein the inventory includes inventory located in at least one of a warehouse, a bonded logistics park, or a free trade zone.