System and method for facilitating sales utilizing customer relationship management technology

• US 20070152041A1
• Filed: 12/30/2005
• Published: 07/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zebra Technologies Corporation
• Original Assignee: Enfo Trust Networks, Inc.
• Inventors: Hawkins, Stan
• Granted Patent: US 7,708,202 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/383
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0251 Targeted advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0271 Personalized advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0281 Customer communication at a business location, e.g. providing product or service information, consulting

Abstract

A system and method of providing relevant sales context information that would enable vendors to reduce cost of operations, increase productivity of their mobile sales forces, and drive improved efficiencies throughout. Mobile sales force representatives can utilize a handheld computing device for reviewing relevant customer sales information prior to a sales visit; for training and other purposes during a sales visit; and inputting new customer sales information during or after a sales visit, which can then be uploaded to a server over a wireless network for future use. The handheld device can communicate with a server to download the customer information onto the handheld device and to upload from the handheld device current customer information data obtained from a customers sales visit to a server. The server can transmit the current customer information data to multiple sales force representatives who can utilize that information in the sales environment.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating sales comprising the steps of:

preparing a plurality of files in advance of receiving a synchronization request;

receiving a synchronization request containing a unique identifier for customer information from a handheld device at a middleware server;

receiving a file index from the handheld device at the middleware server;

comparing the file index to a file list at the middleware server;

transmitting a plurality of files that have not been previously received to the middleware server via a wireless network; and

transmitting a plurality of files associated to the unique identifier to the handheld device via a wireless network.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying the matching records on the handheld device; and

receiving current customer information with the handheld device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of receiving a synchronization request further comprises associating the unique identifier with at least one database.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of displaying the matching records on the handheld device further comprises:

formatting the records into predetermined categories;

receiving a selection of a category by a user of the handheld device; and

displaying a next level of information associated with the category.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of receiving current customer information with the handheld device further comprises:

formatting the current customer information with the handheld; and

storing the current customer information with the handheld.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining whether a wireless connection with the network is available.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of transmitting a plurality of files that have not been previously received to a middleware server further comprises:

formatting the plurality of files into a readable format at the middleware server;

sending the plurality of files to a database via a file transfer protocol server; and

updating the file list maintained by the middleware server.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting the current customer information to a plurality of handheld devices via a wireless network.

9. A system for facilitating sales comprising:

a wireless network;

a handheld device operable for transmitting a synchronization request containing a unique identifier for customer information, operable for receiving a plurality of files associated to the unique identifier for customer information via a wireless network, and operable for a transmitting a plurality of files that have not been previously received to a middleware server via a wireless network.

a middleware server coupled to the wireless network and operable for preparing a plurality of files in advance of receiving a synchronization request, receiving a plurality of files that have not been previously received via a wireless network, and transmitting a plurality of files associated to the unique identifier for customer information via a wireless network;

a file transfer protocol server coupled to the wireless network and operable for receiving the current customer information from the server, and for storing current customer information in a database.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the handheld device is further operable for displaying the matching records, and operable for receiving current customer information from a user.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the handheld device is further operable for formatting the records into predetermined categories, receiving a selection of a category by a user of the handheld device, and displaying a next level of information associated with the category.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the handheld device is further operable for determining whether a wireless connection with the network is available.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the handheld device is further operable for formatting the current customer information with the handheld, and storing the current customer information with the handheld.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the middleware server is further operable for formatting the plurality of files into a readable format at the middleware server, sending the plurality of files to a database via the file transfer protocol server, and updating the file list maintained by the middleware server.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the middleware server is further operable for transmitting the current customer information to a plurality of handheld devices via a wireless network.