System and method for automated processing of requests for approval of materials for business development

Abstract

A system and method for automated processing requests for reviewing and approving business development materials, such as marketing flipbooks and request for proposals, etc., for compliance and performance approval employs an application server that presents a web-based request form. A requestor uses the request form to enter information regarding the approval request and to select reviewer. The application server then generates a request document and sends it with the business development materials to the selected reviewer(s). The request form and marketing presentation materials are archived in a database to allow real-time monitoring and future auditing.

1 - 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A system for automated processing of requests for approval of marketing materials for at least one of a product and a service, comprising:
 an application server located on a network and programmed to present through an electronic user interface a review request form with data fields adapted to collect data from a requestor connected to the network, the data fields including:
 at least one data field adapted to indicate an audience type from a set of predetermined audience types; 
 at least one data field adapted to indicate a distribution type from a set of predetermined distribution types; 
 at least one data field adapted to indicate the marketing materials under review include performance information relating to the performance of the product or service, 
 at least one data field adapted to indicate a selection of at least one performance reviewer for reviewing performance information in the marketing materials, and 
 at least one data field adapted to indicate a selection of at least one compliance reviewer for reviewing the marketing materials for compliance with at least one predetermined criteria, 
   
       the application server being further programmed to generate a review request document based on information entered by the requestor and to send an electronic message including the request document to at least one selected reviewer; and
 a database for archiving information regarding the review request document and the marketing materials. 
 
     
     
         18 . The system according to  claim 17 , wherein the electronic message is an email message, and the review request form includes a section adapted to attach the marketing materials to be reviewed to the review request form, and wherein the application server generates the email message with the marketing materials attached thereto. 
     
     
         19 . The system according to  claim 17 , wherein the application server is further programmed to generate a report based on information regarding review request documents archived in the database. 
     
     
         20 . The system according to  claim 17 , wherein the application server is programmed to present a user interface screen that includes a report generation section adapted to generate a report based upon a selection of report generation criteria by a requestor, and the report is generated based on information regarding review request documents archived in the database in response to the report generation criteria received through the user interface screen. 
     
     
         21 . The system according to  claim 17 , wherein the set of predetermined audience types includes an institutional audience, a retail audience, an internal-use-only audience, and a broker- or dealer-use-only audience. 
     
     
         22 . The system according to  claim 17 , wherein the set of predetermined distribution types includes an external-public distribution, an external one-on-one distribution, an external consultant distribution, an internet distribution, and a user-specified distribution. 
     
     
         23 . The system according to  claim 21 , wherein the set of predetermined distribution types includes an external-public distribution, an external one-on-one distribution, an external consultant distribution, an internet distribution, and a user-specified distribution. 
     
     
         24 . A method of processing requests for approval of marketing materials for at least one of a product and a service, the method comprising:
 presenting a review request form through an electronic user interface over a network to a requestor connected to the network, the review request form having a plurality of data fields including:
 at least one data field adapted to indicate the marketing materials under review include performance information relating to the product or service, 
 at least one data field adapted to indicate a selection of at least one performance reviewer for reviewing performance information in the marketing materials for wrong, inaccurate, or improper information, and 
 at least one data field adapted to indicate a selection of at least one compliance reviewer for reviewing the marketing materials for compliance with at least one predetermined criteria; 
   receiving information from the requestor through the review request form;   generating a review request document based on information received from the requestor; and   sending an electronic message with the request document to at least one selected reviewer.   
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein the step of receiving information from the requestor includes receiving a selection of a performance reviewer, and the method further comprising:
 determining, by the selected performance reviewer, if the performance information includes wrong, inaccurate, or improper information.   
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 24 , the step of receiving information from the requestor includes receiving a selection of a compliance reviewer, and the method further comprising:
 determining, by the compliance reviewer, if the marketing materials are in compliance with at least one predetermined criteria.   
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 25 , the step of receiving information from the requestor includes receiving a selection of a compliance reviewer, and the method further comprising:
 determining, by the compliance reviewer, if the marketing materials are in compliance with at least one predetermined criteria.   
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein the step of presenting the request form includes selectively enabling a section in the request form based on information received from the requestor. 
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein the step of presenting the request form includes selectively disabling a section in the request form based on information received from the requestor. 
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein the step of receiving information from the requestor includes receiving a selection of an audience type from a set of predetermined audience types. 
     
     
         31 . The method according to  claim 30 , wherein the step of receiving information from the requestor includes receiving a selection of a distribution type from a set of predetermined distribution types. 
     
     
         32 . The method according to  claim 24 , further comprising:
 archiving, in a database, information regarding the review request document and the marketing materials.   
     
     
         33 . The method according to  claim 32 , further comprising:
 presenting a user interface screen that includes a report generation section adapted to generate a report based upon a selection of report generation criteria;   receiving report generation criteria through the user interface screen; generating a report using information archived in the database based on the received report generation criteria.   
     
     
         34 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein the electronic message is an email message. 
     
     
         35 . The method according to  claim 34 , wherein the email message includes the marketing materials attached thereto.