System and method for organizing price modeling data using hierarchically organized portfolios

Abstract

The present invention presents systems and methods for a closed loop method for managing enterprise pricing using hierarchically organized portfolios. Such systems and methods perform the steps of storing a plurality of transactions in a transaction database, sorting these transactions for success, and analyzing the successful transaction, using a processor, to generate a plurality of pricing policies. A “successful” transaction is one in which profit and/or volume are increased above a baseline.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A closed loop method for managing enterprise pricing using hierarchically organized portfolios comprising:
 storing a plurality of transactions in a transaction database;   sorting the transactions for success, wherein a successful transaction is one in which at least one of profit and volume are increased above a baseline; and   analyzing the successful transaction, using a processor, to generate a plurality of pricing policies.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the analysis generates a rebate for a given product in a given region which corresponds to an expected lift in sales. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising applying the pricing policies to generate an invoice. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising receiving a deal quote. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  further comprising comparing the deal quote to the pricing policies to generate deal indicator, wherein the deal indicator is a measure of compliance of the quote to the pricing policies. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising generating a deal suggestion which increases the deal indicator of the deal quote. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein a deal quote with a deal indicator below a first threshold requires approval from a first level of an approval hierarchy. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein a deal quote with a deal indicator below a second threshold requires approval from a second level of the approval hierarchy. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein a deal quote with a deal indicator below a third threshold requires approval from a third level of the approval hierarchy. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the first level of the approval hierarchy is a price list portfolio, the second level of the approval hierarchy is a sales manager portfolio, and the third level of the approval hierarchy is an account manager portfolio. 
     
     
         11 . A closed loop system for managing enterprise pricing using hierarchically organized portfolios comprising:
 a transaction database configured to store a plurality of transactions;   a sorter configured to sort the transactions for success, wherein a successful transaction is one in which at least one of profit and volume are increased above a baseline; and   a processor configured to analyze the successful transaction to generate a plurality of pricing policies.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the processor generates a rebate for a given product in a given region which corresponds to an expected lift in sales. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the processor is further configured to apply the pricing policies to generate an invoice. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11  further comprising a price management system configured to receive a deal quote. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14  wherein the price management system is further configured to compare the deal quote to the pricing policies to generate deal indicator, wherein the deal indicator is a measure of compliance of the quote to the pricing policies. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15  wherein the price management system is further configured to generate a deal suggestion which increases the deal indicator of the deal quote. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16  wherein a deal quote with a deal indicator below a first threshold requires approval from a first level of an approval hierarchy. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17  wherein a deal quote with a deal indicator below a second threshold requires approval from a second level of the approval hierarchy. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18  wherein a deal quote with a deal indicator below a third threshold requires approval from a third level of the approval hierarchy. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19  wherein the first level of the approval hierarchy is a price list portfolio, the second level of the approval hierarchy is a sales manager portfolio, and the third level of the approval hierarchy is an account manager portfolio.