Patent ID: 6044357
Filing Date: 2000-03-28
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
A computer-implemented method for merged marketing management and inventory management, said method comprising the steps of:(a) initializing a plurality of marketing mix variables, each of said variables representing marketing strategies for each of a plurality of brands of goods;(b) initializing a plurality of cost factors corresponding to said plurality of marketing mix variables;(c) initializing a plurality of inventory maintenance cost values and a plurality of sale price values, each of said pluralities corresponding to said plurality of brands;(d) selecting a sub-plurality of marketing mix variables from said plurality of marketing mix variables;(e) for each of a plurality of time periods:(1) calculating an expected total cost of said select sub-plurality of marketing mix variables based on said plurality of cost factors,(2) calculating an expected demand of each of a sub-plurality of said plurality brands based on said selected sub-plurality of marketing mix variables, and(3) generating an expected total profit/loss value corresponding to said selected sub-plurality of market mix variables, based on said calculated expected demands, said plurality of sale price values, and said plurality of inventory maintenance cost values;(f) selecting another plurality of marketing mix variables from a matrix of marketing mix variables;(g) generating a plurality of said expected total profit/loss values by repeating steps (d) through (h) until a predetermined portion of said plurality of marketing mix variables is selected; and(h) identifying which selected sub-plurality of marketing mix variables generates the largest of said expected total profit/loss values.