Abstract:
An exemplary embodiment of the invention relates to a method, system and storage medium for providing supplier branding services over a communications network. The system comprises an information exchange system including a server in communication with a data storage device via a communications link. The server executes web server software for hosting and serving web pages and applications software including a branding tool for creating and disseminating branded information. The data storage device houses a database storing supplier subscription records for facilitating portal services. The supplier subscription records include customer target records. The database also stores customer profile records. The system also includes a link to an enterprise portal site of a registered customer system; and a link to a subscribing supplier system. The branding tool maps the branded information provided in the supplier subscription records to profile information provided in the customer profile records and transfers the resulting targeted branded information to the customer system. The invention also includes a method and storage medium for facilitating the implementation of the supplier branding services.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
         [0001]    The present invention relates generally to business-to-business marketing services, and more particularly, to a method, system, and storage medium for providing supplier branding services over a communications network.  
           [0002]    Many businesses have recently begun opening up their system firewalls to receive email messages from external sources. While there are obvious advantages in allowing outside information into a business, the reported inundation of unsolicited information has often resulted in overburdened system storage devices, diminished processing speeds, and sometimes overwhelmed system users. Accumulating junk mail (e.g., spam) can quickly consume system resources in a given network, slowing down the users&#39; ability to retrieve important information which can further lead to diminished productivity as users sift through this sea of information  
           [0003]    An increasing number of companies are beginning to implement enterprise portals for their employees, including personalized home pages similar to MY YAHOO™ in the public domain. Portals are World Wide Web (WWW) sites that are used as a starting point for users upon connecting to the web or are WWW sites that users visit as an anchor site upon connecting to the web. A portal may be set as a default homepage for users who employ a browser program that includes the homepage. Enterprise portals make it possible for employees to become more productive, by filtering out unwanted information and organizing the barrage of electronic data that inundate their desks each day. However, for suppliers faced with the challenge of one-to-one marketing (e.g., marketing engineering, design, purchasing, production control, logistics, etc.) with the employees of this type of customer organization, these enterprise portals provide both a challenge and a unique opportunity for suppliers to provide branded and timely messages to targeted constituencies within the customer organization. Customer employees could benefit by receiving tailored information to assist them in doing their jobs more effectively.  
           [0004]    Recently, Industry Exchanges (IE), (e.g., Covisint™, Transora™, etc.), have been established as trusted third-party systems that facilitate information exchange, particularly for the buyer or customer side. Covisint™ is a business-to-business (B2B) exchange geared toward the automobile industry. It provides product development, procurement, and supply chain management collaboration capabilities for its members via a web-architected information portal. Transora™ is a similar system geared toward the consumer packaged goods industry. Currently, there are no known solutions that provide and manage supplier-branded marketing and related services to targeted constituencies within a customer organization utilizing information exchanges.  
           [0005]    The above discussed and other drawbacks and deficiencies of the prior art are overcome or alleviated by the supplier branding tool of the invention.  
         SUMMARY  
         [0006]    An exemplary embodiment of the invention relates to a method, system and storage medium for providing supplier branding services over a communications network. The system comprises an information exchange system including a server in communication with a data storage device via a communications link. The server executes web server software for hosting and serving web pages and applications software including a branding tool for creating and disseminating branded information and sales collateral. The data storage device houses a database storing supplier subscription records for facilitating portal services. The supplier subscription records include customer target records. The database also stores customer profile records. The system also includes a link to an enterprise portal site of a registered customer system; and a link to a subscribing supplier system. The branding tool maps the branded information and sales collateral provided in the supplier subscription records to profile information provided in the customer profile records and transfers the resulting targeted branded information to the customer system. The invention also includes a method and storage medium for facilitating the implementation of the supplier branding services. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]    Referring to the exemplary drawings wherein like elements are numbered alike in the several Figures:  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 1 is a system diagram of a computer network for implementing the supplier branding tool in an exemplary embodiment;  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 2 is a supplier subscription record including a customer target record used by the supplier branding tool in an exemplary embodiment; and  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the process of implementing the supplier branding tool in an exemplary embodiment. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0011]    The supplier branding tool provides a singular focal point for managing marketing and related information and communications amongst buyers and sellers within an industry sector. In an exemplary embodiment, the supplier branding tool is implemented in conjunction with an information exchange system. The exchange may be a public exchange similar to commercial web portals such as Yahoo™ or MSN™, or may be a fee-based membership system, such as Covisint™. Further, the exchange may be limited in scope to a single industry, such as automotive, or may extend beyond a single industry to provide a variety of categorized services to a wide range of industries.  
         [0012]    An exemplary network system  100  upon which the invention might be used is shown in FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 1, a system  100  is provided and includes information exchange system  102  representing a business-to-business (B2B) web portal. Information exchange system  102  comprises a server  104  in communication with a data storage device  106  via a communications network  108 . Communications network  108  may comprise an infrastructure such as an intranet network operating on a local area network (LAN). Further, network  108  may be connected to the Internet via server  104 .  
         [0013]    Server  104  includes web server software for hosting and serving web pages of information exchange system  102 . Server  104  also includes applications software for facilitating activities such as initiating customer registration, authorizing access to information exchange system&#39;s  102  applications, directing visitor requests, forwarding data to customer and supplier systems, and accessing databases from data storage device  106  as will be explained further herein.  
         [0014]    Server  104  executes the supplier branding tool of the invention. The supplier branding application allows suppliers to create branded information and sales collateral that can be shared with their customers on a customized basis. This information may include corporate brochures, product specifications and usage information, industrial data, technical manuals, user manuals, or any other suitable information. The information may be text based or may include graphics, sound, streaming video, etc.  
         [0015]    The branded information and sales collateral provided is metatagged and stored in order to target a particular customer at a specific point in time. The metatagging process allows for the information retrieval by specified individuals, and also prevents dissemination of the information to certain individuals such as a competitor of the supplier of the information.  
         [0016]    Server  104  may be configured to periodically collect the branded information from the web servers of subscribing supplier entities  110 , and populate the appropriate member customer portal(s) by pushing the information via the supplier-provided meta-tags mapped to corresponding customer profile records.  
         [0017]    Data storage device  106  houses one or more databases pertaining to customer registration data, supplier subscription data, supplier billing and reporting, marketing analyses and measurements, and any other information desired by information exchange system  102 . Subscribing suppliers provide detailed account information that becomes a part of their subscription records stored in data storage device  106 . Supplier subscription records (illustrated in FIG. 2) include customer target records (also illustrated in FIG. 2) that assist the branding tool in coordinating the organization and transmittal of selected target data to appropriate customer portals. Customer profile records (not shown) are also stored in data storage device  106  and include descriptive information provided by a customer/employee relating to the customer entity, job role, technologies and areas of interest. This information is used to facilitate the mapping of customers to suppliers. An interested employee of a customer system may register with information exchange system  102  via the branding tool to receive directed, customized information from one or more of supplier systems  110 . For example, during the registration process, a customer employee may indicate that he or she is interested in information about a new technology that is relevant to the employee&#39;s job. When information exchange system  102  receives new information from one or more of supplier systems  110  concerning the technology, it retrieves customer target information from target record  204 , checks to see if this particular customer employee has been tagged to receive this information from each of the supplier systems, and if so, transmits the information to the customer employee.  
         [0018]    Information exchange system  102  may be connected to the Internet via plain old telephone service (POTS), DSL, T-1, ISDN, or other high-speed communications medium known in the art.  
         [0019]    Information exchange system  102  may provide enterprise directory services, content management tools, knowledge management tools, collaboration tools (with synchronous and asynchronous capabilities), and appropriate technology for retrieving and pushing data from the repositories of supplier entities  110  hosted at information exchange system  102 , to a customer&#39;s enterprise portal, which may also be hosted at information exchange system  102 . Information exchange system  102  may also provide notification of key customer events and valuable feedback information to supplier entities  110  regarding usage patterns, rating of information, etc. in order to assist suppliers in better tailoring the information being forwarded to targeted customers. It should be noted, however, that the IE hosting of the enterprise portals, both supplier and/or customer-side is not necessary in order to realize the advantages of the invention.  
         [0020]    The revenue model for information exchange system  102 , as well as the supplier branding tool, may be based upon the amount of information (e.g., kilobytes) and customization pushed by the supplier to the targeted customers. Also as more and more usage is established and the relationship between a customer and supplier matures from information sharing to transaction based, the supplier may find it more beneficial to either utilize IE applications offerings or have IE host-customized applications on its behalf, thus providing expanded benefits and revenue potential for the IE.  
         [0021]    Supplier entities  110 A- 110   n , each representing a supplier or vendor company subscribing to the supplier branding tool and information exchange system  102 , are also provided in system  100 . Each of supplier entities  110  preferably utilize web-enabled computer processing devices such as a general-purpose computer with a web browser program, or alternatively a server, for communicating with information exchange system  102  and other outside entities. For illustrative purposes, each of supplier entities  110 A- 110   n  employ workstations  112 A- 112   n , coupled to servers  114 A- 114   n  and data storage devices  118 A- 118   n  via communications links  116 A- 116   n , respectively. Supplier entities  110 A- 110   n  communicate with information exchange system  102  via the Internet, although other network systems may be used as appropriate such as an Extranet network.  
         [0022]    Also included in system  100  are customer entities  120 A- 120   n  each comprising an enterprise portal protected by a firewall or similar security device. The enterprise portal may be privately developed and maintained or may be hosted by information exchange system  102  or a commercial applications services provider (ASP). The enterprise portal provides each employee at customer entities  120 A- 120   n  a personal employee portal for customizing and filtering content received at the enterprise portal. Employees operate workstations  122 A- 122   n  coupled to servers  125 A- 125   n  via communications links  126 A- 126   n . Customer entities  120 A- 120   n  are typically manufacturing businesses that are registered with information exchange system  102  to receive selected information from specified supplier entities.  
         [0023]    Workstations  122 A- 122   n  may be personal computers (PCs) including input devices such as a keyboard, mouse, etc. Workstations  122 A- 122   n  also include an internal and/or external memory unit such as data storage devices  124 A- 124   n , and web browser software capable of communicating with information exchange system  102 . Alternatively, a similar web-enabled device may be utilized in lieu of workstations  122 A- 122   n  such as a laptop, PDA, or other suitable appliance. System maintenance, purchasing, engineering, and administrative personnel may be typical users of workstations  112 A- 112   n . Data storage devices  124 A- 124   n  store customized content, reports, market analyses received from information exchange system  102 , as well as any proprietary information desired by customer entities  120 A- 120   n . Alternatively, some data may be housed in data storage device  106  for subsequent query and retrieval by customer entities  120 A- 120   n . Registered representatives at customer entities  120 A- 120   n  log on to information exchange system&#39;s  102  web site, access a personalized web page, and retrieve selected content via the Internet. Information exchange system&#39;s  102  web site (not shown) allows subscribing supplier entities  110 A- 110   n  to communicate their marketing data to specific targeted customers.  
         [0024]    Customer entities  120 A- 120   n  may also receive notification of content to be delivered from information exchange system  102 , followed by transmission of the content for storage and subsequent retrieval. Server  104  may also track and audit this information and generate various reports in accordance with business rules adopted by information exchange system  102  and/or involved supplier entities  110 .  
         [0025]    Information exchange system  102  provides supplier branding services via the Internet to subscribing customer entities  120 A- 120   n  utilizing the supplier branding tool. Information exchange system  102  acts as conduit through which suppliers may market products to targeted customers and through which measurements and statistical data are tracked and delivered to the associated subscribing supplier entities.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 2 depicts an exemplary supplier subscription record  200  for one of supplier entities  110 A- 110   n . Supplier subscription records are generally used by information exchange system  102  to provide information exchange or portal services to subscribing suppliers. For example, information exchange system  102  may be hosted by Covisint™ whereby a subscribing supplier requests and receives industry information that has been collected, categorized, and stored for future use. The branding tool of the invention may be employed by information exchange system  102  to facilitate additional services using existing information  202  in supplier subscription record  200  and/or data provided in target record  204 . Information gathered and stored in target record  204  includes identifying target customer data for one or more of customer entities  120  such as customer name, customer employee name and role including job function, title, language, etc. Also included in target record  204  may be the dates that the branded information is to be posted at the customer site and removed from the target record.  
         [0027]    Supplier information targeted for a specific customer may also be included in target record  204  and includes the information that the supplier wishes to convey to the customer. New product offerings, limited time offers, etc., are provided by the supplier via the supplier information field. Other information may include inventory visibility, capacity visibility, engineering capabilities, manufacturing capabilities, product and process technologies, abilities to share program status (e.g., advanced product quality plan (APQP)), etc. Further information such as delivery schedules, commercial terms and conditions, technical white papers, and marketing collateral may also be provided via target record  204 .  
         [0028]    Once targeted information is received by a customer, opportunities to engage in further communications are made available via the supplier branding tool and information exchange system  102  in order to generate and develop leads. The customer may opt to contact a specific individual at the supplier system via an email link provided to the customer portal or may select a hypertext link to a different web site where more detailed information is available. Alternatively, a call function icon may be presented to the customer whereby telephone contact with a supplier can be initiated.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 3 describes the process by which a supplier system implements the branding tool of the invention. A subscribing supplier of information exchange system  102  requests to initiate the branding services at step  302 . The supplier branding tool presents a web page (not shown) at step  304  requesting information from the supplier. The supplier enters requested target customer data at step  306  which is stored in target record  204 . The supplier enters product/service data (e.g., supplier information) at step  308  which is also stored in target record  204 . Information exchange server  104  collects target data from subscribing supplier subscription records at step  310 . Information exchange server  104  searches customer profile records in data storage device  106  for matching information at step  312 . If a match between the supplier information and the customer profile information is found, server  104  retrieves the branded information associated with the target record and transmits it to the appropriate customer entity  120  at step  314  where the data is made available to the customer enterprise portal. The customer enterprise portal distributes the data to the appropriate employee portal at step  316 . As described above, employees may be provided the opportunity to initiate contact with the supplier system in order to request further information or engage in various business activities. Usage data is gathered by information exchange server  104  from customer profiles based upon activities conduced by the employees of the customer system which may then be used to generate reports and statistical data at step  318 . Commercial tools known in the market can be used to analyze hits and other activity occurring at the web sites involved. This information, as well as billing information is provided to supplier entities  110  via server  104  at step  320 . In this manner, the supplier is able to derive a sense of whether the right information is being pushed to the appropriate customers. Explicit methods of gathering information such as customer evaluation forms and/or implicit methods such as navigation activities can be used to examine the effectiveness of the information.  
         [0030]    As described above, the present invention can be embodied in the form of computer-implemented processes and apparatuses for practicing those processes. The present invention can also be embodied in the form of computer program code containing instructions embodied in tangible media, such as floppy diskettes, CD-ROMs, hard drives, or any other computer-readable storage medium, wherein, when the computer program code is loaded into and executed by a computer, the computer becomes an apparatus for practicing the invention. The present invention can also be embodied in the form of computer program code, for example, whether stored in a storage medium, loaded into and/or executed by a computer, or transmitted over some transmission medium, such as over electrical wiring to cabling, through fiber optics, or via electromagnetic radiation, wherein, when the computer program code is loaded into and executed by a computer, the computer becomes an apparatus for practicing the invention. When implemented on a general-purpose microprocessor, the computer program code segments configure the microprocessor to create specific logic circuits.  
         [0031]    While the invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.