Method, system, and non-transitory computer-readable medium for aggregating, accessing, and transacting a plurality of business applications

A system and method for aggregating, accessing and transacting a plurality of business application has been described. The system is a conglomeration of the plurality of business applications which provide point solutions to everyday problems of small and medium businesses. The system allows the business application owners to register their business application on the platform. Further the system enables business owners to browse, view details, avail demos and purchase subscriptions to the business applications on the platform. The system further enables business application owners to provide a sales and access point to a wider business customer audience through a one stop shop for the plurality of business applications.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS AND PRIORITY

The present application claims priority from Indian non-provisional specification no. 201721038948 filed on 1 Nov. 2017, the complete disclosure of which, in its entirety is herein incorporated by references.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The embodiments herein generally relates to the field of providing a marketplace or hub for a plurality of business related application, and, more particularly, to a method and system for aggregating, accessing and transacting a plurality of business applications in the marketplace.

BACKGROUND

With businesses looking at digital solutions for every problems and requirements, there are a wide variety of applications spread across online which the businesses can find out and utilize to fulfill their needs. Using applications for point solutions is especially feasible for small and medium businesses who are not looking at a full-fledged ERP solution which might handle their end to end business processes. Also, even in case of large or small-medium businesses, even if a full-fledged ERP solution has been deployed, there are often use-cases and needs which independent business applications can solve with minimal cost on time and implementation.

Many such point solutions in the form of easy to complex applications are available in the market today in a ready to use manner Finding out the right solution from a wide range of applications which would suit the business requirements is a challenge.

There are few marketplaces available in the prior art. There are various stakeholders involved in such kind of marketplaces or hubs for business related application. They may include, business application developer, business application user, a platform provider, and others. The existing platforms do not meet the demands of all stakeholders. Normally, these platforms are developed on a particular technology. To work on these platforms, an expert is required who is able to work in the particular domain on which the platform have been developed. Further, these platforms are not technology agnostic, i.e. the platforms require that the business application be developed in the same technology domain and hosted within the business platform. Support for aggregating business applications on other technology domains or hosted elsewhere is not available, thus restricting the scope of app development wanting to participate in the marketplace.

SUMMARY

The following presents a simplified summary of some embodiments of the disclosure in order to provide a basic understanding of the embodiments. This summary is not an extensive overview of the embodiments. It is not intended to identify key/critical elements of the embodiments or to delineate the scope of the embodiments. Its sole purpose is to present some embodiments in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented below.

In view of the foregoing, an embodiment herein provides a system for aggregating and transacting a plurality of business applications and services. The system comprises a user interface, a platform, a memory and a processor. The user interface provides a plurality of inputs. The platform provided by a platform owner for trading the plurality of business applications and services. The processor further comprises a connector framework, a registration module, a microsite creation module, a searching module, a browsing module, an interaction module, a purchase module, a license management module, a launching module. The connector framework integrates the plurality of business applications by respective business application with the platform. The registration module registers each of the plurality of business applications by the business application owner as a product on the platform. The microsite creation module creates a microsite corresponding to the business application, wherein the microsite comprising a plurality of details of the plurality of business applications. The searching module searches the plurality of business application on the platform by a business owner, wherein the business owner is a prospective buyer of the set of business applications, wherein the searching results in a set of business applications. The browsing module assists the business owner for browsing the plurality of details of the set of business applications, if the business owner is interested in purchasing the set of business applications. The interaction module facilitates interaction between the business application owners of the set of business applications and the business owner to finalize terms and conditions. The purchase module facilitates the business owner for purchasing the set of business applications. The license management module activates license of the business application for one or more business users. The launching module launches the business application by the one or more business user for using on the platform.

In another aspect the embodiment here provides a method for aggregating and transacting a plurality of business applications and services. Initially, a platform is provided by a platform owner for trading the plurality of business applications and services. In the next step the plurality of business applications are integrated by respective business application owners on a connector framework of the platform. Each of the plurality of business applications are then registered by the business application owner as a product on the platform. In the next step, a microsite corresponding to the business application is created, wherein the microsite comprising a plurality of details of the plurality of business applications. The plurality of business applications are then searched on the platform by a business owner, wherein the business owner is a prospective buyer of the set of business applications, wherein the searching results in a set of business applications. The plurality of details of the set of business applications are then browsed by the business owner, if the business owner is interested in purchasing the set of business applications. In the next step, interaction is facilitated between the business application owners of the set of business applications and the business owner to finalize terms and conditions. In the next step, the set of business applications are purchased by the business owner. In the next step, licenses of the business application for one or more business users are activated. And finally, the business application is launched by the one or more business user for using on the platform.

In another embodiment, a non-transitory computer-readable medium having embodied thereon a computer program for aggregating and transacting a plurality of business applications and services. Initially, a platform is provided by a platform owner for trading the plurality of business applications and services. In the next step the plurality of business applications are integrated by respective business application owners on a connector framework of the platform. Each of the plurality of business applications are then registered by the business application owner as a product on the platform. In the next step, a microsite corresponding to the business application is created, wherein the microsite comprising a plurality of details of the plurality of business applications. The plurality of business applications are then searched on the platform by a business owner, wherein the business owner is a prospective buyer of the set of business applications, wherein the searching results in a set of business applications. The plurality of details of the set of business applications are then browsed by the business owner, if the business owner is interested in purchasing the set of business applications. In the next step, interaction is facilitated between the business application owners of the set of business applications and the business owner to finalize terms and conditions. In the next step, the set of business applications are purchased by the business owner. In the next step, licenses of the business application for one or more business users are activated. And finally, the business application is launched by the one or more business user for using on the platform.

It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that any block diagram herein represent conceptual views of illustrative systems embodying the principles of the present subject matter. Similarly, it will be appreciated that any flow charts, flow diagrams, state transition diagrams, pseudo code, and the like represent various processes which may be substantially represented in computer readable medium and so executed by a computing device or processor, whether or not such computing device or processor is explicitly shown.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Glossary—Terms Used in the Embodiments

The expression “business related applications” or “business applications” or “BizApps” in the context of the present disclosure refers to any business application which aims to give solutions to problems of a business or automate certain processes or any online/managed services being provided by technology owners (like helpdesk support service/technology maintenance service etc. BizApps can be created on any framework and technology.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, a system100for aggregating, accessing and transacting a plurality of business applications is shown in the block diagram ofFIG. 1. The system100is a conglomeration of the plurality of business applications which provide point solutions to everyday problems of small and medium businesses. The system100provides a framework or hub for the plurality of business related applications in a single marketplace to enable sales, purchase and consumption in a B2B model. The plurality of applications can be custom made or tailored, simple or complex in nature. Also, the plurality of business applications may be developed on different technologies and external platforms other than in the technology or platform the system100exists in. They can be registered on the system100and opened up for sale.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the system100consists of a user interface102, a platform104, a memory106and a processor108as shown in the block diagram ofFIG. 1. The processor108is in communication with the memory106. The processor108is configured to execute a plurality of algorithms stored in the memory106. The processor108further includes a plurality of modules for performing various functions. The plurality of modules may include, but not limited to, a connector framework110, a registration module112, a microsite creation module114, a searching module116, a browsing module118, an interaction module120, a purchase module122, a license management module124and a launching module126.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure the user interface102is configured to provide a plurality of inputs to the processor108. The plurality of input may be search query to be inputted by the business owner for searching the business application for his/her business. In another example, any other can also be provided to the system100. The user interface/input modules can include a variety of software and hardware interfaces, for example, a web interface, a graphical user interface, and the like and can facilitate multiple communications within a wide variety of networks N/W and protocol types, including wired networks, for example, LAN, cable, etc., and wireless networks, such as WLAN, cellular, or satellite.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the system100involves four types of role players as shown inFIG. 2. 1. A platform owner: The platform owner of the system100is responsible for providing the platform104and enabling the ecosystem for the trading of the plurality of business applications and services. The platform owner is providing the platform services like user interfaces, payment gateways, revenue split management, refund processes, product creation capabilities, subscription connector systems, partner management systems and all other systems that the different users of the system100may require. The platform owner is also responsible for the business application product approvals and business affiliation approvals.

2. A business application owner: The business application is the provider of the business application and who is interested in selling subscriptions to his business application. The platform104helps different business application owners to connect their business applications to the platform104and enable trading for their applications thus monetizing them. The BizApps can be of any nature—simple to complex, or customizable from business to business or multi-tenanted or single instance serving multiple businesses. Also, the plurality of business applications may be developed on different technologies and external platforms other than in the technology or platform the system100exists in. They can be registered on the system100and opened up for sale. The platform104provides easy to integrate APIs and detailed services for one time business application setup for the App Owner.

3. A business owner: The business owner is the owner of any business whose business can use the plurality of business applications. The system100provides a single hub to the business owner to find, subscribe to and consume the plurality of business applications which suit their needs. The business owner can search, view details and subscribe to different BizApps under the same banner using common purchase modes for subscription. They can access and provide access to their users to different BizApps using single platform login in a login-once-access-all model. Thus, the business owner is one who is looking out for a digital solution for his requirements and is the buyer of the plurality of business applications in this B2B trade model.

4. A business user: The end consumers of the business applications are the plurality of business users who would be using the plurality of business applications for the benefit of the business. They may hold different roles in the plurality of business applications that they are consuming (e.g. Administrator, Head of department etc.). The business user gets subscribed/enrolled to the business application which his corresponding business owner has purchased licenses for by activating the licenses in the system against the business application products in the system100. Either the business user can activate the license code for the BizApp product or the business owner can directly tag and activate license code for his users. Activation of the license triggers enrollment to the corresponding business application. This enrollment logic varies for different business applications based on the algorithm plugged into the connector framework110. The business user also uses the same platform to access the business application in a single sign on mode.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the system100includes the connector framework110for integrating the plurality of business applications with the platform104. The plurality of business applications can be integrated by the respective business application owners. The plurality of business application can be of any type and can be developed on any platform. It should be appreciated that the business application can be developed in the same technology on which the platform has been built or any other third party application. The plurality of business applications can be developed on the connector framework, a business owner's framework or a third party framework.

There are two models in which the plurality of business applications can be designed or provisioned. First, a single instance model, the single instance business application have all participating businesses in the same schema with data logically separated. These BizApps have a common branding for all users. Second, a customer specific Model, in the customer specific instance the business application, every business's data resides in customer specific schema and is thus physically separated. Branding/design of customer specific BizApps could vary based on the organization where it is being setup and configured.

In an example, the connector framework110can also be known as the subscription engine110, which helps to integrate any business application to the platform104as shown in the flow diagram400ofFIG. 4. There are various components of the connector framework110which assist in the integration of the business application as one of the services in the connector framework110. Any new business logic or type that needs to be registered is called as a ‘service’. In the context of the system100, every business application is a new ‘service’. This ‘service’ would contain the business logics required for subscription and un-subscription to the business application and logics to pull user specific subscription data from the business application. Subscription logic takes care of assigning the business application to the user and business setup/configuration in case this is the first user for the business who is activating the license code. Similarly, the un-subscription algorithm takes care of un-assigning or revoking access to modules of the business application.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, everything about the ‘service’ is defined within a service java class. The service URL which contains the service logic (essentially a web-service) is registered in the connector framework110. Every ‘service’ defines logic for two kinds of action, subscription and the un-subscription. Subscription logics handles assigning of rights/features/access to users for a user action and un-subscription logics handles access/feature revoke activities. All business application ‘services’ have the logic which handle user to business mapping for the business application in the right schema or connect to third party APIs/web services to process user access request based on type of business application.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the ‘service’ may have need to perform different kind of actions based on different parameters. The connector framework allows to setup these parameters and define possible values of the parameters. This is called as the ‘service metadata’. These parameters are selected as part of the rule definition. The ‘service metadata’ can be defined through BizEForms one time for the ‘service’. The BizEForms is a tool for setting up service configuration. Metadata are the attributes of the ‘service’ which are configured when defining a rule based on which the service should execute. The parameters thus configured are available to the ‘service’ class when the rule condition is satisfied and ‘service’ is invoked.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the connector framework110further provides rules for subscription/un-subscription. Rules in the framework allow to define what action needs to be performed for which users. This setup is done by the Platform Owner as part of business application approval process. There are 2 parts to a rule—Action and filter. Action involves selecting the ‘service’ that needs to be executed, service parameters and type of action (subscription or un-subscription). Filter involves sifting out which users are eligible for the defined action constitute a filter definition. One important filter attribute that should be set up in every rule is specification of the product code for the business application that the user has purchased. Only those users who have activated license of the business application should be eligible for further action.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the system100further includes the registration module112. The registration module112is configured to register each of the plurality of business applications by the business application owner as a product on the platform104. The business application owner can define the business application to be visible on a catalogue of the system and design the information page when the business user or the business owner selects the BizApp from the catalogue. Thus, the business application owner can define two elements for his BizApp—the BizApp stamp and the BizApp Microsite. The BizApp microsite can be created using the microsite creation module114. The microsite comprising a plurality of details of the plurality of business applications. The catalogue of the plurality of business application on the system100displays tiles of BizApps available for subscription/sale. These are called as the BizApp Stamps. On selection of any one of the plurality of business applications, an information page gets displayed which is called as the BizApp Microsite.

The stamp displays the name of the business application, a brief description, and thumbnail image for the App, ratings and reviews of other users and number of users subscribed. The business application is searchable using free text search and other catalogue filters like category, product type, offered by and price. The business application owner defines all these attributes as part of the BizApp setup as a product. A microsite page is also linked as part of the business application definition. This page should contain all details of the business application including how to use and demo links if required. The business users will be able to activate their licenses through an activate license/subscribe buttons placed in the microsite.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the platform104also allows to define something called as the child product whose parent product acts as a superset to a group of products which are variations/flavors of the same product. The variations could be based on pricing models or feature wise. The parent product in itself is not purchasable but is only created to group the different variations of the business application.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the plurality of business applications should be created as parent product if they have subscription variations based on price, type, validity etc. or if they have add-on features. In such cases, the BizApp Stamp will act as the container holding the different variations of the business application that a user can subscribe to. Each of the variations will have a unique product code. If there are no variations required, then the business application can be created as a single standalone product having a unique product code. A variation of the business application will not be visible directly under the catalogue but would be available only within the microsite of its parent to a general business user.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the system100also includes the searching module116and the browsing module118. The searching module116searches the plurality of business application on the platform104based on a query inputted by the business owner. The searching results in a set of business applications. The browsing module118browses the plurality of details of the set of business applications, if the business owner is interested in purchasing the set of business applications.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the system100includes the interaction module120. The interaction module120is configured to facilitate interaction between the business application owners of the set of business applications and the business owner. If the negotiations between the business application owners of the set of business applications and the business owner are agreed, then the purchase module122facilitates the business owner for purchasing the set of business applications.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the system100includes the license management module124and the launching module126. The license management module124is configured to activate the license of the business application for one or more business users. The license management module124is also configured to deactivate the license of the activated business application for one or more business users. The license can be provided only for a validity period and can be deactivated post the consumption of the validity period. The launching module126is configured to launching the business application by the one or more business user for using on the platform104itself.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the business owner can activate licenses for the business application when the business application owner assigns the business application as shown in the flow diagram400ofFIG. 4. In an example, the purchase module122is a partner management screen. The business application access is given to the business users through license code activation. One license corresponds to one business user access to the business application. Once the business application has been assigned to the business owner, it can purchase multiple licenses through online payment or offline request for generation. In case of offline purchase request, the business application owner approves the request when he receives the required amount and the requested number of licenses get generated. The licenses thus purchased can be activated by the business users to get access to the business application.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the business owner can also add the users to a subscribed BizApp by purchasing license codes and sharing the same with their users or activating the code directly by tagging them to the users. The license codes can be given to user in one of the 2 modes. Mode 1: Share the code offline—User receives the license code offline and punches in the code in the portal. On successful validation, subscription engine for the user will be triggered and user will be assigned the BizApp. Mode 2: The business owner can directly tag a license to the user. In this mode, the business owner can directly tag their users to the licenses. The subscription engine110will be triggered at this event and user will be assigned the BizApp.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the system100is also configured to provide the feature of purchasing the add-ons of the set of business applications which have been purchased by the business owner. In the context of the subscription engine110, add-ons are nothing but providing additional features through a new rule type. The add-ons are child products of the set of business application against which a specific kind of subscription rule definition is tagged.

Assignment of add-ons is similar to the process of assigning the business application to the business owner. When the business users activate corresponding licenses for the add-ons, the subscription engine110will assign access to the feature/functionality to the business users.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the system100is also configured to check the validity of the license provide the feature of re-subscription of the set of business applications. Any business application subscription and user subscription to the business application can be tagged with a license which would be valid for a specific period of time. Validity of a subscription is specified at the rule level. When the time period expires, the un-subscription logic of the corresponding delivery engine will be invoked. Users will be able to renew their subscription post expiry.

In operation, a flowchart200illustrating the steps involved for aggregating and transacting a plurality of business applications is shown inFIG. 3A-3B. Initially at step202, the platform104is provided by the platform owner for selling the plurality of business applications. The platform owner would be responsible for providing various services of the platform such as billing, revenue sharing, payment gateway etc. In the next step204, the plurality of business applications are integrated by the respective business application owners on the connector framework110of the platform104. In an example, the connector framework110can also be called as the subscription engine110.

In the next step206, each of the plurality of business applications are registered by the business application owner as a product on the platform104. At step208, a microsite is created by the business application owner corresponding to the business application, wherein the microsite comprising a plurality of details of the plurality of business applications. The plurality of details may include a brief description of the business application, a thumbnail image for the business application, ratings and reviews of users and number of users subscribed.

In the next step210, the plurality of business application are searched on the platform104by the business owner. The business owner is a prospective buyer of the set of business applications. The business owner can provide an input query to the search engine based on the requirement of their business. The searching results in a set of business applications. At step212, the plurality of details of the set of business applications are then browsed by the business owner. If the set of business applications are of interest of the business then the business owner can show/register his interest in purchasing the set of business applications. In the next step214, an interaction between the business application owners of the set of business applications and the business owner is facilitated by the system100. The business owner and the business application owners can define and agree upon various terms and conditions. At step216, the set of business applications can be purchased by the business owner. At step218, the business owner then can further activate the licenses of the set of business applications to one or more business users. And finally at step220, the business application can be launched by the business user on the platform for their use.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the system100allows the platform owner to provide a revenue sharing scheme for the business users and the platform owner. For the business users, Flat percentage discount on a business application can be configured by the business owners in the system. This system validates whether this percentage is greater than or equal to the platform revenue share percentage during configuration. It will not allow business owners to specify a discount percentage more than publisher share percentage minus maximum transaction charge percentage (what would be the maximum transaction charge would be setup at the platform payment gateway configuration) as split is initiated on the base price irrespective of the discounted rate at which the learner would have purchased the product.

Similarly for the platform owners, the business application is assigned to the platform owner for purchase at a discounted percentage by the business owners. Unlike the case of business user discount, a percentage lower than the business owner share can be set by the business owner. The products thus assigned cannot be purchased online by the platform owners and only an offline license generation request can be raised by the platform owners. When business owner approves such a request, an offline order is generated against the platform owner.

The embodiments of present disclosure herein provides a system and method for aggregating, accessing and transacting a plurality of business applications. Further, the system is a conglomeration of the plurality of business applications which provide point solutions to everyday problems of small and medium businesses. The system enables business owners to browse, view details, avail demos and purchase subscriptions to the business applications and enables business application owners to provide a sales and access point to a wider business customer audience through a one stop shop for the plurality of business applications.

A representative hardware environment for practicing the embodiments may include a hardware configuration of an information handling/computer system in accordance with the embodiments herein. The system herein comprises at least one processor or central processing unit (CPU). The CPUs are interconnected via system bus to various devices such as a random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), and an input/output (I/O) adapter. The I/O adapter can connect to peripheral devices, such as disk units and tape drives, or other program storage devices that are readable by the system. The system can read the inventive instructions on the program storage devices and follow these instructions to execute the methodology of the embodiments herein.

The system further includes a user interface adapter that connects a keyboard, mouse, speaker, microphone, and/or other user interface devices such as a touch screen device (not shown) to the bus to gather user input. Additionally, a communication adapter connects the bus to a data processing network, and a display adapter connects the bus to a display device which may be embodied as an output device such as a monitor, printer, or transmitter, for example.

The preceding description has been presented with reference to various embodiments. Persons having ordinary skill in the art and technology to which this application pertains will appreciate that alterations and changes in the described structures and methods of operation can be practiced without meaningfully departing from the principle, spirit and scope.