Method and system for vendor management
View Patent ↗A method and system for managing business transactions, such as mortgages or other financial transactions. A business transaction between an end user and a financial institution includes sub-transactions between the end user and a vendor. A software system performs functions to complete the business transaction. Automated ordering allows an end user to quickly and easily order a sub-transaction without input from the financial institution or the vendor, and also automatically orders sub-transactions upon satisfaction of a trigger event. Vendor management functionality allows a financial institution to manage the transactions of a vendor. Qualitative performance analysis functionality allows an end user to monitor and evaluate a vendor's price, turn-around time, quality score, and overall score. Vendor distribution functionality distributes sub-transactions among vendors. Vendor management company functionality allows a vendor management company—a vendor that outsources some or all of its sub-transactions to independent service providers—to effectively use the system.
1. A computer-implemented method for electronically facilitating a transaction between a financial institution and an end user, the computer comprising a processor and an accessible repository, the method comprising:
receiving via the processor input specifying the transaction;
identifying via the processor at least one sub-transaction associated with the transaction; and
identifying via the processor a vendor from a plurality of vendors for the at least one sub-transaction on the basis of a calculated vendor score;
wherein identifying the at least one sub-transaction occurs automatically and comprises a trigger event triggering identifying the at least one sub-transaction, the trigger event comprising a completed second sub-transaction;
wherein the vendor score is calculated based on at least a vendor quality score and a vendor service score; and
wherein the at least one sub-transaction is identified as required or optional.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the trigger event comprises a received input specifying the transaction.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the trigger event comprises a third sub-transaction having a predetermined status.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the trigger event comprises a satisfied decision rule.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the decision rule is evaluated based on at least one selected from a group consisting of input specifying the transaction, a completed second sub-transaction, and a predetermined status of a third sub-transaction.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
if the at least one sub-transaction is marked as optional, receiving via the processor input from the end user prior to identifying the vendor.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying a vendor further comprises:
a trigger event triggering identifying a vendor.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the trigger event comprises a received input specifying the transaction.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the trigger event comprises a received input from the end user.
10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the trigger event comprises a second completed sub-transaction.
11. The method of claim 7 , wherein the trigger event comprises a third sub-transaction having a predetermined status.
12. The method of claim 7 , wherein the trigger event comprises a satisfied decision rule.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the decision rule is evaluated based on at least one selected from a group consisting of input specifying the transaction, a completed second sub-transaction, and a predetermined status of a third sub-transaction.
14. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
placing an order with the vendor to complete the sub-transaction.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein placing the order comprises:
a trigger event triggering placing the order.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the trigger event comprises a received input specifying the transaction.
17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the trigger event comprises a completed second sub-transaction.
18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the trigger event comprises a third sub-transaction having a predetermined status.
19. The method of claim 15 , wherein the trigger event comprises a satisfied decision rule.
20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the decision rule is evaluated based on at least one selected from a group consisting of input specifying the transaction, a completed second sub-transaction, and a predetermined status of a third sub-transaction.
21. The method of claim 1 , wherein the input specifying the transaction is received from the end user.
22. The method of claim 1 , wherein the vendor is automatically identified.
23. The method of claim 1 , wherein the vendor is manually identified.
24. The method of claim 23 , wherein the vendor is manually identified by the end user.
25. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
obtaining via the processor at least one vendor property of the identified vendor.
26. The method of claim 25 , wherein the at least one vendor property includes one selected from a group consisting of vendor capacity, vendor threshold, and vendor late-order ratio.
27. The method of claim 25 , wherein obtaining the at least one vendor property comprises:
calculating via the processor the at least one vendor property.
28. The method of claim 25 , wherein obtaining the at least one vendor property comprises:
receiving via the processor the at least one vendor property from an outside source.
29. The method of claim 25 , wherein obtaining the at least one vendor property comprises:
receiving via the processor vendor data from an outside source.
30. The method of claim 25 , further comprising:
displaying via the processor the at least one vendor property.
31. The method of claim 25 , wherein the identified vendor is selected based on the at least one vendor property.
32. The method of claim 1 , further comprising obtaining at least one vendor performance score.
33. The method of claim 32 , wherein the at least one vendor performance score includes one selected from a group consisting of vendor price, vendor turn-around time, vendor quality score, vendor overall score.
34. The method of claim 32 , wherein obtaining the at least one vendor performance score comprises:
calculating the at least one vendor performance score.
35. The method of claim 32 , wherein obtaining the at least one vendor performance score comprises:
receiving the at least one vendor performance score from an outside source.
36. The method of claim 32 , wherein obtaining the at least one vendor performance score comprises:
receiving vendor data from an outside source.
37. The method of claim 32 , further comprising:
displaying the at least one vendor performance score.
38. The method of claim 32 , wherein the identified vendor is selected based on the at least one vendor performance score.
39. A system having a processor and a data repository for electronically facilitating a transaction between a financial institution and an end user, comprising:
means for receiving input specifying the transaction;
first means for identifying that identify at least one sub-transaction associated with the transaction; and
second means for identifying a vendor from a plurality of vendors for the at least one sub-transaction based on a calculated vendor score;
wherein identifying the at least one sub-transaction occurs automatically, and the first means for identifying comprise a trigger event triggering identifying the at least one sub-transaction, the trigger event comprising a completed second sub-transaction; and
wherein the vendor score is calculated based on at least a vendor quality score and a vendor service score.