Automated reply generation direct marketing system
View Patent ↗A system for automatically preparing customized replies in response to communications from a plurality of clients. To facilitate automation and tracking, each original communication to the client (or each original response from the client) is tagged with a unique label, and replies to client responses are each correspondingly labeled. The system provides individualized replies to each of a variety of response options that a client might exercise in response to a received communication, whether an original communication or a reply to a previous response. The system is applicable to mass marketing communications, and is particularly well suited to the generation of personalized replies to each and every one of a multitude (tens of thousands and up to millions) of communications from clients. The system is also capable of continuing to generate replies to follow-up responses from clients and to thereby maintain an ongoing “conversation” until the client makes a purchase decision, or no longer responds. Communications may be delivered through a variety of means, such as the internet, the mails, by facsimile, on a host communication, etc.
1. A method for automatically creating, by use of at least one processor associated with one or more databases, communication data outputs for plurality of clients relating to a financial product or service, the method comprising the steps of:
automatically generating, using at least one processor, communication data outputs for a plurality of clients, the communication data outputs comprising an offering for a particular type of product or service, wherein the communication data outputs comprise at least two components, wherein one component is configured for viewing on a display accessible via the internet by clients and contains distinct choices particular to the offering;
sending one component of the communication data outputs to at least certain of the plurality of clients;
receiving, via the at least one processor, one or more responsive communications from the certain clients to the offerings, the responsive communications responding to at least one of the one component configured for viewing on a display accessible via the internet, and any subsequent communication presented to the at least certain of the plurality of clients, the responsive communications comprising an initial communication indicating a distinct choice selected by the certain clients;
automatically generating, using the at least one processor, one or more responsive communication data outputs containing data obtained from the one or more databases,
wherein the responsive communication data outputs for the certain clients is in response to the initial or any subsequent communications from the certain clients, and wherein the responsive communication data outputs are composed using at least certain variable data specific to the certain clients, wherein the at least certain variable data is different from or in addition to one or more of the name, address or account data for the certain clients; and
delivering the responsive communication data outputs to the certain clients, the responsive communication data outputs configured for client viewing.
2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more databases are located at a single facility or multiple facilities.
3. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the responsive communication data outputs specific to the certain clients includes data that is shared by two or more clients.
4. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the certain variable data includes one or more of a plurality of separate pricings, descriptions, characteristics and/or identifications associated with the type of product or service for which the offering is presented.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the one or more of a plurality of separate pricings, descriptions, characteristics and/or identifications include separate respective word sentences.
6. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the certain variable data in any responsive communication data output is obtained from at least one of: information obtained in the past from the client, information about a client purchased from a third party, information via an existing client relationship, and information relating to subsequent responsive communications and responsive communication data outputs related to the particular client.
7. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the clients provide their responsive communications via the internet using remote terminals.
8. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the certain variable data includes numeric data, graphic data, text data, pricing data, or non-pricing data.
9. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the component configured for viewing on a display accessible via the internet by clients provides a mechanism to respond to the offerings, and the at least two components are generated asynchronously.
10. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the subsequent responsive communications are received during an on-line communication in real time.
11. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the subsequent responsive communications are received at a time different and later than a particular client's initial response to the component configured for viewing on a display accessible via the internet.
12. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the responsive communication data outputs for a particular client are generated and delivered asynchronously.
13. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
delivering one or more subsequent communication data outputs to the certain clients without receiving a responsive communication from those clients.
14. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the responsive communication data outputs for the certain clients relates to confirming a particular responsive communication and informing the certain clients of any outstanding requirements.
15. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more responsive communication data outputs are sent only to those clients who responded to any responsive communication data output, until the at least one processor determines that no further responsive communication data outputs are necessary.
16. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the certain variable data for the certain clients includes one or more identifying data for the certain clients.
17. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the certain variable data is based on one or more data elements relating to the product or service for which an offering is presented.
18. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the component configured for viewing on a display accessible via the internet is a display advertisement.
19. A method according to claim 18 , wherein the display advertisement comprises content specific to a particular client.
20. A method according to claim 18 , wherein the component configured for viewing on a display accessible via the internet is transmitted to a location controlled by a provider of the product or service in the offering.
21. A method according to claim 18 , wherein the component configured for viewing on a display accessible via the internet is transmitted to a location not owned and/or operated by a product provider of the product or service in the offering.
22. A method of according to claim 1 , wherein in the case of the product or service in the offering being a loan, a database record is created in a new business processing subsystem upon funding of the loan.
23. A method according to claim 1 , wherein in the case of the product or service in the offering being a credit card, a database record is created in a new business processing subsystem upon activation of the credit card.
24. A method according to claim 1 , wherein in the case of the product or service in the offering being an insurance policy, a database record is created in a new business processing subsystem upon the insurer receiving the first premium payment for the policy.
25. A method according to claim 1 , wherein in the case of the product or service in the offering being a demand deposit account, a database record is created in a new business processing subsystem upon collecting the client's first deposit.
26. A method according to claim 1 , wherein in the case of the product or service in the offering being an investment account, a database record is created in a new business processing subsystem upon client funding of the investment account.
27. A method according to claim 1 , wherein one of the responsive communications received from a particular client includes an application responsive to the offering.
28. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the particular type of product or service is selected from the group of loan, credit card, and insurance.
29. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the communication data outputs are configured for a format selected from the group of electronic mail, paper, and viewing on a display accessible via the internet.
30. A system comprising at least one processor associated with one or more databases, for automatically creating communication data outputs for plurality of clients relating to a financial product or service, the system comprising:
at least one processor configured to automatically generate communication data outputs for a plurality of clients, the communication data outputs comprising an offering for a particular type of product or service, wherein the communication data outputs comprise at least two components, wherein one component is configured for viewing on a display accessible via the internet by clients and contains distinct choices particular to the offering;
interface capability coupled to the at least one processor for sending one component of the communication data outputs to at least certain of the plurality of clients and receiving one or more responsive communications from the certain clients to the offerings, the responsive communications responding to at least one of the one component configured for viewing on a display accessible via the internet, and any subsequent communication presented to the at least one client in the subset of the plurality of clients, the responsive communications comprising an initial communication indicating a distinct choice selected by the certain clients;
wherein the processor is configured to automatically generate one or more responsive communication data outputs containing data obtained from the one or more databases, and wherein the responsive communication data outputs for the certain clients is in response to the initial or any subsequent communications from the certain clients, and wherein the responsive communication data outputs are composed using at least certain variable data specific to the certain clients, wherein the at least certain variable data is different from one or more of the name, address or account data for the certain clients; and
wherein the interface capability is configured to deliver the responsive communication data outputs to the certain clients configured for client viewing.
31. A system according to claim 30 , wherein the one or more databases are located at a single facility or multiple facilities.
32. A system according to claim 30 , wherein the clients provide their responsive communications via the internet using remote terminals.
33. A system according to claim 30 , wherein the component configured for display accessible via the internet is transmitted to a location controlled by a provider of the product or service in the offering.
34. A system according to claim 30 , wherein the component configured for display accessible via the internet is transmitted to a location not owned and/or operated by a product provider of the product or service in the offering.
35. A system according to claim 30 , wherein one of the responsive communications received from a particular client includes an application responsive to the offering.
36. A system according to claim 30 , wherein at least certain other of the variable data includes at least one or more of the name, address or account data for the certain clients.
37. A system for automatically creating, comprising at least one processor associated with one or more databases, communication data outputs for plurality of clients relating to a financial product or service, the system comprising:
means for automatically generating communication data outputs for a plurality of clients, the communication data outputs comprising an offering for a particular type of product or service, wherein the communication data outputs comprise at least two components, wherein one component is configured for viewing on a display accessible via the internet by clients and contains distinct choices particular to the offering;
means for sending one component of the communication data outputs to at least certain of the plurality of clients;
means for receiving one or more responsive communications from the certain clients to the offerings, the responsive communications responding to at least one of the one component configured for viewing on a display accessible via the internet, and any subsequent communication presented to the at least one client in the subset of the plurality of clients, the responsive communications comprising an initial communication indicating a distinct choice selected by the certain clients;
means for automatically generating one or more responsive communication data outputs containing data obtained from the one or more databases,
wherein the responsive communication data outputs for the certain clients is in response to the initial or any subsequent communications from the certain clients, and wherein the responsive communication data outputs are composed using at least certain variable data specific to the certain clients, wherein the at least certain variable data is different from or in addition to one or more of the name, address or account data for the certain clients; and
means for delivering the responsive communication data outputs to the certain clients, the responsive communication data outputs configured for client viewing.
38. A method according to claim 37 , wherein the one or more databases are located at a single facility or multiple facilities.
39. A method according to claim 37 , wherein the clients provide their responsive communications via the internet using remote terminals.
40. A method according to claim 37 , wherein the means for sending includes means for transmitting the component to a location controlled by a provider of the product or service in the offering, the component configured for display and accessible via the internet at the location.
41. A method according to claim 37 , wherein the means for sending includes means for transmitting the component to a location not owned and/or operated by a product provider of the product or service in the offering, the component configured for display and accessible via the internet at the location.
42. A method according to claim 37 , wherein one of the responsive communications received from a particular client includes an application responsive to the offering.