PROVIDING CONFIGURATION RECOMMENDATIONS AS PART OF A SALES PROCESS
The present disclosure describes methods, systems, and computer program products for providing configuration recommendations as part of a sales process. One computer-implemented method includes determining that a general recommendation engine (GRE) is available to make a GRE configuration recommendation for a selected software application, generating, by operation of a computer, the GRE configuration recommendation for the selected software application based upon GRE-applicable recommendation data and recommendation rules, determining that a private recommendation engine (PRE) is available to make a PRE configuration recommendation for the selected software application, determining that the PRE is permitted to make the PRE configuration recommendation based upon analyzed coordination rules, and generating, by operation of a computer, the PRE configuration recommendation for the selected software application based upon PRE-applicable recommendation data and recommendation rules.
1 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
determining that a general recommendation engine (GRE) is available to make a GRE configuration recommendation for a selected software application;
generating, by operation of a computer, the GRE configuration recommendation for the selected software application based upon GRE-applicable recommendation data and recommendation rules;
determining that a private recommendation engine (PRE) is available to make a PRE configuration recommendation for the selected software application;
determining that the PRE is permitted to make the PRE configuration recommendation based upon analyzed coordination rules; and
generating, by operation of a computer, the PRE configuration recommendation for the selected software application based upon PRE-applicable recommendation data and recommendation rules.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the software application is selected by a buyer to be configured with respect to optional software application configuration options.
3 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising determining a configuration complexity level for the software application.
4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein at least one of a GRE recommendation complexity or a PRE recommendation complexity is based upon the configuration complexity level.
5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining a configuration process stage associated with a configuration sales process associated with the selected software application.
6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
accessing the GRE-applicable recommendation data and recommendation rules; and
analyzing the GRE-applicable recommendation data and recommendation rules.
7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
accessing the coordination rules; and
analyzing the coordination rules.
8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
accessing the PRE-applicable recommendation data and recommendation rules; and
analyzing the PRE-applicable recommendation data and recommendation rules.
9 . A non-transitory, computer-readable medium storing computer-readable instructions executable by a computer to:
determine that a general recommendation engine (GRE) is available to make a GRE configuration recommendation for a selected software application;
generate the GRE configuration recommendation for the selected software application based upon GRE-applicable recommendation data and recommendation rules;
determine that a private recommendation engine (PRE) is available to make a PRE configuration recommendation for the selected software application;
determine that the PRE is permitted to make the PRE configuration recommendation based upon analyzed coordination rules; and
generate the PRE configuration recommendation for the selected software application based upon PRE-applicable recommendation data and recommendation rules.
10 . The medium of claim 9 , wherein the software application is selected by a buyer to be configured with respect to optional software application configuration options.
11 . The medium of claim 10 , further comprising instructions to determine a configuration complexity level for the software application.
12 . The medium of claim 11 , wherein at least one of a GRE recommendation complexity or a PRE recommendation complexity is based upon the configuration complexity level.
13 . The medium of claim 9 , further comprising instructions to determine a configuration process stage associated with a configuration sales process associated with the selected software application.
14 . The medium of claim 9 , further comprising instructions to:
access the GRE-applicable recommendation data and recommendation rules; and
analyze the GRE-applicable recommendation data and recommendation rules.
15 . The medium of claim 9 , further comprising instructions to:
access the coordination rules; and
analyze the coordination rules.
16 . The medium of claim 9 , further comprising instructions to:
access the PRE-applicable recommendation data and recommendation rules; and
analyze the PRE-applicable recommendation data and recommendation rules.
17 . A computer system, comprising:
at least one computer configured to:
determine that a general recommendation engine (GRE) is available to make a GRE configuration recommendation for a selected software application;
generate the GRE configuration recommendation for the selected software application based upon GRE-applicable recommendation data and recommendation rules;
determine that a private recommendation engine (PRE) is available to make a PRE configuration recommendation for the selected software application;
determine that the PRE is permitted to make the PRE configuration recommendation based upon analyzed coordination rules; and
generate the PRE configuration recommendation for the selected software application based upon PRE-applicable recommendation data and recommendation rules.
18 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the software application is selected by a buyer to be configured with respect to optional software application configuration options.
19 . The system of claim 18 , further configured to determine a configuration complexity level for the software application.
20 . The system of claim 19 , wherein at least one of a GRE recommendation complexity or a PRE recommendation complexity is based upon the configuration complexity level.
21 . The system of claim 17 , further configured to determine a configuration process stage associated with a configuration sales process associated with the selected software application.
22 . The system of claim 17 , further configured to:
access the GRE-applicable recommendation data and recommendation rules; and
analyze the GRE-applicable recommendation data and recommendation rules.
23 . The system of claim 17 , further configured to:
access the coordination rules; and
analyze the coordination rules.
24 . The system of claim 17 , further configured to:
access the PRE-applicable recommendation data and recommendation rules; and
analyze the PRE-applicable recommendation data and recommendation rules.