Asset tracking system and method of enabling user cost reduction for such assets

1. A server for use in a communication system, the server comprising:

a microprocessor;

a communication interface; and

a memory including instructions stored thereon that are executable by the microprocessor, the instructions, when executed, causing the processor to:

receive, via the communication interface, an estimate comprising at least one line item with an associated cost;

extract data from the at least one line item, the data comprising at least one material and an associated material quantity;

identify, based on the at least one material and the associated material quantity, at least one applicable rebate program from among a plurality of available rebate programs;

translate the extracted material quantity from the extracted material quantity to a purchasable material quantity for the at least one applicable rebate program;

automatically generate a message containing an application form for the at least one applicable rebate program comprising the translated data; and

transmit the message comprising the application form via the communication interface.

2. The server of claim 1 , wherein the memory stores additional instructions that, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to:

transmit a request for needed information via the communication interface;

receive the requested needed information via the communication interface; and

include the needed information in the application form.

3. The server of claim 1 , wherein the memory further stores a database of available rebate programs, the database comprising at least one attribute for each of the available rebate programs.

4. The server of claim 1 , wherein the data further comprises at least one of location data, material grade, material definition, and material recyclability information.

5. A communication system, comprising:

an estimating system interface for receiving, from an estimating system, an estimate corresponding to an insurance claim, the estimate comprising one or more line items encompassing one or more needed materials;

a line item extraction engine that extracts information about the one or more needed materials from the one or more line items of the estimate, the extracted information comprising at least a material identifier and a material quantity;

a rebate matching engine that:

identifies, based on at least the material identifier, at least one applicable rebate program from a plurality of rebate programs having attributes stored in a rebate program database;

translates the extracted material quantity from the extracted material quantity to a purchasable material quantity for the at least one applicable rebate program; and

automatically generates a message containing an application form for the at least one applicable rebate program comprising the translated data; and

an estimator/carrier interface that enables communications with a communication device regarding the applicable rebate programs, wherein the message comprising the application form is transmitted to the communication device.

6. The communication system of claim 5 , further comprising a purchasable quantities engine that compares the material quantity to one or more purchasable quantities stored in a purchasable quantities database and determines whether at least one of the one or more purchasable quantities corresponds to the material quantity.

7. The communication system of claim 6 , wherein the rebate matching engine further identifies applicable rebate programs based on the material quantity.

8. The communication system of claim 5 , wherein the attributes stored in the rebate program database comprise at least one of a minimum order size, availability information, substitution information, a rebate rate, required payment terms, rebate accrual information, rebate calculation information, rebate frequency information, promotional package information, rebate region information, material pick-up location information, return information, rebate limitations information, and purchasable quantity information.

9. The communication system of claim 5 , wherein the rebate matching engine generates a report that lists the identified applicable rebate programs.

10. The communication system of claim 5 , wherein the rebate matching engine transmits information about at least one of the applicable rebate programs to the estimating system via the estimating system interface.

11. The communication system of claim 5 , wherein at least one of the one or more line items in the estimate comprises a bundled line item.

12. The communication system of claim 5 , wherein the rebate matching engine compares cost savings information about a plurality of applicable rebate programs and selects an applicable rebate program associated with a greater cost savings than any other applicable rebate program in the plurality of applicable rebate programs.

13. The communication system of claim 5 , wherein the rebate matching engine automatically fills out application forms associated with at least one of the applicable rebate programs.

14. A method for identifying applicable rebate programs, the method comprising:

receiving, at a processor and via an interface, an estimate comprising at least one line item with an associated cost;

extracting, with the processor, data from the at least one line item, the data comprising at least one material and an associated material quantity;

identifying, with the processor and based on the at least one material and the associated material quantity, at least one applicable rebate program from among a plurality of available rebate programs;

translating the extracted material quantity from the extracted material quantity to a purchasable material quantity for the at least one applicable rebate program;

automatically generating a message containing an application form for the at least one applicable rebate program comprising the translated data; and

transmitting the message comprising the application form via the communication interface.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

updating, with the processor, the associated cost of the at least one line item to reflect a cost savings associated with the at least one applicable rebate program.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the at least one applicable rebate program comprises a plurality of applicable rebate programs, the method further comprising:

receiving, at the processor and via the interface, an input comprising a selection of one of the plurality of applicable rebate programs.

17. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

receiving, at the processor, a command to finalize the at least one applicable rebate program.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:

generating, with the processor and in response to the command, an application for a rebate under the at least one applicable rebate program.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the generating comprises automatically populating at least one application form with available information.

20. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

storing information about at least one of the plurality of available rebate programs in a rebate program database stored in a memory, the information corresponding to at least one of an effective date of the rebate program, an expiration date of the rebate program, one or more requirements for obtaining a rebate under the rebate program, a material covered by the rebate program, return information corresponding to the rebate program, a rebate rate corresponding to the rebate program; and a minimum order size for the rebate program.