Centralized Server Matching Local Service Providers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current technologies fail to efficiently connect consumers with local service providers, often resulting in unanswered calls, inconvenient booking times, and vendors unable to service specific customer needs, despite increased availability of information online.
Innovation Solution
A network-based system that allows customers to submit service requests, which are then processed by a centralized server to identify and contact the most qualified local service providers, enabling quick connection and negotiation of services without revealing the customer's identity initially.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If customers directly call vendors to request services, then customers can obtain service information, but customers face unanswered calls and inconvenient booking times
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a centralized server as an intermediary between customers and vendors. The server receives service requests from customers, identifies appropriate vendors based on criteria such as location and service type, and facilitates connections. This mediator role resolves the contradiction by ensuring reliable connections through systematic vendor identification while reducing time loss through automated matching processes.
2Loss of information
If customers search for local businesses online, then more information becomes available, but customers still perform manual actions that technology has not improved
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service by allowing customers to submit service requests through the centralized server, which then automatically identifies and connects them with appropriate vendors. This eliminates the need for manual searching and contacting of multiple vendors, as the system autonomously performs the matching and connection functions, thereby improving ease of operation while maintaining full information availability.
3Productivity
If vendors are contacted without centralized coordination, then vendors can receive service requests, but vendors cannot efficiently service all customer locations and requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The centralized server performs preliminary actions by pre-identifying vendors who meet specific criteria such as location, service type, and availability before customers need to be connected. This preliminary filtering and matching process increases vendor service capacity by directing customers to already-qualified vendors, while maintaining adaptability to customer needs through customizable identification criteria that can be adjusted based on specific service requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
A customer may be allowed to request a service and to very quickly be put in touch with a local service provider who can perform the requested service. The customer need not know the identity of the vendor beforehand, and the vendor may not know the identity of the customer before agreeing to discuss the service. Multiple local service providers may be contacted in parallel by a centralized server configured to connect the customer with the local service providers. The most qualified or most highly rated local service providers for the particular service may be identified and then contacted first. The customer may be put in touch with one or more vendors in a very short amount of time after submitting the request, e.g., within 90 seconds.