Custom Cost Accounting Invoicing Automation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing billing and invoicing systems are complex and inefficient, requiring manual processing to associate proprietary information with invoices, which increases workload and time, especially for large or recurring transactions.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus for custom cost accounting invoicing that allows users to configure and associate different account information with invoice items, creating expense profiles and location/unit profiles to automate the invoicing process, enabling electronic or paper invoicing with embedded account associations, and facilitating efficient data analysis and reporting.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If manual processing is used to associate proprietary information with invoices, then accuracy of account association can be ensured, but processing time and workload increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of account associationVSAvoidprocessing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring expense profiles with account associations and proprietary information mappings before invoicing occurs. This allows the system to automatically match invoice items with appropriate accounts and proprietary information without requiring manual processing at the time of invoicing, thereby reducing processing time while maintaining accuracy through pre-validated configurations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service by allowing users to configure expense profiles and associate proprietary information with invoice items through automated processes. The system automatically performs account associations, data matching, and invoice generation without requiring manual intervention for each transaction, significantly reducing workload while maintaining accuracy through consistent application of predefined rules and profiles.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Productivity

If automated invoicing systems are implemented, then processing efficiency improves, but adaptability to custom proprietary information requirements decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing efficiencyVSAvoidadaptability to custom requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system achieves universality by designing expense profiles that can accommodate multiple types of proprietary information and account associations within a single automated framework. The system can handle various business scenarios, transaction types, and information requirements using the same core automated invoicing engine, thereby maintaining both high processing efficiency and broad adaptability to custom requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements dynamics by allowing expense profiles to be dynamically configured and modified to meet changing proprietary information requirements. Users can adapt the system to new business needs by updating profile configurations, associating different proprietary information fields with invoice items, and adjusting account mappings without requiring system redesign, thus maintaining both automation efficiency and adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple expense profiles are created to accommodate different account associations, then customization capability improves, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecustomization capabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies segmentation by dividing the invoicing system into modular expense profiles, each handling specific account associations and proprietary information types. This segmentation allows customization for different business scenarios while keeping each profile manageable and independent. The modular structure reduces overall system complexity by organizing functionality into discrete, reusable units that can be configured independently.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS7698181B2Method and apparatus for custom cost accounting invoicing

Publication Date: 2010.04.13 PENSKE TRUCK LEASING CO LP

AI summary

A method and apparatus for providing custom cost accounting invoicing. The method allows each customer to associate its proprietary accounting information and billing system with invoicing information. The method provides each customer with the ability to create various expense and other information profiles, such that custom invoices may be generated using the information provided in the profiles.