Evaluation Harmonizer Automates Supplier Score Aggregation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Enterprises face challenges in efficiently evaluating and tracking the performance of numerous suppliers due to the large number of disparate data sources involved, leading to labor-intensive data collection processes and inefficient reliance on rudimentary analytical tools.

Innovation Solution

A system and method for harmonizing evaluation data, which includes creating an evaluation service using an evaluation harmonizer that configures templates for evaluating entities, sends messages to evaluators, receives responses, determines scores, obtains quantitative key indicators, harmonizes scores using a machine learning model, and publishes a user interface with the harmonized scores for supplier evaluation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If enterprises use rudimentary analytical tools like spreadsheets to evaluate suppliers, then the ease of operation is improved, but the productivity and measurement precision deteriorate due to manual data collection from disparate sources

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of operationVSAvoidproductivity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical data collection processes with an automated evaluation harmonizer system that uses machine learning models to aggregate and harmonize data from multiple sources, eliminating the need for manual spreadsheet operations while significantly improving productivity and measurement precision

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The evaluation harmonizer acts as an intermediary system between disparate data sources and the final evaluation output, automatically collecting, normalizing, and processing data from multiple sources before presentation in standardized templates, thereby improving both ease of operation and productivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If enterprises manually collect data from multiple disparate sources, then the adaptability to different data sources is improved, but the loss of time and labor intensity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveadaptabilityVSAvoidloss of time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the parameters of data collection by automatically extracting and normalizing data from multiple sources into standardized formats, transforming the manual process of adapting to different data structures into an automated parameter transformation process that reduces time loss while maintaining adaptability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The evaluation harmonizer performs preliminary data collection, extraction, and normalization actions automatically before the evaluation process begins, pre-processing data from multiple sources so that the actual evaluation can be completed more quickly with less manual intervention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Device complexity

If enterprises rely on spreadsheets for analysis, then the device complexity is reduced, but the measurement precision and reliability of evaluation data deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice complexityVSAvoidmeasurement precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces simple spreadsheet mechanics with an automated evaluation harmonizer system that uses machine learning models to process and harmonize data, significantly improving measurement precision and reliability while the system manages its own complexity through standardized templates and automated workflows

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Adaptability or versatility

If enterprises manually process evaluation data from multiple sources, then the adaptability to different evaluation criteria is improved, but the productivity and time efficiency deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveadaptabilityVSAvoidproductivity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides dynamic adaptability through configurable evaluation templates and machine learning models that can be adjusted to different evaluation criteria without manual reprocessing, allowing the system to adapt to new requirements while maintaining high productivity through automated data harmonization and aggregation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS20250156789A1Evaluation harmonizer

Publication Date: 2025.05.15 SAP SE

AI summary

In some implementations, there is a method including creating, by an evaluation harmonizer, an evaluation service by at least configuring the evaluation service to evaluate one or more entities, the configuring comprising selecting a first template and a second template; and in response to creation of the evaluation service, the method further comprises causing one or more messages to be sent to one or more evaluators; harmonizing one or more first scores and one or more second scores; and in response to the harmonizing, populating a first user interface with the one or more first scores and the one or more second scores, the first user interface generated at least in part based on the second template. Related systems, methods, and articles of manufacture are also disclosed.