Inquiry Routing System with Skill-Based Classification

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional systems for handling customer inquiries across multiple business lines are inefficient, often resulting in incorrect classification and inadequate responses due to representatives lacking the necessary knowledge, leading to longer response times and errors.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that receive inquiries with multiple classifiers, determine party status, translate these into a skill set, and route them to a primary representative based on that skill set for an accurate and efficient response.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If inquiries are routed to representatives based on general subject classification, then the routing process is simple, but the response accuracy deteriorates due to representatives lacking proper knowledge

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverouting process simplicityVSAvoidresponse accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the inquiry routing process into multiple stages: initial classification by general subject, then refinement by specific business line, and finally assignment to representatives based on their specialized skill sets. This segmentation allows the system to maintain simplicity in the overall process while improving accuracy through structured division of the routing decision-making.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by matching representatives to inquiries based on their specific skill sets and business line expertise rather than using a uniform routing approach. Each representative is assigned inquiries that match their specialized knowledge, ensuring high response accuracy for complex multi-business-line inquiries while maintaining ease of operation through automated skill-based routing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If manual review and routing of inquiries is performed, then response accuracy is improved, but response time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresponse accuracyVSAvoidresponse time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements self-service by using automated classification and routing systems that independently process inquiries without requiring manual review. The system automatically classifies inquiries by subject and business line, determines the appropriate skill sets, and routes them to qualified representatives, eliminating time-consuming manual intervention while maintaining high accuracy through structured automated decision-making.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies preliminary action by performing classification and skill set determination before the inquiry reaches the representative. The system pre-processes the inquiry to identify the correct business lines and required skills, so that when the representative receives the inquiry, all routing decisions are already made, reducing their workload and response time while ensuring accurate matching.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If AI programs are used to classify inquiries, then routing speed is improved, but classification accuracy deteriorates due to errors

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverouting speedVSAvoidclassification accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms where the classification system continuously learns from actual inquiry outcomes and representative performance. The system monitors classification results and adjusts its algorithms based on feedback from representative assignments and customer interactions, improving classification accuracy over time while maintaining high routing speed through automated processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies parameter changes by dynamically adjusting classification criteria and skill set mappings based on evolving business needs and inquiry patterns. The system can update its classification algorithms and matching parameters to adapt to new products, services, and customer behaviors, maintaining both speed and accuracy in a changing business environment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS9392118B1System and method to provide a response to an inquiry
Publication Date: 2016.07.12 UNITED SERVICES AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION (USAA)
  • US9392118B1 patent drawing
  • US9392118B1 patent drawing
  • US9392118B1 patent drawing

AI summary

Disclosed are systems and methods to provide a response to an inquiry. The systems and methods provide techniques to receive an inquiry from a party, wherein the inquiry comprises a plurality of inquiry classifiers that are provided by the party, determine a party status, translate the plurality of inquiry classifiers and the party status into a skill set, route the inquiry to a primary representative based on the skill set, and provide a inquiry response to the party.