Pricing Insight Interface for Transparent Quote Calculation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing software solutions like SAP CPQ lack transparency in price calculation processes, making it difficult for users to understand how prices are determined and hindering the identification of opportunities to improve profit margins or compensation.
Innovation Solution
A standalone application on SAP's Business Technology Platform integrates with CPQ and CPS to provide detailed pricing insights, displaying relevant KPIs and calculating individual line item prices, using graphical interfaces like bubble charts and price waterfall diagrams.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If standard CPQ solution is used, then price calculation functionality is provided, but transparency of price calculation process is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the price calculation process into distinct visible steps and components. Instead of showing a single opaque calculation result, the system breaks down the calculation into separate elements (base price, discounts, surcharges, taxes) that can be individually examined and understood by users.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary layer between the complex pricing engine and the user interface. This intermediary component translates complex calculation logic into user-friendly visual representations, acting as a mediator that preserves transparency without exposing the underlying system complexity.
2Loss of information
If detailed pricing information is displayed, then user understanding of pricing calculations is improved, but interface complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a traditional linear list view of pricing information to a two-dimensional visual representation using charts and diagrams. This dimensional change allows complex multi-component pricing to be displayed in an organized, visually intuitive format that improves understanding without overwhelming the user.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses color coding and visual differentiation to highlight various pricing components. Different colors represent different elements (discounts, surcharges, taxes), making the pricing structure more distinguishable and easier to understand at a glance without increasing interface complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A first application generates a first user interface to display a pricing quote to a user. The first application is configured to detect a request by the user for an enhanced view of the pricing quote. In response to detecting such a request, the first application retrieves first data from a second application and second data from a pricing and configuration service. Also, the first application populates a temporary database with the first data and the second data. Additionally, the first application performs data enrichment of the first data and the second data to create third data by translating technical information of the first data and the second data into a user-friendly notation. Finally, the first application generates a second user interface to display, to the user, the third data associated with the pricing quote.