Rebate Determination System for Construction Inventory Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Developers in the construction industry face challenges in accurately maintaining inventories of installed products to claim rebates, due to the complexity of customized units and changing standard products lists, leading to missed rebate opportunities.
Innovation Solution
A rebate determination system that generates multi-layered customizable tables to analyze rebate criteria satisfaction, incorporating standard and customized product layers, bulk edits, and notification logic to automatically determine and notify manufacturers of eligible rebates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If developers manually maintain inventory of installed products to claim rebates, then they can potentially identify rebate opportunities, but the process is time-consuming and error-prone leading to inaccurate inventory tracking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical process of inventory tracking with an automated computer-based system that uses algorithms to identify rebate opportunities. The system automatically processes product installation data, compares it against rebate criteria, and generates rebate recommendations, eliminating the need for manual inventory maintenance while improving accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service by allowing developers to input product installation data once, and the system automatically performs ongoing inventory tracking, rebate eligibility analysis, and notification of opportunities. The developer does not need to continuously manually update inventory records; the system maintains itself through automated data processing.
2Adaptability or versatility
If developers use current software programs to determine rebate eligibility, then they can process rebate information, but the software fails to accurately account for customized units and changing product standards
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic adaptability by designing a system that can automatically adjust to customized units and changing product standards. The system uses configurable parameters and algorithms that can be updated to reflect customizations in floor plans, product specifications, and rebate criteria, allowing it to accurately handle non-standard configurations without requiring complete system redesign.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies local quality by allowing different levels of customization handling - standard units follow default rebate rules, while customized units receive tailored analysis based on their specific deviations. The system can apply different rebate criteria and product matching rules to different units within the same project based on their individual characteristics.
3Reliability
If developers manually update standard products lists when changes occur, then they can maintain accurate product inventories, but the process is cumbersome and leads to delays in identifying eligible rebates
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where changes to standard products lists, floor plans, or rebate criteria are automatically detected and processed. When manufacturers or developers update product specifications or rebate terms, the system receives this feedback information and automatically adjusts its rebate eligibility analysis, ensuring continued accuracy without manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-configuring rebate criteria, product databases, and analysis rules in advance. When product lists or standards change, the system is already positioned to quickly process these changes through pre-established algorithms and data structures, enabling rapid adaptation and immediate identification of new rebate opportunities.
Data Source
AI summary
A method comprising receiving rebate offer information, receiving information of a project plan of a first project, wherein the project plan includes a listing of all floor plans in the first project, receiving a selection of standard installed products for each floor plan in the first project, automatically generating a standard installed products layer based on at least the information contained in the project plan and the selection of standard installed products for each floor plan, wherein the standard installed products layer sets forth each product of the one or more products included in each floor plan in the first project and a corresponding quantity for each of the one or more products, and automatically determining whether the criteria of the first rebate is satisfied based on at least the rebate offer, the standard installed products layer and the project plan is shown.