Preferred Vendor Pre-Transaction Bidding System
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Buyers are often forced to choose providers based on criteria other than their own preferences, necessitating a system to elicit counter-offers from preferred vendors that meet specific criteria such as cost and quality, and allow for automatic or manual acceptance.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for preferred vendor pre-transaction bidding, where user preferences are matched with available offers, and counter-offers are generated and transmitted to vendors, allowing for automatic or manual acceptance based on preprogrammed rules.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a buyer is forced to choose a provider based on external criteria (e.g., company policy, lowest cost carrier), then the buyer can meet organizational requirements, but the buyer cannot select their preferred vendor based on personal preferences
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by automatically generating and transmitting counter-offer requests to preferred vendors before the buyer finalizes a transaction with an externally-selected provider. This advance action allows the preferred vendor to prepare competitive offers without delaying the buyer's decision-making process.
Solution Approach 2:
The system acts as an intermediary between the buyer, the externally-selected provider, and the preferred vendor. It receives transaction details from the buyer, automatically generates counter-offer requests, transmits them to preferred vendors, and presents received counter-offers to the buyer, thereby facilitating vendor competition without complicating the buyer's experience.
2Productivity
If the system elicits counter-offers from preferred vendors, then the buyer can potentially save costs and improve service attributes, but the transaction process becomes more complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service by automatically generating counter-offer requests without requiring buyer intervention. The buyer simply provides transaction details, and the system autonomously manages the entire counter-offer solicitation process, including transmitting requests to preferred vendors and presenting received offers, thereby minimizing time loss while achieving cost savings.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes key parameters of the transaction process by automating counter-offer generation and utilizing pre-programmed acceptance rules. This allows the system to dynamically adjust offer evaluation criteria and automatically accept counter-offers that meet predetermined conditions, significantly reducing the time required for manual review while maintaining cost-saving benefits.
3Extent of automation
If counter-offers are automatically accepted based on preprogrammed rules, then the process is efficient, but the buyer has less control over the final selection
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements dynamic control by allowing buyers to configure their preferred level of automation. Buyers can set preprogrammed acceptance rules for automatic acceptance based on specific criteria (e.g., price thresholds, service attributes), while retaining the option to manually review and approve or reject counter-offers that don't meet their preferences, thereby balancing automation efficiency with buyer control.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the system presents multiple counter-offers to the buyer, then the buyer can choose the best option, but the information processing burden increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies feedback by presenting counter-offers to the buyer in a structured format that highlights key differences from the original transaction, such as cost savings, service attribute improvements, and vendor preferences. This feedback mechanism helps the buyer quickly assess and compare options without being overwhelmed by detailed information, reducing information processing load while maintaining selection flexibility.
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, a method that can be performed on a system, is provided for preferred vender pre-transaction bidding. In one embodiment, the method comprises providing to a user one or more offers for sale of an item or service, the offers matching criteria pre-determined by one of a separate user or entity; receiving a selection of at least one offer from the user; comparing the selected offer to a set of pre-determined preferences of the user and generating and transmitting a request to one or more vendors for a counter-offer based on the set of pre-determined preferences of the user; in response to receiving one or more counter-offers, comparing the one or more counter offers to the criteria pre-determined by the separate user or entity; and providing to the user one or more of the counter-offers matching the criteria pre-determined by the separate user or entity.