Voice-Activated Action Execution for Driving Sales Inefficiencies

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Solution Overview

Problem

Territory sales employees face inefficiencies in scheduling appointments and executing tasks while driving, as they lack immediate access to necessary data, leading to time-consuming multiple queries and potential errors in selecting suitable accounts or executing last-minute tasks like reservations or purchases.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that allows users to execute actions based on audio input, using a voice request application that converts spoken commands into strings, queries relevant data repositories, and executes recommended actions, such as scheduling appointments or making purchases, through a platform with commerce and force function nodes, enabling seamless navigation and task completion without manual queries.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If territory sales employees manually query data to schedule appointments while driving, then they can access account information, but the process becomes time-consuming and inefficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess to account dataVSAvoidtime spent on multiple queries

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-loads and caches account data, sales opportunity information, and routing data into a mobile application before the sales employee travels. This allows the employee to access pre-processed information without needing to perform multiple queries during driving time, thus resolving the contradiction between having access to information and spending time obtaining it.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical process of manual data querying and screen interaction with a voice-activated system. The sales employee can issue voice commands to schedule appointments, request routing information, or access account details, eliminating the need for manual typing or navigation through interfaces while driving.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If territory sales employees stop to determine the next account to visit, then they can make informed decisions, but it reduces the number of accounts they can meet

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvequality of sales opportunity selectionVSAvoidnumber of accounts visited

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary analysis of sales opportunities, account priorities, and optimal routing before the sales employee departs. The mobile application pre-calculates the best sequence of accounts to visit based on sales potential, geographic location, and scheduled appointments, allowing the employee to proceed confidently without stopping to analyze data, thus maintaining both decision quality and productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides real-time feedback to the sales employee through the mobile application, including notifications about high-priority accounts, updates on sales opportunities, and dynamic routing adjustments. This continuous feedback loop enables the employee to make informed decisions on the go without needing to stop and conduct separate analysis.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If territory sales employees select accounts without complete data available, then they can schedule appointments quickly, but they may choose suboptimal locations or lower-quality sales opportunities

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespeed of appointment schedulingVSAvoidquality of account selection

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-processes and validates account data, including sales opportunity quality metrics, geographic accessibility, and account preferences, before presenting options to the sales employee. The mobile application pre-ranks potential accounts based on multiple criteria, allowing the employee to quickly select from pre-filtered, high-quality options without needing to manually evaluate all accounts, thus maintaining both speed and selection quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Ease of operation

If territory sales employees use traditional interfaces while driving, then they can input commands, but safety and ease of operation are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to execute commands while drivingVSAvoidsafety risks while operating interface

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual interface interaction (typing, clicking, scrolling) with voice-activated commands. The sales employee can schedule appointments, request routing information, access account details, and execute other tasks using natural speech, eliminating the need to take hands off the steering wheel or eyes off the road, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS11842731B2Method and system for executing an action for a user based on audio input

Publication Date: 2023.12.12 SALESFORCE INC

AI summary

The method system described herein is configured to identify and execute a next recommended action for a user based on the user's audio input. In an embodiment, the system is configured to receive audio input from the user and convert the audio input into a string. The system may identify an attribute associated with the user. The system may identify a type of action based on the string. The system may query a data repository using the attribute associated with the user to retrieve information associated with the type of action. The system may identify a recommended action for the user based on the information associated with the type of action. The system may then execute the recommended action for the user.