IES20130143A2 - Cloud chain sourcing and trade management orchestration platform - Google Patents

Abstract

A method, system and program for sourcing and trade management orchestration. The method, means and program function include: (1) online check of credit insurance and generation of certification of insurance on a total limit of debt related to an E-commerce transaction; (2) creation of an order for products and services directly related and limited to the certification of insurance; (3) aggregation of orders between suppliers and customers; including trade finance and orchestrate appropriate Customs duties and taxes: (4) providing each party to the transaction with electronic confirmation (shipping etc.) and completion of the E-commerce transaction.

Description

Field of Invention litis invention relates to a program of product and services sourcing and orchestration o f trade management.

Prior Art Discussions It is recognized that both historic and modern cloud computing based supply cliain solutions focus on tire management of a financial product (i.e. Bill of Sale or Bill of Exchange) around the trade of a product or service. 1’hese solutions work by acting as a broker between the seller and buyer and its terms of use are a form of business trust to all parties for the trade and confirmation of a business transaction.

There arc many current patents which leverage this and all focus on tiie generation of a conditional bill of sale/exchange intemaily within a solution and then used as part of a trade finance application. For example US Patent 7155409 BI (Trade financing method, instruments and systems) utilizes modified internal bills of exchange to form credit verification between a buyer and seller before goods are traded. Other patents such as US Patent 6772131 BI (Distributed, object oriented global trade finance system with imbedded imaging and work flow and reference data) focus on the management of the transactional (computer) network and document management of trade finance business. Also, other patents held by companies such as Trade Finance Systems inc. have focused on the general accounting principles within an ERP type solution to include accounts receivable database receiving and storing of electronic invoices and leveraging a credit limits database associated to tlie accounts receivables. Although these systems arc dynamic, the limitation and restrictions are based on predefined and pre-programmed computing processes and internal computational environments.

This present invention is a novel method and unique process around a business program for the orchestration of trade in products or services, irrespective of the technical (computing) environments currently in process.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION The object of the present invention is to manage the trade of products and services through a scries of defined business processes and transactions; which in turn can be implemented with cloud computing. For clarity, cloud computing is the use of computing resources (hardware and software) that are delivered as a service over a network (typically the Internet). End users access cloud-based applications through a web browser or a light-weight desktop or mobile app while the business software and user's data are stored on servers at a remote location. ........,......... ι·. t idii/.* i ΙΕί 30 ι μ Unlike other inventions within this field, this present invention manages the interaction between all parties associated with a trade, including and not restricted to: customers, suppliers/sellers, financial institutions, government & public institutions and logistic operators.

The conventionai methods and processes within this field limit the level of interaction between parties and focus on a one-to-one relationship; which in turn restricts the level of management around die trade of product, and services. This present invention addresses these limitations through a series of business processes which orchestrate every one-to-one relationship into a business process framework, which maintains the validity of the trade transaction for all parties.

Another object of die present invention is ensuring any trade of products and services is fulfilled from a sourcing, procurement and delivery stage across international trade boundaries where appropriate customs and duties taxes are pre-cleared.

A further objective of the present invention is to provide an electronic commerce platform within a cloud computing environment which information relating to the trade of products and sendees for all parties is collected and aggregated around specific business processes related to: customer credit check and credit limits, order processing, supplier order processing, supplier credit payment, customs and tax clearance, and advance notification of the completed transaction.

That is, according to the present invention, a series of business processes and related electronic transactions take place within a cloud computing environment: 1) customer submits their compuny details and certification of insurance are issued based on limit threshold updated and backed by an open purchase order; 2) aH customer orders are aggregated and orchestrated toward appropriate suppliers; 3) supplier credit payment is aggregated; 4) automated aggregation, declaration, payment and clearance of customs duties, plus relevant and related taxes; 5) Advanced automated electronic confirmation and notifications to each parties involved in the trade transaction.

DRAWINGS DESCRIPTION: BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of a system according to the present invention; FIG. 2 is a diagram showing tlie customer check process; FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the customer credit limit process; FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the customer order processing; FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the supplier order processing; FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the supplier credit process; FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the customs and tax clearance process; ΙΕί 3 0 ί43 FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the advance notification of the agreed and completed trade process; FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the order preparation and payment process; FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the distribution and electronic invoicing process.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION: DES CR1 PTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of tire business methods and processes according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG, I is a block diagram showing an example of configuration of an embodiment of the business processes and methods according to tlie present invention. In FIG. I a customer submits their relevant company registration information in the Credit insurance Processing Aggregation process to check for validation. Upon validation the information is then submitted into the Guarantee Processing Aggregation process where a financial institution confirms a credit threshold and issue of credit insurance is confirmed by the Credit Finance Processing Aggregation process. Next, the customers’ orders arc processed for services and products under the credit limit threshold through a catalogue or list approach by the Commodifies Trading Aggregator and the order is submitted into the Order Processing Aggregation process for orchestration between most appropriate suppliers: based on credit terms set by the Credit Finance Processing Aggregation process. The Supplier order processing is based on aggregated customers processing and automated stock replenishment and submitted into the Commodities Trading Aggregator which submits the supplier payment information to the Guarantee Processing Aggregation process where supplier credit payment is aggregated and confirmed by tlie financial institution. Once supplier credit payment is confirmed the relevant information related to the pioducts and services is submitted to the Customs/Tax Processing Aggregation process where declaration, payment and clearance of customs duties, plus relevant and related taxes is completed. Finally an automated advance notification is sent to all parties related to the transaction ofthe trade of products and service and once electronic confirmation is received, the order is processed for shipment, where appropriate.

Incidentally, the present invention can be applied to a service having an order which is online and in electronic form and shipment is through electronic delivery: such as a download delivery format, FIG, 2 is a diagram showing the customer check process; where the customer submits the following information: Company Name, Registration Number, and VAT registration. The information is identified and there are two (2) possible outcomes: a) Outcome A: Non denominated - Standard Rating b) Outcome B: Agreed Rating ΙΕ ί 3 Ο 1 4 i FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the customer credit limit process where a standard or agreed rating is approved. The Customer Credit Limit Threshold is updated and backed by an Open Purchase Order. Review of the threshold for trade above the limit is managed in real-time.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the customer order processing, where customer orders are processed for services and products under the credit limit threshold through a catalogue or list approach.

FIG, 5 is a diagram showing die supplier order processing, which is based on aggregated customers processing and automated stock replcnisirment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the supplier credit process, where supplier credit payment is aggregated on cash direct payment, supplier credit terms, stock financing and consignment stock, FIG, 7 is a diagram showing the customs and tax clearance process, where automated aggregation, declaration, payment and clearance of customs duties, plus relevant and related taxes is orchestrated. Information processing related to the product quantity, value, description, relevant and related customs code associated with tlie product and the countries of origin, transit and destination for transaction completion.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the advance notification of tlie agreed and completed trade process; where an automated electronic confirmation and notifications to each party involved in die trade transaction including order aggregation and distribution, sales invoice and certification of delivery, guaranteeing credit finance and crowd funding and final customer payment processing. Compliance aggregation to countries specific regulations from place of origin, transit and final destination FIG. 9 ts a diagram showing the order preparation and payment process, where the appropriate supplier and customs payment has been confirmed and the order is ready for shipment.

FIG, 10 is a diagram showing the distribution and electronic invoicing process, whero the order is ready for distribution the appropriate electronic invoicing mid logistical information is processed by ail parties. And confirmation of delivery is returned.

Claims (5)

1. CLAIMS: What is claimed is: 1) A method, system and program for the orchestration of trade of products and services within a cloud computing environment, said method comprising the steps of: a. verification of a company’s credit and generation of a certification of insurance to the total limit of debt related to an e-commerce transaction; b. creation of an order tor trade of products and service directly related to a company’s credit verification and limited to the company’s current certification of insurance for an e-eommcrce transaction; c. aggregation of orders between customers and suppliers based on customer credit information and supplier credit payment terms; d. orchestrate appropriate customs duties and taxes based on specific regulations from place of origin, transit and final destination; e. provide all parties associated to the trade of products and services an electronic confirmation of completion of the e-commerce transaction.

2. ) A method, system and program according to claim 1, wherein in said step (a), said credit verification and limit of certification of insurance for an e-commerce transaction is modified due to external conditions such as changes in international trade agreements, and environmental changes.

3. ) A method, system and program according to claim 1 5 wherein in said step (b), said order limit is time based.

4. ) A method, system and program according to claim 1, wherein in said step (e), said electronic confirmation includes logistical information pertaining to the products and services.

5. ) A method, system and program according to claim 1, wherein all transactions related to the trade of products and services are carried out in a single computing environment.