US 2003/0191660 A1 · Loyalty link method and apparatus for integrating customer information with dealer management information

Abstract

A customer data capture system integrated with a dealership data management system allows customer and vehicle maintenance data to be exchanged between a kiosk on the floor of the dealership and the data management system. The customer inserts a customized card into a kiosk, and interacts with the pre-programmed software on the kiosk. The software recommends scheduled maintenance services and suggests potential coupon savings, based on the information received from the customer's card and the information stored in the data management system. A service order is generated and routed to the service department. As a result, the accuracy and speed of entering customer data are enhanced, while the dealership is able to offer value-added services at the point of sale, thus enhancing the dealership's business relationship with the customer.

Claims135

Dependent claims

A programmable apparatus comprising:

a. a reader to receive input data from a user, said reader being capable of processing input and output from a smart card, wherein said input data comprises customer information, vehicle information, maintenance schedule information, coupon information, a personal identification number (PIN), and administrator data that permit functions to be performed that are reserved for a system administrator;
b. entering means to enter supplemental data that are different from the input data, wherein said supplemental data comprises current mileage, selected customer services, additional contact instructions, additional contact number and promised date and time of completion;
c. transmitting means to transmit the input data and the supplemental data to a data management system, wherein said transmitting means is selected from the group comprising:
radio transmission, cable transmission, the Internet, leased telephone lines, wire, optical fiber, and wireless communication;
d. generating means to generate response data from the data management system, based in part on the input data and the supplemental data, wherein said response data comprises recommended services, a savings amount during a visit, and total savings amount to date, and further wherein the data management system comprises a vehicle dealership management system;
e. displaying means to display data comprising the input data, the supplemental data, response data and pop up video clips;
f. updating means to update the input data based in part on the supplemental data and the response data;
g. storing means to store the updates input data, wherein said storing means is selected from a group comprising a dealer database system and a portable data storage device, said portable data storage device further selected from a group comprising:
a smart card, a card with a magnetic memory strip, a bar-code card, a CD-rom card, and a hand-held device;
h. checking means to check access authorization of the input data from the user;
i. selecting means to select a language from a plurality of choices for use in any printed and displayed text;
and
j. printing means to print the input data, supplemental data and the response data.

10 more elements

A programmable apparatus comprising:

a. a smart card system (SCS) adapted to store and access information regarding vehicle dealership activities;
b. a vehicle dealership management system (DMS) electronically communicating with the smart card system;
and
c. a communication link between the SCS and DMS;
wherein
1. the DMS and SCS are adapted to access data stored on a smart card and store the accessed data in the DMS, and print and display the accessed data,
2. the DMS and SCS are adapted to access data stored in the DMS and store the accessed data on the SCS, and to print and display the accessed data,
3. the DMS and SCS are adapted to generate data in a user session and store the generated data in the DMS, and in the SCS, and to print and to display the generated data, and
4. the SCS is adapted to receive input of supplemental data and store the inputted data in the DMS, and in the SCS, and to print and to display the inputted data,
and further wherein the SCS comprises
1. a plurality of smart cards,
2. a smart card reader, adapted to read the smart cards,
3. a data entry station, communicating with the smart card reader,
4. a printer, communicating with the data entry station,
5. checking means to check access authorization of the input data from the user,
6. displaying means to display pop up video clips, and
7. selecting means to select a language from a plurality of choices for use in any printed and displayed text;
and wherein the communication link is selected from the group comprising:
radio transmission, cable transmission, the Internet, leased telephone lines, wire, optical fiber, and wireless communication, and further wherein the data entry station is selected from a group consisting of:
a data entry station that comprises:
a. a kiosk including a computer touch screen with an electronic keyboard,
b. a keyboard, and
c. a mouse;
and a data entry station that comprises a PC computer with a display screen, a keyboard, and a mouse;
and further where the SCS receives:
a. inputted data comprising customer information, vehicle information, maintenance schedule information, coupon information, personal identification number (PIN), and administrator data that permit functions to be performed that are reserved for a system administrator;
b. supplemental data comprising current mileage, selected customer services, additional contact instructions, additional contact number and promised date and time of completion;
and
c. response data comprising recommended services, a savings amount during a visit, and total savings amount to date.

26 more elements

A system integration method executed by a programmable apparatus comprising

a. receiving input data, through a reader, from a user, said reader being capable of processing input and output from a smart card, wherein said input data comprises customer information, vehicle information, maintenance schedule information, coupon information, a personal identification number (PIN), and administrator data that permit functions to be performed that are reserved for a system administrator;
b. entering supplemental data that are different from the input data, wherein said supplemental data comprises current mileage, selected customer services, additional contact instructions, additional contact number and promised date and time of completion;
c. transmitting the input data and the supplemental data to a data management system, wherein the input data and the supplemental data are transmitted through a transmitting means that is selected from the group comprising:
radio transmission, cable transmission, the Internet, leased telephone lines, wire, optical fiber, and wireless communication;
d. generating with a programmable apparatus response data from the data management system, based in part on the input data and the supplemental data, wherein said response data comprises recommended services, a savings amount during a visit, and total savings amount to date, and further wherein the data management system comprises a vehicle dealership management system;
e. displaying data comprising the input data, the supplemental data, response data and pop up video clips;
f. updating the input data based in part on the supplemental data and the response data;
g. storing the updated input data, wherein the updated input data is stored using storing means that is selected from a group comprising a dealer database system and a portable data storage device, said portable data storage device further selected from a group comprising:
a smart card, a card with a magnetic memory strip, a bar-code card, a CD-rom card, and a hand-held device;
h. checking access authorization of the input data from the user;
i. selecting a language from a plurality of choices for use in any printed and displayed text;
and
j. printing the input data, supplemental data and the response data.

10 more elements

A method for a programmable apparatus comprising:

a. storing and accessing information regarding vehicle dealership activities with a smart card system (SCS);
and
b. communicating between a vehicle dealership management system (DMS) and the smart card system, using a communication link between the SCS and DMS;
wherein
1. the DMS and SCS are adapted to access data stored on a smart card and store the accessed data in the DMS, and print and display the accessed data,
2. the DMS and SCS are adapted to access data stored in the DMS and store the accessed data on the SCS, and to print and display the accessed data,
3. the DMS and SCS are adapted to generate data in a user session and store the generated data in the DMS, and in the SCS, and to print and to display the generated data, and
4. the SCS is adapted to receive input of supplemental data and store the inputted data in the DMS, and in the SCS, and to print and to display the inputted data,
and further wherein the SCS comprises
1. a plurality of smart cards,
2. a smart card reader, adapted to read the smart cards,
3. a data entry station, communicating with the smart card reader,
4. a printer, communicating with the data entry station,
5. checking means to check access authorization of the input data from the user,
6. displaying means to display pop up video clips, and
7. selecting means to select a language from a plurality of choices for use in any printed and displayed text;
and wherein the communication link is selected from the group comprising:
radio transmission, cable transmission, the Internet, leased telephone lines, wire, optical fiber, and wireless communication;
and further wherein the data entry station is selected from a group consisting of:
a data entry station that comprises:
a. a kiosk including a computer touch screen with an electronic keyboard,
b. a keyboard, and
c. a mouse;
and a data entry station that comprises a PC computer with a display screen, a keyboard, and a mouse;
and further where the SCS receives:
a. inputted data comprising customer information, vehicle information, maintenance schedule information, coupon information, personal identification number (PIN), and administrator data that permit functions to be performed that are reserved for a system administrator;
b. supplemental data comprising current mileage, selected customer services, additional contact instructions, additional contact number and promised date and time of completion;
and
c. response data comprising recommended services, a savings amount during a visit, and total savings amount to date.

26 more elements

A machine readable memory medium containing instructions which, when executed by a programmable apparatus, cause the apparatus to perform a system integration method, the method comprising:

a. receiving input data, through a reader, from a user, said reader being capable of processing input and output from a smart card, wherein said input data comprises customer information, vehicle information, maintenance schedule information, coupon information, a personal identification number (PIN), and administrator data that permit functions to be performed that are reserved for a system administrator;
b. entering supplemental data that are different from the input data, wherein said supplemental data comprises current mileage, selected customer services, additional contact instructions, additional contact number and promised date and time of completion;
c. transmitting the input data and the supplemental data to a data management system, wherein the input data and the supplemental data are transmitted through a transmitting means that is selected from the group comprising:
radio transmission, cable transmission, the Internet, leased telephone lines, wire, optical fiber, and wireless communication;
d. generating response data from the data management system, based in part on the input data and the supplemental data, wherein said response data comprises recommended services, a savings amount during a visit, and total savings amount to date, and further wherein the data management system comprises a vehicle dealership management system;
e. displaying data comprising the input data, the supplemental data, response data and pop up video clips;
f. updating the input data based in part on the supplemental data and the response data;
g. storing the updated input data, wherein the updated input data is stored using storing means that is selected from a group comprising a dealer database system and a portable data storage device, said portable data storage device further selected from a group comprising:
a smart card, a card with a magnetic memory strip, a bar-code card, a CD-rom card, and a hand-held device;
h. checking access authorization of the input data from the user;
i. selecting a language from a plurality of choices for use in any printed and displayed text;
and
j. printing the input data, supplemental data and the response data.

10 more elements

A machine readable memory medium containing instructions which, when executed by a programmable apparatus, cause the apparatus to perform a system integration method, the method comprising:

a. storing and accessing information regarding vehicle dealership activities with a smart card system (SCS);
and
b. communicating between a vehicle dealership management system (DMS) and the smart card system, using a communication link between the SCS and DMS;
wherein
1. the DMS and SCS are adapted to access data stored on a smart card and store the accessed data in the DMS, and print and display the accessed data,
2. the DMS and SCS are adapted to access data stored in the DMS and store the accessed data on the SCS, and to print and display the accessed data,
3. the DMS and SCS are adapted to generate data in a user session and store the generated data in the DMS, and in the SCS, and to print and to display the generated data, and
4. the SCS is adapted to receive input of supplemental data and store the inputted data in the DMS, and in the SCS, and to print and to display the inputted data,
and further wherein the SCS comprises
1. a plurality of smart cards,
2. a smart card reader, adapted to read the smart cards,
3. a data entry station, communicating with the smart card reader,
4. a printer, communicating with the data entry station,
5. checking means to check access authorization of the input data from the user,
6. displaying means to display pop up video clips, and
7. selecting means to select a language from a plurality of choices for use in any printed and displayed text;
and wherein the communication link is selected from the group comprising:
radio transmission, cable transmission, the Internet, leased telephone lines, wire, optical fiber, and wireless communication;
and further wherein the data entry station is selected from a group consisting of:
a data entry station that comprises:
a. a kiosk including a computer touch screen with an electronic keyboard,
b. a keyboard, and
c. a mouse;
and a data entry station that comprises a PC computer with a display screen, a keyboard, and a mouse;
and further where the SCS receives:
a. inputted data comprising customer information, vehicle information, maintenance schedule information, coupon information, personal identification number (PIN), and administrator data that permit functions to be performed that are reserved for a system administrator;
b. supplemental data comprising current mileage, selected customer services, additional contact instructions, additional contact number and promised date and time of completion;
and
c. response data comprising recommended services, a savings amount during a visit, and total savings amount to date.

26 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Loyalty link method and apparatus for integrating customer information with dealer management information

Life of this patent

Loyalty link method and apparatus for integrating customer information with dealer management information

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims135