Order processing and reporting system for telecommunications carrier services

An automated order processing and report generating system for an inter-exchange carrier providing telecommunications services for a representative entity and customers thereof, said system comprising:

• graphical user interface means for enabling batch order entry of customer orders by said representative entity;
• means for providing front-end editing of said customer orders to validate format of said customer orders;
• processing means in communication with said graphical user interface means for initiating activation, installation and provisioning of services corresponding to a unique customer identifier associated with each customer order, said provisiorung of services being performed for said representative entity via an on-line customer information system through a local exchange carrier, said processing means further comprising:
• (i) means for automatically generating customer records corresponding to received, front-end validated customer orders for entry into a database memory prior to activation, each said record including said unique customer identifier and a status indicator;
• (ii) means for receiving confirmation of successfull customer order installations, from one of said local exchange carrier and said on-line customer information system;
• and
• (iii) means for updating the status indicator of each activated customer order in said database memory;
• whereby the status of all customer orders is tracked through the entry, order activation, installation and provisioning processes and provided for real-time reporting purposes via said graphical user interface means.

A method of processing orders for customers of a telecommunications service entity capable of activating customer orders and provisioning telecommunications services via a local exchange carrier entity, said method comprising the steps of:

• receiving customer orders containing identifying data and information data associated with each of said customer orders via a client application;
• validating the format of each customer order received by front-end editing said customer order, said customer order comprising a data record having at least one unique identifier corresponding to said customer order in addition to other informational data, said identifier and information data being provided in said record in a predefined format, wherein validating said customer order includes real-time editing to ensure said data record is in a correct format;
• automatically communicating new customer orders to a server application, said server storing validated new orders in a database memory;
• activating said valid customer orders by provisioning telecommunications services for said customers through a local exchange carrier entity;
• receiving updated status information of successfully activated customer orders;
• and
• updating the status of each activated customer order in said database memory.