Electronic proposal preparation system

A method of generating a customized visual output with a computer system to facilitate a sale of a tangible product, the method comprising:

• receiving from a user interface into the computer system answers to a plurality of questions from a specific customer related to at least one of a desired feature and desired use by the customer of the tangible product for sale;
• automatically selecting by the computer system, in response to at least one of the received answers, an image of a tangible product for sale, an image of an environment in which the product for sale is to be used and a text segment comprised of a description of the product specifications and performances that are of particular interest to the customer;
• and
• integrating the selected images and selected text segment into a proposal for the sale of the product customized to the specific customer such that a single composite customized visual output showing the product in the product environment along with said text segment,
• wherein the single composite visual output is generated by:
• a selection device operatively interconnected to an active database, the active database configured to electronically store customer information obtained via the user interface;
• the selection device operatively connected to a static database, the static database electronically storing at least one of, (a) text, (b) pictures or (c) text and pictures, relating to at least one product;
• and
• the system dynamically building a template utilizing the selection device to fill in the template to produce the customized visual output.

A computer system for generating a customized proposal to facilitate a sale of a tangible product, the system comprising:

• a memory system having stored therein images of a tangible products for sale, images of environments in which the products for sale are to be used and a text segments comprised of a descriptions of the product specifications and performances;
• a user interface configured to prompt a user of the computer system with a plurality of questions related to at least one desired feature and desired use of the product by a specific customer and to receive answers to the plurality of questions from the customer;
• and
• a processing system, operatively coupled to the memory system and user interface, that automatically selects, in response to receipt of at least one of the answers, an image of a tangible product for sale, an image of an environment in which the product for sale is to be used and a text segment comprised of a description of the product specifications and performances that are of particular interest to the customer from those stored in the memory system, and the processing system integrates the selected images and the selected text segment into a proposal for the sale of the product customized to the specific customer such that a single composite customized visual output showing the product in the product environment along with said text segment,
• wherein the single composite visual output is generated by:
• a selection device operatively interconnected to an active database, the active database configured to electronically store customer information obtained via the user interface;
• the selection device operatively connected to a static database, the static database electronically storing at least one of, (a) text, (b) picture or (c) text and pictures, relating to at least one product;
• and
• the system dynamically building a template utilizing the selection device to fill in the template to produce the single composite visual output.