FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates to a system for billing, accounting, inventory and supply chain management across multiple channels. Particularly this invention relates to a system for online billing, accounting, inventory and supply chain management at the level of B2B (business to business), B2C (business to consumer) and simultaneously make it possible to manage the tasks of billing, accounting, inventory, warehouse and supply chain management across multiple / multilayered channels at the level of an entrepreneur.
PRIOR ART
Distribution Management System (DMS) software is known in the art and is used to manage front office business activities from sales and purchase order processing, inventory management and financial accounting. However the DMS software has limited application to the upper chain of distribution mainly to the distributors.
In the offline mode, consumers and sales outlet catering to consumers who are purchasers in the distribution channel, sources products and services from a multitude of suppliers. Orders are manually noted and shared with supplier representatives during visits and/or over phone calls, fax and emails. This requires certain time to be invested by the purchasers or their representatives in conveying the requirements. Suppliers additionally depute executives to the purchasers to check requirements, collect orders and service them sometimes entailing additional visits adversely affecting the economies of supply and manpower utilization.
In the online mode system encompass suppliers of products on a common, single platform for achieving distribution connectivity and efficiency. Potential conflict of commercial interests and the treading into the domain of proprietary information of the various participants has been a deterrent in establishment of a common platform of an interlinked system. The efforts if any, to link the distribution channel comprehensively has been deficient due to the failure to identify the singular convergent point.
Another software, known as enterprise resource planning (ERP) software, is known in the art for use by the business houses to facilitate and increase effective communication between multiple departments and managing different kinds of jobs, for example, services, human resource and accounts. However, it is noticed that ERP software systems are complex and can work either online or off-line at a time. Also ERP software systems require many components and hardware platforms, distributed across different geographical locations.
There are disadvantages associated with the conventional software, that is, ERP software. One of the disadvantages is that the conventional software / technology require online or offline system to manage the accounting and billing.
Another disadvantage associated with the conventional systems / technology is that it is complex technology and multiple hardware platforms are required to implement the same technology at different locations.
Yet another disadvantage associated with the conventional systems / technology is that it is complex technology and multiple software are needed for billing, accounting, inventory, distribution channel partner management and sales data requirements.
Still another disadvantage associated with the conventional systems / technology is that separate manpower and / or system is required for the distribution channel partner management.
A further disadvantage associated with the conventional systems / technology is that entrepreneur can not make modification in the B2B and B2C application, simultaneously.
Another disadvantage associated with the conventional systems / technology is that it does not allow C2B (Consumer to Business) integration or marketplace platforms.
Yet another disadvantage associated with the conventional systems / technology is that it does not allow product or services to reach from producer to customers and from customer to producer.
Therefore, there is need of a technology / software which is capable to cater different requirements of different users at different places on a real time basis.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a system for billing, accounting, inventory and supply chain management across multiple channels which obviates the disadvantages associated with the prior art.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a system for billing, accounting, inventory and supply chain management across multiple channels wherein multiple hardware platforms are not required to work on the system.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a system for billing, accounting, inventory and supply chain management which is simple in design and therefore is adapted to be implemented reliably and in a cost effective manner.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a system for billing, accounting, inventory and supply chain management which is capable to perform accounting, inventory management of the distribution channel partner and customer data in a online, off-line or online with offline and offline with online environment.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a system for billing, accounting, inventory and supply chain management across multiple channels which is capable to perform accounting, inventory management of the distribution channel partner and customer data in a standalone environment.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a system for billing, accounting, inventory and supply chain management across multiple channels which is capable to perform billing, accounting and inventory management on a real-time basis and thus enable the entrepreneur to manage his distribution channel partners on a real-time basis without any multi entry.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a system for billing, accounting, inventory and supply chain management which is capable to perform billing, accounting and inventory management for any kind of services, products or both product and services.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a system for billing, accounting, inventory and supply chain management which is capable to perform billing, accounting and inventory management for any kind of product, it may be used, new, old or damaged.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a system for billing, accounting, inventory and supply chain management capable to facilitate reach from producer to customers and from customer to producer, this is two-way system.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a system for billing, accounting, inventory and supply chain management across multiple channels capable to equip the entrepreneur to perform billing, accounting, inventory management and even human resource management, thus the entrepreneur don’t require extra manpower, software or hardware for its distribution channel partner management.
Yet another object of present invention is to provide a system for billing, accounting, inventory and supply chain management, which is capable to provide option for auction, tendering, bidding to the wholesaler, retailer and distributor and others channels partners.
Still another object of present invention is to provide the system for billing, accounting, inventory and supply chain management, which is capable to integrate with the different payment option to the supply chain partners. The payment is made by way of payment gateway, online, debit card, credit card, EMI and any other facility available with payment against the order.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a system for billing, accounting, inventory and supply chain management across multiple channels capable to equip the entrepreneur to analyze the inventory of the channel partner, to manage changes in the prices, and to insert the government rules and regulation at the head office level.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a system for billing, accounting, inventory and supply chain management capable to equip the entrepreneur to analyses the system and also is capable to analysis the employee or distributor channel performance at single place.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a system for billing, accounting, inventory and supply chain management capable to integrate with any online or offline customer marketplace platform.
STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION
According to this invention there is provided a system for billing, accounting, inventory and supply chain management across multiple channels comprising a hardware platform provided at company’s headquarter such that to interact with a server, provided on a cloud environment such that to send and receive information about sales invoice, item information and schemes, and also purchase order, inventory and customer, to and from the server, the server being connected with respective hardware / computer provided at the offices of mega stores, bulk SD (supply depot), primary and secondary channel partners such to send and receive information about sales invoice, item information and schemes, and also purchase order, inventory and customer, the server also connected with respective hardware / computer provided at the offices of secondary channel partners, retailers and executives such that to send and receive information about sales invoice, item information and schemes, and also purchase order, inventory and customer.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
A system for billing, accounting, inventory and supply chain management across multiple channels, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, is herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Figure 1 – illustrates a block diagram of the system,
Figure 2– illustrates a working flow chart of the system,
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
A system for billing, accounting, inventory and supply chain management across multiple channels is herein described with numerous specific details so as to provide a complete understanding of the invention. However these specific details are exemplary details and should not be treated as the limitation to the scope of the invention. Throughout this specification the word “comprise” or variations such as “comprises or comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusions of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusions of any other element, integer or step or group of elements, integers or steps.
Referring to the drawing, figure 1, block diagram of a system for billing, accounting, inventory and supply chain management across multiple channels is shown. The system comprises a hardware platform, for example, a computer 1 provided company’s headquarter of the manufacturer of the products such that to interact with a server – 2, provided on a cloud environment 3, with the help of a conventional FTP (file transfer protocol) server, API (Application Programmable Interface) integration or any other medium of integration and internet connection in order to send and receive information, for example, item information, schemes, sales invoice and purchase order, inventory and customer to and from the server 2. The server 2 is also adapted to be connected with a hardware platform, for example, a computer 4 provided at the office of large / mega stores, bulk supply depot (SD) primary and secondary channel partners such to send and receive information (for example sales invoice, item information and schemes, and also purchase order, inventory and customer) to and from the large / mega stores, bulk supply depot, primary and secondary channel partners. The server 2 is also connected with the hardware platform, for example, a computer 5 provided at the office of a secondary channel partner & retailers or executives such that to send and received info to and from secondary channel partner & retailers or executives. This is applicable for but not limited to these levels in channel partner hierarchy.
According to an embodiment of the invention deployment units are provided to provide a scalable design and each deployment unit is deployable on a separate computer hardware platform, for example, computer 1, 4 and 5, independent of every other deployment unit. Service interfaces of the process components define a pair-wise interaction between pairs of process components that are in different deployment units in a scalable way. Therefore, the system for billing, accounting, inventory and supply chain management also includes billing between same channels like distributor to distributor or mega store to mega store.
In one embodiment of the invention, the system for billing, accounting, inventory and supply chain management also includes reordering functionality for validating the order quantity from one channel level to another by way of applying norms defined by company HQ.
Also, the system allow to manage the master data at the company head quarter level and reporting on data warehouse collected from individual domains of channel partners by employing conventional ERP (enterprise resource planning) system and FTP (file transfer protocol) server and API (Application Programmable Interface) integration. The data warehouse reports are available and accessible at company HQ. Further, according to an embodiment of the present invention the system also allow interaction, through the server 2, between the company’s head quarter and all the business partners and also between the same channels like distributor to distributor or mega store to mega store so as to facilitate exchange of information in order to facilitate business activities / transactions and generating reports to analyze purchase, sales and inventory for different channels or even for individual outlets. Also, the system includes scheme and item master management from the company HQ.
Also, according to an embodiment of the system of the present invention allow the company’s head quarter to send and receive information to the exclusive / specific business partners / recipients, for example, mega stores, and primary and secondary channel partners and such information can only be accessed by those specific recipients, only.
Referring to figure – 2, a process flow diagram is shown. According to the process of this invention, in block – 1, information, for example sales invoice, item information and schemes are conveyed to the server 2 by the company and the said information are stored on the server 2. The server 2, in block 2, convey these info to the large / mega stores, bulk SD (supply depot) and primary channel partners. In one embodiment server 2 comprises any type of server which is accessible remotely and available on internet supporting any protocol and not just FTP (file transfer protocol) server. Similarly, sever 2, in block 3, convey the information, for example sales invoice, item information and schemes, to secondary channel partner & retailers or executives.
Thus, the information about the sales invoice, item information and schemes are conveyed to all the business partners, that is, large / mega stores, bulk SD (supply depot) and primary channel partners, and also to the secondary channel partner & retailers or executives. In one embodiment, the information conveyed to the server 2 are stored therein and are accessible by all kinds of stake holders large / mega stores, bulk SD (supply depot) and primary channel partners, and secondary channel partner & retailers or executives.
In block – 4, large stores, bulk SD (supply depot) and primary channel partner convey information, for example purchase order, inventory, and customer information, etc. to the cloud environment 3. These information, in block – 5, are accessed / received by the company as and when required in order to know status of each business / channel partners and for use for billing, accounting, inventory and supply chain management purposes.
Also, in block – 6, the company’s head quarter to send information to the exclusive specific business partners / recipients, for example, mega stores, primary and secondary channel partners and such information can only be accessed by those specific recipients, only.
In one embodiment, primary channel partner shares the same information, for example sales invoice, item information and schemes through direct channel to large stores, bulk SD (supply depot) with secondary channel partner & retailers or executives which it has received from entrepreneur. And the secondary channel partner, retailers, for example Arogya Kendra and Chikitsa Kendra, and executives, share or provide information or data like purchase order, inventory and customer information to the primary channel partner.
In this manner the information relating to sales invoice, item information and schemes, and also relating to purchase order, inventory and customer information, are exchanged amongst the, stakeholders, for example large / mega stores, bulk SD (supply depot) and primary channel partners, and secondary channel partners, retailers and executives. Therefore, respective reports, relating to billing, accounting, inventory and supply chain management, are generated by each and any of the stakeholders, as and when required, as all the above mentioned information are accessible by each and any of the stakeholders anytime from anywhere.
Certain features of the invention have been described with reference to the example embodiments. However, the description is not intended to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications of the example embodiments as well as other embodiments of the invention, which are apparent to the persons skilled in the art to which the invention pertains, are deemed to lie within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims:WE CLAIM:
1. A system for billing, accounting, inventory and supply chain management across multiple channels comprising a hardware platform 1 provided at company’s headquarter such that to interact with a server 2, provided on a cloud environment 3 so as to send and receive information about sales invoice, item information and schemes, purchase order, inventory and customer, to and from the server 2, the server 2 being connected with respective hardware 4 & 5 provided at the offices of mega stores, bulk SD (supply depot), primary and secondary channel partners such that to send and receive information about sales invoice, item information and schemes, and also purchase order, inventory and customer, the server 2 also connected with respective hardware 5 provided at the offices of secondary channel partners, retailers and executives such that to send and receive information about sales invoice, item information and schemes, and also purchase order, inventory and customer.

2. The system for billing, accounting, inventory and supply chain management across multiple channels as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hardware comprises a computer and / or a smart phone.

3. The system for billing, accounting, inventory and supply chain management across multiple channels as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hardware platform 1 is connected with the server 2 with the help of a FTP (file transfer protocol) server, API (application programmable interface) integration or any other medium of integration and internet connection.

4. A process for facilitating billing, accounting, inventory and supply chain management across multiple channels comprising conveying information, for example, sales invoice, item information and schemes to a server 2, conveying said information to the large / mega stores, bulk SD (supply depot), primary channel partners by the server 2, conveying information, for example sales invoice, item information and schemes to secondary channel partner and retailers or executives, conveying information, for example, purchase order, inventory, and customer information, etc. to the server 2 by large stores, bulk SD (supply depot) and primary channel partners, accessing / receiving said information by the company’s head quarter in order to know status of each business / channel partners and for use for billing, accounting, inventory and supply chain management purposes and generating respective reports, sending information to exclusive specific business partners / recipients by the company’s head quarter and accessing such information only by those specific recipients.

5. The process for facilitating billing, accounting, inventory and supply chain management across multiple channels as claimed in claim 4, wherein said information, for example, sales invoice, item information and schemes, are stored in the server 2 provided at the cloud environment.

6. The process for facilitating billing, accounting, inventory and supply chain management across multiple channels as claimed in claim 5, wherein said information, for example, sales invoice, item information and schemes, are conveyed to the large / mega stores, bulk SD (supply depot), primary and secondary channel partners by the server 2.

7. The process for facilitating billing, accounting, inventory and supply chain management across multiple channels as claimed in claim 4, wherein specific business partners / recipients are, for example, mega stores, primary and secondary channel partners.

8. The process for facilitating billing, accounting, inventory and supply chain management across multiple channels as claimed in claim 4, wherein said information are accessed / received by the company as and when required and to know status of each business / channel partners and also for use for billing, accounting, inventory and supply chain management purposes.

9. The process for facilitating billing, accounting, inventory and supply chain management across multiple channels as claimed in claim 4, wherein billing reports are generated between same channels like distributor to distributor or mega store to mega store.

10. The process for facilitating billing, accounting, inventory and supply chain management across multiple channels as claimed in claim 4, wherein reordering functionality for validating order quantity from one channel level to another is done by way of applying norms defined by company HQ.

11. The process for facilitating billing, accounting, inventory and supply chain management across multiple channels as claimed in claim 4, wherein information from data warehouse are received for processing and generating reports to analyze purchase, sales and inventory for different channels or even for individual outlets.

12. The process for facilitating billing, accounting, inventory and supply chain management across multiple channels as claimed in claim 4, wherein scheme and item master management is done at the company’s HQ.