Interactive method and apparatus for real-time financial

US8433632B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Lawson Software, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Sarat C. Sankaran · Redwood City, US
• Vineet Jain · San Mateo, US
• Nancy B. Capelli · Woodside, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 13, 2001
• Grant date: Apr 30, 2013
• Expiry date: Jan 14, 2030

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06Q40/06
• WIPO field: IT methods for management
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A method and apparatus for financial planning and control are disclosed that are capable of real-time response to changing market conditions. The disclosed method provides financial management and control tools that allow an organization to rapidly (on weekly or monthly frequencies, for example) realign financial resources throughout the organization in response to changing market and business conditions. The method links critical external information directly to company decision-making activities to allow a business to better align resources to capitalize upon opportunities or minimize the impact of adverse business conditions. The disclosed embodiment of the invention comprises several modules, including the TopLine Planner™ module, BizPlan™ module, and SpendCap Manager™ module. The TopLine Planner™ module receives inputs from and provides information to sales, marketing and manufacturing, and is coupled to the BizPlan™ module. The TopLine Planner™ module dynamically revises topline forecast information by capturing current outlook information from front line sources. Revenue information is passed between the TopLine Planner™ module and the BizPlan™ module. The BizPlan™ module ra…