Methods, apparatus and computer program products for targeted and customized marketing of prospective customers

Abstract

Methods, systems and computer program products for targeted and customized marketing to customers and, specifically in some embodiments, customers having a previous relationship with the entity implementing the marketing tool. The embodiments of the invention herein disclosed provide for efficient identification of previous customers based on their current product, service or property and/or their previous, and in some instances, ongoing financial obligation related to the current product, service or property. A replacement product, service or property is identified and a financial transaction proposal, such as a sales or lease proposal, is generated for one or more of the identified previous customers based on customers meeting criteria associated with variable parameters of the proposed transaction.

1 . A method for providing targeted and customized vehicle proposals, the method comprising:
 receiving one or more first computer inputs for selecting one or more prospective customers from a customer database;   receiving one or more second computer inputs for identifying a vehicle to propose to the one or more prospective customers;   receiving one or more third computer inputs for defining one or more variable parameters associated with vehicle proposals;   determining, by computer processing, the one or more prospective customers based on the first and third computer inputs;   determining, by computer processing, for each of the one or more prospective customers, a customer-specific proposal for the identified vehicle based at least in part on an estimated market value of a prospective customer's current vehicle; and   storing the customer-specific proposals in computer memory.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving the one or more first computer inputs further comprises receiving the one or more first computer inputs for selecting the one or more prospective customers from the customer database, wherein the customer database further comprises one of a previous vehicle transaction customer database, a vehicle service customer database or a third party customer database. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving the one or more first computer inputs further comprises receiving the one or more first computer inputs for selecting the one or more prospective customers, wherein the one or more first computer inputs are associated with current vehicle contract type. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving the one or more first computer inputs further comprises receiving the one or more first computer inputs for selecting the one or more prospective customers, wherein the one or more first computer inputs are associated with current vehicle type parameters. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving the one or more first computer inputs further comprises receiving the one or more first computer inputs for selecting the one or more prospective customers, wherein the one or more first computer inputs are associated with current vehicle financial obligation parameters. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving the one or more first computer inputs further comprises receiving the one or more first computer inputs for selecting the one or more prospective customers, wherein the one or more first computer inputs are associated with current vehicle transaction parameters. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving the one or more second computer inputs further comprises receiving the one or more second computer inputs for identifying the vehicle, wherein the one or more second computer inputs are associated with vehicle type parameters. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving the one or more third computer inputs further comprises receiving the one or more third computer inputs for defining one or more variable parameters, wherein the variable parameter is an acceptable variance amount associated with a current monthly vehicle payment amount. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving the one or more third computer inputs further comprises receiving the one or more third computer inputs for defining one or more variable parameters, wherein the variable parameter is a minimum equity amount in a current vehicle. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving the one or more third computer inputs further comprises receiving the one or more third computer inputs for defining one or more variable parameters, wherein the variable parameter is a minimum profit amount for the identified vehicle. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising communicating the customer-specific proposals to each of the one or more prospective customers. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein communicating the customer-specific proposals further comprising electronically communicating the customer-specific proposals to the one or more prospective customers via one of electronic mail, text message, or telephone. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein electronically communicating the customer-specific proposals further comprises automatically communicating the customer-specific proposals to the one or more prospective customers based on a predetermined schedule. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein communicating the customer-specific proposal further comprises generating, automatically, a proposal letter with the customer-specific proposal and mailing the proposal letter to the associated prospective client. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining by computer processing, the estimated market value of the current vehicle for each of the prospective customers. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the customer-specific proposal for the identified vehicle further comprises determining one or more of a sales proposal or a lease proposal for the identified vehicle. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising generating a report associated the determined customer-specific proposals. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising electronically communicating the report to a predetermined group of vehicle transaction associates. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising generating a map that is configured to associate each of the one or more prospective customers with a geographic location on the map. 
     
     
         20 . A computer program product that includes a computer-readable medium, the medium comprising:
 a first set of codes for causing a computer to receive one or more first inputs for selecting one or more prospective customers from a customer database;   a second set of codes for causing a computer to receive one or more second inputs for identifying a vehicle to propose to the one or more prospective customers;   a third set of codes for causing a computer to receive one or more third inputs for defining one or more variable parameters associated with vehicle proposals;   a fourth set of codes for causing a computer to determine the one or more prospective customers based on the first and third computer inputs;   a fifth set of codes for causing a computer to determine, for each of the one or more prospective customers, a customer-specific proposal for the identified vehicle based at least in part on an estimated market value of a prospective customer's current vehicle; and   a sixth set of codes for causing a computer to store the customer-specific proposals in memory.   
     
     
         21 . The computer program product of  claim 20 , wherein the first set of codes are further configured to cause the computer to receive the one or more first inputs for selecting the one or more prospective customers from the customer database, wherein the customer database further comprises one of a previous vehicle transaction customer database, a vehicle service customer database or a third party customer database. 
     
     
         22 . The computer program product of  claim 20 , wherein the first set of codes are further configured to cause the computer to receive the one or more first inputs for selecting the one or more prospective customers, wherein the one or more first inputs are associated with current vehicle contract type. 
     
     
         23 . The computer program product of  claim 20 , wherein the first set of codes are further configured to cause the computer to receive the one or more first inputs for selecting the one or more prospective customers, wherein the one or more first inputs are associated with current vehicle type parameters. 
     
     
         24 . The computer program product of  claim 20 , wherein the first set of codes are further configured to cause the computer to receive the one or more first inputs for selecting the one or more prospective customers, wherein the one or more first inputs are associated with current vehicle financial obligation parameters. 
     
     
         25 . The computer program product of  claim 20 , wherein the first set of codes are further configured to cause the computer to receive the one or more first inputs for selecting the one or more prospective customers, wherein the one or more first inputs are associated with previous vehicle transaction parameters. 
     
     
         26 . The computer program product of  claim 20 , wherein the second set of codes are further configured to cause the computer to receive the one or more second computer inputs for identifying the vehicle, wherein the one or more second computer inputs are associated with vehicle type parameters. 
     
     
         27 . The computer program product of  claim 20 , wherein the third set of codes are further configured to cause the computer to receive the one or more third computer inputs for defining one or more variable parameters, wherein the variable parameter is an acceptable variance amount associated with a current monthly vehicle payment amount. 
     
     
         28 . The computer program product of  claim 20 , wherein the third set of codes are further configured to cause the computer to receive the one or more third computer inputs for defining one or more variable parameters, wherein the variable parameter is a minimum equity amount in a current vehicle. 
     
     
         29 . The computer program product of  claim 20 , wherein the third set of codes are further configured to cause the computer to receive the one or more third computer inputs for defining one or more variable parameters, wherein the variable parameter is a minimum profit amount for the identified vehicle. 
     
     
         30 . The computer program product of  claim 20 , further comprising a seventh set of codes for causing a computer to communicate the customer-specific proposals to each of the one or more prospective customers. 
     
     
         31 . The computer program product of  claim 30 , wherein the seventh set of codes are further configured to cause the computer to electronically communicating the customer-specific proposals to the one or more prospective customers via one of electronic mail, text message, or telephone. 
     
     
         32 . The computer program product of  claim 31 , wherein the seventh set of codes are further configured to cause the computer to automatically communicate the customer-specific proposals to the one or more prospective customers based on a predetermined schedule. 
     
     
         33 . The computer program product of  claim 30 , wherein the seventh set of codes is further configured for generating, automatically, a proposal letter with the customer-specific proposal and initiate mailing the proposal letter to the associated prospective client. 
     
     
         34 . The computer program product of  claim 20 , further comprising a seventh set of codes for causing a computer to determine the estimated market value of the current vehicle for each of the prospective customers. 
     
     
         35 . The computer program product of  claim 20 , wherein the fifth set codes are further configured to cause the computer to determine one or more of a sales proposal or a lease proposal for the identified vehicle. 
     
     
         36 . The computer program product of  claim 20 , further comprising a seventh set of codes for causing a computer to generate a report associated the determined customer-specific proposals. 
     
     
         37 . The computer program product of  claim 36 , wherein the seventh set of codes are further configured to electronically communicate the report to a predetermined group of vehicle transaction associates. 
     
     
         38 . The computer program product of  claim 20 , further comprising a seventh set of codes for causing a computer to generate a map that is configured to associate each of the one or more prospective customers with a geographic location on the map. 
     
     
         39 . A system for targeted and customized vehicle proposals, the system comprising:
 one or more customer databases; and   a computing device in network communication with the one or more customer databases and including at least one processor, a memory and a customer marketing module stored in the memory and executable by the at least one processor,   wherein the customer marketing module is configured to receive first inputs for selecting one or more prospective customers from one of the customer databases, receive second inputs for identifying a vehicle to propose to the one or more prospective customers and receive third inputs for defining one or more variable parameters associated with vehicle proposals, and   wherein the customer marketing module includes,
 prospective customer logic configured to determine one or more prospective customers based on the first and third inputs, and 
 proposal determining logic configured to determine a customer-specific proposal for the identified vehicle for each of the one or more prospective customers based at least in part on an estimated market value of a prospective customer's current vehicle. 
   
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 39 , wherein the one or more databases further comprise at least one of a previous vehicle transaction customer database, a vehicle service customer database or a third party customer database. 
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 39 , wherein the customer marketing module is further configured to receive the first inputs defined as current vehicle contract type. 
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 39 , wherein the customer marketing module is further configured to receive the first inputs defined as current vehicle type parameters. 
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 39 , wherein the customer marketing module is further configured to receive the first inputs defined as current vehicle financial obligation parameters. 
     
     
         44 . The system of  claim 39 , wherein the customer marketing module is further configured to receive the first inputs defined as current vehicle transaction parameters. 
     
     
         45 . The system of  claim 39 , wherein the customer marketing module is further configured to receive the second inputs defined as vehicle type parameters. 
     
     
         46 . The system of  claim 39 , wherein the customer marketing module is further configured to receive the third inputs defined as an acceptable variance amount associated with a current monthly vehicle payment amount. 
     
     
         47 . The system of  claim 39 , wherein the customer marketing module is further configured to receive the third inputs defined as a minimum equity amount in a current vehicle. 
     
     
         48 . The system of  claim 39 , wherein the customer marketing module is further configured to receive the third inputs defined as a minimum profit amount for the identified vehicle. 
     
     
         49 . The system of  claim 39 , wherein the customer marketing module further comprises a communication module configured to communicate the customer-specific proposals to each of the one or more prospective customers. 
     
     
         50 . The system of  claim 49 , wherein the communication module further comprises at least one of an electronic mail engine or a text engine configured to communicate the customer-specific proposals to each of the one or more prospective customers via electronic mail message or text message. 
     
     
         51 . The system of  claim 49 , wherein the communication module is further configured to automatically communicate the customer-specific proposals to the one or more prospective customers based on a predetermined schedule. 
     
     
         52 . The system of  claim 39 , wherein the customer marketing module further comprises a letter generator configured to generate a postal letter and ready the postal letter for postal mailing. 
     
     
         53 . The system of  claim 39 , wherein the customer marketing module further comprises estimated market value determination logic configured to determine an estimated market value of the current vehicle for each of the prospective customers. 
     
     
         54 . The system of  claim 39 , wherein the customer marketing module further comprises a report generator configured to generate a report that includes at least a portion of the customer-specific proposals. 
     
     
         55 . The system of  claim 39 , wherein the customer marketing module further comprises mapping logic configured to associate each of the one or more prospective customers with a geographic location on a map.