System and method for assessing and managing financial transactions

Abstract

A financial terms alert generation system comprises an information retrieval module, a financial terms comparison module, and an alert transmission module. The information retrieval module is configured to retrieve financing information, customer information, and product information from one or more sources accessible on a network. The financial terms comparison module is configured to compare a customer's current financial arrangement to a potential new financial arrangement to determine whether the customer is able to enter into a new financial arrangement on terms favorable to the customer. The alert transmission module is configured to transmit an alert to a dealer in cases in which the financial terms comparison module determines that a customer is able to enter into a new financial arrangement on terms favorable to the customer. Such alerts identify the customer and the favorable financial terms.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 by a computer system comprising computer hardware:
 retrieving customer information, current financial terms that a customer has for a current vehicle, and current vehicle information; 
 determining a replacement vehicle that is comparable to the current vehicle; 
 retrieving replacement vehicle information and new financial terms available to the customer for the replacement vehicle; 
 calculating a new payment based on each of the following:
 the current financial terms; 
 the new financial terms; 
 the current vehicle information; and 
 the replacement vehicle information; 
 
 determining if the new payment satisfies a deal parameter based on at least one of the current financial terms, the new financial terms, and an amount of the new payment; 
 retrieving vehicle service information comprising a service date; 
 using at least some of the customer information and service information to contact the customer, if the service date is within a predefined range and the new payment satisfies the deal parameter. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the service date is associated with at least one of a repair order and a past, present, or future vehicle service appointment. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein calculating the new payment relies on an estimate or default assumption for at least a portion of the current financial terms, new financial terms, current vehicle information, or replacement vehicle information. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein contacting the customer comprises notifying the customer of at least one of the replacement vehicle, the new financial terms, and the new payment. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the predefined range is based at least in part on input received from a user via a graphical user interface. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the deal parameter is based at least in part on input received from a user via a graphical user interface. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising presenting at least some of the service information and customer information via a graphical user interface that displays customer information or service information for a plurality of customers. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the service information further comprises a service time and the graphical user interface is configured to allow a user to sort the presented information based on at least one of service dates and service times. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the graphical user interface allows a user to associate at least some of the plurality of customers with one or more contact management tasks. 
     
     
         10 . A computer system comprising non-transitory computer storage and at least one processor, the storage comprising instructions executable by the processor to:
 retrieve customer information, current financial terms that a customer has for a current vehicle, and current vehicle information;   determine a trade equity for the current vehicle based on at least one of the customer information, current financial terms, and current vehicle information;   determine if the trade equity satisfies a predetermined equity parameter;   retrieve service information comprising a service date;   determine if the service date is within a predefined range;   present at least some of the service information and the customer information to a user if the service date is within the predefined range; and   provide a visual indication to the user if the determined trade equity for the current vehicle satisfies the equity parameter.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the non-transitory computer storage comprises further instructions to communicate with the customer regarding replacement of the current vehicle. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the predefined range is based at least in part on input received from the user via a graphical user interface. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the service date is associated with at least one of a repair order and a past, present, or future vehicle service appointment. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the non-transitory computer storage further comprises instructions to present at least some of the service information and customer information via a graphical user interface that displays customer information or service information for a plurality of customers. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the graphical user interface allows a user to sort the presented information based on service dates. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the graphical user interface allows a user to associate at least some of the plurality of customers with one or more contact management tasks.