iQuoteXpress - Configuration tools...made to order

7/29/2019 iQuoteXpress - Configuration tools...made to order

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Configurator Tools Made To Order


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Our made to order configuration tools allow businesses to create automated guides to

help their sales representatives: configure complex products and services, determine

the right pricing as well as to help the organization streamline processes by monitoring

its relevant data.

These tools utilize sets of rules that enable the sales personnel to select the right

product combinations and define pricing of services. These rules can be expressed

through Algorithms, Decision trees, Radio Buttons in addition to Filters which can be

used in conjunction with tables and pulled data in order to express restrictions and

relationships between products and services. Engineering Support services provide our

customers with configuration templates which solve for correct pricing, values, and

configured selections.

Configuration Services


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For Example, a product configurator can prevent compatibility errors through the

application of algorithm(s) with any level of complexity. These instructions and

constraints will help to ensure that only a valid product or service will result out of the

configuration.

The configurator tools are made available through our web based sales automation

system allowing for online access to all the tools from any location. We aim to reduce

potential errors, make the quoting process easier and help to improve the overalleffectiveness of the sales team.

Through collaboration with our customers which may include importing macros and

using predefined rules, iQuote Xpress engineering support services charter is to assist

in surveying critical information from each relevant department within our clients

company in order to use this information to effectively design configuration tools

responsive to our customers challenges. This results in templates within the iQuoteXpress platform made to order for our customers unique requirements and needs.

Configuration Services


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Some Advantages

Easy implementation. We can import our customers current algorithms, exceptions, logicalprogressions and create new ones.

Flexibility. Algorithms can be easily edited in real-time, ensuring configurations are always up-to-date

Accuracy. Using configuration tools ensures that the product or services proposed are the ones that

best fit the customers needs.

Support. iQuote Xpress will not only provide the software but will also work closely with you increating and maintaining your configuration templates.

iQuote Xpress is an ideal platform for multiple departments within an organization to benefit fromconfiguration services which can include Contract Compliance, Warranty T/C, Project Management,

Technical Support, Commission Calculations, Products, Services and of course Pricing.


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iQuote Xpress prevents the representatives of the computer assembly company

from quoting incompatible products together. One of their main challenges is

making sure the right modules are selected for each motherboard.

Motherboards have limited compatibility with microprocessors (CPU) and random

access memory (RAM) chips. The following conditions define how the motherboard,

memory chips and microprocessor are put together as the essential pieces for a

new computer:

The number of random access memory chips is limited by the number of available

slots for connection.

The motherboard can accept either SDRAM or DDR SDRAM chips but these two

types cannot be combined on the available slots.

The RAM modules can be compatible with motherboards of 168 pin, 184 pin

and/or 200 pin.

The CPU units can only located on the motherboard if it compatible with its CPU

socket or Processor support.

Computer Configuration


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Table: CPU Compatibility

The CPU socket or Processor support on the

motherboard must support the CPU family

according to the following table:

Socket Name CPU Families

Socket P Intel Core 2

Socket 441 Intel Atom

Socket B Intel Core i7

Socket A AMD

The above diagram shows how the available

motherboards carry up to 3 RAM chips.


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The number of Units of RAM Modules is limited

to the type of motherboard selected. In this

case, the number of RAM Modules can be a

maximum of three.

X0

X: # of RAM Module Units

(Radio Buttons)

(Drop-down List)

(Drop-down List)

CPU socket type of the

Motherboard determines the

type of Microprocessor that

can be selected.

(Numbers Only Textbox)

(Read-Only Drop-down List)

(Read-Only Drop-down List)

(Drop-down List)


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An insurance company offers several coverage options for vehicle insurance. The

salesmen are not very familiar with how the premium for the collision coverage is

calculated; however, iQuote Xpress allows them to easily generate quotes using the

configuration created for this vehicle insurance option.

The formula used to calculate the premium for this insurance option is the following:

Collision Premium = (Original Price x (Years of the Vehicle x 15%)) x 20%

In other words, the yearly collision premium is 20% of the depreciated value of the

vehicle. This formula can be expressed as follows in order to perform calculations:

Collision Premium: Z

Original Price: X

Years of the Vehicle: Y

Z = (X * (Y* 0.15))* 0.20

Once the Collision Premium has been determined using the details about the vehicle,

the discount to which the customer might be entitled to will be defined by a diagram.

Insurance Premium


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Decision Tree: Premium Discount

This decision tree shows how an

individuals gender, age and

driving history are the deciding

factors to determine the

discount rate for vehicle

insurance.

For example, a women above 25

years of age with a positive

driving history obtains the

maximum discount rate

available, while a negative

driving history eliminates anydiscount possibilities.


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The Insurance Premium is generated through a

formula related to the purchase price of the

vehicle and its years of age.

Z = (X * (Y* 0.15))* 0.20Collision Premium: Z

Original Price: X

Years of the Vehicle: Y

(Radio Buttons)

(Check Box)

(Numbers Only Text Box)

The discount rate that the customer

is entitled to will be determined by

personal details such as gender, age

and driving history. These aspects

are associated according to thedecision tree structure.

(Numbers Only Text Box)

(Read-Only Text Box)

(Read-Only Text Box)Total = CP 20%


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Vehicle Transportation Scenario

A towing services company has nationwide coverage, offering long distance transport

of sedans, minivans, SUVs and trucks. The companys service pricing is related to the

distance, destination, type of vehicle and incident. This information is used to define

the specifications of required hardware such as tow hitch, wiring and bed. iQuote

Xpress allows the representatives to quickly provide pricing once receiving an inbound

call from the potential customers.


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The following table contains the multiplying factor that will define the price of thetowing service once the distance has been determined:

Table: Price per Mile

Per Mile Factor Sedan Minivan SUV Truck

Mechanical $2.50 $2.75 $3.16 $3.32

Accident $2.60 $2.86 $3.00 $3.15

Impounded $2.25 $2.48 $2.60 $2.73

Fire $2.65 $2.92 $3.06 $3.21


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The table containing the latitude and longitude values of each U.S. Zip Code can be obtained online. Thisinformation is then imported to iQuote Xpress in order to perform distance calculations. The following tables

contain some of the Zip Code location information used to calculate distance:

Table: Zip Code Information

ZIP CITY STATE LATITUDE LONGITUDE

75396 Dallas TX 32.767268 -96.777626

75397 Dallas TX 32.767268 -96.777626

75398 Dallas TX 32.767268 -96.777626

75401 Greenville TX 33.15023 -96.11289

ZIP CITY STATE LATITUDE LONGITUDE

85098 Phoenix AZ 33.276539 -112.18717

85099 Phoenix AZ 33.276539 -112.18717

85123 Mesa AZ 33.427135 -111.758483

85200 Mesa AZ 33.423596 -111.594435

PICK UP

DESTINATION


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The following configuration shows how iQuote Xpress allows the over-the-phone representatives provide pricing instantly:

The distance between the pick up location and the

destination is calculated using the latitude/longitude pair

for each Zip Code and applying the formula:

Distance = (25,000 miles)*(# of Degrees) / 360

(Radio Buttons)

(Drop-down List)

(Drop-down Lists)

(Drop-down Lists)


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A technology company specializes in

VoIP installations. This service provider

has grown exponentially, requiring asales team with limited technical

background to generate price quotes at

an efficient rate. The voice

transmission items that must be part of

each offer are associated like the

following diagram shows:

VoIP Hardware Installation Company


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The setup of the Voice over IP system relies on the specifications of the Router and

Switch selected. Routers have Analog and LAN connections, which are used to

connect analog phones and switches respectively. On the other hand, every Switch

has a number of ports to which computers can be connected to.

The following Router and Switch models are used by the installation company:

Routers Models:

Model A: 1 Analog, 2 LAN Connections

Model B: 2 Analog, 2 LAN Connections

Model C: 2 Analog, 4 LAN Connections

Switch Models:

Model A: 4 Ports

Model B: 8 Ports Model C: 16 Ports


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The following rules are added as algorithmic constraints to the iQuote Xpress

configuration in order to generate quotes with the appropriate hardware for the VoIP

system:

Y1 X1Y1: Routers # of LAN Connections

X1: # of Switches

The number of LAN connections of the router must be greater than or equal to the

number of switches.

Y2 X2Y2: Switchs # of Ports

X2: # of Computers

The number of ports on the switch must be greater than or equal to the number of

computers.

Y3 X3Y3: Routers # of Analog Connections

X3: # of Analog Phones

The number of analog connections must be greater than or equal to the number of

analog phones.

Algorithms


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Each destination can contain a table with a set of

fees for towing service:

The Radio Buttons are automatically selected

according to the established algorithms that

relate the quantities of analog phones and

computers with the router and switch

specifications.

(Radio Buttons)

(Numerical Text Box)

(Numerical Text Box)


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APPENDIX


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Objects of the Graphical User Interface

Radio Button: Used when only a single selection is possible. These are known asmutually exclusive options.

Combo Box:Mutually exclusive options are displayed in a drop-down list.

Check Boxes:Allow multiple selections from a number of options.

Text Box:Used to input text information.


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The Made to Order configuration service can manage all forms of data togenerate algorithms. The following are some examples of them:

Character: Used to represent letters, numbers, punctuation marks.

Boolean: Logical data type that can have a true or false value.

Integer: Represents mathematical integers, meaning positive and

negative whole numbers.

String: Contains a sequence of characters or values chosen from an array.

Float: It describes a numerical data type that contains decimals.

Date: Representation of a date.

A number of mathematical and logical expressions can be combined and

associated with different objects and data types in order to satisfy any

configuration need. Some of the commonly used expressions are:

and, or

abs(number)

round(number, decimal places)

sin(), cos(), tan(), exp()

Data Types and Expressions


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Representation of Data

The representation of values and calculations has certain variations according tothe application that is being used. For instance the standard order in which

operations are performed obeys these rules in the following order:

1. Expressions within parentheses. Expressions within nested parentheses

are evaluated from inner to outer.

2. Prefix functions (such as sin, cos, tan, ln).

3. Postfix functions (such as ! (factorial)).

4. Power (^) and square root.

5. Negation (-), multiplication, and division.

6. Addition and subtraction.

In contrast, an application such as Excel reads expressions in the following order:

: colon

, comma

single space Negation (as in 1)

% Percent

^ Exponentiation and / Multiplication and Division

+ and Addition and Subtraction

& Connects two strings of text (concatenation)

= < > = Comparison


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iQuoteXpress - Configuration tools...made to order

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