John A Early

US Patent:

8412598, Apr 2, 2013

Filed:

Feb 10, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/024875

Inventors:

John Early - Ridgefield CT, US
Danny Cho-Liang Lai - Belmont CA, US
Jeffrey D. Johnson - San Francisco CA, US

International Classification:

G07B 17/00

US Classification:

705 30, 705 36

Abstract:

A causality analyzer that provides attribution of causality effects for changes in revenue, margin and margin percentage is provided. The causality analyzer selects a reference time period and a comparison time period, and receives transaction data. Data cleansing and correction may be performed on the transaction data. The analyzer may then calculate change in total margin, percent margin and total revenue between the reference time period and the comparison time period using the transaction data. Each of the total margin, the percent margin and the total revenue may be disaggregated into one or more of a price effect, cost effect, quantity effect, product mix effect, customer mix effect, exchange rate effect, new and lost business, and an adjustment change. In this way the total margin, the percent margin and the total revenue are each defined as a summation of the individual causality effects. Causality effects may be disaggregated in such a way that the shared effects are allocated according to the proportion of percent change for each element, thereby unbiasing the effects to more accurately reflect actual causality.