Abstract: Each product of a number of products is assigned to one of a number of popularity tiers. The popularity tiers are ordered from a most popular tier to a least popular tier. The popularity tiers indicate how popular the products are expected to be among consumers. Each product is assigned to one of a number of margin tiers. The margin tiers are ordered from a highest margin tier to a lowest margin tier. The margin tiers indicate how much money a retailer makes in selling the products to the consumers. Which of the products to offer for sale by the retailer to the consumers are selected by applying decision rules to the products as have been assigned to the popularity tiers and to the margin tiers.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and machine-readable and executable instructions are provided for profit comparison. Profit comparison can include determining a first profitability function of a flexible duration extended warranty offering with respect to a first plurality of warranty parameters and determining a second profitability function of a fixed duration extended warranty offering with respect to a second plurality of warranty parameters. Profit comparison can also include comparing the first function and the second function for at least one level of at least one of profit lift and flexible duration warranty offering coverage duration. Presenting results of the comparison for a range of values of the first and second plurality of warranty parameters can also be included in profit comparison.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and machine readable and executable instructions are provided for target level setting. Target level setting may include receiving a plurality of objectives for an organization that includes a central unit and a plurality of regional units, transmitting a respective regional target level for each of the plurality of objectives assigned to each of the plurality of regional units, prompting the central unit for an approval of an increase to a first regional target level for a first of the plurality of regional units and a decrease to a second regional target level for a second of the plurality of regional units, increasing the first regional target level for the first of the plurality of regional units, and decreasing the second regional target level for the second of the plurality of regional units.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable and executable instructions are provided for designing warranty bonuses. Designing warranty bonuses can include determining, for a customer base of a product, a first probability that a customer will replace the product with a different product. Designing warranty bonuses may also include determining, for the customer base, a marginal contribution to the first probability for a plurality of warranty bonus sizes and a plurality of warranty bonus types. Designing warranty bonus can include determining, for the customer base, a second probability that the customer will purchase a warranty for the plurality of warranty bonus sizes and the plurality of warranty bonus types. Designing warranty bonuses may also include bundling the product and the warranty, and assigning a number of the plurality of warranty bonus sizes and a number of the plurality of warranty bonus types to the product-warranty bundle based on the first and second probabilities and the marginal contribution.

Abstract: A method (200) of eliciting customer preference from purchasing behavior surveys clusters (210) survey respondents into two or more clusters according to a data pattern identified in a dataset (330) of responses to survey questions that include a question regarding a product purchasing decision, and questions regarding respondent attributes (such as behavioral questions) and product attributes. Clustering (210) may be performed based on responses to behavioral questions that are not endogenously linked to any control variables. A model for each cluster, relating purchasing decision responses to product attribute responses, is produced (220), and each model is used to generate (230) projected purchasing decision responses for each cluster by replacing a value relating to a response to a selected product attribute question, which may be a control variable, with an alternative value. The dataset is transformed (240) by replacing purchasing decision responses with the projected responses.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes a system and method for designing and displaying advertisements. One or more targeted advertising methods include surveying potential customers to ascertain a price sensitivity and a likelihood of the potential customers purchasing products and/or observing venues, and clustering the potential customers according to product clusters based on the likelihood of purchasing products. Potential customers of each product cluster are clustered according to one or more venue clusters based on a likelihood of the potential customers of respective product clusters to observe the venues. An advertisement is designed for a venue corresponding to a particular venue cluster to include at least one product corresponding to a particular product cluster which is promotionally-priced based on the price sensitivity of potential customers of a particular venue cluster. An electronic display of the venue is modified to include the designed advertisement.

Abstract: A system and method for determining the optimum price that a service provider should charge to customers of a periodic extended-product warranty to optimize profits generated from providing such warranties. In one aspect of the present invention the customer is allowed to elect or to cancel warranty coverage on a monthly basis which election is based in part on the customer's expected net utility from his coverage decisions. In one embodiment, the customer can be afforded complete warranty coverage flexibility in terms of his ability to turn coverage on and off whenever desired. In another aspect of the present invention the customer can be allowed to make dynamic repair or replacement decisions in each period based on the product's failure status or on other criteria.

Abstract: A system and method for determining the optimum price that a service provider should charge to customers of at least a partially refundable extended-product warranty to optimize profits generated from providing such warranties. In one aspect of the present invention the customer may elect to purchase warranty coverage when the product is new and cancel warranty coverage at any time thereafter, which election is based in part on the customer's expected discounted net utility from his coverage decisions. In another aspect of the present invention, the customer is allowed to make dynamic repair or replacement decisions in each period based on the product's failure status or on other criteria. In one embodiment, the customer can be afforded warranty coverage flexibility in terms of his ability to turn coverage off whenever desired and to obtain a partial refund of the warranty premium.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a method of generating Website content. The method includes generating a client profile comprising a cluster type obtained from a list of cluster types and information received from a user ID, wherein the list of cluster types is generated by processing a database of computer usage. The method includes utilizing the relevant cluster types included in the client profile to a selected Website, wherein the cluster type is used by the Website at least in part to determine the content provided by the Website.

Abstract: An online marketplace for distributing software applications is established. From the online marketplace, devices are enabled to select respective ones of the software applications and initiate testing of the selected software applications in connection with testing tools operating in respective secure testing environments that shield the devices from potential adverse effects arising from testing the selected software applications. The testing tools generate testing data relating to one or more criteria for certifying the selected software applications. For each of one or more of the selected software applications, a determination is made whether or not to classify the software application as a certified software application based on an evaluation of the testing data generated during the testing of the software applications initiated by a plurality of the devices.