B2B Integration : A Practical Guide to Collaborative E-commerce

Software Agents 401
HOW ©YOURCOMMAND'S SOLUTION WORKS
©YourCommand is based on the model of an English butler who
shops anonymously on behalf of a private person. The butler can
be completely candid with a merchant concerning this person's
needs, wants and preferences. The merchant benefits by knowing
exactly what products are in demand. The private individual benefits
by receiving the goods he or she wants through a trusted,
private channel, without disclosing identity or any other personal
information.
@ YourCommand applies this model to electronic commerce, with
the role of the butler played by an ©YourCommand intelligent agent,
called a Tasklt. A consumer will be able to visit ©YourCommand's
secure site and be completely candid concerning needs, wants and
preferences — including price, style, location and other product
attributes. A detailed demand profile — but not personal data — will
be sent to merchants offering such products and those who can meet
the demands can approach this consumer. Payment and delivery will
also be completely anonymous. In short, the Tasklt agent protects the
consumer's identity.
The real-time demand data will allow merchants to mass-customize,
maximize the consumer's shopping experience, thereby increasing
their margins and sales. The same information can also be used to
quantify lost sales.
If the Tasklt does not find the item it is searching for, it continues
a 'persistent search' of ©YourCommand's database. The search ends
when the item is found or when the consumer calls off the search.
In addition to benefiting consumers, persistent searches will create
persistent demand that helps merchants tailor products and services
to match this demand. ©YourCommand enables long-term relationships
based on need and not identity and relieves merchants from
the burden of having to collect and store personally identifiable
information.
Source: Condensed from How ©YourCommand Works, Business Wire