SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPTIMIZING ALLOCATION OF MERCHANDISING RESOURCES AND PRICING

摘要

A system and method of optimizing allocation of services and pricing for those services is described for group transactions having at least three distinct entities. The entities can include a retailer, a plurality of vendors in need of the services and a plurality of service providers who provide the services. The system and method include creating an allocation of services to be performed at the retailer by service providers on behalf of vendors, and a price schedule for the designated for services, and placing the allocation of the services up for commitment by the vendors in discrete increments. Final pricing is determined for the discrete increments of time, services or other discrete measure designated for services based on the amount of time committed to by the plurality of retailers, and schedules the services providers to provide the services on behalf of the vendors at the retailer.