A SYSTEM AND METHOD BRINGING COMPANIES WITH THE AIM OF EXPORTATION - IMPORTATION AND PEOPLE DESIRING TO WORK AS FREELANCERS TOGETHER BY MEANS OF A WEB PAGE AND A MOBILE

APPLICATION

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a system and method bringing companies aiming for exportation/importation and people desiring to work as freelancers together by means of a web page and a mobile application used in the sector of importation/exportation.

STATE OF ART

Importation is a procedure of a purchase of a commodity manufactured in a foreign country by customers in a domestic country. In other words, it is an external purchase. People aiming for importation should initially examine the local market, examine position, quality, prices, and packages of rival commodities and collect required information relating to current customers and competitors. Depending on this market research, the cost of an imported commodity during entrance into a country should be calculated. Company owners should research how to import equipment required for their companies at low cost and with high quality. After these researches, an importer should find a vendor.

Exportation is the opposite of importation, in that it is a procedure of selling a commodity manufactured in a domestic country to a foreign country for foreign currency. This is also referred to as external selling. A well-established exportation work plan is required before the initiation of exportation. Within this plan, potential commodities, target market information, as well as selling tactics should be determined.

Within the present technology in Turkey and in the world, there is no system or platform enabling/assisting in saving expertised product information relating to exportation or importation, experiences and other personal or occupational information of exportation/importation (foreign trade) experts/personnel/responsibles (employees) desiring to work as freelancers into a data repository; matching of companies aiming for exportation or importation with target product information with the processing thereof; and conducting exportation or importation through their communication.

Worldwide known Alibaba.com and similar websites/mobile applications in Turkey serve merely to exhibit product/price information input by an importer/exporter. In the present technology and systems, due to the reasons such as fake and unserious demands, profound hours of work spent by foreign trade employees are wasted, causing time and money losses.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a system and a method bringing companies aiming for exportation-importation and people desiring to work as freelancers together by means of a web page and a mobile application aiming for eliminating the aforementioned disadvantages and bringing new advantages into the related technical field.

The invention relates to a system and a method assisting companies in finding reliable customers and suppliers with foreign trade employees desiring to work as freelancers.

The advantages of the system and the method bringing the companies aiming for exportation/importation and the people desiring to work as freelancers together by means of the web page and the mobile application are as follows:

• It matches product information and experiences of the foreign trade employees with expertise and experience in exportation/importation with the product/service aimed to be exported/imported of the companies aiming for exportation/importation.

• Fake demands, as well as time and money losses, are prevented, as the exportation/importation (foreign trade) experts/personnel/responsibles (employees) desiring to work as freelancers will acquire an income per transaction or a commission income over the transaction amount.

• As all interviews with a customer-supplier abroad to realize the exportation/importation are conducted by the exportation/importation foreign trade employees desiring to work as freelancers, the company owners or the other employees are not required to know a foreign language. Suddenly, hundreds or thousands of people with expertise in exportation/importation work for conducting the exportation/importation with the products/services of the companies.

• There is no need to employ an exportation/importation department or personnel with expertise in exportation/importation within the companies aiming for exportation or importation, and all interviews are conducted by these foreign trade employees desiring to work as freelancers and incorporated into the project. This, in turn, decreases or eliminates fixed exportation/importation costs of the companies.

• Even when the company is closed at night, foreign trade employees with expertise in exportation/importation distributed all around the world conduct market research or search for customers or suppliers for the products/services of the company. It enables easy exportation and importation of the companies by helping the company executives without the knowledge of how to conduct exportation/importation.

• The companies are enabled to get into different markets and find new customers or suppliers. Unemployed people are also provided with a job opportunity on the subject of exportation/importation.

• People can work anywhere in the world such as vacation, home, travel, etc. any time of desire, utilize their leisure times, enable companies to export and import, and also generate an income, thusly the invention leads to a contribution to the economy.

Drawings

Exemplary implementations of the present invention briefly summarized above and to be handled in detail below in accordance with one or more embodiments thereof are merely presented for illustrative purposes, and only exhibits some examples and/or embodiments of the invention. These drawings are provided for a better understanding of the invention by a reader, and should not be interpreted as a restriction on the scope and applicability of the invention. It is noted that these drawings are not scaled for clarity and ease of drawing. Fig. 1 is a scheme generally showing the structure of the system and the method bringing the companies aiming for exportation/importation and the people desiring to work as freelancers together by means of the web page and the mobile application.

Fig. 2 is a scheme showing the flow of "registration as a member into the database storing freelancer exportation/importation (foreign trade) expert/personnel/responsible" of the system and the method bringing the companies aiming for exportation/importation and the people desiring to work as freelancers together by means of the web page and the mobile application.

Fig. 3 is a scheme showing the flow of "registration as a member into the database storing companies aiming for exportation/importation" of the system and the method bringing the companies aiming for exportation/importation and the people desiring to work as freelancers together by means of the web page and the mobile application.

Fig. 4 is the flow of "automated matching" algorithm flow performed by the system as the 1 st (first) matching way of the system and the method bringing the companies aiming for exportation/importation and the people desiring to work as freelancers together by means of the web page and the mobile application.

Fig. 5 is the algorithm flow of "manual matching by the member company executive (CE) in case of the presence of the freelance foreign trade employees providing service in the same/similar category with/as the target/export product of the member company within the database storing companies aiming for exportation/importation" performed by the system as the 2nd (second) matching way of the system and the method bringing companies aiming for exportation/importation and the people desiring to work as freelancers together by means of the web page and the mobile application.

Fig. 6 is the algorithm flow of "manual matching by the member company executive (CE) in case of the absence of the freelance foreign trade employees within the database storing companies aiming for exportation/importation" performed by the system as the 3rd (third) matching way of the system and the method bringing the companies aiming for exportation/importation and the people desiring to work as freelancers together by means of the web page and the mobile application. Description of Details in the Drawings

1. Database Storing Freelance Foreign Trade Employees

2. Database Storing Companies Aiming for Exportation/Importation

3. Mobile Phone-Tablet (Mobile) Applications or Website (Page)

4. Communication Application/Add-in

5. Internet Provider

6. Web Service

7. SMS Confirmation Technology

FTE- Foreign trade (importation/exportation) employees desiring to work as freelancers (Member freelance foreign trade employee)

CE- Company executive aiming for foreign trade (importation/exportation) (Member company executive).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In this detailed description, preferred alternatives of the system and the method bringing the companies aiming for exportation/importation and the people desiring to work as freelancers together by means of the web page and the mobile application are explained merely for a better understanding of the subject matter and not intended to have any limiting effects.

The invention relates to the system and the method enabling or assisting in exportation/importation of the companies as a consequence of forming a platform with Internet (web page) or mobile applications; saving product information relating to exportation or importation, experiences and other personal or occupational information of the exportation/importation (foreign trade) experts/personnel/responsibles (employees) desiring to work as freelancers (in a desired working environment and time with freedom) into a data repository; matching the same with target product information of the companies aiming for exportation or importation either with the processing thereof or with the choice of mutual selection; and communication of the foreign trade experts (FTE) desiring to work as freelancers with the company executives (CE). Fig. 1 is a scheme generally showing the structure of the system and the method bringing the companies aiming for exportation/importation and the people desiring to work as freelancers together by means of the web page and the mobile application.

The system and the method bringing the companies aiming for exportation/importation and the people desiring to work as freelancers together by means of the web page and the mobile application of the invention consists of the components of a database (1 ) storing freelance foreign trade employees, a database (2) storing companies aiming for exportation/importation, mobile phone/tablet applications or a website (page) (3), a communication application/add-in (4) providing instant correspondence over e-mail, telephone or internet operable in connection with said mobile phone-tablet (mobile) applications or websites (3), an Internet provider (5) and a web service (6). Moreover, the exportation/importation (foreign trade) employees (FTE) desiring to work as freelancers and the company executive (CE) of whom data inputs are enabled are incorporated into the system.

The operation of the system and the method bringing the companies aiming for exportation/importation and the people desiring to work as freelancers together by means of the web page and the mobile application of the invention is that the foreign trade employees (FTE) desiring to work as freelancers are connected to the web service (5) by the internet provider (5) with the mobile phone/tablet (mobile) application or the web page (3); input their personal information, work experiences, product names with expertise in exportation/importation, their photos if desired, etc. into the database (1 ) storing freelance foreign trade employees; and are registered to the database (1 ) storing freelance foreign trade employees along with the SMS confirmation code sent to their mobile phones by the system. This is called as membership or member profile. The company executive (CE) aiming for exportation/importation connects to the web service (5) by the internet provider (5) by means of the mobile phone/tablet (mobile) applications or the web page (3), writes the e-mail and password while logging into the member access panel along with the information such as company title, tax office, tax number, address, company logo, etc., and is registered to the database (2) storing companies aiming for exportation/importation. This is called as company membership or company profile.

The company executive (CE) aiming for exportation/importation connects with the web service (5) to the mobile phone-tablet (mobile) applications or the webpage (3), presses the "enter" button on the main page, and logs into the panel by entering the e-mail and previously assigned password. He/she inputs the company information and the information of the products in which the company is interested, uploads, saves and edits the company logo, pictures, and videos. Matching takes place after this registration. Firstly, the matching of the users to have correspondence takes place, in that it is determined which users can communicate and exchange services with which users (the foreign trade employees (FTE) desiring to work as freelancers and the company executives (CE) aiming for exportation/importation). This matching can be realized "automatically" by means of the system; or "manually by the member company executive (CE) in case of the presence of the freelance foreign trade employees providing service in the same/similar category with/as the target/export product of the member company within the database" (1 ) or "manually by the member company executive (CE) in case of the absence of the freelance foreign trade employees providing service in the same/similar category with/as the target/export product of the member company within the database (1 )".

Fig. 2 is the scheme showing the flow of the registration of the exportation/importation (foreign trade) experts/personnel/responsibles (employees) desiring to work as freelancers into the "database storing freelance exportation/importation (foreign trade) expert/personnel/responsible” as members, which is the first stage of the method of the invention.

A request is required in order for realizing a membership registration into the database (1 ) storing freelance foreign trade employees. The exportation/importation (foreign trade) employees (FTE) desiring to work as freelancers are required to log into the mobile phone/tablet (mobile) applications or the website (3) with internet connection in order to be members. The information (personal information, work experiences, place of residence, experienced product information, foreign languages, e-mail address and user password information for member login after the registration, etc.) of the exportation/importation (foreign trade) employees (FTE) desiring to work as freelancers entering into said mobile phone/tablet (mobile) applications or website (3) with the web service (5) are matched. Using the SMS confirmation technology (7), an SMS is sent to the mobile phones of the exportation/importation (foreign trade) employees (FTE) desiring to work as freelancers. Once the confirmation password is input, the membership registration is accepted, and the employees are registered into the database (1 ) storing freelance foreign trade employees. Thusly, the membership procedure of the exportation/importation (foreign trade) employees (FTE) desiring to work as freelancers is completed. This is called as both membership and member profile.

After the membership, the exportation/importation (foreign trade) employees (FTE) desiring to work as freelancers enters the button "enter" on the mobile phone/tablet (mobile) applications or the website (3) through the web service (5) from the phone, tablet or computer connected to the Internet, the member access panel is opened, and the employee logs into the member panel by inputting the e-mail and password saved for the member login thereof. From this panel, the employee saves or updates the information (personal information, work experiences, place of residence, experienced product information on exportation/importation, etc.) to the database (1 ) storing freelance foreign trade employees.

Fig. 3 is the scheme being the second stage of the method of the invention that shows the flow in which the companies aiming to start exportation/importation, or presently conducting exportation/importation, but aiming to access more customers/suppliers abroad are registered as members, and save their products, and registered into the "database storing companies aiming for exportation/importation".

The companies aiming for exportation and/or importation select a membership package comprising the number of products to be exported/imported by means of the mobile phone/tablet (mobile) applications or the website (3) through the mobile phone, tablet or computer with internet connection in order to be members. Afterwards, a company membership registration is formed. The members input basic information, company logo as well as e-mail and password for access into the membership panel after the registration, and purchases the membership package. They are registered into the database (2) storing companies aiming for exportation/importation with the membership information thereof. This is called as both company membership and company profile.

After the purchase, the company executive (CE) aiming for exportation/importation presses the“enter” button on the mobile phone/tablet (mobile) applications or the website (3) through the web service (5) from the phone, tablet or computer connected to the Internet, the member access panel is opened, and the executive logs into the "member panel" by inputting the e-mail and password saved for the member login in the database. From this panel, the executive saves or updates information, documents and videos relating to the company and product to the database (2) storing companies aiming for exportation/importation.

An application is possible with the mobile phone/tablet (mobile) applications or website (3) for every mobile phone (mobile device) and tablet from all brands or with all operating systems. A web page is also possible.

A connection to the independent web service (5) is enabled by means of the internet through the applications and the web page. The user exportation/importation (foreign trade) employee (FTE) desiring to work as a freelancer or the company executive (CE) aiming for exportation/importation may send the requests thereof to the web service (5) by this means. Requests such as member login into the system, searching, creating a record, making changes, purchasing membership package by the user, etc. are all realized from mobile phones (mobile devices), tablets and websites.

The communication application/add-in (4) of the invention providing instant correspondence over e-mail, phone or internet operable in connection with the mobile applications and the website has been added as an add-in to the mobile phone//tablet (mobile) applications or the website (3).

Firstly, the matching of the users to have correspondence takes place, in that it is determined which users can communicate and exchange service with which users (the foreign trade employees (FTE) and the company executives (CE)). This matching can be realized automatically by the system or manually by the system manager or manually by mutual selection.

In Fig. 4, Fig. 5 and Fig. 6, it is shown that the system and the method of the invention conduct the matching of the exportation/importation (foreign trade) experts/personnel/responsibles (employees) with the companies aiming for exportation/importation in three ways.

Fig. 4 is the automated matching algorithm realized by the system as the 1 st (first) matching way. It is the automated matching realized by the system. The matching is realized with the categorization of the experienced product of the foreign trade employees registered to the database (1 ) storing freelance foreign trade employees and the product information subject to exportation/importation of the company executive (CE) aiming for exportation/importation.

The company executive connects for the registration by means of the mobile phone/tablet (mobile) applications or the website (3). After the retrieval of the membership information of the registered business, a search is realized for the presence of a freelance foreign trade employee with the same target export/import product word as the member company within the database (2) storing the companies aiming for exportation/importation. In case of the absence of the freelance foreign trade employee within the database (2) storing the companies aiming for exportation/importation, a notification is sent to the user (member company executive) (CE) regarding a negative company matching; and the member company executive is requested to make another preference either as the database (1 ) storing freelance foreign trade employees or as the database (2) storing companies aiming for exportation/importation. Then, the retrieval of the registered company membership information is requested again. Another search is realized for the presence of a freelance foreign trade employee with the same target export/import product word as the member company within the database (2) storing the companies aiming for exportation/importation. In case of the presence of the same word, the contact list of the freelance foreign trade employees (FTE) with a match within the database is retrieved. An employee is selected as the freelance exportation manager and the others as the freelance exportation specialists in accordance with the enquiry ranking in terms of the highest experience (time), the oldest (dd/mm/yy), the most popular company within the experiences and the earliest membership registration. The selected freelance exportation manager and specialists are recorded as the product match of the member business. Then, a notification of a positive company match and the information thereof is sent to the foreign trade employee (FTE) desiring to work as a member freelancer. At the same time, a notification of a positive match of the foreign trade employee (FTE) desiring to work as a member freelancer and information thereof is sent to the member company executive (CE).

Fig. 5 is the algorithm flow of manual matching by the member company executive (CE) in case of the presence of the freelance foreign trade employees providing service in the same/similar category with/as the target/export product of the member company within the database storing companies aiming for exportation/importation, which is the 2nd (second) matching way. The member company executive (CE) presses the“enter” button on the mobile phone/tablet (mobile) applications or the website (3) through the web service (5) connected to the Internet; and logs in with the mobile phone/tablet (mobile) applications or the website panel/database system manager password. From the match table, the product of the company executive (CE) aiming for exportation/importation and the product information experienced by the foreign trade employees (FTE) are manually matched, and the matching procedure is completed.

The member company executive (CE) logs in with the panel/database manager (system manager) from the database (1 ) storing freelance foreign trade employees. A search is conducted within the database (2) for the presence of the freelance foreign trade employees providing service in the same/similar category with/as the target/export product of the member business. If not present, a redirection into the database (2) storing companies aiming for exportation/importation takes place (to be mentioned in Fig. 6). If present, an employee is selected as freelance exportation manager and the others as freelance exportation specialists in accordance with the enquiry ranking in terms of the highest experience (time), the oldest (dd/mm/yy), the most popular company within the experiences and the earliest membership registration. The selected freelance exportation manager and specialists are recorded as the product match of the member business. A notification of a positive company match and the information thereof is sent to the foreign trade employee (FTE) desiring to work as the member freelancer; and at the same time, a notification of a positive match of the foreign trade employee (FTE) desiring to work as a freelancer is sent to the member company executive (CE).

Fig. 6 is the algorithm flow of manual matching by the member company executive (CE) in case of the absence of the freelance foreign trade employees providing service in the same/similar category with/as the target/export product of the member company within the database storing companies aiming for exportation/importation, which is the 3rd (third) matching way. It is the mutual selection by the member company executive (CE). The member company executive (CE), by means of the mobile phone/tablet (mobile) applications or the website (3), looks at the profiles comprising photos/logo, name information/company information, product detail, etc., selects one and determines by examining; and the matching is enabled after the stages of proposing, communicating and/or accepting by pressing buttons such as receive service/provide service, etc. A positive company match and the information thereof is sent to the member freelance foreign trade employee (FTE). After this matching procedure, communication is enabled among the users with the communication application (4) providing instantaneous correspondence over e-mail, mobile phone internet-connected to the mobile applications and the websites within the body of the mobile phone/tablet (mobile) applications or the website (3).

The member company executive (CE) logs in with user (member company executive) (CE) panel/database member password from the database (2) storing companies aiming for exportation/importation, examines by listing the member foreign trade employee (FTE) profiles desiring to work as freelancers and selects one. A notification of a positive company match and the information thereof is sent to the member foreign trade employee (FTE) desiring to work as the member freelancer.

With the method and the system of the invention, the foreign trade employee (FTE) desiring to work as a freelancer sends and receives the product sample of the exportation/importation, and enables the understanding of the foreign trade employee (FTE) desiring to work as a freelancer and the company executive (CE) aiming for exportation/importation in terms of subjects on exportation/importation of the exportation/importation company executive (CE) abroad. Then, the exportation/importation procedure takes place or not; if not, the targeted exportation/importation is enabled via repetition during the company membership period.

The web service (5) is an independent system that receives requests from the mobile phone/tablet (mobile) applications or the website (3), evaluates the same and transmits the same to the related places. The web service (5) of the invention serves as a bridge among all units. It processes the retrieved data and enables mutual understanding of the units and management of the requests. The web service (5) connects, by means of the Internet, to the mobile phone/tablet (mobile) applications or the website (3), the database (1 ) storing the freelance foreign trade employees and the database (2) storing the companies aiming for exportation/importation.

The mobile phone/tablet (mobile) applications or website panel/database system manager password (6) is saved to the database (1 ) storing freelance foreign trade employees and the database (2) storing companies aiming for exportation/importation with the name/surname, e-mail address and password of the member company executive (CE). The member company executive (CE) can, with this password, match users for communication, save members, delete members, edit membership information, and make changes in the mobile phone/tablet (mobile) applications or the website (3).