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EP-3937103-B1 - COMPUTERIZED SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DECISION BASED CONSOLIDATION OF LARGE ORDERS FOR DELIVERY

EP3937103B1EP 3937103 B1EP3937103 B1EP 3937103B1EP-3937103-B1

Inventors

  • KIM, YOO SUK
  • PARK, Gwang Moo
  • LEE, YOON HYUNG
  • WOO, SANG HYUN
  • REHN, Erik
  • BAI, Lianxi

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20201230

Claims (14)

  1. A system (300) for package delivery, the system comprising: a memory storing instructions; and at least one processor configured to execute the instructions to: receive (410), by a computer-implemented system, a customer order; generate (420), using the computer-implemented system, an order identifier based on the customer order; associate (430) each item of a plurality of items of the customer order with the order identifier; determine (440), based on the order identifier, an intended delivery destination for each item, a storage space associated with the intended delivery destination, a delivery route, and a parcel count; determine (445) whether the order identifier meets a condition; if the condition is met, cause each item of the plurality of items to be processed as a consolidated shipment; if the condition is not met, cause each item of the plurality of items to be processed as an individual shipment, by executing a delivery process comprising: sending (450)for each item available for sorting, to at least one user-device (302) for display a first indication to sort, using a first sortation process, the item into a storage space (342) associated with the intended delivery destination for the item; receiving, from at least one user-device (302) and for each item sorted into the storage space (342), a first input related to a status of the first sortation process; sending (460)for each item sorted into a storage space (342) associated with the intended delivery destination for the item, to at least one user-device (302) for display a second indication to sort, using a second sortation process, the item into the storage cell (342-1,342-2) associated with the delivery route that is configured to include the intended delivery destination for the item, without regard to the status of the other items of the plurality of items of the customer order or waiting for all of the plurality of items of the customer order to be sorted into the storage space (342) associated with the intended delivery destination of the customer order; receiving, from at least one user-device (302) and for each item sorted into the storage cell (342-1,342-2) associated with the delivery route that is configured to include the intended delivery destination for the item, a second input related to a status of the second sortation process; sending (470), for each item sorted into a storage cell (342-1,342-2) associated with the delivery route that is configured to include the intended delivery destination for the item, to at least one user-device (302) for display a third indication to place the item into a container associated with the delivery route configured to include the intended delivery destination for the item, without regard to the status of the other items of the plurality of items of the customer order or waiting for all of the plurality of items of the customer order to be sorted into the storage cell (342-1,342-2) associated with the delivery route that is configured to include the delivery destination of the customer order; receiving, from at least one user-device (302) and for each item placed into the container (350), a third input related to placing the item into the container (350); sending (480), for each container (350) containing items for delivery, to at least one user-device (302) for display a fourth indication to deliver items stored in the container (350) in a delivery vehicle (201) associated with the intended delivery destination for the items, without regard to a status of the other items of the plurality of items of the customer order or waiting for all of the plurality of items of the customer order to be placed into a container (350) associated with a delivery route configured to include the intended delivery destination for the items; and tracking a delivery status of the customer order by updating at least one database in response to receiving the first input, the second input and the third input.
  2. The system of claim 1, wherein the condition is met if the parcel count meets or exceeds a threshold amount.
  3. The system of claim 2, wherein the threshold amount is fixed, preferably wherein the processor is further configured to determine a volume associated with the parcel count, and the threshold amount comprises a volume.
  4. The system of any of claims 1-3, wherein the processor is further configured to determine whether a third party carrier will ship the order, and the condition is met if the third party carrier will ship the order.
  5. The system of any preceding claim, wherein the processor is further configured to, if the condition is met, send, to at least one user-device (302) for display, a fifth indication to place the consolidated shipment in at least one storage cell, and to pack the consolidated shipment in at least one common package.
  6. The system of claim 5, wherein the processor is further configured to, if the condition is met: send a sixth indication to load the common package for delivery on a delivery vehicle, based on an arrangement determined by a promised delivery date for each item of the plurality of items; and display, using at least one user-device (302), a visual representation of a loading arrangement of a plurality of containers (350) in the delivery vehicle (201), preferably wherein tracking the delivery status of the customer order further comprises updating the at least one database with information related with placing the consolidated shipment in the at least one storage cell, packing the consolidated shipment in the at least one common package, loading the common package for delivery on a delivery vehicle (201), and a delivery schedule of the common package for delivery.
  7. The system of any preceding claim wherein tracking the delivery status of the customer order comprises updating the at least one database with information related with at least one of the first sortation process, the second sortation process, placing items in the container, loading the container in the delivery vehicle and a delivery schedule of the placed items.
  8. A method for package delivery, the method comprising: receiving (410), by a computer-implemented system, a customer order; generating (420), using the computer-implemented system, an order identifier based on the customer order; associating (430) each item of a plurality of items of the customer order with the order identifier; determining (440), based on the order identifier, an intended delivery destination for each item, a storage space associated with the intended delivery destination, a delivery route, and a parcel count; determining (445) whether the order identifier meets a condition; if the condition is met, causing each item of the plurality of items to be processed as a consolidated shipment; if the condition is not met, causing each of the plurality of items to be processed as an individual shipment by executing a delivery process comprising: sending (450), for each item available for sorting, to at least one user-device (302) for display a first indication to sort, using a first sortation process, the item into a storage space (342) associated with the intended delivery destination for the item; receiving, from at least one user-device (302) and for each item sorted into the storage space (342), a first input related to a status of the first sortation process; sending (460), for each item sorted into a storage space (342) associated with the intended delivery destination for the item, to at least one user-device (302) for display a second indication to sort, using a second sortation process, the item into the storage cell (342-1,342-2) associated with the delivery route that is configured to include the intended delivery destination for the item, without regard to the status of the other items of the plurality of items of the customer order or waiting for all of the plurality of items of the customer order to be sorted into the storage space (342) associated with the intended delivery destination of the customer order ; receiving, from at least one user-device (302) and for each item sorted into the storage cell (342-1,342-2) associated with the delivery rout that is configured to include the intended delivery destination for the item, a second input related to a status of the second sortation process; sending (470), for each item sorted into a storage cell (342-1,342-2) associated with the delivery route that is configured to include the intended delivery destination for the item, to at least one user-device (302) for display a third indication to place the item into a container associated with the delivery route configured to include the intended delivery destination for the item, without regard to the status of the other items of the plurality of items of the customer order or waiting for all of the plurality of items of the customer order to be sorted into the storage cell (342-1,342-2) associated with the delivery route that is configured to include the delivery destination of the customer order; receiving, from at least one user device (302) and for each item placed into the container (350), a third input related to placing the item into the container (350); sending (480), for each container (350) containing items for delivery, to at least one user-device (302) for display a fourth indication to deliver items stored in the container (350) in a delivery vehicle (201) associated with the intended delivery destination for the items, without regard to a status of the other items of the plurality of items of the customer order or waiting for all of the plurality of items of the customer order to be placed into the container (350) associated with a delivery route configured to include the intended delivery destination for the items; and tracking a delivery status of the customer order by updating at least one database in response to receiving the first input, the second input and the third input.
  9. The method of claim 8, wherein the condition is met if the parcel count meets or exceeds a threshold amount, preferably wherein the threshold value is fixed.
  10. The method of claim 9, further comprising determining a volume associated with the parcel count, and the threshold value comprises a volume.
  11. The method of any of clams 8-10, further comprising determining whether a third party carrier will ship the order, and the condition is met if the third party carrier will ship the order.
  12. The method of any of claims 8-10, further comprising, if the condition is met, sending, to at least one user-device (302) for display, a fifth indication to place the consolidated shipment in at least one storage cell, and to pack the consolidated shipment in at least one common package.
  13. The method of claim 12, further comprising, if the condition is met; sending a sixth indication to load the common package for delivery on a delivery vehicle, based on an arrangement determined by a promised delivery date for each item of the plurality of items; and displaying, using at least one user-device (302), a visual representation of a loading arrangement of a plurality of containers (350) in the delivery vehicle (201), preferably wherein tracking the delivery status of the customer order comprises updating the at least one database with information related with placing the consolidated shipment in the at least one storage cell, packing the consolidated shipment in the at least one common package, loading the common package for delivery on a delivery vehicle (201), and a delivery schedule of the common package for delivery.
  14. The method of any of claims 8-13, wherein tracing the delivery status of the customer order comprises updating the at least one database with information related with at least one of the first sortation process, the second sortation process, placing items in the container, loading the container (350) in the delivery vehicle (201), and a delivery schedule of the placed items.

Description

Technical Field The present disclosure generally relates to computerized systems and methods for package delivery to fulfill customer orders. In particular, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to inventive and unconventional computerized systems, methods, and user interfaces for efficiently fulfilling customer orders and delivering packages with a reduced cycle time, reduced packaging costs, and improved customer experience while maintaining high worker efficiency at multiple zones within the fulfillment center. Background Fulfillment centers (FCs) enable e-commerce merchants to outsource warehousing and shipping. Inventory management in FCs is an essential component of cultivating the best customer experience for online shoppers. Inventory management may include a number of steps ranging from receiving merchandise from sellers, stowing the received merchandise for easy picking access, packing the items, verifying the order, and package delivery. Although currently existing FCs and systems for inventory management in FCs are configured to handle large volumes of incoming and out-going merchandise, the efficiency and timeliness of the fulfillment of customer orders may be limited, partly because of inefficient practices in procuring items to fulfill an order. Delays in package delivery may cause customer dissatisfaction, and in some cases, may affect cost and profitability of the business. Further, currently existing FCs employ a team of workers to ensure a smooth round-the-clock operation. One of the technical challenges in a warehouse may be prompt communication of information to workers on the floor such as urgent customer orders, priority shipments, etc. Currently existing logistics and inventory management systems lack the ability to account for expected or unexpected urgency in customer orders efficiently, possibly causing customer dissatisfaction and higher associated inventory costs. US 8,560,461 discloses a system and computer-implemented method for automatically splitting a group of items into two or more shipment sets are disclosed. A shipment splitting analyzer is configured to determine if and how the items should be split into shipment sets dependent on the number of unique or total items, item parameters, container parameters, facility configurations, transportation constraints, and/or business policies. Items are dequeued from the group into proposed shipment sets directed to a target container. The shipment splitting analyzer determines which items should be shipped together dependent on a cumulative volume and/or weight of the items, a size and/or weight capacity of the target container, and/or affinity information associated with the items. Over-sized items, over-weight items, and/or large quantities of single items may be removed for exception processing prior to splitting the items into shipment sets. Shipment splitting data may be analyzed for current performance and/or operational trends. There is a need for implementation of improved methods and systems for efficient package delivery by singulation to reduce cycle-time and promised delivery times, while maintaining a high overall throughput and efficient utilization of resources without negatively impacting the customer experience. Summary One aspect of the present invention provides system for package delivery in accordance with claim 1. A further aspect of the present invention provides a method of package delivery in accordance with claim 8. Further aspects of the present invention are defined by the dependent claims. Brief Description of the Drawings FIG. 1A is a schematic block diagram illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a network comprising computerized systems for communications enabling shipping, transportation, and logistics operations, consistent with the disclosed embodiments.FIG. 1B depicts a sample Search Result Page (SRP) that includes one or more search results satisfying a search request along with interactive user interface elements, consistent with the disclosed embodiments.FIG. 1C depicts a sample Single Display Page (SDP) that includes a product and information about the product along with interactive user interface elements, consistent with the disclosed embodiments.FIG. 1D depicts a sample Cart page that includes items in a virtual shopping cart along with interactive user interface elements, consistent with the disclosed embodiments.FIG. 1E depicts a sample Order page that includes items from the virtual shopping cart along with information regarding purchase and shipping, along with interactive user interface elements, consistent with the disclosed embodiments.FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic illustration of an exemplary fulfillment center configured to utilize disclosed computerized systems, consistent with the disclosed embodiments.FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic illustration of an exemplary computerized singulation package delivery system configured to utilize disclosed computerized systems, consistent with th