US-20260127618-A1 - TECHNOLOGIES FOR IN-STORE ONLINE ORDER FULFILLMENT FOR RETAIL STORES

Abstract

In some implementations, a method performed by data processing apparatuses includes determining whether a location of a customer device is within a predetermined proximity of the retail store. In response to determining that the location of the customer device is within the predetermined proximity, the method further includes receiving an item identifier from the customer device, determining a stock room location of the item in response to receiving the item identifier, sending a first notification indicative of the item, the stock room location, and a collection point to an employee device. The method further includes receiving a checkout request from the customer device, determining a pickup location within the retail store in response to receiving the checkout request, and sending a second notification to an employee device indicative of the collection point location and the pickup location. The stock room is a secured physical space of the retail store.

Inventors

• Neal DePape
• Richard Noe
• Joshua Kelner
• Bob Danielson
• Steve Martin Schwartz
• Jon Lamirault

Assignees

• TARGET BRANDS, INC.

Dates

Publication Date

20260507

Application Date

20241101

Claims (20)

1. 1 . A computer-implemented method for order fulfillment in a retail store, the method comprising: determining, by a retail store system, whether a location of a customer device is within a predetermined proximity of the retail store; and in response to determining that the location of the customer device is within the predetermined proximity of the retail store: receiving, by the retail store system, an item identifier from the customer device; determining, by the retail store system, a stock room location of the item within the stock room of the retail store in response to receiving the item identifier, wherein the stock room is a secured physical space of the retail store; sending, by the retail store system, a first notification to an employee device, the first notification indicative of the item, the stock room location, and a collection point location; receiving, by the retail store system, a checkout request from the customer device; determining, by the retail store system, a pickup location within the retail store in response to receiving the checkout request, wherein the pickup location is a customer-accessible physical space of the retail store having a visible identifier; and sending, by the retail store system, a second notification to an employee device indicative of the collection point location and the pickup location.
2. 2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising: scanning, by the customer device, an item identifier within a showroom of the retail store, wherein the showroom is a customer-accessible physical space of the retail store; and sending, by the customer device, the item identifier to the retail store system.
3. 3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein scanning the item identifier further comprises scanning an item packaging unit indicative of the item identifier and located within the showroom of the retail store.
4. 4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising: receiving, by the customer device, a selection of the item from the customer using a mobile application catalog; and sending, by the customer device, the item identifier to the retail store system in response to receiving the selection of the item.
5. 5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising identifying, by the retail store system, the employee device for picking the item from a plurality of employee devices in response to receiving the item identifier.
6. 6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein identifying the employee device comprises: selecting the employee device from a plurality of employee devices based on proximity of the stock room location to a respective location of each of the plurality of employee devices; or selecting the employee device from a plurality of employee devices based on an item category associated with the item.
7. 7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the employee device comprises prioritizing the item higher than a drive-up order or a delivery order.
8. 8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining, by the retail store system, the collection point location within the stock room of the retail store in response to receiving the item identifier.
9. 9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein determining the collection point location comprises: determining the collection point location based on the virtual cart associated with the customer; determining the collection point location based on a category associated with the item; or determining the collection point location based on the stock room location.
10. 10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the checkout request comprises receiving the visible identifier of the pickup location from the customer device.
11. 11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the checkout request comprises receiving a second location of the customer device, wherein the second location is within a predetermined proximity to the pickup location.
12. 12 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising sending, by the retail store system, a third notification to the customer device indicative of the visible identifier of the pickup location.
13. 13 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising determining, by the retail system, the pickup location, wherein sending the third notification comprises sending the third notification in response to determining the pickup location.
14. 14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the third notification is further indicative of an estimated pickup time.
15. 15 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising: scanning, by a point of sale device, a physical item in the pickup location in the retail store; receiving, by the point of sale device, the list of requested items of the virtual cart from the retail store system; and processing, by the point of sale device, a payment transaction associated with the physical item and the list of requested items of the virtual cart.
16. 16 . A physical store arrangement comprising: wireless network coverage; a showroom comprising a customer-accessible physical space of a retail store containing (i) a first plurality of items available for customer self-service, and (ii) a first plurality of item identifiers accessible for scanning; stock room comprising a secured physical space of the retail store containing a second plurality of items, wherein the second plurality of items comprises items associated with the first plurality of item identifiers; and a pickup area comprising a customer-accessible physical space of the retail store having a visual identifier.
17. 17 . The physical store arrangement of claim 16 , wherein the first plurality of item identifiers comprises item packaging associated with second plurality of items.
18. 18 . A computer system comprising: one or more data processing apparatuses including one or more processors, memory, and storage devices storing instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising: determining, by a retail store system, whether a location of a customer device is within a predetermined proximity of the retail store; and in response to determining that the location of the customer device is within the predetermined proximity of the retail store: receiving, by the retail store system, an item identifier from the customer device; determining, by the retail store system, a stock room location of the item within the stock room of the retail store in response to receiving the item identifier, wherein the stock room is a secured physical space of the retail store; sending, by the retail store system, a first notification to an employee device, the first notification indicative of the item, the stock room location, and a collection point location; receiving, by the retail store system, a checkout request from the customer device; determining, by the retail store system, a pickup location within the retail store in response to receiving the checkout request, wherein the pickup location is a customer-accessible physical space of the retail store having a visible identifier; and sending, by the retail store system, a second notification to an employee device indicative of the collection point location and the pickup location.
19. 19 . The computer system of claim 18 , the operations further comprising sending, by the retail store system, a third notification to the customer device indicative of the visible identifier of the pickup location.
20. 20 . The computer system of claim 18 , the operations further comprising: scanning, by a point of sale device, a physical item in the pickup location in the retail store; receiving, by the point of sale device, the list of requested items of the virtual cart from the retail store system; and processing, by the point of sale device, a payment transaction associated with the physical item and the list of requested items of the virtual cart.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD This specification generally relates to techniques for order fulfillment for retail stores, particularly techniques for real-time fulfillment of in-store online orders. BACKGROUND Organized retail theft is an increasing problem for retail stores. To respond to increased theft losses, many retail stores are moving certain, frequently-stolen items to locking cabinets or other locations that are not accessible to customers. In those stores, employees may be required to unlock cabinets or otherwise provide the items to each customer, which may reduce efficiency, increase costs, and detracts from the customer shopping experience. Besides retail theft considerations, traditional retail stores may have limited space for displaying bulky items such as cribs, strollers, or televisions. Retail stores are increasingly using automated systems for retail store logistics management and order fulfillment. For example, many retail stores support online drive-up ordering of items, in which an employee gathers items for the customer and then provides the items to the customer, typically at the customer's vehicle, outside of the retail store. Such drive-up ordering may be performed by the customer using a mobile application, a website, or other digital fulfillment system provided by the retail store. SUMMARY This document generally describes physical store arrangements, computer systems, processes, program products, and devices for fulfilling in-store orders in real-time and in combination with physical retail shopping. The technology described in this document involves a physical store arrangement including a sales floor/showroom having a limited selection of items available for customer selection, along with an expanded backroom picking area, and a checkout area. The customer may select items with a mobile application to be added to a virtual cart while also adding selected physical items to a physical shopping cart. An employee concurrently picks the items for the virtual cart from a secured backroom prior to the customer checking out. When the customer is finished shopping and checks out, the customer may pick up the items for the virtual cart from an identified pickup location such as a particular register or self-checkout location. Items from the customer's physical cart may be combined with the items from the virtual cart into a single checkout transaction, including a single payment transaction. In some implementations, a method performed by data processing apparatuses includes determining, by a retail store system, whether a location of a customer device is within a predetermined proximity of the retail store; and in response to determining that the location of the customer device is within the predetermined proximity of the retail store: receiving, by the retail store system, an item identifier from the customer device; determining, by the retail store system, a stock room location of the item within the stock room of the retail store in response to receiving the item identifier, wherein the stock room is a secured physical space of the retail store; sending, by the retail store system, a first notification to an employee device, the first notification indicative of the item, the stock room location, and a collection point location; receiving, by the retail store system, a checkout request from the customer device; determining, by the retail store system, a pickup location within the retail store in response to receiving the checkout request, wherein the pickup location is a customer-accessible physical space of the retail store having a visible identifier; and sending, by the retail store system, a second notification to an employee device indicative of the collection point location and the pickup location. Other implementations of this aspect include corresponding computer systems, and include corresponding apparatus and computer programs recorded on one or more computer storage devices, each configured to perform the actions of the methods. A system of one or more computers can be configured to perform particular operations or actions by virtue of having software, firmware, hardware, or a combination of them installed on the system that in operation causes or cause the system to perform the actions. One or more computer programs can be configured to perform particular operations or actions by virtue of including instructions that, when executed by data processing apparatus, cause the apparatus to perform the actions. These and other implementations can include any, all, or none of the following features. The method may further include scanning, by the customer device, an item identifier within a showroom of the retail store, wherein the showroom is a customer-accessible physical space of the retail store; and sending, by the customer device, the item identifier to the retail store system. Scanning the item identifier may further include scanning an item packaging unit indicative of the item identi