Allocation table generation from assortment planning

• US 20050235020A1
• Filed: 01/31/2005
• Published: 10/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Simon, Berthold, Gabelmann, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 8,655,697 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

A method, apparatus and program product are provided for generating an allocation table in a computerized procurement system. The method comprises receiving first data from a purchase order regarding a plurality of articles to be allocated, and receiving second data from an assortment regarding the plurality of articles and a plurality of stores identified for receiving the articles at specified times. The method further comprises determining a fixed quantity of each article to be allocated to each store based on at least one of the first and second data, wherein the fixed quantity of each article is the same for all stores. The method also comprises determining a variable quantity of each article to be allocated to each store, wherein the variable quantity of each article is individually set for each store, and wherein the variable quantity of each article is determined based on analysis of historical data.

Claims

1. A method for generating an allocation table in a computerized procurement system, comprising the steps of:

receiving first data from a purchase order regarding a plurality of articles to be allocated;

receiving second data from an assortment regarding the plurality of articles and a plurality of stores identified for receiving the articles at specified times;

determining a fixed quantity of each article to be allocated to each store based on at least one of the first and second data, wherein the fixed quantity of each article is the same for all stores; and

determining a variable quantity of each article to be allocated to each store, wherein the variable quantity of each article is individually set for each store, and wherein the variable quantity of each article is determined based on analysis of historical data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the fixed quantity is determined based on the first data.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the fixed quantity is determined from the second data.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first data and the second data further comprise information chosen from the group consisting of generic article information, variant article information, store delivery date, prepack article quantities, and combinations thereof.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of receiving third data which is manually input, and wherein the manual input provides an adjustment to at least one of the fixed quantity and the variable quantity of at least one article.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the purchase order is a released purchase order and the assortment is a released assortment.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising populating the allocation table with purchase order data.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the analysis of the historical data is performed by applying predefined rules to the historical data.

9. An apparatus for generating an allocation table in a computerized procurement system, comprising:

a central processing unit (CPU); and

a storage device coupled to the CPU and having information stored therein for configuring the CPU to;

receive first data from a purchase order regarding a plurality of articles to be allocated;

receive second data from an assortment regarding the plurality of articles and a plurality of stores identified for receiving the articles at specified times;

determine a fixed quantity of each article to be allocated to each store based on at least one of the first and second data, wherein the fixed quantity of each article is the same for all stores; and

determine a variable quantity of each article to be allocated to each store, wherein the variable quantity of each article is individually set for each store, and wherein the variable quantity of each article is determined based on analysis of historical data.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the fixed quantity is determined based on the first data.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the fixed quantity is determined from the second data.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first data and the second data further comprise information chosen from the group consisting of generic article information, variant article information, store delivery date, prepack article quantities, and combinations thereof.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the storage device includes information for further configuring the CPU to receive third data which is manually input, and wherein the manual input provides an adjustment to at least one of the fixed quantity and the variable quantity of at least one article.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the purchase order is a released purchase order and the assortment is a released assortment.

15. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the storage device includes information for further configuring the CPU to populate the allocation table with purchase order data.

16. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the analysis of the historical data is performed by applying predefined rules to the historical data.

17. A program product for generating an allocation table in a computerized procurement system, the program product comprising machine readable program code for causing, when executed, one or more machines to perform the following method steps:

receiving first data from a purchase order regarding a plurality of articles to be allocated;

receiving second data from an assortment regarding the plurality of articles and a plurality of stores identified for receiving the articles at specified times;

determining a fixed quantity of each article to be allocated to each store based on at least one of the first and second data, wherein the fixed quantity of each article is the same for all stores; and

determining a variable quantity of each article to be allocated to each store, wherein the variable quantity of each article is individually set for each store, and wherein the variable quantity of each article is determined based on analysis of historical data.

18. The program product of claim 17, wherein the fixed quantity is determined based on the first data.

19. The program product of claim 17, wherein the fixed quantity is determined from the second data.

20. The program product of claim 17, wherein the first data and the second data further comprise information chosen from the group consisting of generic article information, variant article information, store delivery date, prepack article quantities, and combinations thereof.

21. The program product of claim 17, further comprising the step of receiving third data which is manually input, and wherein the manual input provides an adjustment to at least one of the fixed quantity and the variable quantity of at least one article.

22. The program product of claim 17, wherein the purchase order is a released purchase order and the assortment is a released assortment.

23. The program product of claim 17, further comprising populating the allocation table with purchase order data.

24. The program product of claim 17, wherein the analysis of the historical data is performed by applying predefined rules to the historical data.