Inventory replication based upon order fulfillment rates
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method for managing an on-line store, including distributing inventory to facilitate order throughput in a distribution center that has a plurality of storage areas, the method comprising:
- determining, by a computing device, a consumption rate of a product based on information concerning orders of a plurality of customers over a period of time, not just an instance in time, to assist with distributing the product in the distribution center; and
assigning, by a computing device, a first and a second storage areas for the product in the distribution center based on the determined consumption rate,wherein in determining the consumption rate of the product, the quantity of the product associated with those orders having the product is considered,wherein the first and the second storage areas are assigned for the product because of the consumption rate of the product, which is higher than the consumption rate of at least one other product, andwherein the first but not the second storage area is assigned for the at least one other product because of the consumption rate of the at least one other product, which is lower than the consumption rate of the product.
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Abstract
A load balancing technology segregates various inventory types (e.g., potatoes vs. milk, vs. pretzels, vs. tissue paper, etc.) based upon how frequently they are ordered in a distribution center. Inventory types that are ordered at the slowest rate are not “replicated” over multiple pods in the distribution center. Rather, they are constrained to reside at a single pod within the distribution center. Items that are ordered somewhat more frequently than those in the slowest group are replicated in multiple pods across the distribution center. In other words, these items are separately stocked at locations on more than one pod in the distribution center. This means that a container passing through the distribution center can obtain each of the items in the second group of item types at multiple pods in the distribution center. Thus, these items do not create a bottleneck in the order fulfillment process. Inventory types in a third group, the fastest movers, are segregated from items in the first two groups. They are stored in a separate type of pod that fulfills orders even faster than the other type of pods.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for managing an on-line store, including distributing inventory to facilitate order throughput in a distribution center that has a plurality of storage areas, the method comprising:
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determining, by a computing device, a consumption rate of a product based on information concerning orders of a plurality of customers over a period of time, not just an instance in time, to assist with distributing the product in the distribution center; and assigning, by a computing device, a first and a second storage areas for the product in the distribution center based on the determined consumption rate, wherein in determining the consumption rate of the product, the quantity of the product associated with those orders having the product is considered, wherein the first and the second storage areas are assigned for the product because of the consumption rate of the product, which is higher than the consumption rate of at least one other product, and wherein the first but not the second storage area is assigned for the at least one other product because of the consumption rate of the at least one other product, which is lower than the consumption rate of the product. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A distribution center having inventory arranged to facilitate order throughput, the distribution center comprising:
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at least a first and a second storage areas to store products for filling orders; and a controller configured to assign the first and the second storage areas for a product in the distribution center based on a consumption rate of the product, and the first but not the second storage area for another product because of a consumption rate of the another product, which is lower than the consumption rate of the product; wherein the consumption rate of the product is determined based on information concerning orders of a plurality of customers over a period of time, not just an instance in time, and wherein in determining the consumption rate of the product, the quantity of the product associated with those orders having the product is considered. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A computer-implemented method for managing an on-line store, including distributing inventory to facilitate order throughput in a distribution center that has a plurality of storage areas, and that has a plurality of zones, the method comprising:
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determining, by a computing device, a consumption rate of a product based on information concerning orders of a plurality of customers over a period of time, not just an instance in time, to assist with distributing the product in the distribution center; identifying, by a computing device, the zone that the product belongs; and assigning, by a computing device, a first and a second storage areas for the product in the distribution center based on the determined consumption rate and the zone that the product belongs, and the first storage, but not the second storage area, for another product because of the consumption rate of the another product, which is lower than the consumption rate of the product, wherein in determining the consumption rate of the product, the quantity of the product associated with those orders having the product is considered.
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Specification