SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND COMPUTER-PROGRAM PRODUCTS FOR DETERMINING SHIPPING INCENTIVES

• US 20140025464A1
• Filed: 09/24/2013
• Published: 01/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Inventors: Kadaba, Nagesh
• Application Number:
  US14/035,723
• Publication Number:
  US 20140025464A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.23
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0222 During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions

Abstract

Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems, methods, and computer-program products for determining shipping incentives. In general, various embodiments of the invention involve applying a shipping incentive for a customer receiving inbound shipments from a plurality of parties based on increased inbound shipments received from such parties. Additional embodiments of the invention involve applying a shipping incentive to at least one customer based on increased shipments shipped to and/or received in a locale for a particular time period using a common carrier. In particular embodiments, the incentive may be a discount on a cost of shipping for the customer. In other embodiments, the incentive may be something else such as a preferred shipping service for the customer.

Claims

1. A method for applying a shipping incentive to at least one customer, the method comprising of the steps of:

receiving information on one or more shipments scheduled to be made to a plurality of locales for a particular time period and shipped using a common carrier;

for each locale, determining whether the one or more shipments being made to the particular locale meet a maximum capacity the common carrier can ship to the particular locale for the particular time period; and

for at least one locale in which the maximum capacity is not being met by the one or more shipments being made to the at least one locale for the particular time period;

identifying one or more customers making the one or more shipments to the at least one locale for the particular time period;

determining an incentive, by at least one computer processor, the incentive being based on one or more new shipments being made by the one or more identified customers in addition to the one or more shipments already being made to the at least one locale for the particular time period; and

applying the corresponding incentive for the one or more identified customers based on the one or more new shipments being made by the one or more identified customers.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the incentive is a discount on a cost of shipping for the one or more identified customers.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the incentive is at least one preferred shipping service for the one or more identified customers.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the incentive applied for the one or more identified customers differs among the one or more identified customers.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

for at least one locale in which the maximum capacity is not being met by the one or more shipments being made to the at least one locale for the particular time period;

identifying one or more customers receiving one or more of the one or more shipments being made to the at least one locale for the particular time period;

determining an incentive, by the at least one computer processor, the incentive being based on one or more new shipments being received by the one or more identified customers in addition to the one or more shipments already being received by the one or more identified customers for the at least one locale for the particular time period; and

applying the corresponding incentive for the one or more identified customers based on the one or more new shipments being received by the one or more identified customers in addition to the shipments already being received by the one or more identified customers in the at least one locale for the particular time period.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

for at least one locale, identifying one or more customers that have made one or more shipments to the at least one locale for a time period other than the particular time period;

for each customer of the one or more customers that has made one or more shipments to the at least one locale for the time period other than the particular time period;

determining an incentive, by the at least one computer processor, the incentive being based on one or more new shipments being made by the identified customer to the at least one locale for the particular time period in addition to the one or more shipments already being made to at least one locale for the particular time period; and

applying the corresponding incentive for the identified customer based on the one or more new shipments being made by the identified customer to the at least one locale for the particular time period.

7. A method for applying a shipping incentive to at least one customer, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving information on one or more shipments scheduled to be made from a plurality of locales for a particular time period and shipped using a common carrier;

for each locale, determining whether the one or more shipments being made from the particular locale meet a maximum capacity the common carrier can ship from the locale for the particular time period; and

for at least one locale in which the maximum capacity is not being met by the one or more shipments being made from the at least one locale for the particular time period;

identifying one or more customers making the one or more shipments from the at least one locale for the particular time period;

determining an incentive, by at least one computer processor, the incentive being based on one or more new shipments being made by the one or more identified customers from the at least one locale for the particular time period in addition to the one or more shipments already being made from the at least one locale for the particular time period; and

applying the corresponding incentive for the one or more identified customers based on the one or more new shipments being made by the one or more identified customers from the at least one locale for the particular time period.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the incentive is a discount on a cost of shipping for the one or more identified customers.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the incentive is at least one preferred shipping service for the one or more identified customers.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the incentive applied for the one or more identified customers differs among the one or more identified customers.

11. A system for applying a shipping incentive to at least one customer, the system comprising:

at least one computer processor configured to;

receive information on one or more shipments scheduled to be made to a plurality of locales for a particular time period and shipped using a common carrier;

for each locale, determine whether the one or more shipments being made to the particular locale meet a maximum capacity the common carrier can ship to the locale for the particular time period; and

for at least one locale in which the maximum capacity is not being met by the one or more shipments being made to the at least one locale for the particular time period;

identify one or more customers making the one or more shipments to the at least one locale for the particular time period;

determine an incentive, the incentive being based on one or more new shipments being made by the one or more identified customers in addition to the one or more shipments already being made to the at least one locale for the particular time period; and

apply the corresponding incentive for the one or more identified customers based on the one or more new shipments being made by the one or more identified customers.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the incentive is a discount on a cost of shipping for the one or more identified customers.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the incentive is at least one preferred shipping service for the one or more identified customers.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the incentive applied for the one or more identified customers differs among the one or more identified customers.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the at least one computer processor is further configured to:

for at least one locale in which the maximum capacity is not being met by the one or more shipments being made to the at least one locale for the particular time period;

identify one or more customers receiving one or more of the one or more shipments being made to the at least one locale for the particular time period;

determine an incentive, the incentive being based on one or more new shipments being received by the one or more identified customers in addition to the one or more shipments already being received by the one or more identified customers for the at least one locale for the particular time period; and

apply the corresponding incentive for the one or more identified customers based on the one or more new shipments being received by the one or more identified customers in addition to the one or more shipments already being received by the one or more identified customers in the at least one locale for the particular time period.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the at least one computer processor is further configured to:

for at least one locale, identify one or more customers that have made one or more shipments to the at least one locale for a time period other than the particular time period;

for each customer of the one or more customers that has made one or more shipments to the at least one locale for the time period other than the particular time period;

determine an incentive, the incentive being based on one or more new shipments being made by the identified one or more customers to the at least one locale for the particular time period in addition to the one or more shipments already being made to at least one locale for the particular time period; and

apply the corresponding incentive for the one or more identified customers based on the one or more new shipments being made by the one or more identified customers to the at least one locale for the particular time period in addition to the one or more shipments already being made to the at least one locale for the particular time period.

17. A system for applying a shipping incentive to at least one customer, the system comprising:

at least one computer processor configured to;

receive information on one or more shipments scheduled to be made from a plurality of locales for a particular time period and shipped using a common carrier;

for each locale, determine whether the one or more shipments being made from the particular locale meet a maximum capacity the common carrier can ship from the locate for the particular time period; and

for at least one locale in which the maximum capacity is not being met by the one or more shipments being made from the at least one locale for the particular time period;

identify one or more customers making the one or more shipments from the at least one locale for the particular time period;

determine an incentive, the incentive being based on one or more new shipments being made by the one or more identified customers from the at least one locale for the particular time period in addition to the one or more shipments already being made from the at least one locale for the particular time period; and

apply the corresponding incentive for the one or more identified customers based on the one or more new shipments being made by the one or more identified customers from the at least one locale for the particular time period.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the incentive is a discount on a cost of shipping for the one or more identified customers.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the incentive is at least one preferred shipping service for the one or more identified customers.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the incentive applied for the one or more identified customers differs among the one or more identified customers.

21. A non-transitory computer-program product for applying a shipping incentive to at least one customer, the computer-program product comprising executable code that when executed by at least one computer processor causes the at least one computer processor to:

receive information on one or more shipments scheduled to be made to a plurality of locales for a particular time period and shipped using a common carrier;

for each locale, determine whether the one or more shipments being made to the particular locale meet a maximum capacity the common carrier can ship to the locate for the particular time period; and

for at least one locale in which the maximum capacity is not being met by the one or more shipments being made to the at least one locale for the particular time period;

identify one or more customers making the one or more shipments to the at least one locale for the particular time period;

determine an incentive, the incentive being based on one or more new shipments being made by the one or more identified customers in addition to the one or more shipments already being made to the at least one locale for the particular time period; and

apply the corresponding incentive for the one or more identified customers based on the one or more new shipments being made by the one or more identified customers.

22. A non-transitory computer-program product for applying a shipping incentive to at least one customer, the computer-program product comprising executable code that when executed by at least one computer processor causes the at least one computer processor to:

receive information on one or more shipments scheduled to be made from a plurality of locales for a particular time period and shipped using a common carrier;

for each locale, determine whether the one or more shipments being made from the particular locale meet a maximum capacity the common carrier can ship from the locate for the particular time period; and

for at least one locale in which the maximum capacity is not being met by the one or more shipments being made from the at least one locale for the particular time period;

identify one or more customers making the one or more shipments from the at least one locale for the particular time period;

determine an incentive, the incentive being based on one or more new shipments being made by the one or more identified customers from the at least one locale for the particular time period in addition to the one or more shipments already being made from the at least one locale for the particular time period; and

apply the corresponding incentive for the one or more identified customers based on the one or more new shipments being made by the one or more identified customers.