CUSTOMER CENTRIC PICKUP LOCATIONS
First Claim
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1. A method comprising:
- under control of one or more computing devices configured with executable instructions,receiving from a customer a request for an item;
determining a customer preferred delivery area;
determining at least one delivery timeframe;
identifying at least one temporary pickup location planned for the at least one delivery timeframe and located within the customer preferred delivery area from which the customer may retrieve the item, wherein at least one of the at least one temporary pickup location is planned based at least in part on a planned exchange of a second item during the at least one delivery timeframe and located within the customer preferred delivery area, and where the at least one temporary pickup location is within the customer preferred delivery area during a predefined timeframe at a predefined location; and
for each of the at least one temporary pickup locations, notifying the customer of the predefined location of the temporary pickup location and the predefined timeframe during which the item may be retrieved from the temporary pickup location during the delivery timeframe.
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Abstract
A temporary pickup location that is located within a delivery area during a predefined timeframe provides an opportunity to customers to retrieve orders for items at a time and location that is convenient for them. In addition, the customers can pay for the items at retrieval (COD) and avoid the bulk and waste of shipping packages. In some implementations, temporary pickup locations are made available by planning to position a delivery agent and transportation unit at a predefined location during a predefined timeframe during which customers can plan to retrieve ordered items.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
under control of one or more computing devices configured with executable instructions, receiving from a customer a request for an item; determining a customer preferred delivery area; determining at least one delivery timeframe; identifying at least one temporary pickup location planned for the at least one delivery timeframe and located within the customer preferred delivery area from which the customer may retrieve the item, wherein at least one of the at least one temporary pickup location is planned based at least in part on a planned exchange of a second item during the at least one delivery timeframe and located within the customer preferred delivery area, and where the at least one temporary pickup location is within the customer preferred delivery area during a predefined timeframe at a predefined location; and for each of the at least one temporary pickup locations, notifying the customer of the predefined location of the temporary pickup location and the predefined timeframe during which the item may be retrieved from the temporary pickup location during the delivery timeframe. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. One or more computer readable media storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed on one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform acts comprising:
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messaging a customer to confirm delivery of an item to a location during a first predefined timeframe; identifying a temporary pickup location at which the item may be retrieved during a second predefined timeframe; and notifying the customer of a location of the temporary pickup location and a second predefined timeframe during which the item may be retrieved from the temporary pickup location. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing instructions for temporary pickup location planning, the instructions when executed by a processor causing the processor to:
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identify a delivery area and a delivery timeframe for temporary pickup location planning; determine if there is a planned attended delivery within the delivery area during the delivery timeframe; and in response to a determination that there is a planned attended delivery within the delivery area during the delivery timeframe, plan a temporary pickup location at a location within the delivery area for a predefined timeframe during the delivery timeframe. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification