End-to-end solution for direct store delivery

• US 7,574,365 B2
• Filed: 12/30/2003
• Issued: 08/11/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Peter, Wolfgang, Miller, Ralf, Irwin, Glenn
• Primary Examiner(s): PLUCINSKI, JAMISUE A
• Application Number:
  US10/747,142
• Publication Number:
  US 20050144127A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,051 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1, 705/22, 705/25, 700/214, 700/217, 700/229, 700/302
• US Class Current: 705/1.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide a direct delivery of consumer products bypassing retailer'"'"'s warehouses. Embodiments of the present invention provide an end-to-end solution for direct store delivery. A direct store delivery order may be generated based on one or more received customer orders. Vehicle space optimization instructions may be generated based on one or more products to be delivered based on the one or more received orders. An order to retrieve the one or more products and an order to load the one or more products on to a transport vehicle based on the vehicle space optimization instructions may be generated. A travel route for the transport vehicle for delivering the one or more products to customers may be provided.

Claims

1. A method for direct delivery of consumer products, comprising:

generating a direct store delivery order based on one or more received customer orders;

generating vehicle space optimization instructions using a vehicle space optimization interface for loading a transport vehicle with a first group of products to be delivered based on the one or more received customer orders and a second group of products not based on the one or more received customer orders, wherein generating vehicle space optimization instructions comprises;

generating using a vehicle space optimization graphics generator an image of how the transport vehicle should be loaded according to the vehicle space optimization instructions;

generating using the vehicle space optimization graphics generator video graphics showing how the transport vehicle should be loaded in accordance with the vehicle space optimization instructions; and

transmitting to a direct store delivery mobile device the image of how the transport vehicle should be loaded according to the vehicle space optimization instructions and the video graphics showing how the transport vehicle should be loaded in accordance with the vehicle space optimization instructions;

generating using the vehicle space optimization interface an order to retrieve the first group of products and the second group of products and an order to load the first group of products and the second group of products on to the transport vehicle based on the video graphics showing how the transport vehicle should be loaded;

loading the first group of products and the second group of products on to the transport vehicle based on the video graphics showing how the transport vehicle should be loaded;

providing a travel route for the transport vehicle for delivering the first group of products and the second group of products to customers; and

delivering the first group of products to the customers.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

printing invoices for the one or more received customer orders.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating receipts based on invoice payments.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein one of the customers is a residential customer.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein one of the customers is a restaurant.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle space optimization instructions are related to loading a pallet.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating vehicle triggered pick slips to retrieve the first group of products and the second group of products.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the travel route is based on completing a maximum numbers of deliveries without exceeding a maximum amount of time.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more received customer orders include a pre-planned date of delivery.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the one or more received customer orders include a time of delivery.

11. A system comprising:

an input interface to receive one or more customer orders;

a direct store delivery processor coupled to the input interface, the direct store delivery processor to generate a direct store delivery order based on the one or more received customer orders;

a vehicle space optimization interface coupled to the direct store delivery processor to generate transport vehicle space optimization instructions for loading a transport vehicle with a first group of products to be delivered based on the one or more received customer orders and a second group of products not based on the one or more received customer orders, wherein the direct store delivery processor is to generate an order to retrieve the first group of products and the second group of products and an order to load the first group of products and the second group of products on to the transport vehicle based on video graphics showing how the transport vehicle should be loaded,

wherein generation of the transport vehicle space optimization instructions comprises;

generating using a vehicle space optimization graphics generator an image of how the transport vehicle should be loaded according to the vehicle space optimization instructions;

generating using the vehicle space optimization graphics generator the video graphics showing how the transport vehicle should be loaded in accordance with the vehicle space optimization instructions; and

transmitting to a direct store delivery mobile device the image of how the transport vehicle should be loaded according to the vehicle space optimization instructions and the video graphics showing how the loading of the transport vehicle should be loaded in accordance with the vehicle space optimization instructions.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the direct store delivery processor is to generate a travel route for the transport vehicle for delivering the first group of products and the second group of products to customers.

13. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

wherein the direct store delivery processor transmits the generated travel route to the direct store delivery mobile device.

14. A method for direct store delivery of products, comprising:

receiving a plurality of orders for direct delivery to consumers;

identifying one or more orders from the plurality of orders to be delivered via a single delivery route;

generating a picking order to retrieve a first group of products associated with the one or more identified orders and a second group of products not associated with the one or more identified orders;

generating vehicle space optimization instructions for loading a transport vehicle with the first group of products and the second group of products, wherein the instructions specify how the transport vehicle is to be loaded based on the first group of products and the second group of products and the delivery route and wherein generating the vehicle space optimization instructions further comprises;

generating an image of how the transport vehicle should be loaded according to the vehicle space optimization instructions;

generating one of a three-dimensional image and a video graphic showing how the transport vehicle should be loaded in accordance with the vehicle space optimization instructions; and

transmitting to a direct store delivery mobile device the image of how the transport vehicle should be loaded according to the vehicle space optimization instructions and the one of a three-dimensional image and a video graphic showing how the transport vehicle should be loaded in accordance with the vehicle space optimization instructions;

loading the first group of products and the second group of products on to the transport vehicle based on the one of a three-dimensional image and a video graphic showing how the transport vehicle should be loaded;

generating a dispatching order for delivery of the first group of products and the second group of products by the transport vehicle based on the delivery route; and

performing a check-out procedure to verify that the one or more identified orders are complete.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

monitoring the delivery route as one or more deliveries are completed;

maintaining an inventory of the transport vehicle as the one or more deliveries are completed.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

generating invoices for each delivery that is completed.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

generating a bill for each delivery that is completed.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

performing a check-in procedure after all of the deliveries have been completed to verify that the first group of products associated with the one or more identified orders were delivered.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

providing the second group of products for direct sale to customers from the transport vehicle.

20. A method, comprising, at a direct store delivery central system, when a customer order for a first product is received:

generating a direct store delivery order based on the received customer order;

determining a second product to include with the direct store delivery order, wherein the second product is not specified in the received customer order;

retrieving using a vehicle space optimization interface first and second product information including dimensions of the first and second products and weights of the first and second products, respectively;

retrieving using the vehicle space optimization interface transport vehicle information including a number of transport vehicles to be loaded, interior dimensions of the transport vehicles and weight capacities of the transport vehicles;

determining using the vehicle space optimization interface route information for delivery of the first product to a customer;

determining using a vehicle space optimization processor a loading arrangement of the first and second products in a designated transport vehicle based on the retrieved first and second product information, the retrieved transport vehicle information and the determined route information;

generating using a vehicle space optimization graphics generator an image of the determined loading arrangement of the first and second products in the designated transport vehicle;

generating using a vehicle space optimization processor instructions for how to load the designated transport vehicle in accordance with the determined loading arrangement of the first and second products;

generating using the vehicle space optimization graphics generator video graphics showing how to load the designated transport vehicle in accordance with the determined loading arrangement of the first and second products;

transmitting, to a direct store delivery mobile device, the generated image of the determined loading arrangement of the first and second products in the designated transport vehicle, the generated instructions for how to load the designated transport vehicle in accordance with the determined loading arrangement of the first and second products and the generated video graphics showing how to load the designated transport vehicle in accordance with the determined loading arrangement of the first and second products;

generating using the vehicle space optimization interface an order to retrieve the first and second products;

generating using the vehicle space optimization interface an order to load the designated transport vehicle based on the generated instructions for how to load the designated transport vehicle in accordance with the determined loading arrangement of the first and second products;

loading the first and second products on to the designated transport vehicle based on the video graphics showing how to load the designated transport vehicle; and

delivering the first product to the customer.