Method and system for event-driven inventory disposition

• US 7,881,986 B1
• Filed: 03/10/2005
• Issued: 02/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kavathekar, Sunit S., Stecconi, Denise M., Pape, Craig J., Russell, Mark P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kalinowski; Alexander
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ebersman; Bruce I
• Application Number:
  US11/076,844
• Time in Patent Office: 2,154 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 705/28
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

A method and system for event-driven inventory disposition are disclosed. According to one embodiment, a method may include detecting a disposition event associated with a given one of a number of inventory items. The method may further include evaluating each of a number of disposition channels with respect to the given item in response to detecting the disposition event, and dependent upon the evaluation, selecting a particular disposition channel through which to dispose of the given item. In one particular implementation of the method, detecting the disposition event may include detecting an indication that an expected profitability of the given item is less than a threshold value.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

while a plurality of units of a same item is being held as inventory, individually evaluating each unit of said plurality of units of said same item, wherein individually evaluating a unit of the plurality of units comprises;

using one or more computer systems to individually access one or more records for said unit, wherein said one or more records comprises cost information for said unit and expected revenue information for said unit;

using one or more computer systems to individually determine an expected profitability for said unit based on said cost information and said expected revenue information;

using one or more computer systems to individually compare said expected profitability for said unit to a corresponding profitability threshold value for said unit; and

using said one or more computer systems to individually determine whether said expected profitability of said unit is less than said corresponding profitability threshold value;

in response to determining that said expected profitability of said unit is less than said corresponding profitability threshold value for said unit, generate a disposition event associated with said plurality of units of said same item being held as inventory, wherein said disposition event is indicative of a request to remove one unit of said plurality of units of said same item from inventory while retaining at least one of said units as inventory;

in response to generating said disposition event, using said one or more computer systems to evaluate each of a plurality of disposition channels with respect to said one unit to be removed from inventory, wherein each of said disposition channels is a channel other than a normal sales channel through which said one unit was previously offered; and

dependent upon said evaluating, using said one or more computer systems to select one or more particular disposition channels through which to dispose of said one unit and instruct that said one unit be disposed of through said one or more particular disposition channels, such that instructing disposal of said one unit occurs dependent upon generation of said disposition event and causes one unit of said plurality of units of said same item to be removed from inventory.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

while a particular one of said plurality of units is being held as inventory, using said one or more computer systems to detect a request to grade a condition of said particular unit; and

in response to detecting said request to grade said condition, using said one or more computer systems to generate a particular disposition event associated with said particular unit.

3. The method as recited in claim 2, further comprising:

in response to detecting said particular disposition event, using said one or more computer systems to evaluate each of said plurality of disposition channels with respect to said particular unit; and

dependent upon said evaluating, using said one or more computer systems to select a given disposition channel through which to dispose of said particular unit and instruct that said particular unit be disposed of through said given disposition channel, such that disposing of said particular unit occurs dependent upon generation of said particular disposition event.

4. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein said request to grade said condition of said particular unit is made in response to detecting that said particular unit has been damaged.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein using said one or more computer systems to evaluate each of said plurality of disposition channels comprises using said one or more computer systems to determine for said one unit a respective expected price from each of said plurality of disposition channels.

6. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein using said one or more computer systems to determine said respective expected price from a given one of said disposition channels comprises using said one or more computer systems to request said respective expected price from a service associated with said given disposition channel.

7. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein said particular disposition channel is associated with a maximum expected price for units of said same item.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein using said one or more computer systems to evaluate each of said plurality of disposition channels comprises using said one or more computer systems to determine that one or more of said disposition channels are not valid disposition channels for one or more of said set of units.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein using said one or more computer systems to evaluate each of said plurality of disposition channels comprises using said one or more computer systems to determine a respective capacity of each of said disposition channels to dispose of said one unit.

10. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein using said one or more computer systems to evaluate each of said plurality of disposition channels comprises using said one or more computer systems to determine an expected price range from a marketplace of one of said plurality of disposition channels for said one unit dependent upon one or more listings within said marketplace disposition channel comparable to said one unit.

11. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein a minimum expected price of said expected price range is dependent upon a lowest-priced one of said one or more listings.

12. The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising adjusting said expected price range dependent upon a rating of a seller corresponding to said lowest-priced listing.

13. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein determining said expected price range is further dependent upon historical sales behavior of units of said same item.

14. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein determining said expected price range is further dependent upon a time interval during which said given unit is expected to sell via said marketplace disposition channel.

15. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein using said one or more computer systems to evaluate each of said plurality of disposition channels with respect to said one unit occurs before a condition of said one unit is determined.

16. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein using said one or more computer systems to evaluate each of said plurality of disposition channels further comprises using said one or more computer systems to determine a respective expected recovery value for said one unit from each of said disposition channels, and wherein the method further comprises, dependent upon said respective expected recovery values, using said one or more computer systems to instruct that a condition of said one unit be determined.

17. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein using said one or more computer systems to evaluate each of said plurality of disposition channels occurs without modifying a respective state of each of said plurality of disposition channels, wherein modifying said respective state of a given one of said disposition channels comprises causing a unit to be actually disposed of through said given disposition channel.

18. A computer-accessible storage medium storing program instructions, wherein the program instructions are executable by a computer system to implement:

while a plurality of units of a same item is being held as inventory, individually evaluating each unit of said plurality of units of said same item, wherein individually evaluating a unit of the plurality of units comprises;

individually accessing one or more records for said unit, wherein said one or more records comprises cost information for said unit and expected revenue information for said unit;

individually determining an expected profitability for said unit based on said cost information and said expected revenue information;

individually comparing said expected profitability for said unit to a corresponding profitability threshold value for said unit; and

individually determining whether said expected profitability of said unit is less than said corresponding profitability threshold value;

in response to determining that said expected profitability of said unit is less than said corresponding profitability threshold value for said unit, generating a disposition event associated with said plurality of units of said same item being held as inventory, wherein said disposition event is indicative of a request to remove one unit of said plurality of units of said same item from inventory while retaining at least one of said units as inventory;

in response to generating said disposition event, evaluating each of a plurality of disposition channels with respect to said one unit to be removed from inventory, wherein each of said disposition channels is a channel other than a normal sales channel through which said one unit was previously offered; and

dependent upon said evaluating, selecting one or more particular disposition channels through which to dispose of said one unit and instructing that said one unit be disposed of through one or more particular disposition channels, such that instructing disposal of said one unit occurs dependent upon generation of said disposition event and causes one unit of said plurality of units of said same item to be removed from inventory.

19. The computer-accessible storage medium as recited in claim 18, wherein the program instructions are further executable to implement:

while a particular one of said plurality of units is being held as inventory, detecting a request to grade a condition of said particular item; and

in response to detecting said request to grade said condition, generating a particular disposition event associated with said particular unit.

20. The computer-accessible storage medium as recited in claim 19, wherein the program instructions are further executable to implement:

in response to detecting said particular disposition event, evaluating each of said plurality of disposition channels with respect to said particular unit; and

dependent upon said evaluating, selecting a given disposition channel through which to dispose of said particular unit and instructing that said particular unit be disposed of through said given disposition channel, such that disposing of said particular unit occurs dependent upon generation of said particular disposition event.

21. The computer-accessible storage medium as recited in claim 20, wherein said request to grade said condition of said particular unit is made in response to detecting that said particular unit has been damaged.

22. The computer-accessible storage medium as recited in claim 18, wherein evaluating each of said plurality of disposition channels comprises determining for said one unit a respective expected price from each of said plurality of disposition channels.

23. The computer-accessible storage medium as recited in claim 22, wherein determining said respective expected price from a given one of said disposition channels comprises requesting said respective expected price from a service associated with said given disposition channel.

24. The computer-accessible storage medium as recited in claim 22, wherein said particular disposition channel is associated with a maximum expected price for units of said same item.

25. The computer-accessible storage medium as recited in claim 18, wherein evaluating each of said plurality of disposition channels comprises determining that one or more of said disposition channels are not valid disposition channels for said one unit.

26. The computer-accessible storage medium as recited in claim 18, wherein evaluating each of said plurality of disposition channels comprises determining a respective capacity of each of said disposition channels to dispose of said one unit.

27. The computer-accessible storage medium as recited in claim 18, wherein evaluating each of said plurality of disposition channels comprises determining an expected price range from a marketplace of one of said plurality of disposition channels for said one unit dependent upon one or more listings within said marketplace disposition channel comparable to said one unit.

28. The computer-accessible storage medium as recited in claim 27, wherein a minimum expected price of said expected price range is dependent upon a lowest-priced one of said one or more listings.

29. The computer-accessible storage medium as recited in claim 28, further comprising adjusting said expected price range dependent upon a rating of a seller corresponding to said lowest-priced listing.

30. The computer-accessible storage medium as recited in claim 27, wherein determining said expected price range is further dependent upon historical sales behavior of units of said same item.

31. The computer-accessible storage medium as recited in claim 27, wherein determining said expected price range is further dependent upon a time interval during which said given unit is expected to sell via said marketplace disposition channel.

32. The computer-accessible storage medium as recited in claim 18, wherein evaluating each of said plurality of disposition channels with respect to said one unit occurs before a condition of said one unit is determined.

33. The computer-accessible storage medium as recited in claim 32, wherein evaluating each of said plurality of disposition channels further comprises determining a respective expected recovery value for said one unit from each of said disposition channels, and wherein the program instructions are further executable to instruct that said condition of said one unit be determined dependent upon said respective expected recovery values.

34. The computer-accessible storage medium as recited in claim 32, wherein evaluating each of said plurality of disposition channels occurs without modifying a respective state of each of said plurality of disposition channels, wherein modifying said respective state of a given one of said disposition channels comprises causing a unit to be actually disposed of through said given disposition channel.

35. A system, comprising:

an inventory management system comprising one or more computers configured to, while a plurality of units of a same item is being held as inventory, individually evaluate each unit of said plurality of units of said same item, wherein individually evaluating for a unit of the plurality of units comprises;

individually access one or more records for said unit, wherein said one or more records comprises cost information for said unit and expected revenue information for said unit;

individually determine an expected profitability for said unit based on said cost information and said expected revenue information;

individually compare said expected profitability for said unit to a corresponding profitability threshold value for said unit; and

individually determine whether said expected profitability of said unit is less than said corresponding profitability threshold value; and

in response to determining that said expected profitability of said unit is less than said corresponding profitability threshold value for said unit, generate a disposition event associated with said plurality of units of said same item being held as inventory, wherein said disposition event is indicative of a request to remove one unit of said plurality of units of said same item from inventory while retaining at least one of said units as inventory;

and a disposition service comprising one or more computers configured to;

in response to detecting said disposition event, evaluate each of a plurality of disposition channels with respect to said one unit to be removed from inventory, wherein each of said disposition channels is a channel other than a normal sales channel through which said one unit was previously offered; and

dependent upon said evaluating, select one or more particular disposition channels through which to dispose of said one unit and instruct that said one unit be disposed of through said one or more particular disposition channels, such that instructing disposal of said one unit occurs dependent upon generation of said disposition event and causes one unit of said plurality of units of said same item to be removed from inventory.

36. The system as recited in claim 35, wherein said inventory management system is further configured to:

while a particular one of said plurality of units is being held as inventory, detect a request to grade a condition of said particular unit; and

in response to detecting said request to grade said condition, generate a particular disposition event associated with said particular unit.

37. The system as recited in claim 35, wherein said disposition service evaluating each of said plurality of disposition channels comprises said disposition service determining for said given unit a respective expected price from each of said plurality of disposition channels.

38. The system as recited in claim 37, wherein said disposition service determining said respective expected price from a given one of said disposition channels comprises said disposition service requesting said respective expected price from a service associated with said given disposition channel.

39. The system as recited in claim 37, wherein said particular disposition channel is associated with a maximum expected price for units of said same item.

40. The system as recited in claim 35, wherein said disposition service is further configured to determine that one or more of said disposition channels are not valid disposition channels for said one unit.

41. The system as recited in claim 35, wherein said disposition service evaluating each of said plurality of disposition channels comprises said disposition service determining a respective capacity of each of said disposition channels to dispose of said one unit.

42. The system as recited in claim 35, wherein said disposition service evaluating each of said plurality of disposition channels comprises said disposition service determining an expected price range from a marketplace of one of said plurality of disposition channels for said one unit dependent upon one or more listings within said marketplace disposition channel comparable to said unit.

43. The system as recited in claim 42, wherein a minimum expected price of said expected price range is dependent upon a lowest-priced one of said one or more listings.

44. The system as recited in claim 43, wherein said disposition service determining said expected price range is further dependent upon historical sales behavior of units of said same item.

45. The system as recited in claim 43, wherein said disposition service determining said expected price range is further dependent upon a time interval during which said given unit is expected to sell via said marketplace disposition channel.

46. The system as recited in claim 35, wherein said disposition service evaluating each of said plurality of disposition channels with respect to said one unit occurs before a condition of said unit is determined.

47. The system as recited in claim 46, wherein said disposition service evaluating each of said plurality of disposition channels further comprises said disposition service determining a respective expected recovery value for said one unit from each of said disposition channels, and wherein said disposition service is further configured to instruct that said condition of said one unit be determined dependent upon said respective expected recovery values.

48. The system as recited in claim 46, wherein said disposition service evaluating each of said plurality of disposition channels occurs without modifying a respective state of each of said plurality of disposition channels, wherein modifying said respective state of a given one of said disposition channels comprises causing a unit to be actually disposed of through said given disposition channel.