Predictive drop shipping
First Claim
1. A method, comprising:
- performing, by one or more computer systems,maintaining a record of an inventory of an item, wherein the item is offered for sale to customers via a web page;
calculating a ratio between a number of views of the web page and a number of units of the item purchased over a first time period when a fast shipping or delivery option is available and over a second time period when the fast shipping or delivery option is not available, wherein the fast shipping or delivery option is not drop shipping fulfillment;
identifying the item as a candidate for drop shipping fulfillment in response to the ratio being larger during the first time period than during the second time period;
receiving an order for the item; and
indicating that the received order be fulfilled with drop shipping, wherein the inventory is sufficient to fulfill the received order, and wherein a cost of fulfillment through drop shipping is higher than a cost of fulfillment from the inventory.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for predictive drop shipping are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method may include maintaining inventory of an item that is offered for sale to customers via a webpage. A ratio may be calculated between a number of views of the webpage and a number of units of the item purchased over a first time period when a fast shipping or delivery option is available, and over a second time period when such option is not available. The method may identify the item as a candidate for drop shipping in response to the ratio being larger during the first time period than during the second time period. Upon receipt of an order, the received order may be fulfilled via drop shipping, in some cases, despite the inventory being sufficient to fulfill the order, and despite a cost of fulfillment via drop shipping being higher than fulfillment from inventory.
38 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
performing, by one or more computer systems, maintaining a record of an inventory of an item, wherein the item is offered for sale to customers via a web page; calculating a ratio between a number of views of the web page and a number of units of the item purchased over a first time period when a fast shipping or delivery option is available and over a second time period when the fast shipping or delivery option is not available, wherein the fast shipping or delivery option is not drop shipping fulfillment; identifying the item as a candidate for drop shipping fulfillment in response to the ratio being larger during the first time period than during the second time period; receiving an order for the item; and indicating that the received order be fulfilled with drop shipping, wherein the inventory is sufficient to fulfill the received order, and wherein a cost of fulfillment through drop shipping is higher than a cost of fulfillment from the inventory. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A system, comprising:
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at least one processor; and a memory coupled to the at least one processor, wherein the memory stores program instructions, and wherein the program instructions are executable by the at least one processor to; calculate a conversion rate for a product offered for sale by a merchant over a first period when a fast shipping or delivery option is available and over a second period when the fast shipping or delivery option is not available, wherein the fast shipping or delivery option is not fulfillment by a third party; and identify the product as a candidate for fulfillment by a third party in response to the conversion rate being larger over the first period than over the second period. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification