Systems, methods, and computer-program products for determining shipping incentives
First Claim
1. A method for applying a shipping incentive for a customer receiving inbound shipments from a plurality of parties, the method comprising the steps of:
- receiving information on the inbound shipments to be received from the plurality of parties;
identifying parties of the plurality of parties shipping respective inbound shipments not using a preferred common carrier;
for at least one of the identified parties shipping the respective inbound shipment coming from the particular party by using a carrier other than the preferred common carrier, determining an incentive, by at least one computer processor, that can be applied for the customer if the at least one of the identified parties were to ship the respective inbound shipment using the preferred common carrier; and
in response to at least one of the at least one of the identified parties switching from shipping the respective inbound shipment by using the carrier other than the preferred common carrier to shipping the respective inbound shipment using the preferred common carrier, applying the corresponding incentive for the customer.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
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. While other 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. While in other embodiments, the incentive may be something else such as a preferred shipping service for the customer.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method for applying a shipping incentive for a customer receiving inbound shipments from a plurality of parties, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving information on the inbound shipments to be received from the plurality of parties; identifying parties of the plurality of parties shipping respective inbound shipments not using a preferred common carrier; for at least one of the identified parties shipping the respective inbound shipment coming from the particular party by using a carrier other than the preferred common carrier, determining an incentive, by at least one computer processor, that can be applied for the customer if the at least one of the identified parties were to ship the respective inbound shipment using the preferred common carrier; and in response to at least one of the at least one of the identified parties switching from shipping the respective inbound shipment by using the carrier other than the preferred common carrier to shipping the respective inbound shipment using the preferred common carrier, applying the corresponding incentive for the customer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A system for applying a shipping incentive for a customer receiving inbound shipments from a plurality of parties, the system comprising:
at least one computer processor configured to; receive information on the inbound shipments to be received from the plurality of parties; identify parties of the plurality of parties shipping respective inbound shipments not using a preferred common carrier; for at least one of the identified parties shipping the respective inbound shipment using a carrier other than the preferred common carrier, determine an incentive that can be applied to the cost of shipping if the at least one of the identified parties were to ship the respective inbound shipment using the preferred common carrier; and in response to at least one of the at least one of the identified parties switching from shipping the respective inbound shipment using the carrier other than the preferred common carrier to shipping the respective inbound shipment using the preferred common carrier, apply the corresponding incentive for the customer. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A non-transitory computer-program product for applying a shipping incentive for a customer receiving inbound shipments from a plurality of parties, the computer-program product comprising executable code that when executed by at least one computer processor causes the at least one computer processor to:
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receive information on the inbound shipments to be received from the plurality of parties; identify parties of the plurality of parties shipping respective inbound shipments not using a preferred common carrier; for at least one of the identified parties shipping the respective inbound shipment by using a carrier other than the preferred common carrier, determine an incentive that can be applied to the cost of shipping for the customer if the at least one of the identified parties were to ship the respective inbound shipment using the preferred common carrier; and in response to at least one of the at least one of the identified parties switching from shipping the respective inbound shipment by using the carrier other than the preferred common carrier to shipping the respective inbound shipment using the preferred common carrier, apply the corresponding incentive for the customer. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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Specification