Systems, methods, and computer-program products for determining shipping incentives

• US 8,572,002 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2011
• Issued: 10/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Inventors: Kadaba, Nagesh
• Primary Examiner(s): DIXON, THOMAS A
• Application Number:
  US13/332,911
• Publication Number:
  US 20130166359A1
• Time in Patent Office: 678 Days
• Field of Search: 705/337
• US Class Current: 705/337
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0222 During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions

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.

Claims

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.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the incentive is a discount on a cost of shipping for the customer.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the shipping for the customer comprises the inbound shipments being received from the plurality of parties and outbound shipments being made by the customer.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the incentive is a preferred shipping service for the customer.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

for each party of the plurality of parties already shipping the particular inbound shipment coming from the particular party by using the preferred common carrier, determining an incentive, by the at least one computer processor, that can be applied for the customer; and

applying the corresponding incentive for the customer.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the customer is a manufacturer and the plurality of parties is a plurality of suppliers.

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.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the incentive is a discount on a cost of shipping for the customer.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the shipping for the customer comprises the inbound shipments being received from the plurality of parties and outbound shipments being made by the customer.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the incentive is a preferred shipping service for the customer.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the at least one computer processor is further configured to:

for each party of the plurality of parties already shipping the particular inbound shipment coming from the particular party by using the preferred common carrier, determine an incentive for the customer; and

apply the corresponding incentive for the customer.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein the customer is a manufacturer and the plurality of parties is a plurality of suppliers.

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:

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.

14. The computer-program product of claim 13, wherein the incentive is a discount on a cost of shipping for the customer.

15. The computer-program product of claim 13, wherein the incentive is a preferred shipping service for the customer.

16. The computer-program product of claim 13, wherein the executable code, when executed by the at least one computer processor, causes the at least one computer processor to:

for each party of the plurality of parties already shipping the particular inbound shipment coming from the particular party by using the preferred common carrier, determine an incentive for the customer; and

apply the corresponding incentive for the customer.