Systems, methods, and computer program products for implementing a precision rate structure across one or more geographical areas

• US 9,646,282 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Issued: 05/09/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• 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: Anderson, Duane E
• Primary Examiner(s): Obaid, Fateh M
• Application Number:
  US13/828,806
• Publication Number:
  US 20140279300A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,517 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08345 Pricing

Abstract

Various embodiments provide a rate structuring system for determining a rate adjustment for at least one service point within a geographical area. In certain embodiments, the system comprises one or more computer processors configured to: receive service point data comprising one or more real-time observed characteristics associated with delivery of at least one package to one or more of said at least one service points within said geographical area; retrieve rate data; calculate at least one of cost data and profit data for each service point associated with said received service point data; compare said calculated cost/profit data against one or more parameters; and in response to at least a portion of said calculated data differing from said one or more parameters, generate rate adjustment instructions, said instructions being configured for implementation of an adjustment to said rate data. Associated computer program products and computer implemented methods are also provided.

Claims

1. A rate structuring system for determining a rate adjustment for at least one service point within a geographical area, said system comprising:

one or more memory storage areas containing at least rate data and one or more parameters, said rate data comprising existing rates for delivery of packages to each discrete one of said at least one service points within said geographical area, said geographical area corresponding to an area having a single zip-code; and

one or more computer processors configured to;

(A) receive service point data, said service point data comprising one or more real-time observed characteristics associated with delivery of at least one package to one or more of said at least one service points within said geographical area;

(B) retrieve at least a portion of said rate data contained in the one or more memory storage areas;

(C) calculate at least one of cost data or profit data for each service point associated with said received service point data;

(D) compare said calculated at least one of cost data or profit data against said one or more parameters contained in the one or more memory storage areas;

(E) in response to at least a portion of said calculated data differing from at least one of said one or more parameters, automatically based thereon generate rate adjustment instructions, said instructions being configured for facilitating automatic implementation of an adjustment to said rate data for each service point associated with said received service point data; and

(F) upon generation of said rate adjustment instructions, automatically transmit said rate adjustment instructions to at least one or more shipping request systems associated with and distinct from said rate structuring system for automatic implementation of said adjustment to said rate data so as to ensure said one or more users are presented with and incur updated rate data based upon a rate schedule incorporating said adjustment for each service point associated with said received service point data.

2. The rate structuring system of claim 1, wherein cost data is calculated in (C) and wherein:

if said cost data is greater than said one or more parameters, said adjustment is an increase of said rate data; and

if said cost data is less than said one or more parameters, said adjustment is a decrease of said rate data.

3. The rate structuring system of claim 2, wherein said one or more parameters are selected from a group consisting of an average cost for all service points across said geographical area, a median cost for all service points across said geographical area, and a mean cost for all service points across said geographical area.

4. The rate structuring system of claim 2, wherein said one or more parameters are selected from a group consisting of an average historical cost, a median historical cost, and a mean historical cost, as based upon historical trend data for each of said services point associated with said received service point data.

5. The rate structuring system of claim 1, wherein profit data is calculated in (C) and wherein:

if said profit data is greater than said one or more parameters, said adjustment is a decrease of said rate data; and

if said profit data is less than said one or more parameters, said adjustment is an increase of said rate data.

6. The rate structuring system of claim 5, wherein said one or more parameters are selected from a group consisting of an average cost for all service points across said geographical area, a median cost for all service points across said geographical area, and a mean cost for all service points across said geographical area.

7. The rate structuring system of claim 5, wherein said one or more parameters are selected from a group consisting of an average historical cost, a median historical cost, and a mean historical cost, as based upon historical trend data for each of said services point associated with said received service point data.

8. The rate structuring system of claim 1, wherein each said at least one service points are discreet mailing addresses assigned to said single zip-code area.

9. The rate structuring system of claim 1, wherein said one or more real-time observed characteristics associated with delivery of at least one package to said at least one service points within said geographical area are selected from a group consisting of:

density characteristics, access characteristics, equipment usage characteristics, personnel usage characteristics, fuel usage characteristics, package delivery volume characteristics, package delivery frequency characteristics, and time characteristics.

10. The rate structuring system of claim 1, wherein said service point data comprises one or more real-time observed characteristics associated with at least two service points within said geographical area and said one or more parameters against which said cost and profit data is compared is relative cost and profit data across said at least two service points.

11. The rate structuring system of claim 1, wherein said automatic implementation of said adjustment to said rate data is configured as an immediate implementation of an entirety of said adjustment.

12. The rate structuring system of claim 1, wherein said automatic implementation of said adjustment to said rate data is configured to occur as a periodic implementation of an entirety of said adjustment over an extended period of time.

13. The rate structuring system of claim 1, wherein said service point data is received by said one or more computer processors via one or more handheld devices carried by one or more delivery personnel tasked with delivery of said one or more packages at said at least one service point within said geographical area.

14. The rate structuring system of claim 1, wherein said one or more processors are further configured to apply one or more discounts to said rate adjustment instructions and to generate one or more real-time quotes based at least in part thereon for transmission to a user of the system.

15. The rate structuring system of claim 1, wherein said one or more processors are further configured to apply one or more discounts to said rate adjustment instructions and to generate one or more aggregate pricing bids based at least in part thereon for transmission to a user of the system.

16. A non-transitory computer program product comprising at least one computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions embodied therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising:

(A) a first executable portion configured for receiving and storing a plurality of data, wherein said data comprises;

(i) rate data comprising existing rates for delivery of packages to each discrete one of said at least one service points within said geographical area, said geographical area corresponding to an area having a single zip-code;

(ii) one or more pre-determined parameters associated with said geographical area; and

(iii) service point data comprising one or more real-time observed characteristics associated with delivery of at least one package to one or more of said at least one service points within said geographical area;

(B) a second executable portion configured for calculating at least one of cost data or profit data for each service point associated with said received service point data;

(C) a third executable portion configured for comparing said calculated at least one of cost data or profit data against said one or more pre-determined parameters;

(D) a fourth executable portion configured for, in response to at least a portion of said calculated data differing from at least one of said one or more parameters, automatically based thereon generating rate adjustment instructions, said instructions being configured for facilitating automatic implementation of an adjustment to said rate data for each service point associated with said received service point data; and

(E) a fifth executable portion configured for, upon generation of said rate adjustment instructions, automatically transmitting said rate adjustment instructions to at least one or more shipping request systems associated with and distinct from said rate structuring system for automatic implementation of said adjustment to said rate data so as to ensure said one or more users are presented with and incur updated rate data based upon a rate schedule incorporating said adjustment for each service point associated with said received service point data.

17. The non-transitory computer program product of claim 16, wherein:

said third executable portion is configured for comparing cost data to said one or more parameters; and

said fourth executable portion is configured for;

in response to said cost data being greater than said one or more parameters, generate rate adjustment instructions configured for implementation of an increase of said rate data; and

in response to said cost data being less than said one or more parameters, generate rate adjustment instructions configured for implementation of a decrease of said rate data.

18. The non-transitory computer program product of claim 16, wherein:

said third executable portion is configured for comparing profit data to said one or more parameters; and

said fourth executable portion is configured for;

in response to said profit data being greater than said one or more parameters, generate rate adjustment instructions configured for implementation of a decrease of said rate data; and

in response to said profit data being less than said one or more parameters, generate rate adjustment instructions configured for implementation of an increase of said rate data.

19. The non-transitory computer program product of claim 16, wherein said one or more parameters are selected from a group consisting of:

an average cost, a median cost, a mean cost, a historical cost, an average profit, a median profit, a mean profit, and a historical profit.

20. The non-transitory computer program product of claim 16, wherein each said at least one service points are discreet mailing addresses assigned to said single zip-code area.

21. The non-transitory computer program product of claim 16, wherein said service point data comprises one or more real-time observed characteristics associated with at least two service points within said geographical area and said one or more parameters against which said cost and profit data is compared is relative cost and profit data across said at least two service points.

22. The non-transitory computer program product of claim 16, wherein said service point data is received by said one or more computer processors via one or more handheld devices carried by one or more delivery personnel tasked with delivery of said one or more packages at said at least one service point within said geographical area.

23. The non-transitory computer program product of claim 16, wherein the sixth executable portion is further configured for applying one or more discounts to said rate adjustment instructions and for generating one or more real-time quotes based at least in part thereon for transmission to one or more users of the system.

24. The non-transitory computer program product of claim 16, wherein the sixth executable portion is further configured for applying one or more discounts to said rate adjustment instructions and for generating one or more aggregate pricing bids based at least in part thereon for transmission to a user of the system.

25. A computer-implemented method for determining a rate adjustment for at least one service point within a geographical area, the method comprising the steps of:

(A) receiving and storing service point data within one or more memory storage areas, said service point data comprising one or more real-time observed characteristics associated with delivery of at least one package to one or more of said at least one service points within said geographical area;

(B) retrieving from the one or more memory storage areas at least a portion of existing rate data, the existing rate data comprising existing rates for delivery of packages to each discrete one of said at least one service points within said geographical area, said geographical area corresponding to an area having a single zip-code;

(C) calculating, via at least one computer processor, at least one of cost data or profit data for each service point associated with said received service point data;

(D) comparing, via said at least one computer processor, said calculated at least one of cost data or profit data against one or more parameters contained in the one or more memory storage areas; and

(E) in response to at least a portion of said calculated data differing from at least one of said one or more parameters, automatically based thereon generate rate adjustment instructions, said instructions being configured for facilitating automatic implementation of an adjustment to said rate data for each service point associated with said received service point data; and

(F) upon generation of said rate adjustment instructions, automatically transmit said rate adjustment instructions to at least one or more shipping request systems associated with and distinct from said rate structuring system for automatic implementation of said adjustment to said rate data so as to ensure said one or more users are presented with and incur updated rate data based upon a rate schedule incorporating said adjustment for each service point associated with said received service point data.