Systems and methods for order filling

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10915859-B2
Application number	US-201916505256-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 8, 2019
Priority date	Jan 29, 2016
Publication date	Feb 9, 2021
Grant date	Feb 9, 2021

Abstract

In some embodiments, a method can comprise retrieving an inventory layout of a facility and determining multiple pick lists at the facility. A first pick list for a first user and a second pick list of a second user each comprise a first common item. Receiving a first indication from the first mobile device that the first common item is not available at the facility. Analyzing a first set of rules of a substitute system to locate a first substitute item that is within a first predetermined percentage of a size of the first common item. After analyzing the first set of rules, automatically sending instructions to transfer the first route and the first pick list to the first mobile device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system comprising:
one or more processors; and
one or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing computing instructions configured to run on the one or more processors and perform:
retrieving an inventory layout of a facility;
determining multiple pick lists at the facility for one or more orders based at least in part on the inventory layout at the facility, wherein a first pick list for a first user of one or more users and a second pick list of a second user of the one or more users each comprise a first common item, and wherein the multiple pick lists comprise the first pick list and the second pick list;
determining a first route for the first pick list for the first user based at least on a first order of the one or more orders;
determining a second route for the second pick list for the second user based on at least a second order of the one or more orders;
sending instructions to transfer the first route and the first pick list to a first mobile device of one or more mobile devices;
sending instructions to transfer the second route and the second pick list to a second mobile device of the one or more mobile devices;
receiving a first indication from the first mobile device that the first common item is not available at the facility;
analyzing a first set of rules of a substitute system to locate a first substitute item that is within a first predetermined percentage of a size of the first common item;
after analyzing the first set of rules:
automatically updating the first route and the first pick list based at least in part on replacing the first common item with the first substitute item in the first pick list;
automatically sending instructions to transfer the first route, as updated, and the first pick list, as updated, to the first mobile device; and
before receiving a second indication from the second mobile device that the first common item is not available for the second pick list:
automatically updating the second route and the second pick list based at least in part on replacing the first common item with the first substitute item in the second pick list; and
automatically sending instructions to transfer the second route, as updated, and the second pick list, as updated, to the second mobile device.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein analyzing the first set of rules further comprises:
determining the first substitute item for the first common item is available at the facility, by:
determining that a brand of the first substitute item is similar to a brand of the first common item and is available at the facility; and
determining that a total amount of product of one or more packages of the first substitute item is similar to a total amount of the first common item and is available at the facility.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein analyzing the first set of rules further comprises:
determining the first substitute item for the first common item is available at the facility, by:
determining that a competitor item is similar to the first common item and is available at the facility.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the computing instructions are further configured to perform:
after analyzing the first set of rules and before automatically updating the first route, receiving a confirmation indication from the first mobile device to substitute the first common item with the first substitute item in the first order.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
determining the first route further comprises:
determining a shortest distance or a shortest time to complete the first route based at least in part on the inventory layout of the facility and an availability at the facility of one or more items on the first pick list; and

determining the second route further comprises:
determining a shortest distance or time to complete the second route based at least in part on the inventory layout of the facility and availability at the facility of one or more items on the second pick list.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein analyzing the first set of rules further comprises:
determining whether a second substitute item can be used as a substitute for the first common item in the second pick list.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
determining the first route for the first pick list further comprises:
determining the first route based on a temperature range of one or more items in the first pick list; and

determining the second route for the second pick list further comprises:
determining the second route based on a temperature range of one or more items in the second pick list.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
determining the first route for the first pick list further comprises:
determining the first route based on one or more product types of one or more items in the first pick list; and

determining the second route for the second pick list further comprises:
determining the second route based on one or more product types of one or more items in the second pick list.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the computing instructions are further configured to perform:
receiving one or more requests for the one or more orders that are placed online through an electronic commerce website.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the facility further comprises a retail store or a distribution center.

11. A method being implemented via execution of computing instructions to run at one or more processors and stored at one or more non-transitory computer-readable media, the method comprising:
retrieving, by a computer system, an inventory layout of a facility;
determining, by the computer system, multiple pick lists at the facility for one or more orders based at least in part on the inventory layout at the facility, wherein a first pick list for a first user of one or more users and a second pick list of a second user of the one or more users each comprise a first common item, and wherein the multiple pick lists comprise the first pick list and the second pick list;
determining, by the computer system, a first route for the first pick list for the first user based at least on a first order of the one or more orders;
determining, by the computer system, a second route for the second pick list for the second user based on at least a second order of the one or more orders;
sending instructions, by the computer system, to transfer the first route and the first pick list to a first mobile device of one or more mobile devices;
sending instructions, by the computer system, to transfer the second route and the second pick list to a second mobile device of the one or more mobile devices;
receiving, by the computer system, a first indication from the first mobile device that the first common item is not available at the facility;
analyzing, by the computer system, a first set of rules of a substitute system to locate a first substitute item that is within a first predetermined percentage of a size of the first common item;
after analyzing the first set of rules:
automatically updating, by the computer system, the first route and the first pick list based at least in part on replacing the first common item with the first substitute item in the first pick list;
automatically sending instructions, by the computer system, to transfer the first route, as updated, and the first pick list, as updated, to the first mobile device; and
before receiving a second indication from the second mobile device that the first common item is not available for the second pick list:
automatically updating, by the computer system, the second route and the second pick list based at least in part on replacing the first common i

Assignees

• Walmart Apollo Llc

Inventors

• Agarwal Gaurav
• Pattathil Devadas
• Ramkumar Rahul

Classifications

• G06Q10/087 Primary

  Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders · CPC title

• G06Q10/0833 Primary

  Tracking · CPC title

• G06Q10/08743

  using optimisation of routes · CPC title