System and method for controlling movement of an article

Abstract

The present invention aims to provide an apparatus and method for controlling a logistics system such that instant delivery of items is achieved while providing an enhanced range of different types of items to a majority of customers. Generally, the present invention introduces a virtual distribution center in which items are shared between fulfillment centers close to customers. According to the present invention, there is provided a system comprising: at least three fulfillment centers, each fulfillment center being arranged to fulfill orders for customers and / or stores; and a control unit arranged to control the at least three fulfillment centers. Each of the at least three fulfillment centers is arranged to share items with at least one other of the at least three fulfillment centers.

Description

[0001] This application claims priority from United Kingdom Patent Application No. GB1912750.5 filed on 5 September 2019, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present invention relates generally to the field of logistics management, and more specifically to apparatuses and methods for controlling a logistics fulfilment system. BACKGROUND

[0003] Systems that automatically control devices for movement of items are known. However, as the demand for local, national and global transportation of items increases, the management and scalability of such devices becomes increasingly difficult.

[0004] One such example involves the fulfilment of items for customers. Traditional fulfilment of such orders follows a kind of “as fast as possible” approach, in which items are collected, packaged and sent to customers as quickly as possible. In this scheme, items can be sent appropriately to meet the delivery times required by customers, whether the delivery time is within a week, a day or an hour. In this sense, such fulfilment can quickly move individual items to customers. Although this approach is effective for individual items, it does not take into account other items ordered by customers. As a result, multiple items are sent in multiple packages. As a result, customers need to expect, often different packages, at different times of delivery. This can lead to customer dissatisfaction and frustration, and increase packaging requirements, transportation costs, greenhouse gas emissions, etc.

[0005] Such a scheme is inconvenient for customers when ordering food groceries, as individual items will be expected at different times. Furthermore, this will be uneconomical, as food grocery orders typically comprise 50 items, and therefore require the delivery of 50 individual packages. As a result, the “as fast as possible” approach is not suitable.

[0006] WO-A1-2016066859 discloses an example apparatus for controlling movement of items. In particular, a fulfilment decision support system 100, one or more large fulfilment centres 102a, 102n, one or more small fulfilment centres 104a, 104n, an inventory management system 106, an order management system 108 and a logistics management system 110 are disclosed.

[0007] The fulfillment decision support system 100 supports automated provision of logistics decisions associated with order fulfillment and / or instructions related to logistics decisions. The large fulfillment centers 102a, 102n and the small fulfillment centers 104a, 104n are examples of a hierarchical arrangement of fulfillment centers. The inventory management system 106 generates, updates, and / or otherwise stores information related to inventory, such as inventory levels, stock keeping unit (SKU) quantities, inventory status, inventory rules (e.g., expiration dates, fragile goods, hazardous materials), reservations, inventory locations, and the like. The order management system 108 generates, updates, and / or otherwise stores information related to customer orders, such as products, delivery locations, and delivery time windows. The logistics management system 110 generates, updates, and / or otherwise stores information related to transportation links and / or transportation vehicles, such as transportation costs, available capacity, available capabilities, traffic congestion, vehicle availability, fuel costs, insurance costs, driver costs, available transportation links (e.g., available truck docks at a large fulfillment center), and the like.

[0008] In the example of WO-A1-2016066859, as shown in Figure 2 a central hub model of fulfillment is disclosed. In particular, a large fulfillment center 102a is connected to small fulfillment centers 104a, 104b, 104c, 104d, 104e, and 104f. This figure shows an example customer order fulfilled by truck.

[0009] The large fulfillment center 102a and the small fulfillment centers 104a, 104b, 104c, 104d, 104e, and 104f are arranged and interconnected in a star (central hub) topology.

[0010] Such a central hub topology, the centralized model provides extensive, high availability using an efficient operational model. In this way, items in an order are grouped together and the order can be compiled over a period of time until it is finally shipped to the customer. In addition, the centralized model provides for most "next day service" with a focus on orders that typically include 50 or more items. While one hour delivery and same day delivery can be fulfilled for those customers very close to the large fulfillment center, most customers' orders are shipped through the small fulfillment centers, which necessarily increases the time to fulfill and results in one hour delivery and same day delivery not being available for most customers.

[0011] This operational model provides efficient inbound, low waste, and optimal routing through the small fulfillment centers, which brings the last mile of delivery close to the customer.

[0012] However, as expected, it is not as fast as the "as fast as possible" approach in terms of shipping items. In particular, this hub-and-spoke model is best suited for "next-day delivery", in which customers receive the entire order the day after placing the order. Due to the location and method of transportation from the large fulfillment center to the small fulfillment center, it is not possible to attempt to shorten the delivery time for delivery within a day, especially within an hour, in such a model.

[0013] Therefore, there is a need for a fulfillment solution that is scalable, can provide a large range of different types of items, and is available to all customers, while also being suitable for one-hour delivery of large orders (including dozens of items).

[0014] There are also known micro-fulfillment systems that can provide fulfillment near the customer location. In this way, an increase in fulfillment efficiency is achieved, thereby reducing the main cost of online food groceries. However, it lacks the advantages of the centralized model, especially failing to eliminate high distribution costs. In addition, it has lower availability of items, higher occupancy costs, a smaller range of items to choose from, and greater waste. In addition, the burden of receiving inventory and stock management is also increased. Therefore, such a system is not scalable. SUMMARY

[0015] In view of the problems in known fulfillment systems, the present invention aims to provide an apparatus and method for controlling a logistics system such that instant delivery of items is achieved, while providing an enhanced range of different types of items to most customers.

[0016] Generally, the present invention introduces a virtual distribution center in which items are shared between fulfillment centers close to the customers.

[0017] According to the present invention, there is provided a system comprising: at least three fulfillment centers, each fulfillment center being arranged to fulfill orders for customers and / or stores; and a control unit arranged to control the at least three fulfillment centers. Each of the at least three fulfillment centers is arranged to share items with at least one other of the at least three fulfillment centers.

[0018] The present invention also provides a control unit for controlling a system as previously described, the control unit comprising a processor arranged to perform the functions of an inventory level storage unit, a delivery schedule storage unit, a supplier schedule storage unit, a scheduling unit, a long term forecast storage unit, a committed order storage unit, a forecasting unit, a planning unit and a transfer unit. The inventory level storage unit is arranged to store information indicative of inventory levels of items held in each of the at least three fulfilment centres. The delivery schedule storage unit is arranged to store information indicative of scheduled transfers occurring between the at least three fulfilment centres. The supplier schedule storage unit is arranged to store information indicative of scheduled deliveries from external suppliers. The scheduling unit is arranged to determine a batching schedule based on the information stored in each of the inventory level storage unit, the delivery schedule storage unit and the supplier schedule storage unit. The long term forecast storage unit is arranged to store information indicative of expected demand trends for items in each of the at least three fulfilment centres. The committed order storage unit is arranged to store information indicative of items that have been ordered by customers / stores. The forecasting unit is arranged to forecast the quantity of each item that customers / stores are expected to demand based on the information stored in the long term forecast storage unit and the committed order storage unit. The planning unit is arranged to estimate required items and their required locations based on the batching schedule determined by the scheduling unit and the forecast generated by the forecasting unit. The transfer unit is arranged to indicate, based on the output of the planning unit, that a particular fulfilment centre is to move a determined quantity of items from one fulfilment centre to another fulfilment centre.

[0019] The present invention also provides a computing unit for determining the availability of a particular item held by a system as previously described, the computing unit comprising a processor arranged to perform the functions of an inventory level storage unit, a delivery schedule storage unit, a supplier schedule storage unit, a planning unit, a committed order, a tracking unit. The inventory level storage unit is arranged to store information indicative of inventory levels of items held in each of the at least three fulfilment centres. The supplier schedule storage unit is arranged to store information indicative of scheduled deliveries from external suppliers. The planning unit is arranged to determine a batching schedule based on the information stored in each of the inventory level storage unit and the supplier schedule storage unit. The committed order storage unit is arranged to store information indicative of items that have been ordered by customers / stores. The tracking unit is arranged to calculate the availability of each item in the at least three fulfilment centres based on the output of the planning unit and the information stored in the committed order storage unit.

[0020] The present invention also provides a method of controlling a system comprising: at least three fulfilment centres, each fulfilment centre arranged to fulfil orders to customers and / or stores; and a control unit arranged to control the at least three fulfilment centres. Each of the at least three fulfilment centres is arranged to share items with at least one other of the at least three fulfilment centres. The method comprises the steps of: retrieving information indicative of inventory levels of items held by each of the at least three fulfilment centres; retrieving information indicative of scheduled transfers occurring between the at least three fulfilment centres; retrieving information indicative of scheduled deliveries from external suppliers; and determining a batching schedule based on the retrieved inventory level information, the scheduled transfer information and the scheduled delivery information. The method also comprises the steps of: retrieving information indicative of expected trends in demand for items in each of the at least three fulfilment centres; retrieving information indicative of items that have been ordered by customers / stores; and predicting the quantity of each item that customers / stores are expected to demand based on the retrieved expected trend information and the ordered item information. Furthermore, the method further comprises the steps of: estimating the items required and their required locations based on the determined batching schedule and the made predictions; and instructing a particular fulfilment centre to move a determined quantity of items from one fulfilment centre to another based on the estimated items and their required locations.

[0021] The present invention also provides a method of determining the availability of a particular item held by a system comprising: at least three fulfilment centres, each fulfilment centre arranged to fulfil orders to customers and / or stores; and a control unit arranged to control the at least three fulfilment centres. Each of the at least three fulfilment centres is arranged to share items with at least one other of the at least three fulfilment centres. The method comprises the steps of: retrieving information indicative of inventory levels of items held by each of the at least three fulfilment centres; retrieving information indicative of scheduled deliveries from external suppliers; and determining a batching schedule based on the retrieved inventory level information and the scheduled delivery information. Furthermore, the method also comprises the steps of: retrieving information indicative of items that have been ordered by customers / stores, and calculating the availability of each item in the at least three fulfilment centres based on the determined batching schedule and the retrieved ordered item information. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0022] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0023] Figure 1 is a schematic block diagram of a known logistics arrangement;

[0024] Figure 2is a schematic view of a large fulfillment center connected to a plurality of small fulfillment centers in a hub-and-spoke fashion according to a known logistics arrangement;

[0025] Figure 3 is a schematic view of a control unit according to a first embodiment of the present application and a plurality of fulfillment centers arranged in a mesh configuration;

[0026] Figure 4 is Figure 3 is a schematic view of a part of the fulfillment center network shown when performing a push transfer operation;

[0027] Figure 5 is Figure 3 is a schematic view of a part of the fulfillment center network shown when performing a pull transfer operation;

[0028] Figure 6 is a schematic view of components used in a control unit according to a first embodiment of the present application;

[0029] Figure 7 is a flowchart of operations performed by a control unit according to a first embodiment of the present application;

[0030] Figure 8 is a schematic view of components used in a computing unit according to a first embodiment of the present application;

[0031] Figure 9 is a flowchart of operations performed by a computing unit according to a first embodiment of the present application;

[0032] Figure 10 is an example of a computer system arranged to implement at least one of a control unit and a computing unit according to a first embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] First Embodiment

[0034] Network architecture

[0035] Figure 3A control unit 301 according to a first embodiment of the present application is shown along with other devices to be controlled thereby. In particular, three fulfillment centers 302a-302c are shown along with vehicles for transporting items between the fulfillment centers. As shown, a first fulfillment center 302a is shown with a vehicle 303ab traveling to a second fulfillment center 302b and a vehicle 303ac traveling to a third fulfillment center 302c. Similarly, a second fulfillment center 302b is shown with a vehicle 303ba and a vehicle 303bc traveling to the first and third fulfillment centers, respectively. Further, a third fulfillment center 302c is shown with a vehicle 303ca and a vehicle 303cb traveling to the first and second fulfillment centers, respectively. The control unit 301 controls the actions performed by each fulfillment center as well as the movement of the vehicles and their cargo.

[0036] Figure 3 An exemplary supply of items into each of the fulfillment centers is further shown. For example, a supplier A providing carton products is supplied to the first fulfillment center 302a and not the other fulfillment centers. Similarly, a supplier B provides fresh produce to the second fulfillment center 302b and not the other fulfillment centers. The fulfillment center 302c receives canned products from a supplier C that are not supplied to the other fulfillment centers. It is contemplated that the types of products and their supply to the respective fulfillment centers are provided herein as examples only. Other arrangements of the supply to each of the fulfillment centers are contemplated depending on the requirements of each supplier, fulfillment center, and item type.

[0037] As an example, a customer 305 is shown whose order is fulfilled by a vehicle 306 dispatched from the third fulfillment center 302c. It is contemplated that each of the fulfillment centers provide orders to customers as needed, e.g., when a customer places an order, and the example of the third fulfillment center 302c providing the order to the customer is merely an example, i.e., each of the first and second fulfillment centers can also provide the customer's order. To this end, if the customer 305 has ordered each of the items provided by suppliers A, B, and C, i.e., carton products, fresh produce, and canned products, then it is necessary to share the items between each of the fulfillment centers to concentrate all of the ordered items in one location for shipment on the vehicle 306. To accomplish this, the third fulfillment center 302c receives from the first fulfillment center 302a a number of items provided by supplier A that have been transshipped on the vehicle 303ac. Similarly, the third fulfillment center 302c receives from the second fulfillment center 302b the items from supplier B transshipped on the vehicle 303bc.

[0038] As previously described, given the number of items to be delivered (typically more than 50) and the fact that each item has a use-by date and must be kept fresh, "as fast as possible" delivery is not feasible for grocery delivery. Therefore, items are grouped into a location for delivery to customers in a single delivery by a vehicle 306. Previously, this was achieved using a centralized warehouse and multiple smaller sites in a hub-and-spoke arrangement. However, this was only for next-day delivery. On the other hand, using fulfillment centers 302a-302c arranged to share items provides the advantage of "as fast as possible" delivery, but in a way that is suitable for food. To achieve this, each fulfillment center is located relatively close to customers 305. In this way, next-day delivery can still be achieved - just like with a hub-and-spoke arrangement. However, because of the proximity to customers, same-day delivery (typically delivered within 4 hours or more), short lead times (between 1 hour and 4 hours) and immediate delivery (within 1 hour) are all possible. Such an arrangement is achievable because the size of the fulfillment centers 302a-302c is smaller compared to those used in a hub-and-spoke arrangement that allow installation in locations close to customers 305. Typically, this will require providing a reduced range of items and / or a reduced ability to fulfill a large number of orders per hour. However, because of the sharing of inventory between fulfillment centers controlled by the control unit 301, the same range of items and the same number of orders per hour can be achieved compared to the centralized fulfillment centers of a hub-and-spoke arrangement, while immediate (within 1 hour) delivery can be provided to customers 305.

[0039] Similarly, Figure 3 A store 307 is shown that can be restocked by a vehicle 308 travelling from the second fulfillment center 302b. In this regard, the control unit 301 can treat the store 307 as a customer 305 ordering items for delivery at a particular time. In this regard, the store 307 can be restocked by any of the fulfillment centers located nearby within a suitable time range, such as next-day delivery, same-day delivery, short lead times and immediate delivery.

[0040] Furthermore, each fulfillment center is treated as interchangeable. Although Figure 3 A store restocking is shown as occurring from the second fulfillment center 302b, it is envisaged that each of the first fulfillment center 302a and the third fulfillment center 302c are equally capable of restocking a store using the vehicle 308. Similarly, customer orders can be fulfilled directly from each of the first fulfillment center 302a and the second fulfillment center 302b as appropriate, for example, when a customer is located closest to either of the first fulfillment center 302a and the second fulfillment center 302b compared to the third fulfillment center 302c.

[0041] With respect to the delivery of suppliers to each fulfillment center, it is expected that in many cases, a supplier will supply its items to a fulfillment center that is close to its shipping location. For example, it is generally expected that supplier A will supply carton items to only the first fulfillment center 302a and not to the other fulfillment centers. In this way, supplier A gains the benefit of not having to ship items to other fulfillment centers and not having to manage inventory level balancing between fulfillment centers. Instead, the control unit 301 is arranged to instruct the vehicles 303ab, 303ac to supply the appropriate number of cartons to the second fulfillment center 302b and the third fulfillment center 302c that are needed to fulfill the orders that it ships to customers and stores. Similarly, it is expected that supplier B will supply fresh produce to only the second fulfillment center 302b that is located near supplier B. In turn, the second fulfillment center 302b is arranged to replenish the level of fresh produce in each of the first fulfillment center 302a and the third fulfillment center 302c. The same applies to supplier C and the third fulfillment center 302c.

[0042] Further, the control unit 301 can be further arranged to cause the vehicles 303 to move between the fulfillment centers on a predetermined schedule. For example, the vehicles 303 can be instructed to move between the fulfillment centers every four hours. In particular, the vehicle 303ac can be instructed to move from the first fulfillment center 303ac to the third fulfillment center 302c every four hours. Similarly, multiple vehicles can be instructed to leave each fulfillment center every four hours to move to a different fulfillment center. For example, vehicle 303ca from the third fulfillment center 302c to the first fulfillment center 302a, vehicle 303cb from the third fulfillment center 302c to the second fulfillment center 302b, vehicle 303ba from the second fulfillment center 302b to the first fulfillment center 302a, vehicle 303ab from the first fulfillment center 302a to the second fulfillment center 302b, vehicle 303bc from the second fulfillment center 303bc to the third fulfillment center 302c, and so on. In this way, items can be efficiently shared between the fulfillment centers on a predetermined schedule.

[0043] Figure 3The use of three fulfilment centres 302a-302c is shown. In this way, the fulfilment centres form a network in which items can be transferred from one fulfilment centre to another using vehicles such as lorries (although other vehicles are envisaged), in addition to other types of transport such as vans, cars, trains, planes and automated and magnetic drive / suspended vehicles. In this regard, any means suitable for transferring items from one fulfilment centre to another is envisaged for this purpose. In this example, each fulfilment centre can be arranged to share items directly between all other fulfilment centres, in other words, the fulfilment centres can be arranged in a mesh network in which each fulfilment centre is "connected" to every other fulfilment centre.

[0044] It is envisaged that once a vehicle has travelled from, for example, the first fulfilment centre 302a to the second fulfilment centre 302b, the vehicle can be unloaded and then reloaded to travel back to the first fulfilment centre 302a. In this regard, a significant portion of the vehicle capacity, preferably all, is used for the movement of items when the vehicle is travelling. In contrast, the hub and spoke model only uses the capacity of the central hub to each spoke. The return journey from the spoke to the hub is less efficient as the vehicle is not used to transport items. Therefore, the first embodiment of the present application provides a higher average fill of vehicles compared to the hub and spoke model. Furthermore, through careful scheduling, each fulfilment centre can be used for higher capacity. For example, vehicles can be used to transport items for shop replenishment during the night, for example, between 10pm and 6am (at which time the volume of orders for direct delivery to customers is lowest). Goods for same day delivery can be transported during the day so that they are ready for delivery to customers in the evening, for example, after 7pm. In this regard, by constantly transferring items between fulfilment centres, these fulfilment centres can be best utilised. Transferring stock enables customers / shops to have a wide range of access and high availability.

[0045] Fulfillment centers are generally of the same size, i.e., capable of processing substantially the same number of orders per hour and storing substantially the same amount of items. In this way, each fulfillment center is substantially the same, but located at different geographic locations relative to each other. However, the system described herein operates effectively with fulfillment centers of different sizes. The hub and spoke system of order fulfillment relies on a hierarchy of fulfillment centers, where a large fulfillment center (in terms of a large number of orders per hour that can be processed, large item storage capacity, and a wide range of items stored therein) ships customer orders to a plurality of small fulfillment centers (that have reduced order processing per hour and item storage capacity compared to the large fulfillment center). Due to its size, the large fulfillment center is typically located far from population centers, while the small fulfillment centers are located close to population centers, where operating costs and / or inventory space costs can be higher.

[0046] In another aspect, the fulfillment centers in the first embodiment of the invention are generally envisioned to be of a medium size (in terms of a medium number of orders per hour that can be processed and medium item storage capacity) compared to the hub and spoke system. Instead of a single large fulfillment center, three medium-sized fulfillment centers arranged in a mesh provide improved functionality for both the supplier and the customer, as will be explained in greater detail.

[0047] Although three fulfillment centers are described, it is contemplated that more than three fulfillment centers can be used. Each fulfillment center ships items from each fulfillment center to every other fulfillment center organized by the control unit 301.

[0048] The fulfillment centers 302a-302c can have various capabilities associated with logistics and supply chain needs, such as a high level of automation and / or a high level of mechanized processes. The fulfillment centers can also operate more hours per day and can operate in coordination with transportation vehicles.

[0049] Various transportation vehicles can be used to transport goods between fulfillment centers, to customers, from suppliers, to suppliers, etc. These transportation links can be of various types, such as cars, trucks, trains, ferries, airplanes, helicopters, express delivery, etc. There can be transportation vehicles with different capabilities, capacities, limitations, sizes, and / or operating costs. In some embodiments, some transportation vehicles also have additional equipment suitable for various capabilities, such as refrigeration, hover, vibration resistant, hazardous chemical transport, etc.

[0050] Products provided by a supplier can be packed in containers that hold a large number of like items. These containers can be standardized containers that can be suitable for ready storage, shipping, and / or interfacing with fulfillment center automation systems (e.g., for picking, packing, etc.). Providing such containers to other fulfillment centers where the like items are slow-moving items can present problems. For example, if storage space is very expensive at a fulfillment center, inventory space that could otherwise be used to store other goods can be occupied by a non-optimal number of slow-moving items. Thus, as explained in further detail below, goods can be repackaged at a fulfillment center into standardized containers that contain a variety of different kinds of items.

[0051] In some embodiments, goods can be initially received at a fulfillment center. The goods can be received in standardized containers, or the goods can be received in other ways (e.g., on shipping pallets) and transferred into standardized containers upon arrival at the fulfillment center. The goods can be sorted into various containers for storage at the fulfillment center. For example, a first product can be sorted into a first container for storage, while a second product can be sorted into a second container for storage.

[0052] Standardized containers can be provided in one or more predefined sizes. Conveniently, according to some embodiments, the use of standardized containers having predefined sizes can enable the containers to be easily manipulated by mechanized storage and retrieval systems provided at a fulfillment center. In some embodiments, similar mechanized storage and retrieval systems can be provided at another fulfillment center or collection point.

[0053] In some embodiments, the mechanized storage and retrieval systems can include a plurality of inventory management devices suitable for manipulating inventory, e.g., as part of various inventory management processes performed at a fulfillment center, such as picking processes, packing processes, sorting processes, space optimization processes, etc. Thus, the inventory management devices can be configured to manipulate (e.g., move, load, unload, retrieve, carry, rotate, roll, dock, undock, elevate, or otherwise handle) containers, groups of containers, or goods contained therein. For example, the inventory management devices can be configured to move containers from one location in a fulfillment center to another location in the fulfillment center. In one embodiment, one or more of the inventory management devices can be devices configured to move autonomously through the fulfillment center and thereby move containers. One or more of the inventory management devices can also be used to automate other types of tasks and / or actions (e.g., docking with containers, undocking from containers, elevating containers, interfacing with containers, transferring containers to other types of devices) as well.

[0054] In some embodiments, the standardized containers can be configured to interface with one or more of the inventory management devices. For example, the standardized containers can include various structural features, e.g., grooves, protrusions, fastening mechanisms, securing mechanisms, rollers, electrical connections, etc., that can be used to interface with the inventory management devices for manipulation.

[0055] In some embodiments, the standardized containers can also be housed in containers that hold one or more standardized containers, which can be configured to interface with one or more of the inventory management devices. For example, multiple standardized containers can be placed into a single container and moved together by the inventory management devices. In some embodiments, the standardized containers can be stacked together and moved together. The standardized containers can also be configured to secure to one another.

[0056] In some embodiments, the containers used for transshipping goods can be selected from a set of standardized containers of at least one predefined size. Thus, in one example workflow, goods can be picked from one or more standardized containers for packaging into other standardized containers.

[0057] Advantageously, according to some embodiments, the use of standardized containers of predefined sizes enables the containers to be easily manipulated by mechanized storage and retrieval systems provided at the fulfillment centers. These standardized containers can interface with one or more of the inventory management devices provided as part of the mechanized storage and retrieval systems of the fulfillment centers, e.g., for manipulation at the fulfillment centers. For example, standardized containers transshipped from one fulfillment center to another can be moved by the inventory management devices upon receipt at the fulfillment center.

[0058] As Figure 3 shown, using a network of fulfillment centers provides for efficient large-scale vendor inbound, similar to a hub-and-spoke centralized fulfillment center. In addition, transshipping provides the ability to move inventory efficiently between fulfillment centers without minimum order quantities to maximize range offerings, while still committing to high availability and freshness to customers with low waste. In addition, ongoing transshipping between fulfillment centers enables efficient scheduled transshipping as well as the ability to "gamble" at the last minute to improve availability and reduce clearance by reallocating inventory to maximize sales when forecasts do not equal demand. As previously described, the use of automated storage and retrieval systems provides for automated transshipping decanting processes at each fulfillment center to improve productivity for inbound operations with inventory scarcity.

[0059] The network of fulfillment centers controlled by the control unit 301 of the first embodiment enables high efficiency operation driven by a large number of direct suppliers, efficient inbound operations, and low waste and low occupancy of large off-site locations. This enables a large range, high availability, and improved freshness for the consumer. It provides higher operational efficiency for next day delivery, same day evening delivery, and store replenishment. In addition, providing inventory closer to the customer enables short lead time orders but still with the same range offering. As the vehicles run at capacity for all legs of the journey, transportation costs are reduced. The vehicles have a higher average fill compared to a hub and spoke model.

[0060] Figure 4 The transfer process controlled by the control unit 301 is illustrated. In particular, Figure 4 The type of transfer described in the middle is referred to as push transfer. Push transfer occurs between fulfillment centers to transfer items that will only be delivered by a supplier to a single fulfillment center. In this regard, the fulfillment center that receives the items from the supplier is named the “parent” fulfillment center and the fulfillment center(s) that receive the items from the parent fulfillment center are named the “child” fulfillment center. In this regard, it is envisaged that a particular fulfillment center will be the parent for some items and the child for other items. For example, as shown in Figure 3 the first fulfillment center 302a is the parent for carton items and the child for canned items and produce items. Similarly, the second fulfillment center 302b is the parent for produce items and the child for carton items and canned items.

[0061] It is envisaged that for some items it can be desirable for the supplier to deliver the item to all of the fulfillment centers. In other words, the parent and child fulfillment centers can not apply to all items. This is typically the case for items with a short shelf life, i.e. items that can only be kept at a fulfillment center for a short period of time before they must be discarded. For example, yogurt items can typically only be kept at a fulfillment center for a short period of time and so it is preferable for them to be delivered by the supplier to all of the fulfillment centers in the network without being transferred.

[0062] In addition, some items can be preferably delivered to multiple fulfillment centers rather than all of the fulfillment centers. In other words, more than one fulfillment center can be the parent for an item. For example, the first fulfillment center 302a can receive a particular item from a supplier on a certain day of the week (e.g. Monday) while the second fulfillment center 302b receives the same particular item from the supplier on another day of the week (e.g. Wednesday). The item can then be distributed to the third fulfillment center 302c using transfer.

[0063] In addition, the parent fulfillment center for a particular item can change dynamically (and be assigned as required by the control unit 301). In other words, the parent fulfillment center can be dynamically recommended / implemented by the control unit 301 in order to best balance the flow of items through the network of fulfillment centers.

[0064] Typical cases Figure 4 As shown. In this example, supplier A is instructed to supply carton items to first fulfillment center 302a instead of other fulfillment centers. Assuming a customer / store may need carton items for delivery but is located closer to other fulfillment centers than first fulfillment center 302a, control unit 301 arranges for the carton items to be transferred from first fulfillment center 302a to each of second fulfillment center 302b and third fulfillment center 302c via vehicles 303ab and 303ac, respectively. In this way, items are entered into the fulfillment center network through only a single fulfillment center and cascaded to other fulfillment centers using intra-network transport. To this end, control unit 301 calculates and instructs the parent fulfillment center to transport a calculated quantity of carton items to each fulfillment center. As explained later, the quantity transported to each fulfillment center is calculated by control unit 301 such that each fulfillment center receives an accurate quantity of items, depending on each fulfillment center's demand for such items. As described earlier, imagine items moving from one fulfillment center to another in standardized containers. For example, each standardized container is arranged to contain a single type of item, i.e., a single inventory storage unit. Therefore, it is envisioned that the cardboard boxes are poured into standardized containers at the first fulfillment center 302a. The standardized containers can then be transferred between fulfillment centers, thus facilitating the transfer of goods.

[0065] By using Figure 4 The transshipment process shown operates more efficiently by using large, direct suppliers, resulting in efficient inbound operations and low waste. Locating fulfillment centers close to customers enables short-lead-time orders and provides the same range of supply as a centralized model. This approach provides customers with a wide variety of items, enhancing availability and improving the freshness of goods.

[0066] As explained, transportation costs are reduced compared to the center-radial model. Furthermore, the average fill capacity of vehicles increases.

[0067] The push-transfer system is designed to redistribute inventory efficiently around a network of fulfillment centers. To this end, control unit 301 is configured to determine the inventory levels and inventory planning for each fulfillment center, and to determine how much excess inventory each fulfillment center has. Excess inventory can be redistributed to the fulfillment centers that need it most. Therefore, push-transfer can be described as a redistribution transport arranged to transport inventory with longer shelf lives by considering longer timeframes. Typically, this occurs immediately after the parent fulfillment center delivers the inventory. However, it can be delayed if necessary to allow for smoother transfer of items, thereby increasing vehicle fill.

[0068] It can be envisioned that push-based transfers can be a unidirectional process (for a specific product from a specific supplier), in which inventory is shared from the parent fulfillment center to the child fulfillment center. In another example, a bidirectional process could be employed.

[0069] Figure 5 The diagram illustrates a further process of transfer controlled by control unit 301. This type of transfer is known as a pull transfer. Pull transfers occur between fulfillment centers when the quantity of a specific item in a fulfillment center is insufficient to supply a customer / store order. Therefore, control unit 301 is arranged to enable one fulfillment center to supply the required item to another fulfillment center that needs that item. For example, as... Figure 5 As shown, the second fulfillment center 302b is arranged to supply goods to the first fulfillment center 302a using a vehicle 303ba. It is conceivable that the vehicle 302ba is not solely for this purpose, but also for other goods, including those already determined by the control unit 301 to be transported to the first fulfillment center 302a, and for transferring goods between fulfillment centers, such as fresh produce supplied by supplier B to the second fulfillment center 302b and requiring delivery to the first fulfillment center 302a. In this way, the transport capacity of the vehicle is maximized.

[0070] In one example, a customer may order a canned item (along with other items). Control unit 301 can calculate that, given the customer's location, the order will be fulfilled from a first fulfillment center 302a. As described previously, neither the first fulfillment center 302a nor the second fulfillment center 302b receives the canned item from supplier C. Instead, the item is delivered directly to a third fulfillment center 302c, which in turn transfers the canned item to each of the other fulfillment centers. Thus, each fulfillment center holds an inventory of a specific canned item as determined by control unit 301. Control unit 301 is also arranged to allocate a portion of this inventory to customer / store orders for dispatch as needed. At this point, control unit 301 can determine the inventory level of the canned item based on the quantity in stock, the quantity about to be in stock (e.g., about to be received from the supplier), and the quantity in stock at other fulfillment centers to determine the "commitment availability," which indicates whether the customer is able to order the item for dispatch. The "commitment availability" aspect of the first embodiment will be described in more detail later. Therefore, the first embodiment of the invention offers the advantage that even inventory not currently held in the fulfillment center for delivery can be transferred from additional inventory in other fulfillment centers by means of vehicles that move continuously between fulfillment centers according to a specific schedule (e.g., every four hours). Therefore, referring to... Figure 5For the first fulfilment centre 302a to fulfil a customer's order for a canned item, the control unit 301 is arranged to transfer the canned item from the second fulfilment centre 302b (as a pull transfer), which will be delivered to the first fulfilment centre 302a by a vehicle 303ba moving on a predetermined schedule. In this way, unexpected increases in demand for a particular item (possibly with insufficient stock levels) at each fulfilment centre can be met by sharing inventory between fulfilment centres using vehicles moving between fulfilment centres on a predetermined schedule.

[0071] Furthermore, pull transfers are typically used for short term orders designed to meet near term customer demand. The control unit 301 is arranged to estimate the required stock levels in each fulfilment centre based on inventory planning, forecasting and transfer vendor schedules for each fulfilment centre. To this end, the control unit 301 thereby selects the correct candidate to fulfil an order - which is typically the parent fulfilment centre for a particular item. To this end, pull transfers can be described as top up shipping.

[0072] Figure 6 An implementation of the control unit 301 according to the first embodiment of the application is shown. In particular, the control unit 301 comprises a scheduling unit 601, an inventory level storage unit 602, a delivery schedule storage unit 603 and a vendor schedule storage unit 604. Furthermore, the control unit 301 further comprises a forecasting unit 605, a long term forecast storage unit 606 and a committed order storage unit 607. In addition, the control unit 301 further comprises a planning unit 608, a transfer unit 609 and an ordering unit 610.

[0073] The scheduling unit 601 is arranged to determine a batching schedule relating to the number of stock of each item held in each fulfilment centre, inventory information from vendors and whether inventory can reach a fulfilment centre by transfer. To this end, the scheduling unit 601 is arranged to communicate with the inventory level storage unit 602, the delivery schedule storage unit 603 and the vendor schedule storage unit 604. In more detail, the inventory level storage unit 602 is arranged to store information indicative of the number of each different item stored in each fulfilment centre. In this way, the scheduling unit 601 can assess the inventory level of each individual type of item across all fulfilment centres. The delivery schedule storage unit 603 is arranged to store information indicative of scheduled transfers occurring between fulfilment centres. For example, this information can include information that a vehicle will move between fulfilment centres every four hours. In more detail, this schedule information can include the time at which a vehicle is expected to leave each fulfilment centre and the time at which it is expected to arrive at the destination fulfilment centre. With reference to Figure 5The information can include information that the vehicle 303ba is scheduled to leave the second fulfillment center 302b at 1 pm and is scheduled to arrive at the first fulfillment center 302a at 2 pm on a particular day. It is envisaged that a certain level of detail of such information can include at a daily, monthly or yearly level of detail. For example, a schedule for a weekend can be different compared to a schedule for a weekday. Similarly, a schedule for a summer month can be different from a schedule for a winter month or around a national holiday. In this way, the scheduling unit 601 is arranged to determine the availability of placing items onto the incoming and outgoing vehicles according to the requirements of the customer orders at a particular fulfillment center.

[0074] The supplier schedule storage unit 604 is arranged to store information indicative of scheduled deliveries of items from each supplier. In addition, the supplier schedule storage unit 604 can also store information indicative of the likelihood of scheduled deliveries of items from each supplier. The suppliers of each item to the network of fulfillment centers supply these items according to a predetermined schedule. For example, supplier A can supply carton items on every Monday and Thursday. Such information is stored in the supplier schedule storage unit 604. In addition, such a supplier can also have an availability to increase the scheduled deliveries, for example, an extra delivery of items on Wednesday. Such likelihoods are additionally stored in the supplier schedule storage unit 604. Furthermore, information can be stored about the quantity of items contained in each delivery. In addition, the schedule can specify the shelf life of the items being delivered, for example, if fresh produce is being delivered, it can be specified that the items of fresh produce have a shelf life of three days (until the items have to be processed).

[0075] The scheduling unit 601 is thereby arranged to determine a batch schedule based on the information stored in the inventory level storage unit 602, the delivery schedule storage unit 603 and the supplier schedule storage unit 604. In this way, the total inventory of a particular item in the network of fulfillment centers can be evaluated based on the time and the likelihood of movement of the inventory around the network of fulfillment centers.

[0076] The prediction unit 605 is arranged to predict the quantity and type of items that need to be shipped from the network of fulfillment centers to customers / stores in a particular time period. To achieve this, the prediction unit 605 uses information from the long-term prediction storage unit 606 and the committed order storage unit 607. In this way, the expected demand of each type of item from each fulfillment center can be calculated. In one example, the prediction can estimate the demand of each item at each fulfillment center for a particular time period, for example, the next 35 days.

[0077] Optionally, the prediction unit 605 can make predictions based on the safety stock held by each fulfilment centre. In more detail, it can be required that each fulfilment centre holds a certain amount of safety stock of an item, such that a sudden and unexpected increase in orders for a particular item can be handled without depleting all of the item stock of the fulfilment centre and without an immediate restocking from other fulfilment centres. To this end, the prediction unit 605 can be arranged to make predictions based on the mean and standard deviation of the safety stock.

[0078] The long-term prediction storage unit 606 is arranged to store information indicative of the expected trends in demand for each item in the fulfilment centres. Such information can be based on previously observed demand for items ordered by customers / stores. For example, it can be noted that items suitable for hot weather are ordered in summer months (e.g. barbecue items) and other different items suitable for cold weather are ordered in winter months. It is envisaged that such information can be stored to the level of granularity required for the predictions. For example, information can be stored that a national holiday is coming up that will change the purchasing habits of customers / stores. In this regard, the long-term prediction storage unit 606 is arranged to store information that enables predictions of demand for items.

[0079] The committed order storage unit 607 is arranged to store information indicative of items that have been allocated to orders by customers / stores. For example, a website can be provided through which customers can order items. To enable this, a customer can select those items that are to be purchased and place them in a virtual shopping basket, after which the customer can pay for the items through an online checkout before confirming the order and ordering its delivery through the website. To this end, the committed order storage unit 607 can be arranged to store information as a committed order when an item is added to the virtual shopping basket before the online checkout. In this way, the committed order storage unit 607 is arranged to store information indicative of those items that are committed to a customer / store based on selections made by the customer / store.

[0080] Accordingly, the prediction unit 605 is arranged to determine the required demand for a particular item from the network of fulfilment centres based on the expected demand determined from the long-term prediction storage unit 606 and based on the information stored in the committed order storage unit 607 of those items committed to customers. Accordingly, the prediction unit 605 can predict the demand for each item from the fulfilment centres over a particular time period. The prediction unit 605 can use historical predictions and a prediction error model to generate predicted values and actual values with an expected variability and error. The prediction unit 605 can be arranged to predict demand for items across the entire network of fulfilment centres and / or to predict demand for items from a single fulfilment centre.

[0081] The planning unit 608 is arranged to estimate the items required to fulfil customer / store orders and where these items should be located (e.g. which fulfilment centre the items should be located at) based on the output of the scheduling unit 601 and the forecasting unit 605. In particular, the planning unit 608 is arranged to determine the demand for items to be received from outside the network of fulfilment centres (by ordering from suppliers) and the demand for items to be moved around the network of fulfilment centres. To do this, the planning unit 608 is arranged to interact with the transhipment unit 609 and the ordering unit 610. In particular, the planning unit 608 is arranged to instruct the transhipment unit 609 to tranship items from one fulfilment centre to another in accordance with the expected demand for such items at a particular fulfilment centre over a particular time period. Furthermore, the planning unit 608 is also arranged to interact with the ordering unit 610 to order additional inventory of items from outside the network of fulfilment centres from suppliers.

[0082] Accordingly, the transhipment unit 609 is arranged to instruct a particular fulfilment centre to move a determined quantity of items from one fulfilment centre to another by a vehicle in accordance with a predetermined schedule leaving each fulfilment centre. Such instructions can be implemented by the technical means of each fulfilment centre which are arranged for moving containers of items from one location to another where the items can be picked up by robotic means and then automatically placed into a vehicle (which can again be an autonomous vehicle) for transportation to another fulfilment centre. The transhipment unit 609 can be further arranged to optimise the transportation of items to reduce the number of vehicles required to transport items between fulfilment centres, the autonomous vehicles can be marshalled, grouped, queued, etc.

[0083] Furthermore, the ordering unit 610 is arranged to instruct external suppliers to deliver a quantity of items to a particular fulfilment centre (e.g. the parent fulfilment centre for that particular item). To achieve this, the inventory, delivery, external order schedule are combined to create a batch by the scheduling unit 601. The planning unit 608 combines the batch with the overall forecast to create an inventory plan. The inventory plan is used to decide the quantity of items to order. Preferably, the ordering unit 610 can use the information indicative of the supplier schedule stored in the supplier schedule storage unit 604 to determine the quantity of items to order from a particular supplier. In this way, the time of possible delivery of such items from a supplier can be taken into account.

[0084] As previously mentioned, the network of fulfilment centres arranged to share inventory between the fulfilment centres provides a wide variety of items to customers / stores with high availability. Furthermore, such a network shortens the supply chain and enables delivery within all target time periods, i.e. immediate (within 1 hour), short delivery (1 to 4 hours), same day delivery (typically within 4 or more hours) and next day delivery.

[0085] Figure 7 is a flowchart S700 illustrating steps performed by a control unit arranged to control a system of a fulfilment centre as previously described.

[0086] At step S701, information indicative of the inventory level of items held by each of the at least three fulfilment centres is retrieved. In this way, information indicative of the current quantity of items in the inventory of each fulfilment centre is received. This information can be detailed to include the quantity of each type of item in each fulfilment centre (per inventory holding unit), for example the quantity of canned items in each fulfilment centre. Furthermore, such information can be indicative of the time remaining until each item must be cleared from the fulfilment centre, i.e. the shelf life of the goods which must be avoided to be consumed / used. This is particularly the case for foodstuffs which are harmful to health if consumed after a certain period of time.

[0087] At step S702, information indicative of scheduled transfers occurring between the at least three fulfilment centres is retrieved. In this regard, a schedule of upcoming transfers occurring between the fulfilment centres is determined. For example, if vehicles move between the fulfilment centres on a predetermined schedule, such information will be retrieved. It is envisaged that this schedule will vary depending on the date and month in which the information is retrieved. For example, the movement schedule in summer months can be different to the movement schedule in winter months. Furthermore, the movement schedule on weekends can be different to the movement schedule on weekdays. Additionally, this information can include the availability / space on each vehicle for other items which can be transported in the future.

[0088] At step S703, information indicative of scheduled deliveries from external suppliers is retrieved. External suppliers to the network of fulfilment centres can deliver items to the network on a predetermined schedule, which indicates a certain level of detail of when the delivery occurs, for example the time, day of the week / month / year. Furthermore, such detail can also include the quantity and type of item to be delivered. In relevant cases, this information can also include the use-by date of the delivered item, before which the item must be cleared. This information can also indicate the possibility of additional deliveries by such suppliers, i.e. the availability of additional deliveries from the supplier.

[0089] At step S704, a batch schedule is determined based on the retrieved inventory level information, scheduled transfer information and scheduled delivery information. In this way, the available inventory level of each item in each fulfilment centre is determined by taking into account the current inventory level of each fulfilment centre and deliveries from suppliers and transfers.

[0090] At step S705, information indicative of the expected trend of the demand of each item in each of the at least three fulfilment centres is retrieved. In this respect, this information can take into account previous sales records of each item in each fulfilment centre. Furthermore, a time of year can be taken into account in which the sales of a particular item are different, for example, summer months are compared to winter months.

[0091] At step S706, information indicative of the items that have been ordered by the customer / store is retrieved. In this respect, the customer / store can have ordered certain items (for example, over the phone, by email and / or through a website interface and / or through a smartphone application) to be delivered in the future. As such, the inventory must be allocated to ensure that these orders are fulfilled and to avoid the risk of double selling a particular item. In this way, the retrieved information is indicative of the number of items of the order that have been allocated to the customer / store and their type. It is envisaged that in this context, "ordered" can mean that the item has been ordered at a particular fulfilment centre, the item will be picked at that fulfilment centre.

[0092] At step S707, the number of each item that the customer / store is expected to require is predicted based on the retrieved information of the expected trend and the ordered items. In this way, for a particular time period, the number of each type of item that the customer / store is expected to require is predictable. More specifically, using the information of the expected trend and those items that have been allocated to orders, the sum of these information provides an indication of the number of items that are expected to be ordered / shipped in a given time period and from which location (i.e. which fulfilment centre). In this case, the prediction can be performed across multiple fulfilment centres, for example, the network of fulfilment centres as a whole.

[0093] At step S708, the required items and the location in which each item is required is estimated based on the determined batch schedule and the generated prediction. In particular, step S707 has predicted the number of items to be dispatched / ordered from each fulfilment centre, this information is combined with the information of the received deliveries and current inventory levels from step S704. In this way, the total number of a particular item in a particular fulfilment centre and information about the predicted demand of such particular item by the particular fulfilment centre is known. As such, the number of items that need to be moved / relocated to ensure that the inventory level of the items is sufficient to meet the expected orders / deliveries can be estimated by step S708. Optionally, the batch schedule can be determined in advance and then iterated constantly until a point at which no further changes are allowed. In this way, it is not necessary to recalculate the batch schedule for every change that occurs.

[0094] At step S709, based on the estimated items and their required locations, a certain fulfillment center will determine the number of items to move from one fulfillment center to another. In this way, inventory items that are expected / known to be needed by customers / stores are relocated to the locations where fulfillment is expected to take place. For example, a customer expects same day delivery of items and then can require sharing of inventory from other fulfillment centers to ensure that the closest fulfillment center has enough inventory available to ensure that such deliveries can be fulfilled. Typically, this requires transferring inventory from neighboring fulfillment centers, as performed at step S709.

[0095] Optionally, a further step can be performed based on the estimated items and their required locations to instruct an external supplier to deliver a certain number of items to a certain fulfillment center. In case the inventory in the network of fulfillment centers is not enough to fulfill all the orders that are expected / known to take place in a certain time period, then external inventory can be obtained from a supplier. To this end, an instruction can be sent to such an external supplier containing information on the number, type, shelf life, etc. of inventory to be delivered at a certain time. Such delivery takes into account a supplier schedule indicating the availability of the supplier to make additional deliveries of inventory.

[0096] Availability of commitments

[0097] Figure 8 A computing unit 302 according to the first embodiment of the application is shown. The computing unit 302 is arranged to determine the availability of certain items, thereby determining whether such items can be offered to customers / stores. For example, in a simple example, if a carton item is currently out of stock, it cannot be offered as available for customers or stores to order. Otherwise, since such item has no inventory, it cannot be shipped to customers, thereby resulting in a decrease in customer satisfaction. In view of the increased complexity of the network according to the first embodiment of the application, since it comprises a plurality of fulfillment centers storing inventory, this determination is carefully calculated by the computing unit 302. To this end, the computing unit 302 is arranged to determine the current inventory availability of each item, thereby determining whether it can or cannot be offered to customers.

[0098] To achieve this, the computing unit 302 comprises a planning unit 701 arranged to receive information from the inventory level storage unit 602, the supplier schedule storage unit 604, and optionally, the delivery schedule storage unit 603.

[0099] The computing unit 302 further comprises a tracking unit 702 arranged to receive the output of the planning unit 701 and information from the committed orders storage unit 607.

[0100] In more detail, the planning unit 701 is similar to that described with respect toFigure 6 The described scheduling unit 601. In particular, the planning unit 701 is arranged to determine batch schedules, which are related to the inventory of each item held in each fulfillment center and information about inventory from suppliers and optionally, for each fulfillment center, whether inventory can reach the vehicle by transshipment. To this end, the planning unit 701 is arranged in communication with the inventory level storage unit 602, (optionally) the delivery schedule storage unit 603 and the supplier schedule storage unit 604. As described earlier, the inventory level storage unit 602 is arranged to store information indicative of the quantity of each different item stored in each fulfillment center. In this way, the inventory level of each individual type of item can be assessed by the planning unit 701 across all fulfillment centers. The delivery schedule storage unit 603 is arranged to store information indicative of scheduled transshipments occurring between fulfillment centers. The supplier schedule storage unit 604 is arranged to store information indicative of scheduled deliveries of items from each supplier. In addition, the supplier schedule storage unit 604 can also store information indicative of the likelihood of scheduled deliveries of items from each supplier, each supplier of items to the network of fulfillment centers supplying these items according to a predetermined schedule. Information can also be stored about whether a supplier can provide additional deliveries.

[0101] The planning unit 701 is thereby arranged to determine batch schedules based on the information stored in the inventory level storage unit 602, (optionally) the delivery schedule storage unit 603 and the supplier schedule storage unit 604. In this way, the total inventory of a particular item in the network of fulfillment centers can be assessed based on time and the likelihood of movement of inventory around the network of fulfillment centers.

[0102] In particular, when used in a network of fulfillment centers as described earlier, information from the delivery schedule storage unit 603 is preferably included in the computation of the batch schedules to provide a more accurate determination of the availability of items based on which items can be transshipped from neighboring fulfillment centers. However, the computing unit 302 can also be used in a hub and spoke (centralized model) network of fulfillment centers in which one relatively large fulfillment center supplies a plurality of relatively small fulfillment centers. To this end, in a hub and spoke network, transshipments are not used to move items between fulfillment centers. Therefore, the delivery schedule storage unit 603 is not used to compute batch schedules in a hub and spoke network.

[0103] The tracking unit 702 is arranged to receive the batch schedule determined by the planning unit 701. Furthermore, the tracking unit 702 is arranged to receive information from the committed order storage unit 607 indicating the items that have been allocated to orders by the customers / stores. As previously described, the committed order storage unit 607 stores information indicating what is committed to the customers / stores based on, for example, the content of the virtual basket and / or confirmed customer / store orders.

[0104] The tracking unit 702 is arranged to calculate the availability of each item in the fulfilment centers based on the received information. In this way, the inventory availability for customers / stores within the range of a particular fulfilment center can be calculated, since the tracking unit 702 has already calculated the inventory availability of each item in each fulfilment center, including the ability to add inventory to each fulfilment center through transshipping or ordering. In particular, the tracking unit 702 uses the batch schedule information to determine the current inventory level of each item in each fulfilment center taking into account the ability to transship and / or order additional inventory from external suppliers. Furthermore, the tracking unit 702 subtracts those items committed to customers / stores based on the information from the committed order storage unit 607. In this way, the inventory amount of each item available for ordering by customers / stores is calculated. Furthermore, this availability is updated when new orders from customers / stores are accepted.

[0105] In this regard, the committed availability is calculated in the mesh network depending on whether the item can be shipped from any fulfilment center in the network before dispatch to the customer, or whether the item must be limited to items currently present in the inventory of a particular fulfilment center (e.g. for orders requiring delivery within one hour). To this end, the committed availability can use information about committed items in and out of fulfilment centers.

[0106] Furthermore, the committed availability can be calculated based on the shelf life of a particular item. For example, for fresh produce, each item can have a predetermined shelf life after which it must be discarded (also referred to as cleared). Therefore, the committed availability can also be based on the shelf life of the items. In this regard, preferably, the first item requiring clearance is shipped to the customer, i.e. it is preferable to ship those items to the customer that have a remaining shelf life of 4 days rather than 5 days, such that the inventory is maintained in the fulfilment center for as long as possible.

[0107] The tracking unit 702 can further be arranged to calculate those items that can be moved, in this way more granularly deciding what to move where, identifying that inventory to multiple locations can be transshipped to customers at the same time, and balancing the interests and economics of all customers in the best way.

[0108] Further, when it is determined that the demand for a particular item exceeds the available inventory, additional inventory can be ordered to the parent fulfillment center and / or to the sortation fulfillment center of that item. In this way, the demand across the network of fulfillment centers can be satisfied.

[0109] Figure 9 is a flowchart S900 illustrating steps performed by a computing unit for determining the availability of a particular item in a system of fulfillment centers as previously described.

[0110] At step S901, information indicative of the inventory level of items held by each of the at least three fulfillment centers is retrieved. In this way, information indicative of the current quantity of items in the inventory of each fulfillment center is received. This information can be detailed to include the quantity of each type of item in each fulfillment center (per inventory holding unit), for example the quantity of carton items in each fulfillment center. Further, such information can be indicative of the remaining time until each item must be cleared from the fulfillment center, i.e. the shelf life of the item which must be avoided for its consumption / use. This is especially the case for food items which are harmful to health if consumed after a certain period of time.

[0111] Optionally, at step S902, information indicative of scheduled transshipments occurring between the at least three fulfillment centers is retrieved. In this regard, a schedule of upcoming transshipments occurring between the fulfillment centers is determined. For example, if vehicles move between the fulfillment centers on a predetermined schedule, such information will be retrieved. It is envisaged that this schedule can vary depending on the date and month in which the information is retrieved. For example, the movement schedule in summer months can be different to the movement schedule in winter months. Further, the movement plan on weekends can be different to the movement plan on weekdays. Further, this information can include the availability / space on each vehicle for other items which can be transported in the future. Step S902 can be used in networks involving transshipment of items between the fulfillment centers, for example the mesh network described previously. However, in other network types (for example hub and spoke networks), this step can not be employed as transshipment does not occur in these networks.

[0112] At step S903, information indicative of scheduled deliveries from external suppliers is retrieved. External suppliers to the network of fulfillment centers can deliver items to the network on a predetermined schedule, which indicates a certain level of detail of when the delivery occurs, for example the time, day of the week / month / year. Further, such detail can also include the quantity and type of item to be delivered. In relevant cases, this information can also include the use-by date of the delivered item, before which the item must be cleared. This information can also indicate the possibility of additional deliveries by such suppliers, i.e. the availability of additional deliveries from the supplier.

[0113] At step S904, a batch schedule is determined based on the retrieved inventory level information, the scheduled deliveries and, optionally, the scheduled transhipments. In this way, the available inventory level of each item at each fulfilment centre is determined by taking into account the current inventory level in each fulfilment centre and the deliveries from suppliers and, optionally, transhipments.

[0114] At step S905, information is retrieved indicating items that have been ordered by the customer / store. In this regard, the customer / store can have ordered certain items (e.g. over the telephone, by email and / or through a website interface) for future delivery. Therefore, inventory must be allocated to ensure that these orders are fulfilled and to avoid the risk of double selling particular items. In this way, the retrieved information indicates the number of items of each type that have been ordered by the customer / store.

[0115] At step S906, the availability of each item in each of the at least three fulfilment centres is calculated based on the determined batch schedule and the retrieved ordered items information. It is important that only items that can be shipped are offered to the customer / store for shipping. Therefore, the calculation of availability ensures that products are available for shipping before the customer / store places an order. If an item is not available, it can not be offered for shipping to the customer / store. To achieve this, step S906 determines the availability of an item at a particular fulfilment centre based on the current inventory level of the item in the fulfilment centre, whether additional inventory will / can be delivered from an external supplier and, optionally, whether additional inventory will / can be delivered from a neighbouring fulfilment centre (i.e. those fulfilment centres in the network of fulfilment centres). Such data is processed by step S904 to form the batch schedule. This information is combined with the relevant information of items that have been ordered by the customer / store and are therefore not available. The combination of these pieces of information provides the availability of each item in each fulfilment centre.

[0116] With respect to computer-implemented embodiments, the description provided can describe how one would modify a computer to implement the steps of a system or method. The particular problem being addressed can be in the context of computer-related problems, and the system can not mean to be performed solely by manual means or as a series of manual steps. In the context of some embodiments, computer-related implementation and / or solutions can be advantageous for at least the following reasons: providing scalability (using a single platform / system to manage a large number of inputs and / or activities), the ability to quickly and efficiently integrate information from different networks, improving otherwise unfeasible decision support and / or analytics, the ability to integrate with external systems where the only point of connection is a computer-implemented interface, the ability to achieve cost savings through automation, the ability to dynamically respond and take into account updates in various situations (e.g., rapidly changing order flow or logistics conditions), the ability to apply complex logical rules that cannot be implemented manually, the ability to have orders truly anonymous, etc.

[0117] The use of electronic and / or computerized means can provide a more convenient, scalable, efficient, accurate, and / or reliable platform than traditional non-computerized means. Moreover, the system can be computerized and the platform can advantageously be designed for interoperability, and manual operation can be difficult and / or impossible. Additionally, manual operation, even if feasible, is unlikely to achieve comparable efficiency and / or.

[0118] Scalability can be useful because it would be advantageous to provide a system that can efficiently manage a large number of inputs, outputs, and / or interconnections and / or integration with external systems.

[0119] The convenience and efficiency of the solution can be valuable in the context of order fulfillment because individuals can have more information available to make better ordering and / or fulfillment decisions. Moreover, such a solution is envisioned to be integrated into a fully automated system in which no human intervention is needed to achieve optimal ordering / fulfillment decisions.

[0120] The present systems and methods can be implemented in various embodiments. A suitably configured computer device, along with associated communication networks, devices, software, and firmware, can provide a platform for implementing one or more embodiments as described above. As an example, Figure 10A computer device 1000 is shown that can include a central processing unit ("CPU") 1002 connected to a storage unit 1014 and a random access memory 1006. The CPU 1002 can process an operating system 1001, application programs 1003, and data 1023. The operating system 1001, application programs 1003, and data 1023 can be stored in the storage unit 1014 as needed and loaded into the memory 1006. The computer device 1000 can also include a graphics processing unit (GPU) 1022 operably connected to the CPU 1002 and the memory 1006 to offload intensive image processing calculations from the CPU 1002 and run these calculations in parallel with the CPU 1002. An operator 1007 can interact with the computer device 1000 using a video display 1008 connected through a video interface 1005, as well as various input / output devices such as a keyboard 1015, a mouse 1012, and a disk drive or solid state drive 1014 connected through an I / O interface 1004. In a known manner, the mouse 1012 can be configured to control movement of a cursor on the video display 1008 and operate various graphical user interface (GUI) controls that appear in the video display 1008 with the mouse buttons. The disk drive or solid state drive 1014 can be configured to accept a computer readable medium 1016. The computer device 1000 can form part of a network through a network interface 1011, enabling the computer device 1000 to communicate with other suitably configured data processing systems (not shown). One or more different types of sensors 1035 can be used to receive input from various sources.

[0121] The present system and method can be implemented on virtually any form of computer device, including a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, or a wireless handheld device. The present system and method can also be implemented as a computer readable / usable medium including computer program code, which enables one or more computer devices to perform various processing steps in the method according to the present invention. In the case of multiple computer devices performing the entire operation, the computer devices are networked to distribute the various steps of the operation. It should be understood that the term computer readable medium or computer usable medium includes one or both of more than one type of physical embodiment of the program code. In particular, the computer readable / usable medium can include one or more portable storage articles (e.g., optical disks, magnetic disks, magnetic tapes, etc.) containing the program code, for example, a memory associated with the computer and / or storage system.

[0122] The mobile application of the present application can be implemented as a web service, where the mobile device includes a link for accessing the web service, rather than a native application. The described functionality can be implemented on any mobile platform, including an Android platform, an iOS platform, a Linux platform, or a Windows platform.

[0123] In further aspects, the present disclosure provides systems, devices, methods, and computer program products including non-transitory machine-readable instruction sets for implementing methods thereof and implementing the functionality described previously.

[0124] Modifications and variations

[0125] It is contemplated that the network of fulfillment centers described above can be used in a variety of ways. For example, a single retailer can own, operate, and store all of the fulfillment centers in the network and utilize an external supplier to supply the items stored at the fulfillment centers. In this way, a single retailer can operate a network of fulfillment centers to efficiently share inventory between the fulfillment centers as needed to ensure that deliveries to customers / stores can be made within any of the timeframes previously discussed, such as within an hour, same day, and / or next day delivery. Alternatively, a single retailer can operate separate fulfillment centers and agree to share inventory between the fulfillment centers to meet the necessary needs of each fulfillment center. Alternatively or additionally, each fulfillment center can store items from one or more retailers and share items with other fulfillment centers operated by the same or different retailers.

[0126] Further, while a network of three fulfillment centers has been described in the foregoing description, it is contemplated that other numbers of fulfillment centers can be used depending on the specifics of the deployment. In particular, the network can be formed of two fulfillment centers rather than three. Additionally, the size of each fulfillment center can vary depending on the specifics of the deployment. For example, at least one of the fulfillment centers can be particularly small and located in a location close to customer locations to enable fast delivery of items. Further, at least one of the fulfillment centers can be large and suitable for long term delivery and located further away from customers. In this way, the network can be adapted for specific uses in specific applications.

[0127] While the term "item" has been used throughout the description, it is contemplated that other terms can be included, such as box, asset, unit, pallet, device, etc.

[0128] The foregoing description of embodiments of the application has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the application to the precise form disclosed. Modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings.

Claims

1. A control unit, the control unit comprising a processor for automatically controlling a logistics system, the logistics system comprising: At least three fulfillment centers, each configured and arranged to schedule and fulfill orders for customers and / or stores; The control unit is configured and arranged to control the at least three execution centers. Each of the at least three fulfillment centers is controlled by the control unit to share items with at least one other fulfillment center among the at least three fulfillment centers, and The processor is configured and arranged to perform computer-implemented functions of the following units: An inventory level storage unit is configured and arranged to store information indicating the inventory level of items held by each of the at least three fulfillment centers. A delivery schedule storage unit, configured and arranged to store information indicating scheduled transfers by one or more vehicles between the at least three fulfillment centers; A supplier schedule storage unit, configured and arranged to store information indicating scheduled deliveries from external suppliers; A scheduling unit configured and arranged to determine a batch processing schedule based on information stored in each of the inventory level storage unit, the delivery schedule storage unit, and the supplier schedule storage unit. A long-term forecasting storage unit, configured and arranged to store information indicating expected demand trends for items in each of the at least three fulfillment centers; A commitment order storage unit, which is configured and arranged to store information indicating that a customer / store has already ordered items; A forecasting unit is configured and arranged to generate a forecast of the quantity of each item expected to be needed by the customer / store based on information stored in the long-term forecasting storage unit and the committed order storage unit. A planning unit, configured and arranged to estimate the required items and their required locations based on the batch processing schedule determined by the scheduling unit and the predictions generated by the prediction unit; and A transfer unit is configured and arranged to instruct a specific fulfillment center among the at least three fulfillment centers to move a defined number of items from one fulfillment center to another based on the scheduled transfers among the at least three fulfillment centers, according to the output of the planning unit.

2. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein, Each of the at least three fulfillment centers is configured and arranged to schedule the sharing of items by transferring items on vehicles, wherein the vehicles are scheduled to travel between the at least three fulfillment centers according to a predetermined schedule.

3. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein, Only one of the at least three fulfillment centers is configured to receive a specific item from a specific supplier and transfer the received specific item to each of the other fulfillment centers.

4. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein, When one of the at least three fulfillment centers requires additional items, the control unit is configured to transfer the required additional items to another fulfillment center.

5. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein, The processor is configured and arranged to instruct an external supplier to deliver a specific number of items to a specific fulfillment center based on the output of the planning unit.

6. A system comprising: At least three fulfillment centers, each configured and arranged to schedule and fulfill orders for customers and / or stores; The control unit according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein each of the at least three fulfillment centers is controlled by the control unit to share items with at least one other fulfillment center among the at least three fulfillment centers; and A computing unit configured and arranged to determine the availability of a specific item held by the system, wherein the computing unit includes a processor configured and arranged to perform computer-implemented functions of the following units: An inventory level storage unit is configured and arranged to store information indicating the inventory level of items held by each of the at least three fulfillment centers. A supplier schedule storage unit, configured and arranged to store information indicating scheduled deliveries from external suppliers; A planning unit, configured and arranged to determine a batch processing schedule based on information stored in each of the inventory level storage unit and the supplier schedule storage unit; A commitment order storage unit, which is configured and arranged to store information indicating that a customer / store has already ordered items; A tracking unit is configured and arranged to calculate the availability of each item in the at least three fulfillment centers based on the output of the planning unit and information stored in the committed order storage unit.

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