Blockchain Food Delivery Ecosystem Reducing Intermediary Costs

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing online food delivery systems have high commission rates due to multiple intermediaries, lack transparency in transactions, and inefficient recruitment processes for delivery workers, while also failing to effectively track food waste and provide traceability in the food supply chain.

Innovation Solution

An online end-to-end food and grocery delivery ecosystem leveraging blockchain technology to facilitate shopping, ordering, and food donations, providing traceability, audibility, security, and efficiency with end-to-end transparency, and integrating IoT to track products from farm to fork, while reducing intermediaries and promoting secure transactions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple intermediaries are used in online food delivery systems, then delivery coverage and service capability are improved, but commission rates and operational costs increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedelivery coverageVSAvoidcommission rates

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes the intermediary layer from the food delivery system by implementing a direct connection between restaurants and customers through a blockchain-powered platform. This eliminates commission fees charged by intermediate platforms while maintaining delivery coverage through a decentralized network of independent delivery workers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service through automated blockchain smart contracts that handle ordering, payment, and delivery coordination without requiring intermediary management. Restaurants and customers interact directly through the platform, and delivery workers are autonomously assigned and compensated through smart contract execution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Device complexity

If traditional centralized databases are used for transaction recording, then system simplicity is maintained, but transparency and traceability of transactions are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem simplicityVSAvoidtransaction transparency

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces blockchain technology as a neutral intermediary that provides transparent and immutable transaction recording. The distributed ledger allows all participants to verify transactions independently, ensuring transparency while maintaining system integrity through cryptographic security rather than centralized control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The blockchain platform serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a transaction ledger, a smart contract execution environment, a identity verification system, and a traceability mechanism. This multi-functionality is achieved through a single decentralized infrastructure that replaces multiple specialized systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of operation

If manual recruitment processes are used for delivery workers, then operational flexibility is maintained, but vetting rigor and background verification are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational flexibilityVSAvoidworker vetting

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements automated feedback loops where delivery worker performance, customer ratings, and compliance data are continuously recorded on the blockchain. This creates a transparent reputation system that provides real-time feedback to workers and helps the platform automatically identify and manage worker quality without manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The platform performs preliminary background checks and identity verification through automated processes before workers are approved to deliver. Criminal background checks, identity verification, and training requirements are enforced through smart contracts that prevent unverified workers from accessing the delivery network.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Loss of information

If blockchain technology is implemented in food delivery systems, then traceability and transparency are improved, but system complexity and implementation difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesupply chain traceabilityVSAvoidsystem implementation

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges blockchain technology with existing food delivery platform functions into a unified system. Rather than implementing blockchain as a separate layer, it integrates smart contracts directly into the ordering, payment, and delivery workflows, allowing traceability features to emerge from the core transaction processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS11488219B2End-to-end food delivery ecosystem

Publication Date: 2022.11.01 DISHEFS LLC

AI summary

An online delivery ecosystem enabling buyers/delivery personnel to purchase grocery, restaurants, and other prepared foods on behalf of customers and check out using a mobile application, bypassing traditional person checkout systems, and storing this transaction information to blockchain based systems as immutable systems of record.