Courier Integration for BOPIS via Network Scraping
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a lack of integration between vendors offering buy online, pick up in store (BOPIS) services and courier organizations, limiting the availability of expedited delivery options for online purchases.
Innovation Solution
A computer system monitors network sites to determine if items are BOPIS-eligible and employs screen scraping techniques to identify courier services that can provide same-day delivery from the item's physical location to the customer's location, enabling users to select and integrate courier services into the checkout process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If vendors offer BOPIS services independently without courier integration, then customers can pick up items in store, but expedited delivery options are unavailable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a courier service integration system that acts as an intermediary between vendors offering BOPIS services and courier organizations. This intermediary system enables expedited delivery options by connecting previously unconnected systems, allowing customers to choose between in-store pickup and courier delivery without requiring vendors to directly integrate with multiple courier providers.
2Speed
If postal service or package delivery service is used for item delivery, then delivery can be provided, but same-day delivery responsiveness is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically selects delivery methods based on customer preferences and item availability. When same-day delivery is selected and the item is available at a physical location, the system expedes courier service integration to enable faster delivery, thereby reducing delivery time while maintaining appropriate delivery speed based on real-time conditions.
3Productivity
If courier services are not integrated into the vendor system, then vendor operations remain simple, but expedited delivery services cannot be provided
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the delivery service functionality into independent modules: vendor BOPIS service, courier service integration, and customer selection interface. This segmentation allows vendors to maintain simple operations while the integrated system provides expedited delivery services through modular courier service connections, increasing delivery service availability without significantly increasing vendor operational complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer system monitors network sites to provide expedited delivery services. Operation of a network site is monitored to determine that an item is being obtained from the network site. The network site is scraped to determine that the item is available at a physical location associated with the network site. A courier service is identified to transport the item from the physical location to the delivery location. Delivery of the item is enabled by the courier service to the delivery location. Embodiments of the present invention further include a method and program product for monitoring network sites to provide expedited delivery services in substantially the same manner described above.