Delivery Cost Calculation for Package Bundling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current delivery systems do not effectively incentivize users to order multiple packages together, as the cost of delivery is not optimized to encourage bundling orders, leading to higher delivery costs and reduced sales.
Innovation Solution
An information processing apparatus and method that calculates and provides users with the cost of delivering additional packages based on the number of initial packages scheduled for delivery, offering a lower cost for bundling orders and generating optimized delivery routes to reduce overall delivery expenses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If delivery cost is calculated based on fixed rates without considering existing scheduled packages, then delivery pricing is simple to implement, but delivery cost increases and fewer packages can be delivered together
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges multiple delivery requests into a single delivery route by identifying packages with the same destination or nearby locations. The server combines first packages (already scheduled) with second packages (new requests) that share spatial-temporal characteristics, allowing multiple packages to be delivered together in one trip, thereby improving productivity without requiring completely new delivery infrastructure
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the delivery cost parameter based on the number of packages being delivered together. When multiple packages are combined into a single delivery route, the delivery cost per package is reduced. This parameter adjustment incentivizes users to accept consolidated deliveries, increasing the number of packages delivered together while the server manages the complexity of calculating these dynamic costs
2Productivity
If delivery cost for additional packages is not reduced, then delivery revenue is maintained, but users are not incentivized to place additional orders and sales decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides feedback to users about reduced delivery costs when they place additional orders that can be combined with existing deliveries. The server calculates the cost reduction based on package consolidation and communicates this benefit to users, incentivizing them to increase their order volume. This feedback loop drives sales volume up while the actual delivery expense per package decreases due to consolidated routing
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies partial cost reduction for additional packages rather than charging full delivery fees. By offering reduced or free delivery on additional packages that can be consolidated into existing routes, the system encourages users to place more orders. The delivery expense is partially absorbed by the consolidation benefit, allowing sales volume to increase while overall delivery expenses per package decrease
Data Source
AI summary
An object is to deliver more packages together. A number of first packages scheduled to be delivered by a vehicle that delivers packages to a predetermined area is acquired, the cost of delivering second packages by the vehicle is set on the basis of the number of first packages, the second packages being different from the first packages, and information on the cost is provided to a user present within the predetermined area.