Dynamic Partner Selection for Order Fulfillment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for delivering communications, information, and entertainment services lack flexibility in dynamic partner selection, making it difficult to adapt to changing market needs and customer experiences, as they are primarily designed for static partnering arrangements and do not facilitate the dynamic selection of optimal partners to fulfill customer orders.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that enables dynamic partner selection by using an order entry device, a flow execution engine, and a partner selector mechanism to assemble service components from various partners, optimizing partner selection based on customer orders and service specifications, allowing for real-time adaptation and fulfillment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a pre-programmed workflow-based approach is used to manage partner selection, then the system provides structured process management, but it lacks flexibility to adapt dynamically to variations in partner groups, capabilities, and market needs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic partner selection by allowing the workflow system to adapt partner groups, capabilities, and selections at runtime rather than being fixed in advance. The system dynamically assembles partner groups based on service requirements, partner capabilities, and market conditions, enabling flexible response to changing needs while maintaining structured workflow management.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes parameters such as partner group composition, capability requirements, and selection criteria dynamically based on service type, customer needs, and market conditions. This allows the same workflow framework to handle diverse scenarios by adjusting parameters rather than requiring separate hard-coded workflows for each scenario.
2Productivity
If static partnering arrangements are established in advance, then the system provides stable partner relationships, but it cannot rapidly respond to dynamic market needs or improve customer experience
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-defining partner groups and their capabilities in a structured workflow framework, but leaves the actual partner selection and assembly to be determined dynamically at runtime. This allows the system to have prepared structures in place while adapting specific selections to current market needs and customer requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The workflow system automatically selects and assembles appropriate partner groups based on service requirements and partner capabilities without requiring manual intervention. The system self-adapts to different scenarios by evaluating partner attributes against service needs and making selections autonomously, enabling rapid response while maintaining consistent selection criteria.
3Ease of manufacture
If manual workflow creation is used to manage federated order fulfillment, then the system provides customization capability, but it is time-consuming and difficult to modify in response to changing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses templates and reusable partner group definitions that can be copied and adapted for different services and scenarios. Instead of creating workflows from scratch for each situation, the system replicates and modifies existing partner group configurations, significantly reducing creation and modification time while maintaining customization capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The workflow system is designed to be universal and multi-functional, handling various service types, partner configurations, and fulfillment scenarios through a single adaptable framework. This eliminates the need for separate manual workflow creations for different situations and enables rapid modification by reconfiguring the same system for different purposes.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method to enable dynamic partner selection and subsequent order fulfillment by a service provider is presented. The system and method has an order entry device for obtaining an order, a service specification corresponding to the order, a flow execution engine, a partner selector mechanism, at least one partner, and at least one component obtained from the service specification, the component being broadcast from the partner selector mechanism to the partner, who responds to the broadcast, such that all of the partner responses are optimized by the partner selector mechanism for execution by said flow execution engine to fulfill the order.