Mobile Order Coordination via Arrival Time Sync
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Solution Overview
Problem
The traditional call-ahead process for ordering from merchants is imprecise and impractical, leading to issues such as wasted inventory and expired products due to uncertain customer arrival times, and lacks a system for coordinating order preparation times.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method using a mobile device to place orders, which determines the user's projected arrival time and communicates this to the merchant to synchronize order component preparation, allowing for timely preparation and minimizing waste.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If a merchant prepares order components in advance based on customer call-ahead orders, then customer wait time is reduced, but inventory waste increases if customer does not arrive
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by having customers place orders in advance and the merchant preparing components before the customer arrives. The patent implements this by allowing customers to order ahead through mobile devices, and the merchant's system automatically schedules component preparation based on predicted arrival times, thus reducing customer wait time while managing inventory preparation efficiently.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses real-time feedback from customer location data (via mobile device GPS) to monitor actual arrival progress. The merchant system receives continuous updates on customer position and adjusts the timing of component preparation accordingly. This feedback mechanism allows the system to synchronize preparation completion with actual customer arrival, preventing both premature preparation (waste) and late preparation (wait time).
2Productivity
If a merchant prepares all order components at once, then preparation efficiency increases, but product freshness decreases due to extended holding time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the order preparation process into individual component preparation tasks rather than preparing all components simultaneously. The system breaks down the order into multiple components and schedules their preparation separately based on predicted completion times that align with customer arrival. This segmentation allows efficient parallel processing of components while ensuring each is prepared only when needed, maintaining freshness.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the preparation schedule of each component based on real-time customer location data and predicted arrival time. Rather than using a static preparation schedule, the system continuously updates component start times as the customer approaches, ensuring components are completed at the optimal moment for freshness while maintaining preparation efficiency through coordinated scheduling.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a computer-implemented method to order ahead with a mobile device. A user network device receives an input of an order from a user; communicates the order to a merchant network device; receives a preparation time for one or more components of the order; determines a location of the user device; monitors a projected time of arrival at the merchant based on the location of the user device; compares the projected time of arrival with the component preparation time; and notifies the merchant to begin preparation of at least one of the components in response to a determination that the projected time of arrival equals the preparation time of one or more components.