Automated Packaging Recommendation System for Shipping Fragility

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Solution Overview

Problem

Customers, especially infrequent shippers and small businesses, often improperly package merchandise due to lack of expertise or time, leading to potential damage during shipping, and shipping carriers face challenges in educating customers on proper packaging methods without resorting to resource-intensive customer support.

Innovation Solution

A system and method utilizing a computing device to receive user-defined merchandise descriptions, associate them with fragility classes, and generate packaging recommendations based on shipment details and minimum packaging requirements, providing customers with specific guidelines for packaging fragile items effectively.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If customers pack their own merchandise, then shipping service can be provided efficiently, but merchandise may be improperly packaged and susceptible to damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshipping service efficiencyVSAvoidmerchandise packaging quality

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables customers to self-educate on proper packaging by providing automated packaging recommendations based on their merchandise type and destination, eliminating the need for manual customer support while ensuring proper packaging standards are met

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

An automated packaging recommendation system acts as an intermediary between customers and shipping carriers, providing expert packaging guidance without requiring direct human intervention from carrier representatives

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If shipping carriers provide generalized packaging tutorials, then customer education is simplified, but customers may not receive specific packaging guidance for their particular merchandise type

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepackaging tutorial accessibilityVSAvoidspecific packaging recommendation accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides customized packaging recommendations tailored to each customer's specific merchandise type, dimensions, weight, and destination, rather than providing generic packaging tutorials that may not apply to their particular shipping needs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts packaging recommendations based on varying parameters including merchandise type, dimensions, weight, fragility class, and destination, ensuring each customer receives appropriately customized guidance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Loss of information

If customers contact shipping carriers for packaging questions, then they receive specific packaging guidance, but it requires manpower and resources that may result in customer churn if not promptly answered

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepackaging recommendation accuracyVSAvoidcustomer support resource requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The automated packaging recommendation system allows customers to obtain accurate packaging guidance independently without contacting customer support, eliminating the need for manual handling of packaging inquiries

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides immediate automated feedback to customers with specific packaging recommendations based on their merchandise details, eliminating the waiting time and potential delays associated with human customer support interactions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS8438088B2Providing packaging recommendation to shipping customers

Publication Date: 2013.05.07 UNITED PARCEL SERVICE OF AMERICAN INC

AI summary

Systems and methods for providing a packaging recommendation to a customer is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system can present the customer with a merchandise list of merchandise, receive merchandise information from the customer about the particular characteristics of the merchandise, and generate a packaging recommendation via an interface to the customer.