Retailer Inventory Storage for Delayed Customer Pickup

Solution Overview

Problem

Small businesses often lack adequate storage space for replenishment products, leading to increased operational costs and inconvenience due to the need for separate, remote storage facilities.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that allows customers to purchase products from a retailer without taking immediate possession, enabling the retailer to store the products until the customer chooses to take possession, with options for storage location, duration, and conditions selected through a graphical interface, and includes features for managing delivery and pickup.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If customers use separate storage spaces for replenishment products, then storage capacity is sufficient, but operational costs increase and convenience decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage capacityVSAvoidconvenience

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the storage function with the retailer's existing warehouse or distribution center. Instead of customers maintaining separate storage facilities, the retailer's inventory system is extended to hold customer-purchased products that are not yet delivered. This combines multiple functions (retailer inventory storage, customer product storage, and distribution) into a single integrated system, eliminating the need for separate customer storage spaces while reducing operational costs and improving convenience.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Quantity of substance

If customers use separate storage spaces for replenishment products, then storage capacity is sufficient, but operational costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage capacityVSAvoidoperational cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the storage function with the retailer's existing warehouse or distribution center. Instead of customers maintaining separate storage facilities, the retailer's inventory system is extended to hold customer-purchased products that are not yet delivered. This combines multiple functions (retailer inventory storage, customer product storage, and distribution) into a single integrated system, eliminating the need for separate customer storage spaces and the associated operational costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The retailer's warehouse or distribution center serves multiple functions: storing products for immediate delivery, storing products for future delivery dates, and managing customer inventory. This multi-functional use of existing infrastructure eliminates the need for dedicated customer storage facilities, reducing operational costs while maintaining adequate storage capacity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of operation

If retailer stores products for customer until customer chooses to take possession, then customer convenience is improved, but inventory management complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecustomer convenienceVSAvoidinventory management complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where the retailer's inventory management system continuously tracks product locations, customer preferences, and delivery status. The system automatically notifies customers when products are ready for pickup or delivery, and customers can update their preferences through the interface. This feedback loop manages the complexity of holding inventory for multiple customers with different delivery preferences while maintaining high customer convenience.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables customers to manage their own inventory and delivery preferences through a user interface. Customers can specify delivery dates, locations, and methods, and the system automatically processes these preferences without requiring manual intervention from the retailer. This self-service approach simplifies inventory management complexity by automating customer-specific logistics while maintaining convenience.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS10242338B2Systems and methods for managing an inventory of products purchased by customers from a retailer

Publication Date: 2019.03.26 WALMART APOLLO LLC

AI summary

In some embodiments, methods and systems are provided that permit a customer to purchase one or more products but not take possession of the products or cause delivery of the products at the time of the purchase order. The products are then stored at one or more product storage locations of the retailer while being marked as purchased by the customer in an inventory management database of the retailer. The customer is provided with a customer interface including a plurality of input fields configured to allow the customer to define one or both of: a delivery time period and a delivery destination for delivery of at least a portion of the products purchased by the customer; and a pickup location and a pickup time period for at least a portion of the products purchased by the customer.