Virtual Warehouse Location for Reorder Ex-Warehouse
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing logistics systems face inefficiencies and increased operation costs due to repeated ex-warehouse operations and item returns when users cancel item acquisition tasks before delivery, leading to undelivered items being intercepted at express delivery stations and subsequently reordered, which necessitates redundant ex-warehouse processes.
Innovation Solution
The method involves utilizing an express delivery station as a virtual warehouse location to record and manage in-warehouse information for undelivered items, allowing for direct ex-warehouse operations from this location when the same items are reordered, thereby avoiding repeated trips from the main warehouse and reducing operational costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If users cancel item acquisition tasks before delivery and reorder the same items, then the WMS performs repeated ex-warehouse operations and items are returned to the warehouse, but this reduces ex-warehouse efficiency and increases warehouse operation costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by intercepting undelivered packages at express delivery stations before they reach the final destination, and storing them temporarily. When users reorder canceled items, the system can quickly retrieve items from these pre-positioned packages at the delivery station rather than returning them to the main warehouse, thus improving ex-warehouse efficiency and reducing operational costs
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces express delivery stations as intermediary storage points between the main warehouse and end users. These stations serve as virtual warehouses that hold undelivered packages, enabling faster fulfillment of reorders without requiring items to travel back to the main warehouse, thereby reducing both time and operational costs
2Loss of time
If undelivered items are intercepted at express delivery stations and stored there as virtual warehouse, then direct ex-warehouse operations can be performed from the delivery station when items are reordered, but this requires managing virtual warehouse location information and item tracking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes express delivery stations serve multiple functions: they act as both delivery points and virtual warehouses for storing undelivered items. This multi-functionality allows the same infrastructure to handle both initial deliveries and subsequent reorders, reducing delivery time for reorders while utilizing existing resources
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the WMS continuously monitors package delivery status, user cancel operations, and reorder requests. This real-time information feedback enables the system to dynamically manage virtual warehouse inventory at delivery stations, matching item availability with reorder demands and simplifying information management through automated tracking
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided are an item ex-warehouse method and apparatus, a device, and a storage medium. The method includes that: virtual warehouse location in-warehouse information is received based on a cancel instruction of a first item acquisition task and based on a determination result that a package is in an undelivered state; an item being ex-warehoused is determined based on a generation instruction of a second item acquisition task and based on a determination result that it is determined that the second item acquisition task includes the item and a route includes an express delivery station; and the item and virtual warehouse location ex-warehouse information are associated with the second item acquisition task.