Predictive drop shipping
US8473425B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 20, 2011 |
| Grant date | Jun 25, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 6, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06Q10/083
- WIPO fieldIT methods for management
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Systems and methods for predictive drop shipping are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method may include maintaining inventory of an item that is offered for sale to customers via a webpage. A ratio may be calculated between a number of views of the webpage and a number of units of the item purchased over a first time period when a fast shipping or delivery option is available, and over a second time period when such option is not available. The method may identify the item as a candidate for drop shipping in response to the ratio being larger during the first time period than during the second time period. Upon receipt of an order, the received order may be fulfilled via drop shipping, in some cases, despite the inventory being sufficient to fulfill the order, and despite a cost of fulfillment via drop shipping being higher than fulfillment from inventory.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.