Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
BACKGROUND
1. The Field of the Present Disclosure.
The present disclosure relates generally to electronic commerce, and more
particularly, but not necessarily entirely, to electronic management of supply
chain
networks between product suppliers, online retailers and product distribution
centers.
2. Description of Related Art.
Electronic commerce, commonly known as e-commerce, involves the buying and
selling of products or services over electronic systems such as the Internet.
E-commerce
draws on multiple technologies, including mobile commerce, electronic funds
transfer,
supply chain management, online marketing, online transaction processing,
electronic data
interchange (EDI), inventory management systems, and automated data collection
systems.
Traditionally, e-commerce is conducted through e-commerce websites using
various business models. Under one model, online sellers offer their own
products to
online consumers through their own proprietary e-commerce websites. These
websites are
considered proprietary because the sellers do not allow third-parties to sell
products on the
websites. In this model, sellers own and manage their own product inventory.
For
example, an online seller offers a range of products to consumers through its
own
proprietary e-commerce website. When a sell is made, the online seller ships
the product
from its warehouse to the purchaser.
Under another model, third-party e-commerce websites allow online sellers to
offer
products, but under the sellers' own names. This type of third-party website
may include
auction-type websites and classified-type websites. In some cases, these third-
party
websites provide online sellers with their own virtual store fronts. But,
under this model,
online sellers are typically required to manage their online transactions with
consumers,
including payment, inventory warehousing, and shipping.
More recently, another model has developed that allows online sellers to list
products on third-party websites in a manner that is largely transparent to
consumers. For
example, previously proprietary e-commerce websites owned by large retailers
have
opened their doors to third-party sellers. These types of websites are known
as third-party
marketplaces in the industry. Under this model, popular online retailers
partner with
sellers that are able to enhance consumer experience by bringing greater
product selection
to their e-commerce websites. Typically, the products of both the operator of
the e-
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commerce website and the sellers selling on the website receive equal
treatment in the
search results. Third-party marketplaces are particularly advantageous to
small and
medium sized sellers that may not have the resources to operate an e-commerce
website.
Examples of large online retailers operating third-party marketplaces include
Overstock.com, Amazon.com, Sears.com, Ebay.com, Walmart.com, and Buy.com. In
addition, it is predicted that many more third-party marketplaces may be
available in the
near future.
Although third-party marketplaces have benefitted sellers and online
retailers,
some drawbacks still exist. For example, sellers offering products through
multiple third-
party marketplaces must manage each marketplace account separately, which may
create
excessive supply chain management costs. Because of these excessive supply
chain
management costs, some sellers may artificially limit the number of third-
party
marketplaces through which they offer products. It would therefore be an
improvement to
provide a supply chain management system with a single integration point that
lowers
supply chain management costs in a manner that would benefit third-party
marketplaces
and sellers.
Another drawback that exists for sellers, even those using third-party
marketplaces,
is that more sophisticated consumers are demanding almost immediate delivery
of
products purchased from online retailers. In fact, total delivery time is
becoming
increasingly a differentiating and deciding feature for online shoppers. While
large online
retailers may have sufficient resources to establish large distribution supply
networks,
retailers of this size are few. Many third-party marketplaces require sellers
to directly
integrate and manage their inventory across multiple distribution centers,
which adds costs
to the total supply chain and is a barrier-to-entry for many sellers. However,
costs often
limit sellers to a single distribution center. Additionally, sellers must
determine how much
inventory to allocate to each third-party marketplace, and they assume the
risk of having
unsold inventory locked into a single retailer. Therefore, it would be a
further
improvement to provide an automated supply chain management system that
provides
sellers with a single integration point and access to multiple third-party
marketplaces and
third-party distribution centers.
The prior art is thus characterized by several disadvantages that are
addressed by
the present disclosure. The present disclosure minimizes, and in some aspects
eliminates,
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the above-mentioned failures, and other problems, by utilizing the methods and
structural
features described herein.
The features and advantages of the present disclosure will be set forth in the
description that follows, and in part will be apparent from the description,
or may be
learned by the practice of the present disclosure without undue
experimentation. The
features and advantages of the present disclosure may be realized and obtained
by means
of the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended
claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The features and advantages of the disclosure will become apparent from a
consideration of the subsequent detailed description presented in connection
with the
accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a framework of a supply chain management system
according to an illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure;
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a supply chain management program according to an
illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure;
FIG. 3 is a diagram of an exemplary display of a retailer inclusion/exclusion
list
generated by the supply chain management system shown in FIG. 1 according to
an
illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure;
FIG. 4 is a diagram of an exemplary display of an inventory allocation list
generated by the supply chain management system shown in FIG. 1 according to
an
illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure;
FIG. 5 is a diagram of an exemplary display of an inventory allocation list
generated by the supply chain management system shown in FIG. 1 according to
an
illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure;
FIG. 6 is a diagram of an exemplary display of an e-marketplace generated by
the
supply chain management system shown in FIG. 1 according to an illustrative
embodiment
of the present disclosure;
FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a supply chain management system according to an
illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure;
FIG. 8 depicts an exemplary method of managing a supply chain using a supply
chain management system according to an illustrative embodiment of the present
disclosure; and
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FIG. 9 depicts an exemplary method of managing a supply chain using a supply
chain management system according to an illustrative embodiment of the present
disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles in accordance
with the disclosure, reference will now be made to the illustrative
embodiments illustrated
in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It
will
nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the disclosure
is thereby
intended. Any alterations and further modifications of the inventive features
illustrated
herein, and any additional applications of the principles of the disclosure as
illustrated
herein, which would normally occur to one skilled in the relevant art and
having
possession of this disclosure, are to be considered within the scope of the
disclosure
claimed.
In describing and claiming the present disclosure, the following terminology
will
be used in accordance with the definitions set out below. It must be noted
that, as used in
this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an," and
"the" include
plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. As used
herein, the terms
"comprising," "including," "containing," "having," "characterized by," and
grammatical
equivalents thereof are inclusive or open-ended terms that do not exclude
additional,
unrecited elements or method steps.
As used herein, the term "partner" may refer to any entity that offers
products for
sale, typically on a wholesale level, on third-party e-commerce websites,
including third-
party retail marketplaces. Thus, a partner may be one of a product supplier,
seller, a
distributor, a wholesaler, an importer, a manufacturer, or any other entity,
or individual,
offering products for sale to retailers or to consumers on retailers' websites
such as third-
party marketplaces. A partner may operate a sales management computer program
running
on a sales management computer server.
As used herein, the term "retailer" or "retail marketplace" may refer to an
entity
that offers products for sale to consumers, sometimes referred to as end
users, on a retail
level. A retailer may comprise an e-commerce enterprise that offers products
to
consumers over a network, such as the Internet. That is, the e-commerce
enterprise
includes an e-commerce computer server connected to a publicly accessible
network. The
e-commerce computer server hosts an e-commerce website that allows consumers
to
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purchase products. The products offered for sale by retailers may include its
own
products, products purchased from partners, or products offered by partners
for sale even
though title to the products has not been formally transferred to the
retailer.
As used herein, the term "distribution center" may refer to an operation that
includes a warehouse for storing and managing inventory of product. As used
herein, a
distribution center may or may not be associated with a partner or a retailer
or another
distribution center. That is, the distribution center may be independently
operated. In an
embodiment, the distribution centers may physically manage inventory of
product offered
for sale by others, including partners and the retailers. That is,
distribution centers may
fulfill shipping orders from retailers and partners.
In view of the foregoing, various illustrative embodiments of the present
invention,
for example, advantageously provide systems, computer-readable media, programs
and
methods for providing supply chain management on a network, which provides
partners
with a single integration point and access to multiple retail marketplaces and
distribution
centers. For example, various embodiments of systems, computer readable media,
programs and methods of the present invention allow partners to submit partner
date using
multiple integration input methods, including EDI, AS2, API, and a web user
interface.
The partner data from any of the input method are processed to generate a
standardized
output transaction. Based on the partner configuration, the standardized
output transaction
is routed to only those endpoints, i.e., retail marketplaces, with which the
partner has
established a transactional relationship.
The systems, computer readable media, programs, and methods of the present
invention may facilitate various transactions between partners, retailers, and
distribution
centers, including, but not limited to, purchase orders, shipment orders,
inventory masters,
advanced shipping notice, shipment confirmation, receipts, inventory
adjustments,
inventory allocation, total inventory, product definition, product
attribution, product binary
data, and product cost.
In various illustrative embodiments of systems, computer-readable media,
programs and methods of the present invention, partners may create a product
definition
for each of the product they wish to offer for sale or carry in their
inventory. The product
definitions may be stored in a centralized database that is made available to
one or more
retail marketplaces that offer the products for sale to consumers through an e-
commerce
website. The product definitions may include product dimensions, weights, and
quantities.
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The retail marketplaces may download the product definitions from the
centralized
database such that the partners only need to upload the product definitions a
single time.
In various illustrative embodiments of systems, computer-readable media,
programs, and methods of the present invention, partners may define
marketplace
preferences to include or exclude individual retail marketplaces from offering
their
products. For example, partners may include or exclude individual retail
marketplaces or
retailers by making selections from a list of available retail marketplaces
generated by the
supply chain management system. Based on the partners' marketplace
preferences,
transactional relationships are established between partners and retail
marketplaces.
In various illustrative embodiments of systems, computer-readable media,
programs, and methods of the present invention, partners may be provided with
recommended physical locations for product distribution points based on the
partners'
transactional relationships with the retail marketplaces. In addition, the
systems, computer
readable media, programs, and methods of the present invention may provide
cost
estimates and provide inventory allocation recommendations for each of the
retail
marketplaces with whom a partner has an established transactional
relationship.
In various illustrative embodiments of systems, computer-readable media,
programs, and methods of the present invention, once transactional
relationships are
defined and product locations are determined, the invention will establish a 4-
way
relationship between product, partner, retail marketplace, and distribution
center. This
relationship may be stored and used to route all subsequent transactions. For
example, e-
commerce transactions through the retail marketplaces may be routed based on
product,
partner, and retailer relationships. These transactions may include purchase
order,
shipment orders, inventory master, advanced shipping notice, shipment
confirmation,
receipts, inventory adjustments, inventory allocation, and total inventory.
In various illustrative embodiments of systems, computer readable media,
programs, and methods of the present invention, partners are provided with
aggregated
inventory information for multiple distribution centers, even where the
distribution centers
are operated by independent third parties. Partners and retail marketplaces
may receive
normalized and aggregated transactions regardless of the number or type of
distribution
center locations or providers. For example, if a partner has products located
in three
warehouses, each warehouse provides a daily inventory update. The invention
may
identify inventory transactions by the partner to create a single inventory
update.
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In various illustrative embodiments of systems, computer readable media,
programs, and methods of the present invention, participating partners,
distribution centers
and retail marketplaces are provided with aggregated transaction files. For
example, the
invention will process orders from all participating retail marketplaces and
then determine
the products' location, and then create a single transaction payload for each
distribution
center.
In various illustrative embodiments of systems, computer-readable media,
programs, and methods of the present invention, participating partners may
define
inventory allocation rules. For example, partners may define inventory
allocation rules
that best reflect their sales strategies. The partners may be provided with,
and select from,
a list of available inventory allocation algorithms.
In various illustrative embodiments of systems, computer readable media,
programs, and methods of the present invention, retailers and marketplaces are
provided
with a consolidated product interface and product catalog.
In various illustrative embodiments of systems, computer-readable media,
programs, and methods of the present invention, a first-cost marketplace is
generated and
provided to retail marketplaces. For example, partners upload product catalogs
with
relevant product attributes, including first cost. Retail marketplaces may be
provided with
access to the catalog and can create business logic to help select relevant
products to make
available onsite.
In various illustrative embodiments of systems, computer-readable media,
programs, and methods of the present invention, retail marketplaces define a
product level
business logic/data model. The model consumes partner product data, evaluates
product
attributes, and qualifies products against retailer provided product
specifications or
business logic. The qualified products may then be offered on the appropriate
retail
marketplaces. Product that has been qualified and accepted by a retailer is
automatically
aggregated and included in subsequent inventory transactions. In various
illustrative
embodiments of systems, computer-readable media, programs, and methods of the
present
invention, partners are provided with a consolidated distribution service
which eliminates
cost from the supply chain and provides partners with a single integration
point.
Referring now to FIG. 1, there is depicted a block diagram of an exemplary
embodiment of a framework 10 of a supply chain management environment
according to
an illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure. By implementing the
integration
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standards disclosed and providing unbiased transaction processing, the
framework 10
provides an easy-to-use, cost-effective system, processes and computer-
readable medium
to manage warehousing, distribution, inventory allocation and sales through
multiple,
independent online retail channels. In an illustrative embodiment, the
framework 10 of the
present disclosure decreases overall supply chain costs and provides retailers
the ability to
decrease delivery time to consumers. In an illustrative embodiment, the
framework 10
facilitates the creation of an electronically interconnected community of
partners, retailers,
and distribution centers.
The framework 10 may include a central supply chain management system 12. It
will be appreciated that the system 12 may include a collection of computer
systems,
computer-readable media, computer programs, and computer-implemented processes
such
that the system 12 provides partners with a single integration point and
access to multiple
independently operated retail marketplaces and distribution centers.
In an illustrative embodiment, the system 12 may comprise a supply chain
management server 100. The server 100 includes a processor 102 coupled to a
memory
104. Loaded in the memory 104 are programs containing computer-readable
instructions
that are executable by the processor 102. The programs include an operating
system 108
as is known to those having skill in the art. In addition, the memory 104 has
loaded
therein a supply chain management program 110.
The supply chain management program 110 comprises computer-readable
instructions that, when executed by the processor 102, cause the processor 102
to carry out
the functionality and features of the supply chain management system 12 as
described
herein. In an illustrative embodiment, an operator may enter commands and
information
into the server 100 through input devices (not shown) such as a keyboard and a
pointing
device, such as a mouse. In an illustrative embodiment, the server 100 is
connected to a
network, such as the Internet, to provide access to remote computing devices
utilized by
partners, retailers, and distribution Centers. The computer server 100 is
connected to a
database 112 residing on an electronic storage device, such as a hard drive or
an array of
hard drives as known to those of ordinary skill in the art.
In an illustrative embodiment, the supply chain management server 100
comprises
a collection of computer servers, each having its own processor, that are
connected to an
internal, or external, network in what is commonly referred to as a "server
farm," with
each server performing unique tasks or the group of servers sharing the load
of multiple
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tasks. Each server of the server farm may include a processor coupled to a
memory. The
server farm is scalable as is known to those skilled in the art to accommodate
large
demand on the supply chain management system 12. For example, the server 100
may
comprise a server farm having a plurality of servers, where a first portion of
the servers is
dedicated to carry out the functions and features provided to partners, where
a second
portion of the servers is dedicated to carry out the functions and features
provided to
retailers, and where a third portion of the servers is dedicated to carry out
the functions and
features provided to distribution centers. The supply chain management server
100 may
host a website that is accessible from remote computers.
In an illustrative embodiment, a plurality of partners 120 may access the
supply
chain management system 12 from remote computers through the website hosted by
the
server 100. In particular, each of the partners 120 may access the supply
chain
management server 100 from a partner management system 122 over a network,
such as
the Internet. Each partner 120 management system 122 may include a computer
having a
processor and a memory as known to those of ordinary skill in the art.
Partners 120 may access the features of the server 100 through a web browser
running on the partner management systems 122. In an illustrative embodiment,
each of
the plurality of partners 120 completes a registration process with the server
100 to
establish a user account with the system 12. Account information of the
partners 120 may
be stored in the database 112 by the server 100.
Each of the partner management systems 122 may further include a database for
storing product listing information, including product images, product
descriptions,
product attributes, and pricing information for products offered by the
partners 120. It
will be further appreciated that each of the partner management systems 122
may
exchange data with the supply chain management system 12 as will be explained
in more
detail hereinafter.
In an illustrative embodiment, a plurality of retailers 130 may access the
supply
chain management system 12 from remote computers through the website hosted by
the
server 100. In particular, each of the retailers 130 may access the supply
chain
management server 100 from an e-commerce system 132 over a network, such as
the
Internet. Each e-commerce system 132 may include a computer having a processor
and a
memory as known to those of ordinary skill in the art. Retailers 130 may
access the
features of the server 100 through a web browser running on a computer of the
e-
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commerce system 132. In an illustrative embodiment, each of the plurality of
retailers 130
completes a registration process with the server 100 to establish a user
account with the
system 12. The retailers' 130 account information may be stored in the
database 112 by
the server 100.
It will be appreciated that the e-commerce systems 132 of the retailers 130
provide
e-commerce websites that allow e-commerce transactions with consumers as known
to
those of ordinary skill. In an illustrative embodiment, the e-commerce system
132 of each
of the retailers 130 provides a third-party marketplace that allows partners,
including
partners 120, to offer products for sale on the e-commerce websites of the
retailers 130.
Each of the e-commerce systems 132 may further include a database for storing
product
listing information, including product images, product descriptions, product
attributes, and
pricing information as known to those of ordinary skill. It will be further
appreciated that
each of the e-commerce systems 132 may exchange data with the supply chain
management system 12 as will be explained in more detail hereinafter.
Thus, pursuant to the present invention, a retailer 130 offers products for
sale on
its e-commerce website. For example, using web browsers operating on a remote
computers, consumers are able to access a website hosted by an e-commerce
system 132 of
a retailer 130. Through the website, consumers are able to browse product
listings on the
e-commerce website. The e-commerce website may provide a search feature that
allows
consumers to search for desired products on the website as known to those of
ordinary
skill. In addition, the e-commerce website may provide an interactive
hierarchical product
listing. Further, each of the websites hosted by the e-commerce systems 132
provide a
checkout procedure that allows consumers to purchase product from the retailer
130. As
known to those of ordinary skill in the art, an online checkout procedure
typically requires
a consumer to enter name, payment information, and a shipping address.
In an illustrative embodiment, a plurality of distribution centers 140 may
access the
supply chain management system 12 from remote computers through the website
hosted
by the server 100. In particular, each of the distribution centers 140 may
access the supply
chain management server 100 from a fulfillment management system 142 over a
network,
such as the Internet. Each fulfillment management system 142 may include a
computer
having a processor and a memory as known to those of ordinary skill in the
art.
Distribution centers 140 may access the features of the server 100 through a
web browser
running on a computer of the fulfillment management system 142. In an
illustrative
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embodiment, each of the plurality of distribution centers 140 completes a
registration
process with the server 100 in order to establish a user account with the
system 12. The
distribution centers' 140 account information may be stored in the database
112 by the
server 100.
The distribution centers 140 may manage product inventory for third parties.
In
particular, third parties, such as partners 120, may ship product to the
distribution centers
140. Product information about the products may be entered into the
fulfillment
management system 142. The product information may include owner information,
universal product identification, and quantity. The product information may
further
include information necessary for shipping the product through a common
carrier,
including product dimensions and weight. The product received at the
distribution centers
140 may be stored at fulfillment centers 144. The fulfillment centers 144 may
warehouse
the products until shipping order instructions are received from the system
12. In response
to the instructions, the fulfillment centers 144 package and ship the product
as will be
explained in more detail hereinafter. The fulfillment management system 142
may
exchange data with the system 12 as will be explained in more detail
hereinafter.
It will be appreciated that the partners 120, the retailers 130, and the
distribution
centers 140 may form a community of electronically connected users on the
system 12. As
will further be explained below, the system 12 allows the partners 120, the
retailers 130,
and the distribution centers 140 to easily form business and transactional
relationships.
Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the supply chain management program 110 may
include a partner module 202, a retailer module 204, a distribution center
module 206, a
transaction module 208, and an account management module 210. The
functionality and
features provided by these modules 202-210, when executed by the processor
102, will be
described below.
PARTNER MODULE
The partner module 202 allows partners 120 to interface and exchange data with
the system 12. In particular, the partner module 202 provides access to the
features and
functionality of the system 12 for the partners 120. In this regard, the
partner module 202
serves as a gateway to the system 12 to exchange data for the partners 120
using partner
management systems 122.
In an illustrative embodiment, a partner management system 122 may include a
remote computing device having a processor and a memory. It will be
appreciated that the
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remote computing device may include a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a
tablet
computer, a smart phone, a server computer, or any other smart device with
computer
networking capability. In an illustrative embodiment, the remote computing
device of the
partner management system 122 may access the system 12 over a publicly
accessible
network, such as the Internet.
Through the partner management systems 122, partners 120 interface with the
system 12. In an illustrative embodiment, the partner module 202 provides
partners 120
with multiple integration input methods, including, but not limited to, EDI,
AS2, API, and
a web UI, to exchange data with the system 12. Partners 120 may receive
subsequent
transactions through their chosen integration method which may include,
without
limitation, AS2, EDI, CSV, XML, mobile, and email. It will be appreciated that
data
exchange between the partner management system 122 and the system 12 can use
any data
exchange method now known, or known in the future.
The partner module 202 receives data from the partner management system 122
using any of the input methods and creates a standardized output transaction.
The
standardized data are then stored in the database 112. Based on the
configuration of a
partner 120, the standardized output transaction is routed to those endpoint
entities,
retailers 130 and distribution centers 140, with which the partner 120 has
established a
transactional relationship.
Using the partner module 202, partners 120 upload product information for each
of
the products they wish to offer for sale or carry in their inventory. In
particular, the
product information may be uploaded from a database of the partner management
system
122 and stored in the database 112 by the partner module 202. The product
information
may be standardized by the partner module 202 prior to storing in the database
112. The
product information may include product images, product attributes, product
description,
price, ratings, and any other information to facilitate the sale of the
products to consumers.
The product information may also include product dimensions, weights, and
available quantities. The product information may be stored in the database
112 in
association with the accounts of the partners 120 with the system 12. In an
illustrative
embodiment, the product information may be stored in the database 112 in
association
with product catalogs of the partners 120. The partner module 202 may provide
electronic
forms and interfaces to facilitate the upload of the product information from
the partner
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management systems 122. The upload of the product information to the system 12
may be
performed manually or through an automated process.
In an illustrative embodiment, the partner module 202 may generate a list 300
of
available retailers 130 registered on the system 12 as can be observed in FIG.
3. This list
300 is displayed on a display 302 of the partner management systems 122. Using
the list
300, which may be interactive, searchable, and sortable, partners 120 select
those ones of
the retailers 130 with whom the partners 120 desire to establish a
transactional
relationship. That is, through the interface, partners 120 can input retailer
selection
preferences to include and exclude retailers 130. A retailer 130 selected by a
partner 120
is able to offer for sale those products listed in the database 112 by that
partner 120. A
retailer 130 that has been excluded by a partner 120, on the other hand, is
prohibited from
offering for sale those products listed in the database 112 by that partner
120. The
decision to include or exclude any particular retailer 130 may be based on
business
objectives. Based on the qualification process and the inclusion/exclusion
preferences of
the partners 120, a transactional relationship will be established between
each partner 120
and their selected or included ones of the retailers 130.
In an illustrative embodiment, partners 120 are able to allocate inventory
differently between the selected ones of the retailers 130 using the partner
module 202.
That is, a partner 120 may define product allocation preferences that allocate
more
inventory to one retailer 130 than to another. For example, as shown in FIG.
4, the partner
module 202 may generate an exemplary list 310 of the selected ones of the
retailers 130 on
a display 302 of a partner management system 122.
In an illustrative embodiment, the partner module 202 may provide a plurality
of
inventory allocation methods that allows the partners 120 to select an
inventory allocation
method which best reflects their sales strategy. The selection provides a
spectrum of
choices designed to maximize available inventory across multiple retailers 130
and
minimize short-ship risks. In an illustrative embodiment, the choices include,
without
limitation:
= Minimize Short-Ship: Retailer Inventory = (Available Inventory ¨
(Total SKU Sales / Time in Period)) / Count of Retailers
= Maximize Inventory: Retailer Inventory = ((Available Inventory *
Count of Retailers) ¨ (Total SKU Sales / time in_period)) / Count of Retailers
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= Absolute Reserve: Retailer Inventory = (Available Inventory ¨ Partner
Reserve) /
Count of Retailers
= Retailer Reserve: Retailer Inventory = Retailer Reserve + ((Available
Inventory ¨
S(All Retailer Reserves)) / Count of Retailer)
= Weighted Retailer: Retailer Inventory = (Retailer SKU Sales / Time in
Period ) +
(Available Inventory ¨ S(All Retailer SKU Sales/ Time in Period) /
Count of Retailer)
It will be appreciated that other inventory allocation methods may be utilized
by the
present invention. The inventory allocation methods may be chosen for an
entire product
catalog or on a product-by-product basis.
Based on the transactional relationships and the selected inventory allocation
methods, the partner module 202 will analyze the network data and recommend
select
ones of the distribution centers 140 for product distribution, provide a cost
estimate, and
provide inventory allocation recommendations amongst the different
distribution centers.
In particular, the distribution centers 140 may be selected for each of the
partners 120
based on geographic proximity to consumers of the retailers 130. For example,
shown in
FIG. 5 is a recommended list 400 of distribution centers 140 and a recommended
inventory allocation list 402 for Product A as shown on a display 302 of a
partner
management systems 122. The partner 120 may then ship product to the
identified ones of
the distribution centers 140 in accordance with the recommended inventory
allocation.
Once transactional relationships between partners 120 and retailers 130 are
defined
and product distribution center locations are identified, the partner module
202 will
establish a 4-way relationship between product, partners 120, retailers 130
and distribution
center(s) 140. These relationships are stored in the database 112 and are used
to route all
subsequent transactions, as will be explained in more detail below.
RETAILER MODULE
The retailer module 204 allows retailers 130 to access the features and
functionality
of the system 12 from a remote computing devices, namely, a computer
associated with
the e-commerce systems 132. As mentioned above, once a retailer 130 has
registered with
the system 12, partners 120 may select the retailer 130 as being qualified to
sell the
products of the partners 120 to consumers. Likewise, retailers 130 may select
which of the
products of the partners 120 they wish to offer on their respective e-commerce
systems
132. To accomplish this feature, the retailer module 204 defines a customized
e-product
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marketplace in the database 112 for each retailer 130. The customized e-
product
marketplace will allow a retailer 130 to select product from all of those
partners 120 that
have chosen to include that retailer 130 in their qualified list of retailers.
For example, if Partners A and B may have selected Retailer A as a qualified
retailer of their products, the retailer module 204 would generate a
customized e-product
marketplace for Retailer A that includes the products of both Partners A and B
that were
previously uploaded to the database 112. Thus, it will be appreciated that the
retailer
module 204 generates a unique and customized e-product marketplace for each
retailer
130. That is, each e-product marketplace has a customized product selection of
qualified
products offered to a retailer 130 by the partners 120.
In an illustrative embodiment, once a retailer 130 accesses a customized e-
product
marketplace, the retailer 130 is able to browse products offered for sale
through the system
12. For example, the retailer 130 is able to view product images, review
product
information, pricing information, and inventory information stored in the
database 112.
In an illustrative embodiment, retailers 130 are able to manually select
desired
products in the e-product marketplace created and maintained by the server 12.
Thus, if a
retailer 130 determines that it desires to offer for sale on its e-commerce
website one of the
products offered by a partner 120, the retailer 130 selects the product in the
e-product
marketplace. In an illustrative embodiment, the retailer 130 also selects a
quantity of each
product that it desires to offer for sale.
In an illustrative embodiment, the products listed for sale in the e-product
marketplaces may be presented as in a catalog format. The retailer module 204
provides a
search feature that allows retailers 130 to search for desired products. In
addition, the
retailer module 204 provides a browse feature. In addition, the retailer
module 204 may
provide a listing of the most purchased products, the highest rated, or any
other useful
product category.
In an illustrative embodiment, the retailer module 204 provides an interface
that
allows a retailer 130 to input business logic that defines product selection
preferences that
are utilized to select products that will be sold on the e-commerce website
operated by the
retailer 130. The business logic may define product attributes of desirable
products. For
example, if the retailer's e-commerce website primarily sells products related
to horses, the
business logic may specify product attributes typically related to horses,
such as riding
gear, halters, saddles, etc. The product attributes defined by the business
logic are then
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compared against the product attributes of the products listed in the e-
product marketplace
to find product matches.
In an illustrative embodiment, using the business logic defined by the
retailers 130
and the retailer inclusion/exclusion parameters defined by the partners 120,
the retailer
module 204 automatically matches products to retailers 130. Stated another
way,
matchmaking involves the retailer module 204 matching products in the database
112 to a
retailer 130 based on (1) the business logic, or product selection
preferences, defined by
the retailer 130; and (2) the retailer inclusion/exclusion preferences defined
by the partners
120. Again, the retailer module 204 may automatically select products in the
database 112
for each retailer 130 based on these two factors. It will be appreciated that
the
matchmaking process described above greatly facilitates and automates product
selection.
In an illustrative embodiment, the retailer 130 may then manually accept or
reject
the products identified in the matchmaking process. For example, as shown in
FIG. 6, the
retailer module 204 may generate a list 500 of products identified by the
matching process
on a display 502 of an e-commerce system 132. The retailer 130 may then
manually
accept or reject the product for inclusion for sale on the e-commerce system
132. The
products may be accepted and rejected on a product-by-product basis, by
product category,
by partner, by price, by product attribute, or in any other product groupings.
Once the products have been selected, either manually or by the matchmaking
process described above, the retailer module 204 then provides a download of
the pertinent
product information to a destination indicated by the retailers 130. Using the
provided
product information, the retailers 130 are able to list the product for sale
on their
respective e-commerce websites using the downloaded product information.
Importantly,
the retailer 130 has not been shipped the product even though the product is
offered for
sale on the retailer's 130 e-commerce website. In an illustrative embodiment,
the e-
commerce system 132 of a retailer 130 dynamically generates a product webpage
that links
to the product information in the database 112 such that the retailer 130 does
not need to
separately maintain the product information.
It will be appreciated that the retailer module 204 provides a consolidated
product
interface and catalog for multiple retailers and/or marketplaces. The retailer
module 204
accommodates various integration methods, including Web services, XML, CSV,
API,
http, and https. In an illustrative embodiment, the retailer module 204
creates a first-cost,
or wholesale, marketplace. That is, partners 120 can upload their entire
product catalog
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with relevant product attributes, including first cost, to the database 112.
Retailers 130
may have access to the catalogs, if qualified by the partners 120, and can
create business
logic, i.e., product selection preferences, to help select relevant products
to make available
on their websites.
In an illustrative embodiment, the retailer module 204 includes product level
business logic/data model. The business logic consumes partner product data,
evaluates
the product attributes and qualifies products against retailer provided
product
specifications. Products that have been qualified and accepted by a retailer
130 are
automatically aggregated and included in subsequent inventory transactions.
DISTRIBUTION CENTER MODULE
The distribution center module 206 allows the distribution centers 140 to
access
the features and functionality of the supply chain management system 12 from
remote
computing devices, namely, computers of the fulfillment management systems
142. In an
illustrative embodiment, the distribution center module 206 integrates and
aggregates
multiple distribution centers 140 and the associated inventory into a single
access point.
In an illustrative embodiment, partners 120 ship product inventory to the
distribution centers 140. The partners 120 may ship the inventory in
accordance with the
inventory allocation recommendations generated by the partner module 202. When
an
order is placed by a consumer with a retailer 130, the retailer 130 generates
a shipping
order, which is routed through the system 12 to the appropriate distribution
center 140.
The distribution center 140 then ships the product to the consumer specified
in the
shipping order. The distribution center 140 then generates an advanced
shipping notice,
which is routed through the system 12 to the retailer 140 that sold the
product. In short,
the distribution centers ship product to the consumers that order the product
through the
retailers' 130 websites. Further, the distribution center module 206 will
accommodate
various integration methods, including EDI and AS2.
In an illustrative embodiment, a primary function of the distribution centers
140 are
to route transactions based on product, partner, and retailer transactional
relationships
defined by the database of the system. Transactions processed by the
distribution centers
140 may include: Purchase Orders, Shipment Orders, Inventory Master, Advanced
Shipping Notice, Shipment Confirmation, Receipts, Inventory Adjustments,
Inventory
Allocation, and Total Inventory. In an illustrative embodiment, partners 120
and retailers
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130 will receive normalized and aggregated transactions regardless of the
number or type
of distribution centers 140 locations or providers.
For example, if Partner A has product located in three distribution centers
140,
each distribution center 140 provides a daily inventory update. The
distribution center
module 206 identifies inventory transactions for a partner 120 and aggregates
the data into
a single aggregated inventory update.
In an illustrative embodiment, retailers 130 and/or partners 120 will provide
aggregated transaction files. The distribution center module 206 will process
orders from
all participating retailers 130 and determine the optimal product location,
then the
distribution center module 206 will create a single transaction payload for
each
distribution center 140. In an illustrative embodiment, the optimal product
location is the
distribution center 140 closest to the destination shipping address for the
product. In an
illustrative embodiment, the retailer 120 may select the distribution center
140 that will
ship the product and include this information with the shipping order.
ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT MODULE
The account management module 210 provides a registration process to its
users,
namely, partners 120, retailers 130, and distribution centers 140. It will be
appreciated that
the number of partners 120, retailers 130, and distribution centers 140 that
register with
the supply chain management system 12 may be unlimited, subject only to the
capacity
requirements of the system 12. In an illustrative embodiment of the present
disclosure, the
partners, retailers, and distribution centers are independently operated and
unrelated
entities.
In an illustrative embodiment, the registration process may be completed
online,
such as over the Internet. For example, the partners 120, retailers 130, and
distribution
centers 140 may access the system 12 through a website. The partners 120,
retailers 130,
and distribution centers 140 may be provided with a secure login ID and
password as is
known to those skilled in the art.
OFF NETWORK RETAILERS
Referring to FIG. 1, the supply chain management system 12 may provide a
feature
that allows partners 120 to ship products to consumers from the distribution
centers 140
for purchases made through off network retailers 160. As used herein, off
network
retailers 160 are retailers that offer for sale products of one or more
partners 120 on an e-
commerce system 162. The off network retailers 160 are not registered with the
system
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12. When a consumer purchases a product from an off network retailer 160, the
off
network retailer 160 may send a shipping order to the appropriate partner 120.
The partner
120 may then generate an off network shipping order, which is sent to the
system 12. The
system 12 then generates a shipping order, which is sent to the appropriate
distribution
center 140. The distribution center 140 will then ship the order to the
consumer and
provide a shipping confirmation back to the partner 120 through the system 12.
OFF NETWORK DISTRIBUTION CENTERS
Referring to FIG. 1, the supply chain management system 12 may provide a
feature
that allows partners 120 to ship products to consumers from off network
distribution
centers 150 for purchases made through retailers 130. As used herein, off
network
distribution centers 150 are distribution centers that fulfill shipping orders
for one or more
partners 120, but that are not registered with the system 12. In an
embodiment, the off
network distribution centers 150 may include a fulfillment management system
152 and a
fulfillment center 154 similar to the fulfillment management system 142 and
the
fulfillment center 144, respectively. In an embodiment, the off network
distribution centers
carry an inventory of product offered for sale by one or more partners 120. If
a retailer 120
registered with the system 12 generates a shipping order, it is routed by the
system 12 back
to the appropriate partner 120. The partner 120 may then send the shipping
order to the off
network distribution center 150.
TRANSACTION MODULE
Referring to FIG. 1, the following Table 1 describes the various data
exchanges
between partners 120 and the supply chain management system 12 that may be
performed
by the transaction module 208, or another appropriate module of the system 12.
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TABLE 1
Inclusion/Exclusion Partners are able to select which retailers
they want to
do business with through the partner module. The
supply chain management system generates a list of
retailers and the partners are able to select the ones
which will be qualified to offer the partners' products to
consumers. Thus, partners are able to "include" or
"exclude" retailers by defining retailer
inclusion/exclusion preferences. This information is
stored in the database by the supply chain management
system.
Product Information Partners upload product information to the
supply chain
management system regarding the products that are
offered to consumers through retailers. The product
information includes, without limitation, product
attributes, price, product descriptions, product images,
or any other product information. The product
information is stored in the database.
Fulfilled Orders The supply chain management system informs the
partners of fulfilled orders, i.e., product shipped by the
distribution centers.
Outstanding Orders Off Outstanding orders off network are shipping orders
for
Network registered retailers that must be fulfilled
from the
partners' off network distribution centers.
Off Network Inventory Off network inventory is the partners'
inventory
maintained in the off network distribution centers.
Off Network Orders Off network orders are shipping orders from non-
registered Retailers. The shipping orders are fulfilled
by the registered distribution centers.
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TABLE 1
Purchase Orders Partners provide purchase orders to the supply
chain
management system. The supply chain management
system then forwards this information to the registered
distribution centers such that the distribution centers
know what products are being shipped to them.
Product Allocation Partners can define inventory allocation rules,
or
product allocation preferences. These inventory
allocation rules allow Partners to select an inventory
allocation method which best reflect their sales strategy.
The supply chain management system provides a
spectrum of different inventory allocation strategies to
maximize available inventory across multiple retailers
and minimize short-ship. Partners are able to select the
product allocation preferences that they desire.
Inventory The supply chain management system can provide
a
single, integrated report to partners regarding product
inventory in the various distribution centers to the
partners. The reports can include information on
inventory adjustments, inventory allocation, and total
inventory.
Referring now still to FIG. 1, the following Table 2 describes the various
data
exchanges between retailers 130 and the supply chain management system 12 that
may be
performed by the transaction module 208, or another module of the system 12.
TABLE 2
Business Logic Retailers are able to define business logic, or
product
selection preferences, to select desired products from
partners. The business logic identifies desirable product
attributes. Through a matchmaking process, the supply
chain management system matches products that meet
the product attributes dictated in the business logic.
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TABLE 2
Product Information The supply chain management system downloads
product information regarding the selected products that
retailers offer for sale on their respective e-commerce
websites.
Product Catalog Supply chain management system generates a
product
catalog listing all of the products of the Partners that a
Retailer is authorized to sell. The products in the
catalog may be selected based on retailer
inclusion/exclusion preferences defined by partners and
product selection criteria defined by retailers.
Shipping Order When a consumer places an order, the retailer
will
generate a shipping order, which is transmitted to the
supply chain management system. The shipping order
will identify the purchaser, product, quantity, shipping
address and the distribution center selected for
shipment, if applicable. The supply chain management
system will then forward the shipping order to the
identified distribution center or one selected by the
system.
Inventory The retailers are provided with inventory
information
regarding the inventory of products they are authorized
to sell by the retailers.
Advanced Shipping Notice The retailers receive notice that products have
been
shipped by the distribution centers from the supply
chain management system to consumers.
Referring now to FIG. 1, the following Table 3 describes the various data
exchanges between distribution centers 140 and the supply chain management
system that
may be performed by the transaction module 208, or another module of the
system 12.
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TABLE 3
Shipping Order The distribution centers receive shipping
orders from
the supply chain management system. The distribution
centers ship product to consumers based on the
shipping orders.
Inventory The distribution centers provide inventory
information
to the supply chain management system. The inventory
information may include an inventory master list,
inventory adjustment information, as well as product
location.
Shipment Confirmation The distribution centers provide confirmations
that
products have been received at the distribution centers
from the partners and are available to ship to
consumers.
Advanced Shipping Notice Advanced shipment notices are used to notify the
supply management system of a shipment to a
consumer that purchased a product.
It will be appreciated that the transactions identified in Tables 1-3 may take
place
over a network, such as the Internet.
Referring now to FIG. 7, there is depicted an illustrative embodiment of a
supply
chain management system 12A that is also suitable for use in the framework 10
of FIG. 1.
The system 12A comprises a partner subsystem 202A, a retailer subsystem 204A,
a
distribution center subsystem 206A, a transaction subsystem 208A, and an
account
management subsystem 210A. It will be appreciated that the partner subsystem
202A
performs the functions and features similar to the partner module 202
described above. It
will be further appreciated that the retailer subsystem 204A performs similar
functions
and features to the retailer module 204 described above. It will be further
appreciated that
the distribution center subsystem 206A performs the functions and features to
the
distribution center module 206 described above. It will be further appreciated
that the
transaction subsystem 208A performs similar functions and features to the
transaction
module 208 described above. It will be further appreciated that the account
management
subsystem 210A performs similar functions and features to the account
management
module 210 described above.
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It will be appreciated that many of the functional units described in this
specification have been labeled as "subsystems" to more particularly emphasize
their
implementation independence. For example, a subsystem may be implemented as a
hardware circuit comprising custom VLSI circuits or gate arrays, off-the-shelf
semiconductors such as logic chips, transistors, or other discrete components.
A
subsystem may also be implemented in programmable hardware devices such as
field
programmable gate arrays, programmable array logic, programmable logic
devices, or the
like.
Subsystems may also be implemented in software code, sometimes referred to as
computer readable instructions, for execution by various types of processors.
Where a
subsystem includes software code, the subsystem will also include one or more
processors
and memory. An identified subsystem of executable code may, for instance,
comprise one
or more physical or logical blocks of computer instructions that may, for
instance, be
organized as an object, procedure, or function. Nevertheless, the executables
of an
identified subsystem need not be physically located together, but may comprise
disparate
instructions stored in different locations which, when joined logically
together, comprise
the subsystem and achieve the stated purpose for the subsystem.
Indeed, a subsystem of executable code may be a single instruction, or many
instructions, and may even be distributed over several different code
segments, among
different programs, and across several memory devices. Similarly, operational
data may be
identified and illustrated herein within subsystems, and may be embodied in
any suitable
form and organized within any suitable type of data structure. The operational
data may be
collected as a single data set, or may be distributed over different locations
including over
different storage devices, and may exist, at least partially, merely as
electronic signals on a
system or network.
Referring now to FIG. 8, there is depicted a flow diagram of a process
performed
by the system 12 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. At step
600, a
plurality of partners, retailers, and distribution centers may be registered
with a centralized
supply chain management system. The plurality of partners, retailers, and
distribution
centers may form a community of electronically interconnected users. At step
601, a
plurality of the partners may upload product information to the supply chain
management
system. The product information may relate to products offered for sale by the
partners.
The product information may include product images, product descriptions,
product
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attributes, and pricing information. The product information may relate to
products
offered for sale by the partners. The supply chain management system may store
the
product information in a database in product catalogs.
At step 602, the partners may be provided with a list of retailers registered
with the
supply chain management system on a display of a computer. The retailers may
operate an
e-commerce system that conducts e-commerce with consumers. The retailers may
allow
third-parties to offer goods for sale on their e-commerce systems. In an
illustrative
embodiment, the retailers' e-commerce system may include a third-party
marketplace
feature.
The partners may select preferred ones of the retailers from the list using an
input
device of the computer. In particular, the selected ones of the retailers
constitute those
retailers with whom the partners desire to do business. The partners may
select the
retailers based on business objectives. In particular, the partners may select
to include or
exclude retailers based on the partners' business models.
At step 604, the supply chain management system may receive product selection
preferences or business logic from the retailers. In an illustrative
embodiment, the product
selection preferences are utilized to filter the products stored in the
database based on the
retailers business objectives. The product selection preferences may define
product
attributes.
At step 606, the supply chain management system generates a customized catalog
of qualified products for each retailer based on the retailer
inclusion/exclusion preferences
provided by the partners and the product selection preferences provide by the
retailer. Each
retailer may have its own customized e-marketplace. The qualified products for
each
retailer may define an e-marketplace.
At step 607, the retailers are provided with a list of qualified products on a
computer display to accept or reject qualified products listed in the catalog.
That is, the
retailers are able to accept or reject the products in their respective
customized catalogs.
At step 608, product information for the accepted products in the product
catalogs
is downloaded from the supply chain management system to the e-commerce
systems
associated with the retailers. The retailers may then offer the products for
sale on the
retailers' e-commerce systems to consumers using the product information.
At step 610, the supply chain management system receives shipping orders for
products sold on the retailers' e-commerce systems. The shipping orders may
identify the
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product sold, purchaser, quantity, shipping address, and, optionally, the
distribution center
designated to ship the product.
At step 612, the supply chain management system sends the shipping orders to
the
distribution centers identified in the shipping orders. In the alternative,
the supply chain
management system selects a distribution center based on the shipping address.
For
example, the supply chain management system may select the distribution center
closest to
the shipping address through an automated process. At step 614, the supply
chain
management system receives a shipment confirmation from the distribution
center and
provides it to both the retailer who sold the product and the listing partner
who provided
the product.
Referring now to FIG. 9, there is depicted a flow diagram of a process
performed
by the system 12 according to an illustrative embodiment of the present
disclosure. At
step 700, a plurality of partners, retailers, and distribution centers may be
registered with a
centralized supply chain management system. The plurality of partners,
retailers, and
distribution centers may form a community of electronically interconnected
users. At step
702, a plurality of the partners may upload product information to a supply
chain
management system. The product information may relate to products offered for
sale by
the partners. The product information may include product images, product
descriptions,
and pricing information for products. The product information may relate to
products
offered for sale by the partners. The supply chain management system may store
the
product information in a database in product catalogs.
At step 704, the centralized management system provides a selection of
inventory
allocation preferences to partners. The inventory allocation preferences allow
partners to
specify an inventory allocation method to be used in allocation of products
stored in the
distribution centers among the retailers. At step 706, the centralized
management system
receives inventory allocation preferences from the partners. At step 708, the
selected
inventory allocation preferences are applied amongst a plurality of retailers.
This may
include providing inventory allocation recommendations to the partners.
In the foregoing Detailed Description, various features of the present
disclosure are
grouped together in a single illustrative embodiment for the purpose of
streamlining the
disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting
an intention that
the claimed disclosure requires more features than are expressly recited in
each claim.
Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in less than
all features of a
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single foregoing disclosed illustrative embodiment. Thus, the following claims
are hereby
incorporated into this Detailed Description of the Disclosure by this
reference, with each
claim standing on its own as a separate illustrative embodiment of the present
disclosure.
It is to be understood that the above-described arrangements are only
illustrative of
the application of the principles of the present disclosure. Numerous
modifications and
alternative arrangements may be devised by those skilled in the art without
departing from
the spirit and scope of the present disclosure and the appended claims are
intended to
cover such modifications and arrangements. Thus, while the present disclosure
has been
shown in the drawings and described above with particularity and detail, it
will be
apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that numerous modifications,
including, but
not limited to, variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and
manner of operation,
assembly and use may be made without departing from the principles and
concepts set
forth herein.
ADDITIONAL SPECIFICATION SUPPORT
In accordance with the details of the disclosure above, and in reference to
the
accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the following word-for-word
description of embodiments is hereby provided and supported as follows:
Embodiment 1. A method of managing a supply chain network for e-commerce
transactions, said method including:
registering a plurality of partners and retailers with a supply chain
management
system, the supply chain management system having at least one processor
coupled to a
memory having operating instructions stored therein, the supply chain
management system
further having a database residing on an electronic storage medium;
maintaining in the database product information for products offered by the
partners, the product information including product attributes of the
products;
receiving retailer inclusion/exclusion preferences from each partner, retailer
inclusion/exclusion preferences specifying selected ones of the retailers for
each partner;
receiving product selection preferences from each retailer, the product
selection
preferences specifying product attributes of desirable products; and
generating, using the at least one processor, qualified products for each
retailer
based on the product selection preferences provided by the retailer and the
retailer
inclusion/exclusion preferences provided by the partners.
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Embodiment 2. The method of Embodiment 1, further including registering a
plurality of distribution centers with the supply chain management system.
Embodiment 3. The method of Embodiment 2, further including generating
inventory allocation recommendations for the partners.
Embodiment 4. The method of Embodiment 2, further including defining in the
database a relationship between products, partners, retailers, and
distribution centers.
Embodiment 5. The method of Embodiment 1, further including generating
transactional information.
Embodiment 6. The method of Embodiment 1, further including defining in the
database an inventory allocation for one or more retailers based on inventory
allocation
preferences received from a partner.
Embodiment 7. The method of Embodiment 1, further including:
receiving inventory information from a plurality of product distribution
centers;
aggregating the inventory information; and
generating an inventory report.
Embodiment 8. The method of Embodiment 1, further including:
receiving shipping orders from two or more of the retailers;
aggregating the shipping orders; and
generating a single transaction payload for one or more distribution centers.
Embodiment 9. The method of Embodiment 1, further including defining in the
database inventory allocation rules selected by each partner.
Embodiment 10. The method of Embodiment 9, wherein the inventory allocation
rules include: minimize short-ship, maximize inventory, absolute reserve,
retailer reserve,
and weighted retailer.
Embodiment 11. The method of Embodiment 1, further including generating a
customized product catalog for each retailer.
Embodiment 12. The method of Embodiment 1, further including receiving an
upload of product information with relevant product attributes from each
partner.
Embodiment 13. The method of Embodiment 1, further including sorting products
based on product attributes identified by a retailer.
Embodiment 14. The method of Embodiment 1, further including downloading
product information for the qualified products to a remote computing device
for each of
the retailers.
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Embodiment 15. A system for managing a supply chain network, said system
including:
at least one processor;
a memory coupled to the at least one processor;
operating instructions stored in the memory that, when executed, cause the at
least
one processor to: (i) register a plurality of partners and retailers with the
system, (ii)
maintain in a database product information, the product information including
product
attributes of products offered by the partners, (iii) receive retailer
inclusion/exclusion
preferences from each partner, (iv) receive product selection preferences from
each
retailer, the product selection preferences specifying product attributes of
desirable
products, and (v) generate qualified products for each retailer based on the
product
selection preferences of the retailers and the retailer inclusion/exclusion
preferences of the
partners.
Embodiment 16. The system of Embodiment 15, wherein the operating
instructions are further operable, when executed, to cause the at least one
processor to:
define in the database a relationship between products, partners, retailers,
and product
distribution centers.
Embodiment 17. The system of Embodiment 15, wherein the operating
instructions are further operable, when executed, to cause the at least one
processor to:
generate inventory allocation recommendations for the partners at the
distribution centers.
Embodiment 18. The system of Embodiment 15, wherein the operating
instructions are further operable, when executed, to cause the at least one
processor to:
generate transactional information regarding products offered for sale.
Embodiment 19. The system of Embodiment 15, wherein the operating
instructions are further operable, when executed, to cause the at least one
processor to:
define in the database an inventory allocation for each of the retailers based
on product
allocation preferences received from the partners.
Embodiment 20. The system of Embodiment 15, wherein the operating
instructions are further operable, when executed, to cause the at least one
processor to:
receive inventory information from a plurality of distribution centers;
aggregate the inventory information; and
generate an inventory report.
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Embodiment 21. The system of Embodiment 15, wherein the operating
instructions are further operable, when executed, to cause the at least one
processor to:
process orders from the retailers for products offered for sale in the e-
product
marketplace;
aggregate the orders; and
generate a single transaction payload for each distribution center.
Embodiment 22. The system of Embodiment 15, wherein the operating
instructions are further operable, when executed, to cause the at least one
processor to:
define in the database product allocation preferences selected by each
partner.
Embodiment 23. The system of Embodiment 22, wherein the product allocation
preferences include: minimize short-ship, maximize inventory, absolute
reserve, retailer
reserve, and weighted retailer.
Embodiment 24. The system of Embodiment 15, wherein the operating
instructions are further operable, when executed, to cause the at least one
processor to:
generate a consolidated product interface.
Embodiment 25. The system of Embodiment 15, wherein the operating
instructions are further operable, when executed, to cause the at least one
processor to:
generate a customized product catalog for each retailer.
Embodiment 26. The system of Embodiment 15, wherein the operating
instructions are further operable, when executed, to cause the at least one
processor to:
receive and upload of a product catalog with relevant product attributes,
including first
cost, from each partner.
Embodiment 27. The system of Embodiment 15, wherein the operating
instructions are further operable, when executed, to cause the at least one
processor to:
select products based on product attributes identified by a retailer.
Embodiment 28. The system of Embodiment 15, wherein the operating
instructions are further operable, when executed, to cause the at least one
processor to:
qualify the products in the e-product marketplace based on product attributes
identified by
a retailer.
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