System for Managing Customer Orders

Abstract

The system of this invention manages customer orders using vendor supplied software systems interfaced on a real-time basis to touch the data in each system on a real-time basis. In effect, there is horizontal communication between the various components of the system such as inventory, purchasing, order management and receipt, logistics and inventory to have continual data flow without using a vertical software interface. As a result, customer orders are received on a real-time basis using screens that are user friendly to promptly take orders, to verify customer data and to verify the ability to meet those orders. Transmission of documents within the system is minimized thereby making it more efficient, timely and cost efficient.

1 . A system for processing customer orders for goods in a computer-based data processing system having a plurality of connected databases, comprising: 
 an input component for entry of customer orders;    a processor for validating customer orders and controlling user interaction with the plurality of databases through a plurality of components operating on the processor, including:    a component for automatically checking inventory for availability of ordered goods;    a component for enabling retrieval and tracking of goods stored in inventory to create shipping loads;    a component for building shipping loads from the retrieved goods; and    a component for scheduling delivery of shipping loads to a plurality of customers.    
   
   
       2 . A method for processing customer orders in a computer-based data processing system comprising the steps of: 
 receiving the customer orders for goods from an input source;    processing the customer orders based on information stored in a plurality of connected databases;    checking an inventory availability of the ordered goods in response to the customer orders;    retrieving the ordered goods that are available from inventory;    building a shipping load for the ordered goods available from inventory; and    scheduling the shipping load with a selected carrier for delivery to a customer.    
   
   
       3 . The method for processing customer orders of  claim 2  further comprising the step of validating customers orders as part of an order acceptance process.  
   
   
       4 . The method for processing customer orders of  claim 3  wherein the order acceptance process includes review of an order lead time required by the customer, a requested order delivery schedule, the customer's credit and payment history, an available inventory of customer ordered goods, a production time to build additional inventory, and availability of the carrier to meet the requested order delivery schedule.  
   
   
       5 . The method for processing customer orders of  claim 2  wherein the input source comprises customer order terminals which are used by a customer service representatives to enter customer orders.  
   
   
       6 . The method for processing customer orders of  claim 2  wherein the input source comprises an electronic data interchange (EDI) transmission.  
   
   
       7 . The method for processing customer orders of  claim 6  further comprising the step of creating an exception report and conveying the exception report to the customer if the customer order cannot be fulfilled.  
   
   
       8 . The method for processing customer orders of  claim 2  wherein the step of retrieving the ordered goods includes determining a location for each of the ordered goods in an inventory storage facility, recording a plurality of goods pulled by location, moving the pulled goods to a staging area and picking the customer order from the pulled goods.  
   
   
       9 . The method for processing customer orders of  claim 8  wherein the step of recording pulled inventory includes identifying the location, lot and quantity of goods pulled.  
   
   
       10 . The method for processing customer orders of  claim 2  wherein the step of building a shipping load comprises consolidating less than full truckload customer orders based on a transportation algorithm that considers at least a transit time to a destination and a delivery date for the customer order.  
   
   
       11 . The method for processing customer orders of  claim 10  wherein the transportation algorithm further considers a commodity type for each of the goods shipped and a maximum and a legal capacity load for a carrier's transportation vehicle.  
   
   
       12 . The method for processing customer orders of  claim 2  wherein the step of scheduling the shipping load with a selected carrier comprises the step of monitoring a plurality of carriers to determine an on time delivery rate for each carrier, a rate of claims for damaged or missing goods made against each carrier and a frequency at which a carrier rejects picking up a load for delivery.  
   
   
       13 . The method for processing customer orders of  claim 2  further comprising the step of tendering a load to the selected carrier based on a plurality of selection factors.  
   
   
       14 . The method for processing customer orders of  claim 13  wherein the plurality of selection factors includes cost of shipping and a service rating.  
   
   
       15 . The method for processing customer orders of  claim 2  further comprising the step of releasing the shipping load to the carrier and generating a bill of lading for the shipping load.  
   
   
       16 . The method for processing customer orders of  claim 2  wherein the plurality of connected databases includes a deals database, a pricing database, a customer order management and fulfillment database and an inventory database.  
   
   
       17 . The method for processing customer orders of  claim 16  wherein the deals database stores information relating to discount lists for goods, and sales targets by category of goods and by customer.  
   
   
       18 . A system for processing customer orders comprising: 
 an input component for accepting orders for goods received from customers;    a plurality of databases that are accessed by the input component;    a component for processing customers orders based on information stored in the plurality of databases;    a component for checking inventory availability for ordered goods;    a component for facilitating the retrieval of the ordered goods that are available from inventory;    a component for building a shipping load for the ordered good available from inventory; and    a component for scheduling the shipping load with a selected carrier for customer delivery.    
   
   
       19 . The system for processing customer orders of  claim 18  wherein the input component comprises at least one input terminal which is used by a customer service representative to enter customer orders.  
   
   
       20 . The system for processing customer orders of  claim 18  wherein the input component comprises an electronic data interchange transmission.  
   
   
       21 . The system for processing customer orders of  claim 18  wherein the plurality of databases include a deals database, a pricing database, a customer order management and fulfillment database and an inventory database.