Systems and methods for determining estimated lead times

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention may provide systems and methods for determining estimated lead times based on delivery history information to a same or similar geographical area. According to one example embodiment, a method is provided. The method can include identifying a payee and determining that the payee is associated with a geographical area for mailpiece delivery. The method can further include identifying multiple delivery methods for mailpiece delivery to the geographical area, wherein each of delivery methods is associated with (a) a distribution center, (b) a delivery agent, and (c) an estimated lead time determined at least in part by analyzing the delivery history information associated with multiple mailpieces mailed from the respective distribution center to the geographical area via the respective delivery agent. The method can further include selecting one of the delivery methods for mailpiece delivery to the payee and associating the selected delivery method with the payee.

1 . A system, comprising:
 one or more computers comprising:   at least one memory storing computer-executable instructions; and   at least one processor configured to access the at least one memory and to execute the computer-executable instructions to:
 identify first information associated with a set of first events associated with a first set of mailpieces mailed to a geographical area, wherein each mailpiece of the first set of mailpieces comprises a respective payment instrument associated with a respective payment; 
 identify second information associated with a set of second events associated with the first set of mailpieces, wherein each second event of the set of second events is associated with one of: i) the respective payment instrument or ii) the respective payment, of a corresponding mailpiece of the first set of mailpieces; 
 determine, based at least in part on the first information and the second information, a set of delivery times associated with the first set of mailpieces; 
 determine, based at least in part on an analysis of the set of delivery times, an estimated lead time associated with subsequent delivery of a second set of one or more mailpieces to the geographical area; 
 identify a payee; 
 determine that the payee is associated with the geographical area; and 
 associate the estimated lead time with the payee. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first information comprises a set of first dates associated with the set of first events, wherein each date of the set of first dates is associated with a respective mailpiece of the first set of mailpieces,   the second information comprises a set of second dates associated with the set of second events, wherein each date of the set of second dates is associated with a respective mailpiece of the first set of mailpieces, and   to determine the set of delivery times, the at least one processor is configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to determine a respective delivery time associated with each mailpiece of the first set of mailpieces, wherein each respective delivery time comprises an elapsed time between a respective first date of the set of first dates and a respective second date of the set of second dates.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein each date of the set of first dates comprises one of:
 i) a respective mailing date associated with mailing of the respective mailpiece, or   ii) a respective printing date associated with printing of the respective payment instrument of the respective mailpiece.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the second information comprises at least one of:
 i) delivery status information,   ii) check clearance information,   iii) payment posting information, or   iv) payment receipt information.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein each date of the set of second dates comprises one of:
 i) a respective delivery date indicative of a date on which a delivery agent delivered the respective mailpiece, wherein the delivery status information comprises the respective delivery date,   ii) a respective clearing date indicative of a date on which the respective payment instrument of the respective mailpiece was cleared, wherein the check clearance information comprises the respective clearing date,   iii) a respective posting date indicative of a date on which a payee posted the respective payment associated with the respective payment instrument, wherein the payment posting information comprises the respective posting date, or   iv) a respective receipt date indicative of a date on which the payee received the respective payment, wherein the payment receipt information comprises the respective receipt date.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein, to identify the second information, the at least one processor is configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to:
 receive the second information from one or more external entities.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more external entities comprise at least one of:
 i) a delivery agent,   ii) a financial institution, or   iii) a payee.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein, to determine the estimated lead time, the at least one processor is configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to:
 perform a statistical analysis on the set of delivery times.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein, to identify the payee, the at least one processor is configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to:
 receive, on behalf of a payor, a request to make a payment to the payee; and   identify the payee based at least in part on the received payment request.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to:
 determine a payment mail date for mailing the payment to the payee based at least in part on the estimated lead time associated with the payee.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first set of mailpieces is associated with a first set of one or more delivery factors, wherein the set of delivery times is a first set of delivery times, wherein the estimated lead time is a first estimated lead time associated with the first set of one or more delivery factors, and wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to:
 determine a second set of delivery times associated with a third set of mailpieces mailed to the geographical area, wherein the third set of mailpieces is associated with a second set of one or more delivery factors; and   determine, based at least in part on an analysis of the second set of delivery times, a second estimated lead time associated with the subsequent delivery of the second set of one or more mailpieces mailed to the geographical area, wherein the second estimated lead time is associated with the second set of one or more delivery factors.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein each delivery factor of the first set of one or more delivery factors and each delivery factor of the second set of one or more delivery factors is associated with a respective type of delivery factor, wherein the respective type of delivery factor comprises one of:
 (i) a distribution center,   (ii) a delivery agent,   (iii) a delivery path,   (iv) a delivery cost, or   (v) a delivery priority.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein a first delivery factor of the first set of one or more delivery factors and a second delivery factor of the second set of one or more delivery factors correspond to a same type of delivery factor, wherein the first delivery factor is different from the second delivery factor, and wherein, to associate the estimated lead time with the payee, the at least one processor is configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to:
 select one of the first estimated lead time or the second estimated lead time;   select one of: i) the first delivery factor or ii) the second delivery factor, wherein the selected delivery factor is associated with the selected estimated lead time; and   associate the selected delivery factor with the payee.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to:
 determine a latest available date to request a payment to the payee based at least in part on the estimated lead time and a payment due date associated with the payment; and   communicate an indication of the latest available date for presentation to a subscriber.   
     
     
         15 . A method, comprising:
 identifying, by a service provider system comprising one or more computers, first information associated with a set of first events associated with a first set of mailpieces mailed to a geographical area, wherein each mailpiece of the first set of mailpieces comprises a respective payment instrument associated with a respective payment;   identifying, by the service provider system, second information associated with a set of second events associated with the first set of mailpieces, wherein each second event of the set of second events is associated with one of: i) the respective payment instrument or ii) the respective payment, of a corresponding mailpiece of the first set of mailpieces;   determining, by the service provider system and based at least in part on the first information and the second information, a set of delivery times associated with the first set of mailpieces;   determining, by the service provider system and based at least in part on an analysis of the set of delivery times, an estimated lead time associated with subsequent delivery of a second set of one or more mailpieces to the geographical area;   identifying, by the service provider system, a payee;   determining, by the service provider system, that the payee is associated with the geographical area; and   associating, by the service provider system, the estimated lead time with the payee.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the first information comprises a set of first dates associated with the set of first events, wherein each date of the set of first dates is associated with a respective mailpiece of the first set of mailpieces,   the second information comprises a set of second dates associated with the set of second events, wherein each date of the set of second dates is associated with a respective mailpiece of the first set of mailpieces, and   determining the set of delivery times comprises determining a respective delivery time associated with each mailpiece of the first set of mailpieces, wherein each respective delivery time comprises an elapsed time between a respective first date of the set of first dates and a respective second date of the set of second dates.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein each date of the set of first dates comprises one of:
 i) a respective mailing date associated with mailing of the respective mailpiece, or   ii) a respective printing date associated with printing of the respective payment instrument of the respective mailpiece.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the second information comprises at least one of:
 i) delivery status information,   ii) check clearance information,   iii) payment posting information, or   iv) payment receipt information.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein each date of the set of second dates comprises one of:
 i) a respective delivery date indicative of a date on which a delivery agent delivered the respective mailpiece, wherein the delivery status information comprises the respective delivery date,   ii) a respective clearing date indicative of a date on which the respective payment instrument of the respective mailpiece was cleared, wherein the check clearance information comprises the respective clearing date,   iii) a respective posting date indicative of a date on which a payee posted the respective payment associated with the respective payment instrument, wherein the payment posting information comprises the respective posting date, or   iv) a respective receipt date indicative of a date on which the payee received the respective payment, wherein the payment receipt information comprises the respective receipt date.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein identifying the second information comprises receiving, by the service provider system, the second information from one or more external entities, and wherein the one or more external entities comprise at least one of:
 i) a delivery agent,   ii) a financial institution, or   iii) a payee.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first set of mailpieces is associated with a first set of one or more delivery factors, wherein the set of delivery times is a first set of delivery times, and wherein the estimated lead time is a first estimated lead time associated with the first set of one or more delivery factors, further comprising:
 determining, by the service provider system, a second set of delivery times associated with a third set of mailpieces mailed to the geographical area, wherein the third set of mailpieces is associated with a second set of one or more delivery factors; and   determining, by the service provider system, based at least in part on an analysis of the second set of delivery times, a second estimated lead time associated with the subsequent delivery of the second set of one or more mailpieces mailed to the geographical area, wherein the second estimated lead time is associated with the second set of one or more delivery factors.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein each delivery factor of the first set of one or more delivery factors and each delivery factor of the second set of one or more delivery factors is associated with a respective type of delivery factor, wherein the respective type of delivery factor comprises one of:
 (i) a distribution center,   (ii) a delivery agent,   (iii) a delivery path,   (iv) a delivery cost, or   (v) a delivery priority.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein a first delivery factor of first set of one or more delivery factors and a second delivery factor of the second set of one or more delivery factors correspond to a same type of delivery factor, wherein the first delivery factor is different from the second delivery factor, and wherein associating the estimated lead time with the payee further comprises:
 selecting, by the service provider system, one of the first estimated lead time or the second estimated lead time;   selecting, by the service provider system, one of: i) the first delivery factor or ii) the second delivery factor, wherein the selected delivery factor is associated with the selected estimated lead time; and   associating, by the service provider system, the selected delivery factor with the payee.   
     
     
         24 . One or more computer-readable media storing computer-executable instructions that in response to execution cause operations to be performed comprising:
 identifying first information associated with a set of first events associated with a first set of mailpieces mailed to a geographical area, wherein each mailpiece of the first set of mailpieces comprises a respective payment instrument associated with a respective payment;   identifying second information associated with a set of second events associated with the first set of mailpieces, wherein each second event of the set of second events is associated with one of: i) the respective payment instrument or ii) the respective payment, of a corresponding mailpiece of the first set of mailpieces;   determining, based at least in part on the first information and the second information, a set of delivery times associated with the first set of mailpieces;   determining, based at least in part on an analysis of the set of delivery times, an estimated lead time associated with subsequent delivery of a second set of one or more mailpieces to the geographical area;   identifying a payee;   determining that the payee is associated with the geographical area; and   associating the estimated lead time with the payee.