Fulfillment of orders from multiple sources

Abstract

This disclosure relates to order fulfillment by various fulfillment sources in a fulfillment network. A fulfillment source may be selected in the fulfillment network to fulfill an order before a contingency deadline. If the order is not fulfilled by the deadline, other fulfillment sources are used. Lead times for fulfillment of orders for products are adjusted for respective fulfillment sources based on their past fulfillment history.

Therefore, the following is claimed: 
     
         1 . A system, comprising:
 a data store that stores a plurality of inventories, individual ones of the plurality of inventories expressing an inventory of products associated with a corresponding fulfillment entity of a plurality of fulfillment entities;   at least one computing device in communication with the data store; and   at least one program executable in the at least one computing device, wherein when executed the at least one program causes the at least one computing device to at least:
 identity multiple ones of the plurality of inventories that include a product; 
 obtain a lead time associated with the product for individual ones of the multiple ones of the plurality of inventories from the corresponding fulfillment entity; 
 obtain a historical performance of the corresponding fulfillment entity at fulfilling products; 
 adjust the lead time according to the historical performance; and 
 generate a listing of each of the plurality of fulfillment entities associated with a respective one of the multiple ones of the plurality of inventories, the listing including the lead time for the product that has been adjusted for the historical performance of the corresponding fulfillment entity. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein adjusting the lead time further comprises adding an amount of time to the lead time such that the lead time equals a maximum time that the corresponding fulfillment entity took to fulfill any order for the product. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the product is associated with a product category, and adjusting the lead time further comprises adding an amount of time to the lead time such that the lead time equals a maximum time that the corresponding fulfillment entity took to fulfill any order for products associated with the product category. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein adjusting the lead time further comprises adjusting the lead time to match an average fulfillment time for the corresponding fulfillment entity to fulfill orders for the product. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein adjusting the lead time further comprises adjusting the lead time based at least in part on a success rate of the corresponding fulfillment entity in implementing orders by lead times provided by the corresponding fulfillment entity. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein when executed the at least one program further causes the at least one computing device to at least send a network page including the listing to a client. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the lead time is obtained at a periodic interval. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein when executed the at least one program further causes the at least one computing device to at least direct a selected fulfillment entity of the plurality of fulfillment entities to take steps to fulfill an order for the product. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein when executed the at least one program further causes the at least one computing device to at least specify a contingency deadline by which a selected fulfillment entity of the plurality of fulfillment entities is to take steps to fulfill an order for the product 
     
     
         10 . A method, comprising:
 storing a plurality of inventories in a memory accessible by at least one computing device, each of the plurality of inventories expressing an inventory of items associated with a corresponding fulfillment entity of a plurality of fulfillment entities;   identifying, by the at least one computing device, multiple ones of the plurality of inventories that include an item;   identifying, by the at least one computing device, a lead time associated with the item for each of the multiple ones of the plurality of inventories based at least in part on a historical performance of the corresponding fulfillment entity at fulfilling items; and   generating, by the at least one computing device, a network page including a listing of each of the plurality of fulfillment entities associated with a respective one of the multiple ones of the inventories, the listing including the lead time for the item for the corresponding fulfillment entity.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein identifying the lead time associated with the item further comprises adjusting, by the at least one computing device, a preliminary lead time provided by the corresponding fulfillment entity according to the historical performance of the corresponding fulfillment entity. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the lead time associated with the item is specific to the item. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the lead time associated with the item is specific to a category associated with the item. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising directing, by the at least one computing device, a selected fulfillment entity of the plurality of fulfillment entities to take steps to fulfill an order for the item. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising specifying, by the at least one computing device, a contingency deadline by which a selected fulfillment entity of the plurality of fulfillment entities is to take action to fulfill an order for the item. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein a predefined period of time exists between the contingency deadline and a promised delivery date. 
     
     
         17 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium embodying a program executable in at least one computing device, wherein when executed the program causes the at least one computing device to at least:
 store a plurality of inventories in a memory, each of the plurality of inventories expressing an inventory of items associated with a corresponding fulfillment entity of a plurality of fulfillment entities;   identify multiple ones of the plurality of inventories that include an item;   identity a lead time associated with the item for each of the multiple ones of the plurality of inventories based at least in part on a historical performance of the corresponding fulfillment entity at fulfilling items; and   direct one of the plurality of fulfillment entities having an optimal lead time associated with the item to take an action to fulfill an order for the item.   
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein identifying multiple ones of the plurality of inventories that include the item further comprises identifying a plurality of fulfillment networks associated with corresponding ones of the plurality of fulfillment entities that have a physical presence within a predefined geographical area associated with a client. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein when executed the program further causes the at least one computing device to at least specify a contingency deadline by which the one of the plurality of fulfillment entities is to take the action to fulfill the order, wherein a predefined period of time exists between the contingency deadline and a promised delivery date. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 19 , wherein when executed the program further causes the at least one computing device to at least cancelling fulfillment of the order by the one of the plurality of fulfillment entities if confirmation is not received from the one of the plurality of fulfillment entities that the action to fulfill the order has been taken by the contingency deadline.