System and method for management of perpetual inventory values associated with nil picks

Abstract

An electronic indication of a nil pick is received. Item information associated with the desired product, sales data concerning the desired product, supply chain information associated with the desired product, and a perpetual inventory (PI) value of the desired product are stored. An adjustment to the PI of the desired product is blocked when a predetermined event occurs at the retail store, or when information that contradicts the validity of the nil pick is received from the retail store. When the adjustment to the PI of the desired product is not blocked, an amount of the adjustment is determined based upon one or more of: the item information associated with the product, the sales data concerning the product, and the supply chain information associated with the desired product.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system that is configured to manage the occurrence of nil picks in a retail store, the system comprising:
 an automated vehicle disposed at a retail store and that is configured to generate an indication of a nil pick, the nil pick occurring when the automated vehicle fails to find a desired product in the retail store;   one or more sales entry devices disposed at the retail store;   a transceiver circuit disposed at the retail store and coupled to the automated vehicle and the sales entry devices;   a network coupled to the transceiver circuit;   an interface disposed at a central processing center and coupled to the network, the interface being configured to receive the electronic indication of the nil pick;   a database disposed at a central processing center and that stores item information associated with the desired product, sales data concerning the desired product obtained from the sales entry devices, supply chain information associated with the desired product, and a perpetual inventory (PI) value of the desired product;   a control circuit disposed at a central processing center and coupled to the interface and the database, the control circuit configured to:
 block an adjustment to the PI of the desired product when a predetermined event occurs at the retail store, or when information that contradicts the validity of the nil pick is received from the retail store or from other retail stores; 
 when the adjustment to the PI of the desired product is not blocked, determine the adjustment based upon one or more of: the item information associated with the product, the sales data concerning the product at the retail store, the supply chain information associated with the desired product, and sales data concerning the desired product at other retail stores; 
 transmit the adjustment or an adjusted PI to the transceiver at the retail store. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the automated vehicle is an unmanned ground vehicle or an aerial drone. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the item information associated with the product includes data selected from the group consisting of: the cost of the product, physical characteristics of the product, a size of a warehouse pack that includes the product, and the size of a case pack that includes the product. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the sales data concerning the product includes information selected from the group consisting of: an amount of the product sold and when the product was sold. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the supply chain information includes information selected from the group consisting of delivery dates for the product, and an amount of the product delivered on the delivery dates. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined event is an event selected from the group consisting of: an inventory audit at the retail store, and a lack of sales scan for the product within a predetermined time. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein information that contradicts the validity of the nil pick is data selected from the group consisting of: a back room inventory value that indicates the product exists in a back room of the retail store, and a message from the store indicating the store is aware of the nil pick. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the control circuit transmits an alert to a store employee when the adjustment to the PI is made. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the automated vehicle is configured to verify the occurrence of the nil pick. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system is deployed at a location selected from the group consisting of: a central location, and at the retail store. 
     
     
         11 . A method of managing the occurrence of nil picks in a retail store, the method comprising:
 receiving at a central processing center an electronic indication of a nil pick from an automated vehicle, the nil pick occurring when the automated vehicle fails to find a desired product in the retail store;   storing at a database at the central processing center item information associated with the desired product, sales data concerning the desired product, supply chain information associated with the desired product, and a perpetual inventory (PI) value of the desired product;   at a control circuit at the central processing center, blocking an adjustment to the PI of the desired product when a predetermined event occurs at the retail store, or when information that contradicts the validity of the nil pick is received from the retail store or from other retail stores;   at a control circuit at the central processing center, when the adjustment to the PI of the desired product is not blocked, determining an amount of the adjustment based upon one or more of: the item information associated with the product, the sales data concerning the product, the supply chain information associated with the desired product, and sales data concerning the desired product at other retail stores;   at a control circuit at the central processing center, transmitting the adjustment or an adjusted PI to a transceiver circuit at the retail store.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the automated vehicle is an unmanned ground vehicle or an aerial drone. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the item information associated with the product includes data selected from the group consisting of: the cost of the product, physical characteristics of the product, a size of a warehouse pack that includes the product, and the size of a case pack that includes the product. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the sales data concerning the product includes information selected from the group consisting of: an amount of the product sold and when the product was sold. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the supply chain information includes information selected from the group consisting of delivery dates for the product, and an amount of the product delivered on the delivery dates. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the predetermined event is an event selected from the group consisting of: an inventory audit at the retail store, and a lack of sales scan for the product within a predetermined time. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the information that contradicts the validity of the nil pick is data selected from the group consisting of: a back room inventory value that indicates the product exists in a back room of the retail store, and a message from the store indicating the store is aware of the nil pick. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising transmitting an alert to a store employee when the adjustment to the PI is made. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the automated vehicle is configured to verify the occurrence of the nil pick. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the steps are executed at a central location or in the retail store.