Systems and methods for automated customer fulfillment of products

Abstract

The systems and methods described herein may be used to distribute goods to a consumer. The system may comprise a distribution device and system, a regulatory system, a customer relationship management system and an artificial intelligence system. The methods may comprise distributing an item to a consumer in fully automated or a partially automated process. The methods may comprise distributing a item to a consumer in a manner compliant with regulations.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of, comprising:
 determining, by a first agent in a computer-based system for distributing regulated goods to a consumer, that the consumer is authorized to shop for the regulated goods;   enabling, by the computer-based system, a vending device to receive input from the consumer, wherein computer-based system comprises the vending device;   receiving, by the vending device, input comprising a first item selected by the consumer from a plurality of regulated items;   transmitting, by the computer-based system, a distribution review request;   receiving, by the computer-based system, a distribution authorization from a second agent; and   distributing, by the vending device, the first item to the consumer.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the determining that the consumer is authorized to shop for the regulated goods comprises examining by the first agent a credential associated with the consumer. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first agent is person and wherein a first regulation associated with the regulated goods requires manual intervention by at least one person. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the first agent and the second agent are the same agent. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the credential comprises at least one of: an identification associated with the consumer and a license associated with the consumer. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 scanning, by the first agent, the credential to determine a consumer attribute associated with the consumer; and   determining, by the computer-based system, an encrypted code based upon the consumer attribute.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the examining by the first agent of the credential comprises determining that at least one of an age of the consumer and a residence of the consumer are in compliance with a first regulation associated with the regulated goods. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, determining by the computer-based system and in response to receiving the input, that the first item is in compliance with a second regulation associated with the regulated goods. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the second regulation comprises a rule associated with an attribute of the first item. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the attribute comprises a weight of the first item, a concentration of the first item, a type of the first item, a consistency of the first item, and purchase history associated with the consumer. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the rule is associated with the first item and a second item. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the rule is associated with at least one of a cumulative weight of the first item and the second item, a combination of regulated items, a cumulative concentration of an active ingredient, and a timeframe associated with the purchase history. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the first regulation and the second regulation are dynamically determined based upon regulation data stored in a regulation data source. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the regulation data source comprises regulations associated with at least one of a plurality of jurisdictions, a plurality of locations, a license type associated with the location of the vending device, and the plurality of regulated items. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 determining that purchasing by the consumer the first item and the second item violates the rule;   determining that third item when purchased by the consumer in combination with the first item, is in compliance with the rule; and   prompting the consumer to select the third item and discard the first item.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the vending device is at least one of physically located and physically configured based upon a second regulation. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the receiving the distribution authorization comprises receiving the distribution authorization by the vending device and sending a control signal to a mechanical distribution mechanism of the vending device. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising distributing the first item and a second item to the consumer. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving the input comprises at least one of receiving by the vending device a key pad input, receiving by the vending device a touch screen entry, scanning by the vending device a code, and receiving electronically transmitted data from an online ordering system. 
     
     
         20 . A system comprising:
 a processor for distributing regulated goods to a consumer;   a vending device configured to communicate with the processor;   a tangible, non-transitory memory configured to communicate with the processor,   the tangible, non-transitory memory having instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by the processor, cause the processor to be capable of performing operations comprising:   receiving, by the processor, a message that the consumer is authorized to shop for the regulated goods, wherein the message is received by a first agent;   enabling, by the processor, the vending device to receive input from the consumer, wherein the system comprises the vending device;   receiving, by the vending device, input indicating a first item selected by the consumer from a plurality of regulated items;   receiving, by the processor and from the vending device, a distribution review request;   receiving, by the vending device and via the processor, a distribution authorization from a second agent; and   distributing, by the vending device, the first item to the consumer.