Systems and methods for responsive and automated predictive packaging acquisition

Abstract

The automatic packaging acquisition system includes at least one processor executing the instructions for performing operations. The operations may include receiving forecast data indicating a first expected number of packages over a first period of time required to ship an expected number of orders handled by a first fulfillment center, determining the historical scan events from a plurality of mobile devices associated with the first fulfillment center over a second period of time, determining a second number of packages based on the determined historical scan events, calculating a target quantity of packages based on the first expected number of packages and a value indicating cover days, instantiating a first electronic order for packages, based on the calculated target quantity, a current quantity of packages, an ordered number of packages, and the second number of packages; and send the first order to a remote computer system.

1 - 20  (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A computerized system for automatically acquiring packaging material, comprising:
 at least one processor; and   at least one non-transitory storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform steps comprising:
 receive, from a first computing device, forecast data indicating an expected first quantity of packaging material; 
 determine historical scan events of mobile devices scanning package identifiers, the scanning occurring during a first time period; 
 based on the determined historical scan events, determine a second quantity of packaging material; 
 generate a first electronic order for a third quantity of packaging material, based on a currently available fourth quantity of packaging material, and the second quantity of packaging material; and 
 send the first electronic order to a remote computer system. 
   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the expected first quantity of packaging material is based on an expected number of orders to be handled by a first fulfillment center, the orders being designated for shipment during a second time period. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the second time period is one week following a day when the system receives the forecast data from the first computing device. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the processor performs additional steps comprising:
 after generating the first electronic order, receive a request for a fifth quantity of packaging material from the first computing device or a second computing device;   create a second electronic order for the fifth quantity of packaging material, the second electronic order indicating an urgent status; and   send the second electronic order to the remote computer system.   
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein generating the first order comprises a process of periodically generating the first order; and wherein the processor performs additional steps comprising:
 search a database storing electronic orders to determine confirmed electronic orders, the confirmed electronic orders forming a portion of the stored electronic orders and being confirmed by a batch process;   determine whether all packaging material associated with a confirmed electronic order for an sixth quantity of packaging material has been received in a third time period associated with the confirmed electronic order;   based on determining that an unreceived seventh quantity of packaging material associated with the confirmed electronic order has not been received, mark the confirmed electronic order as closed; and   generate a new order based on the unreceived seventh quantity of packaging material.   
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the processor performs additional steps comprising:
 searching a database storing electronic orders to determine unconfirmed electronic orders that have not been confirmed within a fourth time period, the unconfirmed electronic orders forming a portion of the stored electronic orders;   determining that the first electronic order has not been confirmed within the fourth time period;   mark the first electronic order as closed; and   subtract the third quantity of packaging material from an ordered eighth quantity of packaging material.   
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein a ninth quantity of packaging material is computed further based on an average consumption of packaging material over a past week with respect to when the third quantity of packaging material is computed. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the packaging material comprises at least one of boxes, bags, or wrap. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the forecast data includes at least one of:
 types of packaging material, sizes of packaging material, or expected second time period for shipping.   
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the historical scan events over the first time period comprise an average number of scan events of a same period of time spread over a certain time period. 
     
     
         31 . A computerized implemented method for automatically acquiring packaging material, the method comprising:
 receiving forecast data indicating an expected first quantity of packaging material;   determining historical scan events of mobile devices scanning package identifiers, the scanning occurring during a first time period;   based on the determined historical scan events, determine a second quantity of packaging material;   generating a first electronic order for a third quantity of packaging material, based on a currently available fourth quantity of packaging material, and the second quantity of packaging material; and   sending the first order to a remote computer system.   
     
     
         32 . The computer implemented method of  claim 31 , wherein the expected first quantity of packaging material is based on an expected number of orders to be handled by a first fulfillment center, the orders being designated for shipment during a second time period. 
     
     
         33 . The computer implemented method of  claim 31 , wherein the second time period is one week following a day when a system performing the method receives the forecast data from a first computing device. 
     
     
         34 . The computer implemented method of  claim 31 , wherein the method further comprise:
 after generating the first order, receive a request for a fifth quantity of packaging material from a first computing device or a second computing device;   creating a second electronic order for the fifth quantity of packaging material, the second electronic order indicating an urgent status; and   sending the second electronic order to the remote computer system.   
     
     
         35 . The computer implemented method of  claim 31 , wherein generating the first order comprises a process of periodically generating the first order; and wherein the method further comprise:
 searching a database storing electronic orders to determine confirmed electronic orders, the confirmed electronic orders forming a portion of the stored electronic orders and being confirmed by a batch process;   determining whether all packaging material associated with a confirmed electronic order for an sixth quantity of packaging material has been received in a third time period associated with the confirmed electronic order;   based on determining that an unreceived seventh quantity of packaging material associated with the confirmed electronic order has not been received, marking the confirmed electronic order as closed; and   generating a new order based on the unreceived seventh quantity of packaging material.   
     
     
         36 . The computer implemented method of  claim 31 , wherein the steps further comprise:
 searching a database storing electronic orders to determine unconfirmed electronic orders that have not been confirmed within a fourth time period, the unconfirmed electronic orders forming a portion of the stored electronic orders;   determining that the first electronic order has not been confirmed within the fourth time period;   marking the first electronic order as closed; and   subtracting the third quantity of packaging material from an ordered eighth quantity of packaging material.   
     
     
         37 . The computer implemented method of  claim 31 , wherein a ninth quantity of packaging material is computed further based on an average consumption of packaging material over a past week with respect to when the third quantity of packaging material is computed. 
     
     
         38 . The computer implemented method of  claim 31 , wherein the packaging material comprises at least one of boxes, bags, or wrap. 
     
     
         39 . The computer implemented method of  claim 31 , wherein the forecast data includes at least one of: types of packaging material, sizes of packaging material, or expected second time periods of shipping. 
     
     
         40 . The computer implemented method of  claim 31 , wherein the historical scan events over the first time period comprise an average number of scan events of a same period of time spread over a certain time period.