SYSTEM AND METHOD TO DYNAMICALLY INTEGRATE COMPONENTS OF OMNI-CHANNEL ORDER FULFILMENT
The methods, systems, and computer program products described herein provide optimized order fulfillment in an omni-channel order fulfillment system. In an aspect of the present disclosure, dimensional multipliers for a plurality of dimensions are optimized by iteratively solving a multi criteria decision analysis framework (MCDA) sequentially for each dimension. The optimized dimensional multipliers may be used by the MCDA as inputs along with current data to generate a solution for each dimension. The solution may be integrated by the order fulfillment system to optimize order fulfillment based on the current data.
1 . A method, comprising:
receiving, by at least one processor, historical data associated with an order fulfillment system;
setting, by at least one processor, a dimensional multiplier for each of a plurality of dimensions of the order fulfillment system to an initial pre-determined value;
iteratively performing the following until the dimensional multipliers for each of the plurality of dimensions have been optimized:
running, by at least one processor, a multi criteria decision analysis framework based on the historical data and the dimensional multipliers for the plurality of dimensions to generate a solution value for each dimension;
comparing, by at least one processor, the solution value for each dimension to an interval including a minimum and maximum solution value for each dimension;
determining, by at least one processor, whether one or more of the dimensional multipliers need to be adjusted based at least in part on the comparison;
if it is determined that one or more of the dimensional multipliers need to be adjusted:
adjusting, by at least one processor, the one or more dimensional multipliers based at least in part on the comparison; and
performing, by at least one processor, the next iteration based at least in part on the one or more adjusted dimensional multipliers;
if it is determined that none of the dimensional multipliers need to be adjusted, determining that the dimensional multipliers for each of the plurality of dimensions have been optimized;
receiving, by at least on processor, current data associated with a current state of the order fulfillment system; and
running, by at least one processor, the multi criteria decision analysis framework based on the current data and the optimized dimensional multipliers for each of the plurality of dimensions to generate an optimized solution; and
performing order fulfillment based on the optimized solution.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining whether one or more of the dimensional multipliers need to be adjusted based at least in part on the comparison includes receiving by the order fulfillment system an indication from a user device that one or more of the dimensional multipliers need to be adjusted.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein adjusting the one or more dimensional multipliers based at least in part on the comparison includes receiving from a user device an adjusted value of the one or more of the dimensional multipliers.
4 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising:
causing the presentation of a graphical user interface on a display of the user device, the graphical user interface including one or more elements that are adjustable by a user of the user device, each element configured to adjust the value of one of the dimensional multipliers;
receiving from the user device an indication that one or more of the elements has been adjusted; and
adjusting the value of the corresponding one or more dimensional multipliers based on the received indication.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the historical data comprises at least one of SKUs for at least one item, order fulfillment nodes, a subset of order fulfillment notes having items of a particular SKU, and shipping costs.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the initial pre-determined value is set in advance by a user.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of dimensions is selected from the group consisting of reducing backlog, avoiding markdowns, minimizing shipping costs, and minimizing labor costs.
8 . A system, comprising:
at least one processor programmed for:
receiving, by at least one processor, historical data associated with an order fulfillment system;
setting, by at least one processor, a dimensional multiplier for each of a plurality of dimensions of the order fulfillment system to an initial pre-determined value;
iteratively performing the following until the dimensional multipliers for each of the plurality of dimensions have been optimized:
running, by at least one processor, a multi criteria decision analysis framework based on the historical data and the dimensional multipliers for the plurality of dimensions to generate a solution value for each dimension;
comparing, by at least one processor, the solution value for each dimension to an interval including a minimum and maximum solution value for each dimension;
determining, by at least one processor, whether one or more of the dimensional multipliers need to be adjusted based at least in part on the comparison;
if it is determined that one or more of the dimensional multipliers need to be adjusted:
adjusting, by at least one processor, the one or more dimensional multipliers based at least in part on the comparison; and
performing, by at least one processor, the next iteration based at least in part on the one or more adjusted dimensional multipliers;
if it is determined that none of the dimensional multipliers need to be adjusted, determining that the dimensional multipliers for each of the plurality of dimensions have been optimized;
receiving, by at least on processor, current data associated with a current state of the order fulfillment system; and
running, by at least one processor, the multi criteria decision analysis framework based on the current data and the optimized dimensional multipliers for each of the plurality of dimensions to generate an optimized solution value for each dimension; and
performing order fulfillment based on the optimized solution.
9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein determining whether one or more of the dimensional multipliers need to be adjusted based at least in part on the comparison includes receiving by the order fulfillment system an indication from a user device that one or more of the dimensional multipliers need to be adjusted.
10 . The system of claim 8 , wherein adjusting the one or more dimensional multipliers based at least in part on the comparison includes receiving from a user device an adjusted value of the one or more of the dimensional multipliers.
11 . The system of claim 10 , the at least one processor further programmed for:
causing the presentation of a graphical user interface on a display of the user device, the graphical user interface including one or more elements that are adjustable by a user of the user device, each element configured to adjust the value of one of the dimensional multipliers;
receiving from the user device an indication that one or more of the elements has been adjusted; and
adjusting the value of the corresponding one or more dimensional multipliers based on the received indication.
12 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the historical data comprises at least one of SKUs for at least one item, order fulfillment nodes, a subset of order fulfillment notes having items of a particular SKU, and shipping costs.
13 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the initial pre-determined value is set in advance by a user.
14 . The system of claim 8 , wherein at least one of the plurality of dimensions is selected from the group consisting of reducing backlog, avoiding markdowns, minimizing shipping costs, and minimizing labor costs.
15 . A computer program product storing instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, program the at least one processor for:
receiving, by at least one processor, historical data associated with an order fulfillment system;
setting, by at least one processor, a dimensional multiplier for each of a plurality of dimensions of the order fulfillment system to an initial pre-determined value;
iteratively performing the following until the dimensional multipliers for each of the plurality of dimensions have been optimized:
running, by at least one processor, a multi criteria decision analysis framework based on the historical data and the dimensional multipliers for the plurality of dimensions to generate a solution value for each dimension;
comparing, by at least one processor, the solution value for each dimension to an interval including a minimum and maximum solution value for each dimension;
determining, by at least one processor, whether one or more of the dimensional multipliers need to be adjusted based at least in part on the comparison;
if it is determined that one or more of the dimensional multipliers need to be adjusted:
adjusting, by at least one processor, the one or more dimensional multipliers based at least in part on the comparison; and
performing, by at least one processor, the next iteration based at least in part on the one or more adjusted dimensional multipliers;
if it is determined that none of the dimensional multipliers need to be adjusted, determining that the dimensional multipliers for each of the plurality of dimensions have been optimized;
receiving, by at least on processor, current data associated with a current state of the order fulfillment system; and
running, by at least one processor, the multi criteria decision analysis framework based on the current data and the optimized dimensional multipliers for each of the plurality of dimensions to generate an optimized solution value for each dimension; and
performing order fulfillment based on the optimized solution.
16 . The computer program product of claim 15 , wherein determining whether one or more of the dimensional multipliers need to be adjusted based at least in part on the comparison includes receiving by the order fulfillment system an indication from a user device that one or more of the dimensional multipliers need to be adjusted.
17 . The computer program product of claim 15 , wherein adjusting the one or more dimensional multipliers based at least in part on the comparison includes receiving from a user device an adjusted value of the one or more of the dimensional multipliers.
18 . The computer program product of claim 17 , the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further programming the at least one processor for:
causing the presentation of a graphical user interface on a display of the user device, the graphical user interface including one or more elements that are adjustable by a user of the user device, each element configured to adjust the value of one of the dimensional multipliers;
receiving from the user device an indication that one or more of the elements has been adjusted; and
adjusting the value of the corresponding one or more dimensional multipliers based on the received indication.
19 . The computer program product of claim 15 , wherein the historical data comprises at least one of SKUs for at least one item, order fulfillment nodes, a subset of order fulfillment notes having items of a particular SKU, and shipping costs.
20 . The computer program product of claim 15 , wherein at least one of the plurality of dimensions is selected from the group consisting of reducing backlog, avoiding markdowns, minimizing shipping costs, and minimizing labor costs.