Systems, Methods and Devices for Donation of Unsaleable Inventory
In some embodiments, a system may include an sorter device including at least one optical device configured to capture optical data associated with an unsaleable item, a display, and a processor coupled to the at least one optical device and to the display. The processor may be configured to automatically identify the unsaleable item, to provide a graphical interface to the display including selectable options accessible by a user to assign the identified unsaleable item to a selected donation site of a plurality of donation sites. In response to selection of the selected donation site, the processor may be configured to guide an operator through a process of packaging the unsaleable item into a shipping container for transport. The sorter device may track the process to confirm acceptance of the donation and confirmation of receipt of the donation by a receiver at the donation site.
1 . A sorter device comprising:
at least one optical device configured to capture optical data associated with an unsaleable item;
a display; and
a processor coupled to the at least one optical device and to the display, the processor configured to:
automatically identify the unsaleable item from the optical data;
determine a recommended donation site from a plurality of donation sites for the unsaleable item based on the identification; and
provide a graphical interface to the display indicating the recommended donation site.
2 . The sorter device of claim 1 , wherein the sorter device further comprises a scale coupled to the processor and configured to determine a weight of the unsaleable item.
3 . The sorter device of claim 2 , wherein the processor is further configured to determine a value of the unsaleable item based on a retail price and a weight of the unsaleable item.
4 . The sorter device of claim 1 , further comprising a printer coupled to the processor and configured to print a manifest and a shipping label for a shipping container including the unsaleable item.
5 . The sorter device of claim 1 , wherein processor is configured to determine the donation site based on identification of the unsaleable item and based on a type item that can be accepted by the donation site.
6 . The sorter device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to:
automatically send an alert to a computing device of the donation site through a network to determine whether the donation site will accept a donation of the unsaleable item; and
provide the graphical interface including instructions to package the unsaleable item in a shipping container in response to receiving an indication of acceptance; and
provide the graphical interface including a prompt to select a different donation site of the plurality of donation sites in response to receiving an indication of rejection.
7 . The sorter device of claim 6 , wherein, when a response to the alert is not received within a period of time, the processor provides the graphical interface including instructions to contact the donation site.
8 . The sorter device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
provide the graphical interface including a delivery date and including data related to confirmation of receipt of the donation when the confirmation of receipt is received; and
when the confirmation of receipt is not received, provide the graphical interface including instructions to contact the donation site to acquire the confirmation of receipt.
9 . A sorter device comprising:
at least one optical device configured to capture optical data associated with an unsaleable item;
a display; and
a processor coupled to the at least one optical device and to the display, the processor configured to:
automatically identify the unsaleable item from the optical data;
determine whether the identified unsaleable item can be donated based on a set of product handling rules;
automatically determine a recommended donation site from a plurality of donation sites for the identified unsaleable item based on the identification when the identified unsaleable item can be donated; and
provide a graphical interface to the display indicating the recommended donation site.
10 . The sorter device of claim 9 , wherein, when the identified unsaleable item cannot be donated based on the product handling rules, the processor is configured to:
select a disposal bin from a plurality of disposal bins based on information associated with the identified unsaleable item; and
provide the graphical interface including data corresponding to the selected disposal bin to the display.
11 . The sorter device of claim 9 , wherein the sorter device further comprises a scale coupled to the processor and configured to determine a weight of the unsaleable item.
12 . The sorter device of claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to determine a value of the unsaleable item based on a retail price and the weight of the unsaleable item.
13 . The sorter device of claim 9 , further comprising a printer coupled to the processor and configured to print a manifest and a shipping label for a shipping container including the unsaleable item.
14 . The sorter device of claim 9 , wherein processor is configured to determine the donation site based on identification of the unsaleable item and based on a type item that can be accepted by the donation site.
15 . The sorter device of claim 9 , wherein the processor is configured to:
automatically send an alert to a computing device of the donation site through a network to determine whether the donation site will accept a donation of the unsaleable item; and
provide the graphical interface including instructions to package the unsaleable item in a shipping container in response to receiving an indication of acceptance; and
provide the graphical interface including a prompt to select a different donation site of the plurality of donation sites in response to receiving an indication of rejection.
17 . The sorter device of claim 15 , wherein, when a response to the alert is not received within a period of time, the processor provides the graphical interface including instructions to contact the donation site.
18 . The sorter device of claim 9 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
provide the graphical interface including a delivery date and including data related to confirmation of receipt of the donation when the confirmation of receipt is received; and
when the confirmation of receipt is not received, provide the graphical interface including instructions to contact the donation site to acquire the confirmation of receipt.
19 . A method comprising:
scanning an unsaleable item using an optical sensor of a sorter device to capture optical data;
automatically identifying the unsaleable item based on the optical data using a processor of the sorter device;
automatically selecting a donation site of a plurality of donation sites based on information corresponding to the identified unsaleable item; and
providing a graphical interface to a display of the sorter device, the graphical interface including the selected donation site.
20 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising:
determining a weight of the unsaleable item using a scale of the sorter device; and
determining a value of the unsaleable item based on a retail price of the unsaleable item and based on the weight.