LOW CAPITAL AND OPERATION COST E-COMMERCE LOGISTICS METHOD THAT ALLOWS FOR THE FAST AND MASSIVE DELIVERY OF E-COMMERCE MERCHANDISE TO HIGH-POPULATION DENSITY URBAN AREAS
The present invention discloses a disruptive low capital and operational cost logistics system and method that provides for fast and massive delivery of e-commerce merchandise, including same day delivery, of thousands of items and packages, in extensive geographical areas, such as whole states, countries and continents, reducing the need for building, operating, or using multiple fulfillment warehouses located near the consumers as in traditional e-commerce logistics, creating a revolution in the e-commerce industry worldwide. In a disruptive manner, the systems and methods of the present invention facilitate the logistics for e-commerce delivery processes, and also may allow at the same time reducing the use of massive quantities of cardboard packages that are used for protection and containment for e-commerce orders, being sustainably beneficial for the e-commerce market, the environment, and the consumer. This is achieved by the use of multibox packages that are configured to contain a set of products including orders from different consumers and not necessarily having individual packages for individual consumers, where such multibox packages are sorted at the origin in a Central Fulfillment Center.
1 . A low capital and operation cost e-commerce logistics method that allows for the fast and massive delivery of e-commerce merchandise ( 21 ) to high-population density areas, comprising the following steps:
a) providing a computing system ( 3 ) that receives fulfillment information ( 23 ) of an order for e-commerce merchandise ( 21 ) placed through at least one of an online shopping platform or a consumer ( 22 ), where the computing system ( 3 ) is capable of receiving at least 1,000 orders per day and is in network connection or communication with at least one Central Fulfillment Center (CFC) ( 2 ) having a storage area of at least about 5,000 m 2 , a height of at least two meters between a floor and a top-most roof of the facility, and that is configured to store at least 10,000 items of e-commerce merchandise ( 21 );
b) selecting, sorting, and preparing, based on the fulfillment information received by the computing system ( 3 ), the e-commerce merchandise ( 21 ) as at least one of a multibox package ( 41 ), an individual package ( 42 ), or combinations thereof, wherein the at least one multibox package ( 41 ), individual package ( 42 ), or combinations thereof are then configured or prepared as part of at least one air-cargo ( 43 );
c) sourcing the at least one air-cargo ( 43 ) from a sourcing location ( 17 ) that comprises at least one of a CFC ( 2 ), an outbound sorting center ( 14 ), a drop zone ( 8 ), or a transfer airport ( 12 ) and loading the air-cargo ( 43 ) into a manned urban delivery aircraft ( 5 a ) configured to carry the at least one air-cargo ( 43 ) and deliver such air-cargo ( 43 ) into a designated urban delivery area ( 18 ), wherein the delivery of the air-cargo ( 43 ) is performed either by landing at the urban delivery area ( 18 ) or through aerial delivery into the designated urban delivery area ( 18 );
d) receiving the air-cargo ( 43 ) in the least one urban delivery area ( 18 ), collecting the air-cargo ( 43 ), and delivering the e-commerce merchandise contained in the air-cargo through a delivery system ( 15 ), wherein the delivery system ( 15 ) can utilize last mile delivery systems, and
wherein the Urban Delivery Index as described below is a positive number to achieve and validate the logistics of the method of the present invention:
Urban
Delivery
Index
=
WI
U
D
(
W
U
D
-
5
)
W
U
D
×
d
×
nC
where:
W UD is the average weight of the air-cargo ( 43 ) that is delivered to the urban delivery area in kilograms (kg)
WI UD is an index relating to the average weight of the air-cargo ( 43 ) that contains the e-commerce merchandise and that is delivered through the aircraft ( 5 a ) as part of the system and method of the present invention, and is a binary number as calculated below:
WI
A
D
=
0
,
when
W
AD
≤
5
kg
1
,
when
W
A
D
>
5
kg
d is the average distance that the air-cargo ( 43 ) travels from the Sourcing location ( 17 ) to the final logistics point ( 11 ) or urban delivery area ( 18 )
nC is the average number of different customers ( 22 ) that receive their e-commerce merchandise through the system and method of the present invention for urban deliveries.
2 . The low capital and operation cost e-commerce logistics method according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one urban delivery area ( 18 ) is selected from the group comprising at least one of a roof of a building or facility, a roof of shopping malls or commercial/office buildings, stadiums, fields, parks, and green areas.
3 . The low capital and operation cost e-commerce logistics method according to claim 1 , further comprising providing a loading system ( 6 ) for loading the air-cargo ( 43 ) into the at the least one aircraft ( 5 a ).
4 . The low capital and operation cost e-commerce logistics method according to claim 3 , wherein the loading system ( 6 ) comprises a device to read a label attached to the air-cargo ( 43 ), to send a signal to the computing system with a label information ( 3 ) and to process an instruction from the computing system ( 3 ) that, based on the fulfillment information, determines the position of the air-cargo ( 43 ) within the aircraft ( 5 a ).
5 . The low capital and operation cost e-commerce logistics method according to claim 1 , wherein the selecting, sorting and preparing of the air-cargo made by picking machinery, automated robots, or manual picking
6 . The low capital and operation cost e-commerce logistics method according to claim 1 , wherein the last mile delivery system is selected from the group comprising package carriers, traditional mail, manned vehicles, transport services, drones, autonomous vehicles, ride share services, in house services and combinations thereof
7 . The low capital and operation cost e-commerce logistics method according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one air-cargo ( 43 ) comprises at least a package including an individual package ( 42 ), a multibox package ( 41 ), a container, a pallet, a platform that carries at least one package containing e-commerce merchandise, or combinations thereof.
8 . The low capital and operation cost e-commerce logistics method according to claim 7 wherein the at least one multibox package ( 41 ) denotes a box or package formed by one or more pieces or panels of a material selected from cardboard, paperboard, plastic or other suitable material.
9 . The low capital and operation cost e-commerce logistics method according to claim 7 wherein the at least one multibox package ( 41 ) comprises merchandise from an online order using only its primary packaging, whereby a multibox package ( 41 ) is used to transport the e-commerce merchandise without an individual package ( 42 ), or additional protection for the merchandise within the same or different orders.
10 . The low capital and operation cost e-commerce logistics method according to claim 7 wherein the at least one multibox package ( 41 ) contains e-commerce merchandise that have at least two different final delivery addresses, and more preferably at least ten different final delivery addresses.
11 . The low capital and operation cost e-commerce logistics method according to claim 7 wherein the at least one multibox package ( 41 ) or individual package ( 42 ) are configured to be stackable.
12 . The low capital and operation cost e-commerce logistics method according to claim 1 , further comprising providing at least a landing assisting system ( 9 ) selected from the group comprising a net receiving system ( 91 ), a landing surface cushion system ( 92 ), a speed reduction system ( 93 ), a shock absorption system ( 94 ), an air-cargo protection system ( 915 ) and combinations thereof.
13 . The low capital and operation cost e-commerce logistics method according to claim 12 wherein the net receiving system ( 91 ) is positioned within the urban delivery area and comprises at least one of a flexible net ( 911 ), a flexible sheet ( 912 ), a poles system ( 913 ), an impact assist system ( 914 ) or combinations thereof.
14 . The low capital and operation cost e-commerce logistics method according to claim 13 wherein the flexible net ( 911 ) or flexible sheet ( 912 ) material is held by the poles system ( 913 ) placed on the floor in the urban delivery area.
15 . The low capital and operation cost e-commerce logistics method according to claim 13 wherein the flexible net ( 911 ) is a fabric, textile, or material that is looped, attached, knitted, twisted, or knotted so that it creates intersections and therefore creates a breathable mesh pattern.
16 . The low capital and operation cost e-commerce logistics method according to claim 13 wherein the flexible net ( 911 ) comprises at least one material selected from the group comprising fibers like silk, polyester, or nylon, or materials like fabrics, ropes, yarn, elastane, or plastics.
17 . The low capital and operation cost e-commerce logistics method according to claim 13 wherein the flexible sheet ( 912 ) comprises at least one material selected from the group comprising plastics, rubbers, fabrics, paper, among others.
18 . The low capital and operation cost e-commerce logistics method according to claim 13 wherein the flexible sheet ( 912 ) is a non-reticulated material.
19 . The low capital and operation cost e-commerce logistics method according to claim 12 wherein the net receiving system has a receiving surface of at least 200 m2, or at least 1,000 m2, or at least 10,000 m2 or at least 40,000 m2.
20 . The low capital and operation cost e-commerce logistics method according to claim 12 wherein the net receiving system has an air-cargo receiving capacity of at least ten packages per hour, more preferably at least 100 packages per hour, and most preferable at least 200 packages per hour.
21 . The low capital and operation cost e-commerce logistics method according to claim 12 wherein the landing surface cushion system ( 92 ) is positioned within the urban delivery area ( 18 ) and comprises materials selected from the group comprising rubber materials, plastic materials, cardboard or paper materials and configurations, bubble wraps or air pillows, pellet materials, polystyrene, foam materials and structures, fiberboard materials, inflated products, suspension cushions, rubberized fiber materials, cork materials, and combinations thereof.
22 . The low capital and operation cost e-commerce logistics method according to claim 12 wherein the speed reduction system ( 93 ) is positioned within the air-cargo ( 43 ) and is selected from the group comprising a balloon system ( 931 ), a parachute system ( 932 ), an unmanned drone system ( 933 ) and other systems ( 934 ).
23 . The low capital and operation cost e-commerce logistics method according to claim 12 wherein the shock-absorption system ( 94 ) is positioned within the air-cargo ( 43 ) and comprises light materials, inflatable systems or mixtures thereof and may comprise systems selected from double-wall and double-bottom systems that can be hollow or that additionally can be filled with air or shock-absorption materials such as fabric, wool, cotton, cardboard, crushable fillings, fluids, soft pellets and materials, among others, thereby allowing absorbing at least part of the shock force that the air-cargo is subject to when it lands on the urban delivery area.
24 . The low capital and operation cost e-commerce logistics method according to claim 12 wherein the air-cargo protection system 95 is positioned within the air-cargo ( 43 ) and comprises materials attached to at least part of the outer surfaces of the air-cargo ( 43 ), selected from the group comprising rubber materials, plastic materials, cardboard or paper materials, bubble wraps or air pillows, pellet materials, polystyrene, foam materials and structures, fiberboard materials, inflated products, suspension cushions, rubberized fiber materials, cork materials, among others
25 . The low capital and operation cost e-commerce logistics method according to claim 1 , further comprising providing a path guidance system ( 10 ) is selected from the group comprising a guide system ( 101 ), a steering system ( 102 ) and combinations thereof.
26 . The low capital and operation cost e-commerce logistics method according to claim 25 wherein the guide system ( 101 ) comprises systems that are affixed to the air-drop delivery aircraft ( 5 a ), selected from the group comprising pulley systems ( 101 a ), cable systems ( 101 b ), tube systems ( 101 c ), and combinations thereof whereby guidance to the air cargos is provided so they fall within a specific area or range, or to decrease the dispersion of falling packages.
27 . The low capital and operation cost e-commerce logistics method according to claim 25 wherein the steering system ( 102 ) is affixed to the air-cargo ( 43 ) and is selected from the group comprising equipment that produces thrust and equipment that rotates to minimize deviations from a main falling path, whereby the course of the air dropped air-cargo is adjusted, or the air dropped air-cargo is navigated so that it falls within its designated urban delivery area.
28 . The low capital and operation cost e-commerce logistics method according to claim 1 , further comprising attaching to the air-cargo ( 43 ) an exterior that is impervious to at least one of rain, snow, condensation, or water landing conditions.
29 . The low capital and operation cost e-commerce logistics method according to claim 1 , further comprising providing the air-cargo ( 43 ) with temperature-controlled enclosures or systems.
30 . The low capital and operation cost e-commerce logistics method according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one drop zone ( 8 ) is located within or near urban areas or rural areas wherein rural areas are defined as to geographic areas that are located outside urban areas and where urban areas are geographical areas having high population densities, and built infrastructure
31 . The low capital and operation cost e-commerce logistics method according to claim 1 , wherein the at least urban delivery area ( 18 ) is located near consumers, on average not more than 30 kilometers from consumers, and preferably not more than 100 kilometers on average from consumers
32 . The low capital and operation cost e-commerce logistics method according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one drop zone ( 8 ) is selected from the group comprising farms, green areas, underutilized land, vacant areas, aerodromes, aerodromes for light aircraft, and land extensions temporarily or permanently authorized for air-cargo landing.
33 . The low capital and operation cost e-commerce logistics method according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one urban delivery area ( 18 ) is located within large cities or in the surroundings of large cities, and wherein a plurality of drop zones ( 8 ) is located within big cities to facilitate the final delivery to the consumer.
34 . The low capital and operation cost e-commerce logistics method according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one drop zone ( 8 ) is located over water, including lakes, lagoons, rivers, and the sea, and urban areas including stadiums, arenas, rooftop surfaces, parks, racing fields, and sport venues.
35 . The low capital and operation cost e-commerce logistics method according to claim 1 , further comprising providing the air-cargo ( 43 ) with at least one flotation affixing means to affix a flotation system.
36 . The low capital and operation cost e-commerce logistics method according to claim 1 , wherein the air-cargo ( 43 ) has a weight of at least about 10 kgs in average, preferably at least about 50 kgs in average and more preferably at least about 100 kgs in average.
37 . The low capital and operation cost e-commerce logistics method according to claim 1 , wherein the air-cargo ( 43 ) is capable of carrying, on average, packages and/or orders of at least ten different customers with different final delivery addresses.
38 . The low capital and operation cost e-commerce logistics method according to claim 1 , wherein the aircraft ( 5 a ) is configured to carry a plurality of air-cargos ( 43 ) and to drop individual air cargo ( 43 ) consecutively and selectively based on the aircraft ( 5 a ) route and the designated urban delivery areas.
39 . The low capital and operation cost e-commerce logistics method according to claim 1 , wherein the Central Fulfillment Center ( 2 ) comprises an airport.
40 . The low capital and operation cost e-commerce logistics method according to claim 1 , wherein the fulfillment information includes the current inventory of the e-commerce merchandise ( 21 ) that has been ordered through the online shopping platform, a location of the merchandise ( 21 ) within the Central Fulfillment Center, and a consumer delivery information.
41 . The low capital and operation cost e-commerce logistics method according to claim 1 , wherein a capital and operational cost associated to a delivery of an item of e-commerce merchandise is up to five times less than for leading de-centralized models that use a high number of fulfillment centers.
42 . The low capital and operation cost e-commerce logistics method according to claim 1 , wherein the e-commerce merchandise ( 21 ) is selected from the group comprising entertainment products, electronics, clothing, accessories, home products, tools, fresh products, niche products, sporting goods, outdoor products, automotive equipment, products and accessories, industrial equipment and products, documents, printed material, among many others.
43 . The low capital and operation cost e-commerce logistics method according to claim 1 , wherein the computing system ( 3 ) is capable of receiving a high volume of online fulfillment orders, of at least 100,000 orders per day.
44 . The low capital and operation cost e-commerce logistics method according to claim 1 , wherein the computing system ( 3 ) comprises at least one of the following software of the type of ERP (Enterprise resource planning) software, OMS (Order management system) software for order entry and processing, WMS (Warehouse management systems) software for optimizing warehouse functionality and distribution center management, TMS (Transport management systems) software for managing planning of transport schemes, execution and follow-up, supply chain management software, or fulfillment/enabling systems and intelligence clouds.
45 . The low capital and operation cost e-commerce logistics method according to claim 1 , wherein the consumer ( 22 ) is selected from the group comprising a person, a business, a company, and an entity.
46 . The low capital and operation cost e-commerce logistics method according to claim 1 , wherein the consumer ( 22 ) is a business, whereby a Business-to-Business transaction is conducted.
47 . The low capital and operation cost e-commerce logistics method according to claim 1 , wherein at least 20%, or 50%, or 90% less fulfillment centers or fulfillment center space than leading de-centralized model companies are required to achieve a short delivery of e-commerce merchandise.
48 . The low capital and operation cost e-commerce logistics method according to claim 1 , wherein the Central Fulfillment Center is configured to store at least 100,000; preferably at least 1,000,000 items of e-commerce merchandise in inventory.
49 . The low capital and operation cost e-commerce logistics method according to claim 1 , wherein the delivery of e-commerce merchandise is performed within the same day from when the customer ( 22 ) places the order in the online shopping platform.