Patent ID: 11875291
Assignee: NIAGARA BOTTLING, LLC
Field: IT methods for management (Electrical engineering)
Classification: CPC G | IPC G

Claim 0:
1. A direct-to-store server comprising:
a memory for storing data and executable instructions;
a communication interface configured to communicate with a plurality of computing devices, the plurality of computing devices including a first computing device associated with a first retailer, a second computing device associated with a second retailer that is different from the first retailer, and a third computing device associated with a supplier that is completely distinct and separate from the first retailer and the second retailer;
an electronic processor communicatively coupled to the memory and the communication interface, the electronic processor configured to
control the communication interface to receive one or more initial demand signals from each of the first computing device and the second computing device, the one or more initial demand signals including demand information for a product with a stock keeping unit (SKU),
route the one or more initial demand signals to the third computing device,
control the communication interface to receive an agreement from the third computing device for maintaining an inventory of the product with the SKU,
control the communication interface to continuously receive one or more demand signals from the each of the first computing device and the second computing device indicating the inventory of the product with the SKU, the one or more demand signals being in parallel to each other,
dynamically determine, with a routing optimization system, an aggregate of orders from the one or more demand signals that are received, wherein the aggregate of orders is a lowest-cost shipping solution based on at least one analytical technique, taking into consideration load-leveling across multiple days, according to capacity restraints of respective retail locations of the first retailer and the second retailer, and according to quantities necessary to maintain the agreement for maintaining the inventory of the product with the SKU,
dynamically adjust, with an order flexing system, order quantities based on the one or more demand signals that are received, the order quantities maximizing a quantity of freight within a load based on the SKU while minimizing a likelihood any of the one or more demand signals go below the agreed upon inventory of the product with the SKU, and
control the communication interface to transmit the aggregate of orders that are dynamically determined and the order quantities that are dynamically adjusted to the third computing device.