Patent ID: 8239245
Filing Date: 2012-08-07
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
1. A method of providing store site configuration, comprising: integrating in-store and external data from multiple sources into a geographic information system platform; determining customer segment profile, customer geo-distribution and customer demand from the integrated data in the geographic information system platform; modeling and forecasting potential customer geo-distribution using said customer segment profile, said customer geo-distribution and said customer demand; modeling and forecasting potential merchandise demand using said potential customer geo-distribution; deriving one or more gaps using said forecasted potential customer geo-distribution or forecasted potential merchandise demand or combination of both; and determining, by a processor, site configuration for a network of stores based on said one or more gaps, said site configuration providing recommendations for location, format, capacity, merchandise mix and customer segment by solving an optimization model that simultaneously determines said location, format, capacity, merchandise mix and customer segment, the optimization model including wherein P(S D(g,b TA(L V L(S