Patent ID: 8818836

Claim:
A computer-implemented method comprising: generating at a first time, by one or more configured computing system processors, predictions of future orders for indicated items, wherein the predicted future orders have not occurred by the first time; receiving an order at a second time specifying one or more items, the second time being after the first time; determining, by the one or more configured computing system processors, for a prior time period before the second time, deviations between items predicted to be ordered during the prior time period from the generated predictions and items actually ordered during the prior time period; assigning, by the one or more configured computing system processors, for each of one or more fulfillment plans that are options for fulfilling the received order, a cost to the fulfillment plan based at least in part on whether use of the fulfillment plan for the received order assists in correcting the determined deviations; and selecting a fulfillment plan from the one or more fulfillment plans to be used for fulfilling the received order based at least in part on the assigned cost to the selected fulfillment plan.