Patent ID: 8498888

Claim:
A method, comprising: performing, by one or more computers: determining a threshold value, wherein the threshold value is usable to determine whether a difference between a cost of fulfilling an order for an item stored in two or more fulfillment centers with a first of the two or more fulfillment centers and a cost of fulfilling the order with a second of the two or more fulfillment centers is within the threshold value, wherein a determination that the difference is within the threshold value results in a determination of a tie between the cost of fulfilling the order with the first fulfillment center and the cost of fulfilling the order with the second fulfillment center; receiving the order for the item stored in the two or more fulfillment centers, wherein the order specifies a shipping destination; determining that the difference between the cost of fulfilling the order with the first of the two or more fulfillment centers and the cost of fulfilling the order with the second of the two or more fulfillment centers is within the threshold value resulting in the determination of the tie between the cost of fulfilling the order with the first fulfillment center and the cost of fulfilling the order with the second fulfillment center; in response to the determination of the tie: determining a first expected cost corresponding to an inventory position of the item within the two or more fulfillment centers that would result from fulfilling the order with the first of the two or more fulfillment centers; determining a second expected cost corresponding to an inventory position of the item within the two or more fulfillment centers that would result from fulfilling the order with the second of the two or more fulfillment centers; in response to the first expected cost being less than the second expected cost, selecting the first of the two or more fulfillment centers to fulfill the order; and in response to selecting the first of the two or more fulfillment centers, causing the order to be fulfilled by the first of the two or more of fulfillment centers.