Patent ID: 8447664

Claim:
A computer-implemented method, comprising: individually evaluating, by one or more computers, a respective expected profitability for each particular unit of a plurality of units of items held as inventory, wherein evaluating a respective expected profitability for each particular unit comprises: accessing one or more records comprising cost information for said particular unit; forecasting a future date of transaction corresponding to said particular unit; determining expected costs of holding said particular unit until said forecasted future date of transaction based on said cost information for said particular unit; determining expected revenue for said unit associated with said forecasted future date of transaction; determining said respective expected profitability of said particular unit as of said future date of transaction corresponding to said particular unit, wherein determining said respective expected profitability comprises comparing said determined expected costs of holding said particular unit until said forecasted future date of transaction to said determined expected revenue for said unit associated with said forecasted future date of transaction; and determining whether said particular item is currently profitable but is expected to be unprofitable as of said future date of transaction; prior to said future date of transaction, individually determining, by one or more computers, a disposition of each respective unit of said plurality of units determined to be currently profitable but expected to be unprofitable as of said future date of transaction; and responsive to the individually determining, redirecting said each respective unit, wherein, for said each respective unit, redirecting comprises: notifying a disposition service configured to coordinate liquidation of said each respective unit, updating a record to reflect removal of said each respective unit from inventory, or presenting disposition options for a plurality of conditions of said each respective unit, wherein selection of an option determines how to proceed with said each respective unit.