Patent ID: 8000996

Claim:
A computer-implemented method for identifying an item to be marked down, comprising: determining, using one or more processors, an optimal markdown plan for each item in a pool of items, wherein the optimal markdown plan maximizes revenue when an item is marked down during a first budget period; determining, using the one or more processors, an optimal delay plan for each item, wherein the optimal delay plan maximizes revenue when an item is marked down during a second budget period that is subsequent to the first budget period; calculating, using the one or more processors, a delay cost for each item using a difference between the optimal markdown plan maximized revenue and the delayed markdown plan maximized revenue; determining, using the one or more processors, a markdown spend for each item using the optimal markdown plan; determining, using the one or more processors, a delay efficiency metric for each item using the delay cost and the markdown spend; and identifying, using the one or more processors, an item in the pool of items to be marked down using the delay efficiency metric.