A method, implemented in a computer system, comprising:
- obtaining product information, wherein
- the product information is configured to facilitate production of a product, and
- the product is a greeting card;
- selecting a production node from a plurality of production nodes, wherein
- each production node of the plurality of production nodes is located at a corresponding point of service of a plurality of points of service,
- the selecting comprises
- determining a destination physical location of a destination of the product,
- determining a destination location within a shipping area structure, using the destination physical location, wherein
- the shipping area structure is a hierarchical structure, and
- identifying the production node,
- the identifying comprises
- determining one or more production criteria,
- determining a point-of-service physical location for each point of service of the corresponding points of service,
- determining a corresponding point-of-service physical distance for each production node of the plurality of production nodes, wherein
- the corresponding point-of-service physical distance is defined by the destination physical location and the point-of-service physical location of the each production node,
- determining a point-of-service location for the each point of service of the corresponding points of service, within the shipping area structure, wherein
- the point-of-service location is determined using the point-of-service physical location of the each production node,
- determining a corresponding point-of-service logistical distance for the each production node, wherein
- the corresponding point-of-service logistical distance is a logistical distance within the shipping area structure that is defined by the destination location and the point-of-service location of the each production node, and
- identifying the production node based, at least in part, on the one or more production criteria, the corresponding point-of-service physical distances, and the corresponding point-of-service logistical distances, wherein
- the production node is identified such that the corresponding point-of-service logistical distance of the production node is less than the corresponding point-of-service logistical distance of any other production node of the plurality of production nodes;
- and
- communicating production information to the production node, wherein
- the production information is configured to facilitate production of the product by virtue of comprising
- information identifying the product,
- information identifying a first production system of the production node,
- information identifying a second production system of the production node,
- digital feature information, in a first digital format that is a pixel-oriented format, describing a feature of the product, and
- digital customization information, in a second digital format that is a vector-oriented format, describing a customization of the product,
- the computer system is configured to communicate with the each production node of the plurality of production nodes, and
- the communicating is configured to result in production of the product by the production node.