System and method for automated management of a distribution facility

One or more computer-usable media including encoded logic for use in for managing a distribution facility, the encoded logic comprising logic that performs the steps of:

• receiving descriptions of multiple orders from an order-management subsystem;
• determining that a particular order among the multiple orders is currently fillable, based the descriptions from the order-management subsystem;
• in response to determining that the particular order is currently fillable, automatically communicating with a rate subsystem to obtain shipping rate information;
• automatically assigning the particular order to a carrier, based on the information from the rate subsystem;
• and
• in response to assigning the particular order to the carrier, automatically causing a transportation subsystem to transport items for the particular order to one or more distribution stations.

A data processing system, for use in a distribution facility that ships items according to customer orders, the data processing system comprising:

• processing resources;
• and
• instructions that, when executed by the processing resources, perform the steps of:
• receiving descriptions of multiple orders from an order-management subsystem;
• determining that a particular order among the multiple orders is currently fillable, based the descriptions from the order-management subsystem;
• in response to determining that the particular order is currently fillable, automatically communicating with a rate subsystem to obtain shipping rate information;
• automatically assigning the particular order to a carrier, based on the information from the rate subsystem;
• and
• in response to assigning the particular order to the carrier, automatically causing a transportation subsystem to transport items for the particular order to one or more distribution stations.