Intelligent authorized return systems and methods
AssigneeUnited Parcel Service of America, Inc.
InventorWilliam Loyd Smith
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention discloses systems and methods for the provision of shipping labels for use in returning parts distributed to field service technicians. A system is disclosed that processes a service parts order request against one or more rules and generates return shipping labels that are printed and enclosed in packages with service parts. Field service technicians use the appropriate return shipping label to identify the status of the service part and insure the timely return of both used and unused service parts to a facility equipped to handle them.
Claims44
A method of providing at least one service part to a field technician, said method comprising the steps of:
- receiving an order to ship a part to said field technician, said order including a part identifier associated with said part;
- querying a parts database with said part identifier to identify a warehouse that has said part in stock;
- processing said order against a rules engine to associate an outbound shipping label and at least one return shipping label to said order, and to generate shipping label data for said outbound shipping label and for said at least one return shipping label;
- printing said outbound shipping label and said at least one return shipping label at said warehouse;
- enclosing said at least one return shipping label within a package along with said part;
- affixing said outbound shipping label to said package;
- and
- shipping said package to said field technician.
A service parts shipping system, said system comprising:
- an order entry application, said order entry application configured to receive order data from a user, said order data including at least one service part number;
- a parts management application in electronic communication with said order entry application, said parts management application configured to receive said order data and query a parts database with said service part number to determine an availability of a service part;
- a rules engine in electronic communication with at least one of said order entry system and said parts management application, said rules engine configured to receive said order data and process said order data against at least one rule;
- said rules engine further configured to generate shipping label data based at least in part on said at least one rule;
- and
- a printing device configured to print at least one shipping label based at least in part on said shipping label data.
A method of monitoring the status of service parts that are shipped to a field technician, the method comprising the steps of:
- receiving a service parts request, said service parts request including a request to ship a service part to a field technician;
- generating an outbound shipping label and a return shipping label in response to said service parts request;
- assigning a first service part tracking number to said outbound shipping label and a second service part tracking number to said return shipping label;
- storing information about said service parts request in a service parts transaction database, said stored information including said first and second service part tracking numbers;
- capturing package level detail information about a package that is shipped through a carrier, said package level detail information including a package shipment status and a package tracking number associated with said package;
- and
- updating said service parts transaction database with said package level detail information when said package tracking number corresponds to said first or second service parts tracking numbers.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.