Kiosk network in a kiosk management system

A computer-implemented method comprising:

• under control of one or more computer systems configured with executable instructions,
• when an item from a query is included in a plurality of items stored at the kiosk, wherein the plurality of items were selected for storage in the kiosk based at least in part on at least one of inventory information, transaction history information, and kiosk information;
• and wherein the plurality of items were distributed to the kiosk by a distribution agent assigned to the kiosk based at least in part on the geographic area,
• reserving, at the kiosk, the item from the plurality of items stored at the kiosk;
• initiating, at the kiosk, a payment process for the item when a consumer initiates retrieval of item at the kiosk;
• and
• instructing release of the item for the kiosk to the consumer when the payment process is completed.

A kiosk comprising:

• a storage unit configured to store a plurality of selected items, wherein the plurality of selected items were selected for storage in the kiosk based at least in part on at least one of inventory information, transaction history information, and kiosk information;
• and wherein the plurality of items were distributed to the kiosk by a distribution agent;
• a dispensing unit configured to release a requested item to the consumer from the storage unit;
• a communication interface configured to communicate with a management system and with other computing devices;
• a memory configured to store inventory information for the plurality of selected items stored in the storage unit;
• and
• a processor device in communication with the storage unit, dispensing unit, communication interface, and memory, the processor device configured to at least:
• receive a request for a consumer to conduct a transaction for the requested item;
• if the requested item is among the plurality of selected items stored in the storage unit of the kiosk,
• receive a code for the transaction from a separate computing device via the communication interface, the code being unique to the transaction and to the consumer;
• initiate verification of the code;
• release the requested item to the dispensing unit for retrieval when the code is verified;
• and
• send updated inventory information for the kiosk, to the management system via the communication interface.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a computer system, configure the computer system to perform operations comprising:

• maintaining inventory information for a plurality of items stored in a kiosk, wherein the plurality of items were selected for storage in the kiosk based at least in part on at least one of the inventory information, transaction history information, and kiosk information;
• and wherein the plurality of items were distributed to the kiosk by a distribution agent assigned to the kiosk based at least in part on a geographic area in which the kiosk is located;
• processing an order from a consumer for an item stored in the kiosk among the plurality of items distributed to the kiosk by the distribution agent;
• dispensing the item from the kiosk to the consumer when the consumer presents a verifiable code associated with the order to the kiosk;
• following dispensing the item from the kiosk to the consumer, updating the inventory information for the kiosk to reflect that the item is no longer stored in the kiosk;
• and
• transmitting the updated inventory information to a management system.