Method and system for using multiple packing stations in delivery of goods

An apparatus comprising a processor and coupled memory, the processor being adapted to perform the steps of:

• receiving an order indicating a set of items for delivery to a destination;
• determining a packing scheme based on one or more optimality criteria, the packing scheme comprising a division of the set of items between two or more packing stations situated in one or more operation locations of one or more suppliers, the division defining one or more subsets of the set of items, each of which subsets being paired with a packing station, the subsets being mutually disjoint, the packing scheme further comprising an ordering of the one or more subsets and packing stations paired therewith, by which ordering the one or more paired packing stations are to be utilized for packing the set of items and transporting thereof to the destination, wherein in each packing station paired with a subset, a respective portion of the set of items in the subset is to be packed and transported therefrom to the destination or a subsequent packing station;
• and,
• responsive to determining the one or more optimality criteria being met by the packing scheme, issuing instructions for executing the order by packing and transporting the set of items according to the packing scheme.

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium retaining program instructions, which program instructions when read by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method comprising:

• receiving an order indicating a set of items for delivery to a destination;
• determining a packing scheme based on one or more optimality criteria, the packing scheme comprising a division of the set of items between two or more packing stations situated in one or more operation locations of one or more suppliers, the division defining one or more subsets of the set of items, each of which subsets being paired with a packing station, the subsets being mutually disjoint, the packing scheme further comprising an ordering of the one or more subsets and packing stations paired therewith, by which ordering the one or more paired packing stations are to be utilized for packing the set of items and transporting thereof to the destination, wherein in each packing station paired with a subset, a respective portion of the set of items in the subset is to be packed and transported therefrom to the destination or a subsequent packing station;
• and,
• responsive to determining the one or more optimality criteria being met by the packing scheme, issuing instructions for executing the order by packing and transporting the set of items according to the packing scheme.