Real-time delivery feasibility analysis systems and methods

A computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions for performing the steps of:

• identifying a time window in which a delivery may be made to a customer, said time window being associated with a delivery wave delivery capacity;
• comparing a portion of said delivery wave delivery capacity that has been allocated to deliveries with a threshold value;
• responsive to said portion of said delivery wave delivery capacity that has been allocated to deliveries being greater than said threshold value, performing the steps of:
• (a) determining a cost of delivery, said cost of delivery comprising a cost of making said delivery to said customer within said time window;
• (b) comparing said cost of delivery with a threshold cost;
• and
• (c) responsive to said cost of delivery being less than said threshold cost, indicating that said time window is available for said delivery.

A computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions for performing the steps of:

• identifying a time window in which a delivery may be made to a customer;
• identifying a customer type associated with said customer;
• determining a cost of delivery, said cost of delivery comprising a cost of making said delivery to said customer within said time window;
• comparing said cost of delivery with a first threshold cost if said customer type corresponds to a first customer type;
• comparing said cost of delivery with a second threshold cost if said customer type corresponds to a second customer type;
• indicating that said time window is available for said delivery if either:
• (a) said cost of delivery is less than said first threshold cost, and said customer type corresponds to said first customer type;
• or
• (b) said cost of delivery is less than said second threshold cost, and said customer type corresponds to said second customer type.

A method of displaying delivery time windows, said method comprising the steps of:

• identifying a time window in which a delivery may be made to a customer;
• determining a cost of delivery, said cost of delivery comprising a cost of making said delivery to said customer within said time window;
• comparing said cost of delivery with a threshold cost;
• and
• responsive to said cost of delivery being less than said threshold cost, indicating that said time window is available for said delivery.

A method of determining whether to offer to make a requested delivery within a particular delivery time window, said method comprising the steps of:

• determining a cost factor associated with making said requested delivery within said particular delivery time window;
• determining a customer factor associated with a customer requesting said requested delivery;
• identifying a threshold “display window” value;
• combining said cost factor and said customer factor to derive a combined delivery factor;
• and
• in response to said combined delivery factor being greater than said “display window” value, determining to offer to make said requested delivery within said particular delivery time window.

A method of determining whether to offer to make a requested delivery within a particular delivery time window, said method comprising the steps of:

• determining a cost factor associated with making said requested delivery within said particular delivery time window;
• determining a customer factor associated with a customer requesting said requested delivery;
• identifying a threshold “offer window” value;
• combining said cost factor and said customer factor to derive a combined delivery factor;
• and
• in response to said combined delivery factor being less than said “offer window” value, determining to offer to make said requested delivery within said particular delivery time window.

A delivery feasibility analysis system, said system comprising:

• a central processing unit;
• a memory coupled to said central processing unit;
• and
• a display screen coupled to said central processing unit,
• said central processing unit being configured for:
• identifying a time window in which a delivery may be made to a customer;
• determining a cost of delivery, said cost of delivery comprising a cost of making said delivery to said customer within said time window;
• comparing said cost of delivery with a threshold cost;
• and
• responsive to said cost of delivery being less than said threshold cost, indicating that said time window is available for said delivery.