Systems and methods for source identification in item sourcing

A computer-implemented method for identifying sources to provide items, the method comprising:

• under control of one or more computing devices configured with specific computer-executable instructions:
• receiving a request to identify a potential source for an item that is offered by a number of sources on a network-based service, wherein the number of sources is less than a threshold, and wherein the threshold is determined at least in part by analyzing data regarding interactions between a plurality of users and the network-based service;
• identifying one or more sources capable of providing the item;
• generating a source score for each of the identified sources, wherein the source score comprises at least two of:
• a source rank comprising a measurement of the relative importance of an identified source;
• an SKU estimate comprising an estimate of the number of items offered for sale by the identified source;
• a source utilization estimate comprising an estimate of the number of users requesting information from the identified source;
• a measurement of desirability of a payment method accepted by the source;
• and
• a measurement of desirability of a category in which the source is classified;
• and
• selecting at least one of the identified sources having a source score greater than a predetermined value as the potential source to provide the item on the network-based service.

A system for identifying sources for items, the system comprising:

• a data store configured to maintain information regarding one or more items;
• and
• a computing device in communication with the data store, the computing device configured to:
• receive a request to identify a potential source for an item that is offered by a number of sources on a network-based service, wherein the number of sources is less than a threshold, and wherein the threshold is determined at least in part by analyzing data regarding interactions between a plurality of users and the network-based service;
• identify one or more sources capable of providing the item;
• and
• generate a source score for each of the identified sources, wherein the source score comprises at least two of:
• a source rank comprising a measurement of the relative importance of an identified source;
• an SKU estimate comprising an estimate of the number of items offered for sale by the identified source;
• a source utilization estimate comprising an estimate of the number of users requesting information from the identified source;
• a measurement of desirability of a payment method accepted by the source;
• and
• a measurement of desirability of a category in which the source is classified;
• and
• select at least one of the identified sources having a source score greater than a predetermined value as the potential source to provide the item on the network-based service.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon, wherein the instructions, when executed by a computing apparatus, cause the computing apparatus to:

• receive a request to identify a potential source for an item that is offered by a number of sources on a network-based service, wherein the number of sources is less than a threshold, and wherein the threshold is determined at least in part by analyzing statistical information relating to searches performed by a plurality of users of the network-based service;
• obtain one or more keywords pertaining to the item from a data store;
• obtain search results in response to submission of the received keywords for the item to a network-based information resource, the search results comprising one or more sources for the item;
• generate a source score for each of the sources returned by the search results;
• identify a source from the returned search results as the potential source if its source score satisfies a selected numerical criterion;
• obtain contact information for the potential source;
• transmit an offer inviting the potential source to provide the item on the network-based service using the obtained contact information;
• and
• add an entry to a data store after the transmitted offer is accepted, the entry indicating that the potential source provides the item on the network-based service.

A computer-implemented method for identifying sources for items, the method comprising:

• under control of one or more computing devices configured with specific computer-executable instructions:
• receiving a request to identify a potential source for an item that is offered by a number of sources on a network-based service, wherein the number of sources is less than a threshold, and wherein the threshold is determined at least in part by analyzing statistical information relating to searches performed by a plurality of users of the network-based service;
• obtaining one or more keywords pertaining to the item from a data store;
• obtaining search results in response to submission of the received keywords for the item to a network-based information resource, the search results comprising one or more sources for the item;
• generating a source score for each of the sources returned by the search results;
• identifying a source from the returned search results as the potential source if its source score satisfies a selected numerical criterion;
• obtaining contact information for the potential source;
• transmitting an offer inviting the potential source to provide the item on the network-based service using the obtained contact information;
• and
• adding an entry to a data store after the transmitted offer is accepted, the entry indicating that the potential source provides the item on the network-based service.