U.S. patent application number 14/209246 was filed with the patent office on 2014-07-10 for online marketplace with shipping incentives.
This patent application is currently assigned to Microsoft Corporation. The applicant listed for this patent is Microsoft Corporation. Invention is credited to Doug Burger, Lili Cheng, Marc Davis, Eric Horvitz, Gur Kimchi, Stelios Paparizos.
Application Number | 20140195319 14/209246 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47391539 |
Filed Date | 2014-07-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140195319 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Horvitz; Eric ; et
al. |
July 10, 2014 |
ONLINE MARKETPLACE WITH SHIPPING INCENTIVES
Abstract
A marketplace server and method for facilitating purchase
transactions are provided. A marketplace server may include a
routing engine configured to receive an order for goods from a
first computing device associated with a first customer, with the
order including a first delivery address of the customer. The
routing engine also calculates a delivery route to the first
delivery address. An offer engine is configured to create an offer
for other goods. The offer includes a shipping incentive associated
with a second delivery address of a second customer. The offer may
be targeted to the second customer based on a proximity of the
second delivery address to the delivery route. The offer engine
sends the offer to a second computing device associated with the
second customer. Upon receiving an acceptance of the offer from the
computing device, the offer engine processes a purchase transaction
for the offer.
Inventors: |
Horvitz; Eric; (Kirkland,
WA) ; Kimchi; Gur; (Bellevue, WA) ; Cheng;
Lili; (Bellevue, WA) ; Burger; Doug;
(Bellevue, WA) ; Paparizos; Stelios; (San Jose,
CA) ; Davis; Marc; (San Francisco, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Microsoft Corporation |
Redmond |
WA |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Microsoft Corporation
Redmond
WA
|
Family ID: |
47391539 |
Appl. No.: |
14/209246 |
Filed: |
March 13, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
13174309 |
Jun 30, 2011 |
|
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14209246 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
705/14.23 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 30/0222 20130101;
G06Q 30/06 20130101; G06Q 10/0832 20130101; G06Q 10/08355
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
705/14.23 |
International
Class: |
G06Q 30/02 20060101
G06Q030/02; G06Q 10/08 20060101 G06Q010/08 |
Claims
1. A marketplace device for facilitating purchase transactions,
comprising: a computer; a routing engine executed on the
marketplace device and configured to: receive an order for goods
from a first computing device associated with a first customer, the
order including a first delivery address of the first customer; and
calculate a first delivery route to the first delivery address; an
offer engine executed on the marketplace device and configured to:
create an offer for other goods, the offer including a shipping
incentive associated with a second delivery address of a second
customer, the offer being targeted to the second customer based on
a proximity of the second delivery address to the first delivery
route; wherein the routing engine is configured to modify the first
delivery route to a second delivery route based on the second
delivery address; and a pricing engine executed on the marketplace
device and configured to calculate an incremental shipping cost
based on additional costs associated with the second delivery
route; wherein the offer engine is configured to send the offer for
the other goods to a second computing device associated with the
second customer and, upon receiving an acceptance of the offer from
the second computing device, to process a purchase transaction for
the offer.
2. The marketplace device of claim 1, wherein the offer engine is
configured to identify the second customer by referencing a social
graph of the first customer, and by determining a relationship
between the first customer and the second customer.
3. The marketplace device of claim 1, wherein the shipping
incentive includes a shipping discount for accepting delivery at
the second delivery address on a specified date.
4. The marketplace device of claim 1, wherein the shipping
incentive expires at an end of a timeframe.
5. The marketplace device of claim 1, wherein the offer is a first
offer, and the offer engine is configured to create a second offer
that is associated with an alternative delivery address for the
second customer, and to send the second offer to the second
computing device.
6. The marketplace device of claim 5, wherein the second delivery
address is associated with a sales tax, and the alternative
delivery address is associated with zero sales tax.
7. The marketplace device of claim 1, further including an
opportunistic shipping engine executed on the marketplace device
and configured to serve an opportunistic shipping graphical user
interface for display on the second computing device of the second
customer.
8. The marketplace device of claim 7, wherein the opportunistic
shipping graphical user interface includes: a product display
region displaying the other goods of the offer; a delivery address
display region displaying a delivery address; a shipping incentive
region displaying the shipping incentive associated with the offer;
and a shipping option selector configured to receive input of a
customer-selected shipping option.
9. The marketplace device of claim 8, wherein the opportunistic
shipping graphical user interface further includes a timing region
displaying a timeframe during which the shipping incentive is
valid.
10. The marketplace device of claim 1, wherein the offer is for a
product related to a search query submitted by the second
customer.
11. A server-based method for facilitating purchase transactions,
comprising: receiving at the server an order for goods from a first
computing device associated with a first customer, the order
including a first delivery address of the first customer;
calculating with the server a first delivery route to the first
delivery address; creating by a computer an offer for other goods,
the offer including a shipping incentive associated with a second
delivery address of a second customer, the offer being targeted to
the second customer based on a proximity of the second delivery
address to the first delivery route; modifying with the server the
first delivery route to a second delivery route based on the second
delivery address; calculating with the server an incremental
shipping cost based on additional costs associated with the second
delivery route; sending from the server the offer to a second
computing device associated with the second customer; and upon
receiving an acceptance of the offer from the second computing
device, processing with the server a purchase transaction for the
offer.
12. The method of claim 11, further comprising identifying with the
server the second customer by referencing a social graph of the
first customer, and by determining a relationship between the first
customer and the second customer.
13. The method of claim 11, wherein the shipping incentive includes
a shipping discount for accepting delivery at the second delivery
address on a specified date.
14. The method of claim 11, wherein the shipping incentive expires
at an end of a timeframe.
15. The method of claim 11, wherein the offer is a first offer, and
further comprising creating with the server a second offer that is
associated with an alternative delivery address for the second
customer.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein the second delivery address is
associated with a sales tax, and the alternative delivery address
is associated with zero sales tax.
17. The method of claim 11, further comprising serving with the
server an opportunistic shipping graphical user interface for
display on the second computing device of the second customer.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein the opportunistic shipping
graphical user interface includes: a product display region
displaying the other goods of the offer; a delivery address display
region displaying a delivery address; a shipping incentive region
displaying the shipping incentive associated with the offer; a
timing region displaying a timeframe during which the shipping
incentive is valid; and a shipping option selector configured to
receive input of a customer-selected shipping option.
19. The method of claim 11, wherein the offer is for a product
related to a search query submitted by the second customer.
20. A marketplace device for facilitating purchase transactions,
comprising: a routing engine configured to: receive an order for
goods from a first computing device associated with a first
customer, the order including a first delivery address of the first
customer; and calculate a first delivery route to the first
delivery address; an offer engine configured to: create an offer
for other goods, the offer including a shipping incentive
associated with a second delivery address of a second customer, the
shipping incentive including a shipping discount for accepting
delivery at the second delivery address on a specified date, the
offer being targeted to the second customer based on a proximity of
the second delivery address to the first delivery route; wherein
the routing engine is configured to modify the first delivery route
to a second delivery route based on the second delivery address;
and a pricing engine configured to calculate an incremental
shipping cost based on additional costs associated with the second
delivery route; wherein the offer engine is configured to send the
offer for the other goods to a second computing device associated
with the second customer and, upon receiving an acceptance of the
offer from the second computing device, to process a purchase
transaction for the offer.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 13/174,309, filed Jun. 30, 2011 and entitled "ONLINE
MARKETPLACE WITH SHIPPING INCENTIVES", the entirety of which is
hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes.
BACKGROUND
[0002] On-line shopping services enable customers to purchase goods
and/or services from a merchant. When finished goods are purchased,
such goods may be delivered from a manufacturing site, warehouse or
distribution center to a customer via one or more modes of
transportation. Costs associated with the delivery of such goods
will depend upon several factors, such as the mode of
transportation (truck, boat, airplane, etc.), the delivery route,
and the distance traveled of the transporting vehicle(s). Shipping
and handling charges related to such delivery costs are typically
passed on from the merchant to the customer.
[0003] In some cases, the shipping and handling charges may
increase the total price of an on-line offer just beyond a
potential customer's willingness to pay. Further, a delivery
address for a potential customer may be on or close to an upcoming
delivery route for an existing order. In such a case, shipping
costs for a product ordered from the potential customer would be
significantly reduced. This would enable the merchant to offer a
lower total price for the product. However, the merchant is unable
to predict future delivery addresses and their relationship to
upcoming delivery routes. The merchant also has no way to
communicate with potential customers, for example, to learn that a
customer may be willing to purchase a product if the shipping
charges are reduced or waived. Lacking this information, additional
sales may be lost, and willing buyers and willing sellers may miss
opportunities to consummate sales that would be of mutual
benefit.
SUMMARY
[0004] Systems and methods for facilitating purchase transactions
including shipping incentives are disclosed herein. In one example
a marketplace server includes a routing engine that is configured
to receive an order for goods from a first customer via a first
computing device. The order includes a delivery address of the
first customer. The routing engine is configured to calculate a
delivery route to the delivery address. The marketplace server also
includes an offer engine that is configured to create an offer for
other goods. The offer is targeted to a second customer based on a
proximity of the second customer's delivery address to the delivery
route. The offer also includes a shipping incentive associated with
the second customer's delivery address. The offer engine sends the
offer to a second computing device associated with the second
customer. Upon receiving an acceptance of the offer from the second
computing device, the offer engine processes a purchase transaction
for the offer
[0005] This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of
concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in
the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify
key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter,
nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed
subject matter. Furthermore, the claimed subject matter is not
limited to implementations that solve any or all disadvantages
noted in any part of this disclosure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of one embodiment of a
marketplace server for facilitating purchase transactions including
shipping incentives.
[0007] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of an example screen of the
opportunistic shipping graphical user interface of FIG. 1.
[0008] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating one embodiment of a method
for facilitating purchase transactions including shipping
incentives between a merchant associated with a marketplace server
and a customer associated with a computing device.
[0009] FIG. 4 is a continuation of the diagram of FIG. 3.
[0010] FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of an original delivery
route and a revised delivery route generated by the system of FIG.
1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0011] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a marketplace server 100 for
facilitating purchase transactions including shipping incentives.
The purchase transactions may be between a merchant associated with
the marketplace server 100 and customers associated with computing
devices 102, including computing devices 102a and 102b. The
marketplace server 100 communicates with the computing devices 102
through a network 104.
[0012] As described in more detail below, the marketplace server
100 includes a routing engine 106, an offer engine 108, a pricing
engine 110, and an opportunistic shipping engine 112. In the
following description, the routing engine 106, offer engine 108,
pricing engine 110, and opportunistic shipping engine 112 are
described as executed on the marketplace server 100. It will be
appreciated that marketplace server 100 may be implemented as one
or more coordinated servers, which may be co-located in a server
farm or distributed in multiple different locations, as
desired.
[0013] In different examples, the computing devices 102 may take
the form of desktop computers, laptop computers, tablet computers,
home entertainment computers, network computing devices, mobile
computing devices, mobile communication devices, gaming devices,
etc. Additionally, the network 104 may take the form of a local
area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), wired network,
wireless network, personal area network, or a combination thereof,
and may include the Internet.
[0014] The marketplace server 100 is associated with a merchant
that desires to sell goods to customers associated with computing
devices 102. The routing engine 106 may receive an order 114 for
goods via the network 104 from a first customer 128 using the
computing device 102a. The order 114 may include a requested
shipping method, such as standard ground delivery, 2-Day delivery,
Next-Day delivery, etc., and a delivery address for delivering the
goods to the first customer 128. The routing engine 106 calculates
a delivery route 116 for delivering the goods to the delivery
address of the first customer 128.
[0015] The offer engine 108 on the marketplace server 100 then
identifies a second customer 130 who may be interested in
purchasing other goods from the merchant associated with the
marketplace server, and who may be a candidate for receiving a
shipping incentive as described in more detail below. In one
example, the second customer 130 may be identified through his or
her use of a computing device, such as computing device 102b, to
access various services across the network 104, including services
provided by the marketplace server 100. Such services may include,
but are not limited to, search services, email services, e-commerce
services, social networking services, document server services, web
applications, etc.
[0016] As the second customer 130 interacts with the marketplace
server 100, a customer profile of the second customer 130 may be
generated over time. The customer profile may include, for example,
one or more delivery addresses that the second customer 130 has
provided in previous purchases from merchants associated with the
marketplace server 100. It will be appreciated that the customer
profile may include additional information, such as demographic
information, product, service and application preferences,
entertainment interests, social graph information, etc. Aggregated
customer profile information for the second customer 130 and other
customers may be stored in an aggregated customer profile
information database 118.
[0017] In one example, the offer engine 108 may be configured to
identify the second customer 130 by referencing a social graph of
the first customer 128, and by determining a relationship between
the first customer 128 and the second customer 130. The offer
engine 108 may retrieve social graph information related to the
first customer 128 from the aggregated customer profile information
database 118. By referencing the delivery route 116 associated with
the order 114 from the first customer 128, and noting the
relationship between the first customer 128 and the second customer
130, the offer engine 108 may present an offer to the second
customer 130 that leverages the upcoming shipment to the first
customer along the delivery route 116.
[0018] In another example, the second customer's interactions with
the marketplace server 100 may suggest that the second customer 130
may be interested in purchasing one or more products sold by a
merchant associated with the marketplace server. In one use case
example, the second customer 130 may enter a product search query
on an e-commerce website hosted by the marketplace server 100. Upon
receiving the search query, the offer engine 108 of the marketplace
server 100 may access the aggregated customer profile information
database 118 and retrieve profile information for the second
customer 130, including previous delivery addresses provided by the
second customer 130 for purchases made via the marketplace
server.
[0019] The offer engine 108 may determine that a previous delivery
address associated with the second customer 130 is along or near
the delivery route 116 associated with the existing order 114. The
offer engine 108 may also determine that making an additional
delivery stop along the delivery route 116 would add incremental,
and perhaps negligible, shipping costs to those costs already
expected for the existing order 114. The offer engine 108 may then
create an offer 120a targeted to the second customer 130 based on
the proximity of the second customer's previous delivery address to
the delivery route 116. The offer 120a may be for a product related
to the search query submitted by the second customer 130, and may
include a shipping incentive 122a associated with shipping the
product to the previous delivery address of the second
customer.
[0020] In another example, where a previous delivery address used
by the second customer 130 would require a detour from the delivery
route 116, the routing engine 106 may be configured to modify the
delivery route 116 to create a revised delivery route 124 based on
delivering the product to the previous delivery address. In this
case, a pricing engine 110 executed on the marketplace server 100
is configured to calculate an incremental shipping cost associated
with the revised delivery route 124. This incremental shipping cost
may be used by the offer engine 108 to determine the amount of the
incentive 122a to include with the offer 120a.
[0021] The offer engine 108 may also be configured to identify an
alternative delivery address for the second customer 130. The
alternative delivery address may not be a preferred delivery
address of the second customer 130, but may enable the merchant to
offer an improved incentive for delivery to the alternative
delivery address. In one example, the offer engine 108 may identify
an alternative delivery address from other delivery addresses that
the second customer 130 has provided in previous purchases from the
marketplace server 100. In another example, the offer engine 108
may identify an alternative delivery address from information
gathered from the aggregated customer profile information database
118.
[0022] The alternative delivery address may be directly on or
closer to the delivery route 116 than a preferred delivery address
of the second customer 130. For example, a preferred delivery
address may be associated with the primary residence of the second
customer 130, while an alternative delivery address may be
associated with a workplace, second home or other location at which
the second customer 130 may periodically be located or visit. The
alternative delivery address could also be the address of a friend,
relative or other trusted acquaintance of the second customer 130.
The offer engine 108 may create a second offer 120b that includes
an alternative delivery address as a delivery location, along with
a corresponding shipping incentive 122b associated with delivery to
this address. It will be appreciated that one or more additional
offers including other alternative delivery addresses may also be
provided to the second customer 130.
[0023] The shipping incentives 122 may include a shipping discount
for accepting delivery at a designated address on a specified date
that corresponds to the shipment of the existing order 114. In one
example, the existing order 114 may be scheduled to ship on July 1.
The offer 120a may include an option for the second customer 130 to
select delivery on July 1 at a delivery address previously used by
the second customer for a discounted shipping charge. The merchant
associated with the marketplace server 100 may also need sufficient
lead time to process the order associated with offer 120a in time
for the July 1 delivery date. Accordingly, in one example the offer
120a and corresponding shipping incentive 122a may expire at the
end of a timeframe, such as 2 days, 1 day, 12 hours, or other
suitable timeframe.
[0024] A shipping incentive 122 may also be associated with an
alternative delivery address that provides more favorable tax
treatment and/or other lower secondary fees for delivery at this
address, where permissible. For example, where the first offer 120a
includes a delivery address associated with a sales tax, the second
offer 120b may include an alternative delivery address that is
associated with zero sales tax.
[0025] In another example, a shipping incentive 122 may include a
more secure shipping method, such as providing enhanced packaging
for fragile, hazardous or expensive items, and/or a guarantee of
product condition or quality upon delivery. For example, a high
quality, enamel-coated cast iron pot could develop cracks during
shipping due to inadequate packaging, rough handling, or other
shipment-related issues. For this product, the offer engine 108 may
create a shipping incentive 122 that includes a guarantee of
product condition upon delivery. The customer may also be given an
option to pick up the item at a retail store or warehouse.
Additionally, some customers may be unaware of potential hazards
associated with shipping certain products. Accordingly, the offer
engine 108 may alert the customer to possible shipping/handling
concerns with respect to the product, and call the customer's
attention to one or more shipping incentives 122 and/or other
options for protecting or guaranteeing product quality or
condition.
[0026] In a further example, a shipping incentive 122 may include
an option for free returns should the customer be dissatisfied with
the product. Such an incentive may be appropriate, for example, for
clothing, fashion accessories and other items associated with the
personal taste of the purchaser. This type of incentive may also be
desirable for collectibles, expensive jewelry, designer products,
and other items that may be subject to copying or counterfeiting. A
customer may also be given an option to see the item in person,
such as at a retail store, before being charged for the
purchase.
[0027] The offer engine 108 may send one or more offers 120 and
corresponding shipping incentives 122 to the computing device 102b
associated with the second customer 130. In an example where the
second customer 130 enters a product search query on an e-commerce
website hosted by the marketplace server 100, the offer engine may
deliver the one or more offers 120 along with the search results to
the second computing device 102b. Upon receiving an acceptance of
one of the offers 120, the offer engine 108 may process a purchase
transaction between the merchant and the second customer 130 for
the accepted offer.
[0028] The marketplace server 100 may also include an opportunistic
shipping engine 112 that is configured to serve an opportunistic
shipping graphical user interface (e.g., GUI) 132 for display on
the second computing device 102b. The second computing device 102b
includes mass storage 134, memory 136, and a processor 138. An
operating system 140 and other programs stored in mass storage 134
may be executed by the processor 138 using memory 136 to achieve
various functions. In other embodiments computing device 102b may
include other components not shown in FIG. 1, such as user input
devices including keyboards, mice, and/or touch screens, for
example. It will be appreciated that computing device 102a may
operate in a similar manner as computing device 102b, and may have
the same, additional or fewer components as computing device
102b.
[0029] The opportunistic shipping GUI 132 may be displayed on
display 142 of computing device 102b and may include a product
display region 144 for displaying and/or describing a product 146
that is the subject of the offer 120a. The opportunistic shipping
GUI 132 also includes a delivery address display region 150 that
displays a delivery address 152 that is associated with the offer
120a. The delivery address display region 150 may also display a
delivery date 154 corresponding to the date that the product 146
will be delivered to the second customer 130 at the delivery
address 152. Proximate to the delivery address display region is an
incentive region 156 that displays a shipping incentive 158
associated with the second customer 130 accepting the offer 120a
for delivery at the delivery address 152. The opportunistic
shipping GUI 132 also includes a timing region 162 that displays a
timeframe 164 during which the shipping incentive 158 and
corresponding offer 120a are valid. The delivery address display
region 150 further includes a shipping input interface 168 that
includes a shipping option selector 170 configured to receive input
from the second customer 130. Using the shipping option selector
170, the second customer 130 may input a desired shipping option
selection 172. It will be appreciated that the shipping input
interface 168 may include multiple shipping option selectors 170
corresponding to multiple delivery addresses 152, corresponding
delivery dates 154 and shipping incentives 158 that comprise
multiple offers 120.
[0030] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of an example screen of the
opportunistic shipping GUI 132 of FIG. 1. In the example shown in
FIG. 2, the offer engine 108 of the marketplace server 100 has
created offers 120a and 120b for a product 146, in this case a DVD
of "Movie A." An image, title and price of the DVD are displayed in
the product display region 144. In other examples additional
product descriptions and related information may also be provided.
As explained in more detail below, each of the offers 120a and 120b
include different delivery addresses 152 and/or incentives 158. In
this example, a third offer 120c that does not include a shipping
incentive, but includes regular shipping options and costs instead,
is also provided.
[0031] Offer 120a includes a delivery address 152a and a
corresponding delivery date 154a displayed in the delivery address
display region 150. The incentive region 156a is proximate to the
delivery date 154a and displays the corresponding shipping
incentive 158a for this shipping option. In this example, the offer
engine 108 determines that a work address previously used for
purchases by the second customer 130 is along (i.e., within a
threshold time, cost, or distance deviation of) the delivery route
116 for the existing order 114. The existing order is scheduled to
be delivered on July 1. Thus, the second customer's work address is
displayed as the delivery address 152a along with a delivery date
154a of July 1. As the second customer's work address is along the
delivery route 116, the offer engine 108 determines that no
shipping costs are necessary for this offer 120a, and free shipping
may be included. Thus, the incentive region 156a displays a
shipping incentive 158a of free shipping. While the second
customer's work address may not be the second customer's preferred
location for delivery of the product 146, the incentive of free
shipping may encourage the second customer to select this delivery
location and corresponding offer 120a.
[0032] The shipping input interface 168 includes a shipping option
selector 170a proximate to the delivery address 152a of the first
offer 120a. The shipping option selector is configured to receive
input of a shipping option selection 172 from the second customer
130. While a radio button is illustrated herein for the shipping
option selector 170a, it will be appreciated that a variety of
other input mechanisms, such as checkboxes, sliders, etc., may be
utilized. In the illustrated example, the second customer 130 has
chosen offer 120a by selecting the shipping option selector
170a.
[0033] Another offer 120b presented to the second customer 130
includes a second delivery address 152b and a corresponding
delivery date 154b in the delivery address display region 150. The
incentive region 156b proximate to the delivery date 154b displays
the corresponding shipping incentive 158b for this shipping option.
In this example, the offer engine 108 selects a home address
previously used for purchases by the second customer 130. While not
along the delivery route 116 for the existing order 114, the home
address is near the delivery route 116 such that the routing engine
106 may create a revised delivery route 124 that is suitable for
both the existing order 114 and the offer 120b. Thus, the second
customer's home address is displayed as the delivery address 152b
along with the delivery date 154b of July 1 corresponding to the
delivery date of the existing order 114. As delivery to the second
customer's home address requires a revised delivery route 124, the
pricing engine 110 determines an incremental shipping cost based on
the costs associated with the revised delivery route. In this
example, the incentive region 156b displays a shipping incentive
158b corresponding to a discounted shipping cost of $1.99.
[0034] The shipping input interface 168 includes a shipping option
selector 170b in the form of a radio button proximate to the
delivery address 152b of the second offer 120b. The shipping option
selector is configured to receive input of a shipping option
selection 172 from the second customer 130. In the illustrated
example, the second customer 130 has not selected the shipping
option selector 170b.
[0035] A third offer 120c may also be presented that provides
standard shipping options and regular, non-discounted shipping
costs. In this example, the third offer 120c includes the second
customer's home delivery address 152b and shipping options 176,
including standard, 2-day, and Next-day shipping, in the place of a
delivery date. Depending upon the shipping option 176 selected by
the second customer, a shipping cost region 178 will display a
corresponding regular shipping cost 180 for the selected shipping
option. The shipping input interface 168 includes a shipping option
selector 170c in the form of a radio button proximate to the
delivery address 152b of the third offer 120c. The shipping option
selector 170c is configured to receive input of a shipping option
selection 172 from the second customer 130. In the illustrated
example, the second customer has not selected the shipping option
selector 170c.
[0036] The opportunistic shipping GUI 132 further includes a timing
region 162 that displays a timeframe 164 during which the shipping
incentives 158 and corresponding offers 120a and 120b are valid. As
the offers 120a and 120b include incentives 158 associated with the
existing delivery route 116 that corresponds to a fixed shipping
date, the merchant may require an acceptance of one of the offers
within a timeframe that allows sufficient lead time for the
merchant to process the new order. In this example, the timeframe
164 includes a timer displaying hours, minutes, and seconds that is
counting down to a predetermined deadline for placing the new
order. If the timer reaches zero and the second customer 130 has
not accepted offer 120a or 120b and completed an order, then offers
120a and 120b are withdrawn. Such a withdrawal may be indicated by
graying out offers 120a and 120b and corresponding shipping option
selectors 170a and 170b. Once the second customer 130 chooses one
of the offers 120 by selecting one of the shipping option selectors
170, the second customer may select a "submit" button 182 and
proceed to complete the order.
[0037] FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of an original delivery
route and a revised delivery route generated by the system of FIG.
1. An original delivery route is illustrated with original stops
along the route. At 500, a delivery address is shown that is
positioned along the delivery route, within a threshold deviation,
which may be a threshold time, cost, or distance deviation, such as
5 minutes, $2 of additional fuel and labor costs, or 0.25 miles, as
examples. Since the deviation is within the threshold, an incentive
is offered as described above, and if accepted, the delivery
address 500 is added to the route to produce a revised delivery
route. At 502 is an example of a delivery address for which it was
determined that the deviation from the original route to the
delivery address at 502 exceeded the predetermined threshold, and
thus no incentive was offered and the delivery address at 502 was
accordingly not added to the original route. Finally, at 504 a
delivery address that is directly on the original route is
determined to be within a deviation threshold, and thus an
incentive is offered, and if accepted, the delivery address at 504
is added to the revised delivery route. In this manner, new stops
that are within a deviation threshold may be added to the original
route to produce a revised delivery route.
[0038] With reference now to FIG. 3, a diagram illustrates a method
300 for facilitating purchasing transactions according to one
embodiment of the present disclosure. The method may be performed
using the software and hardware components of the marketplace
server 100 and computing devices 102 described above and shown in
FIG. 1, or using other suitable components. Method 300 begins at
302 with receiving an order for goods from a computing device, such
as computing device 102a, associated with a first customer. The
order includes a first delivery address of the first customer. At
304 the method includes calculating a first delivery route to the
first delivery address.
[0039] At 306 the method includes identifying a second customer
that uses a second delivery address that is along or near the first
delivery route. In one example, a second customer may be identified
by referencing a social graph of the first customer, and by
determining a relationship between the first customer and the
second customer. At 308 the method includes creating a first offer
for other goods, and targeting the offer to the second customer
that uses the second delivery address. The first offer also
includes a shipping incentive associated with the second delivery
address. As noted above, the shipping incentive may include a
shipping discount for the second customer accepting delivery at the
second delivery address on a specified date. The shipping incentive
may also expire at the end of a timeframe.
[0040] As described above, where the second delivery address
associated with the second customer is not along the first delivery
route, a revised delivery route may be created. At 310, the method
optionally includes modifying the first delivery route to a second
delivery route based on the second delivery address associated with
the second customer. At 312, the method may optionally include
calculating an incremental shipping cost based on estimated
additional costs associated with the revised delivery route.
[0041] With reference now to FIG. 4, which is a continuation of
FIG. 3, at 314 the method may optionally include creating a second
offer that is associated with an alternative delivery address for
the second customer. As noted above, in one example the alternative
delivery address may be associated with a workplace, second home or
other location at which the second customer may periodically be
located or visit. At 316 the method includes serving an
opportunistic shipping GUI, such as opportunistic shipping GUI 132,
for display on the computing device associated with the second
customer. The opportunistic shipping GUI may include a product
display region displaying the product of the offer, a delivery
address display region displaying a delivery address, a shipping
incentive region displaying a shipping incentive associated with
the offer, a timing region displaying a timeframe during which the
shipping incentive is valid, and a shipping option selector
configured to receive input of a second customer-selected shipping
option.
[0042] At 318 the method includes sending the first offer to the
computing device associated with the second customer. At 320 the
method includes receiving an acceptance of the first offer from the
second computing device. Upon receiving the acceptance, at 322 the
method includes processing a purchase transaction for the
offer.
[0043] It will be appreciated that the above described marketplace
server and method may be utilized to facilitate purchase
transactions between a customer and a merchant, where a delivery
address associated with the customer is related to a delivery route
associated with an existing order. Further, the marketplace server
and method may enable a merchant to provide an offer including a
shipping incentive that leverages an upcoming shipment along the
delivery route. In this manner, the shipping and related
transportation costs of the merchant are reduced, and the customer
is provided with more attractive offers that include reduced
shipping charges.
[0044] The term "engine" is used herein to refer to software that
performs one or more particular functions when executed by a
processor of a computing device. This term is meant to encompass
individual or groups of executable files, data files, libraries,
drivers, scripts, and database records, for example. The
embodiments described herein show one example organization of such
engines. However, it should be appreciated that the functions
described herein may be accomplished by differently organized
software components.
[0045] The term "service", as used herein, refers to one or more
server programs that are executed on one or more server devices,
which collectively respond to requests from programs executed on
client devices, received over a computer network to transmit
information to those. The online service described herein may take
the several forms described above.
[0046] It is to be understood that the example embodiments,
configurations and/or approaches described herein are exemplary in
nature, and that these specific embodiments or examples are not to
be considered in a limiting sense, because numerous variations are
possible. The specific routines or methods described herein may
represent one or more of any number of processing strategies. As
such, various acts illustrated may be performed in the sequence
illustrated, in other sequences, in parallel, or in some cases
omitted. Likewise, the order of the above-described processes may
be changed.
[0047] The subject matter of the present disclosure includes all
novel and nonobvious combinations and subcombinations of the
various processes, systems and configurations, and other features,
functions, acts, and/or properties disclosed herein, as well as any
and all equivalents thereof.
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