AU2017202251A1 - Logistical procurement method and system - Google Patents

Abstract

A logistical procurement and delivery system 1000 facilitates the procurement of goods by one or more purchasers 1-10 from one or more suppliers 1-20. The system further coordinates the delivery of items from the supplier 1-20 to the purchasers 1-10 via carriers 1-30, 1-50, 1-70. The delivery of items is coordinated and arranged by the system 1000 such that cost effective bulk-transport arrangement is utilized as much as possible, while directness of route and accountability for discrete units of goods is as direct and as high as possible. 1-10 1-10 1 21-12 1-70 -22 ------------------ - 22 1-42 1-44 -- - - - --4 0-- --- - --- 1 -9 0 Break -22 Bulk 1-30 1-3 Bulk 1-20 Bulk 12 Break Bulk 1-50 1-60 Bulk

Description

LOGISTICAL PROCUREMENT METHOD AND SYSTEM Field of the Invention [1] The present invention relates to a method and system for the logistical procurement and delivery of goods.

Background of the Invention [2] Conventional logistical procurement and delivery methods and systems typically compromise between cost, speed, and accountability. For example, costs can be reduced by consolidating disparate items into a single bulk unit, at the expense of speed (predominantly in the directness of the route between supplier and purchaser, or lack thereof) and accountability of each disparate item. Conversely, arranging for an item to be procured and delivered individually significantly increases speed, and accountability, at the expense of cost.

[3] Minimization of such compromises is particularly complicated at the commercial scale, where a single purchaser may be procuring commercial quantities of different items from different suppliers in different geographic locations, and further where the suppliers themselves are fulfilling commercial quantities of orders from different purchasers for different items. Such compromises are further complicated in situations where whilst a purchaser’s total order from a number of suppliers may qualify for cost effective bulk transport once consolidated together, the individual orders making up the total order do not so qualify. In such situations, the ability to maintain cost savings through bulk transportation, short deliver times, and item tracking, throughout the entire logistical chain is a significant challenge.

[4] Logistical procurement and delivery methods and systems generally involve a large number of service providers. Such service providers include, for example, a supplier, a purchaser, one or more transportation service providers, and one or more warehousing service providers, each located and involved at various points along an end-to-end procurement chain.

[5] Many of such service provider typically provide their service only at a specific point along the end-to-end procurement chain. A first mile courier, for example, may provide a transportation service to transport goods from the supplier to a consolidation warehouse only, and no further. Similarly, a final mile courier may provide a transportation service to transport goods from a distribution warehouse to the purchaser only, and no earlier. A particular service provider may therefore fully complete rendering the service they are responsible for before the end-to-end procurement chain is complete.

[6] However, despite completing the rendering of their service, receipt of payment for their service may not occur until a significant length of time after. For example, payment may not be received till the end-to-end procurement chain is complete. The further upstream the end-to-end procurement chain a service provider is, the most likely that payment for their services will be delayed in this manner. Additionally, bank processes, delays in transferring funds between banks, and settlement times contribute to further delays in the service provider receiving payment.

[7] The present invention seeks to overcome or substantially ameliorate at least some of the above issues, or to at least provide an alternative.

[8] It is to be understood that, if any prior art information is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the information forms part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country.

Summary of the Invention [9] According to a first aspect, the present invention provides a logistical procurement and delivery system comprising: a central server having a database with product and delivery information, a network portal which facilitates remote network access to the server and database for purchasers and suppliers, wherein the portal is configured to initiate a purchase order between a purchaser and one or more suppliers for supplier-packaged units, and wherein the system determines optimal line carriers for each stage of the delivery process including selecting a final mile carrier from a plurality of final mile carrier options.

[10] Preferably, the database includes information on at least one of available first mile carriers, consolidation warehouses, line haul carriers, distribution warehouses, and final mile carriers.

[11 ] Preferably, the first mile carriers provide bulk transport of first-mile packaged units from suppliers to consolidation warehouse which performs a break-bulk function to break apart the first-mile packaged units of goods received thereby into separate line haul packaged units.

[12] Preferably, the consolidation warehouse consolidates break bulk goods from multiple suppliers into the separate line haul packaged units.

[13] Preferably, the line haul carriers deliver the respective line haul packaged units to one or more distribution warehouses.

[14] Preferably, the distribution warehouses consolidate line haul packaged units from different line haul carriers.

[15] Preferably, the distribution warehouses perform a break-bulk function to break apart the line haul packaged units received thereby into sorted separate final mile packages.

[16] Preferably, the final mile carriers provide transport of final mile packages from the distribution warehouses to specific purchasers.

[17] Preferably, the system issues a tracking identifier for each supplier-packaged unit.

[18] Preferably, the tracking identifier is provided by the server to the supplier and affixed to each supplier-packaged unit.

[19] Preferably, the issued identifier identifies how the packaged unit will be handled at each step along the delivery process.

[20] Preferably, the system checks each packaged unit at each step of the delivery process for delivery accuracy.

[21] Preferably, the system issues a tracking identifier for each individual product in the supplier-packaged unit.

[22] In another aspect, the present invention provides a logistical procurement and delivery method, the method comprising: allowing a purchaser to order supplier-packaged units of goods from one or more suppliers, and determining optimal line carriers for each stage of the delivery process including selecting a final mile carrier from a plurality of final mile carrier options.

[23] Preferably, the method comprises providing a tracking identifier for each supplier-packaged unit.

[24] Preferably, the method comprises providing information on how the packaged unit will be handled at each step along the delivery process.

[25] Preferably, the method comprises checking each packaged unit via the tracking identifier at each step of the delivery process for delivery accuracy.

[26] Preferably, the method comprises providing a tracking identifier for each individual product in the supplier-packaged unit.

[27] Preferably, the information is added to the supplier-packaged unit by the supplier.

[28] Preferably, the method comprises delivery of first-mile supplier-packaged units from suppliers to a consolidation warehouse and performing a break-bulk function to break apart the first-mile packaged units of goods received into separate line haul packaged units.

[29] Preferably, the method comprises consolidating break bulk goods from multiple suppliers into the separate line haul packaged units at the consolidation warehouse.

[30] Preferably, the method comprises delivering the respective line haul packaged units to one or more distribution warehouses via line haul carriers.

[31 ] Preferably, the method comprises consolidating line haul packaged units from different line haul carriers at the distribution warehouses.

[32] Preferably, the method comprises performing a break-bulk function to break apart the line haul packaged units into sorted separate final mile packages at the distribution warehouses.

[33] Preferably, the method comprises transporting the final mile packages from the distribution warehouses to specific purchasers via final mile carriers.

[34] In another aspect, the present invention provides a mobile device application software for a logistical procurement and delivery system, the application software configured to: communicate with a central server having a database with product and delivery information, provide a network portal for a user which facilitates remote network access to the server and database, and wherein the application software allows a user to book a delivery of supplier-packaged units and determines optimal line carriers for each stage of the delivery process, the application software providing the user with an option to select a final mile carrier from a plurality of final mile carrier options.

[35] The mobile application can book traditional final mile carriers such as those provided by Toll, TNT, Australia Post (via a multi carrier scenario) or the optimal break bulk (last mile) service provider.

[36] In another aspect, the present invention provides a mobile device running the application software of claim 26, the mobile device having a scanner which allows a user to scan a package identifier and the mobile device communicating with the central server to book delivery of the package and generate a shipping label.

[37] Preferably, the mobile device has a label printer thereon.

[38] In another aspect, the present invention provides a logistical procurement and delivery system comprising: a central server having a database with product and delivery information, a network portal which facilitates remote network access to the server and database for purchasers and suppliers, wherein the portal is configured to initiate a purchase order between a purchaser and one or more suppliers for supplier-packaged units, and wherein the system determines optimal line carriers for each stage of the delivery.

[39] In another aspect, the present invention provides a logistical procurement and delivery method, the method comprising: allowing a purchaser to order supplier-packaged units of goods from one or more suppliers, and determining optimal line carriers for each stage of the delivery process.

[40] According to a first aspect, the present invention provides A logistical procurement system comprising: [41 ] a first computing device configured to generate a purchase order; [42] a central server configured to receive and analyse the purchase order, and generate a distributed ledger framework contract based on the analysis of the purchase order, the distributed ledger framework contract identifying at least one deliverables to be delivered by a service provider; and [43] a recording device for recording the delivery of the at least one deliverable by the service provider, and transmitting to the central server confirmation of the delivering of the deliverable, wherein [44] the central server is configured to release or otherwise effect payment to the service provider upon receiving confirmation from the recording device of the delivering of the deliverable.

[45] In one embodiment, the central server effects payment through the release of a cryptographic token to the service provider.

[46] In another embodiment, the recording device is a scanner, and delivery of the deliverable is confirmed by operating the scanner to scan an identifier and confirming that the scanned identifier correspond to an identifier recorded in the distributed ledger framework contract.

[47] In another embodiment, the central server generates the identifiers and the service provider affixes the identifiers to packages for delivery.

[48] In another embodiment, the recording device is operated by a recipient of the packages, the recording device being operated to scan the identifier affixed to each package, and confirming against the distributed ledger framework contract that all identifiers have been received.

[49] In another embodiment, the central server generates the identifiers after generation of the distributed ledger framework contract, and the central server updates the distributed ledger framework contract after generation of the identifiers so as to include the generated identifiers therein.

[50] In another embodiment, the distributed ledger framework contract is a blockchain contract.

[51 ] In another embodiment, the cryptographic token is a bitcoin [52] Other aspects of the invention are also disclosed.

Brief Description of the Drawings [53] Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of the present invention, preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of examples only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: [54] Fig. 1 illustrates a logistical procurement and delivery system according to one aspect of the present invention; [55] Fig. 2 illustrates a logistical procurement and delivery method according to another aspect of the present invention [56] Fig. 3 illustrates a logistical procurement and delivery system according to another aspect of the present invention; and [57] Fig. 4 illustrates a logistical procurement and delivery method according to another aspect of the present invention..

Description of Embodiments [58] It should be noted in the following description that like or the same reference numerals in different embodiments denote the same or similar features.

[59] With reference to Fig. 1, a logistical procurement and delivery system 1000 according to a first aspect of the present invention is described. The logistical procurement and delivery system 1000 of the present invention facilitates the procurement of goods by one or more purchasers 1-10 from one or more suppliers 1 -20. The system further coordinates the delivery of items from the supplier 1-20 to the purchasers 1-10 via carriers 1-30, 1-50, 1-70. The delivery of items is coordinated and arranged by the system 1000 such that cost effective bulk-transport arrangement is utilized as much as possible, while directness of route and accountability for discrete units of goods is as direct and as high as possible.

[60] As illustrated in Fig. 1, the logistical procurement and delivery system 1000 is built around a central logistical server 1-40, with which the purchasers 1-10 and suppliers 1-20 have user accounts. The central logistical server 1 -40 includes a database 1 -42. The database 1-42 stores basic details of each of the purchasers 1-10 and suppliers 1-20, such as name, address, contact details, banking details, and the like. The database 1-42 further stores details about the carriers 1 -30,1 -50,1 -70, such as available transport means (e.g. road, rail, air, sea), costs, routes, and the like. The central logistical server 1-40 further includes a network portal 1-44, which facilitates remote network access to the server 1-40 and database 1-42 for the purchasers 1-10 and suppliers 1-20 via their respective user accounts.

[61] In addition to providing access to the server 1-40 and database 1-42, the portal 1-44 is further configured to initiate a purchase order between a purchaser 1-10 and one or more of the suppliers 1 -20. Purchase orders and associated information are exchanged between purchaser 1-10 and suppliers 1-20 by way of electronic messaging services provided by the portal 1-44, and using the database 1-42 and server 1-40.

[62] Network-enabled computing devices 1-12, 1-22, respectively operated by the purchasers 1-10 and suppliers 1-20, are connected to the central logistical server 1-44 over a network. The connection of one or more of the computing devices 1-12, 1-22 with the central logistical server 1-40 realizes the logistical procurement and delivery system 1000 in its most basic form.

[63] Connected to, interfaced with, or otherwise coordinated by the logistical procurement and delivery system 1000 are a number of external entities including first mile carriers 1-30, consolidation warehouses 1 -60, line haul carriers 1 -50, distribution warehouses 1 -90, and final mile carriers 1-70.

[64] The first mile carriers 1-30 provide bulk transport of goods from the suppliers 1-20 to one or more of the consolidation warehouses 1 -60. The bulk transport can be in containers or Unit Load Devices (ULDs) such as palettes. The first mile carriers 1 -30 are preferably selected by the suppliers 1-20 through the central logistics server 1-40, which coordinates with the selected first mile carriers 1 -30 to provide details of the goods to be transported. The first mile carriers 1-30 may provide bulk transport by a variety of forms including but not limited to road, rail, air, or sea containers or ULD’s. The available means of transport offer by the first mile carriers 1-30 and their associated costs, are recorded in the database 1-42 and made available to the supplier 1-20.

[65] The first mile carriers 1-30 preferably transport goods in discrete units hereinafter referred to as first-mile packaged units. A first-mile packaged unit is at least the size of the smallest unit of goods supplied or packaged by a supplier 1-20, and is preferably a multiple thereof. The smallest unit of goods supplied or packaged by the supplier 1-20 is hereinafter referred to as a supplier-packaged unit.

[66] The consolidation warehouses 1-60 provide a consolidation point for goods from multiple suppliers 1-20. The consolidation warehouses 1-60 further serve as a staging point for goods prior to transport by the line haul carriers 1 -50. As a staging point, the consolidation warehouses 1-60 perform, where necessary, a break-bulk function to break apart the first-mile packaged units of goods received thereby from the first mile carriers 1 -30. The consolidation warehouses 1 -60 further perform a function of bulk consolidation (or re-consolidation) to build or rebuild new bulk units for onward transportation. The new bulk units are referred to herein as line-haul packaged units, and are made up of one or more first-mile packaged units, supplier-packaged units which have either been bulk-broken from the first-mile packaged units they arrived in or which were discretely sent to the consolidation warehouse 1-60, and/or a combination of the above.

[67] Each consolidation warehouse 1 -60 is serviced by one or more line haul carriers 1 -50, and is connected by the one or more line haul carriers 1-50 to one or more distribution warehouses 1-90. The line haul carriers 1-50 servicing each consolidation warehouse 1-60, and the distribution warehouses 1-90 connected thereby to each consolidation warehouse 160, are recorded in the database 1-42 and made available to the supplier 1-20.

[68] The line haul carriers 1-50 provide bulk transport of goods between the consolidation warehouses 1-60 and the distribution warehouses 1-90. The line haul carriers 1-50 may provide bulk transport by any form of transport, including road, rail, air, or sea. The forms of transport available will depend on available transportation assets, infrastructure, and destination. Typically, the line haul carriers 1 -50 provide intercontinental or long-distance intracontinental bulk transport, but can also be transport in a domestic area. Transport of goods by the line haul carriers 1-50 are in discrete units of line-haul packaged units.

[69] The distribution warehouses 1 -90 provide a consolidation point for goods transported by the line haul carriers 1-50 from one or more consolidation warehouses 1-60. The distribution warehouses 1-90 further serve as a staging point for goods prior to transport by the final mile carriers 1-70. As a staging point, the distribution warehouses 1-90 perform, where necessary, a break-bulk function to break apart the line-haul packaged units received thereby from the line haul carriers 1-50. The distribution warehouses 1-90 further perform a sorting function to sort the goods broken apart from the line-haul packaged units into units appropriate for delivery by the final mile carriers 1-70 to the purchaser 1-10.

[70] The final mile carriers 1 -70 provide transport of goods from the distribution warehouses 1-90 to specific purchasers 1-10. The costs of each final mile carrier 1-70 are recorded in the database 1-42 and made available to the supplier 1-20. Transport of goods by the final mile carriers 1-70 is in units of supplier-packaged units.

[71] As will be described in greater detail below with respect to the logistical procurement and delivery method 2000, the central logistical server 1-40 is configured to issue a tracking identifier to each supplier-packaged unit making up a purchaser’s purchase order. The tracking identifier is provided by the central logistic server 1 -40 to the supplier 1 -20, and affixed to each supplier-packaged unit prior to receipt of the supplier-packaged unit by the first-mile carrier 1-30. In this manner, each supplier-packaged unit leaving the supplier 1-20 is already identified and tracked, and can be identified and tracked by all downstream recipients. Additionally, the identifier issued by the central logistical server 1-40 identifies also the final-mile carrier 1-70 that has been selected to transport the supplier-packaged unit from the eventual distribution warehouse 1-90 to the purchaser 1-10. Additionally, in a preferred embodiment, the issued identifier identifies how the packaged unit will be handled at each step along the delivery process.

[72] With reference now to Fig. 2, the logistical procurement and delivery method 2000 according to a second aspect of the present invention is described. The logistical procurement and delivery method 2000 is described with reference to an exemplary operation of the logistical procurement and delivery system 1000 when operated to effect the procurement of specific goods from a supplier 1-20 by a purchaser 1-10.

[73] The logistical procurement and delivery method 2000 commences at 2-5 of Fig. 2. At 2-5, a purchaser 1-10 accesses the portal 1-44, through a network-enabled computer device 1-12. Through the portal 1 -44, the purchaser 1-10 submits a purchase order, which is recorded in the database 1-42. The purchase order identifies the goods and a quantity of the goods to be purchased. The purchase order further identifies a supplier 1-20 from which the goods of the given quantity are to be purchased. The purchasers 1-10 in one example can be retail shops in different geographic locations of a store brand chain.

[74] Next, at 2-10, a notification is provided by the portal 1 -44 to the supplier 1 -20 informing the supplier 1-20 of the new purchase order. The supplier 1-20 accesses the portal 1-44 from a network-enabled computer device 1-22 to retrieve the purchase order. The supplier 1-20 then commences fulfilment of the order. The suppliers 1-20 in one example can be different manufacturing plants in China.

[75] At 2-15, the supplier 1 -20 selects from the portal 1 -44 at least one of: a line haul carrier 1-50, a distribution warehouse 1-90, and a final mile carrier 1-70 to provide the transport of the goods comprising the purchase order to the purchaser 1-10. Alternatively, this selection can be automated based on established geographic delivery rules. Once selected, the central logistical server 1-40 issues a tracking identifier for each supplier-packaged unit that will comprise the purchase order. The tracking identifier contains information identifying the final-mile carrier 1 -70 to transport the supplier-packaged unit, the delivery address of the purchaser, the number and identity of any other supplier-packaged units that are to accompany this supplier-packaged unit, and the like. The tracking identifier, in a preferred embodiment, is a radio frequency identifier (RFID) tag adapted to be affixed or other attached to each supplier-packaged unit. Alternatively, the tracking identifier may be a printed label containing a coded indicia such as a barcode, QR code, and the like. Another alternative tracking identifier is iBeacon™ which uses Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) proximity sensing technology to transmit a universally unique identifier. A total cost is calculated and provided for the entire journey at a per parcel basis to the purchaser and supplier.

[76] At 2-20, the goods comprising the purchase order are packaged by the supplier 1-20 into a number of supplier-packaged units, and each supplier-packaged unit provided with the tracking identifier. The system 1000 provides the option of providing an identifier for each individual item and/or for the package containing a multiple of suck items.

[77] At 2-25, the first mile carrier 1 -30 receives possession of the supplier-packaged units. It is to be understood that the first mile carrier 1 -30 receives not just possession of the supplier-packaged units comprising the purchase order raised at 1 -10, but also supplier-packaged units of other purchase orders, for example those raised by other purchasers. In the preferred embodiment, the supplier 1 -20 consolidates the supplier-packaged units into one or more first-mile packaged units that comprise of multiple supplier-packaged units prior to the first mile carrier 1-30 receiving possession thereof. As one example, a supplier-packaged unit may be a box or carton containing therein the purchased goods, while a first-mile packaged unit may be a pallet containing several boxes or cartons. The first-mile packaged units may comprise supplier-packaged units from different purchase orders. In this manner, the first mile carrier 1 -30 receives and transports goods from the supplier 1 -20 in a cost effective bulk arrangement.

[78] At 2-30, the consolidation warehouse 1 -60 receives the first mile packaged units from the supplier 1-20. It is to be understood that the consolidation warehouse 1-60 also receives first-mile packaged units from other suppliers 1-20, some of which may also contain goods purchased by the same purchaser, albeit in a different purchase order. The consolidation warehouse 1-60 is provided with a portal to access the database 1-42 and server 1-40 and with a scanning device which will allow scanning of the packaged units to ensure each ordered package is accounted for. If identifies are provided to each individual item in the order, the scanners are able to confirm the accuracy of the orders to the individual item level.

[79] At 2-35, the consolidation warehouse 1 -60 performs a break-bulk, where the first-mile packaged units are broken up into their individual supplier-packaged units. The identifier issued by the central logistics server 1-40 and affixed to each supplier packaged unit at 2-15 are then scanned by the consolidation warehouse 1 -60, and the line haul carrier 1 -50 for each supplier packaged unit identified.

[80] At 2-40, supplier packaged units that have been assigned the same line haul carrier 1 -50 are consolidated together into a line-haul packaged unit. The assigned line haul carrier 150 determines the distribution warehouse 1-90 to which the line-haul packaged unit is to be transported, and the respective line-haul carrier 1-50 is assigned to transport the line-haul packaged unit to the distribution warehouse 1-90. In one example, the line haul carriers 1-50 are different ships from China directed to respective distribution warehouses 1-90 in different capital cities in Australia.

[81] At 2-45, the distribution warehouse 1-90 receives the line-haul packaged unit consolidated at 2-40. It is to be understood that the distribution warehouse 1 -90 also receives line-haul packaged units from other consolidation warehouses 1-60. The distribution warehouse 1-90 performs a break-bulk on the received line-haul packaged units, where the line-haul packaged units are broken up into individual supplier-packaged units.

[82] At 2-50, the identifiers issued by the central logistics server 1-40 and affixed to each supplier-packaged unit at 2-15 are scanned, and the final-mile carrier for each supplier-packaged unit as well as the delivery address identified.

[83] At 2-55, supplier-packaged units bound for the same delivery address and to be transported by the same final mile carrier 1-70 are consolidated together, regardless of from which line-haul packaged unit they arrived in.

[84] At 2-60, the supplier-packaged units bound for the same delivery address and to be transported by the same final mile carrier 1 -70 are received by the final mile carrier 1 -70 and transported to the delivery address of the purchaser 1-10 specified by the identifier. The procurement process initiated at 2-5 by the raising of the purchase order is thereby completed.

[85] The logistical procurement and delivery system and method according to the present invention identifies a line haul carrier, distribution warehouse and final mile carrier for each supplier-packaged unit in the early phase of the logistical life cycle of a purchase order. In doing so, supplier-packaged units can be consolidated, bulk-broken, and reconsolidated as necessary multiple times and across different carriers, for cost effective bulk transport throughout the logistical life cycle. Additionally, in being able to be bulk-broken and individually identified, each supplier-packaged unit can be sorted and transported along a more direct route from supplier 1-20 to purchaser 1-10 compared with conventional bulk transport systems.

[86] The present invention is particularly suited for purchasers and suppliers of commercial quantities of goods. In particular, the present invention is particularly suited for purchasers who purchase commercial quantities of a variety of goods from one or more variety of suppliers, and similarly, for suppliers who supply commercial quantities of a variety of good to one or more variety of purchasers. The present invention provides a system and method for providing cost effective bulk transport, even when a purchase order from one purchaser to one supplier may not necessarily meet the threshold of being applicable for bulk transport.

[87] Whilst preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described, it will be apparent to skilled persons that modifications can be made to the embodiments described.

[88] The example above refers to intercontinental or global shipping between suppliers and purchases. The invention is suitable also for domestic orders.

[89] The system can also be used by freight brokers and carriers as groups. The system can be run as a web portal (website) and additionally as a mobile application software (App) which books shipments (communicating to the system). The app will run on a mobile device such as a smartphone, tablet or dedicated device. The app will allows a user to scan a package identifier and the mobile device will communicate with the system to book delivery of the package and generate a shipping label. The mobile device can incorporate a label printer or can be connected to a separate printer. This will allow users to book package delivery and print the required delivery details in a scan and a few clicks, including details of the break bulk carriers and line carriers.

[90] In another embodiment, the mobile application provides the following steps: 1. Scan or enter an order number, 2. Order and Shipment data retrieved from system database, and 3. Shipment booked and label generated. This is a 3-click process for automating booking which no other freight system can achieve. If not all data is available in the app (e.g., inventory with package dimensions or package type), the app will allow the operator to manually add the required details from the app.

[91] Fig. 3, illustrates a logistical procurement and delivery system 1000 according to the present invention. The system 1000 facilitates the procurement of goods by one or more purchasers 1-10 from one or more suppliers 1-20, and coordinates the delivery of the goods from the supplier 1 -20 to the purchaser 1 -10 via carriers 1 -30, 1 -50, 1 -70.

[92] As used herein, a supplier 1-20 is any entity that supplies goods, and may be, for example, a grower, a farmer, a manufacturer, a distributor, an exporter, and the like. A purchaser 1-20 is any entity that procures goods, and may be, for example, a retailer, an importer, an end consumer, and the like. Indeed, it should be understood that the logistical procurement and delivery system 1000 as illustrated in Fig. 3 is independent and agnostic of any particular portion along a value chain. For example, the system 1000 may represent an early-stage portion of a value chain, where the supplier is a primary producer (e.g. a cotton grower) and the purchaser is a commodity manufacturer (e.g. cloth manufacturer). Alternatively, the system 1000 may represent a middle-stage portion of a value chain, where the supplier is the commodity manufacturer (e.g. cloth manufacturer) and the purchaser is a consumer-product manufacturer (e.g. a T-shirt manufacturer). Still further, the system 1000 may alternative represent a late-stage portion of a value chain, where the supplier is a consumer-product manufacturer (e.g. a T-shirt manufacturer) and the purchaser is a retail outlet. The system 1000 can also be used for a procurement line including multiple stages of the above, for example, from a commodity manufacturer to a retail outlet.

[93] In one embodiment, the system 1000 is built around a central logistical server 1-40, with which the purchasers 1-10, suppliers 1-20, and carriers 1-30, 1-50, 1-70 have user accounts. It should be understood that the system 1000 may alternatively be configured in a peer-to-peer configuration without a central logistical server 1 -40, and where the functions that would otherwise be performed by the central logistical server 1-40 are instead performed by one or more computing devices making up the system 1000. The purchasers 1-10, suppliers 1-20, and carriers 1-30, 1-50, 1-70, and any other entity having a user account, are users of the system 1000. The server 1 -40 includes a database 1 -42. The database 1 -42 stores details of each of the purchasers 1-10 and suppliers 1-20, such as name, address, contact details, banking details, and the like. The database 1-42 further stores details about the carriers 1-30, 1-50, 1-70, such as available transport means (e.g. road, rail, air, sea), costs, routes, and the like.

[94] The server 1-40 and database 1-42 are configured to generate, store, update, and execute distributed ledger framework contracts, such as blockchain contracts, and Etherium contracts. Each distributed ledger framework contract governs a procurement agreement that details and governs, for example, the relationships between service providers, the responsibilities of each service provider, deliverables, timings, terms, conditions, warranties, indemnities, contingencies, and other parameters for a procurement event. For the purposes of this description, the distributed ledger framework contract will hereinafter be assumed to be a blockchain contract. However, it is to be understood that this is exemplary only. As used herein, a procurement event is the combination of all actions necessary to realize the purchase, delivery, and receipt of goods from a supplier 1-20 to a purchaser 1-10.

[95] A network portal 1 -44 is provided to facilitate remote network access to the server 1 -40 and database 1-42 for users of the system 1000. In addition to providing access to the server 1-40 and database 1-42, the portal 1-44 is configured to initiate a purchase order between a purchaser 1-10 and one or more of the suppliers 1-20. Purchase orders and associated information are exchanged between purchaser 1-10 and suppliers 1-20 by way of electronic messaging services provided by the portal 1-44, and using the database 1-42 and server 1-40. Further, the portal 1-44 is configured to receive and send cryptographic tokens and constructs, such as blockchain tokens, to/from the server 1 -40 and users.

[96] Network-enabled computing devices 1-12, 1-22, respectively operated by the purchasers 1-10 and suppliers 1-20, and other network-enabled computing devices (not shown) operated by other users are connected to the central logistical server 1-44 over a network. The connection of one or more of these computing devices with the server 1-40 realizes the logistical procurement and delivery system 1000 in its most basic form.

[97] Connected to, interfaced with, or otherwise coordinated by the logistical procurement and delivery system 1000 are a number of external entities including first mile carriers 1-30, consolidation warehouses 1 -60, line haul carriers 1 -50, distribution warehouses 1 -90, and final mile carriers 1-70.

[98] The first mile carriers 1 -30 provide bulk transport of goods from the suppliers 1 -10 to one or more of the consolidation warehouses 1-20. The first mile carriers 1-30 are preferably selected by the suppliers 1-10 through the central logistics server 1 -40, which coordinates with the selected first mile carriers 1 -30 to provide details of the goods to be transported. The first mile carriers 1-30 may provide bulk transport by a variety of forms including but not limited to road, rail, air, or sea. The available means of transport offered by the first mile carriers 1-30 and their associated costs, are recorded in the database 1-42 and made available to the supplier 1-20.

[99] The first mile carriers 1-30 preferably transport goods in discrete units hereinafter referred to as first-mile packaged units. A first-mile packaged unit is at least the size of the smallest unit of goods supplied or packaged by a supplier 1-10, and is preferably a multiple thereof. The smallest unit of goods supplied or packaged by the supplier 1-10 is hereinafter referred to as a supplier-packaged unit. In some embodiments, the supplier 1-10 may supply goods in supplier-consolidated units, which each comprise of multiple supplier-packaged units consolidated by the supplier 1-10. In these circumstances, the first-mile packaged unit may be the same size as the supplier-consolidated unit, or a multiple thereof. This applies to general shipping of goods in shipping container for example.

[100] The consolidation warehouses 1-60 provide a consolidation point for goods from multiple supplier 1-20. The consolidation warehouses 1-60 further serve as a staging point (also known as cross dock) for goods prior to transport by the line haul carriers 1-50. As a staging point, the consolidation warehouses 1-60 perform, where necessary, a break-bulk function to break apart the first-mile packaged units of goods received thereby from the first mile carriers 1-30. The consolidation warehouses 1-60 further perform a function of bulk consolidation (or re-consolidation) to build or rebuild new bulk units for onward transportation. The new bulk units are referred to herein as line-haul packaged units, and are made up of one or more first-mile packaged units, supplier-packaged units which have either been bulk-broken from the first-mile packaged units they arrived in or which were discretely sent to the consolidation warehouse 1-60, and/or a combination of the above.

[101] Each consolidation warehouse 1-60 is serviced by one or more line haul carriers 1-50, and is connected by the one or more line haul carriers 1-50 to one or more distribution warehouses 1-90. The line haul carriers 1-50 servicing each consolidation warehouse 1-60, and the distribution warehouses 1-90 connected thereby to each consolidation warehouse 160, are recorded in the database 1-42 and made available to the supplier 1-20.

[102] The line haul carriers 1-50 provide bulk transport of goods between the consolidation warehouses 1-60 and the distribution warehouses 1-90. The line haul carriers 1-50 may provide bulk transport by any form of transport, including road, rail, air, or sea. The forms of transport available will depend on available transportation assets, infrastructure, and destination. Typically, the line haul carriers 1 -50 provide intercontinental or long-distance intracontinental bulk transport. Transport of goods by the line haul carriers 1-50 are in discrete units of line-haul packaged units.

[103] The distribution warehouses 1 -90 provide a consolidation point for goods transported by the line haul carriers 1-50 from one or more consolidation warehouses 1-60. The distribution warehouses 1-90 further serve as a staging point for goods prior to transport by the final mile carriers 1-70. As a staging point, the distribution warehouses 1-90 perform, where necessary, a break-bulk function to break apart the line-haul packaged units received thereby from the line haul carriers 1-50. The distribution warehouses 1-90 further perform a sorting function to sort the goods broken apart from the line-haul packaged units into unit appropriate for delivery by the final mile carriers 1-70 to the purchaser 1-10.

[104] The final mile carriers 1 -70 provide transport of goods from the distribution warehouses 1-90 to specific purchasers 1-10. The costs of each final mile carrier 1-70 are recorded in the database 1-42 and made available to the supplier 1-20. Transport of goods by the final mile carriers 1-70 is in units of supplier-packaged units. The final mile carrier 1-70 may be an independent carrier such as a courier, or may be a carrier owned or otherwise managed and/or operated by the purchaser 1-10. For a purchaser owned carrier (owner-driver), the system 1000 will work out delivery routes and package sequence for the driver. The driver will have access to the system via a mobile device application software which will provide delivery instructions to the driver via their tablet or smartphone mobile device.

[105] As will be described in greater detail below with respect to the logistical procurement and delivery method 2000, the server 1-40 is configured to issue a tracking identifier to each supplier-packaged unit making up a purchaser’s purchase order. The tracking identifier is generated and provided by the server 1 -40 to the supplier 1 -20, and affixed to each supplier-packaged unit and/or supplier-consolidated unit prior to receipt of the supplier-packaged unit or supplier-consolidated unit by the first-mile carrier 1-30. In this manner, each supplier-packaged unit and/or supplier-consolidated unit leaving the supplier 1-20 is already identified and tracked, and can be identified and tracked by all downstream service providers and recipients. In one embodiment, the identifier also identifies the final-mile carrier 1-70 that has been selected to transport each supplier-packaged unit and/or supplier-consolidated unit from the eventual distribution warehouse 1-90 to the purchaser 1-10.

[106] Additionally, a blockchain contract is created by the server 1-40 and database 1-42 once a purchase order is received and accepted by a supplier 1-20. Subsequent details (e.g. designated first mile carrier, designated consolidation warehouse, designated line haul carrier, designated distribution warehouse, designated final mile carrier, delivery locations, delivery times, tracking identifiers, and the like) of a procurement event to effect the purchase, delivery, and receipt of the goods specified by the purchase order are then added to and reflected by the blockchain contract as they become known. Upon completion of a prescribed deliverable as detailed by the blockchain contract and confirmation of such completion using, for example, the aforementioned tracking identifier by a given service provider, payment is released from the blockchain contract to the service provider. Payment may be released, for example, through the release of a cryptographic currency token (e.g. Bitcoin, Ether) stored within the blockchain contract, or through the generation and release of some other cryptographic token configured to trigger a release of funds.

[107] With reference now to Fig. 4, the logistical procurement and delivery method 2000 is described. The logistical procurement and delivery method 2000 is described with reference to a complete end-to-end procurement event to illustrate the implementation of the method 2000 and system 1000 on such an event. It is to be understood however, that the method 2000 and system 1000 of the present invention need not cover the entirety of an end-to-end procurement event, and may instead be implemented on a sub-set of an end-to-end procurement event. Alternatively, the method 2000 and system 1000 may cover multiple consecutive iterations of an end-to-end procurement event; for example when a first end-to-end procurement event for the delivery of raw materials produced by a primary producer to a commodity manufacturer for the manufacturing of a commodity, is followed by a second end-to-end procurement event for the delivery of the commodity to a produce manufacturer for the manufacturing of a consumer product.

[108] The logistical procurement and delivery method 2000 commences at 2-5 of Fig. 4. At 2-5, a purchaser 1-10 access the portal 1-44, through a network-enabled computer device 1 12. Through the portal 1-44, the purchaser 1-10 submits a purchase order, which is recorded in the database 1-42. The purchase order identifies the goods and a quantity of the goods to be purchased. The purchase order further identifies a supplier 1-20 from which the goods of the given quantity are to be purchased. The purchase order may also identify a final mile carrier 1-70 for making the final delivery of the goods to the purchaser 1-10.

[109] At 2-10, upon receipt of the purchase order, the central logistical server 1-40 creates a new blockchain contract. The new blockchain contract includes therein the details provided by the purchase order. If the purchaser 1 -10 has indicated a preferred final mile carrier 1 -70, details of the final mile carrier 1-70 and the service to be rendered thereby are also recorded in the blockchain contract.

[110] Next, at 2-15, a notification is provided by the portal 1 -44 to the supplier 1 -20 informing the supplier 1-20 of the new purchase order. The supplier 1-20 accesses the portal 1-44 from a network-enabled computer device 1 -22 to retrieve and accept the purchase order.

[111] At 2-20, upon acceptance of the purchase order, the central logistics server 1-40 updates the blockchain contract to include details of the supplier. The supplier 1-20 may further specify one or more downstream service providers to progress the procurement event, such as a first mile carrier 1-30 (if not already specified), a consolidation warehouse 1-60, a line haul carrier 1-50, a distribution warehouse 1-90, and the like. Any such additional details are added to the blockchain contract.

[112] At 2-25, upon filling the purchase order, the central logistics server 1 -40 generates a unique tracking identifier for each first-mile packaged unit comprising the order. Each tracking identifier is then affixed respectively to each first-mile packaged unit. Each tracking identifier is additionally added to the blockchain contract.

[113] At 2-30, the designated first mile carrier 1-30 collects the one or more first-mile packaged units making up the purchase order. Additionally, at this step and at any step prior to and following this step, a check may be made to determine if any of the service providers designated in the blockchain contract has rendered their agreed service as specified in the blockchain contract, and to release or otherwise make payment to the service provider if this determination is positive.

[114] In an exemplary embodiment, the agreed service to be rendered by the supplier 1 -20 may be to, for example, supply the goods as specified in the blockchain contract, in the amounts as also specified in the blockchain contract, and to have these goods collected by the designated first mile carrier 1-30. Confirmation of the supplier 1-30 rendering this service may be provided by way of the first mile carrier 1-30 scanning each tracking identifier with a recording device (e.g. a scanner) associated with the first mile carrier 1-30 upon pickup of respective first-mile packaged units, the recording device uploading to the server 1-40 the scanned tracking identifiers, or a derivation thereof (e.g. a hash), the server 1-40 comparing the scanned tracking identifiers with the tracking identifier added to the blockchain contract at 2-25, and the server 1-40 confirming that all tracking identifiers added to the blockchain contract at 2-25 have been accounted for.

[115] The tracking identifier, in a preferred embodiment, is a radio frequency identifier (RFID) tag adapted to be affixed or other attached to each supplier-packaged unit. Alternatively, the tracking identifier may be a printed label containing a coded indicia such as a barcode, QR code, iBeacon or other short-range Bluetooth™ system, and the like.

[116] At 2-35, the change in possession of the goods from the supplier 1 -20 to the first mile carrier 1-30 is recorded in the blockchain contract. It is to be understood that the first mile carrier 1-30 may receive not just possession of the supplier-packaged units comprising the purchase order raised at 1-10, but also supplier-packaged units of other purchase orders, for example those raised by other purchasers. In the preferred embodiment, the supplier 1-20 consolidates the supplier-packaged units into one or more first-mile packaged units that comprise of multiple supplier-packaged units prior to the first mile carrier 1-30 receiving possession thereof. As one example, a supplier-packaged unit may be a box or carton containing therein the purchased goods, while a first-mile packaged unit may be a pallet containing several boxes or cartons. The first-mile packaged units may comprise supplier-packaged units from different purchase orders. In this manner, the first mile carrier 1-30 receives and transports goods from the supplier 1 -20 in a cost effective bulk arrangement.

[117] At 2-40, the consolidation warehouse 1 -60 receives the first-mile packaged units from the supplier 1-20. It is to be understood that the consolidation warehouse 1-60 also receives first-mile packaged units from other suppliers 1-20, some of which may also contain goods purchased by the same purchaser 1-10, albeit in a different purchase order. Receipt of the first-mile packaged units from the first mile carrier 1 -30 may be confirmed, for example, by the scanning of the tracking identifiers of each supplier-packaged unit making up the first-mile package units by a recording device (e.g. a scanner) associated with the consolidation warehouse 1-60. If the service to be rendered by the first mile carrier 1-30 is to deliver the goods comprising the purchase order of 1-10 to the consolidation warehouse 1-60, confirmation of the receipt of each supplier packaged unit by the consolidation warehouse 160 confirms rendering of the service to be rendered by the first mile carrier 1-30. Accordingly, upon receiving this confirmation, for example through the transmitting of the unique tracking identifiers scanned by the consolidation warehouse 1-60, to the server 1-40 for comparison thereby with the blockchain contract, payment is released or otherwise made to the first mile courier 1-30 from the blockchain contract.

[118] At 2-45, the consolidation warehouse 1 -60 performs a break-bulk, where the first-mile packaged units are broken up into their individual supplier-packaged units. Supplier packaged units that have been assigned the same final mile carrier 1-70, regardless of the supplier of these supplier packaged units, are consolidated together into a line-haul packaged unit. Line-haul packaged units may be provided a line-haul tracking identifier which identifies not just the line haul packaged unit, but also the supplier packaged units comprised therewithin. Upon generation of the line-haul tracking identifiers, the blockchain contract is updated to record the line-haul tracking identifiers, and the tracking identifiers of each supplier-packaged unit contained therein.

[119] At 2-50, an appropriate line-haul carrier 1 -50, for example that which is designated by the blockchain contract, is assigned to transport the line-haul packaged unit to the distribution warehouse 1-90. Receipt of the line-haul packaged units from the distribution warehouse 190 by a line-haul carrier 1-50 is confirmed by the line-haul carrier scanning the line-haul tracking identifiers of each line-haul packaged unit. If the agreed service to be rendered by the consolidation warehouse 1 -60 is to have the supplier packaged units comprising the purchase order prepared for transport and received by the line-haul carrier 1 -50, confirmation that this agreed service has been rendered may be provided by way of the scanning of the line-haul tracking identifiers by the line-haul carrier 1-50, which scanned identifiers are then provided to the server 1-40 and confirmed against the blockchain contract. Upon receiving this confirmation, the server 1 -40 releases or otherwise makes payment to the first mile courier 1 -30 from the blockchain contract.

[120] At 2-55, the distribution warehouse 1-90 receives the line-haul packaged unit consolidated at 2-45. It is to be understood that the distribution warehouse 1-90 may also receive line-haul packaged units from other consolidation warehouses 1-60. The distribution warehouse 1-90 performs a break-bulk on the received line-haul packaged units, where the line-haul packaged units are broken up into individual supplier-packaged units. Receipt of the line-haul packaged units by the distribution warehouse 1-90 is confirmed by scanning of the line-haul tracking identifiers and comparison therewith against the blockchain contract. If the agreed service to be rendered by the line haul carrier 1-50 is to deliver to the distribution warehouse 1-90 the line-haul packaged unit, scanning of the line-haul tracking identifiers by the distribution warehouse 1-90 confirms that this agreed service has been rendered. Accordingly, payment is released or otherwise made by the server 1 -40 to the line haul carrier 1-50 from the blockchain contract.

[121] At 2-60, supplier-packaged units bound for the same delivery address and to be transported by the same final mile carrier 1-70 are consolidated together into final-mile packaged units, regardless of from which line-haul packaged unit they arrived in. Each final-mile packaged unit may be provided with a final-mile tracking identifier, which identifies the supplier packaged units comprised therein. As necessary or desired, supplier-packaged units may also be left unconsolidated. Upon generation of the final-mile tracking identifiers, the blockchain contract is updated to record each final-mile tracking identifier, and the tracking identifier of each supplier-packaged unit contained therein.

[122] At 2-65, the final-mile packaged units and/or supplier packaged units bound for the same delivery address and to be transported by the same final mile carrier 1 -70 are received by the final mile carrier 1-70. Receipt of the final-mile packaged units and supplier-packaged units by the final mile carrier 1-70 is confirmed by the final mile carrier 1-70 by scanning the final-mile tracking identifiers of each final-mile packaged unit and/or the tracking identifiers of each supplier packaged unit. The units are then transported to the delivery address of the purchaser 1-10 specified by the identifiers. If the agreed service to be rendered by the distribution warehouse 1-90 is to prepare and distribute to the final-mile carrier 1-70 the supplier packaged units comprising the goods of the purchase order, confirmation that this agreed service has been rendered is provided by way of transmitting to the central server 140 the scanned identifiers, and checking against the blockchain contract that the scanned identifiers correspond to the purchased goods. Positive confirmation triggers the release of payment from the blockchain contract to the distribution warehouse 1-90.

[123] At 2-70, receipt of the supplier packaged units by the purchaser 1-10 from the final mile carrier 1-70 completes the purchase event initiated by the purchase order sent by the purchaser 1-10 at 2-5. Upon receipt of the supplier packaged units by the purchaser 1-10, the tracking identifiers of each supplier packaged units are scanned by the purchaser 1-10 and sent to the central server 1-40. The scanned tracking identifiers are checked against the blockchain contract to confirm that all goods as specified by the purchase order have been received by the purchaser 1-10. Upon positive confirmation, payment is released from the blockchain contract or otherwise made to the final mile carrier 1 -70. The procurement event initiated at 2-5 by the raising of the purchase order is thereby completed.

[124] While the logistical procurement and delivery method 2000 has been described above in reference, and as applied, to an end-to-end supplier to purchaser procurement event, the method 2000 is not so limited, and may be applied to any sub-set of the end-to-end supplier to purchaser procurement event. For example, the method 2000 may be applied to only the transactions and interactions between the consolidation warehouses 1-60 and the line haul carriers 1-50, or alternatively between the line haul carriers 1-50 and the distribution warehouses 1-90. The method 2000 may also be applied between one line haul carrier 1-50 and another line haul carrier 1-50, for example in the case where multiple line haul carriers 150 are involved. The method 2000 may also be applied to multiple consecutive iterations of an end-to-end procurement event; for example when a first end-to-end procurement event for the delivery of raw materials produced by a primary producer to a commodity manufacturer for the manufacturing of a commodity, is followed by a second end-to-end procurement event for the delivery of the commodity to a produce manufacturer for the manufacturing of a consumer product.

[125] It is to be understood that the method 2000 may be configured and modified to so as to govern the transactions and interactions between any combination of the actors 1-10, 1 -20, 1-30, 1-40, 1-50, 1-60, 1-70, 1-90 making up the logistical procurement and delivery system 1000.

[126] The logistical procurement and delivery system and method according to the present invention identifies a final mile carrier for each supplier-packaged unit in the early phases of the logistical life cycle of a purchase order. In doing so, supplier-packaged units can be consolidated, bulk-broken, and reconsolidated as necessary multiple times and across different carriers, for cost effective bulk transport throughout the logistical life cycle. Additionally, in being able to be bulk-broken and individually identified, each supplier-packaged unit can be sorted and transported along a more direct route from supplier 1 -20 to purchaser 1-10 compared with conventional bulk transport systems.

[127] Further, the use of the blockchain contract allows for the services agreed to be rendered by the various service providers involved in the procurement event to be clearly defined and made transparent to all relevant entities. Confirmation that the agreed services have been rendered is automatically, accurately, and consistently determined, whereby payment can be promptly made to each service provider upon their rendering of their agreed service.

[128] The present invention is particularly suited for purchasers and suppliers of commercial quantities of goods. In particular, the present invention is particularly suited for purchasers who purchase commercial quantities of a variety of goods from one or more variety of suppliers, and similarly, for suppliers who supply commercial quantities of a variety of good to one or more variety of purchasers. The present invention provides a system and method for providing cost effective bulk transport, even when a purchase order from one purchaser to one supplier may not necessarily meet the threshold of being applicable for bulk transport.

[129] Whilst preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described, it will be apparent to skilled persons that modifications can be made to the embodiments described. For example, while it is describe above that photos are uploaded to the server and stored in the user’s account, the photos may instead be stored locally on the electronic device 210.

Claims (38)

1. Claims The claims defining the invention are as follows:

   1. A logistical procurement and delivery system comprising: a central server having a database with product and delivery information, a network portal which facilitates remote network access to the server and database for purchasers and suppliers, wherein the portal is configured to initiate a purchase order between a purchaser and one or more suppliers for supplier-packaged units, and wherein the system determines optimal line carriers for each stage of the delivery process including selecting a final mile carrier from a plurality of final mile carrier options.
2. 2. The system of claim 1 wherein the database includes information on at least one of available first mile carriers, consolidation warehouses, line haul carriers, distribution warehouses, and final mile carriers.
3. 3. The system of claim 2 wherein the first mile carriers provide bulk transport of first-mile packaged units from suppliers to consolidation warehouse which performs a break-bulk function to break apart the first-mile packaged units of goods received thereby into separate line haul packaged units.
4. 4. The system of claim 3 wherein the consolidation warehouse consolidates break bulk goods from multiple suppliers into the separate line haul packaged units.
5. 5. The system of claim 3 wherein the line haul carriers deliver the respective line haul packaged units to one or more distribution warehouses.
6. 6. The system of claim 5 wherein the distribution warehouses consolidate line haul packaged units from different line haul carriers.
7. 7. The system of claim 5 wherein the distribution warehouse performs a break-bulk function to break apart the line haul packaged units received thereby into sorted separate final mile packages.
8. 8. The system of claim 7 wherein the final mile carriers provide transport of final mile packages from the distribution warehouses to specific purchasers.
9. 9. The system of claim 1 wherein the system issues a tracking identifier for each supplier-packaged unit.
10. 10. The system of claim 9 wherein the tracking identifier is provided by the server to the supplier and affixed to each supplier-packaged unit.
11. 11. The system of claim 10 wherein the issued identifier identifies how the packaged unit will be handled at each step along the delivery process.
12. 12. The system of claim 11 wherein the system checks each packaged unit at each step of the delivery process for delivery accuracy.
13. 13. The system of claim 9 wherein the system issues a tracking identifier for each individual product in the supplier-packaged unit.
14. 14. A logistical procurement and delivery method, the method comprising: allowing a purchaser to order supplier-packaged units of goods from one or more suppliers, and determining optimal line carriers for each stage of the delivery process including selecting a final mile carrier from a plurality of final mile carrier options.
15. 15. The method of claim 14 comprising providing a tracking identifier for each supplier-packaged unit.
16. 16. The method of claim 15 comprising providing information on how the packaged unit will be handled at each step along the delivery process.
17. 17. The method of claim 15 comprising checking each packaged unit via the tracking identifier at each step of the delivery process for delivery accuracy.
18. 18. The method of claim 15 comprising providing a tracking identifier for each individual product in the supplier-packaged unit.
19. 19. The method of claim 16 wherein the information is added to the supplier-packaged unit by the supplier.
20. 20. The method of claim 14 comprising delivery of first-mile supplier-packaged units from suppliers to a consolidation warehouse and performing a break-bulk function to break apart the first-mile packaged units of goods received into separate line haul packaged units.
21. 21. The method of claim 20 comprising consolidating break bulk goods from multiple suppliers into the separate line haul packaged units at the consolidation warehouse.
22. 22. The method of claim 21 comprising delivering the respective line haul packaged units to one or more distribution warehouses via line haul carriers.
23. 23. The method of claim 22 comprising consolidating line haul packaged units from different line haul carriers at the distribution warehouses.
24. 24. The method of claim 23 comprising performing a break-bulk function to break apart the line haul packaged units into sorted separate final mile packages at the distribution warehouses.
25. 25. The method of claim 24 comprising transporting the final mile packages from the distribution warehouses to specific purchasers via final mile carriers.
26. 26. A mobile device application software for a logistical procurement and delivery system, the application software configured to: communicate with a central server having a database with product and delivery information, provide a network portal for a user which facilitates remote network access to the server and database, and wherein the application software allows a user to book a delivery of supplier-packaged units and determines optimal line carriers for each stage of the delivery process, the application software providing the user with an option to select a final mile carrier from a plurality of final mile carrier options.
27. 27. A mobile device running the application software of claim 26, the mobile device having a scanner which allows a user to scan a package identifier and the mobile device communicating with the central server to book delivery of the package and generate a shipping label.
28. 28. The mobile device of claim 27 having a label printer thereon.
29. 29. A logistical procurement and delivery system comprising: a central server having a database with product and delivery information, a network portal which facilitates remote network access to the server and database for purchasers and suppliers, wherein the portal is configured to initiate a purchase order between a purchaser and one or more suppliers for supplier-packaged units, and wherein the system determines optimal line carriers for each stage of the delivery.
30. 30. A logistical procurement and delivery method, the method comprising: allowing a purchaser to order supplier-packaged units of goods from one or more suppliers, and determining optimal line carriers for each stage of the delivery process.
31. 31. A logistical procurement system comprising: a first computing device configured to generate a purchase order; a central server configured to receive and analyse the purchase order, and generate a distributed ledger framework contract based on the analysis of the purchase order, the distributed ledger framework contract identifying at least one deliverables to be delivered by a service provider; and a recording device for recording the delivery of the at least one deliverable by the service provider, and transmitting to the central server confirmation of the delivering of the deliverable, wherein the central server is configured to release or otherwise effect payment to the service provider upon receiving confirmation from the recording device of the delivering of the deliverable.
32. 32. The system as claimed in claim 31, wherein the central server effects payment through the release of a cryptographic token to the service provider.
33. 33. The system as claimed in claim 32, wherein the recording device is a scanner, and delivery of the deliverable is confirmed by operating the scanner to scan an identifier and confirming that the scanned identifier correspond to an identifier recorded in the distributed ledger framework contract.
34. 34. The system as claimed in claim 33, wherein the central server generates the identifiers and the service provider affixes the identifiers to packages for delivery.
35. 35. The system as claimed in claim 34, wherein the recording device is operated by a recipient of the packages, the recording device being operated to scan the identifier affixed to each package, and confirming against the distributed ledger framework contract that all identifiers have been received.
36. 36. The system as claimed in claim 35, wherein the central server generates the identifiers after generation of the distributed ledger framework contract, and the central server updates the distributed ledger framework contract after generation of the identifiers so as to include the generated identifiers therein.
37. 37. The system as claimed in claim 36, wherein the distributed ledger framework contract is a blockchain contract.
38. 38. The system as claimed in claim 37, wherein the cryptographic token is a bitcoin.