WO2024054192A1

WO2024054192A1 - An order allocation system

Info

Publication number: WO2024054192A1
Application number: PCT/TR2023/050927
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ahmet Cinar
Original assignee: Dsm Grup Danişmanlik Iletisim Ve Satis Ticaret Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2022-09-07
Filing date: 2023-09-07
Publication date: 2024-03-14

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system (1) for optimally managing and executing the processes of order allocation, worklist generation and pick list generation; minimising the picking time spent in the warehouse; and designing a series of mathematical systems to be solved in an optimal way that can work effectively for each order.

Description

DESCRIPTION

AN ORDER ALLOCATION SYSTEM

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a system for optimally managing and executing the processes of order allocation, worklist generation and pick list generation; minimising the picking time spent in the warehouse; and designing a series of mathematical systems to be solved in an optimal way that can work effectively for each order.

Background of the Invention

Orders are managed over three different channels in the e-commerce world. One of them is the supply of orders from the e-commerce company's own warehouse. An order placed by a customer comprises one or more products. Each order, which flows into the system at certain intervals, is matched with the products included in the warehouse by the locations taking into account. In the event that an order comprises a plurality of products, the question arises as to which of the products - that are included in the warehouse in a plurality of locations- should be matched with. This process is characterized as order allocation. The main motivation in the order allocation process is to match the close products with the order. Following the order allocation process, single orders (consisting of a single product) and multiple orders (consisting of a plurality of products) are clustered by taking into account certain lower and upper limits among themselves and these clusters are called as worklists. The main question, which is in question when creating worklists, is to create a worklist by combining which orders together. At any given time, there may be hundreds of single or multiple worklists in the system. The main purpose in this context is to create effective clusters/worklists among hundreds of orders. The fact that worklists are effective is because the orders and therefore the products included in a worklist are not located in very scattered areas. Creating worklists from orders that are close to each other, will reduce the picking time of the workers who do the picking process in the warehouse. The process of creating worklists operates at certain intervals. The generated job lists are accumulated in a certain pool. The actual picking operations performed by the workers start with the workers' request for picking lists. At this point, the third process comes to the agenda. Workers performing the picking are assigned picking lists. A picking list consists of three multiple and one single job list. When a worker requests a pick list, the system creates a pick list by selecting three multiple and one single job list from the job lists included in the pool and assigns this pick list to the worker. The worker to whom the picking list is assigned starts the picking process. The main problem in this process is the question of which of the multiple and single job lists included in the job list pool will be assigned to the picking list. In this context, the aim is to combine the worklists that are close to each other and thus to minimise the distances walked.

Nowadays, processes of order allocation, worklist creation and picking list creation are one of the main problems experienced by companies serving in the e-commerce world. Companies aim to collect the related order from the warehouse and to deliver it to the customer as quickly as possible from the moment the order reaches their systems. Therefore, it is necessary to design simple and optimized processes and systems in the context of this objective. The way how the companies store products included in warehouses (orderly-chaotically) has a significant impact on the way they approach these problems and the methodologies preferred. In general, the preferred solutions for problems of allocation, worklist generation and picking list generation are fast heuristic approaches. However, it is known that artificial intelligence approaches are used in solutions from time to time as well. But, in all solutions included in the state of the art, when the stock level in the warehouse, the structure of the incoming orders and the products they contain are taken into consideration; each location problem, worklist and picking list creation process emerges as a new problem. Therefore, considering the studies and the deficiencies included in the state of art, it is understood that there is need for a system (1) for optimally managing and executing the processes of order allocation, worklist generation and pick list generation; minimising the picking time spent in the warehouse; and designing a series of mathematical systems to be solved in an optimal way that can work effectively for each order

The Chinese patent document no. CN103761639, an application included in the state of the art, discloses a processing method, in particular a processing method for order allocation in an internet electronic commerce logistics management system. In the processing method of order allocation in the said internet electronic commerce logistics management system; order data information is obtained, a plurality of order data are grouped according to address information included in the order data information and a plurality of order groups are obtained. The order groups are matched with the pre-set distribution range information and when the distribution range information is matched with the order groups, the order data information of the order groups is transmitted to the corresponding distribution points in the distribution range information. In the method, it is easy and simple to carry out the steps, a large number of orders can be processed effectively, the distribution cost of goods is reduced, the experience is enhanced, the scope of application is wide, and safety and reliability are ensured.

Summary of the Invention

An objective of the present invention is to realize system for optimally managing and executing the processes of order allocation, worklist generation and pick list generation; minimising the picking time spent in the warehouse; and designing a series of mathematical systems to be solved in an optimal way that can work effectively for each order. Another objective of the present invention is to realize system for allocating orders in order to match the different products included in the order within the orders created in electronic environment and determining the locations (positions) of the products to be collected in the warehouses.

Another objective of the present invention is to realize system for creating worklists by collecting a certain number of orders under a list in the most effective way in order to deliver the orders in the most effective way in orders created in electronic environment.

Another objective of the present invention is to realize system for creating picking lists assigned to the workers who will perform active picking operations in the field by combining a certain number of worklists from the worklists created in order to deliver the orders in the most effective way in the orders created in electronic environment.

Detailed Description of the Invention

“An Order Allocation System” realized to fulfil the objectives of the present invention is shown in the figure attached, in which:

Figure l is a schematic view of the inventive system.

The components illustrated in the figure are individually numbered, where the numbers refer to the following:

1. System

2. Electronic devices

3. Application

4. Database

5. Server The inventive system (1) for optimally managing and executing the processes of order allocation, worklist generation and pick list generation; minimising the picking time spent in the warehouse; and designing a series of mathematical systems to be solved in an optimal way that can work effectively for each order comprises at least one electronic device (2) which is configured to realize data exchange by using any remote communication protocol, to run at least one application thereon, and to generate a request for receiving order picking lists; at least one application (3) which is run on the electronic device (2) and configured to enable at least users to create by selecting products;

-at least one database (4) which is configured to keep record of the data on products, orders and product warehouse locations, as well as generated job and picking lists; and at least one server (5) which is configured to establish communication with the electronic device (2) by using any remote communication protocol and to realize data exchange with the application (3) that is run on the electronic device (2), over this communication established; to manage the database (4); to receive and then process the data related to the order upon being triggered by the order created over the application (3); to perform a query on the database (4) for the products included in the order and then to determine the quantity information of the products included in stock, the locations of these products (in-store locations, region-corridor-shelf information) and the distance matrices of these locations to each other; to match the products included in the order in a way to minimise the total distance of the products and then to record the matching result in the database (4); to create lists by dividing the orders into certain groups according to whether they are single or multiple by receiving the paired product data from the database (4) in order to create a worklist by triggering at certain periods; to create lists and save them in the database (4), to be triggered by the request for a picking list over the electronic device (2) and then to receive the existing worklists and to give them as input to the work picking algorithm; to generate a picking list by determining the worklists in such a way that the warehouse location is optimum for the worker transmitting the request with the algorithm; to save the generated picking list in the database (4) and to transmit it to the electronic device (2).

The electronic device (2) included in the invention system (1) is a device such as smartphone, tablet computer, desktop computer or portable computer configured to execute at least one application (3) thereon. The said electronic device (2) has speakers for providing audio output, at least one camera capable of taking picture and an input unit in the form of key or touchscreen. The electronic device (2) is configured to establish connection with the server (5) by using any remote communication protocol included in the state of art and to ensure that data exchange is realized between the application (3) and the server (5) over this connection established. In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the electronic device (2) is configured to realize data exchange with the server (5) by using a data bus such as Internet. The said electronic device (2) is configured to enable warehouse employees to request a picking list. The electronic device (2) is configured to transmit the pick list request generated to the server (5).

The application (3) included in the inventive system (1) is executed on the electronic device (2) and is configured to enable users to create orders by selecting at least one product. The said application (3) is configured to transmit the orders created and the data related to the orders to the server (5).

The database (4) included in the inventive system (1) is in communication with the server (5) and configured to be managed by the server (5). The said database (4) is configured to record product stock information, product warehouse information, location information such as region-corridor-shelf where the products are located in the warehouses in a manner associated with a distinctive information related to the products. The said database (4) is configured to record the information about the orders created over the application (3). The database (4) is configured to record the order data matched by the server (5) according to the distances of the warehouse locations of the products from each other. The database (4) is configured to record the job lists generated by the server (5) from the matched orders according to their single or multiple allocation. The database (4) is configured to record the picking lists generated by the server (5).

The server (5) included in the inventive system (1) is configured to establish communication with the electronic device (2) by using any remote communication protocol included in the state of the art and to realize data exchange with the application (3) that is executed on the electronic device (2), over this communication established. In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the server (5) is configured to realize establish communication with the electronic device (2) over a data network such as Internet. The server (5) is configured to manage the database (4) by means of transactions such as making a record of new data into the database (4), deleting the data recorded in the database (4), changing the data recorded in the database (4) and updating the data recorded in the database

(4). The server (5) is configured to receive the data related to the orders created by the application (3) over the communication established with the electronic device (2) and to save the said data in the database (4). The server (5) is configured to realize data exchange with the application (3) over this communication established with the electronic device (2).

In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the server (5) is configured to process the data it obtains by executing algorithms on it, with the said algorithms. The server

(5) is configured to receive and process the order data by being triggered when an order is created over the application (3). The server (5) is configured to generate job lists by executing certain algorithms for orders that are triggered and transmitted at certain periods. The server (5) is configured to analyse the obtained order data and then to separate and label the order as a multiple order if the order consists of a plurality of products, and as a single order if the order consists of a single product. The server (5) is configured to perform a query on the database (4) for the products included in the order in accordance with the obtained order data and to determine the quantity information of the products included in stock, the locations of these products (in-warehouse locations, region-corridor-shelf information) and the distance matrices of these locations to each other. The server (5) is configured to calculate the walking distance of the products included in the order to each other at the storage locations. In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the server (5) is configured to calculate the total distance between the products in all orders transmitted over the application (3). The said server (5) is configured to perform the order allocation by performing a matching in such a way as to minimise the total distances of the products included in all orders transmitted over the application (3). In the order allocation process, the server (5) is configured to select orders from regions and corridors that are close to each other while maximising the total number of products included in the order.

The server (5) is configured to use the following mathematical formula when calculating the distance between any two orders by means of the algorithm executed on it; aij = max ke{i,..,n} i€{i,...,m} d(ik, ji)

Wherein; aij indicate the distance of orders i and j from each other. The distance of two orders to each other is determined as the maximum of the pairwise distances of the products included in the orders, k and 1 are found out as indexes here. Assume that there are n products in order i and m products in order j ; these indexes are used in order to iterate these products. The expression of d( , /> ) indicates the distance of product k of order i to product 1 of order j. Thus, the maximum distance of all products included in two orders is determined as the distance of these two orders to each other.

The server (5) is configured to record the distance between the products and the matching result of the order with the products in the warehouse, in the database (4). The server (5) is configured to sort the previously matched orders in the database (4) by means of an algorithm executed on it and then to separate the orders into certain groups according to whether they are single or multiple, and to create lists from the sorted orders. The server (5) is configured to create worklists from the registered orders according to the quantities given parametrically by the employees over the application (3). The server (5) is configured to select the close and clustered orders when creating the worklists. The server (5) is configured to save the generated worklists to the database (4).

In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the server (5) is configured to aggregate job lists and create picking lists, upon being triggered by a request for assignment of job lists transmitted by warehouse employees over their electronic devices (2). The said server (5) is configured to generate the picking lists by deciding which jobs from the available job lists are to be assigned to which employees by means of the picking list algorithm executed thereon. The server (5) is configured to select orders containing products on the same aisle in such a way that when an employee enters the aisle with products, s/he picks as many products as possible until s/he leaves the aisle. The server (5) is configured to select products to maximise the number of products to be picked when generating the pick lists. The server (5) is configured to assign the generated picking lists to registered employees and save them in the database (4).

The server (5) is configured to use the following mathematical formula when selecting the products to be collected and creating the collection lists through the algorithm executed on it: In the related formulae;

N: Represents the set of worklists.

M: represents the set of corridors. p: represents the number of worklists that must be present in a picklist. m: represents the number of multiple worklists that must be present in a picklist, s: represents the number of single worklists that must be present in a picklist. represents the set of corridors included in the j. worklist.

IVt? : represents the set of job lists whose status is started.

A : represents a set of multiple job lists. iVj: represents the set of single job lists.

«._f ij. refers to the total quantity of products included in the worklist. A binary variable defined to indicate whether the j. job list has been selected or not.

: It is a binary variable and is defined to indicate whether the i. corridor is selected or not.

It is an auxiliary variable and is defined to linearise the concept of quantity of product per corridor. : Expresses the amount of product per aisle.

Model Description

The mathematical model described is an integer programming that maximises the amount of product per aisle. The expression max v in the objective function section represents this.

First constraint:

It indicates that the total number of selected worklists should be p. Second constraint:

It indicates that the total number of multi -job lists selected should be m.

Third constraint:

It indicates that the total number of selected single worklists must be s.

Forth constraint:

If a worklist is selected, it means that all corridors in that worklist are also selected.

Fifth constraint:

If the total number of job lists with started status is less than p, it means that all job lists with started status should be selected.

Sixth and seventh constraint:

E- {0/1 }

Descriptive constraints. It indicates that the relevant variables are binary (0-1) variables.

Other constraints

These constraints are auxiliary variables and constraints that do not have a direct meaning but are used to linearise the expression of the total number of product quantities per aisle:

These constraints are auxiliary variables and constraints that have no direct meaning but are used to linearise the expression for the total quantity of products per aisle. These constraints are necessary expressions for the linearisation operation.

Industrial Application of the Invention

The product gathering and order allocation provided with the inventive system (1) covers the process carried out from the time a customer places an order through the application (3) until the delivery of the related order to the customer. The main purpose of the said system (1) is to collect the orders from the warehouses and deliver them to the customers in a time as short as possible and with less labour force. In the system (1), when a customer creates an order by selecting products over the application (3), the orders received are transferred to the server (5) and the related orders are processed by the server (5). The server (5) separates the orders received as multiple orders if they consist of a plurality products and as single orders if they consist of a single product according to the amount of products included in the order. For orders containing multiple products, the server (5) performs a query on the database (4) and thereby determines the quantities of the products in stock, the locations of these products (their locations for the warehouse, zone-corridor- shelf information) and the distance matrices of these locations to each other and calculates the walking range of the points where the products are located. The server (5) performs the allocation of orders by matching the warehouse location information and distance data obtained in a way to minimise the total distance of the selected products in all orders. The server (5) then creates worklists from the matched orders according to the quantities given parametrically. While creating the worklists, the server (5) selects the orders that are close to each other and have clustered products. The server (5) is triggered when a picking list request is received over electronic device (2) and then creates a picking list consisting of worklists and assigns the lists to the employees by determining the employees to whom the picking lists will be assigned. When creating the pick lists, the server (5) is configured to select the worklists including the orders containing the products in the common aisle.

In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, when an order including products A, B and C with different warehouse locations is created on the application (3), the walking range of the said products A, B and C to each other is firstly calculated and the same process is performed for the products in different orders, and the orders are matched with each other in such a way that the walking distance is the minimum during the order picking process. Then, worklists are created by selecting from these matched orders according to the capacity of the worklist requested by the employees. After the job lists are created, picking lists containing more than one worklist are created. While creating the picking lists, the picking list is created and assigned to the employees by selecting a certain amount from the worklists including the orders containing the products in the common corridor in accordance with the algorithms from the existing worklists.

Within these basic concepts; it is possible to develop various embodiments of the inventive “Order Allocation System (1)”; the invention cannot be limited to examples disclosed herein and it is essentially according to claims.

Claims

CLAIMS A system (1) for optimally managing and executing the processes of order allocation, worklist generation and pick list generation; minimising the picking time spent in the warehouse; and designing a series of mathematical systems to be solved in an optimal way that can work effectively for each order; comprising at least one electronic device (2) which is configured to realize data exchange by using any remote communication protocol, to run at least one application thereon, and to generate a request for receiving order picking lists; at least one application (3) which is run on the electronic device (2) and configured to enable at least users to create by selecting products;

-at least one database (4) which is configured to keep record of the data on products, orders and product warehouse locations, as well as generated job and picking lists; and characterized by at least one server (5) which is configured to establish communication with the electronic device (2) by using any remote communication protocol and to realize data exchange with the application (3) that is run on the electronic device (2), over this communication established; to manage the database (4); to receive and then process the data related to the order upon being triggered by the order created over the application (3); to perform a query on the database (4) for the products included in the order and then to determine the quantity information of the products included in stock, the locations of these products (in-store locations, region-corridor-shelf information) and the distance matrices of these locations to each other; to match the products included in the order in a way to minimise the total distance of the products and then to record the matching result in the database (4); to create lists by dividing the orders into certain groups according to whether they are single or multiple by receiving the paired product data from the database (4) in order to create a worklist by triggering at certain periods; to create lists and save them in the database (4), to be triggered by the request for a picking list over the electronic device (2) and then to receive the existing work lists and to give them as input to the work picking algorithm; to generate a picking list by determining the worklists in such a way that the warehouse location is optimum for the worker transmitting the request with the algorithm; to save the generated picking list in the database (4) and to transmit it to the electronic device (2).

2. A system (1) according to Claim 1; characterized by the electronic device (2) which is a device such as smartphone, tablet computer, desktop computer or portable computer configured to execute at least one application (3) thereon.

3. A system (1) according to Claim 1 or 2; characterized by the electronic device (2) which has speakers for providing audio output, at least one camera capable of taking picture and an input unit in the form of key or touchscreen.

4. A system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims; characterized by the electronic device (2) which is configured to establish connection with the server (5) by using any remote communication protocol and to ensure that data exchange is realized between the application (3) and the server (5) over this connection established.

5. A system (1) according to Claim ; characterized by the electronic device (2) which is configured to realize data exchange with the server (5) by using a data bus such as Internet.

6. A system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims; characterized by the electronic device (2) which is configured to enable warehouse employees to request a product picking list.

7. A system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims; characterized by the electronic device (2) which is configured to transmit the pick list request generated to the server (5).

8. A system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims; characterized by the application (3) which is executed on the electronic device (2) and is configured to enable users to create orders by selecting at least one product.

9. A system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims; characterized by the application (3) which is configured to transmit the orders created and the data related to the orders to the server (5).

10. A system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims; characterized by the database (4) which is in communication with the server (5) and configured to be managed by the server (5).

11. A system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims; characterized by the database (4) which is configured to record product stock information, product warehouse information, location information such as region- corridor-shelf where the products are located in the warehouses in a manner associated with a distinctive information related to the products.

12. A system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims; characterized by the database (4) which is configured to record the information about the orders created over the application (3). A system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims; characterized by the database (4) which is configured to record the order data matched by the server (5) according to the distances of the warehouse locations of the products from each other. A system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims; characterized by the database (4) which is configured to record the job lists generated by the server (5) from the matched orders according to their single or multiple allocation. A system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims; characterized by the database (4) which is configured to record the picking lists generated by the server (5). A system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims; characterized by the server (5) which is configured to establish communication with the electronic device (2) by using any remote communication protocol and to realize data exchange with the application (3) that is executed on the electronic device (2), over this communication established. A system (1) according to Claim 16; characterized by the server (5) which is configured to realize establish communication with the electronic device (2) over a data network such as Internet. A system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims; characterized by the server (5) which is configured to manage the database (4) by means of transactions such as making a record of new data into the database (4), deleting the data recorded in the database (4), changing the data recorded in the database (4) and updating the data recorded in the database (4).

19. A system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims; characterized by the server (5) which is configured to receive the data related to the orders created by the application (3) over the communication established with the electronic device (2) and to save the said data in the database (4).

20. A system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims; characterized by the server (5) which is configured to realize data exchange with the application (3) over this communication established with the electronic device (2).

21. A system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims; characterized by the server (5) which is configured to process the data it obtains by executing algorithms on it, with the said algorithms.

22. A system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims; characterized by the server (5) which is configured to receive and process the order data by being triggered when an order is created over the application (3).

23. A system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims; characterized by the server (5) which is configured to generate job lists by executing certain algorithms for orders that are triggered and transmitted at certain periods.

24. A system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims; characterized by the server (5) which is configured to analyse the obtained order data and then to separate and label the order as a multiple order if the order consists of a plurality of products, and as a single order if the order consists of a single product.

25. A system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims; characterized by the server (5) which is configured to perform a query on the database (4) for the products included in the order in accordance with the obtained order data and to determine the quantity information of the products included in stock, the locations of these products and the distance matrices of these locations to each other.

26. A system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims; characterized by the server (5) which is configured to calculate the walking distance of the products included in the order to each other at the storage locations.

27. A system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims; characterized by the server (5) which is configured to calculate the total distance between the products in all orders transmitted over the application (3).

28. A system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims; characterized by the server (5) which is configured to perform the order allocation by performing a matching in such a way as to minimise the total distances of the products included in all orders transmitted over the application (3).

29. A system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims; characterized by the server (5) which is configured to select orders from regions and corridors that are close to each other while maximising the total number of products included in the order.

30. A system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims; characterized by the server (5) which is configured to record the distance between the products and the matching result of the order with the products in the warehouse, in the database (4).

31. A system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims; characterized by the server (5) which is configured to sort the previously matched orders in the database (4) by means of an algorithm executed on it and then to separate the orders into certain groups according to whether they are single or multiple, and to create lists from the sorted orders. A system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims; characterized by the server (5) which is configured to create worklists from the registered orders according to the quantities given parametrically by the employees over the application (3). A system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims; characterized by the server (5) which is configured to select the close and clustered orders when creating the worklists. A system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims; characterized by the server (5) which is configured to save the generated worklists to the database (4). A system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims; characterized by the server (5) which is configured to aggregate job lists and create picking lists, upon being triggered by a request for assignment of job lists transmitted by warehouse employees over their electronic devices (2). A system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims; characterized by the server (5) which is configured to generate the picking lists by deciding which jobs from the available job lists are to be assigned to which employees by means of the picking list algorithm executed thereon. A system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims; characterized by the server (5) which is configured to select orders containing products on the same aisle in such a way that when an employee enters the aisle with products, s/he picks as many products as possible until s/he leaves the aisle.

38. A system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims; characterized by the server (5) which is configured to select products to maximise the number of products to be picked when generating the pick lists. 39. A system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims; characterized by the server (5) which is configured to assign the generated picking lists to registered employees and save them in the database (4).