Systems and methods for ranking potential attended delivery/pickup locations

Abstract

A computer system for ranking potential attended delivery/pickup locations is disclosed. In various embodiments, a user or computer system identifies an area in which to establish at least one attended delivery/pickup location. In a particular embodiment, the system receives data associated with potential attended delivery/pickup locations (e.g., attended delivery/pickup location candidates), including the specific characteristics of those candidates. The system then, based at least in part on the characteristics of each of the attended delivery/pickup location candidates, ranks the attended delivery/pickup location candidates and displays the rankings to a user for use in selecting the most suitable candidate for the area.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method for establishing new attended delivery/pickup locations in a logistics network, the method comprising:
 receiving data comprising one or more characteristics of a plurality of attended delivery/pickup location candidates;   ranking each of the plurality of attended delivery/pickup location candidates based on a comparison of the one or more characteristics;   selecting a new attended delivery/pickup location to establish in the logistics network based at least in part on the ranking;   determining a capacity of the new attended delivery/pickup location to store one or more parcels;   determining that the capacity is adequate at the new attended delivery/pickup location to store the one or more parcels;   reserving space at the new attended delivery/pickup location to store the one or more parcels;   generating a shipping label for the one or more parcels; and   directing delivery of the one or more parcels to the new attended delivery/pickup location using the shipping label.   
     
     
         2 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more characteristics comprises social network data associated with the plurality of attended delivery/pickup location candidates. 
     
     
         3 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more characteristics comprises customer reviews associated with the plurality of attended delivery/pickup location candidates. 
     
     
         4 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more characteristics includes a number of returns associated with the plurality of attended delivery/pickup location candidates. 
     
     
         5 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising sending a notification that the new attended delivery/pickup location is established for delivery and storage of parcels in the logistics network. 
     
     
         6 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising enabling identification of a recipient of the one or more parcels at the new attended delivery/pickup location based on an electronic token used to verify a computing device associated with the recipient at the new attended delivery/pickup location. 
     
     
         7 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the capacity is determined, at least in part, based on at least one of:
 an ability of the new attended delivery/pickup location to expand its capacity;   an estimated future capacity of the new attended delivery/pickup location; and   an average latency of parcels stored at the new attended delivery/pickup location.   
     
     
         8 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein a primary form of business associated with any of the plurality of attended delivery/pickup location candidates is:
 a gas station;   a convenience store;   a flower shop;   a magazine stand;   a retail location associated with a common carrier;   a kiosk at a mall; or   a retail department store.   
     
     
         9 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the capacity is determined based on one or more characteristics of an intended recipient of the one or more parcels. 
     
     
         10 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the shipping label is generated to include a machine-readable indicia. 
     
     
         11 . A computer-implemented method for managing capacity in a logistics network, the method comprising:
 ranking a plurality of attended delivery/pickup location candidates based on a comparison of one or more characteristics associated with the plurality of attended delivery/pickup location candidates;   selecting a new attended delivery/pickup location to add to the logistics network from the plurality of attended delivery/pickup location candidates based at least in part on the ranking;   automatically determining a capacity of the new attended delivery/pickup location to store one or more parcels, wherein the capacity is determined based at least on dimensions of the one or more parcels and available space at the new attended delivery/pickup location;   determining that the capacity is adequate to store the one or more parcels at the new attended delivery/pickup location;   automatically reserving space to store the one or more parcels at the new attended delivery/pickup location;   generating a shipping label for the one or more parcels; and   facilitating delivery of the one or more parcels to the new attended delivery/pickup location using the shipping label.   
     
     
         11 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 10 , wherein ranking each of the plurality of attended delivery/pickup location candidates comprises determining an attended delivery/pickup location candidate value for each, and wherein each attended delivery/pickup location candidate value is based at least in part on:
 a weight of each of the one or more characteristics; and   a determined value of each of the one or more characteristics.   
     
     
         12 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 10 , further comprising modifying logistics network data in memory to add the new attended delivery/pickup location to the logistics network. 
     
     
         13 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more characteristics includes social network data of the plurality of attended delivery/pickup location candidates. 
     
     
         14 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more characteristics includes customer reviews of the plurality of attended delivery/pickup location candidates. 
     
     
         15 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 10 , further comprising enabling identification of a recipient of the one or more parcels at the new attended delivery/pickup location based on detection of an electronic ID card associated with the recipient. 
     
     
         16 . A computer system, comprising:
 a logistics server, comprising:
 at least one processor; and 
 at least one computer-storage media storing computer-useable instructions thereon that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform a method comprising: 
 ranking each of a plurality of attended delivery/pickup location candidates based on a comparison of one or more characteristics of the plurality of attended delivery/pickup location candidates; 
 selecting a new attended delivery/pickup location based at least in part on the ranking; 
 determining a capacity of the new attended delivery/pickup location to store one or more parcels; 
 determining that the capacity is adequate to store the one or more parcels; 
 reserving space to store the one or more parcels at the new attended delivery/pickup location; 
 generating a shipping label for the one or more parcels for directing delivery of the one or more parcels to the new attended/delivery pickup location using a common carrier. 
   
     
     
         17 . The computer system of  claim 16 , wherein ranking each of the plurality of attended delivery/pickup location candidates comprises determining an attended delivery/pickup location candidate value for each, and wherein the attended delivery/pickup location candidate value is based at least in part on:
 a weight of each of the one or more characteristics; and   a determined value of each of the one or more characteristics.   
     
     
         18 . The computer system of  claim 16 , wherein the method performed by the at least one processor further comprises storing the new attended delivery/pickup location in memory associated with the logistics server. 
     
     
         19 . The computer system of  claim 16 , wherein the one or more characteristics comprises at least one of:
 social network data associated with the plurality of attended delivery/pickup location candidates;   customer reviews associated with the plurality of attended delivery/pickup location candidates; and   a number of returns associated with the plurality of attended delivery/pickup location candidates.   
     
     
         20 . The computer system of  claim 16 , wherein the method performed by the at least one processor further comprises enabling identification of a recipient of the one or more parcels at the new attended delivery/pickup location based on an electronic token used to verify a computing device associated with the recipient at the new attended delivery/pickup location.