Systems and methods for on-demand delivery

Abstract

Systems and techniques are disclosed that provide device-based coordination of multi-party delivery processes. One example implementation involves receiving a payer-invite request from a requester device. The payer-invite request requests an invitation be sent to a payer to pay for a delivery order. The delivery order specifying one or more items to be purchased and delivered to a requester location associated with the requester device or inputted by the requester. The system sends the invitation to a payer device associated with the payer and receives a payment from the payer device. The system fulfills the delivery order by identifying a fulfillment center, a driver, and/or a puller and sending communications with order information and instructions to the devices of those parties to coordinate the delivery. For example, the system sends a driving instruction to a driver device instructing the driver to pick up and deliver the items.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for device-based coordination of multi-party delivery processes, the method comprising:
 at a device with one or more processors and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium:
 receiving a payer-invite request from a user interface on a first application on a requester device, the payer-invite request requesting an invitation be sent to a payer to pay for a delivery order via a second application on a payer device, the delivery order identifying one or more items to be purchased and delivered to a requester location associated with the requester device or inputted by the requester, wherein the payer is selected via a feature provided on the user interface on the first application on the requester device; 
 sending the invitation to the payer device associated with the payer; 
 receiving a payment from the payer device, the payment provided in response to the invitation; and 
 sending a driving instruction to a driver device or a vehicle device, the driving instruction instructing pick up of the one or more items and delivery of the one or more items to the requester location. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first application on the requester device is the same application as the second application on the payer device. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first application on the requester device is a different application than the second application on the payer device. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein sending the invitation comprises sending a text message including a selectable link for downloading the device app to view and provide payment for the delivery order. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving a change to the delivery order from the payer device, the change changing the one or more items to be purchased and delivered. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving an original delivery order with an item type from the requester device and a modified delivery order from the payer device identifying a particular item of the item type. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising sending a confirmation to the requester device, the confirmation confirming that the payment was provided by the payer for the delivery order. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the driving instruction is determined based on identifying a fulfillment center and identifying a type of vehicle. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein identifying a fulfillment center comprises accessing a dataset to determine that the one or more items are in stock at the fulfillment center. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 identifying a puller based on a requester location or a fulfillment center location; and   sending a pulling instruction to a puller device, the pulling instruction instructing a puller to collect the one or more items of the delivery order at the fulfillment center.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein identifying the puller is based on a time capacity of the puller to perform activities required by the pulling instructions in a time period required for the delivery order. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein:
 identifying the fulfillment center is based on a fulfillment center location of the fulfillment center and the requester location; and   identifying the type of vehicle for the delivery is based on identifying characteristics of the one or more items and vehicle capabilities associated with the type of vehicle, wherein the characteristics of the one or more items are based on dimensions or weight of the one or more items.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the identified characteristics of the one or more items are based on dimensions of the one or more items. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the identified characteristics of the one or more items are based on weight of the one or more items. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 receiving input specifying vehicle capabilities associated with the type of vehicle via the application on the driver device used by a driver or the vehicle device.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein vehicle capabilities associated with the type of vehicle are determined based on vehicle requirements that require that the vehicle to include a dolly, a lift-gate, a truck bed, or a roof. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein vehicle capabilities associated with the type of vehicle are determined based on input provided on the driver device or the vehicle device. 
     
     
         18 . A system comprising:
 a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium; and   one or more processors coupled to the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, wherein the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprises program instructions that, when executed on the one or more processors, cause the system to perform operations comprising:
 receiving a payer-invite request from a user interface on a first application on a requester device, the payer-invite request requesting an invitation be sent to a payer to pay for a delivery order via a second application on a payer device, the delivery order identifying one or more items to be purchased and delivered to a requester location associated with the requester device or inputted by the requester, wherein the payer is selected via a feature provided on the user interface on the first application on the requester device; 
 sending the invitation to the payer device associated with the payer; 
 receiving a payment from the payer device, the payment provided in response to the invitation; and 
 sending a driving instruction to a driver device or a vehicle device, the driving instruction instructing pick up of the one or more items and delivery of the one or more items to the requester location. 
   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the first application on the requester device is the same application as the second application on the payer device. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the first application on the requester device is a different application than the second application on the payer device.