A system, method, and computer program product for implementing autonomous operation optimization and control is provided. The method includes defining nodes associated with facilities at differing geographical locations. A first node is assigned as a location of an entity and a second node is assigned as a location of a warehouse comprising products for delivery. A value for the first node and second node is determined based on a modification of a node route and clusters associated with geographical locations of the nodes are defined. Likewise, a network comprising routes extending between the nodes and facilities is defined. The nodes, results of assigning, the value, the clusters, and the network are analyzed. In response to the analysis, a recommendation for a facility and specified route is generated and operational functionality of an apparatus with respect to facility and the specified route is enabled in accordance with the recommendations.

A method for communicating between an internal server system and an external warehouse system for a plurality of articles, the method including receiving an Inventory Snapshot Entity from the external warehouse system, selecting the one or more unique article identifiers from the Inventory Snapshot Entity to be included in an Order Entity, dropping the Order Entity to the external warehouse system, receiving a Return Entity from the external warehouse system, and in response to receiving the Return Entity, updating one or more article databases to indicate receiving one or more articles corresponding to the one or more unique article identifiers.

A method for communicating between an internal server system and an external warehouse system for a plurality of articles, the method including receiving an Inventory Snapshot Entity from the external warehouse system, selecting the one or more unique article identifiers from the Inventory Snapshot Entity to be included in an Order Entity, dropping the Order Entity to the external warehouse system, receiving a Return Entity from the external warehouse system, and in response to receiving the Return Entity, updating one or more article databases to indicate receiving one or more articles corresponding to the one or more unique article identifiers.

Systems and methods are provided for processing perishable product return requests submitted by customers to a retailer from which the customers purchased these perishable products. A customer is permitted to submit a perishable product return request via an interface that permits the customer to input one or more reasons for returning the product and upload a photograph of the product. After a customer submits the return request, the system analyzes various product return evaluation factors (including the customer’s trust score, historical product quality data, historical product return attempts by the customer, etc.) in order to determine whether to process the customer’s product return without requiring the customer to return the product in person at a store of the retailer, or whether to require the customer to return the product in person.

Systems and methods are provided for processing perishable product return requests submitted by customers to a retailer from which the customers purchased these perishable products. A customer is permitted to submit a perishable product return request via an interface that permits the customer to input one or more reasons for returning the product and upload a photograph of the product. After a customer submits the return request, the system analyzes various product return evaluation factors (including the customer’s trust score, historical product quality data, historical product return attempts by the customer, etc.) in order to determine whether to process the customer’s product return without requiring the customer to return the product in person at a store of the retailer, or whether to require the customer to return the product in person.

An order placement system comprises an order placement module, a first transfer module, a second transfer module, and a detection module. The order placement module prompts a first customer from a geographical location to place an order for a consignment. The first transfer module is controlled by the processor and in communication with the order placement module to send instructions to transfer the ordered consignment to a delivery hub. The second transfer module sends instructions to the delivery hub when the first customer cancels the ordered consignment, and the cancelled consignment is returned to the delivery hub. The detection module identifies a second customer in the same geographical location who ordered the same consignment that was cancelled by the first customer. The second transfer module provides instructions to the delivery hub to deliver the same consignment to the second customer, where a reverse shipment of the cancelled consignment is avoided.

In some examples, a server may receive a first order to acquire a product. The server may receive a request to cancel the first order and determine that the product has shipped. The server may determine, based on sensor data received from a sensor of a circuit board in the container, that the container is unopened. After receiving a second order to ship the product to a second location, the server may instruct a courier to transport the product to the second location. For example, if the container is located at the first location, the server may instruct the courier to transport the container from the first location to the second location. If the server determines that the courier is currently transporting the container to the first location, the server may instruct the courier to transport the container to the second location instead of to the first location.

In some examples, a server may receive a first order to acquire a product. The server may receive a request to cancel the first order and determine that the product has shipped. The server may determine, based on sensor data received from a sensor of a circuit board in the container, that the container is unopened. After receiving a second order to ship the product to a second location, the server may instruct a courier to transport the product to the second location. For example, if the container is located at the first location, the server may instruct the courier to transport the container from the first location to the second location. If the server determines that the courier is currently transporting the container to the first location, the server may instruct the courier to transport the container to the second location instead of to the first location.

The recent pandemic has resulted in a desire to avoid human-to-human contact where possible. Purchasing items from a brick-and-mortar store traditionally involves close human interaction and touching items that have been touched by others. Now, to reduce human-to-human interaction, a bank of compartments is described into which items are placed by staff members for later collection by customers. After agreeing a purchase, a staff member places the purchased item in a compartment. The customer uses a smartphone to announce their arrival at the bank of compartments and provide authentication, at which point the compartment with the item is identified to the customer. The compartment automatically unlocks and opens allowing the customer to obtain the item without touching the compartment or its door. Deposits of purchased items are made via the bank for exchange, repair or refund. Each compartment may sanitize itself and its contents with UV-C light.

The recent pandemic has resulted in a desire to avoid human-to-human contact where possible. Purchasing items from a brick-and-mortar store traditionally involves close human interaction and touching items that have been touched by others. Now, to reduce human-to-human interaction, a bank of compartments is described into which items are placed by staff members for later collection by customers. After agreeing a purchase, a staff member places the purchased item in a compartment. The customer uses a smartphone to announce their arrival at the bank of compartments and provide authentication, at which point the compartment with the item is identified to the customer. The compartment automatically unlocks and opens allowing the customer to obtain the item without touching the compartment or its door. Deposits of purchased items are made via the bank for exchange, repair or refund. Each compartment may sanitize itself and its contents with UV-C light.