Abstract: A control system for a warehouse includes a controller to control fulfillment activities of the warehouse and to issue multiplicity values for each SKU velocity class (SVC), such that each product is decanted into a selected quantity of totes for storage. The controller controls the SVC multiplicities and records operational data corresponding to the storage and fulfillment activities. The system includes an inference module which includes an SKU multiplicity control. The inference module issues a multiplicity value recommendation for each SVC to the controller when live data is received from a current state storage. The recommendation is defined by the SKU multiplicity control with respect to the live data. A training module retrains the SKU multiplicity control using the operational data to retrain and update the SKU multiplicity control and retrains the SKU multiplicity control based upon priorities for optimal operation of the warehouse.

Abstract: A method for operating an order fulfilment warehouse utilizing a gig-based labor force (e.g. freelance delivery drivers) performing picking functions in the warehouse and subsequently delivering the order to the customer. Preferably, the facility is staffed with only supervisory labor and receiving/putaway labor to replenish the warehouse inventory. The delivery driver may access an order database via a mobile application to accept a customer's online order, such as a grocery item order. The customer's order may additionally include retrieving items from another facility, such as a restaurant. The grocery order may be from a limited or dedicated warehouse facility that has a curated group of items/SKUs. The delivery driver enters the warehouse, checks in, and then proceeds to pick the order from the warehouse. The driver validates the order and then departs the facility and proceeds toward delivery of the order directly to the customer.

Abstract: An order fulfillment control for a warehouse includes a controller, a memory, a current state storage, and a training module. The controller controls fulfillment activities and issues orders to pickers. The controller controls the issuance of the orders and records operational data corresponding to the fulfillment activities in the warehouse. The memory holds operational data. The current state storage holds live data corresponding to the current state of the warehouse defined by selected portions of the operational data. The inference module includes an order release control to issue an order release recommendation to the controller when a set of live data is received from the current state storage. The training module retrains the order release controls. The training module performs reinforcement learning on the operational data to retrain and update the order release control. The order release control is retrained based upon priorities for optimal operation of the warehouse.

Abstract: A method for operating an order fulfilment warehouse utilizing a gig-based labor force (e.g. freelance delivery drivers) performing picking functions in the warehouse and subsequently delivering the order to the customer. Preferably, the facility is staffed with only supervisory labor and receiving/putaway labor to replenish the warehouse inventory. The delivery driver may access an order database via a mobile application to accept a customer's online order, such as a grocery item order. The customer's order may additionally include retrieving items from another facility, such as a restaurant. The grocery order may be from a limited or dedicated warehouse facility that has a curated group of items/SKUs. The delivery driver enters the warehouse, checks in, and then proceeds to pick the order from the warehouse. The driver validates the order and then departs the facility and proceeds toward delivery of the order directly to the customer.