Abstract: Images or other sensed data involving a sales transaction are received from a network. The sales information from the transaction is also received from the network. A reconciliation is performed between the images and the sales information. When the reconciliation identifies a discrepancy between the sales information and the images or other sensed data, one or more perpetual inventory (PI) values of one or more products are adjusted to a value so as to correct for the discrepancy.

Abstract: Upon the occurrence of the nil pick, an amount of product that is available in the warehouse is determined as is a demand of the product from the replenishment settings. When the amount of product is sufficient to partially satisfy the demand, first instructions are transmitted to the warehouse instructing the warehouse to send selected amounts of the product to selected retail stores. When the amount of product is insufficient to satisfy any of the demand, a message is sent to a secondary supplier instructing the secondary supplier to ship products to the warehouse. Instructions are transmitted to the warehouse to perform a verification of an accuracy of the replenishment settings.

Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to monitor the status of products loaded on or in a pallet, container, or other transport or storage structure and/or provide handling instructions. In some embodiments, one or more sensors detect one or more characteristics such as location, mass, temperature, or humidity, and a display device mounted to the transport or storage structure indicates whether detected values from the sensors are within acceptable ranges.

Abstract: A first duct, second duct, third duct, and fourth duct extend across at least a part of a first zone and at least a part of a second zone of a vehicle, and each are configured with one or more vents. Each of the vents has an adjustable opening allowing the transfer of air produced by first or second refrigeration units from the duct. An adjustment is caused to one or more of the position of the openings of the vents, the operation of the first refrigeration unit, and the operation of the second refrigeration unit. The adjustment is effective to maintain a first temperature in the first zone and a second temperature in the second zone.

Abstract: In some embodiments, system and methods are provided herein useful to assess commercial product slotting events. In some embodiments, systems are provided to assess commercial product slotting events, and comprises: warehouse slots each configured to hold commercial products to be sold, a first identifier positioned proximate to each warehouse slot, and sensors positioned proximate to the slot and configured to communicate sensor data to control circuits. The control circuits use a sensor to captured images of a second identifier positioned on a commercial product when the commercial product undergoes a positional event. The control circuits can use sensor data to confirm an association between the first identifier and the second identifier. The one or more control circuits generate a notification of the positional event, wherein the positional event is either the placement of the commercial product in the slot or the removal of the commercial product from the slot.

Abstract: A data structure is stored at a central processing center. The data structure includes product information concerning financial characteristics and physical characteristics of the product, and destination location information indicating geographic coordinates of potential destinations for placement the product. At the central processing center, a failure indication indicating that the refrigeration unit has failed is received. The data structure in the database is accessed to obtain the product information and the destination location information. A product preservation action is determined based upon an analysis of the product information and the destination location information associated with the product.

Abstract: A priority is dynamically assigned to each of the inventory-related values. A confidence score is determined based upon an evaluation of all of the prioritized inventory-related values. Based upon the confidence score, one or more PI programs for the retail store is authorized for utilization. The number of inventory-related values used and the priorities for these values are dynamically changeable.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for motorized modular shelf organization. The system and method includes a gondola rack with a plurality of longitudinal shelves which engage with an upright support on the gondola rack, and are capable of moving vertically via a motorized element. The gondola rack also includes at least two support arms which are capable of grasping the plurality of longitudinal shelves and moving the plurality of longitudinal shelves laterally and vertically so that the longitudinal shelves may swap positions with another shelf.

Abstract: In some embodiments, systems and methods are provided herein useful to enable shipping of commercial products. In some embodiments, systems are provided to enable shipping of commercial products, comprises: a conveyor positioned proximate to commercial product entry points and communicatively coupled to control circuits, conveyable containers each configured to traverse the commercial product entry points via the conveyor and comprising a volume configured to hold commercial products, and sensors positioned proximate to the volume and communicatively coupled to the control circuits. The control circuits use the sensors to receive authenticating data associated with commercial products when a commercial product undergoes a positional event at a commercial product entry point. The control circuits confirm associations between received authenticating data and conveyable containers. In some embodiments, the control circuits generate a notification of the positional event when the association is confirmed.

Abstract: A data structure programmatically links the first product to a second product. The second product is historically purchased by the customer whenever the customer has also purchased the first product. A determination is made as to whether the customer purchased the second product together with the first product based upon the sales data. When the customer has failed to purchase the second product with the first product, instructions are transmitted to the retail store over the network to perform a verification that the second product is out-of-stock. An outcome of the verification from the retail store is received via the network. A determination is made as to a level of certainty that the second product is actually out-of-stock based upon an analysis of the sales data and the outcome of the verification. When the level of certainty exceeds a predetermined threshold, the PI value is adjusted to zero.

Abstract: A shelving system includes customer shelves, and a top shelf is positioned generally above the customer shelves. The top shelf and a back room are not accessible to the public, but the customer shelves are accessible to the public. First scans of the top shelf and second scans of the customer shelves and back room inventory values for the selected product are obtained. A determination is made as whether there is inventory of the selected product in the back room. When there is available space on the top shelf, when the available space is within a predetermined distance of the location, and when there is inventory of the selected product in the back room, instructions are transmitted to an automated vehicle to cause the automated vehicle to selectively move at least some of the selected product from the back room to the top shelf.

Abstract: A perpetual inventory (PI) value associated with the selected product and a last PI adjustment time that indicates when the retail store last adjusted the PI value are received. The PI value of the selected product is compared to the back room quantity value of the selected product, and a second time when the back room quantity value becomes greater than the PI value for the selected product is determined. An adjustment to the PI of the selected product is blocked when an indication of upcoming inventory adjustment for the selected product is received. An adjustment to the PI value of the selected product is also blocked when the PI adjustment time is after the second time. When the back room quantity value is greater than the PI value and the adjustment to the PI value is unblocked, the PI value is adjusted to be the back room quantity value.

Abstract: Scans of a selected product on shelves of a retail store are obtained and the scans are transmitted over a network via a transceiver circuit. A perpetual inventory (PI) value is stored for a selected product in a database. A data structure includes a first category and first actions programmatically linked to the first category. The first actions include instructing an autonomous vehicle to find the selected product, instructing an employee to find the selected product, and adjusting the PI value of the selected product. When the selected product is out-of-stock and when the PI value is greater than a predetermined threshold, one or more of the first actions associated with the first category are performed.

Abstract: A book inventory monetary value of a selected product in the retail store is received. The book inventory monetary value is the monetary value of the selected product according to the accounting records of a retail store. A perpetual inventory (PI) monetary value is also received from the retail store. The PI monetary value is a product of multiplying a PI value for the selected product with the cost of the selected product. The book inventory monetary value and the PI monetary value are stored in a database. Subsequently, the book inventory monetary value and the PI monetary value are retrieved from the database. A difference between the book inventory monetary value and the PI monetary values is determined. An adjustment of the PI value is determined based upon the difference.

Abstract: An electronic indication of a nil pick is received. Item information associated with the desired product, sales data concerning the desired product, supply chain information associated with the desired product, and a perpetual inventory (PI) value of the desired product are stored. An adjustment to the PI of the desired product is blocked when a predetermined event occurs at the retail store, or when information that contradicts the validity of the nil pick is received from the retail store. When the adjustment to the PI of the desired product is not blocked, an amount of the adjustment is determined based upon one or more of: the item information associated with the product, the sales data concerning the product, and the supply chain information associated with the desired product.

Abstract: An analysis of the scans is performed to determine whether the selected item was moved from the back room to the shelf, then returned from the shelf to the back room. The analysis also determines a re-bin time when the selected product was returned to the back room. An adjustment to the PI is blocked when last PI adjustment time is later than the re-bin time. An adjustment to the PI is also blocked when an audit indicator is received at the interface indicating that the retail store is under an audit. An adjusted PI value is determined when the analysis indicates that the selected item was moved from the back room to the shelf, then returned from the shelf, the adjusted PI value being at least one more than the shelf capacity value.

Abstract: In some embodiments, methods and systems for analyzing an inventory database and an accounting database of a retail store in order to detect products that were mis-shipped to the retail store, improperly invoiced to the retail store, and/or erroneously not invoiced to the retail store.

Abstract: In some embodiments, methods and systems are provided that include interconnected conveyors including multiple sensors configured to detect identifying characteristics and physical characteristics of the products traveling on the conveyors. The product-associated information that is detected by the sensors is analyzed relative to predefined product-associated identifying characteristics and physical characteristics stored in a database, and an error signal is generated if the actual, sensor-obtained product identifying characteristics and/or physical characteristics, do not correspond to the predefined, database-stored product identifying characteristics and/or physical characteristics.

Abstract: In some embodiments, methods and systems are provided for facilitating distribution of products between product manufacturers and retail stores of a retailer via specialty distribution centers and regional distribution centers. Based on analysis of various inventory management factors, the products are allocated between different facilities of the retailer to optimize the cost-effectiveness and efficiency of such facilities, and product shipments to and from such facilities are coordinated according to the optimization determination.

Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to estimating and adjusting initial inventory demands at new shopping facilities based on real time sales data. In some embodiments, there is provided a system including: a new shopping facility database including demographic and geographic data about a new shopping facility; an existing shopping facility database including demographic, geographic, and historic sales data at existing shopping facilities; real time inventory data including sales at the new shopping facility after opening; and a central computing system identifying an existing shopping facility with similar demographic and geographic data to the new shopping facility; determining the historic sales at the existing shopping facility; calculating a first estimate of inventory demand for merchandise items at the new shopping facility; and calculating a second estimate of inventory demand for the merchandise items at the new shopping facility based on real time inventory data.