Latest picking start

Introduction

The latest picking start (LPS) is the point in time at which the picking for the delivery must be started to arrive in time at the customer. If the latest possible picking start for a certain delivery date in a facility is not known, it can be requested via the checkout options REST API endpoint. Our systems then calculate the latest picking start based on cut-off times of carriers and the fulfillment process buffer.​

Latest picking start calculation

General

When processing checkout option REST API or orders that involve querying future availability, it is necessary to determine the appropriate point in time to request inventory data. As a result, it can be decided if enough stock will be available at the point in time when the order must be picked latest. This ensures that the order is delivered on the customer's desired date. Especially with stock that is perishable, it makes sense to maintain expiry dates to ensure goods are delivered to customers in optimal freshness.

The calculation for the LPS is performed whenever:

• using the "earliest" checkout option REST API endpoint

• using the "timeperiod" checkout options REST API endpoint

• using the checkout options REST API endpoint when a "desired delivery time" is included and the reservation preference mode is set to "ALAP" (as late as possible)

• performing a routing with an order where a "desired delivery time" is included and the reservation preference mode is set to "ALAP" (as late as possible)

The latest picking start is calculated per facility carrier connection and for potentially possible delivery days. This means that one facility could have multiple latest picking starts. Finally, the LPS with It is the most available requested stock is chosen.

The following information is required for LPS calculation:

1. The desiredDeliveryTime in the order or in the corresponding checkout options call

2. The reservationpreference mode "ALAP" (as late as possible)

3. At least one active carrier

4. At least one active facility-carrier connection

5. A defined delivery time (with optionally, additional configuration settings)

If any required data is missing, the LPS cannot be calculated. In such cases, the system either assumes zero stock for subsequent processes (e.g., during order routing) or generates an error (e.g., when calling a checkout option endpoint).

Example

A typical use case is a customer placing an order which should be delivered at a specific day in the future (in the chart below the request is on the 26th Aug. requesting for a delivery on 23th Sept.).

For calculating a LPS, the delivery times per carrier as well as non-delivery days are checked. Afterwards the facility's fulfillment-times, average fulfillment duration, and fulfillment capacities are examined, checking which cutoff-time can be reached.