Apparatus, systems and methods for online, multi-parcel, multi-carrier, multi-service enterprise parcel shipping management

• Main Authors: HU SEAN, BENNETT DAVID ALLISON, KRETT LORY ELIZABETH, BILIBIN PAUL, GLAVIN DENNIS, SMITH, III WILLIAM W, DIETZ JOHN M, MEYER SCOTT, TEGLOVIC STEPHEN M, LIU JINYUE, MCLAUGHLIN PAUL R, WILLIAMS DANIEL F, MENTZER CHARLES D, GOLDHABER LYNN SHAINDELL
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 12.02.2013
• Subjects: CALCULATING; CHECKING-DEVICES; COMPUTING; COUNTING; DATA PROCESSING SYSTEMS OR METHODS, SPECIALLY ADAPTED FORADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL, SUPERVISORYOR FORECASTING PURPOSES; ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS; MEASURING; PHYSICS; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE,COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL, SUPERVISORY OR FORECASTINGPURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; TESTING; TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; WEIGHING

The present invention provides a plurality of Enterprises with a single online user interface with which the Enterprise can provide Enterprise Shippers, shipping origination users and shipping intermediary users with an automated parcel management system for a plurality of supported Carriers for a plurality of services. The present invention provides for the hierarchical definition of users, including the hierarchical definition of organizational units within each Enterprise. The present invention further provides for a distinct definition of policies, privileges, and other types of specifications for each user level, each user, and each organizational unit. The present invention applies the user and organizational policies, privileges and other specifications as they apply to each particular user to drive the interactive interface with each particular user and to provide among other things, shipping options, shipping services, shipping rates, traveler and/or shipping label preparation, and shipment tracking.