A Trade-off Analysis of a Multi-objective Order Fulfillment Optimizer with Financial and Emissions Savings

Abstract

For the vast majority of retailers with web-based stores, lowering shipping costs is the ultimate cost-cutting goal. However, for merchants operating omnichannel storefronts that support both walk-in and online sales, a number of competing business objectives emerge, such as load-balancing costs, stockout costs, and markdown costs. We offer a multi-objective optimization agent that aims to keep business costs low while also reducing carbon emissions. The findings of a simulated trade-off analysis for a major sports retailer are also presented.