Mercari‘s patent involves a computer-implemented method for estimating shipping costs on online marketplaces. The system uses deep learning models to analyze item characteristics, past shipping costs, and dimensional weights to provide accurate shipping cost estimates to buyers before completing transactions. GlobalData’s report on Mercari gives a 360-degree view of the company including its patenting strategy. Buy the report here.
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According to GlobalData’s company profile on Mercari, Image-based transactions was a key innovation area identified from patents. Mercari's grant share as of January 2024 was 10%. Grant share is based on the ratio of number of grants to total number of patents.
Estimating shipping costs for items purchased online
A recently granted patent (Publication Number: US11853958B2) discloses a computer-implemented method for estimating shipping costs in online marketplaces. The method involves detecting a sales transaction between a seller and a buyer, receiving an item vector representing the item created by a deep learning model, identifying past listings with known shipping costs, calculating a weighted average of past shipping costs, estimating the dimensional weight of the item, and providing the estimated shipping cost to the buyer before completing the transaction. The system also includes provisions for interacting with carriers, such as local carriers or ride-sharing services, to obtain accurate shipping cost estimates based on the item's characteristics and destination.
Furthermore, the patent describes a system and a non-transitory computer-readable medium with similar functionalities for estimating shipping costs in online transactions. The system includes a memory and at least one processor to perform operations related to detecting sales transactions, estimating shipping costs based on past data and item characteristics, and providing accurate cost estimates to buyers. Additionally, the method outlined in the patent includes a penalty for underestimating the weighted average of shipping costs, emphasizing the importance of accurate estimations in online marketplace transactions. Overall, the patent aims to streamline the shipping cost estimation process in e-commerce platforms, ensuring transparency and efficiency in online transactions involving the shipment of items to buyers.
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GlobalData Patent Analytics tracks bibliographic data, legal events data, point in time patent ownerships, and backward and forward citations from global patenting offices. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.
