Dynamic pricing through discounts for optimizing multiple-class demand fulfillment
成果类型：
Article
署名作者：
Ding, Q; Kouvelis, P; Milner, JM
署名单位：
Singapore Management University; Washington University (WUSTL); University of Toronto
刊物名称：
OPERATIONS RESEARCH
ISSN/ISSBN：
0030-364X
DOI：
10.1287/opre.1060.0248
发表日期：
2006
页码：
169-183
关键词：
摘要：
In a multiple-customer-class model of demand fulfillment for a single item, we consider the use of dynamic price discounts to encourage backlogging of demand for customer classes denied immediate service. Customers are assumed to arrive over several stages in a period, and customer classes are distinguished by their contractual price and sensitivity to discounts. Through dynamic programming we determine the optimal discounts to offer, assuming a linear model for the sensitivity of customers to such inducements. We show that customers are served in class order, and allocation of inventory to demand is determined by considering the current number of customers backlogged, as well as the current inventory position. Through comparison to a naive supplier allocating inventory first come/first served with no discounting, we show that profits are primarily influenced by the allocation of capacity, and the use of price discounts primarily benefits the second-class customers' overall fill rate. Heuristics for implementation of the solution in real-time settings are given.