TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosure relates generally to customer service and, more specifically, to apparatus and methods for determining customer wait times.

BACKGROUND

At least some known online retailers allow customers to place purchase orders remotely through a purchasing system. For example, some retailers use at least some known purchasing systems that allow customers to place purchase orders through the retailer's website. As another example, some retailers allow customers to place purchase orders through an application (“App”) that executes on a mobile device, such as a cellular phone. Often times, the purchasing system provides an option to the customer to have the purchased items delivered to an address, such as to the customer's home address. At least some known purchasing systems, however, provide an option to allow the customer to pick up the purchased goods at a store location. For example, the customer can select a store location when making the purchase, and have the retailer gather the goods and have them ready for customer pickup. Some purchasing systems allow the customer to check-in ahead of time to let the retailer know the customer is on their way to pick up the purchased goods at a store location.

In some examples, when the customer arrives at the store, the customer parks their vehicle and walks into the store. The customer then proceeds to customer service to pick up their purchased goods. In other examples, the customer parks their vehicle at a designated parking area and waits for an associate to assist the customer with their order. These customer service experiences, however, have drawbacks. For example, the amount of time before an associate is ready to assist a customer may be substantially long. The customer may also be unaware of how long they must wait before the associate is ready to help them with their order. As such, there are opportunities to address these and other customer service experiences.

SUMMARY

In some embodiments, a system is provided that includes a first computing device communicatively coupled to a second computing device. The first computing device may be configured to receive first data identifying an arrival time window of a customer from the second computing device. The first computing device may also be configured to determine a current time based on the received first data. The first computing device may further be configured to determine a first number of customers waiting for service. The first computing device may be configured to determine a first number of associates available to assist the number of customers. The first computing device may also be configured to determine an expected wait time for the customer based on the current time, the first number of customers waiting for service, and the first number of associates available. Further, the first computing device may be configured to transmit the expected wait time to the second computing device.

In some embodiments, a method by a server includes receiving data identifying an arrival time window of a customer from the second computing device. The method may further include determining a current time based on the received first data. The method may also include determining a first number of customers waiting for service. The method may also include determining a first number of associates available to assist the number of customers. Further, the method may include determining an expected wait time for the customer based on the current time, the first number of customers waiting for service, and the first number of associates available. The method may also include transmitting the expected wait time to the second computing device.

In some embodiments, a non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium includes executable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations including receiving data identifying an arrival time window of a customer from the second computing device. The operations may further include determining a current time based on the received first data. The operations may also include determining a first number of customers waiting for service. The operations may also include determining a first number of associates available to assist the number of customers. Further, the operations may include determining an expected wait time for the customer based on the current time, the first number of customers waiting for service, and the first number of associates available. The operations may also include transmitting the expected wait time to the second computing device.

