Beacon-Based Inventory Discovery for Retail Display Space Constraints
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Solution Overview
Problem
Physical stores face limitations in displaying all variations of items due to limited display space, requiring customers to rely on salespersons for information and retrieval of additional items from inventory, while online stores offer comprehensive product views and comparisons.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system using beacon devices and mobile devices to automatically discover and display variations of items based on location, allowing customers to view and request additional inventory through a mobile app, and receive recommendations for similar or complementary items.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If physical stores display all item variations, then customers can view and compare products directly, but display space requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses mobile devices to display digital copies of product information, images, and variations that would otherwise require physical display space. The system captures product data from inventory systems and presents it through a mobile application, allowing customers to view extensive product catalogs without occupying additional retail floor space.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions product information from the physical dimension (display shelves and racks) to the digital dimension (mobile device screens). By projecting product catalogs into the digital realm, the system enables unlimited product variety display without constraining physical store layout and space.
2Adaptability or versatility
If salespersons manually retrieve additional items from inventory, then customers can access extended inventory, but service time and labor requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system empowers customers to independently access and view extended inventory through mobile devices without requiring salesperson intervention. The mobile application allows customers to browse product variations, check availability, and initiate item retrieval requests autonomously, transforming the traditionally staff-dependent process into a self-service experience.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a mobile application as an intermediary between customers and the inventory system. This digital mediator facilitates seamless communication and coordination, allowing customers to request items and enabling automated or streamlined retrieval processes without direct human-to-human interaction.
3Loss of information
If physical stores maintain comprehensive inventory information, then customers can access complete product details, but information management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal information management platform that serves multiple functions: inventory tracking, product information storage, real-time availability updates, and customer-facing display. This multi-functional system consolidates what would otherwise require separate systems for each function, reducing overall complexity while maintaining comprehensive information availability.
Data Source
AI summary
In various example embodiments, systems and methods for automatic location based discovery of variations of displayed items in a store are presented. In some embodiments, a beacon ID associated with a beacon device located at a store is received. In other embodiments, at least one product identifier associated with the beacon ID and representing one or more of store displayed items available for sale by the store is determined. In further embodiments, product variations of the one or more store displayed items available for sale by the store are identified associated with the at least one product identifier. In another embodiment, display information representing the product variations of the one or more store displayed items available for sale by the store is provided.