Cross-Site Product Watchlists for Shopping Fatigue Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Consumers face information overload and shopping fatigue when browsing multiple retail websites for items of interest, with existing methods like shopping carts and lists being inconvenient and time-consuming, and items often becoming unavailable before purchase.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for creating a watchlist of products or services, allowing users to identify and store items of interest across multiple websites, receive updates, and automatically add similar items, with options for email notifications based on user preferences and friend purchases.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If consumers browse multiple retail websites to find items of interest, then they can access a wide variety of products and information, but they experience information overload and shopping fatigue
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the shopping process by introducing a watchlist feature that separates item tracking from the actual purchasing decision. Users can add items to a watchlist across multiple websites without immediately committing to purchase, thereby dividing the overwhelming shopping task into manageable steps and reducing cognitive load.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism (watchlist system) between the consumer and multiple retail websites. This intermediary consolidates item tracking across different websites into a single interface, mediating the interaction between the consumer and the vast array of available products, thereby reducing information overload.
2Reliability
If consumers create shopping carts or lists on each website, then they can track items of interest, but they must log in and enter personal information on each website which is inconvenient and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal watchlist system that functions across multiple retail websites simultaneously. Instead of requiring separate shopping carts on each website, a single watchlist serves all websites, eliminating the need for users to repeatedly create and manage separate tracking lists on different platforms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the item tracking functionality across multiple websites into a single consolidated watchlist. By combining what would otherwise be separate shopping cart operations into one unified interface, users can track items from various websites without repeating the login and cart creation process on each site.
3Measurement precision
If consumers delay purchase decisions to gather more information, then they can make better purchasing decisions, but items may become unavailable before purchase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables preliminary action by allowing users to add items to a watchlist in advance without immediately purchasing. This preliminary tracking action secures the user's intent to purchase while maintaining the option to continue gathering information, and the system can notify users when items become available for purchase or when stock levels change.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism that notifies users about changes in item availability, price changes, or stock levels for items on their watchlist. This feedback loop allows users to make informed purchasing decisions based on real-time or updated information while ensuring they are alerted when items become available, thus bridging the gap between delayed decision-making and item availability.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for creating a watchlist of products relating to any type of item/service/event for which any type of purchase may be made by a user. The system permits a user to access a website and identify items of the website that are of interest and other users (or friends) and associate one or more users with one or more items in the watchlist. The system stores the identified items and friends in a watchlist for later retrieval, review, transmission or action by the user. The system may periodically inform the user of any changes to the items of interest or any changes in purchases made by the user's friends to items in the watchlist. Items may alternatively be added from multiple websites, multiple emails or automatically by the system.