Decision Organizer Tool for Cross-Retailer Shopping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Online shopping for multiple related items is complex and time-consuming due to the lack of efficient tools for tracking and managing purchases across multiple online retailers, with no means to facilitate a single purchase event for related items from different stores.
Innovation Solution
A decision organizer tool (DOT) that operates within a web browser, allowing users to select and track items, monitor prices, and automatically identify alternatives, negotiate purchases, and access multiple retailer sites to find the best options, providing a single point of purchase and facilitating the procurement of sets of related items.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If consumers review items from multiple online retailers manually, then they can compare product options, but the process becomes time-consuming and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a decision organizer tool as an intermediary between consumers and multiple online retailers. This tool automatically collects, organizes, and compares product information from various sources, eliminating the need for manual review while maintaining accurate product comparison capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The decision organizer performs preliminary actions by pre-collecting and organizing product data from multiple retailers before the consumer makes a purchasing decision. This advance preparation of information reduces the time required for the actual shopping and comparison process.
2Adaptability or versatility
If consumers engage in multiple transactions to obtain related items from different retailers, then they can access a wider variety of products, but the transaction process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple separate transactions into a single integrated purchasing process. The decision organizer consolidates selections from multiple retailers and coordinates the transactions, allowing consumers to acquire related items from different sources through one unified process rather than managing separate transactions independently.
3Adaptability or versatility
If variations on items result in different variations required in other items, then product customization options increase, but the decision-making process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The decision organizer implements feedback mechanisms that automatically adjust and coordinate product variations across multiple items. When a consumer selects a specific variation of one item, the system provides feedback about compatible or required variations of related items, streamlining the configuration process while maintaining comprehensive product customization options.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods of displaying product information relating to multiple purchase options are provided. A method includes displaying, in a first portion of a user interface, a web browser and displaying, in a second portion of the user interface, a decision organizing tool comprising a candidate icon portion comprising a plurality of candidate icons and an active icon portion. The method also includes receiving instructions to transfer of one of the plurality of candidate icons from the candidate icon portion to the active icon portion and, in response to the receiving, transferring the one of the plurality of candidate icons to the active icon portion, where the one of the plurality of candidate icons provides a link to an item currently displayed in the web browser and offered for sale. Effectively becoming a common shopping cart for multiple websites simultaneously.