Digital Menu System for PoS Integration and Self-Service

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing Point of Sale (PoS) systems face inefficiencies in customer order taking and payment processing, leading to increased wait times for customers and resource wastage for establishments, as customers wait for employees to take orders, receive bills, and process payments, especially when using credit or debit cards.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that utilize a mobile application and cloud-based server to remotely process customer payments and provide menu information, allowing customers to check-in, order, and pay independently, with the server communicating with PoS systems and payment gateways to associate orders with users, retrieve session information, and process payments without employee intervention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If employees manually take orders and process payments at the PoS system, then customer service interaction is maintained, but customer wait time increases and establishment productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecustomer wait timeVSAvoidestablishment productivity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables customers to view menus, place orders, and process payments through their own mobile devices without employee intervention. The mobile application allows customers to independently interact with the PoS system, eliminating the need for employees to manually take orders or process transactions at the counter.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system pre-loads menu information onto customer mobile devices before arrival or upon seating. Customers can review menus and place orders in advance, so that when they are ready to order, the process is already initiated or completed, significantly reducing wait time at the PoS terminal.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If employees are occupied with bill retrieval and payment processing, then accurate billing is ensured, but table turnover rate decreases and resource utilization worsens

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetable turnover rateVSAvoidbilling accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Customers independently retrieve their bills and process payments through the mobile application, which automatically pulls billing information from the PoS system. The system handles billing accuracy through automated data retrieval and confirmation protocols, eliminating manual intervention while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides real-time feedback to customers during the billing process, displaying itemized charges and allowing customers to verify accuracy before payment. This automated feedback mechanism ensures billing correctness while freeing employees for other tasks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If payment terminals are brought to customers for card payments, then secure transaction processing is achieved, but service time increases and operational efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransaction securityVSAvoidservice time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces the physical payment terminal interaction with a mobile-based payment interface. Customers use their smartphones to complete transactions through the application, which communicates securely with the PoS system and payment processors, eliminating the need for physical terminal handling while maintaining security protocols.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Ease of operation

If manual order taking and payment processing is used, then customer assistance is provided, but employee workload increases and service speed decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecustomer assistanceVSAvoidservice speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The mobile application guides customers through ordering and payment processes with intuitive interfaces and automated assistance, reducing the need for employee intervention while maintaining ease of use. The system provides built-in support features within the application to assist customers independently.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS11842382B2Systems and methods for interfacing with point-of-sale systems and customer devices at an establishment

Publication Date: 2023.12.12 APP8 INC

AI summary

The present disclosure provides systems and methods for generating a digital menu for an establishment. In accordance with some embodiments, a system for generating a digital menu for an establishment is configured to: retrieve menu data from a point of sale (PoS) system at the establishment; retrieve supplemental information for the retrieved menu data; generate the digital menu based on the retrieved menu data and the supplemental information; and transmit the digital menu to an electronic device for display to a user.