Dynamic Electronic Tag for Item-Level Discounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for discounting items in retail stores are either time-intensive and costly for individual item labeling or lack the ability to mark down individual items, leading to reduced customer traffic and inefficient marketing strategies.
Innovation Solution
An electronic dynamic communication device in the form of a thin, flexible sticker or tag with a built-in timer and display, capable of generating and displaying discount information at random or predefined times, allowing for item-level discounts and promotions, reducing the need for employee re-labeling and minimizing overhead costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If individual items are marked down ad-hoc by store employees, then individual item discounting is achieved, but store employees spend time re-labeling each item every time the price is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The electronic tag autonomously updates its own display without requiring employee intervention. When a discount is applied to an item, the tag automatically changes its displayed price and discount information, eliminating the need for employees to manually re-label each item.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical process of employees physically labeling items with an electronic display system. The electronic tag uses digital displays to show pricing information, which can be updated remotely and automatically, substituting the mechanical labeling process with an electronic information update process.
2Productivity
If items in bulk are marked down by discounting an entire SKU, then discounting is less time-intensive, but the ability to mark down individual items is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the discounting capability from the bulk SKU level down to the individual item level. Each electronic tag on an individual item can be independently controlled and updated, allowing selective discounting of specific items within a SKU while maintaining the efficiency of centralized control.
Solution Approach 2:
The electronic tag system provides multi-functionality by supporting both bulk SKU-level discounting and individual item discounting through the same infrastructure. The system can update multiple tags simultaneously for bulk discounts or update individual tags selectively for item-specific discounts, making the system adaptable to different pricing strategies.
3Ease of manufacture
If discounting items by entire SKU is done on a scheduled basis, then customers can schedule their visits to the store, but this reduces unpredictable customer traffic
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic, unpredictable discount timing at the individual item level. Instead of fixed scheduled discounts for entire SKUs, the system can randomly or selectively activate discounts on individual items, creating unexpected value for customers and encouraging spontaneous store visits throughout the week rather than only on scheduled discount days.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements periodic discount activation on individual items, where discounts can be turned on and off at varying intervals and times. This creates a rotating pattern of discounted items throughout the store, encouraging customers to visit repeatedly to discover which items are currently discounted, thereby generating more frequent and unpredictable traffic patterns.
Data Source
AI summary
An dynamic electronic communication device. The tag according to embodiments of the invention is designed or set to discount, promote, incentivize, or apply information at certain states or within a certain timeframe at initial deployment, the tags themselves being capable of handling the logic. The tag generally includes a circuit, such as a silicon chip, that controls a flexible printed display, which displays the information when applied. The tag is optionally encapsulated in a plastic or glass case. The tag is made of a suitably small size such that the tag can easily be placed on individual items, and can be secured to other objects via an adhesive backing, sewn in, pinned on, and the like.