Multi-Platform E-Commerce Distribution via Unified Schema
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current e-commerce platforms are limited to a single digital location, restricting online merchants' ability to expand their product distribution across multiple internet platforms, leading to inefficiencies in digital merchandising and high costs, and cumbersome transaction processes that result in low conversion rates.
Innovation Solution
A multi-platform e-commerce distribution system that uses a processor-enabled bi-directional data translation system, product distribution platform, and commerce graph API to create a unified schema for product data, allowing seamless product distribution across various platforms and enabling automatic updates and order fulfillment, thereby overcoming the limitations of single-location e-commerce.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If merchants use traditional e-commerce platforms to manage products, then product information can be stored and displayed on a single website, but product distribution is limited to one digital location and merchants spend excessive time and money on digital merchandising
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal product information model that can be distributed across multiple digital locations (websites, mobile apps, voice interfaces, social media platforms) through a single backend system. This multi-functional architecture allows the same product catalog to serve multiple sales channels simultaneously, eliminating the need for separate merchandising efforts for each platform and enabling merchants to reach customers wherever they are online.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the e-commerce architecture into distinct layers: a centralized product information model, a distribution layer that handles multi-platform delivery, and frontend presentation layers. This segmentation allows product data to be managed once at the core while being automatically distributed to multiple digital locations, reducing the time merchants spend on repetitive merchandising tasks across different platforms.
2Adaptability or versatility
If merchants use traditional e-commerce platforms, then transactions can be processed through a single website, but the system lacks integration with multiple digital locations and voice interfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary layer (the distribution system with unified product model) that sits between the backend product data and multiple frontend interfaces. This mediator handles the complexity of integrating with various platforms (websites, mobile apps, voice interfaces like Alexa and Google Home, social media) by providing standardized data formats and translation protocols, thereby simplifying the overall system architecture while enabling broad platform compatibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The unified product information model serves as a universal interface that can communicate with multiple types of digital locations and voice interfaces simultaneously. The system provides platform-agnostic data structures that can be consumed by diverse frontend applications, enabling extensive platform integration without proportionally increasing system complexity.
3Productivity
If merchants direct all traffic to their single website for purchases, then transactions are centralized, but conversion rates remain low due to cumbersome transaction processes
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring product information, pricing, and transaction capabilities across multiple digital locations before customers arrive. Product data is pre-processed and formatted for various platforms, and transaction routes are pre-established, so that when customers make purchases through any interface (voice, mobile, web), the transaction process is already optimized and ready, reducing friction and improving conversion rates.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates simplified copies of the transaction experience across different interfaces. Instead of requiring customers to navigate to a full website for every purchase, the system provides streamlined transaction copies that work directly within voice interfaces, mobile apps, and social media platforms, maintaining security and functionality while dramatically simplifying the user experience and increasing conversion rates.
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-platform e-commerce distribution system includes a bi-directional data translation system, a product distribution platform, and a commerce graph API. The bi-directional data translation system extracts product data and translates product data. The product distribution platform includes a product repository of the purchasable products containing information that has been converted into a unified product schema. The bi-directional data translation system translates product information between formats of one or more different merchants and the unified product schema of the product distribution platform. The bi-directional data translation system also translates the product information between the unified product schema of the product distribution platform and one or more formats expected by one or more individual e-commerce platforms. The commerce graph API receives orders from one or more purchasers via multiple third party applications that are converted into order transaction data in a unified order schema. The commerce graph API also converts the order transaction data in the unified order schema into order write back data in a platform-specific format expected by the e-commerce platform of product origin.