Ghost Card Mobile Rewards Redemption System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing redemption systems for incentive, loyalty, and award programs often experience delays in rewarding participants and require inventory of rewards for instant redemption, limiting real-time or near real-time point redemption capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A mobile rewards redemption system utilizing a 'ghost' credit vehicle or card that allows program members to redeem points without visible integration or modifications to retailers' POS systems, enabling real-time or near real-time redemption through a mobile application and prepaid card management system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If traditional redemption systems are used, then rewards can be redeemed, but there are delays from the time a rewards fulfillment request is made to the time when the requested rewards are awarded
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-issues a credit vehicle (ghost card) to the member's mobile device before the actual redemption transaction occurs. This preliminary action allows the card management system to have the financial instrument ready in advance, enabling instantaneous redemption at the point of sale without delays for reward fulfillment requests or inventory checks.
2Productivity
If instant rewards are provided, then member satisfaction improves, but the system requires rewards to be in inventory
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a credit vehicle (ghost card) as an intermediary between the member's points balance and the actual reward fulfillment. The card management system issues this virtual card that can be immediately used at participating retailers, eliminating the need for physical reward inventory while enabling instant redemption. The ghost card acts as a mediator that converts points into spendable credit without requiring pre-stored physical rewards.
3Ease of operation
If a ghost credit vehicle is used, then real-time redemption is enabled without POS system modifications, but the transaction process becomes less transparent to participants
Solution Approach 1:
The member's mobile device with the mobile rewards application serves as the interface for the ghost card transaction. The application displays the points redemption information and transaction details to the member, making the system self-explanatory. The ghost card transaction appears on the member's statement with descriptive information, and the mobile application provides real-time updates, eliminating the need for retailers to explain the complex backend process.
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile rewards real-time redemption system allows members of programs to use a mobile rewards redemption application via their mobile device to redeem currency or points. A `ghost` credit/debit vehicle (account) is used to redeem the rewards currency or points. The ghost card completes the financial transaction which is, from the perspective of a redemption retailer, a conventional card transaction.