Mobile App Network for Proximity-Based Flash Sales
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current flash sale approaches are unable to direct alerts to prospective customers in close physical proximity to brick and mortar stores, limiting the effectiveness of real-time discounts.
Innovation Solution
A mobile application network that allows physical stores to send targeted digital flash sale alerts and coupons to customers based on geographic proximity, customer profiles, and time-sensitive offers, enabling in-store redemption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If online retailers use email to advertise flash sales to subscribers, then the sales can reach a wide audience, but the alerts cannot be directed to customers in close physical proximity to brick and mortar stores
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces mobile devices as an intermediary between retailers and customers, enabling location-based flash sale alerts to be delivered directly to customers in proximity to brick and mortar stores. This mediator (mobile device) bridges the gap between online flash sale capabilities and physical store locations, allowing targeted delivery without relying solely on email.
2Productivity
If flash sales are offered online with limited quantity and time, then urgency and conversion are increased, but brick and mortar stores cannot leverage real-time digital alerts to drive foot traffic
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements pre-configured flash sale parameters including limited quantity, time windows, and geographic proximity requirements before the sale activates. This preliminary setup enables automatic, real-time alert delivery to mobile devices of customers in proximity to stores, driving immediate foot traffic and conversion without manual intervention during the sale event.
3Loss of information
If retailers use traditional advertising methods, then brand awareness is maintained, but real-time inventory management and personalized offers are not optimized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a multi-functional system where the flash sale platform simultaneously handles customer data collection, geographic location tracking, real-time alert delivery, inventory management, and personalized offer distribution. This universal system consolidates multiple functions into a single infrastructure, optimizing data utilization without proportionally increasing complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A method includes receiving, by a warehouse server, flash sale data file from a retail-type server. The method further includes storing, by the warehouse server, the flash sale data file in a database that functions as a virtual warehouse of flash sales. The method further includes interpreting, by the warehouse server, the information of the flash sale data file to determine flash sale parameters. The method further includes determining, by the warehouse server, whether a computing device has customer-device data that corresponds to the flash sale parameters. The method further includes, when the computing device has the customer-device data that corresponds to the flash sale parameters, generating, by the warehouse server, a customer specific coupon regarding the flash sale. The method further includes transmitting, by the warehouse server, the customer specific coupon to the computing device.