Mobile Proximity Donation System for Local Merchant Analytics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current automated cause marketing (ACM) programs struggle to effectively incorporate local and regional businesses and supported organizations, as they often lack internet presence and are not cost-effectively integrated due to the large-scale operational requirements of existing ACM systems, and there is a lack of exposure to consumers who are not actively seeking donation opportunities.
Innovation Solution
A computer network-based method and system that links users and local or regional merchants to a loyalty program, enabling transaction recording and analytics, allowing merchants to access data for increasing revenue and facilitating contributions to supported organizations, while also using mobile devices and social networks to promote the ACM program and enhance customer acquisition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional ACM programs are implemented, then national or large-scale businesses can benefit from automated cause marketing, but local and regional businesses are excluded due to infrastructure costs and scale requirements
Solution Approach 1:
A mobile device acts as an intermediary between local merchants and the ACM program, enabling participation without requiring merchants to have internet presence or complex infrastructure. The mobile device captures transaction data and communicates with the ACM system, bridging the gap between simple local businesses and the automated marketing platform.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables local merchants to automatically participate in ACM through their existing mobile devices and point-of-sale systems without requiring dedicated ACM infrastructure. The mobile device self-captures transaction information and automatically transmits it to the ACM program, eliminating the need for complex merchant-side infrastructure.
2Productivity
If ACM programs focus on large-scale operations, then sufficient revenue and exposure can be generated, but local and regional businesses cannot be effectively incorporated
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the ACM program into mobile-device-based transaction capture at the merchant level and centralized processing at the platform level. This allows local businesses to be incorporated individually through their mobile devices while the centralized system aggregates data to generate sufficient revenue and exposure across the entire network.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention adds a mobile device dimension to ACM participation, allowing merchants to engage with the program through their existing mobile devices rather than requiring traditional internet infrastructure. This dimensional shift enables local businesses to participate without compromising the revenue-generating capabilities of the overall system.
3Loss of information
If consumers are targeted through traditional ACM channels, then those actively seeking donation opportunities can be reached, but consumers not actively seeking donations remain unaware of the program
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback loops where transaction data from participating merchants is analyzed to identify patterns and opportunities for targeted marketing. This feedback enables the ACM program to reach consumers who are not actively seeking donations by presenting relevant cause marketing opportunities at appropriate moments based on their purchasing behavior.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention teaches a system, method and computer program for enabling local or regional merchants to participate in an automated cause marketing (ACM) program using mobile devices. The ACM program that may provide benefits to several parties involved in fundraising for one or more supported organizations, including one or more supported organizations, advertising providers, merchants, and individuals. Merchants are able to access enhanced analytics regarding their transactions with members and non-members of the ACM program and can use these enhanced analytics to realize an increased number of or revenue from transactions with members. The present invention also teaches a system and method for enabling advertising providers to acquire and analyze data associated with consumers-merchant transactions. The present invention provides the above features optimally using mobile devices. Furthermore, the present invention, may enable a member to disseminate its charitable preferences and contribution notifications to members of its electronic social networks.