Mobile-guided retail retrieval system with automated payment verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Implementing omnichannel retailing for a seamless commerce experience requires significant infrastructure investments, which can be a barrier for retailers, especially brick-and-mortar establishments.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing existing infrastructure such as cameras and short-range wireless transceivers to enable customers to select and retrieve products online without the need for in-store payment lines, using IP networks, computer servers, and mobile applications to manage customer interactions and verify product retrieval locations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If omnichannel retailing infrastructure is implemented, then seamless commerce experience is improved, but infrastructure investment cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables customers to autonomously retrieve their online-ordered items from designated shelves using mobile device guidance, eliminating the need for traditional checkout lanes and reducing infrastructure requirements. The customer serves themselves by navigating to picked items and presenting their mobile device for automated verification and payment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces physical checkout infrastructure (registers, cashiers, payment terminals) with a mobile-based system using smartphones, cameras, and wireless communication. The mechanical process of checking out at a register is substituted with digital verification of item retrieval and automated payment processing.
2Reliability
If traditional checkout lanes are maintained, then payment verification is ensured, but customer wait time increases
Solution Approach 1:
Customers complete the payment setup process in advance by entering payment information in the mobile application before entering the store. The system preliminarily verifies customer identity and payment method upon entry, so that when items are retrieved, payment is automatically processed without waiting in line.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows customers to bypass the traditional checkout lane entirely. After retrieving items, customers simply present their mobile device at an automated verification point or exit, and payment is processed immediately without the delays associated with manual checkout procedures.
3Adaptability or versatility
If in-store payment processing is implemented, then commerce channels are integrated, but store layout complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile device serves multiple functions: it guides customers to items, verifies item retrieval through camera scanning, processes payment, and provides receipt delivery. This single universal tool replaces multiple specialized infrastructure elements, simplifying the store layout while maintaining channel integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile application acts as an intermediary between the customer, the inventory system, and the payment system. It coordinates all interactions and information exchange, enabling seamless integration of online and offline channels without requiring complex physical infrastructure changes in the store.
Data Source
AI summary
Customers are identified as they enter a store and linked to one or more items previously ordered on-line. A route through the store to retrieve the ordered items is generated and sent to the customer's mobile device for display. The customer's movements are tracked as he/she goes through the store to retrieve products, and the location of the customer determined whenever he/she selects a product from the shelves. Based on whether the locations of the customer when he/she selected the products matches the predefined locations of the items ordered on-line, the customer is directed to go to one of an audit station or checkout lane, or alternatively, to bypass both audit station and the checkout lane and exit the store. In the latter case, the customer's account is automatically charged for the total cost of the ordered items.