Mobile Shopping Route Optimization via Price and Location Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Shoppers face inefficiencies in finding the best prices and locations for items on their shopping lists due to the need for multiple trips and lack of immediate information on product availability and prices across different locations, leading to wasted time and money.
Innovation Solution
A system on a mobile device that receives product identification information, determines product location, and provides a proposed route to the nearest location, incorporating price comparison and intelligent shopping list features to optimize purchasing decisions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If shoppers manually check multiple locations for product availability and prices, then they can find items, but they waste time and money on multiple trips
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by automatically searching for product availability and prices at multiple locations before the shopper makes a trip. The mobile device queries databases and retrieves information in advance, allowing shoppers to plan their visits efficiently and avoid unnecessary trips to locations where items are unavailable or not competitively priced.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile device acts as an intermediary between the shopper and multiple retail locations. It automatically queries product availability and price databases, processes the information, and presents consolidated results to the shopper, eliminating the need for manual checking at each location and reducing time loss.
2Loss of information
If shoppers visit multiple locations to compare prices and availability, then they can make informed decisions, but they incur additional travel costs and time
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary price comparisons by querying multiple location databases before the shopper travels. It retrieves price information, availability status, and store details in advance, allowing shoppers to identify the most cost-effective location and route, thereby minimizing travel costs and time while still making informed decisions.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile device serves as an intermediary that automatically collects and compares price information from multiple locations. It processes the data, applies routing algorithms, and presents optimized recommendations that balance price comparison needs with travel cost minimization, eliminating the need for exhaustive manual visits.
3Speed
If shoppers do not have immediate information on product availability, then they can make quick decisions, but they may visit locations where items are out of stock
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary checks of product availability at multiple locations before the shopper makes a decision or travels. It queries real-time or near-real-time databases, retrieves availability status, and presents accurate information quickly, enabling shoppers to make both fast and reliable decisions about where to purchase items.
4Adaptability or versatility
If shoppers manually plan shopping routes, then they can visit multiple locations, but they inefficiencyly organize their trips
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically generates and adjusts shopping routes based on multiple factors including product availability, store hours, traffic conditions, and shopper preferences. It uses routing algorithms to optimize the sequence of visits, providing flexible yet efficient route recommendations that adapt to changing conditions while maximizing shopping productivity.
Data Source
AI summary
Price searching and intelligent shopping lists on a mobile device is provided. A system for providing a shopping list comprises at least one subsystem that receives input data containing product identification information, at least one subsystem that determines location information of a product identified by the product identification information, and at least one subsystem that determines a proposed route from a particular location to a location of the product identified by the location information.