Patron Presence Notifications for Retail Workforce Capacity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional retail shopping experiences often fail to inform patrons about bulk purchase options, and existing solutions for handling large or heavy items are inefficient due to labor constraints and time management issues, limiting the ability to optimize store capacity and handle fluctuating demand.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that utilizes a manager system to determine the probability of patrons assisting with workload tasks by offering incentives, adjusting workforce capacity requirements based on patron behavior and venue factors, and sending tailored notifications to both venue agents and patrons to optimize resource allocation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If retail venue clerks manually handle shipping setup for large items, then patrons receive assistance with bulk purchases, but the time and labor required reduces clerk availability for other tasks
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables patrons to self-serve by automatically detecting their presence via mobile device signals, presenting bulk purchase offers, and facilitating transactions without requiring clerk intervention. The automated kiosk handles the entire process from detection to completion, freeing clerks for other tasks while maintaining patron assistance capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical process of clerk-assisted shipping setup with an automated electronic system using mobile device detection, software-based offer presentation, and automated transaction processing. This substitution eliminates the need for physical clerk involvement while maintaining the service function.
2Productivity
If retail venue offers bulk purchase discounts, then sales volume increases, but patrons with limited storage or expiration concerns may not take advantage
Solution Approach 1:
The system presents bulk purchase offers at varying levels of quantity, allowing patrons to choose partial bulk purchases that match their storage and usage needs. Rather than forcing all-or-nothing bulk purchases, the system adapts the offer quantity to what the patron can reasonably handle, increasing adoption while maintaining flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts bulk purchase offer parameters (quantity, pricing, delivery timing) based on detected patron presence, purchase history, and inferred storage capacity. This allows the same bulk purchase mechanism to adapt to different patron needs, from small incremental bulk purchases to large one-time purchases.
3Productivity
If the system automatically detects patron presence and sends notifications, then resource allocation is optimized, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the patron's existing mobile device as a multi-functional tool: it serves as the detection sensor via signal emission, the communication interface for notifications, and the transaction terminal. This universal use of a single device the system already possesses eliminates the need for additional specialized equipment, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining automation capabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, computer program products, and systems are presented. The method computer program products, and systems can include, for instance: obtaining information specifying a count of patrons currently at a venue and determining a probability that at least one patron included in the count of patrons will perform at least a portion of a venue work task; establishing a workload capacity requirement for maintaining operation of the venue, the establishing based on the count of patrons and the probability that the at least one patron included in the count of patrons will perform at least a portion of the venue work task; and sending notifications to a plurality of computer devices in the venue based on the establishing.