POS System Customer Reminder for Reserved Merchandise
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Solution Overview
Problem
Customers often forget to retrieve reserved merchandise when entering a store, as existing systems lack timely notification of arrival dates or fail to remind them during their shopping process.
Innovation Solution
A POS system that includes a storage unit, input unit, display, and communication interface, which retrieves reserved merchandise information based on customer identification codes, providing timely notifications of available reserved items during the shopping transaction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a notification system is implemented to remind customers of reserved merchandise arrival, then customer reminder effectiveness is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The notification function is merged with the existing POS terminal and payment processing system. The POS terminal retrieves reserved merchandise information from the store server during the normal payment process, eliminating the need for separate notification devices or systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The POS terminal performs multiple functions: it processes customer payments, retrieves reserved merchandise information from the store server, and notifies customers of their reserved items availability. This multi-functionality reduces overall system complexity by consolidating multiple systems into one.
2Loss of information
If reserved merchandise information is retrieved and displayed during payment process, then customer awareness of reserved items is improved, but payment processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system retrieves reserved merchandise information from the store server during the payment processing step, before the customer completes their purchase. This preliminary retrieval ensures the information is ready for immediate display without adding significant delay to the overall payment process.
Solution Approach 2:
The notification function is integrated into the continuous payment processing flow. While the payment is being processed, the system simultaneously retrieves and displays reserved merchandise information, making the notification process continuous rather than a separate discrete step.
Data Source
AI summary
A point of sale device according to an embodiment includes a storage unit, an input unit, a display, a communication interface, and a processor. The input unit receives an input of a customer identification code corresponding to a customer that is performing a transaction. The input unit also receives an input of one or more merchandise information codes each corresponding to a merchandise item that the customer has selected for purchase in the transaction. The processor retrieves, based on the input customer identification code, one or more merchandise reservation codes each corresponding to a merchandise item that the corresponding customer has previously reserved. The display provides a notification that the previously reserved merchandise item is available.