Proxy Code System for Passive Phone Number Acquisition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Businesses face challenges in electronically communicating with customers due to the lack of electronic contact information, such as cell phone numbers, which leads to inefficient and costly communication methods.
Innovation Solution
A system and method to passively acquire and link a customer's phone number to their account without requiring active customer identification, using unique and proxy codes sent via phone call or text message, allowing businesses to obtain electronic contact information for communication purposes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If businesses request customers to actively provide electronic contact information, then electronic communication capability is improved, but customer participation time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of requiring customers to actively provide their phone numbers, the system inverts the approach by having customers passively receive a proxy code through automated calls or texts, which is then used to link their existing phone number to their account without active participation
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service by automatically capturing the customer's phone number through the proxy code mechanism, eliminating the need for customer effort in providing contact information while still achieving reliable electronic communication capability
2Reliability
If businesses require customers to provide electronic contact information, then electronic communication capability is improved, but implementation cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses automated telephony infrastructure to independently capture customer phone numbers through proxy codes, eliminating the need for manual data collection processes and reducing implementation costs while maintaining reliable electronic communication capability
3Productivity
If businesses send proxy codes to customers, then phone number acquisition efficiency is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The proxy code serves as an intermediary element that bridges the customer's existing phone number with the business's customer database, enabling efficient phone number acquisition through automated calls or texts while managing system complexity through a standardized code-based mechanism
Data Source
AI summary
Business would like to electronically communicate with a customer but may not have the resources to actively acquire the customer's phone number. To passively acquire and link a customer's phone number to the customer's account, a unique code may be created for each customer. A proxy code for the unique code may also be created. The proxy code may be sent to the customer with an invitation to open a new account, receive a new service, or renew a service by returning the proxy code by phone call or text message. The proxy code may then be received from the customer by phone call or text message. The phone number from which the phone call or text message has been received may be authenticated. The phone number may then be linked to the unique code based on the proxy code.