Cross-Channel Retail Experience via Location-Based Product Sync
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current technologies fail to provide a seamless retail experience for customers as they transition between electronic and physical retail locations, lacking the ability to dynamically and automatically provide relevant information about previously viewed products across different store environments.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a computer-implemented method and system that uses electronic devices equipped with sensors and transceivers to determine the location of the device, connect with retailer servers, and display information about previously viewed products, including pricing, availability, and promotions, specific to the physical retail store the device is near.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a customer uses separate electronic and physical retail channels, then each channel can operate independently, but the customer experience is fragmented and not seamless across channels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines electronic retail and physical retail channels into a unified system where customer viewing history and product information are merged across both channels. The application displays previously viewed products from the electronic store when the customer visits a physical store, creating a seamless cross-channel experience that preserves customer information throughout the transition between channels.
2Ease of operation
If the system displays all previously viewed products regardless of location, then complete product information is provided, but irrelevant information is shown to the customer
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by customizing the displayed product information based on the customer's current physical location. When the customer enters a physical store, the system displays previously viewed products along with location-specific information such as pricing, availability, and promotions at that particular store. This ensures that the information presented is both comprehensive and locally relevant.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the system continuously tracks and updates customer location and product views, then seamless experience is maintained, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by utilizing the electronic device's built-in sensors (GPS, accelerometer, gyroscope) to automatically track customer location without requiring additional specialized hardware. The system autonomously determines when the customer is at a physical store location and automatically retrieves and displays relevant product information, reducing system complexity while maintaining seamless cross-channel functionality.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enhances the retail experience by providing customers with contextual information about previously viewed items, improving customer satisfaction and retailer marketing across electronic and physical stores, increasing brand loyalty and retention.
Implementation Method 1
determining a location of the electronic device based on one or more sensors of the electronic device
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques for providing a seamless user experience across electronic and physical retail stores of a retailer include storing, locally with a session corresponding to a user's visit to the retailer's electronic store, indications of items that were viewed and/or focused on by the user at the electronic store. At least some of said indications may be transferred to a centralized data storage of the retailer for persistence after the session is terminated. Subsequently, an electronic device operated by the user may determine its location and determine, based on its location, a particular physical retail store of the retailer. Via communications with one or more retailer servers, items that were recently viewed by the user at the electronic store may be identified, and indications thereof may be presented on the display of the electronic device in conjunction with information corresponding to the recently viewed items at the particular physical store.