Retail Navigation Path Adjustment for Product Discovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Retail stores face challenges in helping customers navigate to specific products due to large layouts and the lack of recommendations along navigation paths, leading to customer frustration and lost sales.
Innovation Solution
A system that uses a mobile application to search for products, provide store maps, and suggest additional items along the navigation path, adjusting the route based on proximity to recommended products, allowing customers to easily find products and related items within the store.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a retail store provides basic navigation to product locations, then customers can find their target products, but the store loses potential sales from recommended items along the path
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-calculates and stores recommended products along navigation paths before customers arrive at the store. When a customer requests navigation, the system retrieves pre-computed recommendations based on the destination product, ensuring both quick navigation and targeted product suggestions are provided simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile application serves as an intermediary between the customer and the store's product catalog. It delivers both navigation directions and personalized product recommendations through the same interface, transforming a simple navigation tool into a multi-functional shopping assistant that increases sales opportunities.
2Device complexity
If the store map shows only the destination product location, then navigation is simple and direct, but customers miss opportunities to discover related products
Solution Approach 1:
The map interface applies local quality by displaying different types of information at different locations. The destination product location shows navigation markers, while intermediate locations along the path display recommended products. This selective information display maintains interface simplicity while enriching the navigation experience with relevant product suggestions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system adds a temporal dimension to the static map by sequencing information display along the navigation path. As customers progress through the store, the system dynamically presents recommendations at appropriate locations along the route, transforming a two-dimensional map into a multi-dimensional navigation and recommendation system.
3Productivity
If the system provides detailed product information and recommendations, then sales opportunities increase, but the navigation becomes more complex and harder to use
Solution Approach 1:
The information delivery is segmented into distinct categories: essential navigation directions and optional product recommendations. Customers can focus on the primary navigation function while selectively engaging with recommendation content. This segmentation maintains navigation simplicity while providing comprehensive product information for those interested.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts information presentation based on customer behavior and context. Recommendations are presented in a dynamic, interactive format within the mobile application, allowing customers to explore product details at their own pace without interfering with the core navigation functionality.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method includes selecting a product to be located in a retail store, obtaining a store map, the store map being indicative of a layout of the retail store, and presenting the store map overlaid with an icon and an initial navigation path on a graphical display of the mobile device, wherein the store map represents the retail store and the icon and the initial navigation path are positioned overlaid on the map to designate a physical location of the product, and suggesting at least one product on-route of the initial navigation path, adjusting the initial navigation path to include the at least one suggested product, and presenting the initial navigation path and the adjusted navigation path positioned overlaid on the store map to the mobile device for display.