Retail Test App Distribution via Location-Based Push
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Solution Overview
Problem
Businesses face challenges in correlating customer search and purchase data across different channels, leading to inefficiencies in cross-selling opportunities and inability to effectively promote researched products, while test software applications are often hacked and lack user guidance.
Innovation Solution
A system that stores customer search and inquiry information from multiple sources, correlates this data, and provides test applications only when the customer is present in a retail location, preventing hacking and offering in-person assistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If test applications are made available for download online, then customers can research products before purchase, but the applications are often hacked and used without purchasing
Solution Approach 1:
The system pushes test applications to mobile devices in advance of the customer's visit to the retail location, establishing controlled distribution before the customer can access the application. This preliminary action prevents unauthorized online distribution and hacking while still allowing product research to occur in a controlled environment.
Solution Approach 2:
The retail location acts as an intermediary between the application distributor and the customer. By requiring the customer to visit the physical store to receive and use the test application, the system introduces a controlled intermediary point that prevents direct online access and potential hacking, while still enabling product research functionality.
2Productivity
If customer data from multiple sources is collected and correlated, then cross-selling opportunities improve, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The customer profile database serves multiple functions: it stores purchase history, tracks product research activities, correlates data from online and offline sources, and enables targeted marketing campaigns. By creating a universal database that handles all these functions, the system improves cross-selling effectiveness without proportionally increasing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges previously separate data sources (online purchase data, offline store data, product research data) into a single correlated customer profile. This consolidation allows comprehensive cross-selling opportunities to be identified while managing complexity through unified data structures and correlation algorithms.
3Reliability
If test applications are provided with limited time access, then hacking is discouraged, but customers lose access after the time limit even in the store
Solution Approach 1:
The application access time limit is made dynamic rather than static. Instead of a fixed time limit that applies to all customers uniformly, the system adjusts the access duration based on whether the customer remains at the retail location. This dynamic approach maintains security controls while accommodating actual customer behavior patterns.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors customer presence at the retail location and adjusts application access accordingly. If the customer remains in the store, the access time is extended; if they leave, access is revoked. This feedback mechanism ensures security requirements are met while providing convenient ongoing access for legitimate customers.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for storing information about searches and inquiries by a customer is provided. The system includes a customer service server that receives information from two or more sources, such as from a retail location sales agent, a website, a call center agent, etc. The information is associated and correlated to interrelate inquiries from the different sources. Further, when the user enters a retail location, a node or server at the retail location can push test application to a user's mobile device based on the past inquiries. These test applications are provided only when the customer is present in the retail location. As such, hacking the application is prevented. Further, with the customer using the application in the retail location, a sales agent is present to assist the customer.