Self-Service Voucher Creation Interface for Retail Substantiation

Solution Overview

Problem

The existing process of setting up purchase substantiation programs is tedious and costly for retailers, requiring multiple meetings and significant man-hours, making these programs less cost-effective for both providers and retailers.

Innovation Solution

A self-service user interface system that allows providers to create and manage purchase vouchers independently, including selecting voucher types, products, and usage parameters, generating voucher identifiers, and storing these parameters in a networked database, facilitating voucher redemption through a network-accessible interface.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If traditional setup process is used for purchase substantiation programs, then program configuration can be achieved, but it requires multiple meetings and significant man-hours increasing operational cost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of program setupVSAvoidsetup time

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables providers to self-service the entire voucher setup process through an intuitive user interface. Providers can independently configure voucher types, select products, set usage parameters, and manage campaigns without requiring retailer staff intervention or multiple meetings, thereby eliminating the traditional time-consuming setup process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the manual mechanical process of setting up substantiation programs through in-person meetings and manual configuration with an automated electronic system. The user interface and database-driven architecture automatically handle program configuration, product selection, and voucher generation, substituting manual operations with digital processes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of manufacture

If traditional setup process is used for purchase substantiation programs, then program configuration can be achieved, but it requires significant man-hours increasing operational cost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of program setupVSAvoidman-hours required

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables providers to self-service the entire voucher setup process through an intuitive user interface. Providers can independently configure voucher types, select products, set usage parameters, and manage campaigns without requiring retailer staff intervention or multiple meetings, thereby eliminating the traditional time-consuming setup process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the manual mechanical process of setting up substantiation programs through in-person meetings and manual configuration with an automated electronic system. The user interface and database-driven architecture automatically handle program configuration, product selection, and voucher generation, substituting manual operations with digital processes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Productivity

If self-service system is implemented, then setup time and operational cost are reduced, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesetup efficiencyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system employs a universal user interface that handles multiple functions including voucher type selection, product configuration, usage parameter setting, and campaign management through a single integrated platform. This multi-functional approach consolidates what would otherwise require multiple separate systems and manual processes into one unified interface, improving productivity without proportionally increasing user-facing complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a database as an intermediary between the user interface and the underlying system components. This database layer abstracts the complexity of the system architecture from the user interface, allowing providers to interact with simplified configuration options while the database manages the intricate relationships between vouchers, products, and usage parameters

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11068861B2Apparatus and method for self-service voucher creation

Publication Date: 2021.07.20 WALMART APOLLO LLC

AI summary

Systems, apparatuses and methods are provided herein for creating a purchase voucher. In one embodiment, a method of creating a purchase voucher is provided. The method includes the steps of: providing a network accessible user interface for configuring the purchase voucher, receiving a selection of a voucher type through the user interface, receiving a selection of one or more products through the user interface, generating voucher usage parameters based on at least the selection of the voucher type and the selection of the one or more products, associating the voucher usage parameters with a voucher identifier, the voucher identifier being configured to be used by a customer to redeem the purchase voucher with a retailer, and storing the voucher usage parameters and the associated voucher identifier at a networked database.