Single-Use Offer Code Distribution via Text Messaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional affiliate-network systems are ill-equipped to handle the distribution and tracking of offers that are redeemable both online and offline, particularly with the proliferation of smartphones and networked devices, leading to complexities in compensating publishers and providing analytics across multiple channels.
Innovation Solution
An affiliate-network system that distributes and tracks offers redeemable online and offline by using single-use offer codes, sending them via text messages, and dynamically adjusts offer terms based on feedback from multiple channels, while providing unified analytics and control mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional affiliate-network systems are used to distribute offers redeemable both online and offline, then offers can be distributed through multiple channels, but tracking and compensating publishers becomes complex and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments offer tracking by creating distinct offer codes for different publishers and channels. Each offer code is uniquely associated with a specific publisher and channel (online or offline), allowing the system to track redemptions separately for each segment without requiring complex cross-channel attribution logic.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary mechanism - the unique offer code - that acts as a mediator between the publisher, the consumer, and the merchant. This code carries all necessary tracking information and simplifies the compensation process by enabling automatic identification and crediting of the referring publisher regardless of the redemption channel.
2Ease of operation
If single-use offer codes are distributed via text messages, then offer redemption tracking is simplified, but offer management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service functionality where the text message itself contains all necessary information for offer redemption and tracking. The offer code embedded in the text message automatically identifies the publisher and channel when redeemed, eliminating the need for manual tracking or complex management interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The text message serves multiple functions simultaneously: it delivers the offer to the consumer, provides tracking information for the publisher, specifies the redemption channel, and enables automatic verification at the point of redemption. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate systems for each purpose.
3Quantity of substance
If publishers work with a large number of merchants, then publishers can receive more offers to present to audiences, but tracking compensable actions across hundreds of merchants becomes resource-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses offer codes as replicable tracking tokens that can be distributed across multiple merchants without requiring new tracking infrastructure for each merchant-publisher relationship. Each code is a self-contained copy of the necessary tracking information, allowing publishers to work with numerous merchants efficiently.
4Adaptability or versatility
If affiliate-network systems track offer redemptions across multiple devices and accounts, then consumer offer activities can be reflected across devices, but the system becomes ill-suited for this purpose
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by embedding the publisher identification and channel information directly into the offer code before distribution. This pre-configured tracking information remains consistent across all devices and accounts, ensuring reliable attribution regardless of where or how the offer is redeemed.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a process, including: obtaining an offer issued by a merchant, the offer being redeemable on-line, at the merchant's website, in-store, at a physical location of the merchant, or both; obtaining a plurality of single-use offer codes associated with the offer; receiving a request for a single-use offer code, the request having a phone number; sending to the phone number, via a text messaging service, a text message comprising a uniform resource identifier (URI) to a select single-use offer code of the plurality single-use offer codes; and sending the single-use offer code to a consumer user device in response to a user selection of the URI.