Smart Shelf LED Guidance for Personalized Pricing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Shoppers face difficulties in finding items in crowded stores due to disorganized layouts and lack of information on prices and discounts, leading to a poor shopping experience, especially when prices vary based on customer loyalty programs or rewards.
Innovation Solution
A system using mobile devices and LED lights in stores to guide shoppers to items matching their preferences, displaying custom prices based on their profiles, which includes loyalty status, coupons, and purchase history, thereby streamlining the shopping process and providing personalized pricing information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If items are placed close together to maximize store capacity, then store capacity increases, but item findability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by notifying consumers about item locations and special prices before they physically search for items. The notification system provides advance information about where items are located and what special prices apply, allowing consumers to plan their search efficiently and avoid wandering through the store unnecessarily.
Solution Approach 2:
The notification system acts as an intermediary between the store's item inventory and the consumer. Instead of the consumer directly searching through crowded shelves, the notification system mediates by providing processed information about item locations and pricing, bridging the gap between the physical store layout and the consumer's information needs.
2Device complexity
If a single price is displayed to all consumers, then display simplicity improves, but pricing accuracy for individual consumers deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by providing customized pricing information to each consumer based on their specific characteristics (loyalty status, coupons, reward points). Instead of a uniform price display, the notification system delivers locally optimized pricing information tailored to each consumer's profile, ensuring that each consumer receives the most accurate and relevant price information for their situation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary calculation of customized prices before the consumer reaches the checkout. By computing the final price considering loyalty discounts, coupons, and reward points in advance, the system eliminates the need for consumers to wait for price calculations at checkout, providing them with accurate pricing information upfront.
3Ease of operation
If consumers search for items manually, then shopping autonomy is maintained, but shopping time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service by allowing consumers to independently obtain accurate information about item locations and their personalized prices without requiring assistance from store staff. The notification system empowers consumers to shop autonomously with complete information, eliminating the need to ask employees for product locations or price calculations.
Solution Approach 2:
The notification system performs preliminary actions by providing consumers with all necessary shopping information (item locations and customized prices) before they begin their physical search. This advance information delivery allows consumers to proceed directly to items of interest without time-wasting exploration or repeated queries to staff.
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
The system significantly reduces the time spent searching for items, enhances the shopping experience by highlighting relevant products, and ensures shoppers receive accurate and personalized pricing, eliminating the need for manual calculations at checkout.
Implementation Method 1
The illumination can be from a light device (e.g., a light emitting diode (LED)).
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for improving a shopping experience are described. When a shopper walks into a store, the shopper's mobile device transmits a signal with the shopper's shopping preferences and shopper profile. Any items that are within a certain distance of the mobile device and satisfy at least one of the shopper's preferences may light up to indicate that the item matches something the shopper is looking for. In addition, the price of the item based on the shopper profile for that shopper is displayed.