Transaction Service Cost Calculation Without Authentication
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Solution Overview
Problem
E-commerce sites face challenges in providing users with the total cost of items, including tax, shipping, and promotions, without requiring user authentication, which hinders the user experience and efficiency in transaction processing.
Innovation Solution
A transaction processing service that allows users to enter a payment identifier to determine a fully-landed cost, including tax, shipping, and promotions, without needing to authenticate, by using a cost calculator that compares payment identifier profiles and service provider profiles to calculate the total cost, and provides this information to the user before authentication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If user authentication is required before providing cost information, then security and accuracy of payment data are improved, but user experience and transaction processing efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the authentication process from the cost calculation process. Users can obtain fully-landed cost information without authentication, while authentication is only required for actual transaction completion. This separation allows cost information to be freely accessible while maintaining security for payment operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary cost calculations and presents fully-landed costs to users before authentication is required. This allows users to make informed decisions about whether to proceed with authentication and purchase, improving user experience while maintaining security for the actual transaction.
2Reliability
If user authentication is required before providing cost information, then data security is improved, but transaction processing speed deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the transaction process into two distinct phases: a preliminary phase where cost information is provided without authentication, and a final phase where authentication is required for completion. This segmentation eliminates authentication delays in the information-gathering stage while maintaining security for the payment stage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs all necessary cost calculations, tax determinations, and shipping fee computations before authentication is required. This preliminary action provides users with complete cost information upfront, eliminating the need for post-authentication calculations and improving overall transaction efficiency.
3Reliability
If authentication is required to view total cost, then payment identifier verification is improved, but user decision-making efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system calculates and displays the complete fully-landed cost including item price, tax, shipping fees, and promotions before the user needs to authenticate. This preliminary calculation allows users to immediately assess whether to proceed with the transaction, eliminating decision-making delays.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary cost calculation service that bridges the gap between unauthenticated users and authenticated payment processing. This intermediary provides cost information freely while maintaining the authentication requirement for actual payment, allowing users to make informed decisions without compromising security.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques for providing information to a user without requiring the user to authenticate are described herein. In some instances, a user enters a payment identifier for the purpose of determining a fully-landed cost of one or more items. In response, a transaction processing service compares item details with information associated with the payment identifier and/or information about the owner of the identifier. The service may then provide this identifier-specific fully-landed cost to the user without requiring the user to authenticate or prove that she is the owner of the payment identifier.