Wireless Beacon Customer Tracking Automation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current customer reward and tracking systems in the hospitality industry require manual effort from both customers and companies, leading to inefficient tracking and recognition, as customers need to physically hand over cards for rewards, which is time-consuming and dependent on their memory.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing wireless radio, sound, and light-based beacons to automatically identify and track customers' locations, providing real-time data for navigation, location confirmation, and rewards program status through a smartphone or electronic device, enabling automated communication and notification between customers and hospitality companies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual card handing and entry is used, then customer identification can be achieved, but the process becomes time-consuming and inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automatic customer identification and tracking through wireless beacons that communicate with the customer's mobile device. The customer's location and rewards status are automatically updated without requiring manual card handing or employee intervention, thus improving productivity while eliminating time loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of physical card handing and manual data entry with an electronic wireless communication system. Beacons transmit signals to mobile devices, and data is automatically processed and stored in the rewards system, eliminating the need for manual mechanical operations.
2Reliability
If manual card handling is required, then customer rewards can be tracked, but the system becomes dependent on customer memory and physical action
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile application on the customer's device automatically performs identification and rewards tracking functions. The system self-activates when the customer enters the vicinity of a beacon, eliminating dependency on customer memory or physical actions while maintaining reliable tracking.
Solution Approach 2:
The wireless beacon acts as an intermediary between the customer and the rewards system. Instead of direct manual card handling, the beacon mediates the interaction by automatically detecting the customer's presence and triggering the appropriate rewards tracking processes.
3Productivity
If automated beacon systems are implemented, then tracking efficiency improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wireless beacons serve multiple functions: customer identification, location tracking, and rewards status notification. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate systems while maintaining high productivity, thereby managing complexity through consolidation rather than proliferation of components.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for identifying a customer's location within a facility or place of business, such as, but not limited to a casino. The system and method provides notification company representatives upon arrival of the customer at the given location. Additionally, the method and system allows for navigational services to be provided to customers, and real-time location determination, location tracking and confirmation to customers of location and rewards program status. The disclosed method and system can work through a system of wireless radio, sound and/or light-based beacons communicating with the customer's smartphone, computer system, or other electronic device.