A Wireless Tracking Way To Solve The In-Aisle Digital Receipt Verification Problem
Written by Evan SchumanNovember 16th, 2011
The biggest practical challenge to in-aisle mobile checkout is verifying the receipt as the customer tries to leave. Verification is not foolproof, but it will dramatically slow traffic, which is counterproductive. What retailers need is a way to associate that phone with the customer and the purchase, and to track all three throughout the store, up to the exit. Fortunately—and simultaneously unfortunately—the very nature of a smartphone provides just such a wireless way.
By using the phone's signals, the store could track that customer and could know exactly when that customer is approaching the exit and alert the greeter/loss-prevention associate to the approach. No need to verify the receipt, no need to stop the customer at all (unless the greeter sees something beyond the purchased items, but that's always been the case). There are clearly hurdles to this approach. But it's one of the few that addresses most of the current in-aisle mobile payment headaches.
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2 Comments | Read A Wireless Tracking Way To Solve The In-Aisle Digital Receipt Verification Problem
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-Christine
November 17th, 2011 at 10:10 am
I believe the solution here it the emphasis on mobile phone but what the store already owns that can manage the products. I would embed 900Mhz RFID stickers (long- range) in carts and baskets.
The mobile user can then associate their mobile device (note I’m not saying mobile phone as there are more wi-fi only devices such as tablets than mobile in the market) using an app to the “smart cart” or “smart basket”
This automatically allows the customer to synchronize the cart content with their mobile app and the purchase list is synchronized with the backend server.
When the customer get to the exit, the cart and the product content can be displayed automatically with the door checker. I would have the door checker use a handheld printer to give the customer a receipt.
I do not believe stores will ever be confidence to let people walk out with blind trust on self-checkout technology..
With that said, my thoughts is to move the payload to the carts and baskets and let the mobile device associate with the cart/basket to manage this process.
November 17th, 2011 at 1:48 pm
Cell signals are not going to be accurate enough to get aisle resolution unless the retailer installs a lot of equipment. I think WiFi is a better technology for this type of locationing. Most retailers already have it installed in their stores and all smartphones support it.