Authors:
John Wendler, Benjamin Duan-Porter, Phil Monkowski, Sarath Surya
Abstract:
A method is proposed by which retailers can make use of personally shared data that provides proof of environmental friendly travel methods such that an incentive may be provided to the shopper as a result of using said travel methods.
Background:
Today retailers incorporate their environmental sustainability efforts/"green-ness" into marketing campaigns in hopes of encouraging shoppers to buy from them. This is evident across all areas of retail. However, what if the retailer actually incentivized the shopper to make an effort towards sustainability by choosing a transportation method that was environmentally friendly? This serves two purposes: it provides value/recognition to the shopper for consciously choosing a certain transportation method, and also contributes positively to the retailer's sustainability efforts (our shoppers are more environmentally friendly, we encourage/promote shoppers being environmentally friendly, etc....). Shoppers must be willing to share certain personal information with retailers in order to validate their transportation method.
Currently no known incentive programs that track a shoppers transportation method and provide them with discounts or points.
Description:
Almost all shoppers today carry devices that can track locations, either a smart phone or a smart wearable like a smart watch. Many can track speed of movement as well. This data can be used to prove a) from where the shopper came and distance traveled and b) how the shopper arrived(e.g. walking, biking, in a vehicle). Things like public transportation can provide QR codes/NFC sensors for a user to "register" themselves as having ridden the bus or the train and for how long(snap/tap once upon entry and once upon exit). Additionally, information about the "greenness" of that public transportation method could be encoded and collected(an electric bus or train may be more environmentally friendly than a diesel one).
Upon entry into a store, the used can share their transportation information(likely in conjunction with their loyalty /rewards account), so the retailer knows that person is eligible to receive a discount or earn points for that shopping trip as a "reward" for choosing an environmentally friendly mode of transportation. The retailer can collect statistics on that shopper and use the data to improve marketing campaigns(both PR and personalized shopper offers).
TGCS Reference 3963
