WO2001054006A2

WO2001054006A2 - Customer incentive systems

Info

Publication number: WO2001054006A2
Application number: PCT/GB2001/000228
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jan Beutler
Original assignee: INCYD INTERNET Ltd
Current assignee: INCYD INTERNET Ltd
Priority date: 2000-01-19
Filing date: 2001-01-19
Publication date: 2001-07-26
Anticipated expiration: 2002-07-19
Also published as: WO2001054006A8; AU2001226950A1; GB0001112D0

Abstract

A sales incentive system comprises a plurality of remote computers (10) each enabling a customer to access a server computer (12) via the Internet (11) and to select one or more goods or services offered by a merchant. The server computer (12) includes a data storage element arranged to store a customer identification element with details of the or each item selected for purchase by the customer. The system further comprising at least one merchant terminal (A/B) having a device (13/16) for reading the customer's identification code from a card (14) and for accessing the data storage element of the server computer (12) to determine the identity of each selected item thereon. This information is then output to the merchant terminal (13/16) enabling the customer to purchase the item(s) and means for outputting details of each selected item. The system is extremely easy to implement using existing technologies and provides customers with an incentive to visit the merchant's outlet, without the merchant having to go the expense of a complicated on-line ordering system.

Description

Customer incentive systems

This invention relates to customer incentive systems for merchants and service providers etc.

It is well known for merchants such as retailers to encourage trade by issuing so-called loyalty cards, whereby customers earn points based on their spending, which can be redeemed for goods. Such loyalty cards also allow companies to analyse their customers purchasing preferences.

The use of the Internet is widespread and many companies are seeing the potential for attracting customers over the Internet. Hitherto, merchants have either attracted customers via the Internet by merely advertising their goods on the website or by setting up a system whereby customers can purchase goods on-line.

A disadvantage of the former arrangement is that customers are not actually enticed into making a purchase at the existing infrastructure provided at the merchant's retail outlet .

A further disadvantage of systems whereby customers can order goods on-line is that they are expensive to create and maintain. Another disadvantage is that the goods that are ordered have to be delivered to the customer, which is logistically difficult.

A further disadvantage of such on-line systems is that payment for the goods has to be made on-line via credit or debit card. Such on-line payment transactions are often distrusted by customers, since it may be possible for their payment card details to be fraudulently obtained.

We have now devised a method which alleviates the above-mentioned problems. In accordance with this invention there is provided a sales incentive system comprising a plurality of remote devices each enabling a customer to access a server computer via a telecommunications network and select one or more goods or services offered by a merchant, the server computer including a data storage element arranged to store a customer identification element with details of the or each item selected for purchase by the customer, the system further comprising at least one merchant terminal having means for inputting an identification code provided by a customer and means for accessing the data storage element of the server computer to determine the identity of each selected item thereon and means for outputting details of each selected item. In use, merchants can upload details of specific offers, services or promotions onto the data storage element of the server computer. A customer wishing to take advantage of the details provided by a particular merchant can use a remote device such as computer, mobile telephone or Internet device etc. to access the server computer in order to visit an Internet website of the merchant (or a website provided by a promotions company) , so as to view and select item or items for purchase: The next time the customer visits a retail outlet of that merchant, an identification code provided by the customer is input into the merchant terminal, which then accesses the data storage element and determines the identity of any items selected for purchase by that customer. Details of any items selected for purchase are then output to the merchant terminal by the data storage element .

It will be appreciated that such a system is extremely easy to implement using existing technologies and provides customers with an incentive to visit the merchant's outlet, without the merchant having to go the expense of a complicated on-line ordering system.

In one embodiment, said means for outputting details of each selected item comprises a visual display unit such as a cathode ray tube (CRT) or other monitor.

In a second embodiment, said means for outputting details of each selected item comprises a printer.

In either of the above embodiments, the output may comprise an indication of the price which the customer has to pay for each selected item and/or an indication if the customer is entitled to purchase the item. Alternatively, the output may comprise a code, which when input into a point-of -sale terminal such as a cash register, provides the cost or discount applicable to each selected item.

In a third embodiment, said means for outputting details of each selected item is arranged to output said details to a point-cf-sale terminal which adds the cost of the selected item or items to the total cost which the customer has to pay.

In order to encourage customers to visit the merchant outlet as soon as possible, preferably a date stamp and/or expiry date is associated with said identification element.

Another way of encouraging trade is by limiting the number of items that are available for purchase. Accordingly, preferably the server comprises an indication of the number of items that are available, the server preferably being arranged to prevent selection of items once there are no remaining items . In order to alleviate the disadvantage of merchants having to install additional hardware, the merchant terminal preferably comprises a card reader of the type widely used by merchants for reading credit/debit cards and having telephone dialling means for connecting to the merchant's bank computer via a telephone line, said dialling means being arranged to access the data storage element of the server computer to determine the identity of each selected item thereon and having said means for outputting details of each selected item.

In this manner, the merchant does not have to install any additional hardware: preferably the merchant terminal is arranged to receive the appropriate software to enable it to access the data storage element of the server computer. This software may be downloaded via the telephone line.

Preferably said means on the merchant terminal for inputting the identification code provided by a customer is arranged to read the code electronically for example from an optical or magnetic card provided by the customer or from another device such as a mobile telephone which stores the code . Alternatively, or additionally said means on the merchant terminal for inputting the identification code provided by a customer comprises an keypad for inputting the code manually.

Preferably, means are provided on the merchant terminal for cancelling the details on said data storage element of an item selected for purchase by the customer, once that item has been purchased.

Also in accordance with this invention, there is provided a method for merchants of providing customer incentives, comprising providing on a server computer details of one or more goods or services offered by the merchant, enabling a customer to access a server computer via a telecommunications network using a remote device, storing on a data storage element of the server computer a customer identification element with details of the or each item selected for purchase by the customer, inputting at a merchant terminal an identification code provided by a customer and accessing the data storage element of the server computer to determine the identity of each selected item thereon and outputting details of each selected item.

Embodiments of this invention will now be described by way of an example and with reference to the accompanying drawing, the single figure of which is a block diagram of an embodiment of a system in accordance with this invention for providing on-line customer incentives for merchants.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, the system comprises a plurality of customer computers eg.10 selectively connectable to a server computer 12 via the Internet 11 or other telecommunications link. The server computer 12 acts to provide web pages on behalf of a plurality of the merchants A,B etc.. Alternatively, merchants may have their Web pages stored on other server computers connected to the Internet 11. Each server computer 12 has its own data storage element. In a customer desiring promotional information on a particular merchant accesses the webpages of that merchant on the server computer 12 in the conventional manner. The webpages may be provided on the merchant's own website or on a promotional website operated by a promotions company. In the latter case, the promotional website is preferably separated into sections relating to different merchants.

Once connected to the appropriate website, the customer is able to view details of promotional products and services offered by one or more merchants. In order to take advantage of a promotional offer, the customer has to enter an personal identification number, for example printed on a store loyalty card or the like, and select the desired item(s) for purchase. Alternatively, the code may already be stored on the computer in the form of a cookie. These details are then stored in the database of the server computer 12.

The merchant A is provided with a point-of -sale terminal 13 in the form of a computer which is arranged to connect to the Internet 11. When the customer subsequently enters a retail outlet of merchant A and presents his/her loyalty card 14 at the point-of-sale terminal 13, the loyalty card is scanned for its unique number and the details passed via the Internet 11 or other telecommunications network to the server computer 12 , which checks the data on its data storage device to see whether that customer has selected any items for purchase.

In the event that the customer has selected any items for purchase, the point-of-sale terminal 13 receives this information from the server computer 12 and, assuming the customer is entitled to purchase the item, automatically deducts the appropriate discount from the normal retail price of the item. Alternatively, the information received from the server computer 12 provides the discounted price of the selected item(s) .

Once the or each item has been purchased, the point-of - sale terminal 13 provides this information to the server computer 12, thereby preventing the customer from obtaining the same promotion more than once.

The merchant B is provided with a conventional cash register 15 and a separate terminal 16 for reading credit/debit cards, having a telephone dialler for connecting to the merchant's bank computer via a telephone line 17. When the customer enters a retail outlet of merchant B and presents his/her loyalty card 14, the loyalty card is scanned by the terminal 16, which has been programmed with software that causes the terminal to establish a data exchange connection with the server 12 : This software may be downloaded into the terminal 16 via the telephone line 17.

The details of the scanned card 14 are passed via the telephone line 17 to the server computer 12, which checks the data on its data storage device to see whether that customer has selected any items for purchase.

In the event that the customer has selected any items for purchase, the terminal 16 receives this information from the server computer 12 and provides a visual output of the price/discount applicable to items which the customer has previously selected for purchase. Alternatively, the information may be printed out on a slip of paper 18: It will be appreciated that all credit card terminals are provided with printers for printing out credit card slips. This information can then be input into the cash register 15 when the customer pays for the item(s) . Once the or each item has been purchased, the merchant can actuate a keypad 19 on the terminal 16 to provide this information to the server computer 12, thereby preventing the customer from obtaining the same promotion more than once. The keypad 19 also enables customers who do not have a loyalty card to enter their identification code manually.

Merchants are able to input or modify data on the server computer 12 by connecting to the Internet and logging on to a Website with their unique identification code. Once the server has recognised them as a merchant, the merchant can specify promotions using dedicated software: the input can be checked for errors and then immediately visualised on the

Website . Alternatively, merchants are able input or modify data via formatted E-mail or via software that uses an established protocol. In the case of E-mail modification, the data contained m the E-mail corresponds to a specific format and is automatically processed and visualised on the Website. Merchants are able to view and print a log of transactions by accessing a website or by swiping a merchants card through a card reader on their terminal .

In an alternative embodiment, the customer may receive information about promotional offers etc. via any combination of telecom, digital radio or digital TV networks. If the customer wishes to obtain one of the offered items, the customer uses the device to contact the server and a record is generated on the server identifying the customer and item as m the previous embodiment . It will be appreciated that a large number of different types of arrangements m accordance with this invention may be provided at merchants, which are based on combinations of the technologies used at the merchants shown m the drawings.

A system in accordance with this invention is based on existing Internet techniques and thus every customer having Internet access, whether via a computer or other device can access the server 12. Also, no additional hardware is required at the merchant to implement the system and thus, the system is inexpensive for the merchant to operate and maintain. Furthermore, merchants do not have to set up a system for ordering goods on-line or the associated credit card verification and shipping facilities associated therewith, for merchants and service providers etc.

Claims

1. A sales incentive system comprising a plurality of remote devices each enabling a customer to access a server computer via a telecommunications network and select one or more goods or services offered by a merchant, the server computer including a data storage element arranged to store a customer identification element with details of the or each item selected for purchase by the customer, the system further comprising at least one merchant terminal having means for inputting an identification code provided by a customer and means for accessing the data storage element of the server computer to determine the identity of each selected item thereon and means for outputting details of each selected item.

2. A sales incentive system as claimed in claim 1, in which said means for outputting details of each selected item comprises a visual display.

3. A sales incentive system as claimed in claim 1, in which said means for outputting details of each selected item comprises a printer.

4. A sales incentive system as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the output comprises an indication of the price which the customer has to pay for each selected item.

5. A sales incentive system as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the output comprises an if the customer is entitled to purchase the item.

6. A sales incentive system as claimed in claim 1, in which the output comprises a code, which when input into a point-of-sale terminal of the system, provides the cost or discount applicable to each selected item.

7. A sales incentive system as claimed in claim 1, in which said means for outputting details of each selected item is arranged to output said details to a point-of-sale terminal of the system which adds the cost of the selected item or items to the total cost which the customer has to pay.

8. A sales incentive system as claimed in any preceding claim, in which a date stamp and/or expiry date is associated with said identification element on the server computer.

9. A sales incentive system as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the server comprises an indication of the number of items that are available.

10. A sales incentive system as claimed in claim 9, in which the server preferably being arranged to prevent selection of items once there are no remaining items.

11. A sales incentive system as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the merchant terminal preferably comprises a card reader having telephone dialling means, said dialling means being arranged to access the data storage element of the server computer to determine the identity of each selected item thereon and having said means for outputting details of each selected item.

12. A sales incentive system as claimed in claim 11, in which the merchant terminal is arranged to receive the software to enable it to access the data storage element of the server computer.

13. A sales incentive system as claimed in any preceding claim, in which said means on the merchant terminal for inputting the identification code provided by a customer is arranged to read the code electronically.

14. A sales incentive system as claimed in any preceding claim, in which said means on the merchant terminal for inputting the identification code provided by a customer comprises an keypad for inputting the code manually.

15. A sales incentive system as claimed in any preceding claim, in which means are provided on the merchant terminal for cancelling the details on said data storage element of an item selected for purchase by the customer, once that item has been purchased.

16. A method for merchants of providing customer incentives, comprising providing on a server computer details of one or more goods or services offered by the merchant, enabling a customer to access a server computer via a telecommunications network using a remote device, storing on a data storage element of the server computer a customer identification element with details of the or each item selected for purchase by the customer, inputting at a merchant terminal an identification code provided by a customer and accessing the data storage element of the server computer to determine the identity of each selected item thereon and outputting details of each selected item.