WO2016203300A1

WO2016203300A1 - Rewards driven system and methods employed for efficiently promoting sales of goods and services

Info

Publication number: WO2016203300A1
Application number: PCT/IB2015/056529
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jayanth Kumar PABBA
Original assignee: Pabba Jayanth Kumar
Priority date: 2015-06-19
Filing date: 2015-08-28
Publication date: 2016-12-22
Also published as: IN2015CH03092A

Abstract

Rewards driven system and methods employed for efficiently promoting sales of goods and services are provided. The method comprises (a) earning rewards by a user in response to an offline financial transaction made in an offline environment, whereby the user inputs a financial transaction proof provided by the offline environment in an online host environment for accumulating the earned rewards with an account subscribed with the online host environment; (b) enabling the user to redeem the accumulated rewards for an online financial transaction performed in electronic commerce environment subscribed with the host online environment, whereby the electronic commerce environment purchases rewards with the online host environment for making an availability of the rewards for the user to redeem; and (c)providing incentives for the electronic commerce environment by the online host environment based on a predefined criteria for enabling the user to redeem the rewards.

Description

REWARDS DRIVEN SYSTEM AND METHODS EMPLOYED FOR EFFICIENTLY PROMOTING SALES OF GOODS AND SERVICES

Technical Field

[001] The present disclosure is generally related to the field of promoting the sales of goods and services, and more specifically to systems and methods employed for creating a networked platform connecting online and offline trading environment for enabling a user to earn, accumulate and redeem rewards.

Background

[002] Service and/or Product related business entities often reward customers for utilizing their services and/or purchasing their products. Typically, these business entities employ reward programs which can be named as structured marketing efforts that reward, and therefore encourage their customers to repeatedly purchase from them and thereby promote sales. The customers can easily redeem their reward points in the e-commerce platforms. Therefore both the customers and the entity are mutually benefited with the reward program.

[003] Such promotional techniques, however have certain drawbacks of not providing the reward program to the offline customers, as the reward program is limited to the online customers. For example, if a user makes an offline purchase then he/she is not provided with any kind of rewards that can be redeemed online. The customers performing offline purchase are more likely to make an offline purchase from the same entity again if the entities provide similar reward program which results in mutual benefits of the customers, offline stores and the e-commerce platforms.

[004] In the light of aforementioned discussion there exists a need for a system and method that would ameliorate or overcome the above mentioned disadvantages.

Summary [005] An exemplary objective of the present disclosure is to provide analytical advertising and digital green advertising methods.

[006] According to one or more exemplary implementations, a method for efficiently promoting sales of goods and services is provided. The method comprises earning rewards by a user in response to an offline financial transaction made in an offline environment, accumulating the earned rewards with an account subscribed with the online host environment, redeeming the accumulated rewards for an online financial transaction performed in electronic commerce environment subscribed with the host online environment, and providing incentives for the electronic commerce environment by the online host environment based on a predefined criteria for enabling the user to redeem the rewards.

Brief Description of Drawings

[007] The description of the present invention may be better understood with the aid of the following text and accompanying drawings:

[008] FIG. 1 shows a network platform connecting online host environment, user device and offline environment, in accordance with an exemplary implementation.

[009] FIG. 2 is a flow chart depicting a method for efficiently promoting sales of goods and services, in accordance with an exemplary implementation.

[010] FIG. 3 is a flow chart depicting a method for user earning rewards, in accordance with an exemplary implementation.

[011] FIG. 4 is a flow chart depicting a method for user redeeming rewards, in accordance with an exemplary implementation.

[012] FIG. 5 is a flow chart depicting a method for offline environment updating details of financial transaction performed by the user, in accordance with an exemplary implementation. [013] FIG. 6 is a flow chart depicting a method for electronic commerce environment enabling the user to redeem the reward points, in accordance with an exemplary implementation.

Detailed Description

[014] In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the present disclosure. The illustrative implementations described in the detailed description, drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting. Other implementations may be utilized, and other changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented here. It will be readily understood that the aspects of the present disclosure, as generally described herein, and illustrated in the Figures, can be arranged, substituted, combined, and designed in a wide variety of different configurations, all of which are explicitly contemplated and form part of this disclosure.

[015] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular implementations only and is not intended to be limiting of the disclosure. It will be understood that if a specific number of a claim element is intended, such intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation, no such intent is present. For example, as used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. As used herein, the term "and/or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. It will be further understood that the terms "comprises," "comprising," "includes," and "including," when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. Expressions such as "at least one of," when preceding a list of elements, modify the entire list of elements and do not modify the individual elements of the list.

[016] FIG. 1 shows a networked platform 100 connecting online host environment, user device and offline environment, in accordance with an exemplary implementation. As shown, the networked platform 100 includes an online host environment 102, an offline environment 104, an electronic commerce environment 106 and a user 108. The online host environment 102, an offline environment 104, an electronic commerce environment 106 and a user 108 all connected over a network 110. Thus, the network 110 may include, but not limited to, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, integrated services digital network (ISDN), digital subscriber line (DSL), asynchronous transfer mode (ATM), and the like known in the art or future implemented. The networked platform 100 may be a combination of software and hardware components employing the protocols of the network 110. The offline environment 104 here may be referred as a physical retail store operating the client devices 105, the electronic commerce environment 106 here may be referred as e-commerce portal operating the client devices 107 and the user 108 here may be referred as customer performing financial transaction in offline environment 104 and electronic commerce environment 106 operating the client devices 109. The online host environment 102 here may be referred as an online portal for enabling offline environment 104, the electronic commerce environment 106 and the user 108 to subscribe and create account.

[017] The online host environment 102 includes a host server unit 103 for enabling the user 108, the electronic commerce environment 106, and the offline environment 104 to subscribe and create a user account and create a respective profile page by providing personal credentials, which may include, but not limited to, name, contact and mailing details. The method employed for creating the user account may include the current available account creation methods accompanied by authentication through One-Time-Password sent to the client device. Furthermore, the online host environment 102 may be configured to display a list electronic commerce environment and offline environment subscribed as classifieds of different divisions and/or categories and also display newsfeeds. The different divisions and/or categories may include, but not limited to, medical services, consumer electronics, grocery stores, travel, logistics, and pharmacy. The online host environment 102 further generates a machine readable representation (for example barcode, QR code) for allowing the user 108 to identify, view and redeem the reward points. The user 108 may scan the machine readable representation using the mobile application provided by the online host environment to identify, view and redeem the reward points. The mobile application provided by the online host environment may also be used to track the location of the user 108 and also allowing the user to track the nearest physical environment 102. [018] In one exemplary implementation, the user 108 may perform a financial transaction (e.g., purchase a good) in the offline environment which is subscribed with the online host environment 102. In response to performing the financial transaction the user may earn rewards. The user 108 may login to the subscribed user account from the of the online host environment 102 to update/input the purchase details along with the proof of financial transaction with the online host environment 102. Furthermore, the offline environment may update/input the purchase details along with the proof of financial transaction made by the user to validate the same. On successful validation, the rewards may be accumulated in the user account. The rewards here may include but not limited to, coupons, vouchers, gift cards, loyalty points, currency redeemable in the electronic commerce environment 106. The user 108 may be further allowed to transfer the accumulated rewards to the accounts of affiliates (e.g., friends, relatives, colleagues) for redeeming in the electronic commerce environment 106. The user 108 may also create group of affiliates and accumulate the personal rewards earned and rewards earned by affiliates in the group and authorize limitations for the group members to redeem rewards in the electronic commerce environment. The online host environment 102 configured to continuously display the count of available reward points available in the subscribed user account.

[019] In another exemplary implementation, the electronic commerce environment 106 may be allowed to purchase the rewards from the online host environment 102. The electronic commerce environment 106 may publish the availability of the rewards for enabling the user 108 to redeem the rewards and purchase the goods or service. The electronic commerce environment 106 may earn incentives in response to allowing the user 108 to redeem rewards from the online host environment. The incentives here may be referred as currency, without limiting the scope of the disclosure. The online host environment 102 configured to continuously display the count of available reward points available in the subscribed electronic commerce environment. Thus the combination of the online host environment 102, the offline environment 104, the electronic commerce environment 106 and the user 108 provides analytical and digital green advertising promoting the sales of goods and services.

[020] Referring to FIG. 2 is a flow chart 200 depicting a method for efficiently promoting sales of goods and services, in accordance with an exemplary implementation. The method starts at step 202 by earning rewards by the user in response to an offline financial transaction made in the offline environment. The method continues to step 202 by allowing the user to upload/ input the financial transaction proof provided by the offline environment in an online host environment. The user may be further allowed to redeem the accumulated rewards for the online financial transaction performed in electronic commerce environment at step 206. The further continues to step 208 by providing incentives for the electronic commerce environment by the online host environment.

[021] Referring to FIG. 3 is a flow chart 300 depicting a method for user earning rewards, in accordance with an exemplary implementation. The method continues to step 302 by enabling the user to perform the offline financial transaction and earn rewards. The user may be allowed to upload/input the details of offline financial transaction to the online host environment at step 304 and at step 306 the validation is performed to authenticate the details provided by the user. The method continues to step 308 by accumulating the rewards in the user account.

[022] Referring to FIG. 4 is a flow chart 400 depicting a method for user redeeming rewards, in accordance with an exemplary implementation. The user may be allowed to browse the electronic commerce environment at step 402 and may select the product/service to purchase in the electronic commerce environment at step 404. Next at step 406 the user may redeem the rewards accumulated in the user account for the selected product/service.

[023] Referring to FIG. 5 is a flow chart 500 depicting a method for offline environment updating details of financial transaction performed by the user, in accordance with an exemplary implementation. The method starts at step 502 by enabling the offline environment to upload/input the details of offline financial transaction to the online host environment and at step 504 the upload/input details are validated by the online host environment for accumulating the rewards in the user account at step 506 in response to the user performing the financial transaction.

[024] Referring to FIG. 6 is a flow chart 600 depicting a method for electronic commerce environment enabling the user to redeem the reward points, in accordance with an exemplary implementation. The method starts at step 602 by enabling the electronic commerce environment to purchase the rewards from the online host environment and by publishing the availability of purchased rewards in the electronic commerce environment at step 604. The method continues to step 606 by enabling the user to browse the electronic commerce environment, select the product/service to purchase at step 608, and redeem the rewards for the selected product/service at step 610. Next at step 612 the electronic commerce environment may earn incentives from the online host environment in response to allowing the user to redeem rewards.

[025] For purposes of summarizing the disclosure, certain aspects, advantages and novel features have been described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any particular implementation. Thus, one or more implementations achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein.

[026] Various modifications of the above described implementations will be readily apparent, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other implementations without departing from the spirit or scope of the application. Thus, the present application is not intended to be limited to the implementations shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A method comprising: earning rewards by a user in response to an offline financial transaction made in an offline environment, whereby the user inputs a financial transaction proof provided by the offline environment in an online host environment for accumulating the earned rewards with an account subscribed with the online host environment; enabling the user to redeem the accumulated rewards for an online financial transaction performed in electronic commerce environment subscribed with the host online environment, whereby the electronic commerce environment purchases rewards with the online host environment for making an availability of the rewards for the user to redeem; and providing incentives for the electronic commerce environment by the online host environment based on a predefined criteria for enabling the user to redeem the rewards.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising a step of user subscribing with the online host environment for creating the account.

3. The method of claim 1, comprising a step of electronic commerce environment subscribing with the online host environment for creating the account.

4. The method of claim 1 , comprising a step of offline environment subscribing with the online host environment for creating the account.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising a step of enabling the offline environment to input the financial transaction proof provided to the user.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising a step of authenticating the financial transaction proof received as input from the user and the offline environment for accumulating the rewards in the subscribed account of the user.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising a step of enabling the user to transfer the accumulated rewards to one or more subscribed accounts of one or more affiliates.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising a step of enabling the user to create a group with the one or more subscribed accounts of one or more affiliates and transfer the rewards to accumulate in the group.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising a step enabling the user to define redemption limits for group comprising the one or more subscribed accounts of one or more affiliates for redeeming the rewards accumulated in the group.

10. A system comprising: a host server unit of online environment connected to at least one client device of a user and a client device operated in an offline environment and at least one client device of electronic commerce environment for performing the method comprising: earning rewards by a user in response to an offline financial transaction made in an offline environment, whereby the user inputs a financial transaction proof provided by the offline environment in an online host environment for accumulating the earned rewards with an account subscribed with the online host environment; enabling the user to redeem the accumulated rewards for an online financial transaction performed in electronic commerce environment subscribed with the host online environment, whereby the electronic commerce environment purchases rewards with the online host environment for making an availability of the rewards for the user to redeem; and providing incentives for the electronic commerce environment by the online host environment based on a predefined criteria for enabling the user to redeem the rewards.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the host server unit of online environment configured to be accessed as a web based application by the at least one client device of a user; the at least one client device operated in the offline environment; and the at least one client device of electronic commerce environment.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the host server unit of online environment configured to be accessed as a mobile application by the at least one client device of a user; the at least one client device operated in the offline environment; and the at least one client device of electronic commerce environment.