Shoppers’ Personal Helper SPH

Submitted 7 years ago

The Problem
(1) Shoppers are usually frustrated with long queues to pay for their selected items. This frustration might affect the over whole sales revenue since shoppers usually forced to choose alternative options, such as:
* Select fewer items in order to spend shorter time at cashier counter.
* Choose to visit other stores known for shorter wait times.
* Visit stores at off-peak times to avoid congestions, such as very early or very late times.
* etc.

(2) Other problem shoppers frequently face is being surprised by the total amount to pay. Frequently, shoppers have to pay more than what they expected. As a result, shoppers have to spend long time to deduct amounts off their bill at a cashier counter. Later, store staff will need even longer time to return these items back to shelves or worst to fridges and freezers after these items become warm. The thing that has health concerns.

(3) One more problem is allocating certain items at large stores. The thing that may lead shoppers to either spend long time looking for assistance or simply give-up.

Self-service pay-stations probably solve part of the problem. However, they might themselves become congested. Many people do not feel comfortable using them.

The Solution
(1) Shoppers Personal Helper SPH is a device that can be mounted on the top of every shopping cart. As SPH is wirelessly connected to the store database, the price of every item added to the cart will be added to the total amount of the selected items. Additionally, if a shopper decides to return a certain item back, SPH will automatically deduct the price of that item from the total amount when simply removing the item out of the cart. This functionality will provide shoppers with high flexibility to decide on the exact amount to spend as desired. When a shopper arrives at the cashier counter, s/he will need only to pay for the purchased items or even simpler by paying at auto-cashier machines.

(2) SPH can also programmed to provide the store aisle map and directions to provide shoppers with the ability to search for a particular item and find its exact location easily.

(3) SPH can be used to view featured advertisements while shoppers do their shopping.

The Expected Positive Impact
* Less wait time at cashiers' counters
* Higher shoppers' satisfaction due to the enhanced management of their time and money expenditure
* Less number of cashiers that are needed to run the business, especially at weekends and holidays
* Shoppers convenience to allocate their desired items in a simple and fast manner
* A new innovative way to advertise new items or brands
* Overall increase in sales