Point of sale system and method for retail stores

• US 20040049427A1
• Filed: 09/11/2002
• Published: 03/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Big Y Foods Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Big Y Foods Incorporated
• Inventors: Sarno, John, Tami, Michael A., Vaillancourt, John
• Application Number:
  US10/242,560
• Publication Number:
  US 20040049427A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/24
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/209 Specified transaction journal output feature, e.g. printed receipt or voice output
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

A method of interaction between a customer and a point-of-sale system for a retail store. The method includes receiving customer transaction data from a select plurality of customers while interacting with a point-of-sale system. The data is stored and analyzed to formulate business strategies for the development and retention of the customers. Feedback is provided to the customers based on the formulated business strategies through a plurality of multi-media functions associated with the point of sale system.

Claims

1. A method of interaction between a customer and a point-of-sale system for a retail store, the method comprising:

receiving customer transaction data from a select plurality of customers while interacting with a point-of-sale system;

storing the data;

analyzing the data to formulate business strategies for the development and retention of the customers; and

providing feedback to the customers based on the formulated business strategies through a plurality of multi-media functions associated with the point of sale system.

2. The method of claim 1 comprising:

customizing a customer receipt based on the analyzed data;

printing the customer receipt for a transaction with the customer.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein customizing a customer receipt comprises determining at least one of:

the content, order and location of what is to be printed on the receipt;

where a discount is to be printed on the receipt,

the language the receipt is to be printed in;

what would be saved if the customer was a member of a select preferred shoppers program; and

the color of the printing on the receipt.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein customizing a customer receipt comprises at least one of:

printing promotional information to a customer based on a stored customer profile on the receipt, and

printing a customer'"'"'s raincheck on the receipt.

5. The method of claim 1 comprising:

inputting customer demographic information through the point-of-sale system to a remote host computer.

6. The method of claim 1 comprising:

providing a customer display for use by the customer at a point of sale;

customizing the customer display to meet the retail store requirements; and

providing the customer display with interactive capabilities.

7. The method of claim 6 comprising:

providing a cashier display for a cashier to interact with the customer at the point of sale; and

providing a software function to remotely allow the cashier display to view and control the customer display.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the customer display is linked to the internet.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein customizing the customer display comprises customer interactive capabilities, full graphics capabilities and motion video capabilities.

10. The method of claim 6 wherein customer interactive capabilities comprise:

providing a dual screen display wherein a first screen portion includes a running total of the customer receipt and a second screen portion includes access to retail store interactive applications.

11. The method of claim 10 comprising:

providing access to retail store applications through the use of soft keys on the customer display.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the retail store applications comprise at least one of:

providing sales items,

providing preferred shopper program incentives,

providing customer information to the customer, and

allowing customer feedback from the customer.

13. The method of claim 1 comprising:

integrating an inventory management system with the point-of-sale system.

14. The method of claim 13 comprising:

generating orders from the inventory management system to replenish merchandise based on point-of-sale scan data.

15. The method of claim 13 comprising:

entering merchandise quantity and cost data into the point-of-sale system from the inventory management system.

16. The method of claim 1 comprising:

providing a plurality of customer interactive programs on at least one of a kiosk and a shopping cart.

17. The method of claim 16 comprising:

providing the at least one of the kiosk and shopping cart with the ability to swipe cards and receive customer specific transactions and to interface with the point-of-sale system.

18. The method of claim 1 comprising:

automatic verification that a cashier signing on is scheduled for that date and time.

19. The method of claim 1 comprising:

automatic locking of a terminal/workstation of the point-of-sale system that has not been used in a predetermined amount of time.

20. The method of claim 1 comprising:

integrating a direct store delivery system with the point-of-sale system.

21. The method of claim 20 comprising:

automatically updating the direct store delivery system costs through the point-of-sale system.

22. The method of claim 20 comprising:

forecasting a stock shortage based on point-of-sale data; and

generating an inter-store stock transfer to prevent the forecasted shortage.

23. The method of claim 1 wherein the select plurality of customers are members of a preferred shoppers program, the feedback to the customers is associated with functions of the preferred shoppers program.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the functions of the preferred shoppers program comprise at least one of:

capturing and tracking customer demographic information;

providing savings associated with the preferred shoppers program; and

providing incentive points for the preferred shoppers program.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the preferred shoppers program comprises:

assigning each customer of the select group of customers an identification number;

entering the identification number of a select customer into a computer associated with the point of sale system during a customer transaction;

accepting the identification number;

entitling the select customer to at least one of;

earning or redeeming preferred shopper program incentive points,

earning or redeeming manufacturer electronic cupons,

requesting or redeeming an electronic raincheck,

qualifying for a preferred customer discount, and

qualifying for a preferred customer promotion.

26. The method of claim 25 comprising:

allowing an electronic discount to be given as soon as the identification number is accepted.

27. The method of claim 26 comprising:

sending the transaction data associated with the preferred shopper program to a remote host computer for a master file update.

28. The method of claim 24 wherein providing savings associated with the preferred shoppers program comprises at least one of:

providing savings type promotions and deals; and

providing preferred shopper program games.

29. The method of claim 24 wherein providing incentive points for the preferred shoppers program comprises at least one of:

accumulating points for purchasing specific items run during periodic specials; and

offering promotional programs associated with points earned such as multi-level, linked promotions or department level promotions.

30. The method of claim 29 comprising:

selecting the best deal out of multiple promotions for the same item in the same time period for the customer.

31. The method of claim 6 comprising:

providing a cashier display for a cashier to interact with the customer at the point of sale; and

controlling both the customer display and the cashier display from a single point of sale terminal.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein the customer display and the cashier display are fully interactive on a real time basis.

33. The method of claim 13 comprising updating the inventory management system in real time from input date received from the POS system.

34. The method of claim 13 comprising updating the inventory management system on a minute by minute basis.

35. The method of claim 33 comprising:

integrating the inventory management system of each store of a chain of stores via high speed intranet connections; and

providing real time updates and monitoring on the entire chain of stores.

36. The method of claim 13 comprising:

utilizing transaction data extracted from the POS System to fully track item movement at the Price Look Up file level.

37. The method of claim 36 comprising:

tracking sales by individual PLU number on a real time basis.