Method of processing customer information for a retail environment

• US 20040133474A1
• Filed: 12/31/2002
• Published: 07/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2002
• 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:
  US10/334,425
• Publication Number:
  US 20040133474A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/16
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

A method of obtaining, analyzing and utilizing customer information from a customer at a point-of-sale system for a retail environment. The method includes an identification code assigned to a customer. The customer is provided with a data card having a storage medium containing the identification code. The data card is used to enter the identification code into a computerized point-of-sale system to identify the customer. Customer transaction data is received from the customer while interacting with the point-of-sale system. The transaction data is stored in a customer preference profile database. Based on the transaction data, incentives are provided to the customer to return to the point-of-sale system and reuse the data card on a regular basis.

Claims

1. A method of processing information from a customer at a point-of-sale system for a retail environment, the method comprising:

assigning an identification code to a customer;

entering the identification code into a computerized point-of-sale system to identify the customer;

receiving customer transaction data from the customer while interacting with the point-of-sale system;

storing the transaction data in a customer preference profile database; and

providing incentives to the customer, based on the processed transaction data, to return to the point-of-sale system and reuse the identification code.

2. The method of claim 1 comprising:

providing the customer with a data card having a storage medium containing the identification code; and

using the data card to enter the identification code into the point-of-sale system to identify the customer.

3. The method of claim 1 comprising:

processing the data in the customer preference profile database to create a customer response database; and

providing personalized responses to the customer based on the processed data of the customer response database.

4. The method of claim 3 comprising:

providing the personalized responses to the customer through an interactive customer display screen in electrical communication with the point- of-sale system; and

receiving customer response data from the display screen indicative of customer answers to the personalized responses.

5. The method of claim 4 comprising:

updating one of the customer preference profile database and customer response database, based on the customer response data.

6. The method of claim 5 comprising:

analyzing the customer response database to project purchasing preferences of the customer over time.

7. The method of claim 5 comprising:

creating a customer identification database containing identification information, including the identification code, for the customer; and

storing only the identification code of the identification information in the customer preference profile database.

8. The method of claim 7 comprising:

storing only the identification code of the identification information in the customer response database.

9. The method of claim 8 comprising:

selling access to the data of one of the customer preference profile database and customer response database to suppliers of the retail environment.

10. The method of claim 9 comprising:

enabling the suppliers to provide personalized responses to the customer through the interactive customer display.

11. The method of claim 6 comprising:

statistically analyzing the data of the response database to project customer purchasing preferences.

12. The method of claim 3 wherein the personalized responses include one of a promotion, survey, award and query.

13. A method of processing information from a customer at a point-of-sale system for a retail environment, the method comprising:

creating a customer identification database containing identification information, including an identification code, for a customer;

creating a customer preference profile database for receiving customer transaction data;

storing only the identification code of the identification information in the customer preference profile database;

entering the identification code into a computerized point-of-sale system to identify the customer;

receiving customer transaction data from the customer while interacting with the point-of-sale system;

storing the transaction data in the customer preference profile database; and

providing incentives to the customer, based on the transaction data, to return to the point-of-sale system and reuse the identification code.

14. The method of claim 13 comprising:

creating a customer response database;

processing the transaction data stored in the customer preference profile database;

storing the processed data in the customer response database; and

providing personalized responses to the customer based on the processed data stored in the customer response database.

15. The method of claim 14 comprising:

providing the personalized responses to the customer through an interactive customer display screen in electrical communication with the point- of-sale system; and

receiving customer response data from the display screen indicative of customer answers to the personalized responses.

16. The method of claim 15 comprising:

updating one of the customer preference profile database and customer response database, based on the customer response data.

17. The method of claim 16 comprising:

analyzing the customer response database to project purchasing preferences of the customer over time.

18. The method of claim 17 comprising:

selling access to the data of one of the customer preference profile database and customer response database to suppliers of the retail environment.

19. The method of claim 18 comprising:

enabling the suppliers to provide personalized responses to the customer through the interactive customer display.

20. A method of obtaining, analyzing and utilizing customer information from a customer at a point-of-sale system for a retail environment, the method comprising:

assigning an identification code to a customer;

providing the customer with a data card having a storage medium containing the identification code;

using the data card to enter the identification code into a computerized point-of-sale system to identify the customer;

receiving customer transaction data from the customer while interacting with the point-of-sale system;

storing the transaction data in a customer preference profile database; and

providing personalized responses to the customer based on the data of the customer preference profile database through an interactive customer display screen in electrical communication with the point-of-sale system.

21. The method of claim 20 comprising:

receiving customer response data from the display screen indicative of customer answers to the personalized responses.

22. The method of claim 20 comprising:

providing incentives to the customer, based on the transaction data, to return to the point-of-sale system and reuse the data card on a regular basis.

23. The method of claim 21 comprising:

manipulating the data in the customer preference profile database to create a customer response database; and

updating the customer response database based on the customer response data.

24. The method of claim 23 comprising:

utilizing the customer response database to project purchasing preferences of the customer over time.

25. The method of claim 20 comprising:

segregating out of the customer preference profile database any confidential information about the customer;

selling access to the data of the customer preference profile database to suppliers of the retail environment; and

enabling the suppliers to provide personalized responses to the customer through the interactive customer display.

26. The method of claim 23 comprising:

segregating out of the customer response database any confidential information about the customer;

selling access to the data of the customer response database to suppliers of the retail environment; and

enabling the suppliers to provide personalized responses to the customer through the interactive customer display.

27. The method of claim 24 wherein the step of utilizing includes statistically analyzing.

28. The method of claim 25 comprising:

creating a customer identification database containing identification information, including the identification code, for the customer; and

storing only the identification code of the identification information in the customer preference profile database.

29. The method of claim 20 wherein the customer is one of a select plurality of customers, the method comprising receiving customer transaction data from each of the plurality of customers while interacting with the point-of-sale system.