System and method for computerized sales optimization
View Patent ↗Disclosed is a method for increasing the conversion rate, or the ratio of the number of actual buyers to the number of site visitors, of an computer-implemented system such as an Internet e-commerce website. Shopping cart abandonment may be reduced though the disclosed method wherein filler items are suggested to the consumer in order to qualify the consumer for a promotional bonus, such as free shipping. By simplifying the consumer's task of selecting filler items, the consumer may be more likely to consummate the sale instead of abandoning the shopping cart to find a better deal elsewhere. In the event no suitable filler items can be identified, alternative promotions may be presented to the consumer, for example, reduced rate shipping.
1. A method of implementing an electronic commerce shopping cart, comprising:
identifying one or more items selected for purchase by a user in an electronic shopping cart;
calculating a subtotal associated with the one or more items selected for purchase;
determining that the subtotal is less than a threshold associated with a promotional offer;
identifying, using a processor, a first group of filler items available for purchase in response to determining that the subtotal is less than the threshold, wherein one or more filler items in the first group of filler items have a price that is greater than or equal to a difference between the threshold and the subtotal;
presenting the first group of filler items to the user as optional items to add to the shopping cart to obtain the promotional offer;
receiving an indication that the user has elected to be presented with a second group of filler items, wherein one or more filler items in the second group of filler items have a price that is greater than or equal to the difference between the threshold and the subtotal; and
in response to receiving the indication, presenting the second group of filler items to the user as optional items to add to the shopping cart to obtain the promotional offer.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
identifying the first group of filler items in response to the user adding an item to the shopping cart.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
identifying the first group of filler items in response to the user initiating a checkout operation to purchase the one or more items selected for purchase.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving an indication that the user has selected one or more filler items for purchase from among the first group of filler items or the second group of filler items; and
applying a promotion associated with the promotional offer in response to receiving the indication that the user has selected the one or more filler items for purchase.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein applying the promotion comprises applying a free or reduced shipping rate to items in the shopping cart.
6. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:
presenting an additional promotional offer to the user, wherein the additional promotional offer is associated with a second, greater threshold.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
selecting one or more items from a wish list created by the user for inclusion into the first group of filler items or the second group of filler items.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
selecting one or more items related to items previously purchased by the user for inclusion into the first group of filler items or the second group of filler items.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the promotional offer is available only to first-time visitors.
10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
identifying a failure of the user to select one or more filler items for purchase; and
presenting an alternative promotional offer to the user in response to identifying the failure.
11. A system for implementing an electronic commerce shopping cart, comprising:
a processing system comprising one or more processors; and
a memory system comprising one or more computer-readable media, wherein the one or more computer-readable media contain instructions that, when executed by the processing system, cause the processing system to perform operations comprising:
identifying one or more items selected for purchase by a user in an electronic shopping cart;
calculating a subtotal associated with the one or more items selected for purchase;
determining that the subtotal is less than a threshold associated with a promotional offer;
identifying a first group of filler items available for purchase in response to determining that the subtotal is less than the threshold, wherein one or more filler items in the first group of filler items have a price that is greater than or equal to a difference between the threshold and the subtotal;
presenting the first group of filler items to the user as optional items to add to the shopping cart to obtain the promotional offer;
receiving an indication that the user has elected to be presented with a second group of filler items, wherein one or more filler items in the second group of filler items have a price that is greater than or equal to the difference between the threshold and the subtotal; and
in response to receiving the indication, presenting the second group of filler items to the user as optional items to add to the shopping cart to obtain the promotional offer.
12. The system of claim 11 , the operations further comprising:
identifying the first group of filler items in response to the user adding an item to the shopping cart.
13. The system of claim 11 , the operations further comprising:
identifying the first group of filler items in response to the user initiating a checkout operation to purchase the one or more items selected for purchase.
14. The system of claim 11 , the operations further comprising:
receiving an indication that the user has selected one or more filler items for purchase from among the first group of filler items or the second group of filler items; and
applying a promotion associated with the promotional offer in response to receiving the indication that the user has selected the one or more filler items for purchase.
15. The system of claim 14 , wherein applying the promotion comprises applying a free or reduced shipping rate to items in the shopping cart.
16. The system of claim 14 , the operations further comprising:
presenting an additional promotional offer to the user, wherein the additional promotional offer is associated with a second, greater threshold.
17. The system of claim 11 , the operations further comprising:
selecting one or more items from a wish list created by the user for inclusion into the first group of filler items or the second group of filler items.
18. The system of claim 11 , the operations further comprising:
selecting one or more items related to items previously purchased by the user for inclusion into the first group of filler items or the second group of filler items.
19. The system of claim 11 , wherein the promotional offer is available only to first-time visitors.
20. The system of claim 11 , the operations further comprising:
identifying a failure of the user to select one or more filler items for purchase; and
presenting an alternative promotional offer to the user in response to identifying the failure.
21. A computer-readable medium tangibly embodying instructions for performing, by one or more processors, operations comprising:
identifying one or more items selected for purchase by a user in an electronic shopping cart;
calculating a subtotal associated with the one or more items selected for purchase;
determining that the subtotal is less than a threshold associated with a promotional offer;
identifying a first group of filler items available for purchase in response to determining that the subtotal is less than the threshold, wherein one or more filler items in the first group of filler items have a price that is greater than or equal to a difference between the threshold and the subtotal;
presenting the first group of filler items to the user as optional items to add to the shopping cart to obtain the promotional offer;
receiving an indication that the user has elected to be presented with a second group of filler items, wherein one or more filler items in the second group of filler items have a price that is greater than or equal to the difference between the threshold and the subtotal; and
in response to receiving the indication, presenting the second group of filler items to the user as optional items to add to the shopping cart to obtain the promotional offer.