Real-time, paper-savings-reporting apparatus and method
View Patent ↗A computer-implemented method is disclosed for motivating customer participation in an electronic receipt program. Within the method, a point-of-sale transaction may be initiated. The transaction may involve a computer system comprising a point-of-sale system and a customer possessing a mobile computing device. The computer system may generate receipt data documenting the transaction and deliver the receipt data to the mobile computing device in electronic format. The computer system may further determine an amount of paper saved by delivering the receipt data in electronic format rather than as a paper receipt and pass the amount to the mobile computing device.
1. A computer-implemented method for motivating customer participation in an electronic receipt program, the method comprising:
initiating a point-of-sale transaction involving a computer system comprising a point-of-sale system and a customer possessing a mobile computing device;
generating, by the computer system, receipt data documenting the point-of-sale transaction;
delivering, by the computer system, the receipt data to the mobile computing device in electronic format;
determining, by the computer system, an amount of paper saved by delivering the receipt data in electronic format rather than as a paper receipt; and
passing, by the computer system, the amount to the mobile computing device.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving the customer within a brick-and-mortar location containing the point-of-sale system.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the initiating comprises initiating the point-of-sale transaction at the point-of-sale system.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the amount is a measurement of distance.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the determining comprises determining a number of pixel rows used to display the receipt data in electronic format.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the determining further comprises multiplying the number by a conversion factor, the conversion factor correlating one or more pixel rows and a corresponding length of paper receipt.
7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising outputting, by the point-of-sale system, a paper stub providing abbreviated documentation of the point-of-sale transaction.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the determining further comprises subtracting a length of the paper stub.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the determining further comprises adding a length corresponding to an advertisement inviting a customer to particulate in the electronic receipt program.
10. The method of claim 4 , further comprising obtaining, by the computer system, a contextual number providing context for the amount.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the passing comprises passing, by the computer system, the amount and the contextual number to the mobile computing device.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the contextual number is selected from the group consisting of a total amount of paper saved by the customer of a period of time, a number reflecting paper savings of one or more other customers, and a number reflecting potential paper savings of one or more other customers.
13. A method for motivating participation in an electronic receipt program, the method comprising:
initiating a point-of-sale transaction involving a computer system comprising a point-of-sale system and a customer possessing a mobile computing device;
generating, by the computer system, receipt data documenting the point-of-sale transaction;
delivering, by the computer system, the receipt data to the mobile computing device in electronic format;
determining, by the computer system, an amount of paper saved by delivering the receipt data in electronic format rather than as a paper receipt;
transforming, by the computer system, the amount into feedback; and
passing, by the computer system, the feedback to the mobile computing device.
14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising receiving a character string entered by the customer into the point-of-sale during the transaction, the character string uniquely identifying the mobile computing device within the computer system.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the feedback encourages the customer to elect to receive an electronic receipt in a future point-of-sale transaction and save additional paper.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the feedback comprises a comparison based at least partially on the amount.
17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the amount is a measurement of distance.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the determining comprises determining a number of pixel rows used to display the receipt data in electronic format.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the determining further comprises multiplying the number by a conversion factor, the conversion factor correlating one or more pixel rows and a corresponding length of paper receipt.
20. A computer system comprising:
one or more processors;
one or more memory devices operably connected to the one or more processors; and
the one or more memory devices collectively storing
a receipt module programmed to deliver receipt data documenting one or more point-of-sale transactions to one or more computing devices of corresponding customers,
a data store containing records,
a calculation module programmed to determine an amount of paper saved when a customer receives an electronic receipt rather than a paper receipt,
the calculation module further programmed to store the amount within one or more records of the data store, and
a feedback module programmed to communicate the amount to the customer via a computing device corresponding thereto.