WO2006111815A1

WO2006111815A1 - Method for managing credits such as fidelity points and device for carrying out the same

Info

Publication number: WO2006111815A1
Application number: PCT/IB2006/000896
Authority: WO
Inventors: Isabelle Stucker; Lucien Mauguin
Original assignee: Aton Service
Priority date: 2005-04-18
Filing date: 2006-04-18
Publication date: 2006-10-26
Also published as: FR2884634B1; FR2884634A1

Abstract

According to the invention, credits distributed by a member have a counter-value in credits within a community which have a fixed monetary equivalent and each user can carry out transactions with one or more members or one or more users of the community. In each transaction one or more credits and the counter-value thereof are added or subtracted from the account of said user(s), according to rules personalized by the member and the community in a central database such as to keep the account of each user and each member up to date as a function of the transactions carried out.

Description

Method of managing credits such as loyalty points and device for implementing it

Many credit management programs such as loyalty points for retail customers exist at present. Indeed, many known signs

(department stores, gas stations, airlines, credit organizations) exploit for their customers means, such as card and loyalty points, which allow on the one hand to retain their customers and on the other hand to analyze the habits of consumption of these and offer them "tailor-made" offers.

Today, every trade, brand, or group in a given alliance uses its own system both technologically and with point attribution rules. Thus, to be able to participate in loyalty programs, a given customer must possess many different means, such as various cards (one for the retail store, one for gasoline, one for the video-club, a card for credit, etc.), and use them in turn when trading with these businesses. The multiplication of loyalty cards leads to a saturation in the face of the large number of cards and programs, a risk of forgetting cards and thus loss of corresponding benefits, poor memorization of programs and their mechanisms, insufficient information on the cards. acquired points and the corresponding benefits and a risk of disinterest of the programs if the use does not correspond to the needs of the customers.

In some cases, payment by credit card excludes participation in a loyalty program of a merchant due to commissions owed by him to the credit card organization. Thus, to benefit from a loyalty program in this business, the client-member must pay with cash, a debit card or other means of payment offered by the sign (credit card and / or credit), which does not allow him to benefit from the trade loyalty program.

So, and depending on how the credits, typically points (sometimes also called "miles" in airline programs), liters of gas or other credits, are added to his account, due to the dispersion programs awarding points and their operation in a limited network, it will generally take a long time for a given customer-member to arrive at a number of interesting points in each loyalty program in which he participates. Aware of this problem and to remedy this disadvantage, some programs now offer the purchase of pure and simple additional points.

In addition, the systems used are generally expensive and require a significant investment (financial and time) on the part of the trade interested in becoming a member. Thus, these programs are currently used mainly by major brands that own and open outlets in different locations, these outlets using the same common technological means. However, there is also a demand from other, often small and independent businesses to participate in loyalty programs, but because of the initial investment in particular in equipment (hardware and software) and induced operating costs, these give up or remain very simple means such as paper cards stamped as and when purchases.

An object of the invention is to improve known programs and devices.

In particular, an object of the invention is to propose new credit management methods that rely on state-of-the-art devices.

More particularly, an object of the invention is to propose a credit management method, such as loyalty points, which is open to different types of shopping communities.

Another object of the invention is to propose a credit management method that can integrate existing loyalty programs.

Another object of the invention is to provide a system for implementing the method which is simple, inexpensive and within the reach of any trade, whatever its size.

The principle of the invention is not to focus on a trade or brand having its own system but to create a more general program for business communities, which can be defined by a geographical grouping ( shopping center, downtown), by brands, or by type of activity. A unique means, such as a card, is issued to the client- member that he can use in all the shops of the community during his purchases.

The invention also provides for the possibility of integrating an external credit management program so that its members and members can benefit from the specific assets of the defined community program, without having to discard the program itself.

The invention is defined by the features of the following claims:

In the method according to the invention the credits distributed by the member have a counter-value in community credits, which have a fixed monetary equivalence, each user can carry out transactions with one or more members, or with one or multiple users in the community, and for each transaction, one or more credits and their counter-value are added to or subtracted from the user's or users' account, according to rules customized by the member and the community, on the central database , in order to keep the account of each user and each member updated according to the transactions made.

The transactions may include the purchase of products / services from the members, said purchases giving rise to the generation of credits distributed by the member, on the basis of attribution rules customizable by said member, and the updating of the account of the member. user on the database according to the attribution rules. Credits are awarded outside of the purchase transaction at the discretion of each member, with the credits attributed having their counter-value added to the user's account according to rules customizable by each member and the community.

Transactions may include the exchange of credits or their counter-value with the members, said exchanges giving rise to the subtraction of said credits or their counter-value of the account of the user in return for service (s) provided (s) by the member to the user, based on exchange rules customizable by said member.

Transactions between users may include the sale or purchase of credits from the community, each transaction giving rise to the addition of these credits, respectively the subtraction of these credits purchased or sold by the buyer or the seller of their respective accounts. in the central database.

In community credit exchange transactions with a given member, the exchange value not being derived from a transaction with that member but from another member, a clearing process may be implemented between said given member and the other member to compensate for said given member.

Each user can access online access to their account statement indicating two levels of member or community credits, at the level of a specific member, multi-member or globally at the community level. Other credit management methods can be integrated with the method of the invention in a standardized manner in order to benefit from the functional coverage and thus enable its issuer to participate in the community of members, in particular to its platform. exchange of points by an exchange of data defining the common customers-members in standardized form allowing the updating of the data present in the database.

The credit acquisition device, such as loyalty points or the like, for users within a network of members during transactions between users and members, includes a digital pen and paper forms for entering the credit card. identifier of the user, credits allocated and / or exchanged during a transaction, as well as a means of transmitting the information thus collected to a central database in which the information concerning all the users is stored, members and credits of said users.

The user's identifier is a unique code within a given network of members, which can be represented as a pattern, readable by the pen.

The user's identifier is placed on a card, or on a wristwatch, or on a mobile phone, or on another obj and.

The invention will be better understood by the description of embodiments thereof and of figures, in which: FIG. 1 represents a general view in the form of a block diagram of the architecture of the method;

FIG. 2 represents a transaction acquisition device;

FIG. 3 represents a device for transmitting and controlling transactions;

Figure 4 shows the credit allocation process;

Figures 5.1 and 5.2 show the process of credit trading within the framework of the credit trading platform between member-shops;

Figure 6 represents the process of financial compensation within a community of members within the framework of the credit trading platform between member-shops;

FIG. 7 represents the process of exchange of credit exchange between client-members within the context of the credit trading platform between client-members;

FIG. 8 represents the credit consultation process;

Figure 9 shows the opening of the overall credit management process to external (owner) loyalty programs. It is first of all an attempt to illustrate the invention as part of a loyalty program that relies on the devices with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

Thus, a customer-member subscribes for example a loyalty card 1 in a trade participating in the program or via the Internet. This card 1 includes a unique identifier 2 of the client-member which allows to link to an account on a central database at the program level, and which allows to add or remove points of said account based on transactions made by said client-member in a trade-member. This card 1 can be unique, or in the form of "couple" (two cards with the same identifier), or even "family" for the members of a given household with a common account (several cards with the same identifier). This solution makes it possible to increase the sources through which credits are acquired.

The card 1 may have a limited validity period or not.

According to one variant, the identifier 2 may be worn by another object than a card 1. The use of a watch and / or its bracelet to support the identifier 2, or the case a mobile phone, or other commonly worn item.

Preferably, in the case of the card 1, it also includes legibly a unique number linked to the member allowing a manual entry.

An acquisition device is made available to the trade-member who is a member of the community. This device mainly includes a digital pen 3

(for example marketed by Logitech ^® under the name iO2 ™), and a form 4 on which the credits attributed or exchanged are indicated, the principle of the reading on the form 4 using the digital pen 3 being, as an example of non-limiting embodiment, that marketed by the company Anoto ^® , under the name "Anoto functionality". Another equivalent solution including or not some of these components is of course possible.

For example, the use of a mobile assistant (such as a PDA or mobile phone) makes it possible to identify the user by reading the bar code or the magnetic stripe on his personal identification card. , to enter the amount of the purchase made, calculate the number of credits granted, and transmit this information in real time via a standard communication protocol, such as GPRS, UMTS, Wifi, etc. to the database the central server.

During a transaction (for example a purchase) described with reference to FIG. 4 on the basis of the devices represented in FIGS. 2 and 3, the following steps of allocation of loyalty points are followed:

Tl. The client-member presents his loyalty card 1 to the merchant.

T2. the merchant reads the customer-member ID 2 on the card 1 with the pen 3; the merchant selects with the digital pen 3 on the form 4 the nature of the transaction

(attribution), the type of points (see below) and the number of points awarded by checking boxes on the form 4 and all the information is stored in the pen's memory 3.

In this example, it is assumed that the form 4 used is of the "Anoto functionality" type as mentioned above and that this form includes patterns corresponding to numbers that the merchant selects to dial the number of points. assigned and a transaction validation instruction, said patterns being read by the pen 3.

Preferably, the trade-member identification number is programmed in the pen 3 as well as the date and time of transaction (updated automatically) which then allows the level of the central database of the community of keep a record of the transaction (customer-member and trade-member identifiers, date, time, nature of the transaction, type of "shop" points, number of points).

T3. The points awarded to the different client-members are communicated at least once a day to a central database.

To do this, a transmission and control device is made available to the trade-member. The transmission device mainly comprises a communication box 6. The control device mainly comprises a printer 7 connected to the communication box. The transfer of the points thus allocated (see T1 / T2) to the central database is automated from the moment the merchant manually triggers this transmission, resting the pen on its base 5 (USB mode) or directly by an action on the pen (bluetooth mode).

The communication box 6 consists for example of a mini PC ("barebone") with Internet connection (via modem, Ethernet, WiFi ...) or a bluetooth compatible smart mobile phone.

1. The transmission of the data stored in the digital pen to the communication box is supported by the software associated with the digital pen (installed in the communication box), according to means known in themselves in the state of the technical.

2. Once stored in the communication box as files, the dots are sent to a remote central server. This transfer is triggered automatically each time a dot file is received by a specific program stored in the communication box for communication via the Internet.

3. Upon receipt of the point files on the remote central server, a specific program is automatically triggered and transforms the data for integration into the database where the points are updated for each customer-member after different checks.

4. A written report of the result of the transmission and update can be provided on the printer 7 connected to the communication box.

Member stores with Internet access can, according to a particular embodiment, perform the assignment transaction from the Internet, for example, as follows:

1. the merchant connects via a secure connection to the community site with his trade-member ID and password;

2. he chooses on his menu the transaction for awarding points. The trade-member identifier, the corresponding label and the date and time of the transaction are automatically indicated by the system;

3. the merchant enters on a specific transaction: -) the number of the client-member 2 concerned (entered on the loyalty card 1 or any other identification medium explicitly mentioning the client-member number);

-) the type of points called "shop" (see below); -) the number of points awarded; 4. When the merchant validates the transaction, the central database is automatically updated;

5. The merchant can print a ticket to the client-member.

Member stores that do not have Internet or digital pen can, according to another particular embodiment, perform the assignment transaction from a simple pen and a specific paper form, for example , as follows :

1. The merchant manually enters (checkboxes and / or handwriting) on the paper form:

-) the number of the client-member 2 concerned (registered on the loyalty card 1 or any other identification medium explicitly mentioning the customer-member number); -) the nature of the transaction (attribution);

-) the type of points called "shop" (see below);

-) the number of points awarded;

2. the merchant gives a written record of the transaction to the client-member, for example in the form of a carbon copy of the form;

3. The points awarded to the different client-members are communicated at least once a day to a central database.

To do this, a transmission and control device is made available to the trade-member, in the form of a communication box 6. This is a fax system.

The transfer of the points thus allocated to the central database is automated from the moment the merchant manually triggers this transmission, by faxing all the completed forms.

The data received on the remote server are automatically read and converted into a format allowing their integration in the central database, via an OCR system (optical character recognition, process for recovering digitized symbols) according to techniques known in themselves. same in the state of the art.

In the method according to the invention, each merchant is free to define his point allocation rules, referred to as "shop" points (percentage on the amount of purchases, valuation of regular purchases, specific actions, etc.). Once these rules have been defined, they can be set up in the central database so that each transaction made in said trading member is processed according to these rules.

More specifically, any trade-member of the community allocates "shop" points to its client-members, at each checkout, during any specific action decided by the merchant, or automatically based on rules customized by the trade. -Member. The "shop" points are valued by the merchant according to rules of customer loyalty that he is free to define. As a non-limitative example, the number of "shop" points awarded may be proportional to the amount of a purchase, proportional to the amount of an accumulation of purchases or fixed.

The number of points is calculated by the merchant; the loyalty application comes into play when the points are entered by the merchant.

A trade-member can assign only "shop" points which are of three types (as indicated above): "standard", "specific actions" or "bonus".

Any "standard" point is entered via the point acquisition device (type of point ^{x λ} ).

The specific actions are decided by the trader and limited in time. They can be for example:

-) a period (date, time, day, week, month ...)

-) the purchase of a particular service (product, haircut, etc.)

The "specific actions" points awarded during specific actions are coded with a point type of ^Λ l 'to

'9'.

Points can be automatically allocated by the program, following an ad-hoc configuration by the trade-member. They may correspond for example to: -) the anniversary date of a client-member -) the achievement of a certain number of points -) an age group of client-members These are "bonus" points, coded with a type of point ^λ 0 '.

Preferably, the balance of "bonus" points and "specific actions" is managed separately from the "standard" points balance.

In addition, a trade-member may decide to make the "shop" points "active" only at a certain threshold (number of cash passes, total amount of purchases, number of services acquired or a combination of these criteria) . The use of "shop" points is then deferred in time; they take a "passive" status.

The trade-member can only assign "shop" points.

The "shop" points with "active" status are automatically converted into "community" points according to an exchange value specific to each trade-member, decided by the merchant.

The "community" points have a financial countervalue in euros or in another currency.

In the method according to the invention, it implements the possibility of exchange points between customers-members and shops-members ("shop" and "community") or between customers-members ("community").

Any client-member who has received points "shop" in one or more shops-members can know at any time their equivalence in points "community", by consultation (see further in the description). The client-member can then use his "community" points in the business of his choice of the community, even if he has never consumed and acquired points through transactions with this member-commerce.

The client-member therefore has an alternative to use his points: in the trade-member who attributed them to him

(rules of exchange of "shop" points decided by the merchant) or in another trade-member of the community (rules of exchange of points "community").

In the method according to the invention (see Figures 5.1 and 5.2), the client-member can use his points against benefits offered by the trade-member or his community:

With points "shop" or "community", against: -) discounts on the purchase (% discount or fixed amount), -) Advantages / gifts offered by the trade-member, With points "community", only against:

-) "community" gift vouchers that can be exchanged in all the community shops-members,

-) gifts from a community catalog or -) a payment to a solidarity action.

The business community and / or the merchant may decide on thresholds / ceilings specific to the exchange of points ("community" for a community, "shop" for a trade-member): -) minimum threshold: the client-member begins to use his points from a minimum balance of points collected, -) usage ceiling per purchase: the client-member can not use more than x points for each purchase (non-computerized data, left to the discretion of the merchant), -) usage ceiling in% of a purchase / gift voucher: the client-member can not use more than x% of the purchase in equivalent points (non-computerized data, left to the discretion of the merchant).

The point exchange method is performed as follows. The exchange of points processing can concern points "shop" or points "community" and to avoid any risk of fraud, the treatment is preferably done in real time with the central database.

In case of exchange of "shop" points, the program firstly withdraws from the account of the client-member concerned, on the central database, the oldest points awarded (FIFO rule) by the trade-member.

In case of exchange of "community" points, the program withdraws from the account of the client-member concerned, on the central database, the "community" points and the corresponding "shop" points, according to the following rule: -) withdrawal priority points awarded by the community program, starting with the oldest awarded (FIFO rule);

-) then remove the points awarded by proprietary programs, starting with the oldest allocated (FIFO rule);

The exchange can be done: -) via the digital pen 3, a special form 4 and a communication box 6;

-) via the Internet and a dedicated website;

-) via a pen, an input form and a communication box 6 of the fax type;

-) via a telephone operator;

-) via a voice server;

-) via a mobile assistant (PDA or mobile phone).

Generally speaking, in these cases the client-member presents his community loyalty card 1 in the store and requests an exchange of "shop" points (step 1.1 in figure 5.1) or "community" (step 1.2). in figure 5.1).

The merchant must first make sure that the customer-member ID is valid and has the required number of points and the means are available for this control: Internet, pen (digital or not, depending on the selected system) by the trade-member), telephone operator, voice server, mobile assistant.

The merchant proceeds with the exchange transaction and rewards the client-member in exchange for his points redeemed.

Using the digital pen system 3, the method is as follows:

1. the client-member presents his loyalty card 1 to the merchant; 2. The merchant reads the patron-client ID 2 on the card 1 with the pen 3;

3. the merchant selects with the digital pen 3 on the form 4 the nature of the transaction

(exchange), the nature of the item exchanged ("shop" or "community") and the number of points exchanged, by checking the boxes of the form 4 and all the information is stored in the memory of the pen 3;

4. the merchant manually triggers the transfer of the information thus collected by the pen to the central database, by resting the pen on its base 5 (USB mode) or directly by an action on the pen (bluetooth mode);

5. The following information is displayed on a printer 7:

In case of refusal of the transaction: -) the balance of points available by nature

In case of acceptance of the transaction: -) the number of points exchanged -) the nature of the item exchanged: "shop" or

"community" -) the new balance of points available by nature the update transaction of the central database is carried out only if the balance of points is sufficient;

6. In case of acceptance of the transaction, the merchant may then, in exchange for points, give the reward requested by the client-member, possibly accompanied by the justification of the transaction.

In case of using the mobile assistant, the member proceeds to the exchange of credits by identifying the user by reading the bar code or the magnetic strip of his identification card by the mobile assistant. , by entering the number of points to be exchanged, which is transmitted to the central database via a standard communication protocol for verification of the balance and validation of the transaction, then confirmation of the transaction to the member.

Member stores with Internet access can, according to a particular embodiment, perform the exchange transaction from the Internet, for example, as follows:

2. he chooses on his menu the transaction of exchange of points. The trade-member ID, the corresponding label, and the date and time of the transaction are automatically indicated by the system;

3. the merchant enters on a specific transaction: -) the number of the client-member 2 (written on the loyalty card 1 or any other identification medium explicitly mentioning the customer-member number) -) the nature of the item exchanged: "shop" or "community" -) the number of points redeemed

4. During the validation of the transaction by the merchant, the system will control the balance of points exchangeable and if this balance is sufficient, perform the operation (including updating the balance of points of the customer-member in the database central data); in this case, the merchant may, in exchange for points, return the reward requested by the client-member, possibly accompanied by the transaction justification ticket.

Member stores without Internet or digital pen can, according to a particular embodiment, perform the exchange transaction from a simple pen and a specific paper form, for example, as follows :

1. the merchant manually enters (checkboxes and / or handwriting) on the paper form: -) the number of the client-member 2 concerned (entered on the loyalty card 1 or any other identification medium explicitly mentioning the number of the client-member)

-) the nature of the transaction (exchange)

-) the nature of the item exchanged: "shop" or "community"

-) the number of points redeemed

2. the merchant transmits the exchange of points request to the central database (see the fax / OCR device described above) for checking the balance of points; 3. the merchant receives a fax indicating to him: in case of refusal of the transaction:

-) the balance of points available by nature in case of acceptance of the transaction: -) the number of points exchanged -) the nature of the item exchanged

-) the new balance of points available by nature the update transaction of the central database is carried out only if the balance of points is sufficient;

4. In the event of acceptance of the transaction, the merchant may then, in exchange for points, give the reward requested by the client-member, possibly accompanied by a justification of the transaction, for example the carbon copy of the form.

Given the fact that the client-member can in principle use points acquired by transactions in a trade-member (points "shop") and converted (in points "community") in another trade-member of the community, a compensation mechanism is implemented in the method shown in Figure 6.

In the process, financial retrocessions are set up between businesses-members of the same community to compensate for the points used in a trade-member and not allocated by it and compensation (Figure 6) is done on the basis of the points exchanged and not points awarded. Cross-trade balance consultation is accessible to each member-trade at any time via online access (for example the Internet) or via a telephone operator or a voice server, for example.

The calculation of the financial compensation is periodically carried out automatically in the central database and the monitoring of the smooth progress of compensation is the responsibility of a central, ensuring the proper functioning of the compensation mechanisms in compliance with the rules of ethics.

The frequency of compensation is defined by the community of businesses (weekly, monthly ...), in agreement with the Centrale.

More specifically, the operation of the financial compensation is as follows:

Each day, the inter-commerce balances of "community" points are calculated and valued in the community's currency. Each trading member participating in the redemption platform has signed in favor of the Central one variable standing order for the processing of inter-trading clearing transactions.

On the agreed clearing date, the accounts to be debited are debited automatically in favor of a central clearing account, and the clearing account transfers the amounts received to the member-businesses to be compensated. The compensation mechanism is described below in an example dealing with the compensation between two trade-members (trade-member Ml-debtor, and trade-member M2-creditor) involving their respective banks and a central account managed by the Central :

Cl. the Central issues an order for debiting the amount to the bank Bl of the trade-member Ml; C2. Bank Bl transfers the amount to be debited to the Centrale's central account;

C3. a debit notice from the bank Bl is sent to the trade-member Ml; C4. a detailed statement of the transaction is sent by the Central to Ml and M2 member shops; C5. the Central Office issues a transfer order from the central bank account to the B2 bank of the member-commerce C2; C6. the transfer is made to the B2 bank in favor of the M2 trade-member;

C7. a B2 credit notice in favor of the M2 trade-member is sent;

C8. the "community" point balances of the business-member accounts are reset in the central database 10.

The method according to the invention also provides for an exchange of points between client-members, represented in FIG.

This exchange of points "community" between customers-members is via an exchange exchange on the Internet, including connections and secure payments, according to technologies known in themselves in the state of the art. The points can be exchanged for free (as a gift) or expensive by payment.

Preferably, only transactions between clients-members of the community program are allowed.

In case of expensive exchange, the buyer makes his payment to the Central via a secure online payment and the Central transfers the amount to the seller.

The processes and forms used for the conduct of a transaction via the Internet are described below, as non-limiting exemplary embodiments.

Example: The client-member (A) has 400 points "community" and he misses 100 points to acquire an object that interests him on the catalog of the community. He will therefore look for one or more vendors (V) to complete his points balance.

The transaction proceeds as follows:

-) V connects to the community site with his client-patron ID and password; -) V goes on the web page of the site which allows to realize a transaction of sale;

In the case of a donation of points, V enters the following information in particular on a specific form: -) number of "community" points offered -) identifier of the client-member-beneficiary. In the event of the sale of points, V enters in particular the following information on a specific form: -) number of points "community" to sell -) sale price -) date of registration of the offer (automatic by the system) -) date of validity of the offer (by default, validity of 3 months for example) -) minimum size of the lot for sale

-) credit card number to be credited in case of sale

For buyer A, the process is as follows. A connects to the community site with his client-member ID, his password and goes to the web page of the site that allows for a purchase transaction: A captures the following information on an application form:

-) number of "community" points requested -) maximum price accepted

-) date of validity of the request

A search engine will search the central database of the community for all offers matching A's request and display them in ascending order of price.

Once the choice has been made, A completes a secure online payment form to settle the transaction.

The validation of the form by A automatically triggers the sending of the payment confirmation to the seller (s) via e-mail, indicating the number of points transferred and the selling price to be received, minus the transaction costs. These costs, defined by the Centrale, are borne by the two client-members. In case of donation of points, no fee is preferable. The payment triggers the transfer of points from V to A, and the transfer date retained in the central database is the payment date of the transaction.

In the case of a donation of points, the exchange of points in the central database occurs in Phase I

(offer registration) at the time of validation of the form by V in the system. Confirmation of the donation of points is communicated to both parties via e-mail.

In the method according to the invention (see FIG. 8), the data of the central database can be consulted by the client-members and the member-businesses according to the consulting profile attached to them.

Unlike the existing programs which, for a small number of them offer a consultation of single-commerce points via the Internet, the joint program offers a much wider field of consultations as multi-businesses, via the Internet or techniques such as mobile telephony (SMS, etc.)

For data consultation, the following principles are implemented.

The static data as well as the movements and balances of points, at a time "t" or over a defined period, can be consulted by the communities, the retail-members and the client-members.

The people who can view the data are: Community Management (Shopping Center Managers, Merchants Association, Franchises or chain stores ...) and any trade participating in the community program, as well as patron-clients and various profiles related to the administration of the program

(help-desk manager, database administrator ...).

Each category of "consultant" above has access to its own form in consultation and modification mode, while data relating to the other categories of "consultants" are only accessible to them in consultation.

A member-store has access to all static data of the client-members of the community that has authorized it, as well as transactional data (points) relating to the allocation / exchange of points in its business only.

The trading community has access to all the customer-adherent community information (static data) that has authorized it, as well as transactional data at an aggregate level for all member stores.

Client-members have access to their own static and transactional data.

The information available for consultation is preferably:

-) information relating to the entire population of client-members of the community who have agreed to the disclosure of their personal information to businesses of this community (according to the respect of the country laws relating to the field Computer science and Freedoms);

-) information relating to the member-businesses and retail communities: variables according to access rights.

The information available to the client-member is typically:

-) personalization parameters, detailed information on the client-member (see client-member sheet);

-) the balance of points at a time "t" (via number or name of the client-member) cumulatively and by trade-member (view D-I); -) the movements of "shop" and "community" points (points acquired and used) over a given period, cumulatively and by trade-member.

The information consulted by the trade-member and the management of a community are typically:

-) detailed information on the trade / community (see trade / community of commerce);

-) program customization settings set at either level; -) the history of the "shop" and "community" points awarded and exchanged for all the client-members of the trade-member or the community (seen at J-D;

-) the balances of the points "community" at a moment "t" within the framework of the compensation between shops;

-) the reference currency balance at a point in time "t" of a member-trade in the context of inter-trade financial compensation. As examples, we can foresee the following consultations:

Community Direction Consultations:

-) list of customers-members of the community of businesses;

-) list of businesses that are part of the community; -) volumetry of the "community" points allocated and exchanged within the community between two dates, which allows a regular control of the activity of the client-members; -) control of financial compensation between shops.

Business-to-Member Consultations:

-) list with the number of points "community" to compensate / to receive other businesses-members, and their financial valuation at a time "t"; -) list of client-members with their anniversary date in the coming month;

-) list of client-members having collected points on the last quarter in the trade-member, ranked in descending order of the number of points; -) list of client-members who used points on the last quarter in the trade-member, ranked in descending order of the number of points.

Client-member consultations:

-) consultation of points collected and used by trade-member;

-) consultation of the points balances in the shops of the community. In a variant represented in FIG. 9, it is also possible for a proprietary loyalty program to be integrated into the community in the sense that the business that uses it becomes a member of the community, accepts "community" points and credits the points. "shop" of its members also in the community after having defined their exchange value in points of the community.

These businesses do not benefit from the acquisition device (pen, form) of the community program and continue to allocate and exchange points "shop" via their loyalty program owner (with card reader for example).

The allocation and the exchange of points according to this variant are done as follows:

The community program automatically and regularly communicates to the owner program the list of all of its valid client-members, who are also members of the proprietary program, according to a frequency to be defined from case to case. This list is established on the declarative base of the members when subscribing the community card, or later via an Internet transaction. The information provided is: the client-adherent identifiers of the community program and the proprietary program, his name, first name, address, the date of the last update of one of these data in the central database of the community.

In case newer updates are available in the proprietary program, this one transmits this data to the community program for control and integration into the central database.

On the basis of the common list of client-members, the "shop" point allocation transactions carried out via the proprietary program are sent daily by the owner program to the community program. The information transmitted is: the client-adherent IDs of the community program and the owner program, the date and time of the transaction, the number of points awarded. The "shop" points thus communicated are considered as "standard" points.

The proprietary program tracks only its proprietary "shop" points, while the community program tracks two-level points, "shop" points including those assigned / exchanged by the owner program and "community" points.

In the case where a client-member wishes to exchange points "community" or points "shop" in the trade-member using his proprietary program, the merchant performs the exchange via an operator, a voice server, a specific Internet transaction or the fax / OCR system (see exchange transaction descriptions above).

The procedure is as follows, for example with a telephone operator: 1. the merchant identifies himself after dialing a number by indicating on his keyboard his trade-member number and his password; 2. the merchant has the operator online and indicates to him the ID of the client-member 2 appearing on the loyalty card 1 presented by the client-member and the nature / number of points to be exchanged; 3. the operator controls the number of available points and validates the transaction after checking; if not, it means to the merchant the rejection of the transaction;

4. In case of acceptance of the transaction, the operator gives a control number to the merchant who can then return, in exchange for points, the reward requested by the client-member.

The operator can be replaced by a fully automated system with a voice server, according to techniques known from the state of the art.

The "shop" and "community" exchange transactions of patron-client members of the proprietary program are transmitted daily by the community program to the proprietary program for updating the corresponding "shop" points. The data transmitted are: the identifiers of the customer-adherent to the program of the community and the owner program, the date and time of the transaction, the number of "shop" points exchanged, the new balance of points "shop".

In summary, Figure 1 schematically shows in block diagram form the overall device for implementing the methods around a central database 10 and a web server 13. In addition to the processes detailed in the preceding pages, the global credit management process such as loyalty points also includes:

Marketing tools, such as Customer Relationship Management (CRM) statistics CRM offers a range of tools for member businesses and their community, which contribute to customer retention and business development A method of automatically updating the static client-member information stored in the central database.

An interface of personalization by the shops-members of the community via Internet.

Excluding the technical features presented: marketing and advertising support service, help desk, central services including logistics (maps, etc.).

At the center of the system is a server with a computer database 10 on which all the information and data necessary for the management, the allocation of accounts, the tracking of transactions, etc. are located.

Such servers and databases are known per se in the state of the art, especially in the banking field for the management of customer accounts and other similar areas.

The client-members and the businesses-members of the community can access this central database 10 via online accesses 11, 12, such as for example the Internet (Web server 13) or a wired or wireless network 14 ( SMS type or by phone). Access is protected (logins and passwords) and access rights are defined in the database according to the person who accesses, in a manner known in the state of the art, for example as in online transactions with a bank (payments, consultations of balance, consultation of paperwork, transfers between accounts etc.), as on online auction sites.

Typically, for consultation, in addition to secure access, we can provide access to the Internet for businesses-members and customers-members, with login and password and accessibility 7/7.

For customers-members, we can provide access via SMS with login and password, and accessibility 24/24.

As another solution known in itself, one can use a voice server with a 24/24 access with telephone identification, and communication of a particular code.

Client-to-member access typically allows the consultation of the balance of points ("shop" or "community") and the exchange of points within the framework of the exchange exchange according to the method described above to propose points on the sale or on the contrary look for points to buy.

The commercial access 12 meanwhile allows the transmission of points awarded during purchase transactions, the transmission of points exchanged and the consultation of the points balances according to the methods described above. At the level of the central database 10, the accounts of the client-members are up-to-date according to the operations carried out according to the methods described above, namely purchase transaction in a trade-member, exchange of points "shop "or" community "in a member store, selling or buying points between customer-members, donating points.

The central database 10 makes it possible, by appropriate programs, to calculate the compensation 15 between member stores according to the method described above and also to make CRM statistics ("Customer

Relationship Management "or Customer Relationship Optimization, see 12).

As indicated, the central database integrates data including:

-) Static:. Program

. Country

. communities

. Commercial Member

. Client-members. Points

-) Transactions triggered by external operations: allocation and exchange of points via the acquisition device or via a standardized interface between the external proprietary databases and the central database.

-) Internal Transactions to the Central Database: conversion and exchange of points on the platform for the exchange of points, calculation and historization of points balances, intercommercial financial compensation, exchange of points in connection with the exchange, production of CRM statistics.

The central database 10 can also communicate with loyalty programs that own specific businesses via a standardized interface 17 between the proprietary program and the central database. In case of adaptation of the proprietary program, the trade is responsible for the adaptation of its programs for the sending of the data. The data exchange interface 17 between the two programs is standardized, identical for all the proprietary programs that are part of the community program.

For updates to the central database, the following principles can be implemented.

Updates by external sources:

-) automated updates, via a central office, of static data relating to client-members; -) annual update frequency by purchasing / subscribing to external databases 16 (varies according to country).

Updates by client-members:

-) direct updates by the client-members on the Internet of their personal data (via an online form); -) some data can only be updated by the client-members (for example their participation in other loyalty programs ...).

As indicated, the method according to the invention also makes it possible to perform statistical analyzes called "CRM" (Client Relationship Management).

The CRM offers a range of tools, which contribute to customer retention and the development of goodwill. The increasing development of competition, coupled with increasing pressure on margins, encourage businesses to seek the preservation of their business and its optimization.

The traditional CRM tools need a renewal: a greater responsiveness to the mobility of client-members (quality of databases update for targeted mailing), Internet sites responding better and better to the changing customer needs, communication modes in line with the latest technological developments (mobile technologies, permanent race for innovation).

In the process, we have a simple and intuitive customer analysis CRM tool available 24/7 via the Internet, customizable, offering a measure of the effectiveness of the loyalty program, a flat common multi-business platform for targeted marketing actions. The proposed service enables customer loyalty through a loyalty program / card and the launch of targeted marketing actions based on analysis of the typology and behaviors of client-members, member businesses and shopping communities. .

Indeed, to retain a customer base, we must first know it (see CRM statistics developed below) and work the business by conducting targeted marketing actions (see marketing support 1 to 1).

We can analyze the profile of customers-members of businesses / communities based on the categories of the program membership form: geographical origin, age group, socio-professional category ...

We can also focus on the distribution of client-members according to their level of attendance of member shops: identification of the most active and less active client-members, to carry out targeted marketing actions in order to optimize attendance

In addition, one can obtain behavioral statistics such as:

Customer attendance:

-) distribution of customer-patronage

(number of points awarded and / or exchanged) per time slot in the day, over a week, a month, up to the last 12 months; allows businesses / communities to know: -) customer-patronage peaks, which are the right customers, and optimize attendance by offering additional benefits during off-peak periods; -) the evolution over time of attendance to understand / measure the effectiveness of marketing campaigns or commercial actions carried out by the trade-member.

Breakdown of attendance by sector of activity at community level:

-) number of points awarded and / or exchanged by sector of activity; allows to identify the mode of consumption of the client-members and its evolution over time.

Another analysis concerns the volumetry of the "community" points awarded and / or exchanged at the level of a trade / community over the last 12 months, which forms a first approach to measuring the effectiveness of the program of the member-shops and the community on base of the evolution of the activity of the client-members.

For a given member-trade, it is possible to compute statistics of measurement of one-off commercial actions, on the basis of the volume of the "specific actions" points allocated and / or exchanged over a period of time.

Another way to do this is to produce customized CRM statistics such as customer analyzes according to specific cross-criteria, to be determined with the trade / community. Another specific offer for shopping center managers would be benchmarking statistics between shopping centers to measure the effectiveness of loyalty programs from one shopping center to another (from one community to another) and customer typologies. compared.

Of course, all standard / custom statistics are accompanied by graphical formatting using known computer means.

Claims

claims

A method of managing user loyalty points within a network of members forming a community, comprising the following steps for assigning points:

inputting an identification number (2) from a user by an acquisition device (3) made available to a member from a portable object of the user (1); -automatic allocation of "shop" points on the basis of set up loyalty rules, customizable by the member;

storing data as the "shop" points and the identification number (2) by the acquisition device (3); transmitting data from the acquisition device (3) to a communication box (6) via a software program and then to a central server comprising a central database (10); automatic conversion of the "shop" points into "community" points, which have a financial counter-value, according to member-specific exchange rules;

-ememorating the "shop" and / or "community" points on the unique account linked to the user's identification number (2) on the central database (10).

2. Loyalty point management method according to claim 1 characterized in that it further comprises a step of entering an identifier number of the member.

3. Fidelity point management method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the step of transmitting by a software data from the acquisition device (3) to a central server precedes the automatic transformation of the points "shop" in points "community" which is done by a specific program of the central server.

4. Loyalty point management method according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that it allows an exchange of points between a user and a member according to the following steps: - input of the identification number (2) of the user; input by the acquisition device (3) of the nature of the desired transaction, the nature of the point exchanged, "shop" or "community", and the number of points concerned and storage of the information in the memory of said device acquisition (3); transmitting the collected information to the central database (10);

acceptance or refusal of the exchange by the central server; -in case of acceptance, updating the database (10) by calculating a new available balance.

5. Loyalty point management method according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that it provides for an automated and fair financial compensation between members of the community to compensate points used in a member trade and not allocated by it , comprising the following steps: periodic calculation of the inter-commerce balance automatically by appropriate programs in the central database (10); automatic debiting of accounts to be debited and credit to a clearing account;

compensation of members to be compensated from the clearing account.

6. Loyalty point management method according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that it provides for a transaction of points between users according to the following method:

input to the central database (10) by a user who sells information such as the number of points to sell, their price; input to the central database (10) by a user purchasing information such as the number of points requested, the accepted price;

display of the seller user offers compatible with the buyer user information after a search by a search engine on the central database (10);

secure online payment of the bid retained by the buyer user;

-Transfer points between the seller and buyer users in the central database (10).

7. Loyalty point management method according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that it comprises a step of storing the personalization parameters of a member and "shop" and / or "community" points awarded and exchanged for all the users of the trade of the member and a step of consulting this data by an online access via an Internet-type link.

8. Loyalty point management method according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that it comprises a step of storing the balance of points "shop" and / or "community" at a time "t" cumulatively and by trade-member and a step of consultation of these data by an online access via an Internet type link.

9. Credit acquisition device, such as loyalty points or other equivalents, for users within a network of members during transactions between users and members, characterized in that it comprises a device for acquiring (3) made available to members for entering a user's identifier (2),

a means of automatically allocating "shop" points on the basis of set up loyalty rules, customizable by the members,

a means for transmitting (6) information thus collected to

a central database (10) in which information concerning all the users, members and credits of said users is stored,

a means for automatic conversion of credits attributed of the "shop" type to credits of "community" type, and a memory on the central database (10) for storing these credits on a user account linked to its identifier.

10. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that the identifier (2) of the user is carried on an object commonly worn as a loyalty card (1), a watch, a bracelet or a mobile phone, and / or in that the acquisition device (3) comprises a digital pen and paper forms (4) or an Internet access, and / or that the transmission means consists of in a mini PC with internet connection or mobile phone.

11. Device according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that it comprises a central database (10) and appropriate programs for calculating the compensation between members.

12. Device according to one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that the acquisition device is a mobile assistant comprising a barcode reader or magnetic strip for reading the identifier of a user, and a means of real-time communication of GPRS, UMTS, Wifi type, with the central database.