A method of locating a target in a geographical space includes providing information to searcher users searching for the target, and potentially selecting among multiple targets for location, and providing rewards to the searchers after locating the target. The target may be a virtual object, and the method may use augmented reality features in locating the virtual object. The method may also provide for participating users who are not actively searching for the target, but may team with a searcher to receive a reward if the searcher locates the target, and who may potentially assist the user in locating the target. Participating users may be eligible if they are located in a designated participation area. The method may further provide for observing users who can observe progress of searchers in searching for the target but are not involved in the search or reward.

Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with controlling inventory depletion by offering different prices to different customers are described. In one embodiment, a method includes establishing first and second allocations of fulfillment centers to different geographic regions during a markdown phase. Different price schedules are determined for the orders to be fulfilled during the markdown phase based on the first and second allocations. A predicted profit is generated for the orders fulfilled under each of the different price schedules. A price schedule corresponding to the first allocation is selected as resulting in a greater predicted profit than another one of the different price schedules. A sale terminal is controlled to enact the selected price schedule during the markdown phase to cause fulfillment of the incoming orders according to the first allocation of the fulfillment centers.

A multi-function transaction card may receive, from shelf sensors, first data indicating that items have been removed from shelves by a customer of a merchant, and may receive, from shopping cart sensors, second data indicating that the items have been placed in a shopping cart. The multi-function transaction card may receive, based on the first data and the second data, item data identifying the items placed in the shopping cart, wherein the item data is received from price tags of the items. The multi-function transaction card may store the item data, and may provide, to a transaction terminal of the merchant, the item data identifying the items and customer data identifying the customer. The multi-function transaction card may receive, from the transaction terminal, transaction data identifying a transaction that charges the multi-function transaction card for a total cost of the items.

A method, computer system, and a computer program product for product safety is provided. The present invention may include scanning a product inventory. The present invention may include classifying one or more products within the product inventory based on an expiration evaluation. The present invention may include applying a price discount or a display modification notification based on a classification of the one or more products.

A repository device for decommissioning a plurality of micro-climate sensors for generating product flow data for each of a plurality of items of sale flowing through a supply chain is provided. The repository device includes an opening, at least one space, a plurality of sensors, and a sensor decommission circuit. The opening is for receiving at least two micro-climate sensors of the plurality. The at least one space is for storing the at least two micro-climate sensors, a plurality of sensors operative to detect a presence of the at least two micro-climate sensors; and a sensor decommission circuit structured to generate a decommission command value in response to detection of the at least two micro-climate sensors via the plurality of sensors.

Aspects include synchronizing online and retail shopping experiences for limited stock products. A non-limiting example computer-implemented method includes receiving, by an item tracking system, a request for a status of an item in a retail store, the request received from a user device of an in-person shopper located in the retail store, the status indicating whether the item is currently available for purchase by the in-person shopper. It is determined, by the item tracking system, the status of the item, the determining is based at least in part on whether an action was taken by an online shopper with respect to the item via a user device of the online shopper. The user device of the online shopper is located outside of the retail store. The item tracker system transmits the status of the item to the user device of the in-person shopper for output to the in-person shopper.

Loyalty program points are pre-selected by a consumer and exchanged for a corresponding value-added reward also pre-selected by the consumer. The pre-selected reward, which can be a value added back to the consumer payment device, is given when the consumer conducts their pre-selected transaction using their consumer payment device. Loyalty program points can be added back to the consumer payment device, and later exchanged for the consumer pre-selected value-adding rewards, by the consumer's transactional use of their consumer payment device. Consumer pre-selected value-added rewards, for instance, can appear as statement credits to an account associated with the consumer payment device. As such, an incentive exists for the consumer to pre-select a transaction to conduct with their consumer payment device to realize a corresponding pre-selected statement credit for such loyal use of their consumer payment device.

Methods, systems, and computer-readable media are provided for customized presentation of items on electronic visual displays in retail stores. In one implementation, the method may comprise: obtaining an image of products in a retail store captured using at least one image sensor; analyzing the image to determine a condition of products of a particular product type; based on the determined condition of the products of the particular product type, selecting at least one display parameter for a particular item; and using the selected at least one display parameter to display the particular item on an electronic visual display in the retail store.

Methods, systems, and computer-readable media are provided for customized presentation of items on electronic visual displays in retail stores. In one implementation, a method may comprise: obtaining a plurality of images of products in a retail store captured; analyzing a first image to determine whether products of a particular product type are available at a first point in time; analyzing a second image to determine whether products of the particular product type are available at a second point in time; based on the determination of whether products of the particular product type are available at the first point in time and the determination of whether products of the particular product type are available at the second point in time, selecting at least one display parameter for a particular item; and using the selected at least one display parameter to display the particular item on an electronic visual display.

Methods, systems, and computer-readable media are provided for controlling information displayed on a transparent electronic display that is part of a door for a retail storage container. In one implementation, a method may include: receiving an indication of at least one position associated with a first product type in the retail storage container; receiving an indication of at least one position associated with a second product type in the retail storage container; using the indication of the at least one position associated with the first product type to select a first region of the transparent electronic display; using the indication of the at least one position associated with the second product type to select a second region of the transparent electronic display; displaying visual information related to the first product type; and displaying visual information related to the second product type.