A computer-implemented method is provided for facilitating live communication between a potential customer and an enterprise in relation to a product. The method includes causing to display, by a computing device on a webpage over a communications network, an interactive banner located on the webpage that includes advertisement content related to the product. The advertisement content includes an offer to the potential customer to communicate live with the enterprise about the product. The method includes adding to the context information, by the computing device, information related to an interaction over the communications network between the potential customer and the interactive banner. The method further includes adjusting, by the computing device over the communications network, the advertisement content in the interactive banner on the webpage if the potential customer accepts the offer. The adjusted advertisement content includes one or more possible discussion topics related to the advertised product customized based on the context information.

A collaborative platform applies various machine learning techniques to correlate potential purchasers with high-value articles of property that may be of interest. Attributes, characteristics, preferences, and the like of a potential purchaser are scored against attributes and features of articles. The platform learns from interaction by the agents and the potential purchasers to become more attuned to the desires and lifestyle of purchasers and to gain more and more pertinent information from the listing agents regarding high-value articles, so as to ultimately to arrive at a better match between a high value article for sale and a likely purchaser.

Systems and methods for controlling shelf display units and for graphically presenting information on shelf display units are disclosed. A system includes one or more display units configured to be coupled to shelves of a modular shelving system, one or more processors communicatively coupled to the one or more display units, one or more memory components communicatively coupled to the one or more processors, and machine readable instructions stored in the one or more memory components. When executed by the one or more processors, the machine readable instructions cause the system to determine a product identifier corresponding to a product, identify one or more display units to update in response to determining the product identifier corresponding to the product, and update a graphical output of the one or more display units identified to be updated in response to identifying the one or more display units to update.

Some embodiments provide apparatuses and methods useful to providing control over movement of motorized transport units. In some embodiments, an apparatus providing control over movement of motorized transport units at a shopping facility comprises: a central computer system comprising: a transceiver; a control circuit; a memory coupled to the control circuit and storing computer instructions that when executed by the control circuit cause the control circuit to perform the steps of: obtain, from one or more of the communications received from the motorized transport unit, route condition information comprising information corresponding to an intended route of travel; obtain additional route condition information detected by one or more detectors external to the motorized transport unit; detect an object affecting the intended route of travel; identify an action to be taken by the motorized transport unit with respect to the detected object; and communicate one or more instructions.

This disclosure covers systems and methods that generate and train a chatbot to automatically communicate with users concerning subjects related to a digital advertisement received for distribution. In particular, the disclosed systems and methods train a chatbot to simulate common conversation exchanges from messaging threads associated with previous digital advertisements that are similar to a received digital advertisement. By training the chatbot to simulate such conversations, the disclosed systems and methods create a chatbot that can immediately respond to a user's inquiries concerning the received digital advertisement and tailor automated exchanges that further the objectives of an advertiser or merchant associated with the received digital advertisement.

A method for matching a client with a service provider is provided. The method includes receiving a request for a service from a client device, selecting one or more service providers based on the location indicated for the service, comparing the request to one or more profiles for the one or more service providers and to available services times, generating at least one bid for the service based on the one or more profiles, and sending the at least one bid to the client device. Sending the at least one bid includes obfuscating, to the client device, the identity of the one or more service providers corresponding to the at least one bid. The method also includes receiving from the client device a selection of one of the at least one bids and sending to the client device the specific identity of the one or more service providers.

One method herein includes forwarding an invoice for a purchase agreement made between a seller and a buyer. The method includes receiving a service selection indicating that the invoice is to be paid using an escrow system. The service selection includes a token for verification of a buyer's signatory. The method receives funding confirmation that the buyer has deposited funds into an escrow account. Based on funding confirmation, notification to ship the goods is sent. The method receives shipping confirmation confirming that the goods have been shipped. Upon receipt of the goods, a receiver is authenticated as the authorized signatory using the verification system. This authentication is based on the stored token matching a provided token. Based on verification of the receiver, the goods are released and the deposited funds from the escrow account are deposited into the seller's account.

Aspects are disclosed that facilitate matching a user with a virtual agent. A database of virtual agents is maintained in which each of the virtual agents are remotely located from a property secured by a locking mechanism. A user is authenticated based on user information included in a request to enter the property, and an authenticated user is matched with a host agent of a virtual tour. Here, the host agent is selected from the database of virtual agents, and the virtual tour comprises a remote real time interaction between the user and the host agent while the user physically accesses the property.

Disclosed herein are virtual assistant methods, systems, and devices to identify users in need of guidance and to provide the guidance in response to identifying the need. Consistent with some embodiments, a method includes receiving, at a virtual assistant device, user input associated with a user profile and identifying an item category corresponding to user input. The method further includes detecting an anomalous relationship between the user profile and the item category based on user activity associated with the user profile. The method further includes causing the virtual assistant device to provide guidance with respect to the item category in response to detecting the anomalous relationship. The guidance includes presenting guidance information comprising attribute values of at least one item from the item category. The attribute values correspond to attributes of interest determined from additional user input.

An application sales management server system that assists B2B online processing related to sales and distribution of applications while making use of a conventional business practice related to B2B is provided. A sales management server system operating in an edge server communicably connected to one or more edge devices is communicably connected to a terminal of an intermediary dealer that relays sales of applications and a terminal of an end user who uses the edge device and the edge server via a communication unit. A control unit includes: an ordering processing unit that notifies the terminal of a serial number corresponding to an application on the basis of an application purchase request from the terminal of the intermediary dealer; and a distribution processing unit that distributes an application corresponding to a serial number to the edge server in response to receiving the serial number transmitted from the terminal of the end user.