Method, apparatus, and computer program product for providing real time incentives

Abstract

Methods, apparatus and computer program products are provided for providing real time incentives during browsing sessions on a promotional system. The real time incentives may convert browsing consumers to buyers by providing incentives (e.g., discounts) that may be redeemed during the browsing sessions. Qualification constraints may be evaluated using an event handler to determine whether an incentive should be offered. Participation constraints may define terms which should be met for a consumer to redeem the incentive.

That which is claimed: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for facilitating configuration of an incentive by an internal user via a configuration user interface, and provision thereof to an external user during a browsing session, the apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to at least:
 receive an incentive data object configured by the internal user via the configuration user interface, the incentive data object comprising at least a discount amount, and one or more qualification constraints comprising at least one of (i) an elapsed amount of time spent browsing a product or (ii) an elapsed amount of time of the browsing session;   store the incentive data object in an incentive database for access by a promotional system;   provide a computer program routine to a device associated with the external user, the computer program routine configured to generate consumer event indications; receive a plurality of consumer event indications from the computer program routine, each consumer event indication a result of a consumer performing at least one action while interacting with a promotional system during rendering of an impression in the consumer user interface during the browsing session, wherein each consumer event indication is captured by an event handler in an instance in which the external user performs the at least one action;   iteratively calculate, during the rendering of the impression in the consumer user interface during the browsing session, the at least one of (i) an elapsed amount of time spent browsing the product or (ii) an elapsed amount of time of the browsing session, based at least in part on the received plurality of consumer event indications;   further calculate an elapsed amount of time between the browsing session and a previous browsing session by the external user;   determine, with a processor remote from the device and during the rendering of the impression in the consumer user interface during the browsing session, that the qualification constraints of at least one qualifying incentive data object stored in the incentive database are satisfied by the event handler based on at least one of (a) the elapsed amount of time spent browsing the product, or (b) the elapsed amount of time of the browsing session;   authorize the incentive during the rendering of the impression in the consumer user interface during the browsing session based on the determination that the event handler criteria for offering the incentive is satisfied;   access a weight to be applied to the discount amount of the qualifying incentive data object by determining an elapsed amount of time since the user purchased a product via the promotional system;   determine an adjusted discount of the discount amount by adjusting the base value of the incentive by the weight; and   in response to the authorization of the incentive, cause the consumer user interface in which the impression is rendered during the browsing session to be modified such that (a) an incentive indication is displayed with the impression, wherein the incentive indication comprises at least the adjusted discount of the incentive, and (b) the consumer user interface displays in a first impression area, details relating to the product, and in a second impression area, the incentive indicative of the adjusted discount, wherein the consumer user interface enables purchase of the product via at least an interaction with a displayed component during the browsing session at a price that reflects the adjusted discount.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the product comprises a promotion comprising at least a service or product offered by a provider, an accepted value for which the promotion is offered for purchase via the promotional system, and a promotional value for which the promotion is redeemable at the provider for the service or product, wherein the promotional value less the accepted value represents a first discount on the service or product and the respective adjusted discount comprises a second discount on the service or product. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one memory and computer program code are further configured to cause the apparatus to at least:
 receive participation constraints associated with the incentive data object and configured by the internal user via the configuration user interface; and   enforce the participation constraints during redemption of the incentive in the current browsing session.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the incentive is redeemable only for a predetermined amount of time and only during the current browsing session. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one memory and computer program code are further configured to cause the apparatus to at least:
 provide analytics data based on usage of a plurality of incentive data objects in the incentive database, the analytics data relating to a percentage of offered incentives redeemed   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one memory and computer program code are further configured to cause the apparatus to at least:
 provide analytics data based on usage of a plurality of incentive data objects in the incentive database, the analytics data relating to a revenue received from purchases using incentives.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one memory and computer program code are further configured to cause the apparatus to at least:
 identify a control group based on the event handler criteria being satisfied;   prevent incentives from being provided during browsing sessions associated with the control group;   identify a treatment grouped based on the event handler criteria being satisfied;   provide incentives during a browsing session associated with the treatment group; and   generate analytics data based on a comparison of purchase data from the control group and purchase data from the treatment group.   
     
     
         8 . A computer program product for facilitating configuration of an incentive by an internal user via a configuration user interface, and provision thereof to an external user during a browsing session, the computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable program code instructions stored therein, the computer-executable program code instructions comprising program code instructions to:
 receive an incentive data object configured by the internal user via the configuration user interface, the incentive data object comprising at least a discount amount, and one or more qualification constraints comprising at least one of (i) an elapsed amount of time spent browsing a product or (ii) an elapsed amount of time of the browsing session;   store the incentive data object in an incentive database for access by a promotional system;   provide a computer program routine to a device associated with the external user, the computer program routine configured to generate consumer event indications;   receive a plurality of consumer event indications from the computer program routine, each consumer event indication a result of a consumer performing at least one action while interacting with a promotional system during rendering of an impression in the consumer user interface during the browsing session, wherein each consumer event indication is captured by an event handler in an instance in which the external user performs the at least one action;   iteratively calculate, during the rendering of the impression in the consumer user interface during the browsing session, the at least one of (i) an elapsed amount of time spent browsing the product or (ii) an elapsed amount of time of the browsing session, based at least in part on the received plurality of consumer event indications;   further calculate an elapsed amount of time between the browsing session and a previous browsing session by the external user;   determine, with a processor remote from the device and during the rendering of the impression in the consumer user interface during the browsing session, that the qualification constraints of at least one qualifying incentive data object stored in the incentive database are satisfied by the event handler based on at least one of (a) the elapsed amount of time spent browsing the product, or (b) the elapsed amount of time of the browsing session;   authorize the incentive during the rendering of the impression in the consumer user interface during the browsing session based on the determination that the event handler criteria for offering the incentive is satisfied;   access a weight to be applied to the discount amount of the qualifying incentive data object by determining an elapsed amount of time since the user purchased a product via the promotional system;   determine an adjusted discount of the discount amount by adjusting the base value of the incentive by the weight; and   in response to the authorization of the incentive, cause the consumer user interface in which the impression is rendered during the browsing session to be modified such that (a) an incentive indication is displayed with the impression, wherein the incentive indication comprises at least the adjusted discount of the incentive, and (b) the consumer user interface displays in a first impression area, details relating to the product, and in a second impression area, the incentive indicative of the adjusted discount, wherein the consumer user interface enables purchase of the product via at least an interaction with a displayed component during the browsing session at a price that reflects the adjusted discount.   
     
     
         9 . The computer program product of  claim 8 , wherein the product comprises a promotion comprising at least a service or product offered by a provider, an accepted value for which the promotion is offered for purchase via the promotional system, and a promotional value for which the promotion is redeemable at the provider for the service or product, wherein the promotional value less the accepted value represents a first discount on the service or product and the respective adjusted discount comprises a second discount on the service or product. 
     
     
         10 . The computer program product of  claim 8 , wherein the computer-executable program code instructions further comprise program code instructions to:
 receive participation constraints associated with the incentive data object and configured by the internal user via the configuration user interface; and   enforce the participation constraints during redemption of the incentive in the current browsing session.   
     
     
         11 . The computer program product of  claim 8 , wherein the incentive is redeemable only for a predetermined amount of time and only during the current browsing session. 
     
     
         12 . The computer program product of  claim 8 , wherein the computer-executable program code instructions further comprise program code instructions to:
 provide analytics data based on usage of a plurality of incentive data objects in the incentive database, the analytics data relating to a percentage of offered incentives redeemed   
     
     
         13 . The computer program product of  claim 8 , wherein the computer-executable program code instructions further comprise program code instructions to:
 provide analytics data based on usage of a plurality of incentive data objects in the incentive database, the analytics data relating to a revenue received from purchases using incentives.   
     
     
         14 . The computer program product of  claim 8 , wherein the computer-executable program code instructions further comprise program code instructions to:
 identify a control group based on the event handler criteria being satisfied;   prevent incentives from being provided during browsing sessions associated with the control group;   identify a treatment grouped based on the event handler criteria being satisfied;   provide incentives during a browsing session associated with the treatment group; and   generate analytics data based on a comparison of purchase data from the control group and purchase data from the treatment group.   
     
     
         15 . A method for facilitating configuration of an incentive by an internal user via a configuration user interface, and provision thereof to an external user during a browsing session, the method comprising:
 receiving an incentive data object configured by the internal user via the configuration user interface, the incentive data object comprising at least a discount amount, and one or more qualification constraints comprising at least one of (i) an elapsed amount of time spent browsing a product or (ii) an elapsed amount of time of the browsing session;   storing the incentive data object in an incentive database for access by a promotional system;   providing a computer program routine to a device associated with the external user, the computer program routine configured to generate consumer event indications;   receive a plurality of consumer event indications from the computer program routine, each consumer event indication a result of a consumer performing at least one action while interacting with a promotional system during rendering of an impression in the consumer user interface during the browsing session, wherein each consumer event indication is captured by an event handler in an instance in which the external user performs the at least one action;   iteratively calculating, during the rendering of the impression in the consumer user interface during the browsing session, the at least one of (i) an elapsed amount of time spent browsing the product or (ii) an elapsed amount of time of the browsing session, based at least in part on the received plurality of consumer event indications;   further calculating an elapsed amount of time between the browsing session and a previous browsing session by the external user;   determining, with a processor remote from the device and during the rendering of the impression in the consumer user interface during the browsing session, that the qualification constraints of at least one qualifying incentive data object stored in the incentive database are satisfied by the event handler based on at least one of (a) the elapsed amount of time spent browsing the product, or (b) the elapsed amount of time of the browsing session;   authorizing the incentive during the rendering of the impression in the consumer user interface during the browsing session based on the determination that the event handler criteria for offering the incentive is satisfied;   accessing a weight to be applied to the discount amount of the qualifying incentive data object by determining an elapsed amount of time since the user purchased a product via the promotional system;   determining an adjusted discount of the discount amount by adjusting the base value of the incentive by the weight; and   in response to the authorization of the incentive, causing the consumer user interface in which the impression is rendered during the browsing session to be modified such that (a) an incentive indication is displayed with the impression, wherein the incentive indication comprises at least the adjusted discount of the incentive, and (b) the consumer user interface displays in a first impression area, details relating to the product, and in a second impression area, the incentive indicative of the adjusted discount, wherein the consumer user interface enables purchase of the product via at least an interaction with a displayed component during the browsing session at a price that reflects the adjusted discount.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the product comprises a promotion comprising at least a service or product offered by a provider, an accepted value for which the promotion is offered for purchase via the promotional system, and a promotional value for which the promotion is redeemable at the provider for the service or product, wherein the promotional value less the accepted value represents a first discount on the service or product and the respective adjusted discount comprises a second discount on the service or product. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 receiving participation constraints associated with the incentive data object and configured by the internal user via the configuration user interface; and   enforce the participation constraints during redemption of the incentive in the current browsing session.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the incentive is redeemable only for a predetermined amount of time and only during the current browsing session. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 providing analytics data based on usage of a plurality of incentive data objects in the incentive database, the analytics data relating to a percentage of offered incentives redeemed   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 providing analytics data based on usage of a plurality of incentive data objects in the incentive database, the analytics data relating to a revenue received from purchases using incentives.