Intelligent virtualization of merchants

Abstract

Techniques described herein are directed to intelligent virtualization of merchant services. In an example, interaction data indicative of interaction(s) between merchant(s) and a service provider can be received from merchant device(s) operable by the merchant(s). Server(s) of the service provider can access inventory data of a merchant and can determine, based at least in part on the interaction data and the inventory data, whether the merchant is a candidate for virtualization. The server(s) can send, to a merchant device operable by the merchant, a recommendation to virtualize an item based at least in part on the determining, wherein the recommendation can be presented via a merchant-facing user interface that includes a user interface element to allow the merchant to virtualize the item.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A system comprising:
 one or more processors; and   one or more computer-readable media storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the system to perform operations comprising:
 receiving, by a server computing device associated with a service provider, interaction data indicative of one or more interactions between one or more customers and the service provider via a network; 
 accessing, by the server computing device and from a data store associated with the system, inventory data of a merchant of one or more merchants; 
 identifying, by the server computing device and based on the inventory data and the interaction data, one or more resources associated with the merchant; and 
 establishing, by the server computing device and based at least in part on the one or more resources, a communication channel between the one or more customers and the one or more resources. 
   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the one or more resources correspond to one or more employees associated with physical locations of the merchant. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the communication channel is associated with at least one of (i) a physical appointment associated with the merchant or (ii) a virtual appointment associated with merchant. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the one or more employees are further associated with the at least one of the physical appointment or the virtual appointment. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the physical appointment corresponds to an in-person appointment. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the virtual appointment includes at least one of:
 offering an item as a virtual service via a media platform;   offering an item via a workshop with one or more customers; or   determining a bundle of items to offer as a kit with instructions for assembling the bundle of items into another item.   
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the interaction data comprises at least one of:
 data indicating one or more selections of one or more items associated with the one or more merchants;   transaction data associated with one or more transactions processed on behalf of the one or more customers by a payment processing service available via the service provider; or   appointment data associated with one or more appointments scheduled with the one or more merchants using an appointment service available via the service provider.   
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the communication channel comprises at least one of a video call, a text conversation, or another virtual connection mechanism. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein identifying the one or more resources is based at least in part on determining, based on the inventory data, that an item is in-stock. 
     
     
         30 . A method comprising:
 receiving, by a server computing device associated with a service provider, interaction data indicative of one or more interactions between one or more customers and the service provider via a network;   accessing, by the server computing device and from a data store associated with the service provider, inventory data of a merchant of one or more merchants;   identifying, by the server computing device and based on the inventory data and the interaction data, one or more resources associated with the merchant; and   establishing, by the server computing device and based at least in part on the one or more resources, a communication channel between the one or more customers and the one or more resources.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the one or more resources correspond to one or more employees associated with physical locations of the merchant. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the one or more employees are further associated with at least one of a physical appointment or a virtual appointment. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the virtual appointment includes at least one of:
 offering an item as a virtual service via a media platform;   offering an item via a workshop with one or more customers; or   determining a bundle of items to offer as a kit with instructions for assembling the bundle of items into another item.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the interaction data comprises at least one of:
 data indicating one or more selections of one or more items associated with the one or more merchants;   transaction data associated with one or more transactions processed on behalf of the one or more customers by a payment processing service available via the service provider; or   appointment data associated with one or more appointments scheduled with the one or more merchants using an appointment service available via the service provider.   
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the communication channel comprises at least one of a video call, a text conversation, or another virtual connection mechanism. 
     
     
         36 . One or more computer-readable media storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
 receiving, by a server computing device associated with a service provider, interaction data indicative of one or more interactions between one or more customers and the service provider via a network;   accessing, by the server computing device and from a data store associated with the service provider, inventory data of a merchant of one or more merchants;   identifying, by the server computing device and based on the inventory data and the interaction data, one or more resources associated with the merchant; and   establishing, by the server computing device and based at least in part on the one or more resources, a communication channel between the one or more customers and the one or more resources.   
     
     
         37 . The one or more computer-readable media as  claim 36  recites, wherein the one or more resources correspond to one or more employees associated with physical locations of the merchant. 
     
     
         38 . The one or more computer-readable media as  claim 36  recites, wherein the communication channel comprises at least one of a video call, a text conversation, or another virtual connection mechanism. 
     
     
         39 . The one or more computer-readable media as  claim 36  recites, wherein the interaction data comprises at least one of:
 data indicating one or more selections of one or more items associated with the one or more merchants; 
 transaction data associated with one or more transactions processed on behalf of the one or more customers by a payment processing service available via the service provider; or 
 appointment data associated with one or more appointments scheduled with the one or more merchants using an appointment service available via the service provider. 
 
     
     
         40 . The one or more computer-readable media as  claim 36  recites, wherein identifying the one or more resources is based at least in part on determining, based on the inventory data, that an item is in-stock.