1 Going receipt-free CS410 September 21, 2009

2 Societal Problem Excessive paper usage - paper receipts in stores Waste of natural resources Air and water pollution during production Big impact on municipal waste management: 33% of all waste* (*) "Municipal Solid Waste Generation, Recycling, and Disposal in the United States: Facts and Figures for 2007." U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. November, p.4 Excessive paper usage - paper receipts in stores Waste of natural resources Air and water pollution during production Big impact on municipal waste management: 33% of all waste* (*) "Municipal Solid Waste Generation, Recycling, and Disposal in the United States: Facts and Figures for 2007." U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. November, p.4

3 Customers Stores: spend less on buying paper, storing, printing Shoppers: reducing paper clutter, recycling Stores: spend less on buying paper, storing, printing Shoppers: reducing paper clutter, recycling Potential Market Big: many companies aim to become greener

4 Existing and Suggested Solutions (Apple Inc.) banks, credit card companies to store detailed receipts* smart cards Neat Receipt scanners (*) Chadwick Matlin. "Receipt-free future: Just a dream?" MSN Money. dream.aspx (Apple Inc.) banks, credit card companies to store detailed receipts* smart cards Neat Receipt scanners (*) Chadwick Matlin. "Receipt-free future: Just a dream?" MSN Money. dream.aspx

5 Solution 1. Give a choice: print or not to print 2. Use flash memory card to upload receipt 3. Download receipts to PC 1. Give a choice: print or not to print 2. Use flash memory card to upload receipt 3. Download receipts to PC Software and Hardware Software patch to digitize receipts and upload with one click Card writer/reader Software patch to digitize receipts and upload with one click Card writer/reader

6 Customer’s Choice In Store At Home Gives card to cashier Inserts card into register Pushes button, uploads receipt Customer inserts Memory Card Into computer Loads digital receipts into software

7 Possible Problems Handling returns Find inexpensive solution Cost of implementation for merchants ($60,000 - $100,000 per store*) IRS and taxes (store receipts at least 3 years) (*) Chadwick Matlin. "Receipt-free future: Just a dream?" MSN Money. dream.aspx Handling returns Find inexpensive solution Cost of implementation for merchants ($60,000 - $100,000 per store*) IRS and taxes (store receipts at least 3 years) (*) Chadwick Matlin. "Receipt-free future: Just a dream?" MSN Money. dream.aspx

8 Conclusion Provide a choice Solve by using existing technology (memory card) Start the process Provide a choice Solve by using existing technology (memory card) Start the process