Apparatus, system, and method for universal tracking system

A method comprising the steps of:

• creating a universal tracking token, the universal tracking token comprising a digital tracking identifier associated with a user such that the user's activities at a merchant can be digitally tracked by the merchant, the universal tracking token having a unique identifier associated with the user;
• encoding the universal tracking token in a predefined identification format;
• creating a tracking account for the universal tracking token in a central database, the tracking account comprising tracking data for an anonymous user until a user account is linked to the tracking account;
• providing the universal tracking token in a form that can be scanned using a scanner, the form comprising a bar code, the scanner storing information associated with the universal tracking token in a local database when the universal tracking token is scanned and transmitting the information to the central database over a network so that the information can be associated with the tracking account;
• creating the user account associated with the tracking account in the central database;
• linking the user account to the tracking account for the universal tracking token so that the tracking account is no longer associated with the anonymous user;
• maintaining a one-to-many relationship between the user account and the plurality of merchant accounts, wherein account information associated with the user is accessible to the user and each of the merchants that has a relationship with the user;
• scanning the universal tracking token at the merchant in response to the universal tracking token being presented at the merchant;
• recording a token visit event data associated with the merchant to a visit history of the user account in the central database in response to the universal tracking token being detected at the merchant without requiring the user to complete a transaction at the merchant using the universal tracking token, wherein the token visit event data that is recorded within a predefined period of time of a previous scan detection of the universal tracking token is discarded;
• associating one or more loyalty points provided by the merchant with the user's tracking account in response to the user completing the transaction with the user;
• aggregating the one or more loyalty points with the one or more previously acquired loyalty points from the one or more different merchants;
• making the aggregated loyalty points globally redeemable at the plurality of merchants, the plurality of merchants including the merchants where the loyalty points are earned and merchants where the loyalty points have not been earned;
• monitoring the central database for the token visit event data at the merchant associated with the user's tracking account;
• determining that the user's universal tracking token has not been detected over a given period of time at the merchant;
• and
• triggering a retention action for the user from the merchant, the retention action intended to persuade the user to visit the merchant, wherein the universal tracking token is created without receiving any prerequisites from the user, provides a two-sided, opt-in relationship between the user and the merchant, provides data describing the relationship between the user and the merchant, and allows the user to control privacy settings defining the relationship between the user and the merchant.

A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therewith, the computer readable program code configured to:

• create a universal tracking token, the universal tracking token comprising a digital tracking identifier associated with a user such that the user's activities at a merchant can be digitally tracked by the merchant, the universal tracking token having a unique identifier associated with the user;
• encode the universal tracking token in a predefined identification format;
• create a tracking account for the universal tracking token in a central database, the tracking account comprising tracking data for an anonymous user until a user account is linked to the tracking account;
• provide the universal tracking token in a form that can be scanned using a scanner, the form comprising a bar code, the scanner storing information associated with the universal tracking token in a local database when the universal tracking token is scanned and transmit the information to the central database over a network so that the information can be associated with the tracking account;
• create the user account associated with the tracking account in the central database;
• link the user account to the tracking account for the universal tracking token so that the tracking account is no longer associated with the anonymous user;
• maintain a one-to-many relationship between the user account and the plurality of merchant accounts, wherein account information associated with the user is accessible to the user and each of the merchants that has a relationship with the user;
• record a token visit event data associated with the merchant to a visit history of the user account in the central database in response to the universal tracking token being detected at the merchant without requiring the user to complete a transaction at the merchant using the universal tracking token, wherein the token visit event data that is recorded within a predefined period of time of a previous detection of the universal tracking token is discarded;
• associate one or more loyalty points provided by the merchant with the user's tracking account in response to the user completing the transaction with the user;
• aggregate the one or more loyalty points with the one or more previously acquired loyalty points from the one or more different merchants;
• make the aggregated loyalty points globally redeemable at the plurality of merchants, the plurality of merchants including merchants where the loyalty points are earned and the merchants where the loyalty points have not been earned;
• monitor the central database for the token visit event data at the merchant associated with the user's tracking account;
• determine that the user's universal tracking token has not been detected over a given period of time at the merchant;
• and
• trigger a retention action for the user from the merchant, the retention action intended to persuade the user to visit the merchant, wherein the universal tracking token is created without receiving any prerequisites from the user, provides a two-sided, opt-in relationship between the user and the merchant, provides data describing the relationship between the user and the merchant, and allows the user to control privacy settings defining the relationship between the user and the merchant.