Shopping Ticketing System (ShopChain)

Problem: Hospitals ask patients to call first before showing up. Why don't retails stores do the same?  In many developing nations grocery stores are battling to manage the influx of customers whilst maintaining social distancing during the pandemci. This results in crowds and long queues. It does not help that shoppers can visit stores at any time, or during peak hours.

The Solution: An online platform that allows shoppers to request tickets to shop at their nearest store. Similar to Google's Traffic engine, this system analyses real time foot traffic using GPS location and a scheduling system, it then automatically allocates tickets based on nearest available store and the store's real time traffic.

Global Impact:The World Health Organization states the virus spreads when groups of people are together. By reducing the count of people in the same stores at any given time, we reduce the likelihood of viral transmissions.

The specific problem is lack of social distancing in and outside retail centers. 

Scale of the problem: This problem directly affects millions of people in urban and suburban areas around the world, because it puts them at risk of contracting the virus. Grocery shopping is an essential activity for all households, large or small, wealthy or poor. Whether its a pharmacy, a bakery or even a "self-checkout"grocery store, there lies a risk of transmission either by proximity or from touching of surfaces. 

Experts have estimated the basic reproduction number (R0) of COVID-19 to be 2.5, a figure supported by recent research. Meaning that on average, an infected individual will spread the disease to 2.5 other people. This means that when an infected person reduces their physical contact with others by 50%, they also spread the disease by an amount 50% less.

The solution is a smart ticketing and scheduling system that generates tickets in the form of QR codes (for smart phones) or alphanumeric codes via USSD (for feature phones). 

Tickets will grant individuals access to shops at specified times at a selected retail centers. The shoppers will be permitted to visit a nearby retail center for a set duration of time. Retail center security will scan access tickets at entrances. Scanning devices will be used to verify the validity of tickets and expiry times. 

The system will be developed using distributed ledgers per region. The following outlines the solution architecture:

• Regional data (Requests, Ticket Generation and Admission) to be stored on a blockchain-based network with supporting nodes in the regions. This means the database will be decentralised and private.
•  An application tier will process and anonymize data that is captured on the application. This data will be accesible to municipal councils. 
• The system will be available 24/7 and have 4 user types: 
  1. System Administrators 
  2. Shoppers
  3. Retail Centers Management
  4. Municipal Authorities
• Local authorities will be able to monitor and control the movement of people in high density areas during Lockdowns, this can support them in social distancing goals. 

The target population are individuals, households and families in populated areas where social distancing is not being adhered to. 

Based on what has been reported in South Africa, certain communities are increasingly frustrated about individuals who do not comply with social distancing which directly places others risk. Unfortunately law enforcement can not be present everywhere to police people, especially if they are massively outnumered.

Our solution forces individuals to visit retail centers only during their allocated time-slots thereby serving the community as a whole. 

Depending on the size of the retail centers, a maximum foot traffic threshold can be set by local authorities. this serves Local authorities in their efforts to maintain crowd control. This simple coordination of foot traffic will not only impact shoppers, but employees who work in retail stores too. Employees in hotspot retails areas will appreciate the consistency and order.

Covid19 is a Global Pandemic. In order to ensure the health and safety of communities , this solution meets one of the main recommendations set out by the World Health Organisation (Social Distancing).

This solution is innovative because it meets the needs of all participants in the value chain. Governments want visibility, Individuals want privacy, Retail centers are trying to adhere to regulations effectively without comprimising the safety of their customers. This type of solution doesn't currently exist as a standalone real-time application. It has similarities to systems used in South Korea and China during Lockdowns.

South Korea and China have both been very successful in flattening their curves by using advanced surveillance methods such as monitoring individual movements of people and using AI in infrastructure (e.g AI in CCTV cameras). 

Although our solution is guided by the same principles of monitoring movements, it does not trace individual movements, it controls collective movements using smart data abstraction tools in the application layer. Thereby focusing directly on big data.

A Blockchain is a time-stamped series of immutable records of data that is managed by a cluster of computers not owned by any single entity. Each of these blocks of data is secured and bound to each other using cryptographic principles (i.e. chain).

Because Blockchain technology will underpin this application, the shoppers and shopping centers' personal data will remain private and encrypted. Similar to public blockchains, the network nodes can be monitored by volunteers in 2nd or 3rd phase of the application's deployment. Hosting nodes can be incentivised through the use of retail coupons or redeemable tokens. 

Transactions will be immutable, making it reliable for Local authorities to use to monitor social distancing.

• Bitcoin.
• Ethereum.
• TrustChain.
• IBM Blockchain. 
• Amazon Blockchain. 

1. The short-term changes (People needing tickets to purchase goods) will enforce long-term awareness and discipline because its creates "friction" (an additional step) for grocery shopping. Shopping is an essential activity that all households do for survival. This process enforces social compliance but also produces a sense of social responsibility. 

2. The volunteers maintaining community Blockchain nodes, could have been previously unemployed or destitute due to the Lockdown situation. This application will not only create jobs but give individuals a sense of social responsibility, additionally they would be rewarded. This would lead to long -term improvements in productivity levels and social cohesion during Lockdowns.

3. Over a long period of time, the practice of scanning tickets before entering a store, will highlight the seriousness of a Lockdown. It shifts our thinking by reminding us that performing what we believe to be a "harmless" and "regular" activity like shopping can still put us and others at great risk.

Due to this solution being in its prototype phase,there are currently no users. The application is decentralised and not owned by any central authorities, so it can be replicated in any country, as long as it is enforced by local government. There is no limit to the number of users that can access the platform. Regional instances will be monitored and maintained my communities which makes it easier to scale globally.

The following are short and long term estimates:

• 1 Year -aiming for 20  Million users.
• 5 Years - aiming for 100 Million users.

1. To develop and launch the platform in 2020 in South Africa where the team resides.
2. To expand the solution in different countries.

Financial Barriers: Software Development Costs. The development of this solution requires technical skills that are in high demand and relatively expensive.

Legal Barriers: Getting Government Buy-in. This solution can only work if Governments support it and include it as part of Lockdown regulations.  

Financial Barriers: Acquiring Funding will help overcome financial barriers.

Legal Barriers: Pitching a working solution to Governments/ Local Authorities will help overcome legal barriers.

Existing resources include: 

• 2 x Senior Solution Architects 
• 1 x Blockchain Legal Advisor
• Registered and Tax Compliant Company
• Online Call Center Services (Partner Company)

Required resources include: 

• Team of Blockchain Software Developers
• 2 x Front End UX Developers

N/A

The solution is in its prototype phase. The current team includes the following:

2 x Full time

3 x Contractors

Our team is well versed in Blockchain technology. Our female founder and Team Lead, holds a Masters Degree in Blockchain Technology. Our Legal Blockchain advisor has several years of experience in DLT, including having launched a Pan-african digital asset platform. Our contractors all have experience in Blockchain , and software development management.

FirstWord - (A Virtual Call Center)

www.firstword.co.za

NubiaNetwork (A software solutions and online marketing company)

www.nubianetwork.com 

Our model is "SaaS" - Software as a Service. 

The service is similar to Uber and AirBnb, however it will be free for shoppers and retails stores. The Local Governments will pay a once-off implementation fee to set up the community blockchain. This fee will depend on the size of the municipality. 

Added-value services will be available under subscription fees for Governments and Retail stores. This will include Business Intelligence reports and other Big Data analysis. 

The revenue from the Value added services, or donations will help to sustain the business in the long term. 

It's important to note that this service will only be necessary during Pandemic Lockdowns, hence the sustainability of the business only applies seasonly. That said, the sales revenue alone will sufficiently sustain the business during lockdowns.

To solve a pertinent problem that has emerged during the Covid19 Pandemic. To spread awareness about social distancing and contribute to a more concious and healthy society.

One of the key barriers is getting Buy-In from Local municipalities and Governments. It would be greatly beneficial to receive guidance and support on achieving this. I.e Reaching out and proposing this solution to organisations like United Nations, WHO, departments in the African Union or Europian Union. 

1. The Consumer Goods Council of South Africa (CGCSA)
2. International Retail Associations (eg. NRF, BIRA)
3. World Health Organisation Collaborating Centers
4. UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC and SOCIAL COUNCIL