In looking at the concept of 'smart data', and data portability more generally, it would be great if there was one area that stood out as both tactically and strategically as a great place to start. To cross that chasm, one might consider start points that:

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• Are easily understood by most people
• Already run at massive scale
• Are underpinned by regulations and consumer law
• Don't work particularly well at present, for at least one of the parties involved
• Have a positive economic business case, and an on-ramp to much more

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We think there is at least one very tangible opportunity that ticks all of the above boxes, which deliver real, tangible benefits for consumers, which can be addressed relatively easily. And we can get started on it right away.

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That concept is the Smart Data Receipt.

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What is a Smart Data Receipt you may well ask?

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A Smart Data Receipt is a standard sales/ transaction receipt delivered in a modern digital format with degrees of standardisation that enable portability and utility for the recipient, whilst enabling the receipt issuer to meet or surpass their mandatory obligations.

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What's wrong with what we have now we hear you say?

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We would contend that:

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• Paper receipts are easily lost, often fade due to low grade paper/ print; and have an environmental impact through consuming paper and generating litter.
• Emailed receipts with the receipt data embedded in the email require people giving out email addresses when they don't always want or have the time to. They are not always easy to then find later, and don't make analysis or use of the data in the receipts at all easy.
• Emailed PDF receipts. As above, albeit the receipt files can theoretically be saved more easily for future reference.
• Receipts made available as downloadable files (PDF) in an online store or customer portal are difficult for the recipient to access and use

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So what's the additional/ alternative model we propose?

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Simple really, we propose that where the customer has their own modern data management capabilities (data store/ vault/ wallet/pod) then an additional receipt delivery method becomes a good option - particularly for the customer. That option, which we call the smart data receipt, sees a digital record of the transaction being pushed in to (or pulled by) the personal data management tools of the individual. So exactly the same data being provided in the existing methods, just using a new media type.

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Smart digital receipts are therefore an easy on-ramp for smart data; they are already points at which data and money change hands; and where the identities of each of the parties are established and known to each other.

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An example of what we mean is shown below.

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There are six current ways of creating smart data receipts in DataPal

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• Automated push in from receipt scanning app partners
• Auto-push from e-commerce (e.g. Shopify) and CRM systems (e.g. Salesforce)
• File upload from exports of receipts captured, e.g. Google Sheets
• Forward an email receipt to DataPal
• Manual entry via the DataPal app
• API to API integration with ePOS systems

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In all cases the system captures and adds data provenance, and augments the receipt records via Generative AI. This is particularly useful in improving the quality and integrity of the resulting data record, not least by parsing out the line items on multi-item receipts rather than just capturing the overall transaction record.

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We envisage the following benefits from smart digital receipts.

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For Organisations, smart digital receipts offer

• A much improved customer experience

• Better provenance on the transaction record

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Organisations such as those already running large scale customer loyalty programmes; or those with modern electronic point of sale systems are well-placed to be early adopters in this new model.

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For Individuals, smart digital receipts make it easier for people to:

• Understand and use their purchasing data

• Return items

• Rate or recommend items

• Remember when warranties expire

• Repair items

• Buy more of the same

• Complain about an item

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For Regulators and Consumer Advocates, smart digital receipts enable:

• Greater support for consumer rights
• Improved analytics when personal data management service make augmented receipts available on a permissioned basis

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This short video shows our smart data receipts concept in action.

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Over time we believe that the concept of a smart digital receipt will become a whole new interaction channel between individuals and organisations.

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Any organisation wishing to run a proof of concept for smart digital receipts, please get in touch via info at datapal.me.