Digital Advertising and Customer Movement Analysis Using BLE Beacon Technology and Smart Shopping Carts in Retail

• Published in: Journal of theoretical and applied electronic commerce research Vol. 20; no. 2; p. 55
• Main Author: Ayaz, Zafer
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Curicó MDPI AG 01.06.2025
• Subjects: Accuracy; Advertisements; Advertising; Beacons; Bluetooth low energy (BLE); Carts; Customers; digital advertising in retail; Discount coupons; Energy efficiency; Global positioning systems; GPS; Green buildings; indoor positioning system (IPS); Infrastructure; Location based services; Maintenance costs; Market strategy; Marketing; Online advertising; Optimization; Privacy; proximity marketing; Radio frequency identification; Real time; Retail stores; Sales; Shopping; Signal processing; Technology; United States > US
• ISSN: 0718-1876; 0718-1876
• DOI: 10.3390/jtaer20020055

This paper proposes an innovative, intelligent shopping cart system with an interdisciplinary approach using Bluetooth low energy (BLE) beacons. The research integrates online and offline retail strategies by presenting campaigns and ads to the customers during in-store navigation. In a testing environment, BLE beacons are strategically positioned to monitor the purchasing process and deliver relevant insights to retailers. The technology anonymously logs customers’ locations and the duration of their browsing at each sales shelf. Through the analysis of client movement heatmaps, retailers may discern high-traffic zones and modify product placement to enhance visibility and sales. Additionally, the system provides an additional revenue model for store owners through location specific targeted ads displayed on a tablet mounted on the cart. Unlike previous BLE-based tracking solutions, this research bridges the gap between customer movement analytics and real-time targeted advertising in retail settings. The system achieved an accuracy of 82.4% when the aisle partition length was 3.00 m and 91.7% when the aisle partition length was 6.00 m. This system, which can generate additional income for store owners by generating 0.171 USD in a single test simulation as a result of displaying ads to three test customers in a two-partitioned aisle layout, offers a new and scalable business model for modern retailers.