Alimpix patent-pending photo advertising system

U.K. kiosk maker Alimpix Limited has announced a patent-pending photo advertising system designed to connect printed photographs with relevant local and national advertising through a proprietary Multi-Dimensional Context Advertising Model (MDCAM) with AI-powered photo analysis.

The system introduces a new approach and a new advertising channel by analyzing the context of a photograph and using that information, together with other contextual dimensions, to identify suitable advertising opportunities. A small QR code advertising link is incorporated into the printed photograph, allowing customers to access the associated advertisement directly from their phone.

For customers who choose an advertisement-subsidised print, advertising revenue can significantly reduce the cost of their photo print.

Early trials show 71% of customers have chosen the lower cost advertisement prints with QR codes, the company said. Alimpix Limited MDCAM engine is designed to move beyond traditional location-based or demographic advertising by considering multiple dimensions of context surrounding a photograph.

MDCAM is intended to help match advertisements with the circumstances represented by the image, while AI-powered image analysis provides additional contextual information that can assist with local and national advertisement matching.

Each participating advertisement can be associated with a QR code printed directly onto the photograph, providing a simple bridge between the physical photograph and a digital advertising experience.

The first application of the Alimpix Ltd. system has been deployed within a charity retail chain, in this case, on a self-service Instant Photo Kiosk, creating additional fundraising opportunities from everyday photo printing.

Under this model, participating charities receive:

• A revenue share from each eligible photo print
• An additional contribution when an associated advertising QR code is scanned
• The opportunity to offer customers significantly reduced-cost, advertisement-subsidized prints
• A new digital engagement channel between charity supporters and participating advertisers

This creates a potential three-way benefit: the customer receives a cheaper print, the charity generates additional income, and advertisers gain a new context-rich route to potential customers.

The photo advertising system is being coupled with what it’s Integrated Photo Kiosk Round-Up and Donation Checkout designed specifically to make charitable giving simple at the point of purchase.

At checkout, customers can choose to round up the total value of their order to the nearest pound or customers can choose to make an additional voluntary donation, allowing them to contribute more than the simple round-up amount.

“I am very pleased to be working with a number of charities and advertising agencies on what I believe could be a potentially disruptive innovation for the photo printing, advertising and charitable fundraising sectors,” said Ivan Sestan, Alimpix. “Working and supporting charities with my new innovation feels great. I am hoping it will be successful for all parties involved.”

“The concept is simple but powerful: use technology to make a photograph more valuable to everyone involved. The customer can receive a substantially reduced print price, the charity can receive additional funding, and advertisers can connect with consumers through a highly contextual advertising opportunity.

“But I didn’t want to stop there. The Round-Up and Donation Checkout adds another simple way for customers to support the charity at the point of purchase. A few pence or pounds from individual transactions can collectively become a meaningful additional source of funding in these challenging times.”

Alimpix Ltd. believes its new patent pending technology could have applications well beyond charity retail, with potential opportunities across photo kiosks, visitor attractions, entertainment venues, retail environments, events, tourism and other locations where consumers create or print photograph as well as for online photo print ordering, all covered by Alimpix Limited Comprehensive Patent Application.