Abstract

Narrowcasting is a business-centric network management solution which integrates media devices such as digital screens, high-bandwidth communication channels, and media management systems for media content distribution. The real time integration of inventory management with the emerging narrowcasting promotion systems promises a new level of supply chain efficiency. We investigate system modeling and design aspects of narrowcasting-based inventory control, which are of importance in terms of developing software systems to materialize the potentials of narrowcasting as a highly responsive promotion media. We propose an extension to the classical news-vendor inventory model, which integrates the narrowcasting advertising component into the dynamic inventory management process. We also present a promotion scheduling model for narrowcasting-based inventory management. To demonstrate the application of the proposed models, we provide a complete case study in the context of quick service restaurant industry.