Method for managing data relating to an off-the-shelf item

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for managing data relating to an off-the-shelf item or accessory in the fields of fashion, textiles and clothing, - the data being accessible by way of a label of the item, preferably a woven label, and containing an identifier such as a 2D code or a QR code, and the label being affiliated with this item; - the data being stored on a server and being able to be modified by way of an online platform executed on the server. According to the invention, the method consists in: - assigning each identifier in the database to at least one category of the database; - simultaneously modifying the data relating to multiple items by modifying a datum relating to a category of these items.

Description

Description Title of the invention: Method for managing data relating to a ready-to-wear item Technical field

[0001] The invention relates to the technical field of ready-to-wear and accessories in the fields of fashion, textiles and clothing. Prior art

[0002] In the fashion and accessories industry, brands want to be able to communicate with their product's consumers—their customers. There are several known solutions for this.

[0003] It is possible to send emails to customers identified within a brand database, for example based on these customers' loyalty accounts with the brand.

[0004] It is also possible to send push notifications to customers who have installed an application distributed by the brand on their smartphone.

[0005] The downside of these solutions is that communications are pushed by the brand, not requested by the customer. Customers may therefore resent such unsolicited communications.

[0006] Furthermore, these communications are generally unrelated to the items the customer actually owns. The communication is too general and does not properly target the customers to be informed.

[0007] Finally, these solutions are not compatible with the second-hand market, because while the first customer may be known to the brand, it does not know if and when they resold the item they initially purchased. The second customer, i.e., the new buyer, cannot be contacted by the brand. The brand therefore misses part of its communication target.

[0008] Additionally, there are labels with codes, such as barcodes or 2D codes such as QR codes. Such codes can encode data such as text, in order to present information to the customer when they scans the code with a smartphone. These codes can encode a website address (or "URL", according to the acronym for Uniform Resource Locator). These labels are attached to the item and are therefore likely to follow the item throughout its life, which makes it possible to reach a second customer. The disadvantage of such labels is that the code is no longer modifiable once the label is manufactured. The brand can therefore no longer easily modify the content of its communication once the label is manufactured.

[0009] Furthermore, there is a difficulty in associating a label with a code with the article that corresponds to it. Indeed, a code is generally not meaningful, so that reading it with the naked eye does not allow us to know what information is encoded by this code. This fact is exacerbated when it is a bar code or a 2D code.

[0010] In this case, it can be difficult for a manufacturer with labels for different items to know which label should be sewn onto which item. Two labels may have the same brand logo, and each a different 2D code, the first corresponding to a T-shirt, for example, and the second corresponding to a sweater. These two labels cannot be differentiated by eye. There is therefore a risk of not attaching the right label to the right item.

[0011] Then, the prior affiliation of a label with a 2D code to a particular article imposes, both on the manufacturer of the labels, on the brand which buys the labels, and on the manufacturer who manufactures the articles and fixes the labels on the articles, a rigorous monitoring of the stock of each label reference, on the basis of their affiliation: labels which appear similar but which have a different code must not be interchanged.

[0012] Individually associating each tag with its corresponding item is tedious.

[0013] There is also a risk of counterfeiting on the part of the manufacturer: having raw materials validated by the brand, and brand labels ("textile labels"), the manufacturer can manufacture surplus items without the brand's agreement and sell them on its own initiative on secondary markets. This is the "grey market", as opposed to the "black market", because this are genuine items and not imitations, but marketed without the control or authorization of the brand.

[0014] Documents KR101075897B1, US20170132892A1, and US20190114584A1 describe data management processes, but which are not entirely satisfactory: - KR101075897B1 concerns the modification of data that can be viewed on a website, using a QR code. This document does not provide any information on the management of a brand database, which includes a multitude of entries corresponding to the different items offered by this brand. - US20170132892A1 relates to a data management method for the production of labels, and does not provide any information regarding the evolution of the content of a communication relating to an article, once the label has been produced. - US20190114584A1 relates to a data management method for logistics applications, and is not suitable for managing a database of brand items, nor for the constraints of communication towards customers in the fields of fashion, textiles and clothing. Statement of the invention

[0015] One of the aims of the invention is to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art.

[0016] In particular, it may involve offering a brand a communication medium that is scalable, so that the content of the communication can be updated according to the evolution of the data to be provided.

[0017] It can also be about facilitating the affiliation of woven labels presenting a code with a corresponding article.

[0018] To this end, a method has been developed for managing data relating to an article of the ready-to-wear or accessory type in the fields of fashion, textiles and clothing, the data being accessible by means of a label of the article, preferably a woven label, and presenting an identifier such as a 2D code or a QR code, and the label being affiliated with this article, that is to say that this QR code is attached to this article within the database, and that scanning the 2D code for example with a smartphone makes it possible to access and / or display the data on an application of the smartphone, or on an internet browser; - the data being stored on a server, and being able to be modified by means of an online platform, executed on the server.

[0019] The method according to the invention consists of: - assign each database identifier to at least one database category; - simultaneously modify data relating to several articles, by modifying data relating to a category of these articles.

[0020] This way, communication is required by the customer when they scan the 2D code, rather than being pushed by the brand. The customer no longer feels intrusive.

[0021] Next, the label, preferably woven, is durable and has a lifespan equivalent to that of the item. The code is therefore accessible to potential second-hand buyers of the item, who will be able to benefit from the brand's communications, even without being identified to it via a loyalty program. The invention also facilitates compliance of the brand's communication methods with the requirements related to the protection of customers' personal data, such as EU Regulation 2016 / 679 (General Data Protection Regulation, "GDPR"), because the brand can communicate with its customers without needing their personal data.

[0022] A printed label is less expensive but less durable than a woven label. A woven label is more complex and more expensive than a printed label, but its durability is significantly greater. The print on a printed label can withstand at most a few dozen washes, while a woven label has a lifespan at least as long as the product itself.

[0023] Finally, since the data can be modified, it is possible to modify the content of the brand's communication, independently of the production of the labels bearing the code. Communication to the customer can therefore be scalable.

[0024] The identifier can be an alphanumeric sequence, or a code such as a barcode or a two-dimensional code (“2D code”). Preferably, it is a QR code: - encoding the identifier, so that scanning the QR code using a reader allows to identify the label, or; - encoding a source URL including an alphanumeric sequence corresponding to the label identifier. In this case, the source URL is used to identify the label and / or direct an Internet browser to a web page corresponding to the scanned label.

[0025] In the remainder of this document, reference is generally made to the "code" carried by the label, without this excluding modes where the label only carries an identifier.

[0026] By "affiliation" we mean the connection, within a database, of the label identifier to the article that receives the label. In practice, affiliation corresponds to the connection, within the database, between the label identifier and a database key, allowing the article to be identified within the article database. The key can be, for example: - a code conventionally used in the field in question, such as the stock management unit of an item, its universal product code or its European product code (respectively “SKU”, “UPC” and “EAN”), - a website address (“URL”).

[0027] Depending on the desired resolution for data administration: - the label identifier is unique. In this case, all labels produced can be interchanged by the manufacturer, but the responsibility for verifying the uniqueness of each label produced lies with the label manufacturer. - the label identifier is not unique. In this case, the production of labels is made easier, but the manufacturer must be careful not to interchange labels from different series (and bearing different identifiers). - the key designates an item model (for example a bag model). This solution is preferred for mass distribution, which does not require the power, after a customer has acquired the item, to differentiate it from another item of the same model. - the key designates a single item (and not all items of the same bag model, for example). This solution is preferred for traceability or anti-counterfeiting applications, because it allows, after the item has been acquired by a customer, to differentiate it from another item of the same model.

[0028] Even if the affiliation takes place after the label is provided, it may take place before or after the label is placed on the item.

[0029] By "data relating to an article" is meant any type of informative, textual, multimedia content, or target URL of a web page. The invention relates in particular to data relating to a purchaser of the article (the customer using the article). This may, for example, be data on authenticity or traceability, certification of the article according to a quality or environmental standard, or information on the place of manufacture.

[0030] An "online platform" means any utility running on the server, such as a web page with a graphical interface that allows you to select the item whose data is to be modified and enter a new value for the modification. It can also be a utility without a graphical interface, such as a program that executes a computer query to modify certain data within the database.

[0031] Data is updated “simultaneously” as opposed to "individually", that is, the modification of data is ordered for all the articles concerned at the same time. Normal execution times for programs or queries on the server are not taken into account, nor is the fact that the data are in practice modified one after the other, since it is the management of the database that is studied.

[0032] A category is a grouping of identifiers. This can be a collection in the ready-to-wear sense ("Spring-Summer 2022 collection"), an item family ("trousers"), a market segment ("ecological materials"), etc. An item belongs to one or more categories. In practice, an item is assigned to a category by entering the same value, within a database field, for several items. A category is therefore defined positively, when administering the brand's database.

[0033] Thus, the invention allows a brand to communicate with its customers in a targeted rather than generic manner, in an evolving manner, and throughout the lifetime of the item.

[0034] According to a particular embodiment, the platform collects and records usage data of the identifiers and / or usage data of the data relating to the article. This data is then segregated and compiled so that the brand can carry out data analysis, for example of the use of the articles, or of the life cycle of the articles.

[0035] Preferably, and to ensure traceability and ensure the most accurate data analysis possible, the identifier is unique.

[0036] In order to facilitate the mass modification of data, it is carried out by the integration of a synchronization file of an electronic data interchange called "EDI", that is to say by the communication of digital documents in a standardized format, and allowing the automatic transfer of data between two entities, from machine to machine. In practice, a first computer application sends an EDI file, containing the data, to a second computer application. The exchange can be done by sending standardized messages, or by the combination of a file deposit in a directory, initiated by the first entity, and a scanner of this directory implemented by the second entity.

[0037] The EDI file includes a list of the database row IDs to be changed, the fields affected by the change, and the new values.

[0038] For the change to be triggered, for example, by the manufacturing of the labels, the EDI file is issued by a business management software package of the label manufacturer. In this case, the changes made by the label manufacturer are intended for the brand, and these changes can be used as an indicator for production monitoring.

[0039] In addition or as an alternative, so that the implementation of the modification does not require the brand to use an additional IT tool, the EDI file is issued by a business management software package of the brand, i.e. the purchaser of the labels.

[0040] In addition or as an alternative, the modification is triggered by the affiliation of the labels of a category to the corresponding articles. This allows, for example, to update data intended for the brand, for example example, logistics data or production tracking data depending on how the affiliation is organized. In this case, the modification is carried out by a computer program implemented to carry out the affiliation. It is preferably carried out when the labels are affiliated by batch.

[0041] In order to manage the end of life of articles, and subsequently purge the database of superfluous data, assigning the identifier to a so-called "end of life" category prevents the modification of content data.

[0042] Identifiers are preferably generated by a cryptographic algorithm from a timestamp, i.e. from a time elapsed between a fixed event and the time of the identifier generation. This guarantees their uniqueness, without the need for verification within the database of already existing identifiers.

[0043] To make identifiers easier to read and avoid dyslexia, the algorithm provides pseudo-random alphanumeric sequences, intended to constitute part of the identifier. By "pseudo-random" we mean an alphanumeric sequence that appears to be a random sequence: - labels belonging to the same manufacturing batch do not have a sequence which is incremented from one label to another (for example, the sequence does not go from “0001” to “0002” then “0003”, but from “L8OY” to “2R8L” then “W82W”); - the alphanumeric sequence is nevertheless provided in a determined manner by the algorithm, and is therefore not random.

[0044] In a particular embodiment, the data relating to the article contains a target URL. In this case, the brand can, for example, generate a new web page each time it wishes to modify its communication. The modification of the data mainly consists of replacing the URL of the page of the old communication with the URL of the page of the new communication.

[0045] In another mode, the article data contains a source URL. To easily categorize them, several source URLs include a common stem, that is, a part of the path and / or domain name that is common. This also facilitates the transfer of data management, because the domain name defined by the common stem is then transferred.

[0046] To facilitate and speed up the selection of multiple labels whose data needs to be modified, the selection is made by entering a grouping identifier from a predefined grouping category. In practice, the grouping category corresponds to the packaging of a label handling unit, all affiliated with the same type of article.

[0047] Preferably, the grouping identifier is entered by scanning a 2D grouping code. This eliminates the risk of typing errors. This 2D grouping code can be included on a label packing list, for example, when the labels are delivered to the manufacturer.

[0048] To avoid any risk of exchange between several 2D grouping codes, the entry of the grouping identifier is carried out by scanning a 2D grouping code present on a packaging of a label handling unit.

[0049] A process has also been developed for associating a label, preferably woven, with an article of the ready-to-wear and accessories type in the fields of fashion, textiles and clothing; the label being attached to the article and presenting an identifier such as a 2D code or a QR code encoding the identifier within a database.

[0050] According to the invention, the label is affiliated after its supply to the purchaser of the label or to a manufacturer.

[0051] This way, the labels are affiliated as soon as possible, making it easier to manage their stock. It is possible to manufacture labels in large quantities and store them without having to differentiate between different batches, based on the identifier of each label. In particular, this allows for a reduction in label stocks because they are universal until they are affiliated. Only after their delivery to the brand or manufacturer will the differentiation be made, and each label will be associated with an item.

[0052] To speed up affiliation, multiple labels are affiliated simultaneously.

[0053] To facilitate the entry of the labels to be affiliated, they are selected by entering a predefined grouping identifier.

[0054] Still for this purpose, the entry of the grouping identifier is carried out by flashing a grouping QR code.

[0055] To limit the risk of error between several grouping identifiers, flashing a grouping QR code present on a grouping packaging of the labels allows the grouping identifier to be entered.

[0056] In order to only affiliate labels whose code reading has not been degraded during the production of the article or during the installation of the label, the label is affiliated to the article after its installation on the article. In this case, the affiliation can be used as production tracking data.

[0057] To limit the risk of counterfeiting, the label is attached to the item when it is sold in stores. Thus, only items placed on the market in a controlled manner by the brand carry an attached, and therefore functional, label.

[0058] To facilitate data entry during affiliation, it is carried out using an application running on a smartphone, by identifying the article model to be affiliated within the application, and by capturing a 2D code encoding the identifier, and carried by an article corresponding to the identification carried out. The order in which these two actions are executed is irrelevant.

[0059] Still for this purpose, and to accelerate the affiliation, the affiliations of several articles are carried out by means of an application running on a smartphone, by identifying the article model to be affiliated within the application, then by the successive capture of 2D codes encoding the identifier, and carried by articles corresponding to the identification carried out. In practice, the type of article to be affiliated is selected (for example, a particular model of handbag), then the labels of all the bags of this model that need to be affiliated are successively scanned.

[0060] In another mode, the affiliation is carried out by integrating a synchronization file from a computer data exchange called "EDI". In this way, the affiliation is automatic, and does not require any other manipulation on the part of the manufacturer, the brand, or the contractor.

[0061] In the first case, the synchronization file is issued by an enterprise resource planning (ERP) software package of a purchaser of the woven labels, i.e., the brand. This case is suitable when the server on which the database is stored is hosted by someone other than the brand, for example, the label manufacturer. This also allows the brand to control the affiliation labels, thus limiting the gray market because only the labels that the brand has chosen to affiliate are functional.

[0062] In a second case, the synchronization file is issued by a business management software package of the woven label manufacturer. This case is suitable when the server on which the database is stored is hosted by someone other than the label manufacturer, for example the brand. This also allows more flexibility in managing the production and storage of labels, because only functional labels, excluding production defects, are affiliated.

[0063] The invention also relates to an installation comprising a server comprising a database and executing a computer program and / or an online platform, configured to implement a method according to the aforementioned characteristics. Brief description of the drawings

[0064] [Fig.1] is a diagram illustrating the material and immaterial exchanges between a brand, a label manufacturer, a manufacturer, and a brand customer.

[0065] [Fig.2] illustrates a ready-to-wear item with a label including a 2D code.

[0066] [Fig.3] illustrates a graphical interface of a smartphone application presenting data relating to a ready-to-wear item such as a t-shirt.

[0067] [Fig.4] illustrates a database including thumbnail IDs, categories, source URLs and target URLs.

[0068] [Fig.5] illustrates a database comprising thumbnail identifiers, categories, and data relating to ready-to-wear items such as lingerie.

[0069] [Fig.6] illustrates a graphical interface of an online platform allowing the modification of data of articles in a category. Detailed description of the invention

[0070] With reference to Figures 1 to 3, the invention relates to data management enabling a brand (10) to be connected with its customers (20), by means of labels (31) attached to the articles (11) that it sells.

[0071] Referring to Figure 2, these labels (31) have a code, preferably a 2D code such as a QR code. The code is scanned by a customer (20), or flashed, for example using a smartphone (21).

[0072] Referring to Figure 3, the client (20) then accesses data (51) relating to the article (11). The data (51) can be: - information relating to the article (11) as such, such as the composition of the article (11), its place of manufacture, care instructions; - information relating to the article (11) from the point of view of the brand (10), such as suggestions for other complementary articles or those belonging to the same collection, and likely to interest the customer (20): this could be a shirt matching the trousers the customer has just scanned (20).

[0073] Since the label (31) can no longer be modified after its manufacture, the method according to the invention makes it possible to easily modify the data (51) after the label (31) has been manufactured. In particular, the data (51) can be modified while the article (11) is already put into circulation (in a store), or already sold to a user.

[0074] Since the label (31) is generally manufactured by a company other than the manufacturer (40), it is necessary to be able, within the database, to affiliate each label (31) to the article (11) which corresponds to it. In order to be able to manage the manufacture of the labels (31) in a non-differentiated manner, the affiliation is carried out after its supply by the label manufacturer (30). This is valid: - that the labels are delivered to the brand (10) which will then transmit them to its manufacturers (40), or - that the labels (31) are delivered directly to a manufacturer (40).

[0075] Thus, all labels (31) are similar during their manufacture, in that they are interchangeable (except that they have different respective identifiers). It is only when a label (31) is affiliated with a particular article (11) that the label (31) is no longer interchangeable.

[0076] The delayed differentiation according to the invention allows for easy production management as well as stock management.

[0077] To make the affiliation faster, several labels (31) are simultaneously affiliated with their articles (11). For this, several methods are considered.

[0078] In a preferred embodiment, the affiliation is carried out by the manufacturer (40), prior to the application of the labels (31) to the articles (11), by means of a grouping label which is arranged on a label grouping packaging (21). For this, the manufacturer (30) has previously defined the grouping category as comprising the labels (21) which he has placed in the grouping packaging.

[0079] The grouping label has a code encoding the identifier of a grouping category. Thus, entering or scanning this code allows a computer program to select all the labels (21) of this grouping category, using their identifiers.

[0080] The manufacturer (40) indicates by means of the computer program to which type of article (11) he wants to affiliate labels (21), and enters the identifier of the grouping category. The computer program then affiliates each label (21) of the category to this type of article.

[0081] In practice, the manufacturer (40) prepares the manufacture of the articles (11) by selecting all the necessary components, including the labels (31) delivered in their grouping packaging. He carries out the affiliation by means of the grouping label, then begins the manufacture of the articles (11).

[0082] This method is efficient because a large number of tags (31) are affiliated simultaneously, for example between 100 and 500 tags (31).

[0083] In other modes, the affiliation is carried out after the labels (31) are placed on the articles (11).

[0084] A first method consists of identifying the type of article to be affiliated, by means of an application running on a smartphone. Then, the processor (40) successively scans all the corresponding articles (11). At each iteration, the scanned label (31) is affiliated with the selected article (11). The affiliation of all the scanned labels (31) can also be done simultaneously, after all the scans, being triggered by a GUI component within the application.

[0085] This first method can also be carried out by a brand employee (10). It is also possible to scan all the labels (31) of the articles (11) to be affiliated, and only then select the type of article within the application. In this case, the affiliation of all the labels (31) is done simultaneously.

[0086] A second method is to use an EDI method to affiliate the labels (31) with the articles (11) on which they are to be attached, or on which they are already attached. In this case, the EDI file is preferably issued by the brand (10). Such an exchange by EDI is symbolized by the exchange (14) in Figure 1. The brand (10) then indicates to the manufacturer (40) which labels (31) are to be used when making the articles (11), based on their identifiers.

[0087] This method provides more control to the brand (10), which knows in advance which label (31) will be attached to which article (11), and which prevents articles (21) from being put on the market without its having authorized their affiliation.

[0088] By subsequent modification of the data (51) by the manufacturer (40), this method can also serve as a logistics tool or for production monitoring.

[0089] Alternatively, a third method consists of affiliating the labels (31) by EDI, during the manufacture of the labels (31), in which case it is the exchange (13) which is implemented.

[0090] In this case, the manufacturer (30) must produce the right number of labels (31) according to the needs of the brand (10). The labels (31) are delivered to the manufacturer (40) already affiliated with an article (11), even before its manufacture: the manufacturer (40) must therefore be careful not to mix up labels (31), at the risk of not respecting the prior affiliation.

[0091] A fourth method is to individually affiliate the tag (31) with its item (11), without using a grouping category. In this case, the application is run on a smartphone (21), the user identifies the item model, and enters the tag's ID (31) or scans its code with the smartphone.

[0092] This method is more tedious because the affiliations are carried out individually. Nevertheless, this fourth method is advantageously implemented when selling the article (11) in a store approved by the brand (10): thus, the risk of a gray market is completely eliminated.

[0093] The third and fourth methods allow the brand to have more control over label affiliation (31).

[0094] Referring to Figures 4 and 5, the data (51) are stored within a database in a server (50). This database includes identifiers of the labels (31), and the labels (31) are grouped into categories. Alternatively, it is the articles (11) which are grouped into categories, according to the key which is used in the database.

[0095] The database includes two types of data: - non-modifiable data, such as the UID, SKU, model or color of the item; - editable data, such as traceability information (chain of custody), brand information, a redirect URL, and category(ies).

[0096] Each label (31) is assigned to at least one category. In the given examples, each label is assigned to two categories: - depending on its status (status “End” for “end of life”, or status “C” for “in circulation”); and - depending on its collection (“PE2022” for the “spring-summer 2022” collection or “AH2022” for the “autumn winter 2022” collection).

[0097] These categories allow you to quickly select all the items (11) that are part of a category, in order to make mass changes to these items (11). For example, the items (11) in an obsolete collection can all be moved simultaneously from "in circulation" to "end of life". The items (11) are preferably assigned to at least two categories.

[0098] In this case, assigning the identifier to a so-called "end of life" category prevents the modification of other content data. This allows the brand (10) to manage which articles (11) are still active on the market or not, and this allows the server administrator (50) to delete obsolete lines. from the database when it detects that articles (11) have been in the “end of life” category for a period exceeding a given threshold.

[0099] Figure 4 illustrates a case where the data (51) are accessible using an Internet browser. In this case, the codes of the labels (31) encode source URLs. To make it easy to modify the data (51), each source URL corresponds to a target URL, and updating the database consists of modifying the target URLs of the articles (11) in the category concerned.

[0100] In particular, lines 13 to 21 of the database include source URLs with a common stem ("cli1 -"), for example to identify all the source URLs of a client. In this way, the transfer of the source URLs of this client is easy, because it is sufficient to transfer to it the management of the domain name "https: / / cli1 - sklbl.fr / " for it to obtain the management of all its source URLs.

[0101] Figure 5 illustrates a case where the data (51) are accessible using a dedicated application. In this case, the label codes (31) encode the affiliation identifier of the article (11). Modifying the data (51) consists of modifying only the field(s) concerned within the database. For example, it is possible to modify only the country of origin of an article if the brand (10) ever decides to change its manufacturer (40), while the labels (31) are already manufactured.

[0102] Categories can also be based on serial numbers, so that the same type of item (11) corresponds to several categories, each defined by a manufacturing batch of the item (11). In this case, an item (11) is attached to several categories: - the type of item in question (e.g. t-shirt) - the collection (e.g. SS2022); - the serial number.

[0103] For each item (11) of a given type and a given collection, it is therefore possible to inform the customer (20) of the country of origin, or of the particular manufacturer (40) who manufactured the item (11).

[0104] In the event that the data relating to several articles (11) change, for example if a new method of collecting end-of-life articles (11) is proposed, it is possible to indicate this new method for all the articles (11) concerned, for example the appropriate selection of categories. This could be, for example, selecting all items made from 100% cotton fabrics.

[0105] Furthermore, if a legislator requires the brand (10) to communicate additional information, such as an assessment of the environmental impact of the manufacture of the article (11), then this field can be added to the data (51) without difficulty, the labels (31) being already manufactured, and the articles (11) possibly already being sold.

[0106] Referring to Figure 6, the selection of the category corresponding to all these articles (11) is carried out using an online platform. The modification of the data (51) can consist of modifying the values ​​of certain fields, and / or adding additional fields within the database. In the example above, a new “end of life instructions” field will now be accessible for the articles (11) concerned.

[0107] When the customer (20) scans the code on the label (31) of his item, he will have access to the new information, which states that a new collection method is now available.

[0108] The method and installation according to the invention therefore make it possible to administer the server database (50) in a scalable and dynamic manner, while the codes present on the labels (31) are fixed and can no longer be modified.

[0109] The possibility of modifying data (51) simultaneously for several articles (11) allows easy administration of the database. In practice, mass modification of data (51) for several articles (11) can be carried out in different ways.

[0110] First, the modification of the data (51) can be carried out by EDI. For example, if the cotton / elastane ratio of a raw material is not constant, the manufacturer (40) can declare the composition used by EDI, that is, the manufacturer (40) will issue standardized electronic messages that will be transmitted to the computers of the brand (10) (or its IT service manager) that will be able to automatically interpret and integrate the corresponding data into their respective information systems without paper or human intervention. This process allows the deletion paper documents sent by mail or fax and manual entries by operators.

[0111] The EDI file can be issued by the brand (10), for example when it wishes to add new fields to the database: it then issues an EDI file to the server host (50).

[0112] The EDI file can be issued by the woven label manufacturer.

[0113] The EDI file can be issued by the manufacturer (40), for example in the situation mentioned above, where the composition of the article (11) must be modified within the data (51).

[0114] In all cases, the EDI file is preferably issued by an enterprise resource planning (ERP) software package.

[0115] Additionally or alternatively, the modification of the data (51) can be carried out by means of a computer program or a smartphone application, in a manner similar to the methods described above for carrying out affiliations: - the selection of several labels (31) to be modified can be carried out by entering an identifier of a grouping category of these labels (31); - preferably, this entry is carried out by scanning a code encoding this identifier, such as a 2D code or a QR code; - this code being advantageously placed on the packaging grouping the labels (31) to be selected, for example during their delivery to the manufacturer (40).

[0116] All these methods are also applicable to the delivery of articles (11) to the brand (10), after production by the manufacturer (40). In this case, it is the manufacturer (40) who must constitute the grouping category.

[0117] In order for the brand (10) to have information regarding the use and life cycle of its articles (11), and advantageously information relating to its customers (20), the platform collects and records usage data of the scanned source URL addresses (or identifiers), and / or usage data of the data relating to the article.

[0118] The platform can then offer statistics for market analysis or customer relationship management (“CRM” or “GRC” depending on the English translation "customer relationship management"). Statistics may include geolocation, customer gender (20), age, etc.

[0119] The installation for implementing the method of the invention therefore comprises: - several labels (31) intended to be affiliated with articles (11); - at least one server (50) storing a database (51), which data (51) comprises an identifier of each label (31), and several fields corresponding to at least one identifier category, and at least one data such as a target URL; - at least one computer running a computer program for presenting to a customer (20) information relating to the article (11), before, during, or after the act of purchase. Preferably, it is a smartphone running an application.

[0120] At least one supplier of a brand (10) is involved, and generally two suppliers: a manufacturer (30) of the labels (31) and a manufacturer (40) manufacturing the articles (21) and attaching the labels (31) to them.

[0121] The server (50) runs an online platform, preferably with a graphical interface such as a website, so that the brand (10) can modify the data (51) of the label (31) of an article (11) when it wishes via the update (15), and advantageously after the sale of the article (11) to a customer (20).

[0122] In the case where data modifications are made only via EDI, then the online platform is a computer program that does not necessarily require a graphical interface.

[0123] In any case, the terms “smartphone application” and "computer program" are to be interpreted in a broad sense. In particular, there may be different applications, intended to be used either by the brand (10), or by the customer (20), or by the manufacturer (30), or by the contractor (40).

[0124] In this way, the reading of the labels (31) is contextualized, and each application is programmed for uses adapted to each user (10, 20, 30, 40).

[0125] For example, when scanning a label (31): - the application of the mark (10) will be programmed to affiliate this label (31) to an article (11), or to modify the data (51) of the affiliated article (11); - the user application (20) will be programmed to display the data (51) of the article (11); - the manufacturer's application (30) will be programmed to check the correct readability of the label (31); - the application of the manufacturer (40) will be programmed to individually affiliate the label (31) to an article, or to batch affiliate labels (31) in the case of successive readings.

[0126] It can also be a single application, for which different user profiles are provided, depending on their identifiers and access codes.

[0127] Furthermore, the method and the installation may be configured differently from the examples given without departing from the scope of the invention, which is defined by the claims.

[0128] In particular, data affiliation and modification can be carried out simultaneously, especially in the case of EDI implementation. EDI can be implemented at different stages of the process, so that within the process, EDI files can be issued by the brand (10), then by the manufacturer (30), then by the processor (40).

[0129] In another embodiment, the modification is triggered by the affiliation of the labels (31) of a category to the articles (11) corresponding to them. In this case, the brand (10) has the data (51), and the affiliation is carried out by the manufacturer (40). The affiliation serves as a trigger event to implement the modification, preferably by EDI.

[0130] Furthermore, the technical characteristics of the various embodiments and variants mentioned above can be combined, in whole or in part, with each other. Thus, the method and the installation can be adapted in terms of costs, functionality and performance.

Claims

Claims [Claims 1] Method for managing data relating to an article of the ready-to-wear type or accessory in the fields of fashion, textiles and clothing, - the data being accessible by means of a label of the article, preferably a woven label, and presenting an identifier such as a 2D code or a QR code, and the label being affiliated with this article; - the data being stored on a server, and being able to be modified by means of an online platform running on the server; consisting of: - assign each database identifier to at least one database category; - simultaneously modify data relating to several articles, by modifying data relating to a category of these articles. [Claims 2] Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the platform collects and records data on the use of the identifiers and / or data on the use of the data relating to the article. [Claims 3] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the modification of the data is carried out by the integration of a file of a computer data exchange called “EDI file”. [Claims 4] Method according to claim 3, characterized in that the EDI file is issued by a business management software package of a purchaser of the labels. [Claims 5] Method according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the EDI file is issued by a business management software package of the label manufacturer. [Claims 6] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the modification is triggered by the affiliation of the labels of a category to the articles corresponding to them. [Claims 7] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the assignment of the identifier to a category called “end of life” prevents the modification of the content data. [Claims 8] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the identifier is unique. [Claims 9] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the identifiers are generated by a cryptography algorithm from a timestamp. [Claims 10] Method according to claim 9, characterized in that the algorithm provides pseudo-random alphanumeric sequences, intended to constitute part of the identifier. [Claims 11] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the data relating to the article contains a target URL. [Claims 12] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the data relating to the article contains a source URL, and several source URLs comprise a common radical. [Claims 13] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the selection of the several labels is carried out by entering a grouping identifier of a predefined grouping category. [Claims 14] Method according to claim 13, characterized in that the entry of the identifier of the grouping category is carried out by flashing a grouping QR code. [Claims 15] Method according to claim 14, characterized in that flashing a grouping QR code present on a grouping packaging of the labels makes it possible to enter the identifier of the category. [Claims 16] Installation comprising a server comprising a database and running an online platform, configured to implement a method according to one of the preceding claims.

Images