Planogram assisting method, planogram assisting system, and planogram assisting program

Abstract

To assist creation of a planogram while considering the restocking of commodities.SOLUTION: A planogram assisting method according to an aspect of the present invention calculates the number of faces for each commodity to be displayed in such a way that a product of the number of faces for each commodity to be displayed and the number of pieces of the commodity to be displayed per face becomes greater than or equal to a period average sales number of each commodity to be displayed which is the average of an actual value or a predicted value for the number of pieces for each commodity to be displayed and to be sold within a period after the commodity is displayed and until the commodity is restocked.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a shelf allocation support method, a shelf allocation support system, and a shelf allocation support program. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, various methods for supporting the creation of shelf allocations in each store of each retail company have been known. For example, Patent Document 1 listed below discloses a shelf allocation creation method for creating shelf allocations for products taking into account the sales amount of the products to be displayed. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2002-230127 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Here, in-store stockouts, which are situations where products disappear from store shelves, can lead to missed sales opportunities for the product. Therefore, in order to prevent such in-store stockouts, each store periodically replenishes the shelves with products. However, the conventional method described in Patent Document 1 fails to take into account the fact that each store periodically replenishes products.

[0005] In one aspect, the present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a shelf allocation support method and the like that supports the creation of shelf allocation that takes into account product replenishment. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention employs the following configuration.

[0007] That is, the shelf allocation support method according to one aspect of the present invention includes a product shape information acquisition step in which a computer acquires to-be-displayed product shape information, which is information related to the shape of each of a plurality of to-be-displayed products that are planned to be displayed on a shelf to be used in each store of each retail company, and which is information indicating at least the width of each to-be-displayed product; an average sales information acquisition step in which a to-be-displayed product average sales information indicating a period average sales number, which is an average or predicted value of actual values ​​of the number of sales of each to-be-displayed product, and is an average or predicted value of actual values ​​of the number of units sold by each of the to-be-displayed products during a period from when each of the to-be-displayed products is displayed on the shelf until the shelf is restocked; and an average sales information acquisition step in which a computer acquires a to-be-displayed product average sales information indicating a period average sales number, which is an average or predicted value of actual values ​​of the number of units sold by each of the to-be-displayed products during a period from when each of the to-be-displayed products is displayed on the shelf until the shelf is restocked. the number of faces of each of the items to be displayed on the shelf is calculated such that the product of the number of faces of each of the items to be displayed and the number of items per face of each of the items to be displayed is equal to or greater than the average sales number for each of the items to be displayed during the period; and an output step of outputting shelf allocation support information, which is at least information indicating the number of faces of each of the items to be displayed calculated in the calculation step and which supports the shelf allocation of the multiple items to be displayed in each of the stores of each of the retail companies.

[0008] The form of the present invention may not be limited to the form of the shelf allocation support method. As another form of the shelf allocation support method according to the above form, one aspect of the present invention may be a shelf allocation support system or a shelf allocation support device that realizes all or part of the above-mentioned configurations. In addition, one aspect of the present invention may be a program that causes a computer to realize and execute all or part of the above-mentioned configurations, or a storage medium that stores such a program and is readable by a computer or other device, machine, etc. Here, the storage medium that is readable by a computer, etc. is a medium that accumulates information such as a program by electrical, magnetic, optical, mechanical, or chemical action. Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a shelf planogram support method and the like that supports the creation of shelf planograms that take product replenishment into consideration. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 illustrates an overall overview of a shelf layout support system according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 shows an example of a front view of a shelf on which products are displayed based on the shelf allocation support information according to the embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 shows an example of a top view of a shelf on which products are displayed based on the shelf allocation support information according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a hardware configuration of the shelf layout support device according to the embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a software configuration of the shelf layout support device according to the embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 shows an example of a processing procedure of the shelf allocation support device according to the embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 shows an example of a process for calculating the number of faces of each product to be displayed that satisfies the second condition. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 shows an example of a procedure for identifying the maximum allowable value of the scale factor variable. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 shows an example of a processing procedure for determining the initial value of the magnification variable. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] An embodiment according to one aspect of the present invention (hereinafter, also referred to as "the present embodiment") will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, the present embodiment described below is merely an example of the present invention in every respect. It goes without saying that various improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. In other words, in implementing the present invention, a specific configuration according to the embodiment may be appropriately adopted. Note that while the data appearing in this embodiment is described in natural language, more specifically, it is specified in pseudo-language, commands, parameters, machine language, etc. that can be recognized by a computer.

[0012] §1 Examples of application FIG. 1 illustrates an overall overview of a shelf allocation support system S according to the present embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the shelf allocation support system S includes a shelf allocation support device 1, a POS (Point Of Sale) system server 2, and a product management device 3. The shelf allocation support device 1, the POS system server 2, and the product management device 3 are connected to each other via a network so that they can communicate with each other. The communication between the above devices may be either wired or wireless, or may be communication via any of a mobile communication network, a public line network, a LAN (Local Area Network), or a WAN (Wide Area Network). In addition, the devices may communicate with each other using the Internet or the like using a communication protocol such as TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol). There is no particular limitation on the communication means between the devices as long as they are connected to each other so that they can communicate with each other.

[0013] The shelf allocation support device 1 generates shelf allocation support information PSI that supports shelf allocation in each store of each retail company, and outputs the generated shelf allocation support information PSI to a product management device 3 used by a shelf allocation manager. In particular, the shelf allocation support device 1 generates shelf allocation support information PSI that supports shelf allocation for a plurality of products MID to be displayed that are scheduled to be displayed on a shelf (each shelf) used in each store of each retail company, and outputs the information to the product management device 3. The shelf allocation support information PSI indicates at least the number of faces NF of each product MID to be displayed on a shelf used in each store of each retail company. The "number of faces NF" is the number of identical products displayed in the horizontal direction of the shelf, and may be rephrased as the number (number) of identical products displayed on the shelf when viewed from the front. Note that the direction perpendicular to the "horizontal direction" of the shelf (the direction perpendicular on a horizontal plane) is the "depth direction" of the shelf. The number of faces NF is a natural number such as 1, 2, 3, ..., that is, a positive integer of 1 or more.

[0014] The shelf allocation support information PSI may further indicate the number NPF of each product MID to be displayed per face. The "number NPF of each face" is the number of the same product displayed in the depth direction of the shelf, and in the following description, may be abbreviated as "number NPF of each floor." The number NPF of each floor is a natural number, that is, a positive integer equal to or greater than 1, just like the number of faces NF. The product of the number NF of each product and the number NPF of each product per floor is the total number (number) of each product displayed on the shelf. An example of a shelf on which each product MID to be displayed is displayed based on the shelf allocation support information PSI generated and output by the shelf allocation support device 1 will be described below with reference to Figs. 2 and 3.

[0015] (Shelf allocation support information, each planned product, and shelf relationship) Fig. 2 shows an example of a front view of a shelf on which each of the products MID to be displayed is displayed based on the shelf allocation support information PSI. In particular, Fig. 2 shows an example of a front view of a shelf on which each of the products MID to be displayed is displayed based on the number of faces NF of each of the products MID to be displayed indicated by the shelf allocation support information PSI. In the example shown in Fig. 2, the shelf allocation support information PSI indicates the following number of faces NF for each of the products MID(A) to MID(L). That is, the shelf allocation support information PSI indicates the number of faces NF for the product MID(A) to be displayed as "1", for the product MID(B) to be displayed as "2", and for the product MID(C) to be displayed as "1". The shelf allocation support information PSI indicates the number of faces NF of each of the products MID(D) to MID(F) to be displayed as "3" for the product MID(D), "2" for the product MID(E), and "2" for the product MID(F). The shelf allocation support information PSI indicates the number of faces NF of each of the products MID(G) to MID(I) to be displayed as "2" for the product MID(G), "2" for the product MID(H), and "2" for the product MID(I). The shelf allocation support information PSI indicates the number of faces NF of each of the products MID(J) to MID(L) to be displayed as "2" for the product MID(J), "2" for the product MID(K), and "5" for the product MID(L).

[0016] By displaying the commodities MID(A) to MID(L) on the shelf based on the above-mentioned shelf allocation support information PSI, for example, the shelf display situation shown in Fig. 2 is realized. Note that Fig. 2 shows an example in which 12 types of commodities MID to be displayed, namely, commodities MID(A) to MID(L), are displayed on the shelf, but the types of commodities MID to be displayed on the shelf may be multiple and are not limited to 12 types.

[0017] In this embodiment, the shelves used in each store of each retail company have N shelf levels, and in the example shown in Fig. 2, three shelf levels are provided. "N" is a natural number, for example, a natural number equal to or greater than 2. However, N may also be 1.

[0018] The shelf allocation support information PSI does not have to specify (do not indicate) "where on the shelf the products MID(A) to MID(L) will be displayed" for each of the products MID(A) to MID(L), and does not have to specify, for example, "on which shelf out of multiple shelves the products will be displayed." For example, on the shelf shown in Fig. 2, the products MID(A) to MID(D) to be displayed are displayed on the first shelf from the top, the products MID(E) to MID(K) to be displayed on the second shelf from the top, and the product MID(L) to be displayed on the third shelf from the top. However, the shelf allocation support information PSI does not have to specify that the products MID(A) to MID(D) to be displayed are displayed on the first shelf, the products MID(E) to MID(K) to be displayed on the second shelf, and the product MID(L) to be displayed on the third shelf. That is, the shelf allocation support information PSI generated and output by the shelf allocation support device 1 need only indicate the number of faces NF of each of a plurality of products to be displayed (scheduled to be displayed) on a shelf having N shelves. The shelf allocation support information PSI does not need to specify (does not need to indicate) the number of faces NF of each of a plurality of products to be displayed (scheduled to be displayed) on "each tier" of the shelf. The shelf allocation support information PSI need only indicate the number of faces NF of each of all products to be displayed MID that are to be displayed on a shelf having N shelves.

[0019] As explained with reference to FIG. 2, the shelf allocation support device 1 determines the number of faces NF for each of the products MID to be displayed on the "tiers" of the shelf, but determines the number of faces NF for each of all the products MID to be displayed on one shelf. With this configuration, the shelf allocation support device 1 enables the person in charge of shelf allocation to flexibly determine the shelf allocation of each product MID to be displayed on the "tiers" while determining the number of faces NF for each of all the products MID to be displayed on the shelf. The shelf allocation support device 1 enables the person who actually displays each product MID to be displayed on the shelf to flexibly determine which product MID to be displayed on each tier while determining the number of faces NF for each of all the products MID to be displayed on the shelf. However, the shelf allocation support device 1 may determine the number of faces NF of each product MID to be displayed on each "tier" of the shelf in addition to the number of faces NF of all the products MID to be displayed on one shelf. Also, the shelf allocation support device 1 may determine the number of faces NF of each product MID to be displayed on each "tier" of the shelf instead of the number of faces NF of all the products MID to be displayed on one shelf.

[0020] As described above, the shelf allocation support information PSI generated and output by the shelf allocation support device 1 may indicate the number of items per floor NPF of each product MID to be displayed, in addition to the number of faces NF of each product MID to be displayed. For example, when the shelf allocation support information PSI indicates the number of items per floor NPF of each of the products MID(A) to MID(D) to be displayed as follows, a top view of a shelf on which each product MID to be displayed is displayed based on the shelf allocation support information PSI will be as shown in Fig. 3. In other words, the shelf allocation support information PSI indicates "2" for the product MID(A) to be displayed and "4" for the product MID(B) to be displayed as the number of items per floor NPF of each of the products MID(A) and MID(B) to be displayed. The shelf allocation support information PSI also indicates that the number of items per floor NPF for each of the products MID(C) and MID(D) to be displayed is "3" for the product MID(C) and "2" for the product MID(D). In this case, the top view of the shelves on which the products MID(A) to MID(D) to be displayed are displayed based on the shelf allocation support information PSI is as shown in FIG.

[0021] Fig. 3 shows an example of a top view of a shelf on which each of the products MID(A) to MID(D) to be displayed is displayed based on the above-mentioned shelf allocation support information PSI. As described above, in the example shown in Fig. 3, the shelf allocation support information PSI indicates, as the number of faces NF of each of the products MID(A) and MID(B), "1" for the product MID(A) to be displayed and "2" for the product MID(B). In addition, the shelf allocation support information PSI indicates, as the number of faces NF of each of the products MID(C) and MID(D), "1" for the product MID(C) to be displayed and "3" for the product MID(D). In addition, the shelf allocation support information PSI indicates, as the number of units per floor NPF of each of the products MID(A) and MID(B), "2" for the product MID(A) to be displayed and "4" for the product MID(B). The shelf allocation support information PSI indicates that the number of items per floor NPF for each of the products MID(C) and MID(D) to be displayed is "3" for the product MID(C) and "2" for the product MID(D).

[0022] 2 and 3, the shelf allocation support information PSI generated and output by the shelf allocation support device 1 indicates, for example, the number of faces NF for each of all products MID to be displayed on "one shelf having N shelves." The shelf allocation support information PSI generated and output by the shelf allocation support device 1 may further indicate the number of products per floor NPF for each of all products MID to be displayed on one shelf.

[0023] (First condition for determining the number of faces of each product to be displayed) The shelf allocation support device 1 uses the average sales quantity ANP of each product MID to be displayed during a period to determine the number of faces NF of each product MID to be displayed at each store of each retail company. The "average sales quantity ANP" is the average or predicted value of the actual values ​​of the number of products MID to be displayed "sold by each retail company during the period from when each product MID is displayed on a shelf to when the shelf is restocked." The average sales quantity ANP of each product MID to be displayed during a period may be rephrased as the average or predicted value of the actual values ​​of the "number of products sold after being displayed until being restocked" for each product MID. The shelf allocation support device 1 determines the number of faces NF of each product MID to be displayed such that the product of the number of faces NF of each product MID to be displayed and the number of products MID per floor NPF is equal to or greater than the average sales quantity ANP of each product MID to be displayed. In the following explanation, the condition that "the product of the number of faces NF of each product MID to be displayed and the number of products per floor NPF of each product MID to be displayed is greater than or equal to the average sales number ANP of each product MID to be displayed over the period" is also referred to as the first condition.

[0024] Here, in each store, in order to prevent stockouts at the store, a replenishment operation is periodically performed to replenish the products on the shelves. As described above, the average sales quantity ANP over the period is the average or predicted value of the actual sales quantity during the period from display to replenishment. Therefore, the average sales quantity ANP over the period of each product MID to be displayed can be regarded as the number of each product MID to be displayed that is replenished to the shelves in each replenishment operation. Therefore, if the number of each product MID to be displayed on the shelves is equal to or greater than the number of each product MID to be displayed that is replenished to the shelves in each replenishment operation (i.e., the average sales quantity ANP over the period), it is possible to prevent stockouts at the store of each product MID to be displayed. The shelf allocation support device 1 determines the number of faces NF of each product MID to be displayed so as to satisfy the first condition, thereby enabling the shelf allocation manager to easily create a shelf allocation that can prevent stockouts at the store by the above-mentioned replenishment operation for each product MID to be displayed. The shelf allocation support device 1 can support the shelf allocation staff to easily create shelf allocation that takes into account "product replenishment" that is carried out periodically in each store, in other words, it has the effect of supporting the creation of shelf allocation that takes product replenishment into account.

[0025] (Regarding the average sales volume of products already on sale among the products to be displayed during the period) In the example shown in FIG. 1, the shelf allocation support device 1 acquires sales performance information ISP from the POS system server 2 of each retail company. The "sales performance information ISP" is information indicating the actual value (sales performance) of the number of items sold in a predetermined period (POS period) of each product sold by each retail company. The sales performance information ISP indicates at least the actual value (sales performance) of the number of items sold in a predetermined period for the products MIDs to be displayed that have already been sold by each retail company among the multiple products MIDs to be displayed. Hereinafter, the "products MIDs to be displayed that have already been sold by each retail company among the multiple products MIDs to be displayed" are also referred to as "sold products MID_AS to be displayed". The "sales performance information ISP" may further indicate the sales performance of products (similar products) similar to the "products MIDs to be displayed that have not yet been sold by each retail company among the multiple products MIDs to be displayed" and that have already been sold by each retail company. In other words, the "sales performance information ISP" may further indicate the sales performance value in a predetermined period (POS period) for the similar products (similar products already sold) that are already sold by each retail company. Hereinafter, "the products MIDs to be displayed that have not yet been sold by each retail company among the multiple products MIDs to be displayed" is also referred to as "unsold products MID_NW to be displayed."

[0026] The POS system server 2 of each retail company at least holds information indicating the actual sales volume (sales performance) of each product sold by each retail company during a specified period (POS period). The POS system server 2 of each retail company may further hold other information (details of which will be described later) that the shelf allocation support device 1 uses to determine the number of faces NF of each product MID to be displayed. In addition to the above information, the POS system server 2 of each retail company may also hold the sales performance of each product at each store of each retail company.

[0027] For example, the shelf allocation support device 1 calculates the actual sales volume per predetermined number of days (e.g., per week) of each of the already-sold, to-be-displayed products MID_AS from the actual sales volume in a predetermined period of each of the already-sold, to-be-displayed products MID_AS indicated by the sales performance information ISP. The shelf allocation support device 1 may then calculate the average sales volume per period ANP of each already-sold, to-be-displayed product MID_AS by dividing the actual sales volume per predetermined number of days of each already-sold, to-be-displayed product MID_AS by the number of times each already-sold, to-be-displayed product MID_AS is replenished per predetermined number of days.

[0028] The "number of times each previously sold product MID_AS to be displayed is replenished to the shelves per predetermined number of days" is set by each retail company for each previously sold product MID_AS to be displayed. The "number of times replenished to the shelves per predetermined number of days" may be rephrased as "the number of times replenished to the shelves in a predetermined number of days (predetermined period)". Each retail company may determine the "number of times each previously sold product MID_AS to be displayed to be replenished to the shelves per predetermined number of days" according to the sales performance of each previously sold product MID_AS to be displayed. For example, each retail company may determine the "number of times each previously sold product MID_AS to be displayed to be replenished to the shelves per predetermined number of days" according to "whether sales are good or not". Each retail company may set the "number of times replenished to the shelves per predetermined number of days" for previously sold product MID_AS to be displayed that has good sales to be greater than the "number of times replenished to the shelves per predetermined number of days" for previously sold product MID_AS to be displayed that has poor sales.

[0029] The shelf allocation support device 1 may acquire information (replenishment count information IRT) indicating the "replenishment count per predetermined number of days" of each sold product MID_AS to be displayed from the product management device 3. The shelf allocation support device 1 may acquire the replenishment count information IRT of each sold product MID_AS to be displayed from a device other than the POS system server 2 of each retail company and the product management device 3 as "other various information" illustrated in FIG. 1. The shelf allocation support device 1 may acquire the replenishment count information IRT of each sold product MID_AS to be displayed from a user of the shelf allocation support device 1 (or may acquire it as an input from a user) as "other various information" illustrated in FIG. 1. The source from which the shelf allocation support device 1 acquires the replenishment count information IRT of each sold product MID_AS to be displayed may be any source that has the relevant information, and is not limited to the POS system server 2 or the product management device 3 of each retail company.

[0030] So far, an example has been described in which the shelf allocation support device 1 calculates the average sales quantity ANP of each previously sold product to be displayed from the sales performance information ISP of each previously sold product to be displayed and the replenishment number information IRT of each previously sold product to be displayed. That is, an example has been described in which the shelf allocation support device 1 acquires the sales performance information ISP and the replenishment number information IRT of each previously sold product to be displayed as "average sales information IAS of previously sold products to be displayed indicating the average sales quantity ANP of each previously sold product to be displayed." However, the shelf allocation support device 1 may acquire the average sales information IAS of previously sold products to be displayed itself without acquiring the sales performance information ISP and the replenishment number information IRT of each previously sold product to be displayed. For example, an external device of the shelf allocation support device 1 may acquire sales performance information ISP and replenishment number information IRT of each sold product MID_AS to be displayed, and the external device may calculate "average sales quantity ANP of each sold product MID_AS to be displayed" from the information. The shelf allocation support device 1 may acquire "average sales information IAS of products to be displayed indicating the average sales quantity ANP of each sold product MID_AS to be displayed" from the above-mentioned external device. The shelf allocation support device 1 is only required to acquire information indicating the average sales quantity ANP of each sold product MID_AS to be displayed (average sales information IAS of products to be displayed), and it is not essential to acquire sales performance information ISP and replenishment number information IRT of each sold product MID_AS to be displayed. If the shelf allocation support device 1 does not acquire sales performance information ISP of each sold product MID_AS to be displayed, the shelf allocation support system S may not include the POS system server 2.

[0031] (Regarding the average number of units sold during the period for unsold products among the products to be displayed) For example, the shelf allocation support device 1 may obtain the average sales quantity ANP of each unsold product to be displayed MID_NW in the following manner. That is, the shelf allocation support device 1 calculates the "predicted value of the sales quantity of each unsold product to be displayed MID_NW per predetermined number of days (e.g., per week)" from the "predicted value of the sales quantity of each unsold product to be displayed MID_NW in a predetermined period (POS period)". Then, the shelf allocation support device 1 may calculate the average sales quantity ANP of each unsold product to be displayed MID_NW in the period by dividing the predicted value of the sales quantity of each unsold product to be displayed MID_NW per predetermined number of days by the number of times each unsold product to be displayed MID_NW is replenished in the predetermined number of days. As described above, the average sales quantity ANP of each unsold product to be displayed MID_NW during a period is a predicted value for the number of each unsold product to be displayed MID_NW that each retail company will sell during the period from when the product is displayed on the shelves until the shelves are replenished.

[0032] The shelf allocation support device 1 may acquire sales forecast information IPS indicating "a forecasted value of the number of items sold in a predetermined period (POS period)" of each unsold product to be displayed MID_NW from the product management device 3. The shelf allocation support device 1 may acquire the sales forecast information IPS of each unsold product to be displayed MID_NW from a device other than the POS system server 2 of each retail company and the product management device 3 as "other various information" illustrated in FIG. 1. The shelf allocation support device 1 may acquire the sales forecast information IPS of each unsold product to be displayed MID_NW from a user of the shelf allocation support device 1 or the like (or as an input from a user or the like) as "other various information" illustrated in FIG. 1. The source from which the shelf allocation support device 1 acquires the sales forecast information IPS of each unsold product to be displayed MID_NW may be any source that has the relevant information, and is not limited to the POS system server 2 or the product management device 3 of each retail company.

[0033] The predicted value of the number of sales of each unsold product to be displayed MID_NW in a predetermined period may be predicted from the actual value (sales record) of the number of sales of a product similar to each unsold product to be displayed MID_NW and already sold by each retail company in a predetermined period (POS period). For example, the shelf allocation support device 1 may acquire information indicating the actual value of the number of sales of "a product similar to each unsold product to be displayed MID_NW and already sold by each retail company" (sold similar product) in a predetermined period from the POS system server 2 of each retail company. Then, the shelf allocation support device 1 may predict "the predicted value of the number of sales of each unsold product to be displayed MID_NW in a predetermined period" from the above-mentioned information acquired from the POS system server 2 of each retail company. The shelf allocation support device 1 may acquire sales record information ISP of each sold similar product, that is, information indicating the actual value of the number of sales of each sold similar product in a predetermined period, as sales forecast information IPS of each unsold product to be displayed MID_NW.

[0034] The "number of times each unsold product to be displayed MID_NW is replenished to the shelves per predetermined number of days" is the number of times each unsold product to be displayed MID_NW is replenished to the shelves per predetermined number of days, which is set by each retail company for each unsold product to be displayed MID_NW. Each retail company may determine the "number of times each unsold product to be displayed MID_NW is replenished to the shelves per predetermined number of days" according to the sales forecast of each unsold product to be displayed MID_NW. For example, each retail company may determine the "number of times each unsold product to be displayed MID_NW is replenished to the shelves per predetermined number of days" according to "whether sales are predicted to be good or not." Each retail company may set the "number of times each unsold product to be displayed MID_NW is replenished to the shelves per predetermined number of days" for unsold products to be displayed MID_NW that are predicted to be good in sales to be greater than the "number of times each unsold product to be displayed MID_NW that are predicted to be not good in sales. Each retail company may determine the "number of times to replenish each unsold product to be displayed MID_NW per predetermined number of days" depending on "whether sales are good or not" of "products similar to each unsold product to be displayed MID_NW and already sold by each retail company (similar products already sold)." Each retail company may set the "number of times to replenish each unsold product to be displayed MID_NW per predetermined number of days" to be higher for unsold products to be displayed MID_NW similar to similar products already sold that are selling well than for unsold products to be displayed MID_NW similar to similar products already sold that are not selling well.

[0035] As described above, the number of replenishment times per period, which is the "number of times to replenish shelves in a specified number of days (specified period)" set by each retail company for each of the products MID to be displayed, may be determined according to the sales record or sales forecast of each of the products MID to be displayed. For example, the number of replenishment times per period for each of the products MID_AS to be sold and to be displayed may be determined according to whether the sales record of each of the products MID_AS to be sold and to be displayed is "good or not." Similarly, the number of replenishment times per period for each of the products MID_NW to be unsold and to be displayed may be determined according to whether the sales forecast of each of the products MID_NW to be unsold and to be displayed is "expected to be good or not." By determining the number of replenishment times per period for each of the products MID to be displayed according to the sales record or sales forecast of each of the products MID to be displayed, the shelf allocation support device 1 achieves the following effects. That is, the shelf allocation support device 1 has an effect of being able to calculate the number of faces NF of each of the products MID to be displayed, using the number of replenishment times during a period that is appropriately set according to the sales record or sales forecast for each of the products MID to be displayed.

[0036] The shelf allocation support device 1 may acquire information (replenishment count information IRT) indicating the "replenishment count per predetermined number of days" of each unsold product to be displayed MID_NW from the product management device 3. The shelf allocation support device 1 may acquire the replenishment count information IRT of each unsold product to be displayed MID_NW from a device other than the POS system server 2 of each retail company and the product management device 3 as "other various information" illustrated in FIG. 1. The shelf allocation support device 1 may acquire the replenishment count information IRT of each unsold product to be displayed MID_NW from a user of the shelf allocation support device 1 or the like (or as an input from a user or the like) as "other various information" illustrated in FIG. 1. The source from which the shelf allocation support device 1 acquires the replenishment count information IRT of each unsold product to be displayed MID_NW may be any source that has the relevant information, and is not limited to the POS system server 2 or the product management device 3 of each retail company.

[0037] So far, an example has been described in which the shelf allocation support device 1 calculates the average sales quantity ANP of each unsold product to be displayed from the sales forecast information IPS of each unsold product to be displayed and the replenishment count information IRT of each unsold product to be displayed. That is, an example has been described in which the shelf allocation support device 1 acquires the sales forecast information IPS and the replenishment count information IRT of each unsold product to be displayed as "average sales information IAS of products to be displayed indicating the average sales quantity ANP of each unsold product to be displayed". However, the shelf allocation support device 1 may acquire the average sales information IAS of products to be displayed itself without acquiring the sales forecast information IPS and the replenishment count information IRT of each unsold product to be displayed. For example, an external device of the shelf allocation support device 1 may acquire sales forecast information IPS and replenishment count information IRT of each unsold product to be displayed MID_NW, and the external device may calculate "average sales quantity ANP of each unsold product to be displayed MID_NW" from this information. The shelf allocation support device 1 may acquire "average sales information IAS of products to be displayed indicating the average sales quantity ANP of each unsold product to be displayed MID_NW" from the above-mentioned external device. The shelf allocation support device 1 is only required to acquire information indicating the average sales quantity ANP of each unsold product to be displayed MID_NW (average sales information IAS of products to be displayed), and it is not essential for it to acquire sales forecast information IPS and replenishment count information IRT of each unsold product to be displayed MID_NW.

[0038] The method by which the shelf allocation support device 1 ascertains the number of items per floor NPF of each product MID to be displayed will be described in detail later. The shelf allocation support device 1 may obtain information indicating the number of items per floor NPF of each product MID to be displayed (1F inventory quantity information IPF). The shelf allocation support device 1 may also obtain the number of items per floor NPF of each product MID to be displayed from the depth length DL (length in the depth direction) of the shelf and each product MID to be displayed.

[0039] (The second condition for determining the number of faces of each product to be displayed) The shelf allocation support device 1 may determine the number of faces NF of each of the products to be displayed MID using the original shelf allocation space PSP as an index in addition to the first condition, and may particularly determine the number of faces NF of each of the products to be displayed MID using the original shelf allocation space PSP and the total required width SRW. The original shelf allocation is the shelf allocation in each store of each retail company, and is the shelf allocation of "multiple products (conventional display products MDP) that were displayed before the products to be displayed MID on the shelf where the products to be displayed MID are to be displayed." The "conventional display products MDP" are products that were displayed before the products to be displayed MID on the shelf where the products to be displayed MID are to be displayed in each store of each retail company, and the original shelf allocation indicates at least the number of faces NF of each of the conventional display products MDP that were displayed on the above-mentioned shelf. "Original shelf space PSP" is the sum of the occupied widths of each conventionally displayed product MDP, and "occupied width of each conventionally displayed product MDP" is calculated by multiplying the width Wd (horizontal length) of each conventionally displayed product MDP by the number of faces NF of each conventionally displayed product MDP. In contrast, "total required width SRW" is the sum of the required width RW of each product to be displayed MID, and "required width RW of each product to be displayed MID" is the value obtained by multiplying the width Wd of each product to be displayed MID by the number of faces NF of each product to be displayed MID.

[0040] Explaining this in relation to the shelf illustrated in FIG. 2, the total required width SRW is the sum of the required widths RW of the products MID(A) to MID(L) to be displayed. The required width RW(A) of the product MID(A) is the value obtained by multiplying the width Wd of the product MID(A) to be displayed by the number of faces NF of the product MID(A) to be displayed ("1" in the example illustrated in FIG. 2). The required width RW(B) of the product MID(B) is the value obtained by multiplying the width Wd of the product MID(B) to be displayed by the number of faces NF of the product MID(B) to be displayed ("2" in the example illustrated in FIG. 2). The required width RW(C) of the product MID(C) is the value obtained by multiplying the width Wd of the product MID(C) to be displayed by the number of faces NF of the product MID(C) to be displayed ("1" in the example illustrated in FIG. 2). Similarly, the required width RW of each of the products MID(D) to MID(L) to be displayed is calculated, and the sum of the required widths RW of each of the products MID(A) to MID(L) to be displayed is the total required width SRW. In other words, the sum of the required widths RW(A) to RW(L) is the total required width SRW.

[0041] The shelf allocation support device 1 may determine the number of faces NF of each product to be displayed MID so as to satisfy, in addition to the first condition, the following second condition related to the relationship between the original shelf allocation space PSP and the total required width SRW. That is, the second condition is a condition that "the total required width SRW is close to the original shelf allocation space PSP." The specific content of the second condition "the total required width SRW is close to the original shelf allocation space PSP" will be described in detail later. The shelf allocation support device 1 may specify the number of faces NF of each product to be displayed MID that also satisfies the second condition, out of the number of faces NF of each product to be displayed MID that satisfies the first condition, and output the shelf allocation support information PSI indicating the specified number of faces NF of each product to be displayed MID.

[0042] In general, in each store of each retail company, a "shelving" is performed to change the shelf allocation of products to be displayed on the shelves in accordance with the change of seasons, sales trends of products, the release of new products, and the like. The shelf allocation support device 1 determines the number of faces NF of each product MID to be displayed so as to satisfy the above-mentioned second condition in addition to the first condition, that is, outputs shelf allocation support information PSI that supports the creation of shelf allocation for each product MID to be displayed after the shelf change, for example, using the original shelf allocation before the shelf change as an index. Therefore, the shelf allocation support device 1 determines the number of faces NF of each product MID to be displayed using the original shelf allocation (particularly, the original shelf allocation space PSP) as an index, thereby enabling "a person in charge of shelf allocation to easily create 'shelf allocation for each product MID to be displayed, taking the original shelf allocation into consideration'". In general, it is considered that the original shelf allocation reflects the shelf allocation know-how, etc. of each store of each retail company, so the shelf allocation support device 1 can support the creation of 'shelf allocation for each product MID to be displayed, taking the relevant know-how, etc. into appropriate consideration.'

[0043] 1, the shelf allocation support device 1 acquires from the product management device 3 conventional display information IPD indicating at least the original shelf allocation space PSP, and determines the number of faces NF of each to-be-displayed product MID so as to satisfy the above-mentioned second condition, using the acquired conventional display information IPD. The conventional display information IPD may indicate the original shelf allocation space PSP by including information indicating "the width Wd of each conventional display product MDP" and "the number of faces NF of each conventional display product MDP in the original shelf allocation."

[0044] The shelf allocation support device 1 may acquire information indicating the width Wd of each of the products MID to be displayed (product shape information ISM to be displayed) from the product management device 3. The shelf allocation support device 1 may acquire the product shape information ISM to be displayed of each of the products MID_AS to be sold as "other various information" illustrated in FIG. 1 from a device other than the POS system server 2 of each retail company and the product management device 3. The shelf allocation support device 1 may acquire the product shape information ISM to be displayed of each of the products MID_AS to be sold as "other various information" illustrated in FIG. 1 from a user of the shelf allocation support device 1 or the like (or may acquire the information as an input from a user or the like). The source from which the shelf allocation support device 1 acquires the product shape information ISM to be displayed of each of the products MID_AS to be sold is not limited to the POS system server 2 or the product management device 3 of each retail company as long as it has the relevant information.

[0045] The product management device 3 is an information terminal used by a person in charge of shelf allocation who creates shelf allocations for each store of each retail company. The product management device 3 holds at least conventional display information IPD indicating the original shelf allocation space PSP. The product management device 3 may hold information indicating each of "the width Wd of each conventionally displayed product MDP" and "the number of faces NF of each conventionally displayed product MDP in the original shelf allocation" as conventional display information IPD. The product management device 3 may further hold other information (details will be described later) that the shelf allocation support device 1 uses to determine the number of faces NF of each product MID to be displayed. For example, as described above, the product management device 3 may hold replenishment count information IRT indicating the "number of replenishments per predetermined number of days" of each sold product MID_AS to be displayed. In addition, the product management device 3 may hold replenishment count information IRT indicating the "number of replenishments per predetermined number of days" of each product MID_NW to be displayed that has not yet been sold. Furthermore, the product management device 3 may hold to-be-displayed product shape information ISM indicating the "size (at least the width Wd)" of each to-be-displayed product MID (each to-be-displayed product MID_AS that has already been sold and each to-be-displayed product MID_NW that has not yet been sold).

[0046] Although FIG. 1 shows an example in which the shelf allocation support device 1 acquires the conventional display information IPD from the product management device 3, it is not essential for the shelf allocation support device 1 to acquire the conventional display information IPD from the product management device 3. In other words, it is not essential for the shelf allocation support system S to include the product management device 3. For the shelf allocation support device 1, the source from which the information indicating the "width Wd of each conventional display product MDP" is acquired and the source from which the information indicating the "number of faces NF of each conventional display product MDP in the original shelf allocation" is acquired may be different from each other. The shelf allocation support device 1 may acquire (generate) the conventional display information IPD by separately acquiring the information indicating the "width Wd of each conventional display product MDP" and the information indicating the "number of faces NF of each conventional display product MDP in the original shelf allocation", and combining or processing them.

[0047] The shelf allocation staff uses the information (shelf allocation support information PSI) that the product management device 3 acquires from the shelf allocation support device 1 to carry out tasks such as shelf allocation (decision of shelf allocation) and actual display based on the shelf allocation. However, the shelf allocation support information PSI notified (output) by the shelf allocation support device 1 does not restrict the shelf allocation, etc., of the shelf allocation staff. For example, if an empty space occurs on a shelf when shelf allocation based on the shelf allocation support information PSI is carried out, the shelf allocation staff may carry out shelf allocation, etc., to fill the empty space.

[0048] The shelf layout support system S (particularly, the shelf layout support device 1), the outline of which has been explained above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, will now be explained in detail with reference to FIGS.

[0049] §2 Configuration Example [Hardware configuration] Fig. 4 illustrates a schematic example of a hardware configuration of the shelf allocation support device 1. As shown in Fig. 4, the shelf allocation support device 1 is a computer to which a control unit 110, a storage unit 120, a communication interface 130, an external interface 140, an input device 150, an output device 160, and a drive 170 are electrically connected. Note that in Fig. 4, the communication interface and the external interface are described as a "communication I / F" and an "external I / F".

[0050] The control unit 110 includes a hardware processor such as a central processing unit (CPU), a random access memory (RAM), and a read only memory (ROM), and is configured to execute information processing based on programs and various data. The CPU is an example of a processor resource. The control unit 110 may include a graphics processing unit (GPU) instead of or in addition to the CPU. The storage unit 120 is an example of a memory resource, and is configured, for example, with a hard disk drive, a solid state drive, or the like. In this embodiment, the storage unit 120 stores various information such as a shelf allocation support program 121.

[0051] The shelf allocation support program 121 is a program for causing the shelf allocation support device 1 to execute information processing (FIG. 6) described below related to the generation, output, etc. of shelf allocation support information PSI (particularly, the determination of the number of faces NF of each product MID to be displayed). The shelf allocation support program 121 includes a series of commands for the information processing.

[0052] The communication interface 130 is, for example, a wired LAN (Local Area Network) module, a wireless LAN module, or the like, and is an interface for performing wired or wireless communication via a network. The shelf allocation support device 1 may use this communication interface 130 to perform data communication via a network with other information processing devices (external devices) such as the POS system server 2 of each retail company and the product management device 3. The external interface 140 is, for example, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port, a dedicated port, or the like, and is an interface for connecting to an external device. The type and number of the external interfaces 140 may be appropriately selected according to the type and number of the external devices to be connected. The shelf allocation support device 1 is connected to external devices such as the POS system server 2 of each retail company and the product management device 3, various communication networks such as the Internet, and the like, via at least one of the communication interface 130 and the external interface 140. For example, the shelf allocation support device 1 may acquire various information used to determine the number of faces NF of each product to be displayed MID, such as conventional display information IPD and product shape information ISM to be displayed, from the above-mentioned external device or the Internet.

[0053] The input device 150 is, for example, a device for inputting a mouse, a keyboard, etc. The output device 160 is, for example, a device for outputting a display, a speaker, etc. An operator such as a user can operate the shelf allocation support device 1 by using the input device 150 and the output device 160. The shelf allocation support device 1 may acquire various information used to determine the number of faces NF of each product MID to be displayed from the operator such as a user via the input device 150 (may accept input of various information).

[0054] The drive 170 is, for example, a CD drive, a DVD drive, or the like, and is a drive device for reading various information such as a program stored in the storage medium 91. The storage medium 91 is a medium for storing information such as a program by electrical, magnetic, optical, mechanical, or chemical action so that a computer or other device, machine, or the like can read the stored information such as the program. At least one of the above-mentioned various information such as the shelf allocation support program 121, the conventional display information IPD, and the planned-to-be-displayed product shape information ISM may be stored in the storage medium 91. The shelf allocation support device 1 may acquire at least one of the above-mentioned various information such as the shelf allocation support program 121, the conventional display information IPD, and the planned-to-be-displayed product shape information ISM from the storage medium 91. Note that FIG. 4 illustrates a disk-type storage medium such as a CD or a DVD as an example of the storage medium 91. However, the type of the storage medium 91 is not limited to the disk type, and may be other than the disk type. As a storage medium other than the disk type, for example, a semiconductor memory such as a flash memory can be mentioned. The type of drive 170 may be selected arbitrarily depending on the type of storage medium 91 .

[0055] Regarding the specific hardware configuration of the shelf allocation support device 1, components can be omitted, replaced, and added as appropriate depending on the embodiment. For example, the processor resource may include a plurality of hardware processors. The hardware processor may be configured with a microprocessor, a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), a digital signal processor (DSP), or the like. The storage unit 120 may be configured with a RAM and a ROM included in the control unit 110. At least one of the communication interface 130, the external interface 140, the input device 150, the output device 160, and the drive 170 may be omitted. The shelf allocation support device 1 may be configured with a plurality of computers. In this case, the hardware configurations of the computers may or may not be the same. In addition, the shelf allocation support device 1 may be an information processing device designed exclusively for the service provided, as well as a general-purpose server device, a PC (Personal Computer), or the like.

[0056] [Software configuration] FIG. 5 illustrates a schematic example of a software configuration of the shelf allocation support device 1. The control unit 110 of the shelf allocation support device 1 expands the shelf allocation support program 121 stored in the storage unit 120 into the RAM. Then, the control unit 110 uses the CPU to interpret and execute commands included in the shelf allocation support program 121 expanded into the RAM to control each component. As a result, as shown in FIG. 5, the shelf allocation support device 1 operates as a computer having the following functional blocks as software modules. That is, the shelf allocation support device 1 operates as a computer having a conventional display information acquisition unit 10, a planned display product information acquisition unit 20, a product shape information acquisition unit 30, an average sales information acquisition unit 40, a 1F inventory quantity information acquisition unit 50, a set maximum F number information acquisition unit 60, a calculation unit 70, and an output unit 80. As described above, in this embodiment, each software module of the shelf allocation support device 1 is realized by the control unit 110 (CPU).

[0057] The conventional display information acquisition unit 10 acquires conventional display information IPD indicating the original allocation space PSP, and notifies the calculation unit 70 of the original allocation space PSP indicated in the acquired conventional display information IPD. The "original allocation space PSP" is the sum of the occupied widths of each conventionally displayed product MDP, and the "occupied width of each conventionally displayed product MDP" is calculated by multiplying the width Wd of each conventionally displayed product MDP by the number of faces NF of each conventionally displayed product MDP. Therefore, the conventional display information acquisition unit 10 may acquire information indicating the width Wd of each conventionally displayed product MDP and information indicating the number of faces NF of each conventionally displayed product MDP in the original allocation as conventional display information IPD, and calculate the original allocation space PSP from these acquired pieces of information. The "conventional display product MDP" is a product that was displayed before the planned-to-be-displayed product MID on the shelf where the planned-to-be-displayed product MID is to be displayed in each store of each retail company.

[0058] The conventional display information acquisition unit 10 acquires the conventional display information IPD, for example, from the product management device 3 illustrated in FIG. 1. However, the source from which the conventional display information acquisition unit 10 acquires the conventional display information IPD is not limited to the product management device 3. For example, the conventional display information acquisition unit 10 may acquire the conventional display information IPD as "other various information" illustrated in FIG. 1 from a device other than the POS system server 2 of each retail company and the product management device 3. Furthermore, the conventional display information acquisition unit 10 may acquire the conventional display information IPD as "other various information" illustrated in FIG. 1 from a user of the shelf allocation support device 1 or the like (or may acquire it as an input from the user or the like). The conventional display information acquisition unit 10 may acquire information indicating the width Wd of each conventional display product MDP and information indicating the number of faces NF of each conventional display product MDP in the original shelf allocation from different sources.

[0059] The display-planned product information acquiring unit 20 acquires display-planned product identification information IMI including information identifying each of a plurality of display-planned products MIDs that are scheduled to be displayed on shelves (each shelf) used in each store of each retail company (i.e., identification information of each display-planned product MID). The display-planned product information acquiring unit 20 notifies the calculation unit 70 of the identification information (ID) of each display-planned product MID indicated in the display-planned product identification information IMI.

[0060] Each of the multiple products MIDs to be displayed may be selected using at least the number of types (number of items) of products to be displayed on shelves (each shelf) used in each store of each retail company, the identification information of each retail company, and the attributes of each store. In other words, the product lineup on shelves (each shelf) used in each store of each retail company may be determined taking into consideration at least "the number of items per shelf," "the identification information of each retail company," and "attributes of each store, such as location conditions and customer demographics." The "attributes of each store" may be characteristics or features of each store that are considered to affect the sales performance (sales forecast) and sales trends of each product at each store, and are not limited to location conditions and customer demographics.

[0061] The display-planned product information acquisition unit 20 acquires the to-be-displayed product identification information IMI, for example, from the product management device 3 illustrated in Fig. 1. However, the source from which the display-planned product information acquisition unit 20 acquires the to-be-displayed product identification information IMI is not limited to the product management device 3. For example, the display-planned product information acquisition unit 20 may acquire the to-be-displayed product identification information IMI as "other various information" illustrated in Fig. 1 from a device other than the POS system server 2 of each retail company and the product management device 3. Furthermore, the display-planned product information acquisition unit 20 may acquire the to-be-displayed product identification information IMI as "other various information" illustrated in Fig. 1 from a user of the shelf allocation support device 1, etc. (or may acquire it as an input from the user, etc.).

[0062] The product shape information acquisition unit 30 acquires the to-be-displayed product shape information ISM indicating the width Wd of each to-be-displayed product MID, and notifies the calculation unit 70 of the width Wd of each to-be-displayed product MID indicated in the acquired to-be-displayed product shape information ISM. In the example shown in FIG. 5, the to-be-displayed product shape information ISM indicates the depth length DL of each to-be-displayed product MID in addition to the width Wd of each to-be-displayed product MID. The to-be-displayed product shape information ISM may indicate the size (at least the width Wd) of each to-be-displayed product MID, and may further indicate the depth length DL, height, weight, etc. of each to-be-displayed product MID. The source from which the product shape information acquisition unit 30 (shelf allocation support device 1) acquires the to-be-displayed product shape information ISM has already been described, so a repeated description will be omitted.

[0063] The average sales information acquisition unit 40 acquires average sales information IAS of products to be displayed indicating the average sales quantity ANP of each product to be displayed during a period of time of each product MID, and notifies the calculation unit 70 of the average sales quantity ANP of each product to be displayed during a period of time of each product MID to be displayed indicated by the acquired average sales information IAS of products to be displayed. As described above, the average sales quantity ANP of each product to be displayed during a period of time of each product MID to be displayed is the average of actual values ​​or a predicted value for the number of products MID to be displayed "sold by each retail company during the period from when each product MID to be displayed is displayed on a shelf until the shelf is restocked."

[0064] The average sales information acquiring unit 40 may acquire the following information as the to-be-displayed commodity average sales information IAS for the to-be-displayed commodity MID_AS, which is a to-be-displayed commodity MID that is already being sold by each retail company, among the multiple to-be-displayed commodity MID. That is, the average sales information acquiring unit 40 may acquire the sales performance information ISP of each to-be-displayed commodity MID_AS and the replenishment number information IRT of each to-be-displayed commodity MID_AS as the to-be-displayed commodity average sales information IAS of each to-be-displayed commodity MID_AS. FIG. 5 shows an example in which the average sales information acquiring unit 40 acquires the sales performance information ISP and the replenishment number information IRT of each to-be-displayed commodity MID_AS as the to-be-displayed commodity average sales information IAS of each to-be-displayed commodity MID_AS.

[0065] For example, the average sales information acquisition unit 40 calculates the actual value of the number of units sold per predetermined number of days of each of the already-sold, to-be-displayed products MID_AS from the actual value of the number of units sold in a predetermined period of time of each of the already-sold, to-be-displayed products MID_AS indicated by the sales performance information ISP of each of the already-sold, to-be-displayed products MID_AS. The average sales information acquisition unit 40 may calculate the average number of units sold per period ANP of each of the already-sold, to-be-displayed products MID_AS by dividing the "actual value of the number of units sold per predetermined number of days" for each of the already-sold, to-be-displayed products MID_AS by the "number of replenishments per predetermined number of days" indicated by the replenishment number information IRT. The average sales information acquisition unit 40 may notify the calculation unit 70 of the average number of units sold per period ANP of each already-sold, to-be-displayed product MID_AS acquired (calculated) by the above method.

[0066] The average sales information acquiring unit 40 (shelf allocation support device 1) may acquire sales performance information ISP of each of the already sold products to be displayed MID_AS from the POS system server 2 of each retail company. That is, the average sales information acquiring unit 40 may acquire the performance value of the number of sales of each of the products to be displayed MID of each retail company during a predetermined period (or a predetermined number of days) from the POS system server 2 of each retail company.

[0067] The average sales information acquiring unit 40 may acquire the following information as the average sales information IAS of the unsold to-be-displayed commodity MID_NW, which is a commodity MID that has not yet been sold by each retail company among the multiple to-be-displayed commodity MID. That is, the average sales information acquiring unit 40 may acquire the sales forecast information IPS of each unsold to-be-displayed commodity MID_NW and the replenishment number information IRT of each unsold to-be-displayed commodity MID_NW as the average sales information IAS of each unsold to-be-displayed commodity MID_NW. FIG. 5 shows an example in which the average sales information acquiring unit 40 acquires the sales forecast information IPS and the replenishment number information IRT of each unsold to-be-displayed commodity MID_NW as the average sales information IAS of each unsold to-be-displayed commodity MID_NW.

[0068] For example, the average sales information acquisition unit 40 calculates the predicted number of units sold per predetermined number of days for each unsold, to-be-displayed product MID_NW from the predicted number of units sold in a predetermined period for each unsold, to-be-displayed product MID_NW indicated by the sales forecast information IPS for each unsold, to-be-displayed product MID_NW. The average sales information acquisition unit 40 may calculate the average number of units sold per period ANP for each unsold, to-be-displayed product MID_NW by dividing the "predicted number of units sold per predetermined number of days" for each unsold, to-be-displayed product MID_NW by the "number of replenishments per predetermined number of days" indicated by the replenishment number information IRT. The average sales information acquisition unit 40 may notify the calculation unit 70 of the average number of units sold per period ANP for each unsold, to-be-displayed product MID_NW acquired (calculated) by the above method.

[0069] As described above, the average sales information acquisition unit 40 may acquire sales performance information ISP of each of the sold products to be displayed MID_AS from the POS system server 2 of each retail company. The average sales information acquisition unit 40 may acquire sales forecast information IPS of each of the unsold products to be displayed MID_NW from any of the POS system server 2 of each retail company, the product management device 3, other devices, and the user of the shelf allocation support device 1, which hold such information. The average sales information acquisition unit 40 may acquire information indicating the sales performance of "products similar to each of the unsold products to be displayed MID_NW and already sold by each retail company" (sold similar products) as the sales forecast information IPS of each of the unsold products to be displayed MID_NW. The average sales information acquisition unit 40 may generate (acquire) the sales forecast information IPS of each of the unsold products to be displayed MID_NW from information indicating the sales performance of the sold similar products. For example, the average sales information acquisition unit 40 may acquire information indicating the actual sales volume of each similar product already sold during a specified period from the POS system server 2 of each retail company as sales forecast information IPS for each unsold product MID_NW to be displayed.

[0070] As described above, the average sales information acquisition unit 40 (shelf allocation support device 1) may acquire the replenishment count information IRT of each sold product MID_AS to be displayed and the replenishment count information IRT of each unsold product MID_NW to be displayed from the product management device 3. However, the source from which the average sales information acquisition unit 40 acquires the replenishment count information IRT of each sold product MID_AS to be displayed and the replenishment count information IRT of each unsold product MID_NW to be displayed is not limited to the product management device 3. The average sales information acquisition unit 40 may acquire the replenishment count information IRT of each sold product MID_AS to be displayed and the replenishment count information IRT of each unsold product MID_NW to be displayed from the POS system server 2 of each retail company, other devices, a user of the shelf allocation support device 1, etc. Furthermore, the source from which the average sales information acquiring unit 40 acquires the replenishment count information IRT of each sold product to be displayed MID_AS may be different from the source from which the average sales information acquiring unit 40 acquires the replenishment count information IRT of each unsold product to be displayed MID_NW.

[0071] As described above, the average sales information acquisition unit 40 (shelf allocation support device 1) may acquire (calculate) the average sales quantity ANP for each of the products MID to be displayed from the number of units sold during the period and the above-mentioned "number of replenishments per predetermined number of days (predetermined period) (number of replenishments during the period)." The "number of units sold during the period" is an actual value or a predicted value of the number of units sold by each retail company for each of the products MID to be displayed during the predetermined number of days (predetermined period). The "number of replenishments during the period" is the number of times each of the products MID to be displayed is replenished to the shelves during a predetermined period (predetermined period) set by each retail company for each of the products MID to be displayed. For example, the average sales information acquisition unit 40 may acquire the average sales quantity ANP for each of the products MID to be displayed by dividing the number of units sold during the period of each of the products MID to be displayed by the number of replenishments during the period of each of the products MID to be displayed.

[0072] The 1F inventory quantity information acquisition unit 50 acquires 1F inventory quantity information IPF indicating the quantity NPF per floor of each product MID to be displayed, and notifies the calculation unit 70 of the quantity NPF per floor of each product MID to be displayed indicated in the acquired 1F inventory quantity information IPF.

[0073] In this embodiment, the number NPF of each product MID to be displayed per floor may be the smaller of the following arithmetic number and set number. The "arithmetic number" of each product MID to be displayed is the integer part of the "value obtained by dividing the depth length DL of the shelf on which each product MID to be displayed is to be displayed by the depth length DL of each product MID to be displayed." The "set number" of each product MID to be displayed is the number of products to be displayed in the depth direction of the shelf, which is set by each retail company for each product MID to be displayed.

[0074] When the number NPF per floor of each product MID to be displayed is set to "the smaller value of the arithmetic number and the set number," the 1F inventory quantity information acquisition unit 50 may acquire three pieces of information shown in FIG. 5 as the 1F inventory quantity information IPF. That is, the 1F inventory quantity information acquisition unit 50 may acquire the product shape information ISM to be displayed, the shelf shape information ISS, and the set number per floor information ISR as the 1F inventory quantity information IPF. As described above, in the example shown in FIG. 5, the product shape information ISM to be displayed indicates the depth length DL of each product MID to be displayed in addition to the width Wd of each product MID to be displayed. Furthermore, the "shelf shape information ISS" is information indicating the depth length DL of the shelf on which the product MID to be displayed is to be displayed. Note that the shelf shape information ISS may indicate the width Wd of the shelf on which the product MID to be displayed is to be displayed in addition to the depth length DL of the shelf on which the product MID to be displayed is to be displayed. The set quantity per floor information ISR is information indicating the set number of each product MID to be displayed, in other words, information indicating "the number to be displayed in the depth direction of the shelf, which is set by each retail company for each product MID to be displayed."

[0075] The 1F inventory quantity information acquisition unit 50 calculates the arithmetic number of each of the products MID to be displayed from the depth length DL of each product MID to be displayed, which is indicated by the product shape information ISM, and the shelf depth length DL, which is indicated by the shelf shape information ISS. The 1F inventory quantity information acquisition unit 50 may then obtain the number per floor NPF of each of the products MID to be displayed by comparing the calculated "arithmetic number of each product MID to be displayed" with the "set number of each product MID to be displayed" indicated by the set number per floor information ISR. The 1F inventory quantity information acquisition unit 50 may notify the calculation unit 70 of the number per floor NPF of each product MID to be displayed, which is obtained by the above-mentioned method.

[0076] The 1F inventory quantity information acquisition unit 50 may acquire each of the planned-to-be-displayed commodity shape information ISM, shelf shape information ISS, and number-per-floor information ISR from the commodity management device 3. However, the source from which the 1F inventory quantity information acquisition unit 50 acquires each of the planned-to-be-displayed commodity shape information ISM, shelf shape information ISS, and number-per-floor information ISR is not limited to the commodity management device 3. The 1F inventory quantity information acquisition unit 50 may acquire each of the planned-to-be-displayed commodity shape information ISM, shelf shape information ISS, and number-per-floor information ISR from any of the POS system servers 2 of each retail company, other devices, and users of the shelf allocation support device 1. In addition, the source from which the 1F inventory quantity information acquisition unit 50 acquires the planned-to-be-displayed commodity shape information ISM, the source from which the shelf shape information ISS is acquired, and the source from which the number-per-floor information ISR is acquired may be different.

[0077] It is not essential for the 1F inventory quantity information acquisition unit 50 to acquire the planned-to-be-displayed product shape information ISM, shelf shape information ISS, and number-per-1F information ISR as the 1F inventory quantity information IPF indicating the number-per-1F NPF of each planned-to-be-displayed product MID. The 1F inventory quantity information acquisition unit 50 may acquire the 1F inventory quantity information IPF itself without acquiring the planned-to-be-displayed product shape information ISM, shelf shape information ISS, and number-per-1F information ISR. For example, an external device of the shelf allocation support device 1 may acquire the planned-to-be-displayed product shape information ISM, shelf shape information ISS, and number-per-1F information ISR, and the external device may calculate the "number-per-1F NPF of each planned-to-be-displayed product MID" from these pieces of information. The 1F inventory quantity information acquisition unit 50 may acquire the "1F inventory quantity information IPF indicating the number-per-1F NPF of each planned-to-be-displayed product MID" from the above-mentioned external device.

[0078] The set maximum F number information acquisition unit 60 acquires the set maximum face number information IMN. The set maximum face number information IMN indicates the set maximum F number NSM, which is the "maximum value of the number of faces NF" set by each retail company for each product MID to be displayed. The set maximum F number NSM of each product MID to be displayed may be rephrased as the maximum value of the "number of faces NF of each product MID to be displayed" set by each retail company. Each retail company may determine the set maximum F number NSM of each product MID to be displayed according to the sales record (whether sales are good) or sales forecast (whether sales are predicted to be good) of each product MID to be displayed. For example, each retail company may set the set maximum F number NSM of a product MID to be displayed that has good sales (predicted to be good) to be larger (larger) than the set maximum F number NSM of a product MID to be displayed that has poor sales (predicted to be poor).

[0079] The set maximum F number information acquisition unit 60 may acquire the set maximum face number information IMN from the merchandise management device 3. However, the source from which the set maximum F number information acquisition unit 60 acquires the set maximum face number information IMN is not limited to the merchandise management device 3. The set maximum F number information acquisition unit 60 may acquire the set maximum face number information IMN from any of the POS system server 2 of each retail company, other devices, a user of the shelf allocation support device 1, etc.

[0080] When the set maximum F number information acquisition unit 60 acquires the set maximum face number information IMN, it notifies the calculation unit 70 of the "set maximum F number NSM of each commodity MID to be displayed" indicated by the acquired set maximum face number information IMN.

[0081] The calculation unit 70 determines the number of faces NF of each product to be displayed MID, and notifies the output unit 80 of the determined number of faces NF of each product to be displayed MID. The calculation unit 70 according to this embodiment determines the number of faces NF of each product to be displayed MID using the average period sales quantity ANP of each product to be displayed MID, and specifically, identifies the number of faces NF of each product to be displayed MID that satisfies the above-mentioned first condition. In this embodiment, the calculation unit 70 further determines the "number of faces NF of each product to be displayed MID" to be notified to the output unit 80 from the "number of faces NF of each product to be displayed MID that satisfies the first condition" using the total required width SRW and the original shelf allocation space PSP. For example, the calculation unit 70 extracts the "number of faces NF of each product MID to be displayed" that satisfies the second condition from the "number of faces NF of each product MID to be displayed that satisfies the first condition", and notifies the output unit 80 of the extracted "number of faces NF of each product MID to be displayed".

[0082] 5 includes a required number of faces calculation unit 710, a maximum magnification variable calculation unit 720, and a determination unit 730. In order to facilitate understanding of each of the required number of faces calculation unit 710, the maximum magnification variable calculation unit 720, and the determination unit 730, an overview of each will be described below.

[0083] The required number of faces calculation unit 710 specifies the "number of faces NF of each product MID to be displayed" that satisfies the first condition, and in particular specifies (calculates) the required number of faces RNF of each product MID to be displayed. The "required number of faces RNF of each product MID to be displayed" is a value obtained by dividing the average number of units sold during a period ANP of each product MID to be displayed by the number of units per floor NPF of each product MID to be displayed. The "value obtained by rounding up the required number of faces RNF of each product MID to be displayed to the nearest whole number" is the minimum number of faces NF required for each product MID to be displayed such that the product of the number of units sold during a period NPF and the number of units per floor NPF is equal to or greater than the average number of units sold during a period ANP. In other words, the "value obtained by rounding up the required number of faces RNF of each product MID to be displayed to the nearest whole number" is the minimum number of faces NF that satisfies the first condition for each product MID to be displayed. The required number of faces calculation unit 710 calculates the required number of faces RNF of each product MID to be displayed, thereby identifying the minimum value of the "number of faces NF that satisfies the first condition" for each product MID to be displayed. The required number of faces calculation unit 710 notifies the maximum magnification variable calculation unit 720 of the calculated "required number of faces RNF of each product MID to be displayed."

[0084] The maximum magnification variable calculation unit 720 and the identification unit 730 use the total required width SRW and the original planogram space PSP to determine the "number of faces NF of each product MID to be displayed" from the "number of faces NF of each product MID to be displayed that satisfies the first condition" to be notified to the output unit 80. In other words, the maximum magnification variable calculation unit 720 and the identification unit 730 extract the "number of faces NF of each product MID to be displayed" that satisfies the second condition from the "number of faces NF of each product MID to be displayed that satisfies the first condition" identified by the required number of faces calculation unit 710.

[0085] Specifically, the maximum magnification variable calculation unit 720 uses the "necessary number of faces RNF of each product MID to be displayed" notified by the necessary number of faces calculation unit 710 and the second condition to specify the maximum allowable value of the magnification variable X. Then, the specification unit 730 uses the product of the necessary number of faces RNF of each product MID to be displayed and the "maximum allowable value of the magnification variable X" specified by the maximum magnification variable calculation unit 720 to determine the "number of faces NF of each product MID to be displayed" to be notified to the output unit 80. For example, the specification unit 730 compares the "value obtained by rounding up the product of the necessary number of faces RNF of each product MID to be displayed and the maximum allowable value of the magnification variable X to one whole number" with the set maximum F number NSM of each product MID to be displayed. Then, the specification unit 730 determines the smaller of the two as the "number of faces NF of each product MID to be displayed" to be notified to the output unit 80. For example, the "number of faces NF of each product MID to be displayed" notified to the output unit 80 by the determination unit 730 is the "required number of faces RNF of each product MID to be displayed" multiplied by the "maximum allowable value of the multiplication factor variable X" (particularly, a value obtained by rounding up the relevant value to the nearest whole number). Note that, as described below, the "maximum allowable value of the multiplication factor variable X" is equal to or greater than "1."

[0086] The required face number calculation unit 710, maximum magnification variable calculation unit 720, and specification unit 730, which have been outlined above, will each be described in detail below.

[0087] The required number of faces calculation unit 710 acquires the "ID of each product MID to be displayed" from the planned-display product information acquisition unit 20, and also acquires the "average number of units sold over a period ANP of each product MID to be displayed" from the average sales information acquisition unit 40. Furthermore, the required number of faces calculation unit 710 acquires the "number of units per floor NPF of each product MID to be displayed" from the 1F inventory quantity information acquisition unit 50. Then, for each product MID to be displayed (for each ID of the product MID to be displayed), the required number of faces calculation unit 710 identifies the number of faces NF whose "product with the number of units per floor NPF is equal to or greater than the average number of units sold over a period ANP," that is, identifies the number of faces NF that satisfies the first condition. In particular, the required number of faces calculation unit 710 in this embodiment divides the average sales quantity ANP of each product MID to be displayed during the period by the quantity NPF per floor of each product MID to be displayed, to determine (calculate) the required number of faces RNF of each product MID to be displayed.

[0088] As described above, the minimum value of "the number of faces NF of each product MID to be displayed that satisfies the first condition" is the value obtained by rounding up the required number of faces RNF of each product MID to be displayed. Therefore, the required number of faces calculation unit 710 may be considered to calculate the required number of faces RNF of each product MID to be displayed to obtain the minimum value of "the number of faces NF of each product MID to be displayed that satisfies the first condition". In other words, the required number of faces calculation unit 710 calculates the required number of faces RNF of each product MID to be displayed to identify the number of faces NF (particularly, the minimum value) of each product MID to be displayed that "is greater than or equal to the average number of sales per floor NPF". The required number of faces calculation unit 710 notifies the maximum magnification variable calculation unit 720 (particularly, the provisional number of faces calculation unit 722) of the identified "required number of faces RNF of each product MID to be displayed".

[0089] The maximum magnification variable calculation unit 720 uses the total required width SRW and the original shelf allocation space PSP to identify the maximum allowable value of the magnification variable X, and in particular, identifies the maximum value of the magnification variable X that satisfies the second condition as the maximum allowable value of the magnification variable X. The maximum magnification variable calculation unit 720 notifies the identification unit 730 of the identified "maximum allowable value of the magnification variable X." The maximum magnification variable calculation unit 720 illustrated in FIG. 5 includes an initial value setting unit 721, a tentative number of faces calculation unit 722, a tentative required width calculation unit 723, a tentative total required width calculation unit 724, a comparison unit 725, and a predetermined value addition / subtraction unit 726.

[0090] The initial value setting unit 721 sets an initial value of the magnification variable X. First, an example in which the initial value setting unit 721 sets "1" as the initial value of the magnification variable X will be described below. However, it is not essential that the initial value of the magnification variable X is "1". An example in which the initial value setting unit 721 sets a numerical value other than "1" as the initial value of the magnification variable X will be described in detail later.

[0091] The provisional number of faces calculation unit 722 calculates the provisional number of faces TNF of each product to be displayed MID. Specifically, the provisional number of faces calculation unit 722 calculates the provisional number of faces TNF of each product to be displayed MID by using the product of the "required number of faces RNF of each product to be displayed MID" notified by the required number of faces calculation unit 710 and a magnification variable X (for example, the initial value "1"). The provisional number of faces calculation unit 722 notifies the provisional required width calculation unit 723 of the calculated provisional number of faces TNF of each product to be displayed MID.

[0092] The provisional number of faces calculation unit 722 may obtain the "maximum number of faces NSM set for each product MID to be displayed" from the maximum number of faces information acquisition unit 60, and may use the obtained "maximum number of faces NSM set for each product MID to be displayed" to calculate the "provisional number of faces TNF for each product MID to be displayed." For example, the provisional number of faces calculation unit 722 may determine the smaller of (1) the product of the "required number of faces RNF for each product MID to be displayed" and the magnification variable X, and (2) the "maximum number of faces NSM set for each product MID to be displayed" as the "provisional number of faces TNF for each product MID to be displayed." Here, as described above, the "required number of faces RNF for each product MID to be displayed" is a value obtained by dividing the average number of units sold during the period ANP of each product MID to be displayed by the number of units per floor NPF of each product MID to be displayed. Therefore, the product of the "required number of faces RNF for each product MID to be displayed" and the multiplier variable X can be rephrased as the value obtained by dividing the product of the multiplier variable X and the "average number of units sold over the period ANP for each product MID to be displayed" by the "number of units per floor NPF for each product MID to be displayed."

[0093] In this embodiment, the "maximum set number of faces NSM of each commodity MID to be displayed" is equal to or greater than the "required number of faces RNF of each commodity MID to be displayed, rounded up to the nearest whole number." In other words, the "maximum set number of faces NSM of each commodity MID to be displayed" is equal to or greater than the "minimum value of the 'number of faces NF of each commodity MID to be displayed' that satisfies the first condition."

[0094] The provisional required width calculation unit 723 calculates the provisional required width TRW of each product to be displayed MID, and notifies the provisional total required width calculation unit 724 of the calculated "provisional required width TRW of each product to be displayed MID." Specifically, the provisional required width calculation unit 723 acquires the "provisional number of faces TNF of each product to be displayed MID" from the provisional number of faces calculation unit 722, and also acquires the "width Wd of each product to be displayed MID" from the product shape information acquisition unit 30. Then, the provisional required width calculation unit 723 multiplies the "provisional number of faces TNF of each product to be displayed MID" by the "width Wd of each product to be displayed MID" to calculate the "provisional required width TRW of each product to be displayed MID." 2, the provisional necessary width calculation unit 723 multiplies the provisional number of faces TNF by the width Wd for each of the products MID(A) to MID(L) to be displayed to calculate the provisional necessary width TRW for each of the products MID(A) to MID(L). That is, the provisional necessary width calculation unit 723 calculates each of the provisional necessary widths TRW(A) to TRW(L).

[0095] The provisional total required width calculation unit 724 calculates the provisional total required width TSW by adding up the provisional required width TRW of each product to be displayed MID notified by the provisional required width calculation unit 723, and notifies the comparison unit 725 of the calculated provisional total required width TSW. Explaining based on the example shown in Fig. 2, the provisional total required width calculation unit 724 calculates the provisional total required width TSW by adding up the provisional required width TRW of each of the products to be displayed MID(A) to MID(L) notified by the provisional required width calculation unit 723. For example, the provisional total required width calculation unit 724 calculates the provisional total required width TSW by adding up the provisional required widths TRW(A) to TRW(L).

[0096] The comparison unit 725 compares the tentative total required width TSW notified by the tentative total required width calculation unit 724 with the original planogram space PSP notified by the conventional display information acquisition unit 10 (acquired from the conventional display information acquisition unit 10), and notifies the predetermined value addition / subtraction unit 726 of the comparison result. For example, the comparison unit 725 determines whether the tentative total required width TSW is larger than the original planogram space PSP, and notifies the predetermined value addition / subtraction unit 726 of the determination result.

[0097] The predetermined value addition / subtraction unit 726 executes one of the following two processes based on the comparison result (determination result) notified from the comparison unit 725. That is, when the determination result that "the provisional total required width TSW is equal to or smaller than the original planogram space PSP" is received from the comparison unit 725, the predetermined value addition / subtraction unit 726 adds a predetermined value smaller than 1 to the magnification variable X. Then, the predetermined value addition / subtraction unit 726 instructs each of the above-mentioned units to calculate the provisional number of faces TNF of each product to be displayed MID, the provisional required width TRW of each product to be displayed MID, and the provisional total required width TSW, using the magnification variable X after the addition of the predetermined value. That is, the predetermined value addition / subtraction unit 726 causes the temporary face number calculation unit 722, the temporary required width calculation unit 723, and the temporary total required width calculation unit 724 to calculate the temporary face number TNF, the temporary required width TRW, and the temporary total required width TSW of each product MID to be displayed using the magnification variable X after the addition of the predetermined value. The predetermined value addition / subtraction unit 726 repeats the process of "adding the above-mentioned predetermined value to the magnification variable X and instructing each unit to calculate the temporary total required width TSW corresponding to the magnification variable X after the addition of the above-mentioned predetermined value" until the temporary total required width TSW becomes larger than the original shelf allocation space PSP. In other words, the predetermined value addition / subtraction unit 726 repeats the above-mentioned process until the comparison unit 725 determines that "the temporary total required width TSW is larger than the original shelf allocation space PSP."

[0098] When the comparison unit 725 determines that the tentative total required width TSW is greater than the original shelf planogram space PSP, the predetermined value addition / subtraction unit 726 executes the following process. That is, the predetermined value addition / subtraction unit 726 subtracts the above-mentioned predetermined value from the magnification variable X corresponding to the tentative total required width TSW determined to be greater than the original shelf planogram space PSP, and specifies the magnification variable X after subtraction as the "maximum allowable value of the magnification variable X."

[0099] As described above, the maximum magnification variable calculation unit 720 repeatedly adds a predetermined value to the magnification variable X until the tentative total required width TSW calculated using the magnification variable X becomes larger than the original planogram space PSP. Then, when the tentative total required width TSW corresponding to the magnification variable X after adding the predetermined value a certain number of times (for example, "T" times) becomes larger than the original planogram space PSP, the maximum magnification variable calculation unit 720 specifies the "maximum allowable value of the magnification variable X" as follows. That is, the maximum magnification variable calculation unit 720 specifies the magnification variable X in the time immediately before the certain time (i.e., "T-1" times) as the maximum value of the magnification variable X that "makes the tentative total required width TSW equal to or smaller than the original planogram space PSP", that is, as the "maximum allowable value of the magnification variable X". In other words, the maximum magnification variable calculation unit 720 identifies the value obtained by subtracting the above-mentioned specified value from the "magnification variable X (the magnification variable X after adding the above-mentioned specified value "T" times) at which the provisional total required width TSW becomes larger than the original shelf allocation space PSP" as the "maximum allowable value of the magnification variable X."

[0100] The above-mentioned predetermined value that the predetermined value addition / subtraction unit 726 adds to or subtracts from the magnification variable X may be a value smaller than "1", for example, "0.1". However, the predetermined value does not necessarily have to be "0.1", and may be any value smaller than "1". The predetermined value may be "0.01", "0.2", or "0.5".

[0101] As described above, the maximum magnification variable calculation unit 720 specifies the maximum allowable value of the magnification variable X by using the total required width SRW (provisional total required width TSW) and the original shelf allocation space PSP. That is, the maximum magnification variable calculation unit 720 specifies the maximum allowable value of the magnification variable X that satisfies the second condition that "the total required width SRW (provisional total required width TSW) is close to the original shelf allocation space PSP". Specifically, the maximum magnification variable calculation unit 720 repeatedly executes the above-mentioned process of "calculating the provisional total required width TSW from the magnification variable X" by increasing the magnification variable X from the initial value by a predetermined value smaller than 1 until the provisional total required width TSW becomes larger than the original shelf allocation space PSP. As a result, the maximum magnification variable calculation unit 720 specifies the maximum value of the magnification variable X that makes the provisional total required width TSW equal to or smaller than the original shelf allocation space PSP, and sets the specified maximum value as the maximum allowable value of the magnification variable X. The maximum magnification variable calculation unit 720 identifies a magnification variable X for which the "provisional total required width TSW is equal to or smaller than the original shelf allocation space PSP and is maximum," and sets the identified magnification variable X as the maximum allowable value of the magnification variable X.

[0102] The above explanation can be summarized as follows. That is, the calculation unit 70 includes a maximum magnification variable calculation unit 720 and a determination unit 730 in addition to a required face number calculation unit 710 that determines the required face number RNF of each product MID to be displayed. The maximum magnification variable calculation unit 720 determines (calculates) the maximum allowable value of the magnification variable X. The determination unit 730 determines the number of faces NF of each product MID to be displayed using the maximum allowable value of the magnification variable X calculated by the maximum magnification variable calculation unit 720. In particular, the determination unit 730 determines the smaller of the set maximum F number NSM set by each retail company for each product MID to be displayed and the following value as the number of faces NF of each product MID to be displayed. That is, the determination unit 730 calculates "a value obtained by dividing the product of the maximum allowable value of the magnification variable X and the period average sales quantity ANP of each product MID to be displayed by the number of products per floor NPF of each product MID to be displayed." Then, the specifying unit 730 specifies the smaller one of the value obtained by this calculation and the set maximum F number NSM as the number of faces NF of each commodity MID to be displayed.

[0103] The maximum magnification variable calculation unit 720 includes a tentative face number calculation unit 722, a tentative required width calculation unit 723, a tentative total required width calculation unit 724, a comparison unit 725, and a predetermined value addition / subtraction unit 726. The tentative face number calculation unit 722 calculates the tentative face number TNF of each product MID to be displayed. In particular, the tentative face number calculation unit 722 calculates the smaller of the set maximum F number NSM set by each retail company for each product MID to be displayed and the following value as the tentative face number TNF of each product MID to be displayed. That is, the tentative face number calculation unit 722 calculates "a value obtained by dividing the product of the magnification variable X and the period average sales quantity ANP of each product MID to be displayed by the number per floor NPF of each product MID to be displayed." The tentative face number calculation unit 722 then sets the smaller of the value obtained by the calculation and the set maximum F number NSM as the tentative face number TNF of each product MID to be displayed. The tentative required width calculation unit 723 multiplies the tentative face number TNF of each product MID to be displayed calculated by the tentative face number calculation unit 722 by the width Wd of each product MID to be displayed to calculate the tentative required width TRW of each product MID to be displayed. The tentative total required width calculation unit 724 calculates the sum of the tentative required widths TRW of each product MID to be displayed calculated by the tentative required width calculation unit 723 as the tentative total required width TSW. The comparison unit 725 compares the tentative total required width TSW calculated by the tentative total required width calculation unit 724 with the original shelf allocation space PSP. The predetermined value addition / subtraction unit 726 identifies the maximum value of the magnification variable X that makes the tentative total required width TSW equal to or smaller than the original shelf allocation space PSP, and sets the identified maximum value as the maximum allowable value of the magnification variable X. In particular, the predetermined value addition / subtraction unit 726 repeatedly executes the following process until the tentative total required width TSW calculated by the tentative total required width calculation unit 724 becomes larger than the original shelf allocation space PSP. That is, the predetermined value addition / subtraction unit 726 repeats the process of "adding a predetermined value smaller than 1 to the magnification variable X and instructing each unit to calculate the tentative total required width TSW corresponding to the magnification variable X after the addition of the predetermined value" until the tentative total required width TSW becomes larger than the original shelf allocation space PSP.That is, the maximum magnification variable calculation unit 720 repeatedly executes the process of "increasing the magnification variable X from the initial value by the above-mentioned predetermined value and calculating the tentative total required width TSW corresponding to the magnification variable X after the addition of the above-mentioned predetermined value" until the tentative total required width TSW becomes larger than the original shelf allocation space PSP. In other words, the maximum magnification variable calculation unit 720 increases the magnification variable X from the initial value by the above-mentioned predetermined value until the tentative total required width TSW corresponding to the magnification variable X after the addition of the above-mentioned predetermined value becomes larger than the original shelf allocation space PSP. In this way, the maximum magnification variable calculation unit 720 specifies the maximum value of the magnification variable X that makes the tentative total required width TSW equal to or smaller than the original shelf allocation space PSP, and sets the specified maximum value as the maximum allowable value of the magnification variable X.

[0104] (Example of setting a value other than "1" as the initial value of the multiplier variable) The initial value setting unit 721 may set the initial value of the magnification variable X to "the value obtained by dividing the original shelf allocation space PSP by the minimum total required width SRW_Min." The minimum total required width SRW_Min is the sum of the minimum required widths RW_Min of each product MID to be displayed. The "minimum required width RW_Min of each product MID to be displayed" is a value obtained by dividing the product of the "average sales quantity ANP of each product MID to be displayed" and the "width Wd of each product MID to be displayed" by the "number of products per floor NPF of each product MID to be displayed." As described above, the "number of faces required RNF of each product MID to be displayed" is a value obtained by dividing the average sales quantity ANP of each product MID to be displayed by the number of products per floor NPF of each product MID to be displayed. Therefore, the "value obtained by dividing the product of "average sales quantity for each product MID during the period ANP" and "width Wd of each product MID to be displayed" by "quantity per floor NPF of each product MID to be displayed" may be rephrased as the product of "required number of faces RNF of each product MID to be displayed" and "width Wd of each product MID to be displayed." In other words, the initial value setting unit 721 may set the following value as the initial value of the magnification variable X. In other words, the value obtained by dividing the original shelf space PSP by "minimum total required width SRW_Min," which is the sum of the minimum required width RW_Min of each product MID to be displayed (the product of the required number of faces RNF and width Wd of each product MID to be displayed), may be set as the initial value of the magnification variable X.

[0105] 2, the initial value setting unit 721 calculates the minimum required width RW_Min(A) to RW_Min(L) as the product of the required number of faces RNF and the width Wd for each of the commodities MID(A) to MID(L) to be displayed. The initial value setting unit 721 calculates the minimum total required width SRW_Min by summing up the calculated minimum required widths RW_Min for each of the commodities MID(A) to MID(L) to be displayed, that is, by summing up the minimum required widths RW_Min(A) to RW_Min(L). The initial value setting unit 721 may set the value obtained by dividing the original planogram space PSP by the calculated minimum total required width SRW_Min as the initial value of the magnification variable X.

[0106] The identification unit 730 determines the number of faces NF of each product MID to be displayed using the “maximum allowable value of the multiplier variable X” notified by the maximum multiplier variable calculation unit 720, and notifies the output unit 80 of the determined “number of faces NF of each product MID to be displayed.”

[0107] The determination unit 730 calculates a value (round-up value) obtained by dividing the product of the "maximum allowable value of the multiplication factor variable X" and the "average number of units sold during the period ANP of each product MID to be displayed" by the "number of units per floor NPF of each product MID to be displayed", and rounding up the result to the nearest whole number. The determination unit 730 determines (determines) the round-up value of each product MID to be displayed as the number of faces NF of each product MID to be displayed.

[0108] Here, as described above, the "required number of faces RNF of each product MID to be displayed" is a value obtained by dividing the average number of sales ANP of each product MID to be displayed over a period by the number of units per floor NPF of each product MID to be displayed. Therefore, the "value obtained by dividing the product of the "maximum allowable value of the multiplication variable X" and the "average number of sales ANP of each product MID to be displayed over a period" by the "number of units per floor NPF of each product MID to be displayed" may be rephrased as the product of the "required number of faces RNF of each product MID to be displayed" and the "maximum allowable value of the multiplication variable X". In other words, the determination unit 730 may determine (determine) the number of faces NF of each product MID to be displayed by rounding up the product of the required number of faces RNF of each product MID to be displayed and the maximum allowable value of the multiplication variable X to one decimal place (round-up value). The specifying unit 730 may notify the output unit 80 of the round-up value of each commodity MID to be displayed as the "number of faces NF of each commodity MID to be displayed."

[0109] The specifying unit 730 may obtain the "set maximum F number NSM of each commodity MID to be displayed" from the set maximum F number information obtaining unit 60, and may compare the round-up value and the set maximum F number NSM for each commodity MID to be displayed to determine the number of faces NF of each commodity MID to be displayed. In other words, the specifying unit 730 may determine the smaller one of the "set maximum F number NSM of each commodity MID to be displayed" and the round-up value of each commodity MID to be displayed as the number of faces NF of each commodity MID to be displayed.

[0110] In addition, when the calculation unit 70 (particularly the identification unit 730) displays each of the products MID to be displayed according to the number of faces NF of each product MID to be displayed determined by the above-mentioned method, the total required width SRW may be slightly larger (longer) than the original planogram space PSP for the following reasons. That is, as described above, the "total required width SRW" is the sum of the required widths RW of each product MID to be displayed, and the "required width RW of each product MID to be displayed" is the value obtained by multiplying the width Wd of each product MID to be displayed by the number of faces NF of each product MID to be displayed. The number of faces NF of each product MID to be displayed may be the product of the "required number of faces RNF of each product MID to be displayed" and the "maximum allowable value of the magnification variable X" rounded up to the nearest whole number (round-up value). Here, the "maximum allowable value of the multiplication factor variable X" is the maximum value of the multiplication factor variable X that makes the provisional total required width TSW equal to or smaller than the original plano space PSP, and may be, for example, the multiplication factor variable X that makes the provisional total required width TSW equal to the original plano space PSP. Therefore, the total required width SRW corresponding to the "number of faces NF of each product MID to be displayed" determined by the calculation unit 70 may be slightly larger than the original plano space PSP.

[0111] However, even if the total required width SRW becomes slightly larger than the original shelf space PSP, for the following reasons, a problem such as "not being able to display all the products MID to be displayed with the number of faces NF of each product MID to be displayed" does not actually occur.

[0112] That is, products are generally displayed on a shelf with empty spaces, partitions, etc. on the "left and right sides of the shelf" and "between products". Therefore, the original shelf allocation space PSP is smaller (sufficiently smaller) than the width Wd of the shelf on which the conventionally displayed product MDP was displayed, that is, the width Wd of the shelf on which the to-be-displayed product MID is to be displayed (the horizontal length or size in which the product can be physically displayed). Therefore, even if the total required width SRW corresponding to the "number of faces NF of each to-be-displayed product MID" determined by the calculation unit 70 becomes slightly larger than the original shelf allocation space PSP, the possibility that the total required width SRW becomes larger than the shelf width Wd can be practically ignored. In other words, when the above-mentioned total required width SRW and the original shelf space PSP are approximately equal, the situation in which "the total required width SRW becomes larger than the shelf width Wd, and each product MID to be displayed cannot be displayed with the number of faces NF of each product MID to be displayed" does not actually occur.

[0113] As described above, the "maximum allowable value of the magnification factor variable X" used to determine the "number of faces NF of each product MID to be displayed" is determined so that the "provisional total required width TSW is equal to or smaller than the original shelf allocation space PSP." Therefore, the total required width SRW corresponding to the "number of faces NF of each product MID to be displayed" determined by the calculation unit 70 is almost equal to the original shelf allocation space PSP, and even if it becomes larger than the original shelf allocation space PSP, the difference between the two is small enough to be practically negligible. Therefore, the total required width SRW corresponding to the number of faces NF of each product MID to be displayed determined by the calculation unit 70 and the original shelf allocation space PSP are almost equal, and there is no possibility that the total required width SRW will be larger than the shelf width Wd, or it is small enough to be negligible. Therefore, the problem that "each product MID to be displayed cannot be displayed on the shelf according to the 'number of faces NF of each product MID to be displayed' determined by the calculation unit 70" does not actually occur, and each product MID to be displayed can be displayed on the shelf with its respective number of faces NF.

[0114] However, the shelf allocation support device 1 may execute the following process to more reliably ensure that the total required width SRW corresponding to the number of faces NF of each product to be displayed MID determined by the calculation unit 70 is equal to or less than the shelf width Wd. That is, the shelf allocation support device 1 may acquire the above-mentioned shelf shape information ISS indicating the width Wd of the shelf on which the products to be displayed MID are to be displayed, and use the shelf width Wd indicated by the acquired shelf shape information ISS to determine the number of faces NF of each product to be displayed MID. For example, the shelf allocation support device 1 (particularly the calculation unit 70) may determine the number of faces NF of each product to be displayed MID so that the total required width SRW is equal to or less than the shelf width Wd.

[0115] The output unit 80 outputs the shelf allocation support information PSI, which is information indicating the number of faces NF of each product MID to be displayed determined by the calculation unit 70 and is information that supports the shelf allocation of a plurality of products MID to be displayed in each store of each retail company. The output unit 80 outputs the shelf allocation support information PSI to, for example, the product management device 3 shown in Fig. 1. The output unit 80 may output the shelf allocation support information PSI indicating the number of products per floor NPF of each product MID to be displayed in addition to the number of faces NF of each product MID to be displayed.

[0116] As described above, the shelf allocation support device 1 includes a product shape information acquisition unit 30, an average sales information acquisition unit 40, a 1F inventory quantity information acquisition unit 50, a calculation unit 70, and an output unit 80. The product shape information acquisition unit 30 acquires the planned-to-be-displayed product shape information ISM. The planned-to-be-displayed product shape information ISM is information related to the shape of each of a plurality of planned-to-be-displayed products MIDs that are planned to be displayed on shelves used in each store of each retail company, and is information indicating at least the width Wd of each planned-to-be-displayed product MID. The average sales information acquisition unit 40 acquires the planned-to-be-displayed product average sales information IAS indicating the average period sales quantity ANP of each planned-to-be-displayed product MID. The average period sales quantity ANP is the average of actual values ​​or predicted values ​​of the number of units sold of each planned-to-be-displayed product MID, and is the average of actual values ​​or predicted values ​​of the number of units sold by each retail company during the period from when each planned-to-be-displayed product MID is displayed on the shelf until the shelf is replenished. The 1F inventory quantity information acquisition unit 50 acquires 1F inventory quantity information IPF indicating the number of units per floor NPF of each product MID to be displayed. The number of units per floor NPF is the number of each product MID to be displayed in the depth direction of the shelf. The calculation unit 70 determines (calculates) the number of faces NF of each product MID to be displayed on the shelf used in each store of each retail company, and in particular calculates (specifies) the number of faces NF of each product MID to be displayed that satisfies the first condition. That is, the calculation unit 70 calculates the number of faces NF of each product MID to be displayed so that the product of the number of faces NF of each product MID to be displayed and the number of units per floor NPF of each product MID to be displayed is equal to or greater than the average number of units sold during the period ANP of each product MID to be displayed. The output unit 80 outputs shelf allocation support information PSI, which is information indicating the number of faces NF of each product MID to be displayed calculated by the calculation unit 70 and is information to support the shelf allocation of multiple products MID to be displayed in each store of each retail company.

[0117] The shelf allocation support device 1 may further include a conventional display information acquisition unit 10. The conventional display information acquisition unit 10 acquires conventional display information IPD, which is information related to a plurality of conventional display products MDP that were displayed on a shelf before a plurality of products to be displayed MID by each retail company, and is information indicating at least a former shelf allocation space PSP. The former shelf allocation space PSP is the sum of the occupied widths of the respective conventional display products MDP calculated by multiplying the width Wd of each conventional display product MDP by the number of faces NF of each conventional display product MDP on the shelf. The calculation unit 70 may calculate (specify) the number of faces NF of each product to be displayed MID that satisfies the second condition in addition to the first condition. That is, the calculation unit 70 may calculate the number of faces NF of each product to be displayed MID using the total required width SRW and the former shelf allocation space PSP. The total required width SRW is the sum of the required width RW of each product MID to be displayed, and the required width RW of each product MID to be displayed is calculated by multiplying the width Wd of each product MID to be displayed by the number of faces NF of each product MID to be displayed.

[0118] §3 Example of operation 6 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing procedure of the shelf allocation support device 1 according to this embodiment. The processing procedure described below is an example of a shelf allocation support method that outputs shelf allocation support information PSI indicating at least "the number of faces NF of each product MID to be displayed." However, the processing procedure described below is merely an example, and each step may be changed as much as possible. Furthermore, steps may be omitted, replaced, or added to the processing procedure described below as appropriate depending on the embodiment.

[0119] As described above, the source of each of the various pieces of information used by the shelf allocation support device 1 to determine the number of faces NF of each product to be displayed MID is not particularly limited. The shelf allocation support device 1 may acquire each of the above-mentioned various pieces of information from any of the POS system servers 2 of each retail company in FIG. 1, the product management device 3, other external devices, the user of the shelf allocation support device 1, etc. The shelf allocation support device 1 may acquire each of the conventional display information IPD, the product identification information IMI to be displayed, the product shape information ISM to be displayed, the average sales information IAS to be displayed, the 1F inventory quantity information IPF, and the set maximum number of faces information IMN from any source. The sources of each of the above-mentioned various pieces of information have already been described, and therefore will not be repeated below.

[0120] As described above, the shelf allocation support device 1 may acquire sales performance information ISP, sales forecast information IPS, and replenishment frequency information IRT as the average sales information IAS of products to be displayed, and the source of acquisition of each of these pieces of information is not particularly limited.Similarly, the shelf allocation support device 1 may acquire product shape information ISM to be displayed, shelf shape information ISS, and number-per-set-floor information ISR as the 1F inventory quantity information IPF, and the source of acquisition of each of these pieces of information is not particularly limited.

[0121] Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 6, a detailed description will be given of an example of a procedure of a process executed by the shelf allocation support device 1 for determining the number of faces NF of each product MID to be displayed.

[0122] (Step S110) In step S110, the control unit 110 operates as the previous display information acquisition unit 10 and acquires previous display information IPD indicating the previous shelf allocation space PSP. The "previous shelf allocation space PSP" is the sum of the occupied widths of each previous display product MDP, and the "occupied width of each previous display product MDP" is calculated by multiplying the width Wd of each previous display product MDP by the number of faces NF of each previous display product MDP. The "previous display product MDP" is a product that was displayed in front of the planned-to-be-displayed product MID on the shelf where the planned-to-be-displayed product MID is to be displayed in each store of each retail company. Step S110 is an example of the "previous display information acquisition step" of the present invention.

[0123] (Step S120) In step S120, the control unit 110 operates as the planned-to-be-displayed product information acquisition unit 20 and acquires the planned-to-be-displayed product identification information IMI. The planned-to-be-displayed product identification information IMI includes information for identifying each of a plurality of planned-to-be-displayed products MIDs that are planned to be displayed on shelves (each shelf) used in each store of each retail company (i.e., identification information of each planned-to-be-displayed product MID). Each of the plurality of planned-to-be-displayed products MIDs may be selected using at least the number of types (number of items) of products that are planned to be displayed on shelves (each shelf) used in each store of each retail company, identification information of each retail company, and attributes of each store. The attributes of each store are, for example, the characteristics and properties of each store, such as the location conditions and customer demographics of each store, which are considered to affect the sales performance and sales trends of each product at each store.

[0124] (Step S130) In step S130, the control unit 110 operates as the product shape information acquisition unit 30 and acquires the to-be-displayed product shape information ISM indicating the width Wd of each of the products MID to be displayed. The to-be-displayed product shape information ISM may indicate the depth DL of each of the products MID to be displayed in addition to the width Wd of each of the products MID to be displayed. Step S130 is an example of the "product shape information acquisition step" of the present invention. That is, in step S130, the control unit 110 acquires the to-be-displayed product shape information ISM. The to-be-displayed product shape information ISM is information related to the shape of each of the multiple products MID to be displayed that are scheduled to be displayed on shelves used in each store of each retail company. The to-be-displayed product shape information ISM indicates at least the width Wd of each of the products MID to be displayed. Explained in accordance with the example shown in Fig. 2, the to-be-displayed product shape information ISM indicates the width Wd of each of the to-be-displayed products MID(A) to MID(L), that is, the widths Wd(A) to Wd(L). The to-be-displayed product shape information ISM may indicate the depth length DL of each of the to-be-displayed products MID in addition to the width Wd of each of the to-be-displayed products MID. Explained in accordance with the example shown in Fig. 2, the to-be-displayed product shape information ISM may indicate the depth length DL of each of the to-be-displayed products MID in addition to the width Wd of each of the to-be-displayed products MID(A) to MID(L), that is, the depth lengths DL(A) to DL(L).

[0125] (Step S140) In step S140, the control unit 110 operates as the average sales information acquisition unit 40 and acquires average sales information IAS of the products to be displayed, which indicates the average sales quantity ANP of each product to be displayed during a period. Step S140 is an example of the "average sales information acquisition step" of the present invention. The average sales quantity ANP of each product to be displayed during a period is an actual value or a predicted value of the number of products to be displayed during a period. In particular, the average sales quantity ANP of each product to be displayed during a period is an average of actual values ​​or a predicted value of the number of products to be displayed (sales quantity) "sold by each retail company during the period from when each product to be displayed is displayed on a shelf until the shelf is restocked."

[0126] In step S140, the control unit 110 may acquire the sales performance information ISP, the sales forecast information IPS, and the replenishment count information IRT as the to-be-displayed commodity average sales information IAS. The control unit 110 may acquire the sales performance information ISP and the replenishment count information IRT of each already-sold to-be-displayed commodity MID_AS as the to-be-displayed commodity average sales information IAS related to "the already-sold to-be-displayed commodity MID_AS among the multiple to-be-displayed commodity MIDs." The control unit 110 calculates the actual value of the sales volume per predetermined number of days of each already-sold to-be-displayed commodity MID_AS from the actual value of the sales volume of each already-sold to-be-displayed commodity MID_AS in a predetermined period indicated by the sales performance information ISP of each already-sold to-be-displayed commodity MID_AS. Then, the control unit 110 may calculate the average sales quantity ANP for each previously sold product MID_AS to be displayed by dividing the "actual sales quantity per specified number of days" for each previously sold product MID_AS to be displayed by the "number of replenishments per specified number of days" indicated by the replenishment count information IRT.

[0127] In step S140, the control unit 110 may acquire sales performance information ISP of each of the to-be-displayed products MID (particularly, each of the to-be-displayed products MID_AS that have already been sold) from the POS system server 2 of each retail company. That is, the control unit 110 may acquire the sales performance value of each of the to-be-displayed products MID of each retail company in a predetermined period (or a predetermined number of days) from the POS system server 2 of each retail company. The control unit 110 (shelf allocation support device 1) achieves the following effects by acquiring the sales performance information ISP of each of the to-be-displayed products MID_AS that have already been sold from the POS system server 2 of each retail company. That is, the POS system server 2 of each retail company manages the sales performance value of the number of items sold (for example, the sales performance value for each POS period) of the items sold by each retail company. Therefore, the POS system server 2 of each retail company holds at least information indicating the sales performance value (sales performance) of each of the to-be-displayed products MID (particularly, each of the to-be-displayed products MID_AS that have already been sold) in a predetermined period (POS period). Therefore, the shelf allocation support device 1 has an effect of being able to accurately and easily acquire the actual sales volume value of each product MID to be displayed of each retail company from the POS system server 2. Then, the shelf allocation support device 1 can accurately calculate the average sales volume ANP for each product MID to be displayed by using the acquired "actual sales volume value of each product MID to be displayed."

[0128] The control unit 110 may acquire sales forecast information IPS and replenishment count information IRT of each unsold to-be-displayed product MID_NW as the to-be-displayed product average sales information IAS related to "unsold to-be-displayed product MID_NW among a plurality of to-be-displayed products MID." The control unit 110 calculates a forecast value of the number of sales per predetermined number of days of each unsold to-be-displayed product MID_NW from a forecast value of the number of sales of each unsold to-be-displayed product MID_NW in a predetermined period indicated by the sales forecast information IPS of each unsold to-be-displayed product MID_NW. Then, the control unit 110 may calculate the average number of sales per period ANP of each unsold to-be-displayed product MID_NW by dividing the "forecast value of the number of sales per predetermined number of days" for each unsold to-be-displayed product MID_NW by the "number of replenishments per predetermined number of days" indicated by the replenishment count information IRT.

[0129] That is, in step S140, the control unit 110 may obtain the average number of sales during the period ANP for each of the products MID to be displayed from the number of sales during the period and the above-mentioned "number of replenishments per specified number of days (specified period) (number of replenishments during the period)." The "number of sales during the period" is an actual value or a predicted value of the number of products MID to be displayed that each retail company will sell in a specified number of days (specified period). The "number of replenishments during the period" is the number of times that each of the products MID to be displayed is replenished to the shelves in a specified period (specified period) that is set by each retail company for each of the products MID to be displayed. For example, in step S140, the control unit 110 may obtain the average number of sales during the period ANP for each of the products MID to be displayed by dividing the number of sales during the period for each of the products MID to be displayed by the number of replenishments during the period for each of the products MID to be displayed.

[0130] The control unit 110 (shelf allocation support device 1) obtains (calculates) the average sales quantity ANP for each product MID to be displayed from the above-mentioned sales quantity for the period and the number of replenishment times for the period for each product MID to be displayed, thereby achieving the following effects. That is, the shelf allocation support device 1 obtains the effect of being able to accurately obtain the average sales quantity ANP for each product MID to be displayed, using the above-mentioned sales quantity for the period and the number of replenishment times for the period, which are guaranteed to be objective. In particular, the above-mentioned sales quantity for the period and the number of replenishment times for the period differ for each retail company and each product MID to be displayed. Therefore, the shelf allocation support device 1 obtains (obtains) the average sales quantity ANP for each product MID to be displayed, for each retail company and each product MID to be displayed. Then, the shelf allocation support device 1 can calculate (determine) an appropriate number of faces NF for each product MID to be displayed, using the obtained average sales quantity ANP for the period.

[0131] (Step S150) In step S150, the control unit 110 operates as the 1F inventory quantity information acquisition unit 50 and acquires 1F inventory quantity information IPF indicating the number of items per floor NPF of each product MID to be displayed. Step S150 is an example of the "1F inventory quantity information acquisition step" of the present invention. The number of items per floor NPF of each product MID to be displayed is the number of items displayed in the depth direction of the shelf on which each product MID to be displayed is to be displayed.

[0132] In step S150, the control unit 110 may obtain the product shape information ISM, shelf shape information ISS, and the number-per-1F information ISR as the 1F inventory quantity information IPF. For example, the control unit 110 calculates the integer part of the "value obtained by dividing the shelf depth DL indicated by the shelf shape information ISS by the depth DL of each product MID indicated by the product shape information ISM" as the arithmetic number of each product MID to be displayed. The control unit 110 may obtain the smaller of the calculated arithmetic number of each product MID to be displayed and the set number of each product MID to be displayed indicated by the set number-per-1F information ISR as the number-per-1F NPF of each product MID to be displayed. The "set number" of each product MID to be displayed is the number to be displayed in the depth direction of the shelf set by each retail company for each product MID to be displayed. In this embodiment, the number NPF of each of the products MID to be displayed per floor may be the smaller value of the above-mentioned arithmetic number and the set number.

[0133] By setting the number of items per floor NPF of each product MID to be displayed to the smaller value of the above-mentioned arithmetic number and the set number, the shelf allocation support device 1 achieves the following effect. That is, each retail company sets the optimal "number of items to be displayed in the depth direction of the shelf" for each product MID to be displayed, for example, based on sales results, sales forecasts, etc. Therefore, the shelf allocation support device 1 determines the number of items per floor NPF of each product MID to be displayed, taking into consideration not only the above-mentioned arithmetic number calculated from the depth length DL of the shelf and each product MID to be displayed, but also the above-mentioned set number set by each retail company for each product MID to be displayed. Therefore, the shelf allocation support device 1 achieves the effect of being able to determine (obtain) an appropriate "number of items per floor NPF of each product MID to be displayed" for each retail company and each product MID to be displayed. Then, the shelf allocation support device 1 can use the acquired "number NPF per floor of each product MID to be displayed" to calculate (determine) an appropriate number of faces NF for each product MID to be displayed.

[0134] (Step S160) In step S160, the control unit 110 operates as the set maximum F number information acquisition unit 60 and acquires the set maximum face number information IMN indicating the "maximum value of the face number NF (set maximum F number NSM)" set by each retail company for each product MID to be displayed.

[0135] Each retail company may determine the set maximum F number NSM of each product MID to be displayed according to the sales record (whether sales are good) or sales forecast (whether sales are predicted to be good) of each product MID to be displayed. For example, each retail company may set the set maximum F number NSM of a product MID to be displayed that is selling well (predicted to be selling well) to be larger (greater) than the set maximum F number NSM of a product MID to be displayed that is not selling well (predicted to be selling poorly).

[0136] (Step S170) In step S170, the control unit 110 operates as the calculation unit 70 (particularly, the required number of faces calculation unit 710) and determines (calculates) the number of faces NF of each of the products to be displayed on the shelf on which each of the products to be displayed is to be displayed. In the example shown in FIG. 6, in step S170, the control unit 110 calculates the number of faces NF of each of the products to be displayed using the "average number of units sold during the period ANP of each of the products to be displayed" and the "number of units per floor NPF of each of the products to be displayed". The "average number of units sold during the period ANP of each of the products to be displayed" is indicated by the average sales information IAS of the products to be displayed obtained in S140, and the "number of units per floor NPF of each of the products to be displayed" is indicated by the 1F inventory quantity information IPF obtained in S150. Specifically, the control unit 110 calculates the number of faces NF of each product MID to be displayed such that the product of the number of faces NF of each product MID to be displayed and the number of units per floor NPF of each product MID to be displayed is equal to or greater than the average number of units sold during the period ANP of each product MID to be displayed. Step S170 is an example of the "calculation step" of the present invention. The control unit 110 identifies (calculates) the number of faces NF of each product MID to be displayed that satisfies the first condition that "the product of the number of units per floor NPF is equal to or greater than the average number of units sold during the period ANP."

[0137] In step S170, the control unit 110 may obtain the minimum value of "the number of faces NF of each product MID to be displayed that satisfies the first condition", that is, may obtain the required number of faces RNF of each product MID to be displayed. As described above, the minimum value of "the number of faces NF of each product MID to be displayed that satisfies the first condition" is the value obtained by rounding up the required number of faces RNF of each product MID to be displayed to the nearest whole number. In addition, the "required number of faces RNF of each product MID to be displayed" is a value obtained by dividing the average number of sales ANP of each product MID to be displayed over a period by the number of products NPF per floor of each product MID to be displayed. Therefore, in step S170, the control unit 110 may calculate the required number of faces RNF of each product MID to be displayed by dividing the average number of sales ANP of each product MID to be displayed over a period by the number of products NPF per floor of each product MID to be displayed. Then, the control unit 110 may round up the calculated "required number of faces RNF of each commodity MID to be displayed" to the nearest whole number, and set the result as the minimum value of the "number of faces NF of each commodity MID to be displayed that satisfies the first condition".

[0138] (Step S180) In step S180, the control unit 110 operates as the output unit 80 and outputs the shelf allocation support information PSI indicating the number of faces NF of each product MID to be displayed calculated in step S170. The shelf allocation support information PSI is information that supports the shelf allocation of multiple products MID to be displayed in each store of each retail company. Step S180 is an example of the "output step" of the present invention. In step S180, the control unit 110 may output the shelf allocation support information PSI to, for example, a product management device 3 used by a shelf allocation manager who determines the shelf allocation of multiple products MID to be displayed in each store of each retail company. The shelf allocation support information PSI output by the control unit 110 in step S180 may indicate the number of products per floor NPF of each product MID to be displayed in addition to the number of faces NF of each product MID to be displayed.

[0139] As described above, the shelf allocation support device 1 may determine the number of faces NF of each product to be displayed MID so as to satisfy the second condition that "the total required width SRW is close to the original shelf allocation space PSP" in addition to the first condition. For example, the control unit 110 operating as the calculation unit 70 in step S170 may further extract (specify) the "number of faces NF of each product to be displayed MID" that satisfies the second condition from the "number of faces NF of each product to be displayed MID that satisfies the first condition." The control unit 110 may execute the process shown in FIG. 7 to specify the "number of faces NF of each product to be displayed MID" that satisfies the second condition.

[0140] 7 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing procedure executed by the shelf allocation support device 1 (particularly, the control unit 110) to identify the "number of faces NF of each product MID to be displayed" that satisfies the second condition. The control unit 110 identifies the "number of faces NF of each product MID to be displayed" that satisfies the second condition, and in particular, identifies the "number of faces NF of each product MID to be displayed" that satisfies the second condition using the total required width SRW and the original shelf allocation space PSP.

[0141] As described above, the control unit 110 may use the total required width SRW and the original shelf allocation space PSP to identify the "number of faces NF of each product MID to be displayed" that satisfies the second condition that "the total required width SRW is close to the original shelf allocation space PSP." Hereinafter, with reference to Fig. 7, a procedure of processing of the shelf allocation support device 1 that identifies the "number of faces NF of each product MID to be displayed" that satisfies the second condition that "the total required width SRW is close to the original shelf allocation space PSP" will be described.

[0142] (Step S171) In step S171, the control unit 110 operates as the calculation unit 70 (particularly, the maximum magnification variable calculation unit 720) and specifies the maximum allowable value of the magnification variable X, specifically, specifies the maximum allowable value of the magnification variable X that satisfies the second condition. In step S171, the control unit 110 specifies the maximum value of the magnification variable X that satisfies the condition that "the total required width SRW (the provisional total required width TSW) is equal to or less than the original shelf allocation space PSP" as the maximum allowable value of the magnification variable X. In other words, in step S171, the control unit 110 specifies the magnification variable X that "the provisional total required width TSW is equal to or less than the original shelf allocation space PSP and is maximum", and sets the specified magnification variable X as the maximum allowable value of the magnification variable X (the maximum allowable value of the magnification variable X that satisfies the second condition). Step S171 is an example of the "maximum magnification variable calculation step" of the present invention. The provisional total required width TSW is found (calculated) using the magnification variable X.

[0143] As described above, the total required width SRW is the sum of the required widths RW of each product MID to be displayed, and the required width RW of each product MID to be displayed is calculated by multiplying the width Wd of each product MID to be displayed by the number of faces NF of each product MID to be displayed. Also, the original shelf allocation space PSP is the "sum of the occupied widths of each conventional display product MDP" indicated by the conventional display information IPD acquired by the control unit 110 in S110 of Fig. 6. The occupied width of each conventional display product MDP is calculated by multiplying the width Wd of each conventional display product MDP by the number of faces NF of each conventional display product MDP on the shelf.

[0144] (Step S172) In step S172, the control unit 110 operates as the calculation unit 70 (particularly, the identification unit 730) and identifies the "number of faces NF of each product MID to be displayed" that satisfies the second condition using the maximum allowable value of the multiplication factor variable X identified in step S171. Step S172 is an example of the "identification step" of the present invention. In step S172, the control unit 110 calculates a value obtained by dividing the product of the maximum allowable value of the multiplication factor variable X and the average number of units sold during the period ANP of each product MID to be displayed by the number of units per floor NPF of each product MID to be displayed, and rounding up the value obtained by this (round-up value). The control unit 110 identifies the round-up value of each product MID to be displayed as the "number of faces NF of each product MID to be displayed" that satisfies the second condition. In other words, the control unit 110 determines the product of the required number of faces RNF of each product MID to be displayed and the maximum allowable value of the multiplier variable X, rounded up to the nearest whole number (round-up value), as the "number of faces NF of each product MID to be displayed" that satisfies the second condition.

[0145] In step S172, the control unit 110 may compare the above-mentioned round-up value with the set maximum F number NSM for each commodity MID to be displayed, and determine the number of faces NF for each commodity MID to be displayed. That is, the control unit 110 may determine the smaller one of "the set maximum F number NSM for each commodity MID to be displayed" and the round-up value for each commodity MID to be displayed as the number of faces NF for each commodity MID to be displayed.

[0146] When determining the number of faces NF of each product MID to be displayed, the control unit 110 may further use the "width Wd of the shelf on which the product MID to be displayed is to be displayed" indicated by the shelf shape information ISS. For example, the control unit 110 may determine the number of faces NF of each product MID to be displayed so that the total required width SRW (the sum of the required widths RW of each product MID to be displayed) is equal to or smaller than the shelf width Wd. As described above, the required width RW of each product MID to be displayed is the value obtained by multiplying the width Wd of each product MID to be displayed by the number of faces NF of each product MID to be displayed.

[0147] As the process of specifying the maximum allowable value of the magnification variable X in step S171, in other words, as the process of specifying the maximum value of the magnification variable X that satisfies the second condition, the control unit 110 may execute the process shown in FIG.

[0148] FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing procedure executed by the shelf allocation support device 1 (particularly, the control unit 110) to identify the maximum allowable value of the multiplication factor variable X, particularly to identify the maximum value of the multiplication factor variable X that satisfies the second condition.

[0149] (Step S1710) In step S1710, control unit 110 operates as maximum magnification variable calculation unit 720 (particularly, initial value setting unit 721) and sets an initial value of magnification variable X. First, an example in which control unit 110 sets "1" as the initial value of magnification variable X will be described below.

[0150] By setting the initial value of the magnification variable X to "1", the control unit 110 (shelf allocation support device 1) achieves the following effect. That is, as described above, the shelf allocation support device 1 determines (specifies) the number of faces NF of each product to be displayed MID by using a value (rounded up value) obtained by rounding up the product of the required number of faces RNF of each product to be displayed MID and the maximum allowable value of the magnification variable X. Then, the "value obtained by rounding up the required number of faces RNF of each product to be displayed MID to the nearest whole number" is the minimum value of the "number of faces NF that satisfies the first condition" of each product to be displayed MID. Therefore, by setting the initial value of the magnification variable X to "1", the shelf allocation support device 1 can specify the number of faces NF of each product to be displayed MID that satisfies at least the first condition. In other words, by setting the initial value of the multiplication factor variable X to "1", the shelf allocation support device 1 can specify at least the number of faces NF for each product MID to be displayed, the product of which with the number of items per floor NPF is equal to or greater than the average number of items sold during the period ANP. Furthermore, the shelf allocation support device 1 can specify the maximum allowable value of the multiplication factor variable X without requiring any special processing or calculation to set the initial value of the multiplication factor variable X, by simply increasing the multiplication factor variable X by a predetermined value from the initial value. Then, the shelf allocation support device 1 can calculate (determine) an appropriate number of faces NF for each product MID to be displayed, using the specified maximum allowable value of the multiplication factor variable X.

[0151] In this embodiment, the "maximum number of faces NSM set for each product MID to be displayed" is equal to or greater than the "required number of faces RNF for each product MID to be displayed, rounded up to the nearest whole number." In other words, the "maximum number of faces NSM set for each product MID to be displayed" is equal to or greater than the "minimum number of faces NF for each product MID to be displayed that satisfies the first condition." Also, it is not essential that the initial value of the multiplication factor variable X is "1." An example in which the control unit 110 sets a numerical value other than "1" as the initial value of the multiplication factor variable X in step S1710 will be described in detail later.

[0152] (Step S1720) In step S1720, the control unit 110 operates as the maximum magnification variable calculation unit 720 (particularly, the tentative face number calculation unit 722) and calculates the tentative face number TNF of each product MID to be displayed. Step S1720 is an example of the "tentative face number calculation step" of the present invention. For example, in step S1720, the control unit 110 calculates the tentative face number TNF of each product MID to be displayed using the magnification variable X (initial value of the magnification variable X) set in step S1710, or the magnification variable X after a predetermined value is added in step S1770 described later. Specifically, the control unit 110 calculates the "tentative face number TNF of each product MID to be displayed" using the product of the "required face number RNF of each product MID to be displayed" calculated in step S170 of FIG. 6 and the magnification variable X.

[0153] In step S1720, the control unit 110 may calculate the "provisional number of faces TNF of each product to be displayed" using the set maximum number of faces NSM of each product to be displayed indicated by the set maximum number of faces information IMN. For example, the control unit 110 may determine the smaller of (1) the product of the "required number of faces RNF of each product to be displayed" and the magnification variable X, and (2) the "set maximum number of faces NSM of each product to be displayed" as the "provisional number of faces TNF of each product to be displayed." The "product of the "required number of faces RNF of each product to be displayed" and the magnification variable X" may be rephrased as a value obtained by dividing the product of the magnification variable X and the "average number of units sold during a period ANP of each product to be displayed" by the "number of units per floor NPF of each product to be displayed".

[0154] (Step S1730) In step S1730, the control unit 110 operates as the maximum magnification variable calculation unit 720 (particularly, the provisional necessary width calculation unit 723) and calculates the provisional necessary width TRW of each product MID to be displayed. Step S1730 is an example of the "provisional necessary width calculation step" of the present invention. In step S1730, the control unit 110 multiplies the "provisional number of faces TNF of each product MID to be displayed" calculated in step S1720 by the "width Wd of each product MID to be displayed" to calculate the "provisional necessary width TRW of each product MID to be displayed." In other words, the control unit 110 calculates the "provisional necessary width TRW of each product MID to be displayed" using the "provisional number of faces TNF of each product MID to be displayed" calculated in step S1720. The "width Wd of each commodity to be displayed MID" is indicated by, for example, the commodity shape information ISM to be displayed acquired by the control unit 110 in step S130 of FIG.

[0155] (Step S1740) In step S1740, the control unit 110 operates as the maximum magnification variable calculation unit 720 (particularly, the provisional total required width calculation unit 724) and calculates the provisional total required width TSW by adding up the provisional required widths TRW of each product MID to be displayed calculated in step S1730. That is, the control unit 110 calculates the provisional total required width TSW from the sum of the provisional required widths TRW of each product MID to be displayed calculated in step S1730. Step S1740 is an example of the "provisional total required width calculation step" of the present invention.

[0156] (Step S1750) In step S1750, the control unit 110 operates as the maximum magnification variable calculation unit 720 (particularly, the comparison unit 725) and determines whether the tentative total required width TSW calculated in step S1740 is greater than the original planogram space PSP. The original planogram space PSP is indicated, for example, by the conventional display information IPD acquired by the control unit 110 in step S110 of FIG.

[0157] If it is determined in step S1750 that "the tentative total required width TSW is greater than the original plano space PSP" (Yes in step S1750), the control unit 110 executes the process of step S1760. If it is determined in step S1750 that "the tentative total required width TSW is equal to or less than the original plano space PSP" (No in step S1750), the control unit 110 executes the process of step S1770, and then further executes the processes of steps S1720 to S1750. The control unit 110 repeats the processes of step S1770 and steps S1720 to S1750 until it is determined in step S1750 that "the tentative total required width TSW is greater than the original plano space PSP". That is, the control unit 110 repeats the process of “adding a predetermined value to the magnification variable X and calculating the tentative total required width TSW using the magnification variable X after the addition” until it determines that “the tentative total required width TSW is greater than the original shelf allocation space PSP.”

[0158] (Step S1760) In step S1760, the control unit 110 operates as the maximum magnification variable calculation unit 720 (particularly, the predetermined value addition / subtraction unit 726), subtracts a predetermined value smaller than 1 from the magnification variable X, and specifies the magnification variable X after the subtraction as the "maximum allowable value of the magnification variable X." That is, the control unit 110 subtracts the above-mentioned predetermined value from the magnification variable X corresponding to the tentative total required width TSW determined to be "larger than the original shelf allocation space PSP," and specifies the magnification variable X after the subtraction as the "maximum allowable value of the magnification variable X."

[0159] (Step S1770) In step S1770, control unit 110 operates as maximum magnification variable calculation unit 720 (particularly, predetermined value addition / subtraction unit 726) and adds the predetermined value to magnification variable X. Then, control unit 110 executes the processes of steps S1720 to S1750 using magnification variable X after the predetermined value has been added. The predetermined value added to or subtracted from magnification variable X by control unit 110 may be a value smaller than "1", for example, "0.1". However, the predetermined value does not necessarily have to be "0.1", and may be any value smaller than "1". The predetermined value may be "0.01", "0.2", or "0.5".

[0160] As described above, in the calculation step (S170), the control unit 110 may specify the number of faces NF for each of the products MID to be displayed that satisfies the second condition in addition to the first condition. That is, in the calculation step, the control unit 110 may specify the number of faces NF for each of the products MID to be displayed that is "a product of the number of pieces per floor NPF equal to or greater than the average number of pieces sold during the period ANP of each of the products MID to be displayed" and that further satisfies the second condition. Specifically, the control unit 110 may further execute a maximum magnification variable calculation step (step S171) and a specification step (step S172). In step S171, the control unit 110 specifies (calculates) the maximum allowable value of the magnification variable X. In step S172, the control unit 110 specifies the number of faces NF for each of the products MID to be displayed using the maximum allowable value of the magnification variable X calculated in step S171. In particular, in step S172, the control unit 110 specifies the smaller of the set maximum number of faces NSM set by each retail company for each product MID to be displayed or the following value as the number of faces NF of each product MID to be displayed. That is, the control unit 110 calculates "a value obtained by dividing the product of the maximum allowable value of the magnification variable X and the average number of units sold during the period ANP of each product MID to be displayed by the number of units per floor NPF of each product MID to be displayed." Then, the control unit 110 specifies the smaller of the value obtained by this calculation or the set maximum number of faces NSM as the number of faces NF of each product MID to be displayed.

[0161] The maximum magnification variable calculation step includes a tentative number of faces calculation step (S1720), a tentative required width calculation step (S1730), and a tentative total required width calculation step (S1740). In S1720, the control unit 110 calculates the tentative number of faces TNF of each product MID to be displayed. In particular, in S1720, the control unit 110 calculates the smaller of the set maximum number of faces NSM set by each retail company for each product MID to be displayed and the following value as the tentative number of faces TNF of each product MID to be displayed. That is, the control unit 110 calculates "a value obtained by dividing the product of the magnification variable X and the average number of units sold during the period ANP of each product MID to be displayed by the number of units per floor NPF of each product MID to be displayed." Then, the control unit 110 sets the smaller of the value obtained by this calculation and the set maximum number of faces NSM as the tentative number of faces TNF of each product MID to be displayed. In S1730, the control unit 110 multiplies the tentative number of faces TNF of each product MID to be displayed calculated in S1720 by the width Wd of each product MID to be displayed to calculate the tentative required width TRW of each product MID to be displayed. In S1740, the control unit 110 calculates the sum of the tentative required widths TRW of each product MID to be displayed calculated in S1730 as the tentative total required width TSW. The control unit 110 repeatedly executes S1720, S1730, and S1740 by increasing the magnification variable X from the initial value by a predetermined value smaller than 1 until the tentative total required width TSW calculated in S1740 becomes larger than the original planogram space PSP. That is, the control unit 110 repeats the process of "adding a predetermined value smaller than 1 to the magnification variable X and calculating the provisional total required width TSW corresponding to the magnification variable X after the addition of the predetermined value" until the provisional total required width TSW becomes larger than the original shelf allocation space PSP. In other words, the control unit 110 repeatedly executes the process of "increasing the magnification variable X from the initial value by the predetermined value and calculating the provisional total required width TSW corresponding to the magnification variable X after the addition of the predetermined value" until the provisional total required width TSW corresponding to the magnification variable X after the addition of the predetermined value becomes larger than the original shelf allocation space PSP. In other words, the control unit 110 increases the magnification variable X from the initial value by the predetermined value until the provisional total required width TSW corresponding to the magnification variable X after the addition of the predetermined value becomes larger than the original shelf allocation space PSP.As a result, the control unit 110 specifies the maximum value of the magnification variable X that makes the tentative total required width TSW equal to or smaller than the original planogram space PSP, and sets the specified maximum value as the maximum allowable value of the magnification variable X.

[0162] The control unit 110 (shelf allocation support device 1) realizes the following effects by repeatedly executing the process of "calculating the provisional total required width TSW from the magnification variable X" by increasing the magnification variable X by a predetermined value from the initial value until the provisional total required width TSW becomes larger than the original shelf allocation space PSP. That is, the shelf allocation support device 1 can accurately determine the maximum allowable value of the magnification variable X by a simple process of increasing the magnification variable X by a predetermined value from the initial value and comparing the provisional total required width TSW corresponding after the addition of the predetermined value with the original shelf allocation space PSP. The shelf allocation support device 1 can reliably and easily determine (specify) the maximum value of the magnification variable X (i.e., the maximum allowable value of the magnification variable X) that makes the provisional total required width TSW equal to or smaller than the original shelf allocation space PSP by the above-mentioned simple process. Then, the shelf allocation support device 1 can calculate (determine) an appropriate number of faces NF for each product MID to be displayed by using the specified maximum allowable value of the magnification variable X.

[0163] (Example of setting a value other than "1" as the initial value of the multiplier variable) In step S1710, the control unit 110 may set the "value obtained by dividing the original shelf planogram space PSP by the minimum total required width SRW_Min" as the initial value of the magnification variable X. The minimum total required width SRW_Min is the sum of the minimum required width RW_Min of each product MID to be displayed. The "minimum required width RW_Min of each product MID to be displayed" is a value obtained by dividing the product of the "average sales quantity over the period ANP of each product MID to be displayed" and the "width Wd of each product MID to be displayed" by the "number per floor NPF of each product MID to be displayed." The "value obtained by dividing the product of "average sales quantity over a period of each product MID to be displayed ANP" and "width Wd of each product MID to be displayed" by "quantity per floor of each product MID to be displayed NPF"" may be rephrased as the product of "required number of faces RNF of each product MID to be displayed" and "width Wd of each product MID to be displayed." In other words, in step S1710, the control unit 110 may set the following value as the initial value of the magnification variable X. That is, the value obtained by dividing the original shelf planogram space PSP by "minimum total required width SRW_Min," which is the sum of the minimum required width RW_Min of each product MID to be displayed (the product of the required number of faces RNF and the width Wd of each product MID to be displayed), may be set as the initial value of the magnification variable X.

[0164] Fig. 9 shows an example of a processing procedure for determining an initial value of the magnification variable. In particular, Fig. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing procedure executed by the shelf allocation support device 1 (particularly, the control unit 110) to set the initial value of the magnification variable X to "a value obtained by dividing the original shelf allocation space PSP by the minimum total required width SRW_Min". In step S1711, the control unit 110 operates as the initial value setting unit 721 and obtains (calculates) the minimum required width RW_Min of each product to be displayed MID. That is, the control unit 110 obtains the minimum required width RW_Min of each product to be displayed MID by dividing the product of the average sales quantity ANP of each product to be displayed MID during the period and the width Wd of each product to be displayed MID by the number NPF of each product to be displayed MID per floor. In step S1712, the control unit 110 operates as the initial value setting unit 721, and acquires (calculates) the minimum required width SRW_Min by adding up the minimum required width RW_Min of each product MID to be displayed calculated in step S1711. In step S1713, the control unit 110 operates as the initial value setting unit 721, and acquires (calculates) the value obtained by dividing the original planogram space PSP by the minimum total required width SRW_Min calculated in step S1712, as the initial value of the magnification variable X. The control unit 110 may set the value calculated in step S1713 as the initial value of the magnification variable X.

[0165] By setting "the value obtained by dividing the original shelf allocation space PSP by the minimum total required width SRW_Min" as the initial value of the multiplication factor variable X, the shelf allocation support device 1 and the control unit 110 (shelf allocation support device 1) achieve the following effects. That is, as described above, the maximum allowable value of the multiplication factor variable X is the maximum value of the multiplication factor variable X that makes the tentative total required width TSW equal to or smaller than the original shelf allocation space PSP. Therefore, by setting "the value obtained by dividing the original shelf allocation space PSP by the minimum total required width SRW_Min" as the initial value of the multiplication factor variable X, the shelf allocation support device 1 can reduce the amount of calculation required to determine the maximum allowable value of the multiplication factor variable X compared to when the initial value is set to "1".

[0166] [Features] As described above, the shelf allocation support method according to one aspect of the present invention is executed by a computer, for example, by the shelf allocation support device 1. In the shelf allocation support method, the shelf allocation support device 1 executes a product shape information acquisition step (S130), an average sales information acquisition step (S140), a 1F inventory quantity information acquisition step (S150), a calculation step (S170), and an output step (S180). In S130, the shelf allocation support device 1 (control unit 110) acquires display-planned product shape information ISM. The display-planned product shape information ISM is information related to the shape of each of a plurality of display-planned products MIDs that are scheduled to be displayed on shelves used in each store of each retail company, and is information indicating at least the width Wd of each display-planned product MID. In S140, the shelf allocation support device 1 (control unit 110) acquires display-planned product average sales information IAS indicating the period average sales quantity ANP of each display-planned product MID. The average sales quantity for a period ANP is the average of actual values ​​or predicted value of the sales quantity of each product MID to be displayed, and is the average of actual values ​​or predicted value of the number of products MID to be displayed sold by each retail company during the period from when the product MID is displayed on the shelf to when the shelf is restocked. At S150, the shelf allocation support device 1 (control unit 110) acquires 1F inventory quantity information IPF indicating the number of products MID per 1F NPF of each product MID to be displayed. The number of products MID per 1F NPF is the number of products MID to be displayed in the depth direction of the shelf. At S170, the shelf allocation support device 1 (control unit 110) determines (calculates) the number of faces NF of each product MID to be displayed on the shelf used in each store of each retail company, and in particular calculates (specifies) the number of faces NF of each product MID to be displayed that satisfies the first condition. That is, in S170, the shelf allocation support device 1 calculates the number of faces NF of each product to be displayed MID so that the product of the number of faces NF of each product to be displayed MID and the number of products per floor NPF of each product to be displayed MID is equal to or greater than the average sales quantity ANP for the period of each product to be displayed MID. In S180, the shelf allocation support device 1 (control unit 110) outputs shelf allocation support information PSI, which is information indicating the number of faces NF of each product to be displayed MID calculated in S170 and is information for supporting the shelf allocation of multiple products to be displayed MID in each store of each retail company.

[0167] As described above, the average sales quantity ANP of each product MID to be displayed over a period can be regarded as the number of each product MID to be displayed that is replenished to the shelves in each replenishment work. Therefore, if the number of each product MID to be displayed on the shelves is equal to or greater than the number of each product MID to be displayed that is replenished to the shelves in each replenishment work (i.e., the average sales quantity ANP over a period), it is possible to prevent each product MID to be displayed from being out of stock in the store. The shelf allocation support device 1 then determines the number of faces NF of each product MID to be displayed so as to satisfy the first condition, that is, so that the product of the number of products MID to be displayed per floor NPF is equal to or greater than the average sales quantity ANP over a period of each product MID to be displayed. Therefore, the shelf allocation support device 1 enables "the shelf allocation staff to easily create a shelf allocation that can prevent the stockout in the store by the above-mentioned replenishment work for each product MID to be displayed." The shelf allocation support device 1 can support the shelf allocation staff to easily create shelf allocation that takes into account "product replenishment" that is carried out periodically in each store, in other words, it has the effect of supporting the creation of shelf allocation that takes product replenishment into account.

[0168] In the above shelf allocation support method, the shelf allocation support device 1 may further execute a conventional display information acquisition step (S110). In S110, the shelf allocation support device 1 (control unit 110) acquires conventional display information IPD, which is information related to a plurality of conventionally displayed products MDP that were displayed on a shelf before a plurality of products to be displayed MID by each retail company and is information indicating at least a former shelf allocation space PSP. The former shelf allocation space PSP is the sum of the occupied widths of the respective conventionally displayed products MDP calculated by multiplying the width Wd of each conventionally displayed product MDP by the number of faces NF of each conventionally displayed product MDP on the shelf. Then, in S170, the shelf allocation support device 1 (control unit 110) may calculate (identify) the number of faces NF of each product to be displayed MID that satisfies the second condition in addition to the first condition. That is, in S170, the shelf allocation support device 1 may calculate the number of faces NF of each product MID to be displayed using the total required width SRW and the original shelf allocation space PSP. The total required width SRW is the sum of the required widths RW of each product MID to be displayed, and the required width RW of each product MID to be displayed is calculated by multiplying the width Wd of each product MID to be displayed by the number of faces NF of each product MID to be displayed.

[0169] The shelf allocation support device 1 determines the number of faces NF of each product MID to be displayed so as to satisfy the second condition in addition to the first condition. In other words, the shelf allocation support device 1 outputs shelf allocation support information PSI that supports the creation of shelf allocation for each product MID to be displayed after the "shelving" by using the original shelf allocation (particularly, the original shelf allocation space PSP) before the "shelving" in which the products to be displayed on the shelf are replaced as an index. Therefore, the shelf allocation support device 1 determines the number of faces NF of each product MID to be displayed using the original shelf allocation (particularly, the original shelf allocation space PSP) as an index, thereby enabling "the shelf allocation manager to easily create the "shelf allocation for each product MID to be displayed, taking the original shelf allocation into consideration". In general, the original shelf allocation is considered to reflect the shelf allocation know-how, etc. of each store of each retail company, so the shelf allocation support device 1 can support the creation of "shelf allocation for each product MID to be displayed, taking the relevant know-how, etc. into appropriate consideration".

[0170] § 4 Variations Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above, the above description is merely an example of the present invention in every respect. It goes without saying that various improvements or modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the following modifications are possible. In the following, the same reference numerals are used for the same components as in the above embodiment, and the description of the same points as in the above embodiment is omitted as appropriate. The following modifications can be combined as appropriate.

[0171] (Initial value of the multiplier variable X) So far, we have explained examples in which the initial value of the multiplication variable X is "1" or "the value obtained by dividing the original shelf planogram space PSP by the minimum total required width SRW_Min." However, the initial value of the multiplication variable X is not limited to the above-mentioned values. The initial value of the multiplication variable X may be a value obtained by adding a value smaller than "1" (for example, "0.01," "0.1," "0.2," "0.5," etc.) to "1." For example, the initial value of the multiplication variable X may be "1.1," "1.5," etc.

[0172] (How to decide the number of faces for each product to be displayed) So far, an example has been described in which the shelf allocation support device 1 determines the number of faces NF of each product MID to be displayed using the maximum allowable value of the multiplication factor variable X. For example, in the example described so far, the shelf allocation support device 1 increases the multiplication factor variable X from the initial value by a predetermined value smaller than 1, and compares the tentative total required width TSW with the original shelf allocation space PSP to identify the maximum allowable value of the multiplication factor variable X. Then, the shelf allocation support device 1 determines the number of faces NF of each product MID to be displayed using the identified maximum allowable value of the multiplication factor variable X.

[0173] However, it is not essential for the shelf allocation support device 1 to use the maximum allowable value of the multiplication factor variable X to determine the number of faces NF of each product MID to be displayed. The shelf allocation support device 1 only needs to determine the number of faces NF of each product MID to be displayed so as to satisfy the first condition that "the product of the number of faces NF and the number of items per floor NPF is equal to or greater than the average number of items sold during the period ANP" for each product MID to be displayed. Furthermore, the shelf allocation support device 1 may determine the number of faces NF of each product MID to be displayed so as to satisfy, in addition to the first condition, the second condition that "the total required width SRW is close to the original shelf allocation space PSP".

[0174] For example, the shelf allocation support device 1 may determine the number of faces NF of each product MID to be displayed by extracting the following optimal combinations for the number of faces NF of each product MID to be displayed that satisfy the first and second conditions. That is, the shelf allocation support device 1 may select a combination in which the total required width SRW is closest to the original shelf allocation space PSP among the combinations of the number of faces NF of each product MID to be displayed that satisfy the first condition. Then, the shelf allocation support device 1 may specify (determine) the number of faces NF of each product MID to be displayed in the selected combination as the number of faces NF of each product MID to be displayed. This determination method is particularly useful when the number of types of products MID to be displayed and the number of faces NF of each product MID to be displayed are sufficiently small. [Explanation of symbols]

[0175] 1...shelf allocation support device, 30...product shape information acquisition unit, 40...average sales information acquisition unit, 50: 1F inventory quantity information acquisition unit, 70: calculation unit, 80: output unit, S110: Conventional display information acquisition step, S130: Product shape information acquisition step, S140: average sales information acquisition step, S150: 1F inventory quantity information acquisition step, S170: calculation step, S171: maximum magnification variable calculation step, S172: Identification step, S180: Output step, S1720: provisional number of faces calculation step, S1730: provisional required width calculation step, S1740… Provisional total required width calculation step, ANP: average number of units sold during the period, DL: depth, IAS: average sales information for products to be displayed, IPD: Conventional display information, IPF: 1F inventory information, ISM: Product shape information to be displayed, MDP: Conventional display products, MID: Products to be displayed, NPF: Number per 1F (number per face), NF: Number of faces, PSI…Shelf allocation support information, PSP…Original shelf allocation space, RW…Required width, SRW…total required width, TNF…temporary number of faces, TRW…temporary required width, TSW: Provisional total required width, Wd: Width

Claims

1. The computer a product shape information acquisition step of acquiring product shape information to be displayed, the product shape information being information related to the shape of each of a plurality of products to be displayed that are to be displayed on shelves to be used in each store of each retail company, the information being at least information indicating the width of each of the products to be displayed; an average sales information acquisition step of acquiring average sales information of the products to be displayed, which indicates an average sales volume for a period, which is an average or predicted value of actual values ​​of the number of units sold of each of the products to be displayed, the average or predicted value of actual values ​​of the number of units sold by each of the retail companies during the period from when the products to be displayed are displayed on the shelves until the shelves are restocked; a 1F inventory quantity information acquisition step of acquiring 1F inventory quantity information indicating the number of items per face, which is the number of items to be displayed in the depth direction of the shelf, of each of the products to be displayed; a calculation step of calculating the number of faces of each of the products to be displayed on the shelf, the number of faces being calculated so that the product of the number of faces of each of the products to be displayed and the number of products per face of each of the products to be displayed is equal to or greater than the average number of products sold during the period of each of the products to be displayed; an output step of outputting shelf allocation support information, the shelf allocation support information being information indicating at least the number of faces of each of the products to be displayed calculated in the calculation step, and being information supporting shelf allocation of the plurality of products to be displayed in each of the stores of each of the retail companies; Execute Planogram support method.

2. The information on a plurality of previously displayed products that were displayed on the shelf before the plurality of planned display products by each of the retail companies includes at least The original shelf space is the sum of the occupied widths of each conventional display product calculated by multiplying the width of each conventional display product by the number of faces of each conventional display product on the shelf. Further performing a conventional display information acquisition step of acquiring conventional display information, which is information indicating The calculation step further comprises: A total required width is the sum of the required widths of each of the products to be displayed, calculated by multiplying the width of each of the products to be displayed by the number of faces of each of the products to be displayed; The original shelf allocation space indicated by the conventional display information acquired in the conventional display information acquisition step; Calculate the number of faces of each of the products to be displayed using the above. The shelf allocation support method according to claim 1 .

3. The calculation step includes: a maximum scale factor variable calculation step for determining a maximum allowable value of the scale factor variable; A step of specifying the number of faces of each of the products to be displayed by using the maximum allowable value of the magnification variable calculated in the maximum magnification variable calculation step, a value obtained by dividing the product of the maximum allowable value of the multiplication factor variable calculated in the maximum multiplication factor variable calculation step and the period average sales number of each of the products to be displayed by the number of each of the products to be displayed per face, and rounding up the product to the nearest whole number; The maximum number of faces set by each retail company for each of the products to be displayed; and a step of determining the smaller of the number of faces of each of the products to be displayed; Including, The maximum magnification variable calculation step includes: A step of calculating a provisional number of faces for each of the products to be displayed, a value obtained by dividing the product of the multiplication factor variable and the period average sales number of each of the products to be displayed by the number of each of the products to be displayed per face; The maximum number of faces set by each retail company for each of the products to be displayed; and a tentative face number calculation step of calculating the smaller of the tentative face number of each of the products to be displayed; a provisional required width calculation step of multiplying the provisional number of faces of each of the products to be displayed calculated in the provisional number of faces calculation step by the width of each of the products to be displayed to calculate a provisional required width of each of the products to be displayed; a provisional total required width calculation step of calculating the sum of the provisional required widths of the respective items to be displayed calculated in the provisional required width calculation step as a provisional total required width; by repeatedly executing the step of increasing the magnification variable from the initial value by a predetermined value smaller than 1 until the provisional total required width calculated in the provisional total required width calculation step becomes larger than the original shelf allocation space, a maximum value of the magnification variable that makes the provisional total required width equal to or smaller than the original shelf allocation space is specified, and the specified maximum value is set as a maximum allowable value of the magnification variable. The shelf allocation support method according to claim 2.

4. The initial value of the scaling factor variable is 1. The shelf allocation support method according to claim 3.

5. The initial value of the scaling factor variable is a value obtained by dividing the product of the average sales volume for each of the products to be displayed during the period and the width of each of the products to be displayed by the number of the products to be displayed per face is set as a minimum required width of each of the products to be displayed; The sum of the minimum required widths of each of the above-mentioned products to be displayed shall be the minimum total required width. The value obtained by dividing the original shelf space by the minimum total required width, The shelf allocation support method according to claim 3.

6. The number of each of the above-mentioned products to be displayed per face is as follows: an integer part of a value obtained by dividing the depth of the shelf by the depth of each of the products to be displayed; The number of items to be displayed in the depth direction of the shelf set by each retail company for each of the products to be displayed; The smaller of these values ​​is The shelf allocation support method according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. The average sales information acquisition step includes: The number of units sold during a period, which is an actual or predicted number of units that each retail company will sell for each of the products to be displayed during a specified period, a period replenishment count, which is the number of times each of the products to be displayed is replenished to the shelves during the specified period, set by each of the retail companies for each of the products to be displayed; and obtain the average sales quantity for each of the products to be displayed during the period by dividing the average sales quantity by the number of products to be displayed. The shelf allocation support method according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

8. The average sales information acquisition step acquires actual sales figures of the number of units of each of the products to be displayed at each of the retail companies during the predetermined period from a POS (Point of Sale) system of each of the retail companies. The shelf allocation support method according to claim 7.

9. The number of replenishment times during the period is determined according to the sales record or sales forecast of each of the products to be displayed. The shelf allocation support method according to claim 7.

10. a product shape information acquisition unit that acquires product shape information to be displayed, the product shape information being information related to the shape of each of a plurality of products to be displayed that are planned to be displayed on shelves used in each store of each retail company, the information being at least information indicating the width of each of the products to be displayed; an average sales information acquisition unit that acquires average sales information of the products to be displayed, which indicates an average sales volume for a period, which is an average or predicted value of actual values ​​of the number of units sold of each of the products to be displayed, the average or predicted value of actual values ​​of the number of units sold by each of the retail companies during the period from when the products to be displayed are displayed on the shelves until the shelves are restocked; a first floor inventory quantity information acquisition unit that acquires first floor inventory quantity information indicating the number of items per face, which is the number of items to be displayed in the depth direction of the shelf, of each of the products to be displayed; a calculation unit for calculating the number of faces of each of the products to be displayed on the shelf, the calculation unit calculating the number of faces of each of the products to be displayed such that the product of the number of faces of each of the products to be displayed and the number of each of the products to be displayed per face is equal to or greater than the average number of units sold during the period of each of the products to be displayed; an output unit that outputs shelf allocation support information, the shelf allocation support information being information indicating at least the number of faces of each of the products to be displayed calculated by the calculation unit, and being information supporting shelf allocation of the plurality of products to be displayed in each of the stores of each of the retail companies; Equipped with Shelf allocation support system.

11. On the computer, a product shape information acquisition step of acquiring product shape information to be displayed, the product shape information being information related to the shape of each of a plurality of products to be displayed that are to be displayed on shelves to be used in each store of each retail company, the information being at least information indicating the width of each of the products to be displayed; an average sales information acquisition step of acquiring average sales information of the products to be displayed, which indicates an average sales volume for a period, which is an average or predicted value of actual values ​​of the number of units sold of each of the products to be displayed, the average or predicted value of actual values ​​of the number of units sold by each of the retail companies during the period from when the products to be displayed are displayed on the shelves until the shelves are restocked; a 1F inventory quantity information acquisition step of acquiring 1F inventory quantity information indicating the number of items per face, which is the number of items to be displayed in the depth direction of the shelf, of each of the products to be displayed; a calculation step of calculating the number of faces of each of the products to be displayed on the shelf, the number of faces being calculated so that the product of the number of faces of each of the products to be displayed and the number of products per face of each of the products to be displayed is equal to or greater than the average number of products sold during the period of each of the products to be displayed; an output step of outputting shelf allocation support information, the shelf allocation support information being information indicating at least the number of faces of each of the products to be displayed calculated in the calculation step, and being information supporting shelf allocation of the plurality of products to be displayed in each of the stores of each of the retail companies; In order to execute Shelf allocation support program.

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