Stocking support system and stocking support program

Abstract

To enable support for replenishing a commodity in response to a decrease in the number of commodities on a display shelf.SOLUTION: A stocking support system includes a setting acquisition unit, a sales number acquisition unit, a stocking number calculation unit, and an output instruction unit. The setting acquisition unit acquires, from a storage unit that stores a reference value which is set as a reference for the number of commodities to be displayed and a lower limit value for the number of commodities to be displayed on a per commodity item basis, the reference value and the lower limit value. The sales number acquisition unit acquires the number of sales, which is the number of commodities whose sales registration has been completed within a predetermined period of time, from a sales data processing device. When it is estimated that the number of commodities on display falls below the lower limit value based upon the reference value, the lower limit value, and the number of sales, the stocking number calculation unit calculates a stocking number which is the number of commodities to be replenished. The output instruction unit instructs a printing device to output a recording medium on which the stocking number calculated by the stocking number calculation unit is printed in association with information for identifying the commodity.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] An embodiment of the present invention relates to a stocking support system and a stocking support program. [Background technology]

[0002] It is desirable to keep the store shelves stocked with an appropriate number of products, but in reality, it is sometimes the case that stock cannot be replenished in time due to factors such as a lack of thoroughness in checking the number of products on display.

[0003] Up until now, there have been technologies that recommend replenishment in response to sales trends or specific customers (for example, Patent Document 1). However, there have been no technologies that directly recognize the amount of stock on the shelves and encourage store clerks to stock products. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to enable support for replenishing products in response to a decrease in the number of products on a display shelf. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The stocking support system of the embodiment includes a setting acquisition unit, a sales number acquisition unit, a stocking number calculation unit, and an output instruction unit. The setting acquisition unit acquires a reference value set as a standard for the number of products to be displayed and a lower limit value for the number of products to be displayed from a storage unit that stores the reference value and the lower limit value for each product. The sales number acquisition unit acquires a sales number, which is the number of products registered for sale within a predetermined period, from a sales data processing device. The stocking number calculation unit calculates a stocking number, which is the number of products to be replenished, when it is estimated that the number of products on display has fallen below the lower limit value, based on the reference value, the lower limit value, and the sales number. The output instruction unit instructs a printing device to output a printed recording medium in association with information identifying the products and the stocking number calculated by the stocking number calculation unit. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0006] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a stocking support system 1 according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the server 100. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the control unit 110. As shown in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of the stocking support process executed by the control unit 110 of the server 100. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 shows a stocking instruction sheet, which is a recording medium output by the printer 200. As shown in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0007] An embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a stocking support system 1 according to an embodiment. The stocking support system 1 includes a server 100, a printer 200, a wireless LAN router 300, and a cart POS (POS is an abbreviation for Point Of Sale) 400. The cart POS 400 is used by shoppers to transport merchandise, and a plurality of cart POS 400 are provided in a store 2. The server 100 and the printer 200 are installed in a back yard 3. The wireless LAN router 300 mediates communication between the cart POS 400 and the server 100, and between the server 100 and the printer 200.

[0008] The cart POS 400 is a cart (a basket with wheels; a basket is an example of a container) used by shoppers to transport merchandise, and is equipped with a POS terminal device (an example of a sales data processing device) that accepts sales registrations of merchandise.

[0009] The POS terminal device includes a product information reading unit for acquiring information for identifying a product. The product information reading unit acquires information for identifying the product (product code, etc.) by, for example, reading a barcode attached to the product. The POS terminal device identifies the product based on the product information acquired by the product information reading unit, and stores the identified product information in a predetermined storage unit as a product to be purchased (sales registration process).

[0010] A shopper pushes the cart POS 400 around the store 2, picks up a product from the display area, registers the product for sale, and places the product in the cart. At this time, the POS terminal device attached to the cart POS 400 transmits information about the registered product to the server 100 via the wireless LAN router 300.

[0011] The server 100 that has received the product information updates the number of products on display (the number of products in stock in the store 2) and the number of products in stock in the backyard 3. The number of products on display is calculated, for example, by setting a reference value set as the standard number of products to be displayed as an initial value, subtracting the number of products registered for sale, and adding the number of products to be replenished. The number of products in stock is calculated, for example, by subtracting the number of products to be replenished from the initial value.

[0012] 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of server 100. Server 100 is configured similarly to an ordinary PC (Personal Computer), and includes a control unit 110, a storage unit 120, a display unit 101, an operation unit 102, a communication I / F (Interface) 103, and the like. The display unit 101 is a display device such as a liquid crystal display, and displays information for an operator. The operation unit 102 is a keyboard, a mouse, and the like, and receives input operations from an operator. The communication I / F 103 performs wireless communication with the wireless LAN router 300.

[0013] The control unit 110 is a microcomputer or the like equipped with a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), etc. The CPU executes various arithmetic processes and controls various functions of the server 100. The ROM stores various programs and data executed by the CPU. The RAM temporarily stores various programs and stores various data in a rewritable manner.

[0014] The storage unit 120 is, for example, a storage device such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or an SSD (Solid State Drive). The storage unit 120 stores setting values ​​(constants) for each product, such as a display location, a reference value that is a standard for the number of products to be displayed, and a lower limit that is a number that triggers replenishment, in association with product information (product code, product name, price, etc.).

[0015] Furthermore, the memory unit 120 stores current values ​​(variables) such as the number in stock, sales, number on display, and number put out for each product. The number in stock is the number of that product in the back yard 3. The number of sales is the number of products registered for sale. The number on display is the number of products on display, i.e., the number of that product in the store 2. The number put out is the number of products to be replenished, which is presented together with information that can identify the target product when a stocking (replenishment) instruction is given.

[0016] 3 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of control unit 110. Control unit 110 realizes various functional units (setting acquisition unit 111, sales number acquisition unit 112, stock quantity calculation unit 113, inventory number management unit 114, and output instruction unit 115) by causing the CPU to execute a program stored in the ROM.

[0017] The setting acquisition unit 111 acquires various settings such as a reference value and a lower limit value from the storage unit 120. The sales number acquisition unit 112 acquires the sales number, which is the number of products registered for sale within a predetermined period, from a POS terminal device attached to the cart POS 400. More specifically, when the sales number acquisition unit 112 receives information on registered products for sale from the POS terminal device, it counts the number of registered products for sale based on the information and adds it to the sales number.

[0018] The product-to-be-stocked number calculation unit 113 calculates the product-to-be-stocked number, which is the number of products to be replenished, when it is estimated that the number of products on display (the number of products on display) falls below the lower limit based on a reference value, a lower limit, and a sales number. More specifically, for example, the product-to-be-stocked number calculated based on the reference value and the sales number is compared with the lower limit, and when the number of products on display falls below the lower limit, the product-to-be-stocked number is determined based on the sales number.

[0019] The inventory quantity management unit 114 updates the current values ​​of each variable based on the number of items to be put out determined by the item put out number calculation unit 113. That is, the inventory quantity management unit 114 subtracts the number of items to be put out from the inventory quantity of the product stored in the storage unit 120, and updates the inventory quantity.

[0020] In addition, in response to an update of the stock quantity by the stock quantity management unit 114, the control unit 110 adds the number of items put out to the number of items on display, thereby updating the number of items on display.

[0021] The output instruction unit 115 instructs the printer 200 to output a recording medium on which the number of items to be put calculated by the number-of-items-to-be-put calculation unit 113 is printed in association with information for identifying the items.

[0022] Printer 200 is an example of a printing device, and executes print output onto a band-shaped sheet (recording medium) in response to instructions from output instruction unit 115. Printer 200 also cuts the printed sheet along the width direction in response to instructions from output instruction unit 115. This cutting is selectively executed as a full cut or a partial cut in response to instructions from output instruction unit 115. Note that a full cut is a method of completely cutting off the sheet, and a partial cut is a method of cutting off the sheet while leaving a portion (for example, the center portion in the width direction) intact.

[0023] When there is a predetermined relationship between multiple products to be replenished for the purpose of making the replenishment work more efficient, the output instruction unit 115 instructs the printer 200 to output a recording medium for treating the replenishment of the multiple products as the same work unit. Cutting in the printer 200 is also performed for each work unit.

[0024] In such a configuration, each functional unit of server 100 performs the process described below. Fig. 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of the stocking support process executed by control unit 110 of server 100. Control unit 110 (setting acquisition unit 111) reads various settings such as the product code, product name, display location, reference value, and lower limit value of each product from storage unit 120 (step S1). Next, control unit 110 acquires various current values ​​such as the number of products in stock, sales, number of products displayed, and number of products put out from storage unit 120 (step S2). In step S2, if there is no current value for the number of products displayed, the reference value is substituted for the number of products displayed.

[0025] Next, the control unit 110 (sales number acquisition unit 112) waits for the transmission of sales registration information from the POS terminal device attached to the cart POS 400 (No in step S3). When the sales registration information is received (Yes in step S3), the control unit 110 updates the sales number based on the information acquired from the POS terminal device attached to the cart POS 400 (step S4).

[0026] For example, when information is acquired from a POS terminal device that two units of a certain product A have been registered for sale, the control unit 110 adds two to the sales quantity of product A at the time of acquiring the information, and sets this as the new sales quantity. In this step S4, the control unit 110 of this embodiment further updates the number of displays together with updating the sales quantity. In this case, the control unit 110 subtracts two from the number of displays of product A at the time of acquiring the information, and sets this as the new number of displays.

[0027] Next, the control unit 110 (stock number calculation unit 113) determines whether the display number is below the lower limit (step S5), and if it is not below the lower limit (No in step S5), returns the process to step S3.

[0028] In step S5, if the number of displayed items is below the lower limit (Yes in step S5), the control unit 110 determines the number of items to be put out based on the number of sales. The number of items to be put out may be the number of sales itself, or may be, for example, a number several items more than the number of sales.

[0029] Next, the control unit 110 (inventory management unit 114) updates the inventory quantity by subtracting the number of items put out from the inventory quantity of the product stored in the memory unit 120, updates the display quantity by adding the number of items put out to the display quantity, and resets the sales quantity (step S6).

[0030] Next, control unit 110 (output instruction unit 115) checks whether the stock quantity is 0 or more (step S7), and if it is 0 or more (Yes in step S7), outputs a replenishment instruction (step S8), and returns the process to step S3. In this embodiment, the replenishment instruction is a print instruction to printer 200. Control unit 110 instructs printer 200 to print, on a recording medium, the number of items to be put out in correspondence with information for identifying the items (product name and product code). The instruction also includes a cutting instruction to partially cut the recording medium for each task unit of replenishing items.

[0031] If the inventory quantity is less than 0 in step S7 (No in step S7), the inventory is exhausted and replenishment (stocking) is not possible, so control unit 110 issues an error and ends this process.

[0032] 5 is a diagram showing the stocking instruction sheet 210 (211, 213, 213) which is a recording medium output by the printer 200. In this figure, the recording medium is discharged from the top to the bottom in the figure. In other words, the stocking instruction sheet 211 is the one printed first, and the stocking instruction sheet 213 is the one printed last.

[0033] Stocking instruction sheet 210 is divided into stocking instruction sheets 211, 212, and 213 for each task of replenishing merchandise. Stocking instruction sheets 211, 212, and 213 are partially cut and connected only at the center in the width direction. Each store clerk engaged in replenishing merchandise cuts out a piece of stocking instruction sheet 210 and replenishes the merchandise described in said stocking instruction sheet 210. During the replenishing task, when stocking instruction sheet 210 has been cut out, the replenishment of the merchandise described in said stocking instruction sheet 210 is considered to be "in progress."

[0034] The task unit is determined so as to make the replenishment work more efficient. For example, in this embodiment, the replenishment of products whose display locations are within a predetermined distance from each other is treated as the same task unit. That is, in store 2 of this embodiment, the display locations of product B and product C printed together on stocking instruction sheet 212 are close to each other (the distance between them is within a predetermined value).

[0035] Other examples of task units include a method of determining the amount of stock that one store clerk can carry, or a method of grouping together items that need to be replenished in close proximity.

[0036] In addition, two types of products are printed together on the stocking instruction sheet 212, but in practice, a separate sheet may always be printed and cut for each type of product, and the store clerk performing the restocking work may cut out one or more stocking instruction sheets 210 at his or her own discretion.

[0037] As described above, in this embodiment, the change in the number of items on display is monitored by receiving sales registration information, and by comparing the number of items on display with a lower limit, a replenishment instruction is output at an appropriate time, thereby assisting in replenishing items in response to a decrease in the number of items on display shelves.

[0038] In addition, in this embodiment, the number of items displayed is updated based on the sales registration information output by the POS terminal device (sales data processing device) attached to the cart POS 400, so changes in the number of items displayed can be recognized immediately. This shortens the time lag from when the need for replenishment arises to when a replenishment instruction is output.

[0039] In addition, as in this embodiment, by treating the replenishing of products that are displayed close to each other (within a specified distance) as the same task unit, work efficiency can be improved. Although experienced store clerks can determine such task units by themselves, by outputting the stocking instruction sheet 212 that is printed together in advance as in this embodiment, even inexperienced store clerks can efficiently proceed with the replenishing work.

[0040] Furthermore, by managing the stock quantity as in this embodiment, it is possible to prevent inconveniences such as issuing a stocking instruction even when the stock is out.

[0041] In this embodiment, the number of displays is set as a variable, but in practice, even if the number of displays is not set as a variable, when a value equivalent to the number of displays is required, it may be calculated each time, for example, by subtracting the number of sales from a reference value and adding the number of items put out.

[0042] In addition, in this embodiment, the replenishment instruction is output by printing on a recording medium by the printer 200, but in practice, the replenishment instruction may be output by other methods (for example, screen output on a terminal device or audio notification, etc.).

[0043] In addition, in this embodiment, an example of a sales data processing device is a POS terminal device attached to the cart POS 400, and a basket attached to the cart POS 400 is an example of a container, but this is not limited to this in practice. In practice, for example, the sales data processing device or the container may be owned by the shopper himself. An example of a sales data processing device owned by a shopper is a POS terminal device mounted on a shopping basket. Another example of a sales data processing device owned by a shopper is a portable terminal device such as a smartphone (which may be owned by the customer or loaned by the store) with an application for performing sales data processing installed.

[0044] Also, in this embodiment, printer 200 (an example of a printing device) cuts sheets printed collectively for each task unit into task units in response to an instruction from output instruction unit 115, but this is not the only possible embodiment. For example, printer 200 may be set with a strip-shaped sheet with pre-made perforations that allow the sheet to be torn by hand, and output instruction unit 115 may output an instruction to printer 200 to print the content (product replenishment information) that constitutes one task unit between one perforation and the next perforation.

[0045] Furthermore, the output instruction unit 115 of this embodiment is merely an example, and implementation is not limited to this, and it is sufficient that when there is a predetermined correlation between multiple products to be replenished for the purpose of making the replenishment work more efficient, the output instruction unit 115 instructs the printer 200 (printing device) to output a recording medium for the replenishment of the multiple products as the same task unit. The task unit may be determined so as to make the replenishment work more efficient, and may be different from this embodiment (determined taking into consideration the distance between display locations) when implemented. Examples of a method of determining a task unit based on the above-mentioned "predetermined correlation" that differs from the embodiment include: (1) The size or weight must be such that it is not difficult to carry it at one time. (2) Use only frozen foods (3) Pack only items that can be transported without using a cart. Regarding (1), in more detail, for example, it is considered acceptable to group lightweight products such as cup ramen and tissues in the same work unit even if they are displayed some distance apart. Regarding (2), in more detail, if frozen foods are grouped together with other non-frozen products, there is a risk that the frozen foods will melt if they are displayed in the non-frozen product area first, so it is considered preferable to group only frozen foods in work units.

[0046] The server 100 of the stocking support system 1 of this embodiment is equipped with a control device such as a CPU, a storage device such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) and a RAM, an external storage device such as a HDD and a CD drive device, a display device such as a display device, and input devices such as a keyboard and a mouse, and has a hardware configuration that utilizes a normal computer.

[0047] The stocking support program executed by the stocking support system 1 of this embodiment is provided as a file in an installable or executable format recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM, a flexible disk (FD), a CD-R, or a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk).

[0048] The stocking support program executed by the stocking support system 1 of the present embodiment may be stored on a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and provided by being downloaded via the network. The stocking support program executed by the stocking support system 1 of the present embodiment may be provided or distributed via a network such as the Internet.

[0049] The stocking support program of the present embodiment may be provided by being pre-installed in a ROM or the like.

[0050] The stocking support program executed by the stocking support system 1 of this embodiment has a modular configuration including the above-mentioned units (settings acquisition unit 111, sales number acquisition unit 112, stocking number calculation unit 113, inventory number management unit 114, and output instruction unit 115). The CPU (processor) loads the above-mentioned units onto the main storage device by reading and executing the stocking support program from the above-mentioned storage device. As a result, the settings acquisition unit 111, sales number acquisition unit 112, stocking number calculation unit 113, inventory number management unit 114, and output instruction unit 115 are generated on the main storage device.

[0051] Although some embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and spirit of the invention, and are included in the scope of the invention and its equivalents described in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0052] 1...Product placement support system, 2...Store, 3...Backyard 100…Server 101...Display section, 102...Operation section, 103...Communication I / F 110...Control unit 111...setting acquisition unit, 112...sales number acquisition unit, 113...product number calculation unit, 114...Inventory control section, 115...Output instruction section 120...Storage section 200...Printer 210 (211~213)…Stocking Instruction Sheet 300…Wireless LAN router 400…Cart POS [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0053] [Patent Document 1] JP 2018-136673 A

Claims

1. a setting acquisition unit that acquires a reference value set as a standard for the number of products to be displayed and a lower limit value of the number of products to be displayed from a storage unit that stores the reference value and the lower limit value for each product; a sales number acquisition unit that acquires sales numbers, which are the number of products registered for sale within a predetermined period, from a sales data processing device; a product-to-be-stocked number calculation unit that calculates a product-to-be-stocked number, which is the number of products to be replenished, when it is estimated that the number of products on display has fallen below the lower limit based on the reference value, the lower limit, and the sales amount; an output instruction unit that instructs a printing device to output a recording medium that corresponds the number of items to be put calculated by the number of items to be put calculation unit to information that identifies the items; A stocking support system equipped with the above.

2. The sales data processing device is a POS terminal device that is attached to a container used by a shopper to transport a commodity or that is carried by the shopper and that accepts sales registration of the commodity, The sales number acquisition unit acquires the sales number from information on the product registered for sale in the POS terminal device. The stocking support system according to claim 1.

3. The output instruction unit instructs the printing device to output the recording medium for each task of replenishing merchandise.

3. The product stocking support system according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The output instruction unit instructs the printing device to output the recording medium as the replenishment of the multiple products as the same task unit when there is a predetermined correlation between the multiple products to be replenished for making the replenishment work more efficient. The stocking support system according to claim 3.

5. and an inventory management unit that updates the inventory by subtracting the number of items to be put out calculated by the item-put-out number calculation unit from the inventory number of the item stored in a predetermined storage unit. The stocking support system according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. a setting and acquisition function for acquiring a reference value set as a standard for the number of products to be displayed and a lower limit value of the number of products to be displayed from a storage unit that stores the reference value and the lower limit value for the number of products to be displayed for each product; a sales number acquisition function for acquiring the sales number, which is the number of products registered for sale within a predetermined period, from the sales data processing device; a function of calculating the number of products to be put out, which is the number of products to be replenished, when it is estimated that the number of products on display has fallen below the lower limit based on the reference value, the lower limit, and the sales amount; an output instruction function for instructing a printing device to output a recording medium on which the number of items to be put calculated by the number of items to be put calculation function is associated with information identifying the items; This is a stocking support program that enables a computer to achieve the above.

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