Information processing device and reception method

Abstract

To provide a cleaning system which can alleviate a burden on a clerk.SOLUTION: A cleaning system 1 which is an information processing device comprises: a clerk POS terminal 2 operated by a clerk of a cleaning store; and a customer POS terminal 3 operated by a customer visiting the cleaning store. Then, the customer POS terminal 3 performs self reception processing of a to-be-cleaned article with identification information deposited by the customer who visits the cleaning store on the basis of register operation of the customer himself / herself who visits the store.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing device and a reception method. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a POS terminal (POS register) as described in, for example, Patent Document 1 below is known.

[0003] This conventional POS terminal is installed in a dry cleaning shop and operated by a store clerk, and includes, for example, a control unit, a memory unit, a touch panel unit which serves as an input unit and display unit, a printing unit, and a photographing unit.

[0004] When a customer comes to the store and drops off their laundry, the dry cleaning store staff (reception staff) operates the POS terminal appropriately to carry out the required reception and accounting procedures for each customer. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2023-109357 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] Recently, dry cleaning shops have been suffering from serious labor shortages. To make up for this labor shortage, systems that use non-face-to-face delivery systems such as storage boxes to complete the process from depositing the items to paying for the cleaning fee to returning the finished items are becoming more widespread. However, the reality is that there is still much room for improvement.

[0007] Therefore, in order to alleviate the serious labor shortage at dry cleaning shops in recent years, it is necessary to reduce the burden on dry cleaning shop staff.

[0008] Therefore, one object of the present invention is to provide an information processing device and a reception method that can reduce the burden on store clerks. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] An information processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention is equipped with a customer terminal operated by a customer who comes to the store to purchase dry cleaning items, and the customer terminal performs self-reception processing of the dry cleaning items, bearing identification information, that the customer leaves behind based on the customer's own operation.

[0010] In addition, an information processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises an identification member which is attached to a dry cleaning item that a dry cleaning clerk accepts from a customer who visits the dry cleaning store and which has identification information for identifying the dry cleaning item, a clerk terminal operated by the clerk, and a customer terminal operated by the customer; when the clerk accepts from the customer a dry cleaning item that does not have the identification member attached, the identification member is attached to the dry cleaning item, and information about the dry cleaning item is associated with the identification information of the identification member based on the clerk's operation of the clerk terminal; and when the customer accepts a dry cleaning item that already has the identification member attached, the identification information of the identification member is read based on the customer's operation of the customer terminal.

[0011] Furthermore, a reception method according to an embodiment of the present invention is a reception method for receiving dry cleaning items at a dry cleaning shop, and includes a step of a dry cleaning shop employee attaching an identification member having identification information to the dry cleaning item when the dry cleaning item is received for the first time, and a step of a customer visiting the dry cleaning shop having a customer terminal read the identification information of the identification member when the dry cleaning item is received for the second or subsequent times. Effect of the Invention

[0012] According to the embodiment of the present invention, the burden on store clerks can be reduced. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a cleaning system (information processing device) according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 3 is a schematic diagram showing a POS terminal and a label crimping machine of the cleaning system. FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 shows a barcode label (identification member) attached to a cleaning item. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 shows a cleaning item with a bar code label attached. [Diagram 5] This is a flowchart for when a store clerk first receives an item for cleaning (or when a customer first places an order). [Figure 6] This is a flowchart showing a process for a customer to place a second or subsequent order for cleaning products. [Figure 7] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a screen output and displayed on a touch panel unit (output unit) of a customer POS terminal. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a screen subsequent to that shown in FIG. 7. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a screen subsequent to that shown in FIG. 8. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a screen subsequent to that shown in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] One embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0015] In Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, reference numeral 1 denotes a cleaning system which is an information processing device, and this cleaning system 1 is an information processing system for supporting cleaning work related to cleaning.

[0016] The cleaning system 1 includes a clerk POS terminal (clerk POS register) 2, which is a clerk terminal operated (used) by a clerk (operator) at the dry cleaning store, and a customer POS terminal (customer POS register) 3, which is a customer terminal operated (used) by a customer (member customer) who visits the dry cleaning store.

[0017] When a customer visits the store and deposits unprocessed dry-cleaned items W (limited to dry-cleaned items with an identifiable identification member already attached) that they have brought to the store in a bag 4, for example, the customer can use the customer POS terminal 3 to deposit the items themselves (at least from the second time onwards).

[0018] In other words, the customer POS terminal 3 is a self-service register that performs a self-service reception process for the cleaning items W with identification information that are deposited by the customer, based on the customer's own operation.

[0019] Then, the customer who has operated the register himself places the cleaning items W to be cleaned, for which the self-service reception process has been completed, into a storage box 5, which is a storage member, and stores the items therein.

[0020] The storage box 5 is a box-shaped box with an open top capable of storing multiple cleaning items W, and is placed near the customer POS terminal 3. Also, on the top of the cash register counter 6, in addition to the clerk POS terminal 2 and the customer POS terminal 3, a label crimping machine 12 (described later) is installed.

[0021] The cleaning system 1 also includes a barcode label 11, which is an identification member having identification information for identifying (specifying) the cleaning item W and is fixedly attached by thermocompression to the cleaning item (checked item) W that is entrusted to the cleaning store by a cleaning store employee who has visited the cleaning store, and a label pressing machine 12 for fixedly attaching the barcode label 11 to the cleaning item W by thermocompression.

[0022] The barcode label (barcode sticker) 11 is, for example, made of a cleaning-resistant cloth with a one-dimensional barcode attached as identification information (see FIG. 3). The store clerk can operate (use) a label crimping machine 12 arranged near the store clerk POS terminal 2 to easily and reliably attach the sticker-like barcode label 11 to the cleaning item W received from the customer by heat crimping (see FIG. 4).

[0023] The barcode label 11 is preferably made of cloth with a one-dimensional barcode (unique identification number) woven using resin thread such as polyester, but may be made of paper with a barcode printed on it, and the material is arbitrary. In the example shown in Fig. 3, multiple barcode labels 11 with consecutive numbers positioned vertically are individually and removably attached to a mount 13. Furthermore, in the example shown in Fig. 4, the barcode label 11 is fixed to the lower back surface of a dress shirt, which is the item W to be cleaned.

[0024] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the staff POS terminal 2 is installed in a dry cleaning shop and operated by the staff, and is equipped with, for example, a control unit (information processing unit) 16, a memory unit (information memory unit) 17 that stores various information, a touch panel unit (output unit) 18 which serves as an input unit and display unit, a printing unit 19, and a reading unit 20.

[0025] The control unit 16 appropriately controls at least the touch panel unit 18 and the printing unit 19 based on various information stored (registered) in the memory unit 17. The printing unit 19 is a printer that prints out printed materials such as slips. The reading unit 20 is a scanner that reads various information (including barcodes on barcode labels).

[0026] The customer POS terminal 3, as also shown in Figures 1 and 2, is installed in a dry cleaning shop and operated by the customer himself, and like the clerk POS terminal 2, is equipped with, for example, a control unit (information processing unit) 21, a memory unit (information memory unit) 22 that stores various information, a touch panel unit (output unit) 23 which serves as an input unit and display unit, a printing unit 24, and a reading unit 25.

[0027] The control unit 21 appropriately controls at least the touch panel unit 23 and the printing unit 24 based on various information stored (registered) in the memory unit 22. The printing unit 24 is a printer that prints out printed materials such as slips. The reading unit 25 is a scanner that reads various information (including barcodes on barcode labels). Although each of the POS terminals 2 and 3 is preferably of the touch panel type, it may also be configured such that, for example, the input unit (input operation unit) and the display unit (output unit) are separate.

[0028] Next, Figure 5 is a flowchart showing the process when the cleaning item W is first received by the store clerk (the first order from the customer's perspective). The process flow when the item is received (the first time the store clerk receives it) will be described with reference to Figure 5.

[0029] For example, a dry cleaning store clerk identifies a visiting customer by having the barcode on the customer's membership card (which may be a membership card on a smartphone app instead of a card) read by the reading unit 20 of the clerk POS terminal 2, and customer information about the identified customer is then read from the memory unit 17 and displayed (output) on the touch panel unit 18 (step 1).

[0030] The store clerk then receives and keeps the cleaning item W (an initial order item without a barcode label 11) requested by the customer, and operates the label crimping machine 12 to attach the barcode label 11 to the cleaning item W (held item) W by thermal compression in a fixed manner so that it cannot be removed (step 2).

[0031] At this time, after obtaining the customer's consent to attaching the barcode label 11 to the cleaning item W, the store clerk attaches the barcode label 11 to the cleaning item W in front of the customer by thermocompression and has the customer confirm the attachment position (installation position). In addition, when the barcode label 11 is attached, the item can be managed by the barcode of the barcode label 11, so the store clerk does not need to attach a conventionally known paper cleaning tag (a serial number tag for identification). Note that the barcode label 11 basically remains attached to the cleaning item W until it is disposed of.

[0032] Next, the store clerk causes the reading unit 20 to read the barcode on the barcode label 11 attached to the cleaning item W (Step 3). Note that this Step 3 (reading the barcode) does not necessarily have to be performed after Step 2 (attaching the barcode label), and Step 3 may be performed before Step 2.

[0033] Next, the store clerk touches the touch panel unit 18 of the store clerk POS terminal 2 to accept the cleaning items W received from the customer (including registration of the item name, color and design, value-added services, etc.) and to perform the transaction (step 4).

[0034] Then, information about the cleaning item W (including at least the item name and price) is associated with the barcode of the barcode label 11 attached to the cleaning item W for which the initial reception process has been completed.

[0035] That is, the one-dimensional barcode (barcode number for identification) of the barcode label 11 attached to the cleaning item W and information about the cleaning item W are stored in the storage unit 17 in association with each other.

[0036] The information regarding the cleaning item W corresponding to the identification information, which is the barcode (hereinafter referred to as "cleaning item information") includes, for example, the item name, price (cleaning fee), past deposit history, value-added services related to the item name (item name), etc.

[0037] The cleaning item information may include, for example, customer information (customer name, customer address, customer number, etc.) and image information obtained by photographing the cleaning item W with a photographing unit such as a camera.

[0038] Furthermore, when the accounting process is completed, a prescribed slip is printed (output) by the printing unit 19 (step 5).

[0039] In this way, the cleaning item W, for which the reception process has been completed based on the operation of the store clerk's POS terminal 2, is sent to the cleaning factory, where the cleaning process is carried out, and then the finished product is returned to the cleaning shop and given back to the customer.

[0040] Next, FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the process when a customer places a second or subsequent order for cleaning products W. The process when placing an order (when a customer places a second or subsequent self-service order) will be described with reference to FIG.

[0041] A customer who visits a dry cleaning store has the barcode on his / her membership card (which may not be a card but may be a smartphone app membership card, etc.) read by the reading unit 25 of the customer POS terminal 2 (step 1).

[0042] That is, for example, a customer looks at a screen like that shown in Figure 7 displayed on the touch panel unit 23, scans the barcode on his / her membership card with the reading unit 25, and performs an operation to read the barcode (information input operation), and as a result, the customer corresponding to the read barcode is specified (identified) from among the many registered customers.

[0043] Next, the customer causes the barcode on the barcode label 11 already attached to the cleaning item W with identification information that the customer has brought with him to be read by the reading unit 25 of the customer POS terminal 2 (step 2).

[0044] That is, for example, a customer looks at a screen like that shown in Figure 8 displayed on the touch panel unit 23, scans the barcode on the barcode label 11 fixed to the cleaning item W by thermocompression with the reading unit 25, and performs an operation to read the barcode (information input operation), and as a result, the cleaning item W corresponding to the read barcode is specified (identified) from among the many registered cleaning items W.

[0045] Then, recommended information (recommended display), which is information encouraging the addition of value-added services related to the identified cleaning item W (for example, recommended processing of the input item or processing performed at the time of the previous deposit, etc.), is read from the memory unit 22 and displayed on the touch panel unit 23 (step 3).

[0046] More specifically, by displaying a recommendation screen such as that shown in FIG. 9(a) or 9(b), recommendation information is outputted and displayed encouraging the addition of the value-added service “sweat removal processing” for the cleaning item W, “slacks.”

[0047] The customer then looks at the recommendation screen and, if he / she wants to add "sweat removal processing", touches the "add processing" button 31 on the screen, whereas, if he / she does not want to add "sweat removal processing", he / she touches the "close recommendations" button 32 on the screen.

[0048] In addition to "sweat removal," other value-added services include, for example, "water repellent," "crease processing," "stain removal," "urgent," "no glue," "strong glue," etc. The recommendation screen also has, for example, image information of the cleaning item W that is the target of the value-added service, and customers can easily understand the service content by looking at the image information. Furthermore, the recommendation screen also has, for example, history information (such as information on past order dates) based on the past deposit history of the cleaning item W, and customers can easily know the past history by looking at the history information.

[0049] Next, when the customer has finished inputting (registering) each item of all the cleaning items W brought in, i.e., for example, two items such as a "dress shirt" and "slacks" by operating the terminal himself, an accounting screen such as that shown in Fig. 10 is displayed. That is, cleaning item information (item information), which is information about the cleaning items W associated with the barcodes of the barcode labels 11 read by the reading unit 25, is read from the storage unit 22 and displayed.

[0050] The customer then looks at the accounting screen, and if there are no errors in the contents (customer name, product name, price, barcode number, total amount, etc.), touches the "Confirm" button 33 on the screen. The payment screen is then displayed on the touch panel unit 23, and the customer selects the desired payment method and performs self-payment.

[0051] In this way, the customer operates the customer POS terminal 3 to self-receive and pay for the cleaning items W (step 4). Then, when the accounting process is completed by self-payment, a specified receipt is printed (output) by the printing unit 24 (step 5). Note that the receipt (deposit receipt) that the customer takes home contains (displays) the same accounting details as those on the accounting screen.

[0052] In this way, the cleaning item W, for which the self-service reception process has been completed based on the customer's own operation of the customer POS terminal 3, is sent to the cleaning factory, where the cleaning process is carried out, and then the finished product is returned to the cleaning shop and given back to the customer.

[0053] According to the above-mentioned cleaning system 1, when a store clerk receives a cleaning item W without a barcode label 11 from a visiting customer (for example, when the cleaning item is received for the first time), the barcode label 11 is fixedly attached to the cleaning item W by thermal compression based on the operation of the label pressing machine 12 by the store clerk, and cleaning item information regarding the cleaning item W is associated and stored with the barcode (identification information) of the barcode label 11 based on the operation of the store clerk POS terminal 2 by the store clerk. On the other hand, when a visiting customer receives a cleaning item W with a barcode label 11 already attached (for example, when the cleaning item is received for the second or subsequent time), the barcode of the barcode label 11 is read by the reading unit 25 based on the operation of the customer POS terminal 3 by the customer himself, and the cleaning item information associated with the read barcode is output and displayed on the touch panel unit 23, so that the visiting customer can operate the customer POS terminal 3 himself to perform the self-reception process of the cleaning item W, thereby significantly reducing the amount of work done by the store clerk and appropriately reducing the burden on the cleaning store clerk.

[0054] In addition, the barcode label 11, which has a one-dimensional barcode as identification information, is fixedly attached to the cleaning item W by thermocompression using a label crimping machine 12, so that the relatively inexpensive barcode label 11 can be attached easily and reliably, and the cleaning item W can be appropriately managed using the barcode.

[0055] Furthermore, the customer POS terminal 3 operated by the customer outputs and displays on the touch panel unit 23 information encouraging the addition of value-added services such as processing for the cleaning item W corresponding to the barcode (identification information) of the barcode label 11 read based on the customer's own operation, so that value-added services can be appropriately proposed to the customer, thereby improving customer satisfaction.

[0056] On the other hand, according to the method of accepting cleaning items W at a dry cleaning shop where the customer POS terminal 3 serving as the self-checkout is installed, when the cleaning item W is accepted for the first time, a dry cleaning shop employee attaches a barcode label 11 having a one-dimensional barcode as identification information to the cleaning item W, and when the cleaning item W is accepted for the second or subsequent times, a customer who visits the dry cleaning shop has the barcode on the barcode label 11 read by the reading unit 25 of the customer POS terminal 3, so that the customer can accept the cleaning item by themselves from the second time onwards, thereby appropriately reducing the burden on the dry cleaning shop employee.

[0057] In addition, the information processing device may be configured to include, in addition to a POS terminal for store clerks and a POS terminal for customers, a management server capable of communicating with both POS terminals via a network, and a photographing unit such as a camera for photographing cleaning items.

[0058] Furthermore, when the information processing device is configured to include a photographing unit, the photographing unit may photograph the laundry including the identification member attached to the laundry to obtain image information at the time of the first reception (for example, a still image or video of the laundry at the time of the first reception), and store the obtained image information in association with the identification information of the identification member. In this case, complaints from customers regarding laundry received by the self-service service from the second time onwards (malicious complaints, etc.) can be appropriately handled.

[0059] Furthermore, the identification information carried by the identification member is not limited to the one-dimensional barcode shown in FIG. 3, but may be a two-dimensional barcode such as a QR code (registered trademark).

[0060] Furthermore, the store clerk terminal and the customer terminal are not limited to POS terminals with POS functions, and may be terminal devices such as tablets and smartphones that do not have POS functions. [Explanation of symbols]

[0061] 1. Cleaning system as an information processing device 2. POS terminal for store clerks 3 Customer POS terminals, which are customer terminals 11 Barcode labels as identification elements W Cleaning Products

Claims

1. Equipped with a customer terminal operated by customers who come to the store to pick up their dry cleaning items, The customer terminal performs a self-service reception process for the cleaning items with identification information to be deposited by the customer based on the customer's own operation.

23. An information processing apparatus comprising:

2. An identification member that is attached to a cleaning item that is received from a customer by a cleaning store clerk and has identification information for identifying the cleaning item; A store clerk terminal operated by the store clerk; A customer terminal operated by the customer, When the store clerk receives the cleaning item without the identification member attached from the customer, the identification member is attached to the cleaning item, and information about the cleaning item is associated with identification information of the identification member based on an operation of the store clerk terminal by the store clerk, When the customer leaves the cleaning item to which the identification member is already attached, the identification information of the identification member is read based on the operation of the customer terminal by the customer himself / herself.

23. An information processing apparatus comprising:

3. The identification member is fixedly attached to the cleaning item by thermocompression.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2.

4. The identification member is a barcode label having a barcode attached thereto as identification information.

4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the information processing apparatus is a computer.

5. The customer terminal outputs information encouraging the addition of a value-added service for the cleaning item corresponding to the identification information read based on the customer's own operation.

4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus is a computer.

6. A method for accepting items for cleaning at a dry cleaning store, comprising: When the cleaning item is received for the first time, a staff member of the cleaning store attaches an identification member having identification information to the cleaning item; When receiving the cleaning product for the second or subsequent time, a customer who visits the cleaning store reads the identification information of the identification member into a customer terminal. A reception method comprising:

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