Point management service system

Abstract

To provide a point management service system which enables a point imparting source salon to easily collect point capital.SOLUTION: In a point management service system 1, a point processing section 12 of a management server 10 performs point utilization processing on the basis of a first point value calculated using a first point conversion rate for the number of utilized points when a utilization destination of points is an imparting source salon, performs point utilization processing on the basis of a second point value calculated using a second point conversion rate lower than the first point conversion rate when the utilization destination of the points is a member store different from the imparting source salon, and performs return processing for imparting a valuable value defining a difference between the first point value and the second point value as an upper limit to the imparting source salon, and the imparting source salon can select whether to receive the valuable value in a return form of money or points.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a points management service system to which salons such as beauty salons and hair salons are affiliated. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Point services are widely available in which, when a customer purchases a service or product offered by an affiliated store, the customer is given points according to the purchase amount.

[0003] Patent Document 1 describes that registered users who make a reservation and use a beauty salon through the beauty salon reservation system are issued points according to the amount paid. The user can use these points to use the beauty salon at a discounted rate next time (paragraphs 0035, 0056, etc.). In the beauty salon reservation system described in Patent Document 1, a usage fee is charged to the beauty salon according to the amount paid to the beauty salon by the user who made the reservation through the beauty salon reservation system (paragraphs 0054-0055).

[0004] Generally, in point services, the funds for the points given to customers are often borne by the affiliated store, such as a beauty salon, as part of the service fee. In exchange for bearing the funds for the points, the affiliated store can enjoy the effect of encouraging customers to return to the store.

[0005] Furthermore, if the points are common points that can be used at stores other than the store that issued them, convenience for customers will be improved, and the appeal to customers will be further enhanced. Non-Patent Document 1 describes a points service in which points granted to customers according to the fees for services provided by affiliated salons can be used at other affiliated salons. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] JP 2007-334569 A [Non-patent literature]

[0007] [Non-Patent Document 1] "Recruit ID Terms and Conditions: List of Points Accumulation and Terms of Use" https: / / point.recruit.co.jp / doc / terms / pointlist2.html Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] In a point service that awards shared points, when a customer pays part or all of the bill with points, the point service management company pays the store where the points are used an amount equivalent to the number of points used. If the store that awards the points and the store where the points are used are the same, the store that awards the points can collect the points as sales.

[0009] However, when a customer uses points at a store other than the store that gave them the points, the amount of money equivalent to the number of points used is paid to the salon where the points were used. In this case, there was a problem that the funds paid by the store that gave the points were consumed at the other store and did not contribute to the sales of the salon itself.

[0010] An object of the present invention is to provide a points management service system that makes it easy for salons that grant points to collect the points' original funds. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] In order to solve the above problems, a point management service system is provided in which a management server, terminal devices used by a plurality of salons, and terminal devices used by salon customers are connected via a network, and the system manages points granted by salons to salon customers, the management server comprising a database that stores information on customer-owned points linked to salons that granted the points, and information on salon-owned points that are refunded to the salons and accumulated as salon customers use the points, and a point processing unit that executes processing for granting, using, and refunding points in response to a request from any of the terminal devices, and the point processing unit detects whether the destination of points is the salon or salons that use the points, and When the salon is the granting salon, the point usage process is carried out based on a first point value calculated using a first point conversion rate on the number of points used, and when the point usage destination is an affiliated store other than the granting salon, the point usage process is carried out based on a second point value calculated using a second point conversion rate which is lower than the first point conversion rate, and a refund process is carried out to grant the granting salon a valuable amount up to the difference between the first point value and the second point value, and the granting salon can select whether to receive the valuable amount in the form of cash or points.

[0012] It is also preferable that the first point conversion rate is 1 yen per point, and the second point conversion rate is 0.5 yen per point.

[0013] It is also preferable that the salon is an affiliated store different from the salon that provided the points.

[0014] It is also preferable that terminal devices used by wholesalers who wholesale products to salons are connected to the network, and that the management server is equipped with a product order site providing unit that provides a product order site that accepts orders for the products to salon customers' terminal devices, and an order processing unit that accepts orders from salon customers via the product order site and transmits information about the order to the salon's terminal device and the wholesaler's terminal device, and that the wholesaler's terminal device executes shipping processing to ship the ordered products to a specified delivery address based on the order information received from the order processing unit.

[0015] It is also preferable that the management server has a payment function for the purchase price of the product, the salon can use the salon-held points to pay for the purchase price of the ordered product, and the point processing unit executes an allocation process to allocate the salon-held points to part or all of the purchase price of the product based on a point allocation request from the salon terminal device.

[0016] In addition, it is preferable that information on the points held by the customer is stored in association with the date and time of point award, and that the management server further includes a point usage priority determination unit, which determines which points will be used preferentially based on information on the date and time of award when a salon customer uses points to pay for all or part of the price of a product or service. Effect of the Invention

[0017] The present invention makes it possible to provide a points management service system that enables salons that grant points to easily collect the points. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration example of a point management service system in an embodiment. [Diagram 2] This is a schematic diagram showing an overview of the process of point refund when points are used at an affiliated store other than the salon that issued the points. [Diagram 3]FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a flow of point allocation. [Figure 4] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of the refund process when points are used at the salon that issued the points. [Diagram 5] This is a diagram showing an example of the refund flow when the salon that issues the points and the salon where the points are used are different. [Figure 6] 13 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of a customer-owned point information and point usage priority order identifying unit; FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing an overview of a point management service system according to a second embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a flow of sales via a product ordering site. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019] [Main components of the points management service system] The point management service system 1 realizes a point management service that manages points given to salon customers who use salons such as beauty salons or hair salons. In this specification, the term "salon" includes various salons that provide body care, such as nail salons, eyelash salons, makeup salons, and osteopathic, chiropractic, and massage salons. In addition, member stores of the point management service may include stores of other business types than salons. In this specification, the means used for payment, such as cash, electronic money, bank transfers, gift certificates, and credit cards, excluding points, are collectively referred to as "cash, etc."

[0020] 1, the point management service system 1 of this embodiment includes a management server 10, a salon terminal device 20, and a customer terminal device 30. The management server 10 is connected to the salon terminal device 20 and the customer terminal device 30 so as to be able to communicate with each other via a communication network NW such as the Internet.

[0021] Salon terminal device 20 is a terminal device operated by the salon manager and / or staff to carry out salon business. Salon terminal device 20 may be a POS (Point Of Sales) terminal device, a tablet terminal or smartphone terminal equipped with a POS register function, or a personal computer.

[0022] The customer terminal device 30 is a mobile terminal device such as a smartphone terminal or a tablet terminal operated by a salon customer. Note that the customer terminal device 30 is not limited to a mobile terminal device, and may include a personal computer that allows the salon customer to do online shopping at home.

[0023] The point management service system 1 may include a wholesaler terminal device 40. The wholesaler terminal device 40 is a terminal device such as a personal computer that is used by a wholesaler for wholesale sales operations. A wholesaler is a business that wholesales products to salons. The products are cosmetics, hair care products, etc. that the salon sells to salon customers in a real store or a virtual store. An embodiment in which the wholesaler terminal device 40 is connected to the management server 10 via a network NW will be described in detail later.

[0024] The management server 10 is a server for a management company that provides a point management service to salons and customers. The management server 10 of the embodiment includes a database 11 and a point processing unit 12. In the following, the database may be abbreviated to "DB."

[0025] (Database) In the embodiment, DB11 stores salon and staff registration information 111, which is registration information of salons and salon staff who are members of the point management service provided by the management company, and customer information 112 of salon customers who use the salon. The customer information 112 is stored in association with the salons and / or salon staff registered in DB11.

[0026] DB 11 stores customer point information 113 relating to points held by salon customers, and salon point information 114 relating to points held by salons.

[0027] In the embodiment, the customer-owned point information 113 includes customer identification information such as the salon customer's ID and name, point balance information, the date and time when points were awarded and information about the store that awarded the points, history information regarding the awarding and use of points, and point expiration date information.

[0028] In the embodiment, salon owned point information 114 includes salon identification information such as the salon's affiliated store ID and salon name, point balance information, history information regarding point refunds and use, and point expiration date information.

[0029] Furthermore, it is preferable that product information 115 of the products handled by the wholesaler is stored in the DB 11. The wholesaler can input and edit the product information 115 from the wholesaler terminal device 40.

[0030] (Point processing section) When the point processing unit 12 receives a point processing request from the salon terminal device 20 or the customer terminal device 30, it performs processing to increase or decrease the points balance held by the salon and / or salon customer based on the point processing request.

[0031] Examples of processes performed by the point processing unit 12 to increase or decrease the balance of points held by a customer include a balance addition process when points are awarded to a salon customer, and a balance subtraction process when a salon customer uses points.

[0032] Examples of processes in which the point processing unit 12 increases or decreases the balance of points held by a salon include a balance addition process when points are refunded to the salon from the management company based on the salon customer's use of points, and a balance subtraction process when the salon uses its own held points to pay for purchases to a wholesaler.

[0033] [Outline of the points management service system] Next, an overview of the point management service system 1 will be described with reference to FIG. 2. Hereinafter, P (points) may be used as a unit of point quantity. As shown in FIG. 2, when a salon customer purchases a service or product from a salon and pays for it, the point management service system 1 grants the salon customer a number of points based on a predetermined standard (in this example, 1000 P are granted). The service is, for example, a treatment provided by the salon. The product is, for example, a hair care product or cosmetics sold by the salon in a real or virtual store.

[0034] It should be noted that points awarded to salon customers are not limited to points based on payment of the purchase price, but may also be awarded based on, for example, the customer registering as a new salon member, introducing friends and acquaintances, or through optional campaigns.

[0035] In addition to the point management service, the point management service system 1 preferably also provides a reservation service that accepts and manages salon reservations, and a product sales service that allows customers to order products through a virtual store for each salon. It is also preferable that points can be awarded to salon customers for using the reservation service and purchasing behavior at the virtual store.

[0036] The funds for granting points to salon customers shall, in principle, be borne by the salon that provided the salon customer with the service or product; however, this is not limited to this and there is no prohibition on management companies providing point management services bearing part or all of the funds for granting points.

[0037] As shown in Fig. 2(a), when a salon customer uses points granted by salon A at salon A (the granting salon), the management company refunds to the granting salon an amount according to the number of points used. In this example, the management server 10 converts the number of points used, 1000P, into a first point value of 1000 yen based on a point conversion rate of 1 yen / 1P, and performs a process of refunding 1000 yen to salon A. Note that the specific value of the point conversion rate is not limited to this, and various rates can be set.

[0038] Incidentally, the points awarded in the point management service system 1 are common points that can be used in common at affiliated stores of the point management service. Salon customers can use the awarded points to pay for purchases at affiliated stores other than the salon that awarded the points.

[0039] As shown in Figure 2(b), when a salon customer uses points awarded by salon A at a salon B different from salon A, a point conversion rate that is lower than the point conversion rate applied when points are used at the original salon is applied.

[0040] In the example shown in Fig. 2(b), the point conversion rate applied when a salon customer uses points at Salon B, an affiliated store different from the salon that issued the points, is 0.5 yen / 1P. In this example, management server 10 performs a point usage process in which the number of points to be used, 1000P, specified by the salon customer is converted into a second point value of 500 yen and applied to the payment of the fee to Salon B. Note that the point conversion rate applied to usage at an affiliated store different from the salon that issued the points is not limited to this rate and can be a variety of rates.

[0041] Furthermore, the management server 10 calculates the difference between the first point value (1000 yen) and the second point value (500 yen). In the example shown in Fig. 2, the difference is 500 yen. In the point management service system 1 of the present invention, a valuable amount up to this difference is returned to salon A.

[0042] At this time, salon A can select whether to receive the valuable value in the form of cash or points. The management server 10 executes a refund process to give money or points to salon A according to the selection made by salon A. In the example shown in FIG. 2(b), 500 yen or 500 P equivalent to the difference is refunded to salon A.

[0043] As a result, in the point management service system 1, Salon A (the point issuing salon) can recover at least a portion of the original funds even if the points it has issued to salon customers at its own expense are used at another affiliated store. In addition, the fact that the point conversion rate at the issuing salon is higher than that at other affiliated stores provides a strong motivation for salon customers to use their points at the issuing salon, which can contribute to an increase in the repeat rate of salon customers.

[0044] From the perspective of Salon B (a salon that uses the points and is different from the salon that issued the points), the value of the points converted from the number of points used by the customer will be refunded in cash or other form by the management company, and the amount other than the value of the points will be received in cash or other form from the salon customer, so no burden will be incurred.

[0045] Furthermore, in the point management service system 1, the salon that provides the points can select whether to receive the valuable in the form of points or money. If the salon selects to receive the valuable in the form of points, the transfer fee for receiving the valuable can be free or a small amount, and the loss of the valuable can be suppressed.

[0046] In this way, the present invention makes it possible to provide a points management service system 1 that allows salons that have granted points to easily collect the points.

[0047] It is preferable that salons can freely set the rate at which points are awarded to salon customers within a legal range. In the point management service system 1 of the embodiment, when the transaction value of the provided service is 1,000 yen or more, the salon can freely set the point award rate within a range of up to two-tenths of the transaction value, which is the upper limit of the limit set by the Act against Unjustifiable Premiums and Misleading Representations.

[0048] In conventional point management services for salons, the point allocation rate for salon customers is about 1-2% of the transaction price, and salons generally cannot change the point allocation rate. Instead of the management company setting a uniform point allocation rate, a point management service allows salons to freely set the point allocation rate within the legal range, allowing salons to set a higher point allocation rate than with general point management services for salons.

[0049] If salons can freely set the point allocation rate, it will be easier for salon customers to accumulate points, which will increase their motivation to use points. This will make it easier to increase salon sales by allocating points. Furthermore, in the point management service system 1 of the present invention, the value of points used at other salons is returned to the salon that issued the points, reducing the burden on the salon of awarding points.

[0050] [Procedure for awarding points to salon customers] Next, with reference to FIG. 3, a specific example of a procedure for awarding points to a salon customer when the customer pays a part or all of the price of the service and / or product to the salon in cash or the like will be described.

[0051] (Steps S1, S2) The salon customer receives treatment services at the salon and pays for them at the salon's cash register. In the example shown in FIG. 3, the salon customer pays for the entire treatment service fee in cash or the like (e.g., electronic money) using customer terminal device 30. Payment can be made according to known procedures. Note that the fee paid in steps S1 and S2 is not limited to the fee for treatment at a real store, but may also be the fee for purchasing goods at a real store or a virtual store.

[0052] (Step S3) The salon awards a predetermined number of points to the salon customer based on the amount paid in step S2. At this time, salon A terminal device 20A transmits a customer point award request to management server 10. The customer point award request includes information such as the salon's identification information and the number of points to be awarded.

[0053] In addition to the points based on the amount paid by the salon customer, points may also be given to the salon customer in return for, for example, introducing a friend or registering as a new member. In this example, 1000 points are given to the salon customer.

[0054] (Step S4) When management server 10 receives the customer point granting request, point processing unit 12 performs a process of granting points to the salon customer. Specifically, point processing unit 12 adds 1000P to the salon customer's point balance and updates customer point information 113. In this point granting process, the identification information of the salon that granted the points is linked to information such as the number of points granted and the date and time of granting, and is stored in DB11.

[0055] (Step S5) Next, management server 10 transmits, at a predetermined timing, to salon A terminal device 20A, a payment request for the source of the points granted to the customer.

[0056] (Step S6) Salon A executes a remittance process for the point funds in response to the point funds payment request in step S5. In this example, 1000 yen in point funds is paid for 1000 points granted to the salon customer.

[0057] [Procedure for refunding points to a salon when a salon customer uses points] Next, with reference to Figure 4, an example of the procedure for refunding points to salon A when a salon customer uses points at salon A will be described. In this example, the points used by the salon customer are 1000 P that salon A granted to the salon customer in steps S3 to S4 of Figure 3. That is, this section describes the flow of point refund to the salon that granted the points when the salon that granted the points and the salon where the points are used are the same.

[0058] (Step S7) As shown in FIG. 4, salon A uses salon A terminal device 20A to present the price of the service or product to the salon customer (3000 yen in this example).

[0059] (Step S8) Here, the salon customer can select a payment method for the presented fee. In this example, the selectable payment methods are payment by cash or the like, or payment with points. Although not shown in the example shown in FIG. 4, salon customers who wish to pay with points can check their point balance by displaying a points management screen on customer terminal device 30. In an embodiment, if the point balance is equal to or greater than the point usable unit (e.g., 100 P units), the points can be used for at least part of the payment.

[0060] On the point management screen, the salon customer can confirm that he or she has the number of points available for payment, and can also confirm the point conversion rate. The point conversion rate is the conversion rate between points and currency. The salon customer sends a request to display the point conversion rate from the customer terminal device 30 to the management server 10.

[0061] (Step S9) Having received the request to display the point conversion rate, management server 10 references the information of the salon that provided the points linked to the points that were instructed to be used and determines whether the salon that provided the points matches the salon where the points were used. If the salon that provided the points matches the salon where the points were used, proceed to step S10; if they do not, proceed to step S2-4 shown in FIG. 5.

[0062] (Step S10) In the example shown in Figure 4, all of the customer's owned points that the salon customer has instructed to use were previously granted by salon A, and the salon that granted the points and the salon where the points will be used are the same. Management server 10 causes a predetermined first point conversion rate to be displayed on the display of customer terminal device 30. At this time, it is preferable to also display the point value calculated based on the first point conversion rate. Note that the first conversion rate in this example is 1 yen / 1 point.

[0063] (Step S11) After checking the point conversion rate, the salon customer indicates his / her intention to use all of his / her points (1000 P) to pay the bill. In this example, 1000 P is converted to 1000 yen (first point value), so the salon customer pays the remaining 2000 yen to the salon in cash or the like.

[0064] (Step S12) In order to pay 1,000 yen of the bill with points, the salon customer operates customer terminal device 30 to display a customer identification code linked to the customer's owned point information 113 on the screen of customer terminal device 30. The customer identification code is, for example, a barcode or a two-dimensional code.

[0065] (Step S13) The salon staff reads the customer identification code displayed on customer terminal device 30 using salon A terminal device 20A.

[0066] (Step S14) The salon staff member uses salon A terminal device 20A to transmit a point redemption request including the customer identification code and the number of points to be used to management server 10.

[0067] (Step S15) When server 10 receives a point appropriation request from salon A terminal device 20A, point processor 12 performs an appropriation process for the customer's points. Specifically, point processor 12 subtracts 1000 P from the salon customer's point balance and updates customer's point information 113. In this point appropriation process, the identification information of the salon where the points were used and information such as the number of points used and the date and time of use are linked and stored in DB11.

[0068] (Step S16) Next, at a predetermined timing, management server 10 executes a process for transferring the refund associated with the use of points to salon A. As a result, salon A completes collection of the entire amount presented to the salon customer in step S7.

[0069] [Refund procedure when the salon that issued the points and the salon where the points are used are different] Next, with reference to FIG. 5, an example of a procedure for refunding points to a salon that has provided points and a salon that has used points when the salon is different from the salon that has provided points will be described.

[0070] Figure 5 shows the flow of a transaction following the point-granting transaction shown in Figure 3. The points used by the salon customer in the example shown in Figure 5 are 1000 P granted to the salon customer by salon A in steps S3 to S4 in Figure 3. That is, Figure 5 shows an example of point refund to salon A and salon B when the salon customer uses the points granted by salon A at salon B. Note that explanations of parts similar to the flow when the granting salon and the destination salon are the same may be simplified.

[0071] (Step S2-1) As shown in FIG. 5, salon B terminal device 20B presents the price of a service or product (3000 yen in this example) to the salon customer.

[0072] (Step S2-2) The salon customer checks on the point management screen whether there is a point balance that can be used for payment. If there is a point balance that can be used, the salon customer can send a display request for the point conversion rate from customer terminal device 30 to management server 10 and check the point conversion rate at the store where the salon customer is using the service.

[0073] (Step S2-3) When management server 10 receives a request to display the point conversion rate, point processing unit 12 refers to the information of the salon that provided the points linked to the points that were instructed to be used, and determines whether the salon that provided the points matches the salon where the points were used. If the salon that provided the points matches the salon where the points were used, proceed to step S10 in FIG. 4, and if they do not, proceed to step S2-4 shown in FIG. 5.

[0074] (Step S2-4) If the salon that has been instructed to use the points differs from the destination salon, management server 10 causes customer terminal device 30 to display a second point conversion rate that is lower than the first point conversion rate in step S10 of Fig. 4. In this example, the second point conversion rate is 0.5 yen / 1P. That is, 1000P held by a salon customer can be used to pay for the first point value of 1000 yen if used at salon A, but will be deducted to the second point value of 500 yen if used at salon B.

[0075] (Step S2-5) In this example, the salon customer wishes to spend the points at Salon B even if the value of the points has decreased, for example because the points are nearing their expiration date, and indicates his / her intention to use 1,000 P as part of the payment. As described above, the second point value is equivalent to 500 yen, so the salon customer pays 2,500 yen in cash etc. and 1,000 P in points for the bill of 3,000 yen.

[0076] (Step S2-6) In order to make a points payment, the salon customer operates customer terminal device 30 to display a customer identification code linked to the customer's owned point information 113 on the screen of customer terminal device 30. The customer identification code is, for example, a barcode or a two-dimensional code.

[0077] (Step S2-7) The staff member of Salon B reads the customer identification code displayed on customer terminal device 30 using Salon B terminal device 20B.

[0078] (Step S2-8) The staff member of salon B uses salon B terminal device 20B to transmit a point redemption request including the customer identification code and the number of points to be used to management server 10.

[0079] (Step S2-9) When the management server 10 receives a point appropriation request from the salon B terminal device 20B, the point processing unit 12 performs an appropriation process of the customer's points. Specifically, the point processing unit 12 subtracts 1000 P from the point balance of the salon customer and updates the customer's point information 113.

[0080] (Step S2-10) Salon A selects the form of return of the returned value from either cash or points, and notifies management server 10 of the selection.

[0081] The timing of the selection of the rebate form is not limited to the time series shown in Fig. 5, and can be selected at any stage prior to the refund process in step S2-12. For example, Salon A may select the rebate form when joining the point management service and register it in the management server 10. If Salon A wishes to change the selected rebate form, it can do so by following a prescribed procedure.

[0082] (Step S2-11) At a predetermined timing, management server 10 calculates the amount of value to be refunded to salon A based on the salon customer's point use in step S2-5. In the embodiment, management server 10 calculates the difference between the first point value based on the first point conversion rate (1000 yen in this example) and the second point value based on the second point conversion rate applied in step S2-4 (500 yen in this example).

[0083] The management server 10 calculates the value to be refunded to salon A based on a predetermined standard, with the difference as the upper limit. In the example shown in Figure 5, the value to be refunded to salon A is 500 yen or 500 P, which corresponds to the difference.

[0084] (Step S2-12) The management server 10 performs a refund process to pay the valuable value to the salon A in the form of points or money, depending on the selection of the salon A. At this time, a predetermined fee may be deducted.

[0085] Management server 10 also executes a process of transferring money equivalent to the second point value calculated based on the second point conversion rate to salon B, the point usage destination. Salon B receives 2500 yen in cash or the like from the salon customer and 500 yen from the management company, thereby being able to collect the exact amount claimed, in relation to the 3000 yen claimed in step S2-1.

[0086] [Point usage priority order determination unit] 6, in the embodiment, customer owned point information 113 is stored in a state where the date and time of award and the number of points awarded are linked to each salon that awarded the points. The management server 10 in the embodiment includes a point management screen generation unit 13, which can display a point management screen organized by salon that awarded the points on the display of the customer terminal device 30 in response to a display request from the customer terminal device 30.

[0087] The point management screen preferably displays the point accumulation status for each salon, the expiration date of each point, a first point conversion rate, and a second point conversion rate. Based on the information displayed on the point management screen, salon customers can prioritize the use of points that were given the oldest, or use points at a salon that gives them a higher point conversion rate.

[0088] The management server 10 preferably further includes a point usage priority specification unit 14. In the embodiment, the point usage priority specification unit 14 refers to the customer-owned point information 113 and assigns usage priorities in the order of points granted from the oldest to the newest.

[0089] In the embodiment, when a salon customer uses points to pay for all or part of the price of a product or service, the point usage priority specification unit 14 specifies the points to be used preferentially based on the points' granted date and time information in ascending order of time. The point processing unit 12 executes a process of consuming points in order of the oldest granted date and time based on the usage priority set by the point usage priority specification unit 14.

[0090] The point usage priority specification unit 14 may use the point conversion rate as well as the point grant date and time as a parameter of usage priority, and calculate the most advantageous combination of point usage for the salon customer.

[0091] With the above-described configuration, in the point management service system 1 of this embodiment, even if points are used at another affiliated store, at least a portion of the points are returned to the salon that issued the points. In addition, the salon can select the form of return, which improves convenience for the salon.

[0092] Second Embodiment Next, a second embodiment will be described. The point management service system 1 of the second embodiment includes a wholesaler terminal device 40. The management server 10 includes a product order site providing unit 15 as shown in FIG.

[0093] The product order site providing unit 15 provides a product order site for each salon affiliated with the point management service to sell products to its salon customers to the customer terminal device 30. The products can include a variety of items such as cosmetics, hair care products, accessories, and daily necessities that wholesalers wholesale to affiliated salons.

[0094] The product ordering site in the embodiment is a website where listed products can be ordered. Salon customers browse the product ordering site, select the products they wish to purchase, and place an order for the products online. In the point management service system 1 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, a dedicated product ordering site (SA, SB, SC, SD) is provided for each affiliated salon. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the ordered products are delivered to the salon by the wholesaler based on the salon customer's designation. Therefore, the salon customer in this example picks up the products and pays for the products at the salon's storefront.

[0095] 7, a wholesaler inputs, edits, and registers product information 115 using the wholesaler terminal device 40. The product order site providing unit 15 posts product information on the product order site based on the product information 115, and can display the information on the customer terminal device 30.

[0096] The product lineup posted on the product ordering site may include products recommended by the management company, or may include products selected independently by the salon. In this embodiment, the products included in the product information 115 are automatically posted as the product lineup on the product ordering site.

[0097] It is also possible to configure the product ordering site so that salons can select the categories of products to be listed on the product ordering site. This allows salons to, for example, list cosmetics and hair care products on their product ordering site but not accessories, making it easier to reflect the salon's intentions in product sales.

[0098] In this embodiment, when a salon customer orders a product listed on the product ordering site, the salon incurs an obligation to pay the purchase price of that product. In other words, the salon does not have to bear a purchase debt until the product is actually ordered, and does not have to hold the inventory itself. Note that the configuration is not limited to the salon purchasing the product after a salon customer orders the product, and it is also possible for the salon to hold inventory of a popular product at the salon storefront, for example.

[0099] It is also preferable that the salon can use salon points to pay the purchase price to the wholesaler. In the point management service system 1 of the embodiment shown in Fig. 7, the management server 10 provides a payment service for the purchase price. The point processing unit 12 of the embodiment receives an application request from the salon terminal device 20 to apply salon points to all or part of the purchase price, and executes point application processing. The point application request may be transmitted from the salon terminal device 20 to the management server 10 via the wholesaler terminal device 40.

[0100] As a result, in the point management service system 1 of this embodiment, a salon can use the value received when points granted to salon customers are used at an affiliated store other than its own salon to pay off purchase liabilities for goods, thereby increasing the convenience of the point management service for the salon that grants the points.

[0101] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, a salon customer makes a reservation at salon A using customer terminal device 30, and management server 10 manages the reservation. Based on the reservation, the salon customer visits salon A and receives treatment. At this time, the staff member in charge of the treatment can guide the salon customer to the salon's product ordering site SA and recommend products listed there. During the treatment or after returning home, the salon customer can browse the product ordering site SA using customer terminal device 30 and order products they like from the product ordering site SA.

[0102] A product order request at the product order site SA is transmitted from the customer terminal device 30 to the management server 10. The order request includes at least information about salon A linked to the product order site SA, orderer information capable of identifying the salon customer who placed the order, product information capable of identifying the ordered product, and delivery address information for the ordered product.

[0103] It is preferable that the salon customer can specify Salon A as the delivery address for the products, in addition to their home address or work address. The embodiment shown in FIG. 7 represents a case where the salon customer specifies Salon A as the delivery address for the ordered products. With such a configuration, the salon customer will visit Salon A to receive the ordered products, which is likely to increase the chances of repeat visits to Salon A. Furthermore, for salon customers, the number of options for where to receive the products increases, which increases convenience.

[0104] The management server 10 of the second embodiment includes an order processing unit 16 that processes product orders via a product ordering site. The order processing unit 16 of the embodiment accepts product purchase orders from salon customers via the product ordering site SA, and transmits the order information to the salon terminal device 20 and the wholesaler terminal device 40.

[0105] When the wholesaler management device 40 receives the order information from the order processing unit 16, the wholesaler ships the product to the specified delivery address based on the order information. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 7, as described above, the delivery address is specified as salon A, so the wholesaler delivers the ordered product to salon A.

[0106] In addition, salon customers can use their points to purchase products on the product ordering site. Conventionally, salons have wanted to use the points given to salon customers to attract repeat customers to their salons, but if the options for using points were limited to treatment fees or the point giving rate was small and it was difficult to accumulate points, it was sometimes difficult to shorten the interval until the salon customer returned to the salon.

[0107] However, with the point management service system 1 that allows product sales on a product ordering site, salon customers have more options for where to use their points. Also, for example, if points are awarded at a high rate according to the treatment fee at salon A, salon customers will receive product suggestions from salon staff during treatment, and will be more motivated to use the points awarded for the treatment fee to purchase products on the product ordering site. This makes it easier to connect the points awarded to salon customers to the next sale in a short period of time.

[0108] With regard to product purchases on a product ordering site, as with the payment of treatment fees, it is preferable to set a different point conversion rate between the product ordering site SA of the salon that provided the points (Salon A) and the product ordering sites of affiliated salons other than the salon that provided the points (Salon B, Salon C, Salon D, etc.), and to return a value equivalent to the difference to Salon A.

[0109] This allows the point management service system 1 to make it easier for the point-granting salon to recover the points-granting funds that it has incurred. In addition, the motivation for salon customers to use points at the salon that has granted the points is further strengthened.

[0110] [Product sales process via product ordering site] Next, an example of the flow of sales through a product ordering site will be described with reference to Fig. 8. Note that Fig. 8 shows an example in which a salon is specified as the delivery destination of the ordered product.

[0111] (Step S3-1) The salon staff presents the product ordering site to the salon customer while providing treatment, and suggests products listed on the site.

[0112] (Step S3-2) The salon customer who has received the proposal from the staff member considers whether or not to purchase the product. If the customer does not purchase the product, the customer completes the payment for the treatment and ends the process.

[0113] (Step S3-3) If the product desired to be purchased is in stock at the salon and available for sale, the salon customer can choose to purchase it at the salon. If the product is not in stock at the salon, the salon customer can order the product online via a product ordering site. Note that this online order can be placed at home after returning home, rather than at the salon.

[0114] (Step S3-4) When the salon staff member has completed the treatment for the salon customer, the salon staff member performs accounting for the treatment fee.

[0115] (Steps S3-5, S3-6) The salon performs a process of awarding points to the salon customer in accordance with the amount of the treatment fee paid by the salon customer.

[0116] (Step S3-7) A point allocation request is transmitted from salon terminal device 20 to management server 10.

[0117] (Steps S3-8, S3-9) When management server 10 receives a point granting request from salon terminal device 20, point processing unit 12 executes a point granting process to increase the balance of points held by the customer, and the salon customer receives the points.

[0118] (Step S3-10) At the request of the management company, the salon performs a remittance process to remit to the management company the amount of money equivalent to the points granted to salon customers. Note that the timing of the payment of the points is not limited to the timeline shown in Figure 8, and may be before or after step S3-11 and subsequent steps.

[0119] (Steps S3-11, S3-12) The salon customer logs in to the product ordering site using customer terminal device 30 and selects the products to purchase. At this time, the salon customer can select the delivery address and payment method for the ordered products (not shown).

[0120] It is preferable that the salon customer be able to select and specify the delivery address of the product from among the home address or work address of the salon customer, the address of the gift recipient, the salon address (for in-store pickup), etc. It is also preferable that the payment method for the product price be selectable from various payment methods such as payment at the salon store, credit card payment, smartphone payment, bank transfer, cash on delivery, and convenience store payment, in addition to payment at the salon store. In this example, the salon customer selects the salon as the delivery address, and chooses to pay for the product price at the salon store when receiving the product.

[0121] (Step S3-13) The salon customer transmits an order request to management server 10 for the selected product.

[0122] (Step S3-14) The order processing unit 16 of the management server 10 transmits product order information to the wholesaler terminal device 40 and the salon terminal device 20 in response to the received order request.

[0123] (Step S3-15) In response to the received order information, the wholesaler performs a product shipping process using the wholesaler terminal device 40. In this example, the wholesaler delivers the product to the salon linked to the product ordering site used by the salon customer.

[0124] (Step S3-16) The salon that has received the product delivered by the wholesaler uses salon terminal device 20 to transmit a product arrival notification to customer terminal device 30.

[0125] (Step S3-17) Once the salon customer has received the product arrival notification, they can visit the salon at a time of their choosing to receive the product and pay for it at the store. The salon customer can use points to pay for the product. The flow of point usage and refunds when the salon customer uses points to pay for all or part of the product price is the same as that shown in Figure 4, and is not shown in Figure 8. If the salon customer does not use points to pay for the product price or if the points used do not cover the entire product price, they can pay all or part of the product price with cash, etc.

[0126] Although the present invention has been described above by taking the embodiment as an example, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment and can be implemented in various forms. For example, the management server 10 in the embodiment has a function for settling the price of products or services and the purchase price, but the management server 10 and the settlement server may be provided separately. [Explanation of symbols]

[0127] 1. Point Management Service System 10 Management Server 11 Database 12 Point processing section 13 Point management screen generation section 14 Point usage priority specification section 15 Product Order Site Provider 16 Order Processing Unit 20 Salon terminal device 30 Customer terminal equipment 40 Wholesaler terminal equipment

Claims

1. A management server, terminal devices used by a plurality of salons, and terminal devices used by salon customers are connected via a network, A points management service system for managing points given by a salon to salon customers, The management server includes: A database storing information on customer-owned points linked to the salon that provided the points, and information on salon-owned points that are refunded to the salon and accumulated when the salon customer uses the points; a point processing unit that executes processes for granting, using, and refunding points in response to a request from any of the terminal devices; The point processing unit: When the points are to be used at the salon that provided the points, a point use process is performed based on a first point value calculated by applying a first point conversion rate to the number of points used; When the points are to be used at an affiliated store different from the salon that provided the points, a point usage process is carried out based on a second point value calculated using a second point conversion rate that is lower than the first point conversion rate, and a refund process is carried out to provide the salon that provided the points with a valuable amount up to the difference between the first point value and the second point value. A points management service system in which the providing salon can select whether to receive the valuable value in the form of money or points.

2. 2. The points management service system according to claim 1, wherein the first point conversion rate is 1 yen per point, and the second point conversion rate is 0.5 yen per point.

3. The points management service system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the salon is a salon that is an affiliated store different from the salon that provides the points.

4. A terminal device used by a wholesaler who wholesales products to a salon is connected to the network, The management server includes: a product order site providing unit that provides a product order site for receiving orders for the products to a salon customer's terminal device; an order processing unit that receives orders from salon customers via the product ordering site and transmits information about the orders to a terminal device of the salon and a terminal device of a wholesaler; 2. The points management service system according to claim 1, wherein the wholesaler's terminal device executes a shipping process for shipping the ordered products to a specified delivery address based on the order information received from the order processing unit.

5. The management server has a function of settling the purchase price of the product, The salon is The salon points can be used to pay for the ordered product, The point processing unit: The points management service system according to claim 4, further comprising an allocation process for allocating salon points to a part or all of the purchase price of the product based on a points allocation request from the salon terminal device.

6. The information on the customer's points is stored in association with the date and time of awarding, The management server includes: A point usage priority order specifying unit is further provided, The point usage priority order specifying unit, 5. The points management service system according to claim 1 or 4, wherein when a salon customer uses points to pay for all or part of the cost of a product or service, the points to be used preferentially are specified based on information on the date and time of award.

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