Management apparatus and program

Abstract

To provide a commodity sales supporting technique for improving the satisfaction of a user who is considering the purchase of a commodity in a real store.SOLUTION: A management apparatus manages commodities to be sold on an EC site and in a real store and manages a display terminal installed in the real store, the management apparatus including: a commodity information storage unit which stores EC-site commodity information to be displayed on the EC site, the information relating to commodities to be sold on the EC site and in the real store; a receiving unit which receives an instruction relating to displaying commodities in the real store; a processing unit which extracts, based on the instruction, necessary information from the EC-site commodity information and processes the information as real-store information to be displayed in the real store; and a transmission unit which transmits the real-store commodity information to the display terminal installed in the real store.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a technology for supporting product sales using display terminals such as tablet terminals installed in brick-and-mortar stores. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, systems that sell various products using Internet shops (so-called EC sites) have become widespread. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a sales support system in which a product sales site server provides product information such as product images and prices to a user terminal of a user who is considering purchasing a product. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2017-208042 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, currently, users who consider purchasing a product at a brick-and-mortar store rather than an EC site have no way of finding out details about the product other than by checking the actual product with their five senses or asking the customer service staff. For this reason, there is a risk that brick-and-mortar stores will miss out on sales opportunities if they are unable to provide sufficient detailed information about the product that the user wants.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the circumstances described above, and one of its objectives is to provide product sales support technology that can improve the satisfaction of users who are considering purchasing products in physical stores. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A management device according to one embodiment of the present invention is a management device that manages products sold on an EC site and in a physical store, and also manages display terminals installed in the physical store, and is characterized in that it comprises: a product information memory unit that stores product information for display on the EC site, which is information regarding products sold on the EC site and in the physical store; a reception unit that receives instructions regarding the display of products in the physical store; a processing unit that extracts necessary information from the product information for display on the EC site based on the instructions and processes it into product information for display in the physical store; and a transmission unit that transmits the product information for display in the physical store to a display terminal installed in the physical store. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to improve the satisfaction of users who are considering purchasing products at a physical store. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a product sales support system 1000 according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of an information providing terminal 20. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of a management server 40. [Figure 4] 2 is a block diagram showing functional modules of a management server 40. FIG. [Figure 5A] 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a product screen P1 of an EC site 30. FIG. [Figure 5B] 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a product screen P2 displayed on the information providing terminal 20. FIG. [Figure 6] 13 is an image diagram showing a transition state of a setting screen P10 displayed on the information providing terminal 20. FIG. [Figure 7] 13 is an image diagram showing a transition state of a setting screen P10 displayed on the information providing terminal 20. FIG. [Figure 8] 11 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the processing and transmission operation of product information for display in a physical store by the management server 40. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described by taking as an example a case where fashion items are sold as products. Fashion items include anything related to fashion, such as clothing, cosmetics, and jewelry. In the following, the same elements are given the same reference numerals, and duplicated explanations will be omitted.

[0010] A. This embodiment 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a product sales support system 1000 according to this embodiment. The product sales support system 1000 includes a user terminal 10 owned by each user, an information providing terminal (display terminal) 20 installed in a physical store that sells products, an EC site 30 that sells products similar to those sold in the physical store, and a management server 40 that manages the products sold on the EC site 30 and the physical store, and also manages each information providing terminal 20.

[0011] The user terminal 10, the information providing terminal 20, the EC site 30, and the management server 40 are connected to each other so as to be able to communicate with each other via a communication network N. The communication network N may be, for example, the Internet, a LAN, a dedicated line, a telephone line, an in-house network, a mobile communication network, Bluetooth (registered trademark), WiFi (Wireless Fidelity), any other communication line, or a combination thereof, and may be either wired or wireless.

[0012] It is assumed that at least one information providing terminal 20 is installed in each physical store, but this is not intended to be limiting. In the case of a shopping mall or the like housing many stores, one information providing terminal 20 may be installed on each floor and shared among multiple physical stores. The number of user terminals 10 and information providing terminals 20 can be set arbitrarily depending on the number of physical stores and users that use this system 1000.

[0013] <User terminal 10> The user terminal 10 is a terminal used by each user, and is configured by a smartphone, a tablet terminal, a handheld computer device, a wearable terminal, a mobile phone, etc. The user terminal 10 is equipped with general-purpose software, a browser, etc., and does not require the installation of special software, a browser, etc., to use the present system 1000. The user enjoys various services provided by the present system 1000 by operating the general-purpose software, a browser, etc.

[0014] <Information providing terminal 20> The information providing terminal (display terminal) 20 is, for example, a tablet terminal, and multiple information providing terminals are installed on display shelves, cash registers (places where payments are made), etc., in each brick-and-mortar store. In addition to installing one or more information providing terminals 20, each brick-and-mortar store may also be equipped with a POS system capable of supporting, managing, and analyzing product sales.

[0015] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the information providing terminal 20 according to this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the information providing terminal 20 includes a display panel 210, a camera 220, a rotation detection sensor 230, and a computer 240.

[0016] The display panel 210 is, for example, a touch panel display that can be touched, and displays various display screens. The display panel 210 is, for example, a self-luminous display panel such as an organic EL display panel. Instead of a self-luminous display panel, a backlight type or a reflective type display panel may be used.

[0017] The camera (imaging unit) 220 is, for example, a camera using a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) image sensor or a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) image sensor, and is embedded, for example, above the information providing terminal 20. As an example of use of the camera 220, for example, it may capture an image of a user or the like positioned in front of the information providing terminal 20, such as a user performing a touch operation on the information providing terminal 20. An image of the user or the like (user image) may be output to the computer 240.

[0018] The rotation detection sensor 230 is configured with, for example, an acceleration sensor or a gyro sensor, detects the vertical and horizontal rotation of the information providing terminal 20, and outputs the detection result to the computer 240. Although details will be described later, when the computer 240 detects that the information providing terminal 20 has been rotated from the vertical direction to the horizontal direction by a predetermined angle or more (e.g., 60° or more) based on the detection result obtained from the rotation detection sensor 230, the computer 240 displays a setting screen that allows various settings related to products on the display panel 210. On the other hand, when the computer 240 detects that the information providing terminal 20 has been rotated from the horizontal direction to the vertical direction by a predetermined angle or more (e.g., 60° or more) based on the detection result obtained from the rotation detection sensor 230, the computer 240 switches from the setting screen to an information providing screen that displays various product information.

[0019] The computer 240 includes a control unit 241 having a CPU etc., a storage device 242 consisting of an optical disk device, a semiconductor memory, a hard disk device etc., an input unit 243 consisting of a touch panel etc., and a communication unit 244 consisting of various communication interfaces etc. The control unit 241 centrally controls each unit of the computer 240 by executing various programs stored in the storage device 242.

[0020] The storage device 242 stores software and browser applications necessary for using the system 1000, as well as user images of each user captured by the camera 220 and various contents (such as advertisements). An example of the software is software for switching product information displayed on the information providing terminal 20, but is not limited to this. The storage device 242 also stores product information (such as product images, product names, prices, styling images, etc.) related to each product provided (transmitted) from the management server 40. The product information transmitted from the management server 40 to the information providing terminal 20 is edited and processed for a real store, taking into consideration the resources (memory capacity, display screen size, etc.) of the information providing terminal 20, which will be described later.

[0021] <ECサイト30> The EC site 30 is a website that sells the same products online as those sold in physical stores, and is operated by, for example, a company that manages the physical stores. Product information regarding the products sold on the EC site 30 is managed by a management server 40.

[0022] <Administration Server 40> The management server (management device) 40 is configured, for example, by a server computer, and manages products sold on the EC site 30 and at physical stores, as well as the information providing terminals 20 installed at each physical store. The management server 40 is maintained and managed by a business operator or the like that operates the present system 1000 (hereinafter, the operator).

[0023] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the management server 40. The management server 40 includes, for example, a processor 41, a communication interface 42, and a storage device 43.

[0024] The processor 41 is, for example, a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or an MPU (Micro Processing Unit).

[0025] The communication interface 42 functions as a communication unit that connects to the communication network N and communicates with other devices on the communication network N.

[0026] The storage device 43 is, for example, a computer-readable recording medium such as a disk drive or a semiconductor memory. The storage device 43 includes a program 431 for implementing various functions of the management server 40 and a database 432 for storing various data used by the program 431.

[0027] The database 432 includes, for example, a user management database (DB) 432a, an information terminal management database 432b, and a product management database (DB) 432c.

[0028] The user management DB 432a stores various information related to each user who uses the system 1000 to purchase products on a website and / or at a brick-and-mortar store. For example, the user management DB 432a stores a user identification ID and personal information for each user in association with each other. The personal information may include basic information such as the user's name, age, sex, date of birth, address, telephone number, email address, and SNS account name, as well as contact information such as the store ID, email address, and telephone number of a brick-and-mortar store that the user has used, and history information indicating past usage history (for example, the location, product name, product number, and purchase date of the purchased product).

[0029] In the information providing terminal management DB 432b, various information related to the information providing terminal 20 installed in each brick-and-mortar store is registered. For example, the store number of the brick-and-mortar store where the information providing terminal 20 is installed and the terminal identification ID (such as an identification number) are registered in the information providing terminal management DB 432b. Of course, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the terminal identification ID and the setting information may be registered in association with each other for each information providing terminal 20. The setting information may include, for example, campaign information set for each product (for example, ◯× product, 30% off, etc.), product information related to products that can be displayed on the terminal (for example, product image, product name, price, styling image, etc.), history information indicating past display history, etc. The management server 40 may be configured to centrally manage the use of each information providing terminal 20 by accessing a specified URL.

[0030] In the product management DB 432c, a product identification ID and product information are registered in association with each other for each product handled in the physical store and the website. The product information may include product images, product names, product types (e.g., tops, pants, shoes, accessories, etc.), colors, patterns, sizes, materials, prices, etc., as well as inventory information (e.g., availability and quantity of inventory at the physical store and the EC site 30), evaluation information (e.g., user reviews and number of reviews for each product), shelf position information for products in stock at the physical store (e.g., shelf position where the product is displayed), recommended coordination information (e.g., "denim coordination" for items recommended for denim coordination), snapshot images of various people wearing the product, etc.

[0031] Fig. 4 is a block diagram showing functional modules realized by processor 41 executing program 431 stored in storage device 43. As shown in Fig. 4, the functional modules include an account management unit 410, a site display storage unit 411, a reception unit 412, a processing unit 413, and a transmission unit 414.

[0032] The account management unit 410 manages accounts (such as information including IDs and passwords) for accessing the management server 40, and accepts logins using each account.

[0033] The site display storage unit 411 stores product information related to products (in this embodiment, various fashion items) sold at the physical stores and the EC site 30, which is to be displayed on the EC site.

[0034] FIG. 5A is a diagram illustrating an example of a product screen P1 of the EC site 30. The product screen P1 of the EC site 30 is a screen that is displayed when a user accesses the EC site 30 using the user terminal 10. Product information IF01 for display on the EC site is displayed on the product screen P1 of the EC site 30. In the example shown in Fig. 5A, the product information for display on the EC site includes basic product information such as a product image IF1, a product name IF2, a price IF3, and a styling image IF4, as well as explanatory information IF5 indicating the appealing points of the product, size and material information IF6 indicating the size and material, and evaluation information IF7 indicating the user's evaluation of the product and the store staff's evaluation of the product, but is not limited to these.

[0035] The reception unit 412 receives various instructions regarding the display of products in a physical store (details will be described later). The input instructions include, for example, an instruction to extract product information to be displayed in a physical store (i.e., product information for display in a physical store) from product information for display on an EC site, instructions regarding a display layout, etc. Product information for display in a physical store may include, for example, a product image, a product name, a price, a styling image, etc., but is of course not limited to these.

[0036] Based on the input instructions, the processing unit 413 extracts necessary information from the product information for display on the EC site, and processes it as product information for display in a physical store.

[0037] The transmitting unit 414 transmits the product information for display in the physical store to each information providing terminal 20 installed in a corresponding physical store (e.g., physical store A). As an example, the management server 40 transmits the product information for display in the physical store to a desired information providing terminal 20 by using a corresponding terminal identification ID. When the information providing terminal 20 receives the product information for display in the physical store from the management server 40, it stores it in the storage device 242 and displays it on the display panel 210.

[0038] FIG. 5B is a diagram illustrating an example of the product screen P2 displayed on the display panel 210 of the information providing terminal 20. As shown in FIG. The product screen (information providing screen) P2 displays product information IF02 for display in a physical store. In the example shown in FIG. 5B, some product information (basic product information) for display on an EC site is included as product information for display in a physical store, specifically, a product image IF1, a product name IF2, a price IF3, and a styling image IF4. It is possible to arbitrarily set and change which product information from the product information for display on an EC site is extracted and processed as product information for display in a physical store. For example, when starting to use the present system 1000, a display design may be made by asking the manager of the physical store which product information he or she wants to display on the product screen P2, and necessary information may be extracted from the product information for display on an EC site according to the display design and processed as product information for display in a physical store.

[0039] As an example, the product information for display in the physical store may be processed to include evaluation information IF7 and size and material information IF6 instead of the styling image IF4. Also, instead of (or in addition to) this information, inventory information of the product at the EC site 30 or inventory information of the physical store (e.g., store A) stored in the product management DB 432c may be displayed. Furthermore, the management server 40 (processing unit) may automatically determine which physical store (and / or EC site) has inventory of the product at that time, and process the product information for display in the physical store to include inventory information of the physical store (and / or EC site) that has inventory.

[0040] In addition, the product screen P2 displays a two-dimensional code (e.g., a QR code (registered trademark)) CO for checking product information of the product on the EC site 30. Even if the product is not in stock at the physical store, the user can purchase the product by operating his / her user terminal 10 to read the two-dimensional code CO and accessing the EC site 30. In this manner, by using the two-dimensional code (code information) CO displayed on the product screen P2, the user can purchase the product via the EC site and check detailed product information of the product (e.g., evaluation information, material, country of manufacture, etc.). Note that, although a two-dimensional code is exemplified as code information in this embodiment, a one-dimensional barcode or the like may also be used.

[0041] Various product setting operations performed by the information provision terminal 20 will be described below with reference to the drawings. 6 and 7 are image diagrams showing transition states of the setting screen P10 displayed on the information providing terminal 20 from the start of setting to the completion of setting. When the information providing terminal 20 detects that the information providing terminal 20 has been rotated from portrait to landscape by a predetermined angle or more (e.g., 60° or more) based on the detection result obtained from the rotation detection sensor 230, the information providing terminal 20 switches the screen displayed on the display panel 210 from the information providing screen to the setting screen P10.

[0042] The staff of the actual store (hereinafter, store staff) can add products and campaigns by touching the [Add item] button B1. Although not shown in FIG. 6, a [Delete item] button or the like may be provided on the setting screen P10 so that items can be deleted as well as added.

[0043] When a store staff member clicks the [Add item] button B1, they can select a product or campaign using a pull-down menu. For example, when adding a product (see Figure 6), the store staff member enters the product's identification number in the input field F1, and then clicks the [Set] button B2. On the other hand, when the store staff member clicks the [Open] button B3, they can check on the setting screen how the product will be displayed.

[0044] More specifically, the image of the selected product is displayed from the top to the middle of the screen, and the coordinated image of the product is displayed in the bottom of the screen. In addition, directly below the product image in the middle section, a two-dimensional code is displayed to confirm the product information of the product (product name, price, etc.) on the EC site. Also, if the product is on discount sale at the store, the discounted price may be displayed, along with a message that the product is discounted.

[0045] On the other hand, when setting up a campaign (see Figure 7), the store staff selects a campaign using a pull-down menu, then enters the campaign's identification number in the input field F1 and clicks the "Set" button B2. This allows the campaign to be set. The set campaign can be viewed by clicking the "Open" button B3.

[0046] Store staff can check the list of campaigns that can be set by clicking the [Campaign list here] button B4 on the top right. Here, the campaign content CC (e.g. 10% off) and the corresponding campaign identification information CD can be confirmed. Note that the campaign content is merely an example, and the type of campaign to be set is up to the staff.

[0047] Furthermore, the above-described addition and deletion of items and campaign settings can be set individually for each information providing terminal 20. In other words, when multiple information providing terminals 20 are installed in a physical store, each information providing terminal can be individually set so that optimal information is displayed according to the installation location (e.g., sales floor) of the information providing terminal.

[0048] When the store staff member has completed adding or deleting items and setting up the campaign, he or she rotates the information providing terminal 20 from horizontal to vertical. When the information providing terminal 20 detects, based on the detection result obtained from the rotation detection sensor 230, that the information providing terminal 20 has been rotated from horizontal to vertical by a predetermined angle or more, the information providing terminal 20 switches the screen displayed on the display panel 210 from the setting screen P10 to the information providing screen.

[0049] Next, the processing and transmission operation of the management server 40 for processing and transmitting product information for display in a physical store will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. It is assumed that the client who will be installing the information providing terminal 20 (e.g., the manager of physical store A) will ask about the display design (e.g., which product information to display on the product screen P2) when the client starts using the system 1000.

[0050] Based on the results of the interview with the manager, the operator of this system 1000 designs the display of the information provision terminal 20 installed in the client's actual store, and inputs instructions regarding the display to the management server 40.

[0051] When the management server 40 receives an instruction regarding display, it accesses the product management DB 432c and extracts necessary information from the product information for display on the EC site according to the input instruction (step S1). The management server 40 processes the extracted information as product information for display in a physical store (step S2). The management server 40 transmits the information to each information providing terminal 20 of the client (step S3) and ends the process. As a result, the display panel 210 of the information providing terminal 20 displays product information including a product image, product name, price, and styling image as shown in FIG. 5B, for example, as product information for display in a physical store.

[0052] In the above-described embodiment, the case where fashion items are sold as products has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. The present invention can be applied to any items that can be sold as products, such as food products, home appliances, and interior decorations.

[0053] In addition, various effect measurements may be performed by using a camera or a human sensor (hereinafter, detection sensor) mounted on the information providing terminal 20. For example, a detection sensor may be used to measure the time spent by a user viewing product information in front of the information providing terminal 20, or the operation history of the information providing terminal 20 may be checked to identify products or product information that are of high interest to the user. In addition, the recommended product information displayed on the information providing terminal 20 may be switched depending on the measured time spent by the user.

[0054] B.Other The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be implemented in various other forms without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the above-described embodiment is merely an example in all respects and should not be interpreted as being restrictive. For example, the order of each of the above-described processing steps can be arbitrarily changed or executed in parallel as long as no contradiction occurs in the processing content. [Explanation of symbols]

[0055] 1000...Product sales support system, 10...User terminal, 20...Information providing terminal, 210...Display panel, 220...Camera, 230...Rotation detection sensor, 240...Computer, 241...Control unit, 242...Storage device, 243...Input unit, 244...Communication unit, 30...EC site, 40...Management server, 41...Processor, 42...Communication interface, 43...Storage device, 410...Account management unit, 411...Site display storage unit, 412...Reception unit, 413...Processing unit, 414...Transmission unit, 431...Program, 432...Database, 432a...User management DB, 432b...Information providing terminal management DB, 432c...Product management DB

Claims

1. A management device that manages products sold on an EC site and at a brick-and-mortar store and manages display terminals installed at the brick-and-mortar store, a product information storage unit for storing product information for display on the EC site, the product information being information about products sold on the EC site and in physical stores; A reception unit that receives instructions regarding the display of the product in the physical store; A processing unit that extracts necessary information from the product information for display on the EC site based on the instruction and processes the information into product information for display in a physical store; A transmission unit that transmits the product information for display in the physical store to a display terminal installed in the physical store; A management device comprising:

2. The product information for display on the EC site includes basic product information including an image, a product name, and a price of the product, as well as evaluation information of the product, The management device according to claim 1 , wherein the reception unit is capable of receiving an instruction to display evaluation information of the product in addition to the basic product information.

3. The management device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the product information for display on the EC site includes code information that can be read by a terminal of a user visiting the physical store for viewing product information of the product on the EC site.

4. A display terminal managed by the management device according to claim 1, the display terminal includes a sensor for detecting vertical and horizontal rotation of a display screen, and a display control unit for controlling switching of the display screen; The display control unit, when the sensor detects that the display screen has been rotated from portrait to landscape, displays a setting screen that allows settings to be made regarding the product, and when the sensor subsequently detects that the display screen has been rotated from landscape to portrait, switches from the setting screen to product information for display in the physical store.

5. Further comprising a product management database in which a product identification ID and product information are registered in association with each other for each product handled at the EC site and the brick-and-mortar store, The management device of claim 2, wherein the processing unit determines the physical store and / or EC site that currently has stock of the product for which the display instruction has been received, and processes the product information for display in the physical store, including inventory information of the physical store and / or EC site that has the stock.

6. A computer that manages products sold on an EC site and at a brick-and-mortar store and manages a display terminal installed at the brick-and-mortar store, the computer including a product information storage unit that stores product information for display on the EC site, the product information being information relating to the products sold on the EC site and at the brick-and-mortar store; The computer, A reception unit that receives instructions regarding the display of the product in the physical store; A processing unit that extracts necessary information from the product information for display on the EC site based on the instruction and processes the information into product information for display in a physical store; A transmission unit that transmits the product information for display in the physical store to a display terminal installed in the physical store; A program to make it function as such.

Images