Warehouse system introduction estimation system, information processing device, control method, and program

Abstract

To collect a warehouse size and warehouse operation information or the like of a potential customer without conducting face-to-face sales activities.SOLUTION: A warehouse system introduction estimation system according to an embodiment includes: an input information acquisition unit that acquires input information including warehouse information related to a warehouse; an estimation condition generation unit that generates an estimation condition necessary for introducing a warehouse system to the warehouse based on the warehouse information included in the input information acquired by the input information acquisition unit; an estimation control unit that generates estimation information including at least one of cost and effect of introducing the warehouse system to the warehouse based on the estimation condition generated by the estimation condition generation unit; and a communication control unit that transmits an estimation result including the estimation information generated by the estimation control unit.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] An embodiment of the present invention relates to a warehouse system introduction estimate system, an information processing device, a control method, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, logistics systems have been realized that use automated guided vehicles (AGVs) as automatic driving devices to sort transported items in logistics centers, warehouses, etc. For example, one logistics system is a system in which an AGV transports a transport shelf that stores items to a station, and at the station, the desired item is picked up from the transport shelf that the AGV transported.

[0003] Currently, in order to get customers to adopt various systems such as warehouse execution systems (WES), including the systems mentioned above, business operators conduct sales activities based on access to the business operator's homepage from potential customers or by approaching customers with whom they have connections.

[0004] Furthermore, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for proposing an optimal warehouse for an electronic commerce (EC) operator, taking into consideration the preferences of the EC operator. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 7323223 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] It is difficult for business operators to obtain information such as the size or interior design of warehouses owned by potential customers in advance. Business operators generally obtain such information through meetings, etc. Therefore, there is a problem that business operators have to go through a lot of trouble to obtain information about potential customer warehouses. Furthermore, it is difficult for business operators to obtain various information about potential customers, i.e., potential customers, in advance, and it is difficult to formulate sales strategies or development policies that correspond to potential customers.

[0007] In addition, since the various systems such as WES to be introduced into warehouses are not mass-produced products, there is a problem in that it is difficult for potential customers to easily know the effects of introducing the system into their warehouses.

[0008] The present invention has been made in light of the above-mentioned circumstances, and has an object to provide a technology that makes it possible to collect information such as the warehouse size and warehouse operation information of potential customers (latent customers) without conducting face-to-face sales activities.

[0009] Another object of the present invention is to provide a technique that enables potential customers to easily learn the effects of introducing various systems into a warehouse. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] The warehouse system introduction quotation system according to the embodiment includes an input information acquisition unit that acquires input information including warehouse information related to a warehouse, an estimate condition generation unit that generates estimate conditions necessary for introducing a warehouse system into the warehouse based on the warehouse information included in the input information acquired by the input information acquisition unit, an estimate control unit that generates estimate information including at least one of the costs or benefits of introducing the warehouse system into the warehouse based on the estimate conditions generated by the estimate condition generation unit, and a communication control unit that transmits estimate results including the estimate information generated by the estimate control unit. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1]FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of a warehouse system introduction estimate system according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of a warehouse system introduction estimation device according to the embodiment and a software configuration associated with the hardware configuration. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a warehouse system introduction estimate process according to the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] The warehouse system introduction quotation system, information processing device, control method, and program will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiments, parts with the same numbers perform the same operations, and will not be described again. For example, when there are multiple identical or similar elements, a common symbol may be used to describe each element without distinguishing between them, and a subnumber may be used in addition to the common symbol to describe each element with distinction between them.

[0013] FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of a warehouse system introduction estimate system according to an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the warehouse system introduction estimate system includes a warehouse system introduction estimate device 1, a potential customer 2, a business operator 3, and the like.

[0014] The warehouse system introduction estimate device 1 is an information processing device that receives an input of a request for quotation when a warehouse system is introduced into a warehouse from a potential customer who is a customer candidate 2, and returns an estimate result to the customer candidate 2 based on the input. Furthermore, the warehouse system introduction estimate device 1, which is an information processing device, transmits request information including the estimate result created in response to the customer's estimate request to the business operator 3. The warehouse system introduction estimate device 1 also stores various data required to create an estimate result from the estimate request.

[0015] Here, the warehouse system is a system that can be introduced into a warehouse, and refers to any system that can be provided by the business operator 3, such as a WES, a WMS (Warehouse Management System), or a WCS (Warehouse Control System).

[0016] The potential customer 2 is a user who may become a potential customer of the business operator 3. In this embodiment, the potential customer 2 is a user who is considering introducing a warehouse system to a warehouse. The potential customer 2 inputs (transmits) a request for quotation including information about the warehouse owned by the potential customer 2 to the warehouse system introduction quotation device 1 using a terminal owned by the potential customer 2 (e.g., a mobile terminal, a personal computer, etc.). The potential customer 2 receives (receives) the quotation result in response to the transmission of the quotation request via the terminal. Then, the potential customer 2 will consider whether to request the business operator 3 to introduce a warehouse system to the warehouse based on the quotation result.

[0017] The business operator 3 is a warehouse system provider that provides a warehouse system. The business operator 3 receives request information including an estimate result created in response to a request for estimate from the warehouse system introduction estimate device 1 at a terminal (e.g., a mobile terminal, a personal computer, etc.) owned by the business operator 3. Then, a sales representative of the business operator 3 will carry out sales activities such as proposing the introduction of a warehouse system to the customer candidate 2 based on the request information.

[0018] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of the warehouse system introduction estimate device 1 according to the embodiment and a software configuration associated with the hardware configuration. First, the hardware configuration of the warehouse system introduction estimate device 1 will be described in detail. The warehouse system introduction estimate device 1 includes a control unit 11, a program storage unit 12, a data storage unit 13, a communication interface 14, and an input / output interface 15. The control unit 11, the program storage unit 12, the data storage unit 13, the communication interface 14, and the input / output interface 15 are connected to each other via a bus so as to be able to communicate with each other.

[0019] The warehouse system introduction estimate device 1 can realize various operations by a computer such as a PC (Personal Computer).

[0020] The control unit 11 controls the warehouse system introduction estimate device 1. The control unit 11 includes a hardware processor such as a central processing unit (CPU).

[0021] The program storage unit 12 is configured by combining a non-volatile memory such as a solid state drive (SSD) that can be written and read at any time as a storage medium, and a non-volatile memory such as a read only memory (ROM), and stores application programs required to execute various control processes according to an embodiment, in addition to middleware such as an operating system (OS). Hereinafter, the OS and each application program will be collectively referred to as a program. The program storage unit 12 may also store programs and algorithms used by the control unit 11.

[0022] The data storage unit 13 may be, for example, a combination of a non-volatile memory such as an SSD that can be written to and read from at any time, and a volatile memory such as a RAM (Random Access Memory), as a storage medium. The data storage unit 13 may also store information generated by the control unit 11 and various calculated data.

[0023] The communication interface 14 includes one or more wired or wireless communication modules. For example, the communication interface 14 includes a communication module that connects to a terminal owned by the customer candidate 2 or a terminal owned by the business operator 3 by wired or wireless connection directly or via a network. The communication interface 14 may be a general communication interface as long as it can communicate with an external device including a terminal owned by the customer candidate 2 or a terminal owned by the business operator 3 under the control of the control unit 11 and transmit and receive various information.

[0024] The input / output interface 15 is connected to the input unit 151, the output unit 152, and the like. The input / output interface 15 is an interface that enables transmission and reception of information between the control unit 11 and the input unit 151 and the output unit 152. The input / output interface 15 may be integrated with the communication interface 14. For example, the input / output interface 15 may be wirelessly connected to the control unit 11 and the input unit 151 or the output unit 152 using a short-range wireless technology or the like, and may transmit and receive information using the short-range wireless technology.

[0025] The input unit 151 includes, for example, a keyboard, a pointing device, etc., through which an administrator who manages the warehouse system introduction estimation device 1 inputs various information to the warehouse system introduction estimation device 1. The input unit 151 may also include a reader for reading data to be stored in the program storage unit 12 or the data storage unit 13 from a memory medium such as a USB memory, or a disk device for reading such data from a disk medium.

[0026] The output unit 152 includes a display for displaying output data to be presented to the manager from the warehouse system introduction estimate device 1, a printer for printing the output data, and the like.

[0027] Next, the software configuration of the warehouse system introduction estimate device 1 will be described in detail. The control unit 11 includes an input information acquisition unit 111, a recommendation system unit 112, an estimate condition generation unit 113, an estimate control unit 114, a video information generation unit 115, and a communication control unit 116, etc.

[0028] The input information acquisition unit 111 acquires the input information input by the customer candidate 2. For example, the customer candidate 2 accesses a Web server provided by the business operator 3 and inputs input information including warehouse information. Here, the Web server may be a part of the warehouse system introduction quotation device 1, or may be an external device connected to the warehouse system introduction quotation device 1 via a network. The input information acquisition unit 111 acquires the input information input to the Web server.

[0029] The input information includes various information required to transmit the quotation results, such as warehouse information, the name, address, email address, and telephone number of the potential customer 2.

[0030] The warehouse information includes warehouse environment information, classification of items to be stored (e.g., apparel, consumer goods, commercial products, etc.), work content, the type and number of autonomous transport devices to be used, target values ​​of transport throughput, etc. The warehouse environment information includes the effective dimensions of the warehouse, the address of the warehouse, the interior of the warehouse (e.g., the type of floor in the warehouse, electrical equipment, etc.), etc. The warehouse environment information may include special matters in the warehouse, i.e., information on temperature and humidity in the warehouse. The warehouse environment information may use information obtained from an uploaded warehouse drawing. Furthermore, the warehouse environment information may be any information within the warehouse, for example, any information similar to a warehouse drawing. The work content includes information on what the autonomous transport device transports in the warehouse (e.g., shelves, boxes arranged on shelves), i.e., the transport type, the type of picking station (people, picking robots, or a mixture thereof), etc.

[0031] The warehouse information does not need to include all of the above information. For example, the work content, the type of AGV, etc., do not need to be included in the warehouse information. In other words, the customer candidate 2 does not need to enter all of the warehouse information.

[0032] The autonomous transport device may be any device capable of transporting shelves, boxes placed on the shelves, etc., such as an AGV or an AMR (Autonomous Mobile Robot). When the potential customer 2 selects the type of autonomous transport device he or she wishes to use, the control unit 11 or an external device (the control unit of the Web server) may control the terminal of the potential customer 2 to display an image of the autonomous transport device in question, so that the potential customer 2 can visually select the type and number of the autonomous transport device, etc.

[0033] The recommendation system unit 112 includes a recommendation model update unit 1121 and a recommendation information generation unit 1122. For example, the recommendation system unit 112 is a control unit that generates recommendation information from warehouse information input by the potential customer 2. The recommendation system unit 112 also determines whether or not it is necessary to transmit recommendation information, which will be described later. The method of determination will be described later in detail.

[0034] The recommendation model update unit 1121 updates the recommendation model based on previously input warehouse information at a predetermined cycle, for example, once every few days. For example, the recommendation model may be a model learned using a general machine learning method, or may be a model constructed by analyzing past warehouse information using a general method. As a specific example, the recommendation model may be a model that recommends estimation conditions that have provided good throughput from past estimation results. The recommendation model update unit 1121 stores the updated data in the data storage unit 13.

[0035] The recommendation information generating unit 1122 generates recommendation information based on warehouse information included in the input information. For example, the recommendation information generating unit 1122 determines whether the warehouse information included in the input information is appropriate based on a recommendation model, that is, based on what kind of warehouse information other customers have input. If it is determined that the warehouse information is inappropriate, the recommendation information generating unit 1122 generates recommendation information in which the warehouse information is changed to appropriate information. Examples of cases in which the input information is determined to be inappropriate include cases in which an estimate cannot be made because there are items that have not been input, or cases in which it is determined that the warehouse information cannot be realized because the warehouse size is not large enough to accommodate the number of products input. Note that if it is determined that the warehouse information is appropriate, the warehouse information becomes the recommendation information.

[0036] The estimation condition generating unit 113 generates estimation conditions necessary for introducing a warehouse system into a warehouse based on the recommendation information. For example, the estimation condition generating unit 113 extracts various conditions (parameters) that can be estimated from the recommendation information as estimation conditions, and sets the parameters to maximum values ​​that can be set from the recommendation information. For example, the estimation condition generating unit 113 extracts conditions (parameters) such as how many shelves are required based on the item information included in the recommendation information, how many shelves can be placed from the warehouse environment information, how many autonomous transport devices can be placed, and how many picking stations can be placed. Then, the estimation condition generating unit 113 generates estimation conditions for the extracted parameters by setting them to maximum values ​​that can be set from the recommendation information.

[0037] The estimate control unit 114 generates estimate information. For example, the estimate control unit 114 generates estimate information that matches the estimate conditions by referring to an estimate table stored in the data storage unit 13. The estimate table is a table having various information corresponding to the estimate conditions. The estimate information includes the warehouse throughput corresponding to the estimate conditions, the required number of autonomous transport devices, etc. In other words, the estimate information may include at least one of the cost and the effect when a warehouse system is introduced into a warehouse. Here, the estimate table may be a table generated using general reinforcement learning, etc., based on past estimate information and estimate results, etc.

[0038] Alternatively, the estimate control unit 114 generates estimate information that matches the estimate conditions based on a predetermined algorithm stored in the program storage unit 12. Here, the predetermined algorithm is, for example, a predetermined program using a function such as a conditional branch, and can create estimate information from the estimate conditions. Here, the conditions used for the conditional branch are assumed to be appropriately set based on general reinforcement learning or analysis.

[0039] Furthermore, the estimate control unit 114 acquires tenant information and interior construction work information from the tenant information database 132 and the interior construction work information database 133, respectively, based on the input information, the recommendation information, and the estimate information. Here, the tenant information is warehouse information for a plurality of warehouses acquired using various means, and includes, for example, information such as the rent for the warehouse and the rental fees for equipment. Furthermore, the interior construction work information includes, for example, an estimate of the construction costs required to carry out interior construction work within the warehouse (for example, floor work will cost XX yen / m 2 This includes information such as the cost of installing shelves, the cost of installing independent transport equipment, the cost of installing a picking station, etc., and construction period.

[0040] In order to present graphical quotation information to potential customer 2, the video information generating unit 115 generates video information including at least one of a video of when a warehouse system was introduced into a warehouse or an image showing the effect of introducing a warehouse system into a warehouse, based on the quotation information. For example, if a video of when a warehouse system was introduced into a warehouse similar to the quotation information is stored in the data storage unit 13, the video information generating unit 115 uses that video. Furthermore, for example, the video information generating unit 115 may generate an image of a graph based on the quotation information, with throughput on the vertical axis and the number of autonomous transport devices on the horizontal axis.

[0041] The communication control unit 116 transmits the recommendation information. The communication control unit 116 transmits the recommendation information to the terminal owned by the customer candidate 2 through the communication interface 14. The customer candidate 2 selects whether to further change the recommendation information displayed on the terminal. Furthermore, the communication control unit 116 generates an estimate result including the recommendation information, estimate information, tenant information, interior construction information, and video image information. Then, the communication control unit 116 transmits the estimate result to the terminal of the customer candidate 2 and the terminal of the business operator 3 through the communication interface 14. As a result of transmitting the estimate result, the communication control unit 116 receives a contact request including information to the effect that the business operator 3 is desired to be contacted. The communication control unit 116 that has received the contact request generates request information including the estimate result of the customer candidate 2 and a contact request, and transmits the request information to the terminal of the business operator 3.

[0042] The data storage unit 13 includes an input information storage unit 131, a tenant information database 132, an interior construction information database 133, and the like.

[0043] The input information storage unit 131 is used to store the input information acquired by the input information acquisition unit 111. Therefore, the input information storage unit 131 is also a database that stores warehouse information input by past customer candidates 2.

[0044] The tenant information database 132 is a database that stores tenant information related to tenants. In addition to the above-mentioned information, the tenant information may include information such as the address of the warehouse, the owner of the warehouse, and the manager of the warehouse.

[0045] The interior construction information database 133 is a database that stores interior construction information related to interior construction work in the warehouse. In addition to the above-mentioned information, the interior construction information may include information such as the business operator who will undertake the interior construction work and the contact information of the business operator.

[0046] Next, a process procedure from when the potential customer 2 transmits a request for quotation to when the candidate customer 2 receives the quotation result will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of a quotation process for introducing a warehouse system according to an embodiment. For example, the operation of this flowchart is realized by the control unit 11 of the warehouse system introduction quotation device 1 reading and executing the program stored in the program storage unit 12.

[0047] This flowchart starts when the customer candidate 2, who is a potential customer, inputs input information including warehouse information regarding a warehouse owned by or desired to be used by the customer candidate 2. Note that the recommendation model update unit 1121 updates the recommendation model used below based on past warehouse information (that is, the quotation result generated by the quotation control unit 114) at a predetermined cycle, for example, once every few days, and it may be the latest recommendation model.

[0048] In step ST101, the input information acquisition unit 111 acquires the input information. For example, the customer candidate 2 accesses a web server provided by the business operator 3 and inputs the input information including the warehouse information. Then, the input information acquisition unit 111 acquires the input information input to the web server. For example, the input information acquisition unit 111 may receive the input information transmitted from the web server via the communication interface 14. The input information acquisition unit 111 stores the acquired input information in the input information storage unit 131.

[0049] Here, the input method by the customer candidate 2 may be an arbitrary method, such as a method of selecting using check boxes, a method of selecting using a tree, a method of directly inputting data, or an arbitrary combination of these methods. Further, the web server may be a part of the warehouse system introduction quotation device 1 or an external device different from the warehouse system introduction quotation device 1.

[0050] Also, as described above, it is not necessary to input all of the above-mentioned information for the warehouse information. For example, the work content, the type of AGV, etc. do not have to be included in the warehouse information.

[0051] In step ST102, the recommendation information generating unit 1122 generates recommendation information. For example, the recommendation information generating unit 1122 generates recommendation information based on warehouse information included in the input information. For example, the recommendation information generating unit 1122 determines whether the warehouse information included in the input information is appropriate based on a recommendation model stored in the data storage unit 13, that is, based on what kind of warehouse information other customers have input. If it is determined that the warehouse information is not appropriate, the recommendation information generating unit 1122 generates recommendation information in which the warehouse information is changed to an appropriate one. Alternatively, even if it is determined that the warehouse information is appropriate, the recommendation information generating unit 1122 determines whether the warehouse information can be set more appropriately based on the recommendation model. If it is determined that the warehouse information can be set more appropriately, the recommendation information generating unit 1122 generates recommendation information in which the warehouse information is changed to a more appropriate one. For example, even if the input warehouse information is an appropriate value, the recommendation information generating unit 1122 generates recommendation information in which the warehouse information is changed to a better value. For example, the recommendation information generating unit 1122 determines that a high-rise AGV is better than a shelf transport AGV if the effective dimensions of the warehouse input by the customer candidate 2 are the same, and generates recommendation information. It should be noted that if the warehouse information is appropriate and is not changed to a better value, the recommendation information will be the same as the warehouse information.

[0052] In addition, there are cases where the warehouse information does not include all of the warehouse environment information, the item type, the work content, and the type and number of the autonomous transport devices. For example, if the warehouse information does not include the work content and the type and number of the autonomous transport devices, the recommendation information generating unit 1122 cannot generate recommendation information based on the warehouse information. In this case, the recommendation information generating unit 1122 supplements the information not included in the warehouse information by acquiring it from a recommendation model, for example. Then, the recommendation information generating unit 1122 generates recommendation information based on the warehouse information and the supplemented information.

[0053] In step ST103, the recommendation system unit 112 determines whether or not it is necessary to display the recommendation information. For example, the recommendation system unit 112 determines whether or not the recommendation information generated based on the warehouse information has been changed by the recommendation information generating unit 1122. If it is determined that it has been changed, the recommendation system unit 112 determines that it is necessary to display it. On the other hand, if it is determined that it has not been changed, the recommendation system unit 112 determines that it is not necessary to display it.

[0054] In step ST104, the communication control unit 116 transmits the recommendation information. The communication control unit 116 transmits the recommendation information to the terminal owned by the customer candidate 2 through the communication interface 14. The customer candidate 2 selects whether or not to further change the recommendation information displayed on the terminal. Then, the process returns to step ST101. Note that when returning to step ST101, if information that does not change the recommendation information is acquired as input information, the process may skip steps ST102 to ST103.

[0055] Moreover, the operations in steps ST103 and ST104 may be optional, that is, these processes may or may not be performed.

[0056] In step ST105, the estimation condition generating unit 113 generates estimation conditions. The estimation condition generating unit 113 generates estimation conditions necessary for introducing a warehouse system into a warehouse based on the recommendation information. For example, as described above, the estimation condition generating unit 113 generates estimation conditions in which conditions (parameters) such as the maximum number of shelves that can be placed in the warehouse, the maximum number of autonomous transport devices that can be arranged, and the maximum number of picking stations to be arranged are set based on the recommendation information. For example, the estimation condition generating unit 113 sets the maximum value of various conditions (parameters) that can be estimated from the recommendation information as the estimation conditions. That is, the estimation condition generating unit 113 generates estimation conditions by identifying and organizing parameters necessary for estimation from the recommendation information.

[0057] In step ST106, the estimate control unit 114 generates estimate information. For example, the estimate control unit 114 generates estimate information that matches the estimate conditions by referring to an estimate table stored in the data storage unit 13. Alternatively, the estimate control unit 114 generates estimate information that matches the estimate conditions based on a predetermined algorithm stored in the program storage unit 12. The generated estimate information includes at least one of the cost and the effect when the warehouse system is introduced into the warehouse.

[0058] In step ST107, the estimate control unit 114 acquires tenant information and interior construction work information. Based on the input information (or recommended information) and the estimate information, the estimate control unit 114 acquires tenant information and interior construction work information from the tenant information database 132 and the interior construction work information database 133, respectively. For example, the estimate control unit 114 may refer to the tenant information database 132 to acquire tenant information around the address of the warehouse included in the input information.

[0059] Alternatively, if the throughput based on the estimate information is lower than a predetermined threshold, the expected profit of the business operator 3 based on the estimate information is lower than a predetermined threshold, or a warehouse system cannot be introduced in the warehouse owned by the customer candidate 2 due to special items included in the warehouse information, the estimate control unit 114 may refer to the tenant information database 132 and acquire tenant information around the warehouse address of the customer candidate 2 included in the input information in order to introduce other tenant warehouses to the customer candidate 2. Furthermore, if no information about the warehouse has been entered in the warehouse information, the estimate control unit 114 may determine that the customer candidate 2 does not own a warehouse and acquire tenant information by referring to the tenant information database 132.

[0060] Furthermore, the estimate control unit 114 refers to the interior construction work information database 133 and acquires interior construction work information based on the recommendation information and the estimate information. For example, the estimate control unit 114 determines whether interior construction work is necessary based on the recommendation information and the estimate information. For example, if it is determined that the warehouse interior is not suitable for the floor when introducing a warehouse system, the estimate control unit 114 determines that interior construction work is necessary. Then, the estimate control unit 114 refers to the interior construction work information database 133 and acquires interior construction work information such as floor work and power work that will be necessary when introducing a warehouse system to the current warehouse based on the determination.

[0061] Furthermore, the estimate control unit 114 may refer to the interior construction information database 133 to determine whether interior construction is possible at the warehouse address of the input information. If it is determined that interior construction is not possible due to noise or a restricted area, the estimate control unit 114 may acquire tenant information by referring to the tenant information database 132, as described above. Furthermore, if it is determined that soundproofing interior construction is necessary due to a noise restricted area, such as near a residential area, information on the interior construction may be acquired.

[0062] In step ST108, the video information generating unit 115 creates video information based on the estimate information. In order to present graphical estimate information to the potential customer 2, the video information generating unit 115 creates video information including at least one of a video of when a warehouse system is introduced into a warehouse or an image showing the effect of introducing a warehouse system into a warehouse, based on the estimate information. For example, if a video of when a warehouse system is introduced into a warehouse close to the estimate information is stored in the data storage unit 13, the video information generating unit 115 uses the video. Furthermore, for example, the video information generating unit 115 may create an image of a graph based on the estimate information, with the throughput on the vertical axis and the number of autonomous transport devices on the horizontal axis.

[0063] In step ST109, the communication control unit 116 transmits the estimate result to the terminal of the potential customer 2. The communication control unit 116 generates an estimate result including recommendation information, estimate information, tenant information, interior construction information, and video information. Then, the communication control unit 116 transmits the estimate result to the terminal of the potential customer 2 and the terminal of the business operator 3 through the communication interface 14. The terminal of the potential customer 2 displays the estimate information and video information on the potential customer 2. This allows the potential customer 2 to estimate the introduction effect without directly contacting the business operator 3. Therefore, the potential customer 2 can easily collect information for considering the introduction of a warehouse system, and the hurdle of requesting contact with the business operator 3 is lowered.

[0064] Also, when potential customer 2 finds that the effect of introducing a warehouse system to his / her own warehouse is low, he / she can obtain tenant information, i.e., information on other implementation methods. Furthermore, potential customer 2 can obtain information on the price range of interior construction items that are lacking in the warehouse based on the interior construction work information.

[0065] In step ST110, the communication control unit 116 receives a contact request. Based on the estimate result, the customer candidate 2 wishes to contact the business operator 3. In this case, the customer candidate 2 inputs a contact request to the Web server of the business operator 3, indicating that the business operator 3 wishes to contact the customer candidate 2. Then, the communication control unit 116 acquires the contact request.

[0066] In step ST111, the communication control unit 116 transmits request information. Upon receiving the contact request, the communication control unit 116 generates request information including the quotation result of the potential customer 2 and the contact request, and transmits the request information to the terminal of the business operator 3. Since the business operator 3 can obtain the quotation result including the warehouse information of the potential customer 2, the business operator 3 can make an appropriate proposal when meeting face-to-face. Furthermore, since the business operator 3 can screen the potential customer 2 by showing the introduction effect in advance, the business operator 3 can carry out sales activities efficiently.

[0067] According to the embodiment described above, the warehouse system introduction estimate device 1, which receives the input information (quote request) input by the potential customer 2, transmits the estimate result including the estimate information, video image information, tenant information, and interior construction information to the potential customer 2 (the terminal of the potential customer 2). This allows the potential customer 2 to know the effect of introducing a warehouse system to his / her own warehouse based on the estimate information. Furthermore, the potential customer 2 can graphically see an image of what it would be like if the warehouse system were introduced based on the video image information. This makes it easier for the potential customer 2 to imagine what it would be like if the warehouse system were introduced. Furthermore, the potential customer 2 can know information on the case where the warehouse system is introduced to another tenant and an approximate cost of introducing the warehouse system to the warehouse based on the tenant information and the interior construction information. This makes it easier for the potential customer 2 to make a contact request to the business operator 3.

[0068] Furthermore, the warehouse system introduction estimate device 1 transmits request information including the estimate result to the business operator 3 (the terminal thereof) based on a contact request from the potential customer 2. As a result, the business operator 3 obtains the estimate result including the warehouse information of the potential customer 2. Therefore, when the business operator 3 directly meets with the potential customer 2, the business operator 3 can make an appropriate proposal to the potential customer 2 when introducing a warehouse system. Furthermore, the warehouse system introduction estimate device 1 is used to show the potential customer 2 the effects of introducing a warehouse system in advance, thereby screening the potential customer 2. Therefore, the business operator 3 only needs to conduct sales activities toward the screened potential customer 2, and can carry out sales activities efficiently.

[0069] In the embodiment, an example has been described in which the process of creating the recommendation information in step ST102 described with reference to Fig. 3 is performed by the warehouse system introduction quotation device 1, but this process may be performed by an external device connected to the warehouse system introduction quotation device 1. In this case, the recommendation system unit 112 extracts information required to create the recommendation information from the input information. Then, the communication control unit 116 may transmit the extracted information to the external device, and receive the recommendation information.

[0070] Furthermore, in the embodiment, an example has been described in which the tenant information database 132 and the interior construction information database 133 are stored in the data storage unit 13 of the warehouse system introduction estimate device 1, but these databases may be stored in a storage unit of an external device connected to the warehouse system introduction estimate device 1. In this case, in step ST107 of Fig. 3, the communication control unit 116 may transmit information requesting the tenant information and the interior construction information (including information necessary for the external device to acquire this information) to the external device, and receive the tenant information and the interior construction information from the external device.

[0071] In short, this invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and various modifications can be made in the implementation stage without departing from the gist of the invention. Moreover, each embodiment may be implemented in combination as appropriate as possible, in which case the combined effect can be obtained. Furthermore, the above-mentioned embodiment includes inventions at various stages, and various inventions can be extracted by appropriate combinations of the disclosed constituent elements.

[0072] Although some embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and spirit of the invention, and are included in the scope of the invention and its equivalents described in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0073] 1...Warehouse system introduction quotation device 11...Control section 111...Input information acquisition unit 112…Recommendation System Division 1121…Recommendation model update section 1122…Recommendation information generation unit 113... Estimation condition generation unit 114...Estimate control unit 115...Video information generating unit 116…Communication control unit 12…Program memory unit 13…Data memory unit 131…Input information memory unit 132…Tenant information database 133…Interior construction information database 14…Communication interface 15…Input / output interface 151…Input unit 152…Output unit 2…Customer candidate 3…Business operator

Claims

1. an input information acquisition unit that acquires input information including warehouse information related to the warehouse; an estimate condition generating unit that generates estimate conditions necessary for introducing a warehouse system into the warehouse based on the warehouse information included in the input information acquired by the input information acquiring unit; an estimate control unit that generates estimate information including at least one of a cost and an effect when the warehouse system is introduced into the warehouse based on the estimate conditions generated by the estimate conditions generation unit; a communication control unit that transmits an estimate result including the estimate information generated by the estimate control unit; A warehouse system implementation quotation system equipped with

2. A storage unit that stores a recommendation model that is updated based on the estimate result generated by the estimate control unit; a recommendation information generating unit that generates recommendation information including information necessary for generating estimate information from the warehouse information by using the recommendation model stored in the storage unit; and wherein the estimation control unit generates the estimation information based on the recommendation information generated by the recommendation information generation unit. The warehouse system introduction estimate system according to claim 1.

3. The warehouse information includes warehouse environment information regarding the interior of the warehouse, item classification, work content, and the type and number of autonomous transport devices, The recommendation information generation unit uses the recommendation model to generate the recommendation information in which at least one of the warehouse environment information, the item classification, the work content, and the type and number of the autonomous transport apparatus is changed to a more appropriate one. The warehouse system introduction estimate system according to claim 2.

4. When the warehouse information does not include all of the warehouse environment information, the item classification, the work content, and the type and number of autonomous transport devices, the recommendation information generation unit uses the recommendation model to supplement the information not included in the warehouse information, and generates the recommendation information based on the warehouse information and the supplemented information. The warehouse system introduction estimate system according to claim 3.

5. a recommendation system unit that determines whether the input information has been changed to the recommendation information by the recommendation information generation unit, When it is determined that the recommendation information has been changed, the communication control unit transmits the recommendation information. The warehouse system introduction estimate system according to claim 2.

6. the estimation conditions generating unit extracts estimable parameters from the recommendation information, and generates the estimation conditions by setting the parameters to maximum values ​​that can be set from the recommendation information. The warehouse system introduction estimate system according to claim 2.

7. A moving image generating unit generates a moving image of the introduction of the warehouse system into the warehouse or an image showing an effect of introducing the warehouse system into the warehouse based on the estimate information. The warehouse system introduction estimate system according to claim 1.

8. Further comprising a storage unit for storing a tenant information database having tenant information of a warehouse different from the warehouse, and an interior construction information database having interior construction information relating to interior construction work of the warehouse, the estimate control unit acquires the tenant information and the interior construction work information from the tenant information database and the interior construction work information database, respectively, based on the input information and the estimate information; The warehouse system introduction estimate system according to claim 1.

9. the estimate control unit acquires the tenant information when an expected profit of the business operator based on the estimate information is lower than a predetermined threshold value; The warehouse system introduction estimate system according to claim 8.

10. When the estimate control unit determines that the warehouse system cannot be introduced into the warehouse due to special characteristics of the warehouse included in the warehouse information, the estimate control unit acquires the tenant information. The warehouse system introduction estimate system according to claim 8.

11. The estimate control unit determines whether interior construction work is necessary for the warehouse based on the input information and the estimate information, and if it is determined that interior construction work is necessary, acquires the interior construction work information. The warehouse system introduction estimate system according to claim 8.

12. a communication unit for acquiring input information including warehouse information related to the warehouse; a processor that generates estimate conditions necessary for introducing a warehouse system into the warehouse based on the warehouse information included in the input information acquired via the communication unit, generates estimate information including at least one of the cost and the effect of introducing the warehouse system into the warehouse based on the estimate conditions, and transmits an estimate result including the estimate information via the communication unit; An information processing device comprising:

13. A warehouse system introduction estimation method executed by a processor of a warehouse system introduction estimation device, acquiring input information including warehouse information related to a warehouse; an estimate condition generating step of generating estimate conditions necessary for introducing a warehouse system into the warehouse based on the warehouse information included in the input information acquired in the acquisition step; an estimate information generating step of generating estimate information including at least one of a cost and an effect when the warehouse system is introduced into the warehouse based on the estimate conditions generated in the estimate conditions generating step; an output step of outputting an estimate result including the estimate information generated in the estimate information generating step; A control method comprising:

14. A program executed by a processor, an acquisition function that acquires input information including warehouse information related to the warehouse; an estimate condition generating function for generating estimate conditions necessary for introducing a warehouse system into the warehouse based on the warehouse information included in the input information acquired in the acquisition step; an estimate information generating function that generates estimate information including at least one of the cost and the effect of introducing the warehouse system into the warehouse based on the estimate conditions generated in the estimate condition generating step; an output function for outputting an estimate result including the estimate information generated in the estimate information generating step; A program to achieve this.

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