Direct mail automatic creation and distribution system

Abstract

To provide a system which automatically extracts a seminar with high need for distribution, configures settings for the distribution, and distributes the seminar.SOLUTION: In a system, a storage unit stores a member table and a seminar schedule table. A control unit calculates, for each seminar schedule, distribution urgency which is a value according to a period remaining until the seminar is held, creates a period-based seminar schedule group and creates a receiving-level match seminar schedule group according to receiving level, calculates a loss evaluation value, calculates distribution priority, rearranges the seminar schedules in descending order of the distribution priority, selects a predetermined number of top-ranked seminar schedules as a fixed distribution seminar schedule group, defines the highest distribution priority as an urgent distribution determination value, generates, for each member, direct mail data including information on each seminar of the fixed distribution seminar schedule group, and distributes the direct mail.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a direct mail automatic generation and distribution system, and more particularly to a technique for automatically generating and distributing highly effective direct mail.

Background Art

[0002] In a system for automatically distributing direct mail, it may be necessary to send a lot of notices regularly. When the content of the notice is, for example, the holding of a seminar, there are cases where it is necessary to send the notice immediately, or there are cases where the number of participants is almost full and the need for the notice is low. Also, for seminars where profitability is emphasized, such as renting a venue, it may be necessary to increase the number of participants as much as possible. Conventionally, in determining the distribution of direct mail, a person selects and distributes seminars for which notices should be sent according to the participation status in seminars and the schedule, etc., but this is extremely circuitous. Therefore, there has been a demand for a system that extracts seminars with a high need for distribution, automatically sets the distribution, and distributes them. Regarding such technologies, various technologies have been proposed conventionally. For example, a training support method and a training support system (see Patent Document 1) have been proposed and are known technologies. More specifically, when the arrival of the first date of the training is detected, a training notice is sent together with the selection of participants. When the participants are determined and the second date arrives, reservation processing for the training facility, creation processing of training materials, notice processing for coordination with the instructor, etc. are performed. When the third date arrives, the final notice of the training is sent to thoroughly inform the participants. It is a system that sends notices, etc. according to the dates until the training. However, in the system according to this prior art, the response cannot be changed depending on the participation status in the training, etc., and the problem has not been solved.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a direct mail automatic generation and distribution system capable of extracting seminars with high distribution necessity, automatically setting distribution, and distributing them.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] To solve the above problems, the present invention comprises a storage unit, a control unit, and a communication unit. The storage unit stores a member table in which information about members is grouped by email address, and a seminar schedule table in which information about seminar schedules is grouped. The member table includes a reception level that is a level for adjusting the distribution volume of seminar guidance, a seminar category indicating the corresponding seminar, and the address of the member. The control unit calculates a distribution urgency level, which is a value corresponding to the period until the seminar is held, for each seminar schedule in the seminar schedule table, excludes seminar schedules in which the period until the seminar is held is shorter than the first period limit date or longer than the second period limit date, and sets the group of seminar schedules as the in-period seminar schedule group. For each email address in the member table, a seminar schedule that matches the seminar category is selected from the in-period seminar schedule group. Further, the distance from the address of the member to each seminar venue is calculated from the address of the member and the address of each seminar venue, and it is set as a selection condition that the distance from the member to each seminar venue is shorter than the distance set at the reception level. The matching seminar schedule is set as the reception level matching seminar schedule group. For each seminar schedule in the reception level matching seminar schedule group, a loss evaluation value is calculated from the number of available seats for the seminar and the cost per seat of the seminar, and a distribution priority level is calculated from the loss evaluation value and the distribution urgency level. Each seminar schedule is sorted in descending order of the distribution priority level, and a certain number of seminar schedules from the top are selected as the distribution confirmed seminar schedule group. The highest distribution priority level value is set as the emergency distribution determination value. Direct mail data describing the information of each seminar in the distribution confirmed seminar schedule group is generated for each member and sent to the communication unit. The communication unit takes means to distribute direct mail for each member based on the direct mail data.

[0006] Further, the present invention has a distribution standby designated number of days, which is a period for holding off distribution for a certain number of days for each email address, and when the emergency distribution determination value is greater than a specified value, it takes means to shorten the distribution standby designated number of days.

[0007] Furthermore, the present invention adopts means for selecting a seminar schedule such that, at least with respect to the distance between a member and a seminar venue, the distance to the venue where the member attended lectures during a certain past period is set to zero.

[0008] Still further, the present invention adopts means for relaxing the reception level and again selecting a reception level matching seminar schedule group corresponding to the reception level from within the in-period seminar schedule group when the number of seminar schedules in the reception level matching seminar schedule group is less than a prescribed number.

[0009] Furthermore still, the present invention adopts means for multiplying a coefficient to the distribution priority.

Advantages of the Invention

[0010] According to the direct mail automatic generation and distribution system according to the present invention, since the priority order of mail distribution can be automatically calculated according to the importance of the guidance to seminars and the like, mail distribution can be performed efficiently, and it is easy to achieve the results by sending direct mail.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0011]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0012] The direct mail automatic generation and distribution system according to the present invention is characterized in that it can automatically calculate the priority order of mail distribution according to the importance of the guidance to seminars and the like. Hereinafter, embodiments of the direct mail automatic generation and distribution system according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the overall configuration and the configuration of each part of the direct mail automatic generation and distribution system according to the present invention are not limited to the embodiments shown below, and can be appropriately changed within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention, that is, within the scope of shapes, dimensions, configurations, etc. that can exhibit the same operational effects.

[0013] The present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7. FIG. 1 is an overall system diagram of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a main routine showing an embodiment of the direct mail automatic generation and distribution system according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a subroutine 1 showing an embodiment of the direct mail automatic generation and distribution system according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a subroutine 2 showing an embodiment of the direct mail automatic generation and distribution system according to the present invention. FIG. 5 is a member table which is one of the data in the direct mail automatic generation and distribution system according to the present invention, and calculation data of the distance from the member to each seminar venue. FIG. 6 is a seminar schedule table which is one of the data in the direct mail automatic generation and distribution system according to the present invention. FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the distribution timing of the direct mail automatic generation and distribution system according to the present invention. The direct mail automatic generation and distribution system 1 is a system that automatically generates and distributes emails for appropriate seminars for members at appropriate times among regularly held seminars. [[ID=II]]The direct mail automatic generation and distribution system 1 is composed of a control unit 10, a storage unit 20, and a communication unit 30.

[0014] The control unit 10 is the part that performs the processing of the present invention. Operations such as calculation, comparison, sorting, and judgment are performed by programs and the like within the control unit 10. The control unit 10 can read the information stored in the storage unit 20 and write information to the storage unit 20. In the present invention, mainly, writing to and reading from the member table 21 and the seminar schedule table 22 are performed. The control unit 10 sends direct mail data and issues a direct mail distribution instruction to the communication unit 30. Also, it processes the information notified from the communication unit 30 and writes a part of it to the storage unit 20. For example, when a seminar reservation notification comes from a member 40 via the communication unit 30, the control unit 10 checks the relevant seminar, the current reservation number, etc. If the reservation is possible, it updates the current reservation number in the seminar schedule table 22.

[0015] The storage unit 20 stores the data necessary for direct mail distribution. The main ones are the member table 21 and the seminar schedule table 22. The member table 21 is a table in which information about members is grouped by email address. It has general information about members including email addresses, information related to the distribution volume, and member-specific information related to seminars. Also, the member table includes a reception level, which is the level for adjusting the distribution volume of seminar guides, a seminar category indicating the corresponding seminar, and the address of the member. It has distance information from the address of the member to each seminar venue calculated from the address of the member and the address of each seminar venue. Also, as information directly related to whether or not to distribute, it has information on the number of days of distribution waiting record. The number of days of distribution waiting record is calculated and updated every time it is required. The seminar schedule table 22 summarizes information on the seminar schedule and lists the schedules for each individual seminar to be held. As general information about the seminar, it has a seminar classification name, seminar name, holding date and time, location, capacity, etc. Also, as items related to direct mail distribution, it has the cost per seat and the current number of reservations. The current number of reservations is updated every time a reservation is made. Also, in addition to these data, in order to respond to inquiries about the seminar, detailed information about the seminar may be stored.

[0016] The communication unit 30 is the part where the system communicates with the outside. It communicates with a plurality of members 40 through the Internet N. The communication includes direct mail to the members 40. Regarding direct mail, for example, at night, the direct mail to be distributed during the day is received from the control unit 10 in a batch and distributed in a batch at a predetermined time. Also, as other communication, for example, there is communication of a seminar participation request from a member. The received content is transmitted to the control unit 10, and the control unit 10 performs a registration procedure for participation and updates the current number of reservations in the seminar schedule table 22 of the storage unit 20.

[0017] The data of the table will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. The member table 21 is a table that stores information for each member. The member and the email address are in a one-to-one relationship. Therefore, it can also be said to be a table grouped by email address. The data of the table are an email address, member name, address, reception level, number of days since the previous distribution date, recommended seminar classification, etc. The email address is the email address to which direct mail is distributed. The email address, member name, and address are usually fixed once registered unless there is a change.

[0018] The reception level is the level for adjusting the distribution volume. For each company that is a member, it is possible to select whether to desire a large number of direct mail distributions, a small number of direct mail distributions, or no direct mail distributions, and to notify the direct mail distributors in advance. Members can receive the desired amount of direct mail according to this level. As the reception level, for example, it is conceivable to have four levels: not receiving, recommended with a short distance to the venue, recommended with a certain distance to the venue, and desiring all distributions. As the condition of "a short distance to the venue", for example, the distance from the member to the venue can be within 10 Km. For the condition of "a certain distance", for example, 30 km can be set as the condition. The distance to the venue represents the distance from the member to each venue. For example, for A transportation, as shown in T101, it is 13 km to Venue A, 9 Km to Venue B, 8 km to Venue C, etc. The distance to each venue is calculated and stored each time the direct mail automatic generation and distribution system 1 is activated using a map application or the like. The closer the distance, the easier it is for members to participate in the seminar.

[0019] In addition, depending on the member, due to factors such as the range of activities, there may be a venue that is far away but has been used in the past and is planned to be used in the future. Therefore, for the seminars attended by the member during the specified number of past years, the distance to the seminar is treated as zero. By doing so, direct mail can be appropriately distributed for such venues. In T102 of Fig. 5, Venue F is an example. Regarding Venue F, B Tourism considers that it has been used in the past and may be used in the future, and on the system, the distance data of Venue F for B Tourism is treated as zero.

[0020] The recommended seminar classification allows members to change the types of seminars they select. In this embodiment, the seminar classification is divided into two categories: cargo and passengers. Direct mail for appropriate seminars can be sent to each member. In T101 of Figure 5, since cargo is selected, for this member, seminars related to cargo are selected. The delivery waiting actual days are the number of days since the last delivery to the member. Members often hope for regular seminar information. However, if direct mail for the same type of seminar is sent daily, it is circuitous and may even cause the member to stop looking at the mail content. Therefore, direct mail is sent at intervals of a certain number of days. The reference for this is the delivery waiting actual days. The delivery waiting actual days are calculated each time from the previous sending date and the processing date as needed. By looking at the delivery waiting actual days, the number of days since the previous delivery can be grasped. Therefore, for notices with a low urgency, the delivery interval can be widened, and for notices containing highly urgent information, the delivery interval can be narrowed, etc., to have a flexible delivery schedule.

[0021] The seminar schedule table 22 contains the schedule data for all seminars. From this, it filters according to various conditions and notifies the member of the optimal seminar schedule. The data includes serial numbers, seminar classification names, seminar names, opening dates, opening times, opening locations, capacity, cost per seat, current reservation numbers, etc. The seminar classification name is the category to which the seminar belongs. In this embodiment, there are two: cargo and passengers. The seminar classification can be further detailed to deliver information only about more appropriate seminars to members. The seminar name is a unique name, an easy-to-understand name without duplication. The opening date, opening time, and opening location are necessary items when sending direct mail. Also, the holding date serves as an indicator for the necessity of sending direct mail. If the holding date is approaching, the urgency of sending the mail increases. Conversely, if there is a sufficient margin until the holding date, the urgency of sending the mail decreases. Also, the venue serves as an indicator for determining the distance from the members to the venue. Since the distance from each member to the venue is calculated based on the member's address and the address of each venue, it becomes a factor for deciding whether to send out invitations depending on which venue the event will be held at. The capacity, cost per seat, and current reservation numbers serve as indicators for the necessity of sending direct mail. If the current reservation numbers are significantly fewer than the capacity, the necessity of sending direct mail increases. Also, if the cost per seat is high, the impact on the profit from empty seats is significant. Therefore, even if the number of empty seats is small, the necessity of sending direct mail increases.

[0022] An explanation of the data used during automatic mail generation will be provided. First time limit date, second time limit date: If the seminar's holding date is too close, even if an invitation is sent, the members may not be able to respond, and it will not contribute to an increase in participants. Also, if the seminar's holding date is too far away, the members' interest will wane, and they will put off deciding whether to participate. Therefore, the number of days that are too close and when members are thought to be unable to respond is set as the first time limit date, and seminars with a holding date closer than this are excluded. Also, the number of days that are too far away and when there is a high possibility that participation will be put off is set as the second time limit date, and seminars with a holding date further away than this are excluded. The value of the first time limit date is, for example, 2 days. The value of the second time limit date is, for example, 60 days. Seminar schedule group within the period: It is a data group of seminar schedules from which seminars with a holding date that is too close or too far away have been excluded based on the first time limit date and the second time limit date. Seminar schedule group that meets the reception level: It is a data group of seminar schedules restricted according to the reception level, which is a value indicating the amount of mail that a member wants to receive, for each member. It is generated in a form that restricts the seminar schedule group within the period 50. Scheduled seminar delivery group: A group of seminar schedule data that has been selected and determined for delivery using delivery priorities, etc. It is arranged in descending order of delivery urgency. Delivery urgency: An index where the number of days until the seminar is held increases as the holding date approaches. Loss evaluation value: A value obtained from the number of reserved seats for the seminar and the cost per seat of the seminar. Delivery priority: A value calculated from the delivery urgency and the loss evaluation value. Currently, it indicates the necessity to fill the seminar reservations. The higher the value, the more necessary it is to enhance the appeal to fill the reservations. If the value of the delivery priority is greater than the specified value, the delivery date is advanced. Designated number of days for delivery standby: A value that determines how many days to wait between deliveries for each individual member. If the designated number of days for delivery standby is 7 days, the delivery is made with a 7-day interval. For example, in the case of a seminar with a high delivery urgency, the delivery can be advanced by setting the designated number of days for delivery standby to 3 days.

[0023] Using FIGS. 2 to 6, the flow of automatic generation and delivery will be described. The parts where the subject is not specified are operations by the control unit 10. The control unit 10 of the system, for example, at midnight, collectively selects the seminar schedule and automatically generates direct mail, and collectively sends the direct mail data to the communication unit 30. This is the so-called night batch. The communication unit 30, for example, delivers the direct mail all at once around the start time of business hours. Generally, it is common to check emails at the start of work, and if sent late at night, there is a possibility that it will be forwarded to mobile phones, etc., causing unnecessary operations for members. When the system starts up, the control unit 10 checks whether today is the delivery date. For example, the delivery date may be the business day of the sender, and it is checked whether today is that day (S101). If it is not the delivery date, the process ends. Next, for all seminar schedules, the delivery urgency is calculated. The delivery urgency is a value that increases as the holding date approaches. In this embodiment, it is set as (the second period limit date) - (the number of days from today until the holding date). Also, a group of in-period seminar schedules 50 is generated. The group of in-period seminar schedules 50 is a group of seminar schedules where the number of days until the holding date is equal to or greater than the first period limit date and equal to or less than the second period limit date. In FIG. 6, for example, it excludes No1, 6, 34, etc., and is the portion surrounded by the dotted line. (S102). In other words, for each seminar schedule in the seminar schedule table, a delivery urgency, which is a value corresponding to the period until the seminar is held, is calculated, and a group of seminar schedules excluding those where the period until the seminar is held is shorter than the first period limit date or longer than the second period limit date is defined as the group of in-period seminar schedules. By subroutine 2, a group of confirmed delivery seminar schedules is generated from the group of in-period seminar schedules 50.

[0024] Next, one of the members in units of email addresses is selected (S103). Next time, the next member will be selected. Here, it is assumed that A Transportation of No1 in the member table 21 and the email address taro@pat.com are selected. Next, subroutine 1 (checking whether the member with the target email address is a delivery target) is executed (S104). The acquisition of the target seminar schedule and the confirmation of the seminar schedule to be delivered are performed. In this subroutine, the seminar schedule to be delivered to the target member is selected. Also, it is determined whether today is the timing for delivery to the target member. Next, based on the return value of subroutine 1, it is determined whether the target email address is a delivery target (S105). If there is a seminar schedule to be directly emailed to the member corresponding to the target email address and today corresponds to the email delivery timing, it becomes a delivery target and proceeds to S106. If it does not become a delivery target, it returns to S103 as No.

[0025] In S106, a mail document to be distributed to the target members is created. The subject of the mail is added to the content of the confirmed seminar schedule group determined in S104 to automatically generate the mail body. The automatically generated mail data is sent to the communication unit 30 as the distribution for today. In other words, direct mail data describing the information of each seminar in the confirmed seminar schedule group is generated for each member and sent to the communication unit. By this operation, the preparation for direct mail distribution of the seminar schedule to this member is completed. Proceed to S107 to check whether there are still mail addresses (members) to be processed. If the processing is completed for all members, proceed to S108. If not, go back to S103 to continue the processing for the next mail address (member). In S108, the communication unit 30 distributes the mails saved as the distribution for today in a batch. In other words, based on the direct mail data, direct mails are distributed to each member. The distribution time is, for example, appropriate around the start time of work. By completing the distribution, the processing is completed.

[0026] The flow of subroutine 1 (inspecting whether the target mail address is a distribution target) will be described with reference to Figure 3. This subroutine generates a confirmed seminar schedule group for the target mail address (member) and determines whether today is the distribution timing. First, subroutine 2 (acquiring the target seminar schedule list) is performed (S201). In this subroutine, a confirmed seminar schedule group is generated. For the generation, from the in-period seminar schedule group 50, a seminar schedule group that matches the reception level is generated according to the reception level. In addition, the distribution urgency, loss evaluation value, and distribution priority are generated. If the number of items in the confirmed seminar schedule group is zero according to S202, proceed to S208, set "not a distribution target" in the return value, and end. If the number of items in the confirmed seminar schedule group is not zero, proceed to S203.

[0027] In S203, it is determined whether the emergency delivery judgment value, which is the maximum value of the delivery priority, is equal to or greater than a specified value. If it is equal to or greater than the specified value, it is determined that the seminar schedule to be delivered urgently is included, and the process proceeds to S205. In S205, the specified number of days for delivery standby is set to 3 days, which is the emergency number of days. In S203, if the emergency delivery judgment value, which is the maximum value of the delivery priority, is less than the specified value, it is determined that the seminar schedule to be delivered urgently is not included, and the process proceeds to S204. In S204, the specified number of days for delivery standby is set to 7 days, which is the normal number of days. In other words, for each email address, there is a specified number of days for delivery standby, which is the number of days to hold off on delivery for a certain period. If the emergency delivery judgment value is greater than the specified value, the specified number of days for delivery standby is shortened.

[0028] In S206, it is determined whether the actual number of days for delivery standby, which is the number of days from the previous delivery date of this member, exceeds the specified number of days for delivery standby set in S204 and S205. If it exceeds, it is considered deliverable, and the process proceeds to S207, where the return value is set to "Delivery handling". If it does not exceed, it is considered undeliverable, and the process proceeds to S208, where the return value is set to "Not a delivery target". In this way, the generation of the confirmed delivery seminar schedule group and the determination of whether to deliver today are performed, and the subroutine ends.

[0029] The flow of Subroutine 2 (Obtaining the target seminar schedule list) will be described. This subroutine is the part that generates the confirmed delivery seminar schedule group. First, in S301, from the in-period seminar schedule group 50 generated in S102, a seminar schedule that matches the recommended seminar category in the member table 21 is selected. In other words, for each email address in the member table, a seminar schedule that matches the seminar category is selected from the in-period seminar schedule group. For example, in the case of Transportation A, since the recommended seminar category is freight, a seminar schedule is selected from the group of in-period seminar schedules 50 where the seminar category name is freight. In Figure 6, T201 is applicable. T202 is excluded because the seminar category name is passengers. Next, in S302, the value of the reception level in the member table 21 stored in the storage unit 20 is acquired. The reception level is a value for adjusting the distribution volume. In the case of Transportation A, the reception level is "Recommended · Nearby". "Recommended · Nearby" means recommended and indicates a preference for a location close to the venue. In S303, since the reception level is not "Do not receive", the process proceeds to S304. In S304, since the reception level is "Recommended · Nearby" and it matches, the process proceeds to S305. In S305, a seminar schedule is acquired where the distance to the venue is relatively close, within the minimum distance, MIN(10) km. Taking Transportation A as an example, the venues within 10 km of the venue in the member table 21 are Venue B and Venue C. Therefore, among the group of seminar schedules (T201) limited to freight, which is the recommended seminar category for Transportation A within the group of in-period seminar schedules 50, a seminar schedule where the venue is B or C is selected. These become the group of seminar schedules that match the reception level (T203). In other words, the condition for selection is that the distance from the member to each seminar venue is shorter than the distance set by the reception level, and the matching seminar schedules are used as the group of seminar schedules that match the reception level. The process moves to S306 to determine whether the number of acquired items is less than the minimum number, MIN(5). If the number of acquired items is 5 or more, the process moves to S311. If it is less than 5, the process moves to S308. If the number of items to be distributed is too small, the efficiency of distribution decreases, so the number of distributed items is increased. If the number is less than 5, loosen the reception level by one level and generate a seminar schedule group that matches the reception level when the amount to be distributed is increased to "recommended / related" (S308). Obtain those whose distance to the venue is within the maximum distance, MAX(30) km. In the case of Transportation A, as shown in T101 of FIG. 5, obtain the seminar schedules of venues other than Venue E. In other words, if the number of seminar schedules in the seminar schedule group that matches the reception level is less than the specified number, change the reception level and select again from the in-period seminar schedule group a seminar schedule group that matches the reception level according to the reception level. In S309, if the number of acquisitions is less than the minimum number, MIN(5), proceed to S310 and obtain all those that match the member's seminar category within the in-period seminar schedule group 50.

[0030] In S311, for each seminar schedule in the obtained seminar schedule group that matches the reception level, calculate the distribution priority, arrange them in descending order of the distribution priority, and perform a process of making the number not exceed the maximum number of distributions, the maximum distribution number (25). First, calculate the damage evaluation value for each seminar schedule. The damage evaluation value is a value obtained from the number of available seats reserved for the seminar and the cost per seat of the seminar. By obtaining this value, the degree of the loss amount of the current seminar can be estimated. Next, calculate the distribution priority from the damage evaluation value and the distribution urgency. For example, calculate the distribution priority by multiplying the loss evaluation value, the distribution urgency, and a coefficient. A seminar with a large loss evaluation value is a seminar that has a high need to increase the number of reservants. A seminar with a high distribution urgency is a seminar whose period is approaching and there is an urgent need to increase the number of reservants. The reason for multiplying by the coefficient is to adjust the relationship between the maximum value and the specified value of the distribution priority. For each seminar schedule, after calculating the distribution priority, arrange the seminar schedules in descending order of the distribution priority. This is because seminar schedules with a higher distribution priority should be listed closer to the top in the direct mail. After arranging, limit the number of items to the maximum number of distributions (25). This is because there is a limit to the amount that can be listed in one direct mail. The distribution priority of the seminar schedule at the top is the largest value in the group. Set the distribution priority of the largest value as the emergency distribution judgment value. Separately, at S203, determine the timing of the distribution using the emergency distribution judgment value.

[0031] In other words, the processing at S311 calculates the loss evaluation value for each seminar schedule in the received level matching seminar schedule group from the number of reserved seats for the seminar and the cost per seat of the seminar, calculates the distribution priority from the loss evaluation value and the distribution urgency, rearranges each seminar schedule in descending order of the distribution priority, selects a certain number of seminar schedules from the top as the distribution determined seminar schedule group, and sets the highest distribution priority value as the emergency distribution judgment value. Perform these processes and end subroutine 2.

[0032] Explain the timing of the distribution according to the schedule in FIG. 7. The schedule shows the schedule of the distribution to a certain member. Explain the items of the schedule from left to right. The date is set as the day when the distribution was first made, and the number of days from the first distribution date. Normal distribution / emergency distribution is determined at S203 in the flowchart and is either of the two: normal or emergency. The number of days specified for distribution waiting is a value corresponding to the value of normal distribution / emergency distribution. In this embodiment, it is set to 3 days for the emergency case and 7 days for the normal case. The number of days can be changed as appropriate. The actual number of days of distribution waiting is the number of days from the most recent day when the distribution was made. If the actual number of days of distribution waiting exceeds the specified number of days of distribution waiting, there will be a distribution. The presence or absence of distribution indicates whether there has been distribution or not based on the relationship between the actual number of days of distribution waiting and the designated number of days of distribution waiting.

[0033] For a certain member, it is explained that direct mail was distributed on the first day. On the first day, the control unit 10 performs processing and calculates the emergency distribution judgment value, which has the highest distribution priority among the distribution confirmation seminar schedule groups (S311). It is compared with the specified value (S203). If it is larger than the specified value, it is regarded as an emergency distribution by S205, and the designated number of days of distribution waiting is set to 3 days. Since the actual number of days of distribution waiting is the day after the distribution day, it is 1 day, and since the actual number of days of distribution waiting does not exceed the designated number of days of distribution waiting, there is no distribution today (T301). The same applies to the second and third days, and no distribution is performed. On the fourth day, it is an emergency distribution. The designated number of days of distribution waiting is 3 days, and the actual number of days of distribution waiting is 4 days. Since the actual number of days of distribution waiting exceeds the designated number of days of distribution waiting, distribution is performed (T302). From the fifth day to the eleventh day, all are normal distributions, so the designated number of days of distribution waiting is all 7 days. Since the actual number of days of distribution waiting does not exceed the designated number of days of distribution waiting, no distribution is performed. On the twelfth day, it is a normal distribution. The designated number of days of distribution waiting is 7 days, and the actual number of days of distribution waiting is 8 days. Since the actual number of days of distribution waiting exceeds the designated number of days of distribution waiting, distribution is performed (T303). From the thirteenth day to the sixteenth day, it is a normal distribution. The designated number of days of distribution waiting is 7 days, and the actual number of days of distribution waiting is 4 days or less, so no distribution is performed. On the seventeenth day, it is an emergency distribution. The designated number of days of distribution waiting is 3 days, and the actual number of days of distribution waiting is 5 days. Since the actual number of days of distribution waiting exceeds the designated number of days of distribution waiting, distribution is performed (T304). In this way, according to the urgency of the direct mail to be distributed, the interval between the days of distribution can be flexibly changed, and efficient distribution can be performed.

[0034] As described above, according to the present invention, since the priority of email delivery can be automatically calculated according to the importance of guidance to seminars and the like, email delivery can be efficiently performed, and work efficiency can be improved.

[0035] In addition, since the delivery interval can be flexibly changed according to the urgency of the direct mail to be delivered, the direct mail can be appropriately delivered.

[0036] In addition, since it is possible to determine whether or not to deliver direct mail according to the distance from the seminar venue, delivery can be performed efficiently.

[0037] In addition, by setting the order of the degree of loss amount and the priority order according to the urgency as the order of description in the direct mail, members can be made to check in the order of seminars that they are desired to check, which is efficient.

[0038] In addition, by having a reception level, which is a value for adjusting the delivery amount, for each member, the delivery amount can be adjusted according to the member.

[0039] In addition, when the delivery amount is small, the reception level can be automatically changed to increase the delivery amount to an appropriate amount.

[0040] In addition, by multiplying a coefficient by the delivery priority, it is possible to change the threshold for making the delivery interval normal or urgent.

Industrial Applicability

[0041] The direct mail automatic generation and delivery system according to the present invention is considered to have great industrial applicability as a system that automatically extracts seminars with high delivery necessity, sets delivery, and delivers.

Explanation of Signs

[0042] 1 Direct mail automatic generation and delivery system 10 Control unit 20 Memory section 21 Member table 22 Seminar schedule table 30 Communication section 40 Member 50 Seminar schedule group within a period N Internet

Claims

1. In a direct mail automatic generation and distribution system, comprising a storage unit, a control unit, and a communication unit, the storage unit stores a member table in which information about members is grouped by email address, and a seminar schedule table in which information about seminar schedules is grouped, the member table includes a reception level which is a level for adjusting the distribution volume of direct mail, a seminar category indicating a seminar recommended for the member, and the member's address, the control unit calculates a distribution urgency which is a value corresponding to the period until the seminar is held for each seminar schedule in the seminar schedule table, and excludes the seminar schedules in which the period until the seminar is held is shorter than a first period limit date or longer than a second period limit date, and sets the group of seminar schedules as a group of in-period seminar schedules, for each email address in the member table, selects the seminar schedule that matches the seminar category from the group of in-period seminar schedules, further calculates the distance from the member's address and the address of each seminar venue to the distance from the member to each seminar venue, and sets as a selection condition that the distance from the member to each seminar venue is shorter than the distance set at the reception level, and sets the matching seminar schedule as a group of reception level matching seminar schedules, for each seminar schedule in the group of reception level matching seminar schedules, calculates a loss evaluation value from the number of available seats reserved for the seminar and the cost per seat of the seminar, and calculates a distribution priority from the loss evaluation value and the distribution urgency, sorts each seminar schedule in descending order of the distribution priority, selects a certain number of seminar schedules from the top as a group of confirmed distribution seminar schedules, and sets the highest distribution priority as an emergency distribution judgment value, generates direct mail data describing the information of each seminar in the group of confirmed distribution seminar schedules for each member, and sends it to the communication unit, the communication unit distributes the direct mail for each member based on the direct mail data. A direct mail automatic generation and distribution system characterized by this.

2. For each of the email addresses, it has a delivery waiting specified number of days, which is the period for holding off delivery for a certain number of days. When the emergency delivery judgment value is greater than a specified value, the delivery waiting specified number of days is shortened. The direct mail automatic generation and delivery system according to claim 1, characterized in that.

3. Regarding the distance between the member and the seminar venue, at least during a certain past period, the distance to the seminar venue where the member attended the seminar is set to zero, and the seminar schedule is selected. The direct mail automatic generation and delivery system according to claim 1, characterized in that.

4. When the number of the seminar schedules in the reception level matching seminar schedule group is less than a specified number, the reception level is changed, and again, from the in-period seminar schedule group, the reception level matching seminar schedule group corresponding to the reception level is selected. The direct mail automatic generation and delivery system according to claim 1, characterized in that.

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