Point giving system

Abstract

To provide a point giving system which enables a company to not only provide the welfare of employees but also economically activate a region where the company is located.SOLUTION: A server 11 provided in a point giving system 1 comprises: a store introduction unit 22 which introduces store information on a store 5 having subscribed to a service by invitation from one of a plurality of employees 4, which is received from a store terminal device 15 of the store 5, through portable terminals 14 held by the respective employees 4; and a first point giving unit 23 which, on the basis of employee identification information JS of the employee who invited the store 5 to subscribe to the service, adds prescribed points to information about points associated with the identification information of this employee (the number of points held by this employee).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a points-granting system that can improve the welfare of employees of a company and also promote economic vitality in the area where the company is located. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, point-granting systems aimed at improving employee welfare for companies have been known (for example, see Patent Document 1 below). In the point-granting system disclosed in Patent Document 1, when an employee of a company uses a store registered with a management company, points are awarded to the employee according to the amount of the purchase. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Utility Model Registration No. 3232529 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The above-mentioned point-granting system allows companies to improve the welfare of their employees, but if it can also provide benefits to both the company and its employees while revitalizing the local economy, it would be desirable for companies to be able to contribute to the local community.

[0005] Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a points-granting system that not only enables companies to provide employee welfare benefits, but also provides benefits to the company and its employees and contributes to the economic revitalization of the area in which the company is located. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The point-granting system of the present invention includes a store introduction unit that introduces store information to each of a plurality of employees of a company that has a contract with a service management company that operates a service that introduces store information, and that introduces store information of stores that have joined the service after being solicited by one of the employees through a mobile terminal carried by each of the plurality of employees, and a first point-granting unit that awards a predetermined number of points for information related to points linked to a soliciting employee, based on the employee identification information of the soliciting employee who invited the store to join the service. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, a company can not only provide welfare benefits for its employees, but also contribute to the local area by revitalizing the economy of the area in which the company is located. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a point-giving system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the flow of information when a company employee joins a store in the point-giving system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of employee identification information displayed on the display of a mobile terminal that constitutes the point-giving system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] A flowchart showing the flow of processing (points awarded when a store joins) by a server constituting the points awarding system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of store information displayed on the display of a mobile terminal that constitutes the point-giving system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the flow of information when a company employee uses a store in the point-giving system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7]A flowchart showing the flow of processing (points awarded when using a store) by a server constituting a points awarding system according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a points-giving system 1 in one embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the points-giving system 1 is a system for granting points to employees of a company, and is established among a service operating company 2, a company 3, multiple employees 4 belonging to the company 3, and a store 5 via a server 11 connected to a network 12.

[0010] In this embodiment, the service operating company 2 enters into a contract with a company 3 that wishes to provide the service, and operates a service in which the company 3 introduces information about stores 5 (store information) to each of multiple employees 4 belonging to the company 3. Here, the stores 5 are mainly assumed to be restaurants such as cafeterias and coffee shops located in the area where the company 3 is located, but they are not limited to restaurants and may be exercise facilities such as gyms or entertainment facilities such as karaoke parlors. The stores 5 may also be located away from the company 3, and may be, for example, accommodation facilities such as hotels that employees 4 use in connection with the business of the company 3.

[0011] In FIG. 1, the service operating company 2 has a server 11 for centrally managing the service. The server 11 is connected to a network 12 via the Internet. The company 3 has a company terminal device 13 which is a terminal device belonging to the company 3, and the company terminal device 13 is also connected to the network 12 via the Internet. Each employee 4 belonging to the company 3 has a variety of mobile terminals 14 including a smartphone. Each mobile terminal 14 is also connected to the network 12 via the Internet. It is expected that not only one company 3 but multiple companies 3 will register for the service of the service operating company 2 (introduction of information about stores 5).

[0012] 2, a corporate application (corporate application AP1) that is an application required for executing a service provided by a service operating company 2 is installed on a corporate terminal device 13. The corporate application AP1 can be installed from a server 11 when the company 3 concludes a service contract with the service operating company 2.

[0013] An employee application (employee application AP2) that is an application required to execute the service provided by the service operating company 2 is installed on the mobile terminal 14 possessed by each employee 4. The employee application AP2 can be installed from the server 11 when the company 3 concludes a service contract with the service operating company 2.

[0014] In FIG. 2, employee identification information JS, which is identification information for each employee 4 within the company 3, is stored in the mobile terminal 14 carried by each employee 4. The employee identification information JS is linked to information related to points held by the employee, and the information related to points is also stored in the mobile terminal 14. In this embodiment, the information related to points refers to the number of points (1, 2, 3, . . . N). The employee identification information JS is provided to each employee 4 by the company 3. The employee identification information JS can be the employee number of each employee 4 within the company 3, but is not limited to the employee number. In this embodiment, the employee identification information JS for each employee 4 is coded, such as a two-dimensional barcode or QR code (registered trademark), and stored in the mobile terminal 14 carried by each employee 4. As shown in FIG. 3, the employee identification information JS can be displayed on the display 14D of the mobile terminal 14. The employee identification information JS and information related to points may be stored in the server 11 or a storage device connected to the server 11 via the network 12.

[0015] 1, the store 5 is equipped with a store terminal device 15, which is a terminal device belonging to the store 5, and an information reader 16 that can be connected to the store terminal device 15. After the store 5 subscribes to the service of the service operating company 2, a store application (store app AP3), which is an application for the store 5, is installed in the store terminal device 15.

[0016] The information reader 16 is composed of, for example, a barcode reader or a QR code reader, and reads the employee identification information JS of the employee 4 from a two-dimensional barcode or QR code displayed on the display 14D of the mobile terminal 14 carried by the employee 4. The store terminal device 15 may be a PC (personal computer) installed in the store 5, or may be a smartphone carried by the representative (owner, etc.) of the store 5. When the store terminal device 15 is a smartphone, the information reader 16 is configured integrally with the store terminal device 15.

[0017] Alternatively, a smartphone carried by the employee 4 may be used as the information reader 16. In such a case, the smartphone is used to read a two-dimensional barcode or a QR code displayed on a display of a terminal installed in the store 5 or on a paper medium. In this embodiment, a configuration in which the store terminal device 15 is provided with the information reader 16 is exemplified.

[0018] In the point-granting system 1 according to the present embodiment, when an employee 4 belonging to a company 3 visits a store 5 located in the area where the employee 3 is located, the employee invites the store 5 to join a service provided by the service operating company 2 (i.e., a service for which the company 3 has a contract with the service operating company 2). If the representative of the store 5 (e.g., the owner) agrees to join the service as a result of the employee 4 inviting the store 5 to join the service, the representative accesses a predetermined joining site provided by the service operating company 2 through a terminal device (store terminal device 15) provided in the store 5. The representative then performs an input operation for joining according to a predetermined procedure on the joining site and transmits application information for joining (joining application information) to the server 11. Before applying for joining the service, the store 5 reads the employee identification information JS of the employee 4 invited to join the service in advance using the information reader 16.

[0019] 2, the server 11 includes a reception unit 21, a store introduction unit 22, a first point granting unit 23, and a second point granting unit 24. As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 4, when the store terminal device 15 of the store 5 that has been invited by the employee 4 to join the service transmits membership application information indicating the store's desire to join (step ST1), the reception unit 21 receives the membership application information. Upon receiving the membership application information, the reception unit 21 determines whether the store 5 meets the conditions for joining the service based on predetermined criteria (step ST2). If the reception unit 21 determines that the store 5 does not meet the conditions for joining the service, the reception unit 21 transmits a non-approval notice to the store terminal device 15 of the store 5 indicating that the store 5 does not approve the membership (rejects the membership) (step ST3). On the other hand, if the reception unit 21 determines that the store 5 meets the conditions for joining the service, the reception unit 21 transmits an approval notice approving the membership to the store terminal device 15 (step ST4).

[0020] After sending an approval notice to the store 5 whose subscription has been approved, the reception unit 21 then requests the store 5 to send information about the store 5 (store information) (step ST5). In response, the representative of the store 5 sends the store information to the server 11 via the store terminal device 15. The store information sent by the store 5 to the server 11 here is information that will be introduced to each of the employees 4 belonging to the company 3 via the mobile terminal 14 carried by each employee 4. Therefore, the representative of the store 5 sends to the server 11 various information such as information about the location of the store 5, information about the exterior and interior of the store 5 (including photos), information about the contents of the service provided (for example, information about the food and drink provided if the store 5 is a restaurant), and business hours.

[0021] When the server 11 receives the store information transmitted from the store 5 (step ST6), it then requests the store 5 to transmit the employee identification information JS of the employee 4 who invited the store 5 to join the service (step ST7). In response, the representative of the store 5 transmits the employee identification information JS of the employee 4 who invited the store 5 to join the service (the soliciting employee), which has already been read by the information reader 16, to the server 11 via the store terminal device 15.

[0022] When the server 11 receives the employee identification information JS of the soliciting employee transmitted from the store 5 (step ST8), it introduces the store information of the store 5 to each employee 4 via the mobile device 14 carried by each employee 4 (step ST9). Specifically, the store introduction unit 22 included in the server 11 uploads the store information transmitted from the store 5 to the network 12, thereby enabling each employee 4 to view the store information via the employee app AP2 installed on their own mobile device 14. FIG. 5 shows an example of store information displayed on the display 14D of the mobile device 14 of the employee 4. In the example shown in FIG. 5, the store 5 is a restaurant, and as its store information, an image GZ of the food and beverages the store 5 offers and information about the store 5's business (business information EJ) are displayed on the display 14D. In the example shown in FIG. 5, the number of points PT held by the employee 4 is also displayed on the display 14D.

[0023] Furthermore, the store introduction unit 22 introduces store information about the store 5 to employees 4 belonging to all companies 3 that have contracts with the service operating company 2. In other words, information about a store 5 that has been solicited and registered by an employee 4 belonging to a certain company 3 is shared not only with the company 3 to which that employee 4 belongs, but also with employees 4 belonging to all companies 3 that have contracts with the service operating company 2. For example, information about a store 5 that has been solicited by an employee 4 of company A is also introduced to an employee 4 of company B.

[0024] As described above, when the server 11 introduces the store information of the newly joined store 5 to the employee 4 of the company 3 from the store introduction unit 22, the server 11 also assigns predetermined points (reward points) from the first point assignment unit 23 to the employee 4 (recruiting employee) who invited the store 5 to join the service (step ST10). In detail, the server 11 adds a predetermined number of points to the point-related information (the number of points held by the soliciting employee) linked to the identification information of the employee 4 (recruiting employee). The reward points assigned to the soliciting employee are points that can be used at all stores 5 that have subscribed to the service operated by the service management company 2. The reward points are assigned to the soliciting employee based on the employee identification information JS of the soliciting employee transmitted from the store 5. After assigning the reward points to the soliciting employee in step ST10, the server 11 ends the series of processes for assigning points when a store joins.

[0025] When a new store 5 joins the service as described above, each employee 4 (strictly speaking, the employee using the service) of the company 3 can use his / her mobile terminal 14 to discover new stores 5 within his / her usual area of ​​activity, which increases the number of restaurant options to choose from for lunch, for example, making life more convenient. This allows the company 3 to provide employee benefits to its employees 4. Furthermore, by joining the service, the store 5's own store information becomes widely known among the company 3's employees 4, and as more employees 4 visit the store 5, the store 5 can expect to see an increase in sales.

[0026] When each employee 4 belonging to company 3 uses a store 5 that has newly subscribed to the service as described above, as well as other stores 5 that have already subscribed to the service, and pays the usage fee, the employee 4 displays his / her own employee identification information JS on his / her mobile terminal 14 (FIG. 3), has the employee identification information JS read by an information reader 16 provided in the store 5, and then pays the usage fee to the store 5 (FIG. 6). Meanwhile, the store 5 reads the employee identification information JS of the employee 4 who used the store 5 (hereinafter referred to as the "using employee") using the information reader 16, and receives the usage fee paid by the using employee. The store 5 then transmits usage fee information, which is information on the usage fee paid by the using employee to the store 5 (received by the store 5), and store usage information consisting of the employee identification information JS of the using employee to the server 11 via the network 12 (FIG. 6).

[0027] When the server 11 receives the store usage information of the user employee from the store 5 based on the payment processing performed by the store 5 (step ST11 in the flowchart of FIG. 7), the second points granting unit 24 grants the user employee points (usage points) corresponding to the usage fee paid by the user employee to the store 5 (step ST12). In detail, the server 11 adds a predetermined number of points to the information related to points (the number of points held by the user employee) linked to the identification information of the employee 4 (user employee). The usage points granted to the user employee are points that can be used at all stores 5 that subscribe to the service operated by the service operating company 2, and are granted to the user employee based on the employee identification information JS of the user employee sent from the store 5.

[0028] As described above, when a user employee pays a usage fee to the store 5, the store 5 reports the amount of the usage fee to the service operating company 2 as part of the store usage information, and in addition, the store 5 pays an amount equivalent to a portion of the usage fee paid by the user employee to the store 5 from the store terminal device 15 to the service operating company 2 via the network with the financial institution. The above-mentioned usage points granted to the user employee by the service operating company 2 are paid from a portion of the usage fee paid to the service operating company 2 by the store 5 used by the user employee, and the service operating company 2 can obtain as profit the amount remaining after deducting the amount equivalent to the points granted to the user employee from the usage fee received from the store 5.

[0029] When the server 11 awards usage points to an employee who has used a store 5 as described above, it also awards points (bonus points) to the employee 4 (soliciting employee) who invited that store 5 to join the service (step ST13). That is, the server 11 adds a predetermined number of points to the number of points held by the employee 4 (soliciting employee) that are linked to the identification information of the employee 4 (soliciting employee). The bonus points awarded to the soliciting employee are points that can be used at all stores 5 that have subscribed to the service operated by the service operating company 2, and are awarded to the soliciting employee based on the employee identification information JS of the soliciting employee sent from the store 5 at the time the store 5 subscribed to the service.

[0030] As described above, the recruiting employee who recruits store 5 for the service not only receives points (reward points) when he or she subscribes to the service, but also receives points (bonus points) each time another employee 4 uses store 5 and pays a fee. Therefore, the points (reward points and bonus points) that employee 4 may receive as a preferential treatment if he or she becomes such a recruiting employee are attractive, and employee 4 tries to recruit store 5 for the service. Such recruiting activities by employee 4 are beneficial not only for employee 4 but also for store 5, which subscribes to the service after being recruited, as they increase customer numbers and boost sales. Company 3 also benefits by being able to provide employee 4 with benefits without having to set up facilities such as a cafeteria within company 3. Furthermore, since employees 4 belonging to company 3 will actively use store 5 in the area where company 3 is located, the entire region will be economically revitalized.

[0031] As described above, the point-granting system 1 in this embodiment includes a store introduction unit 22 that introduces store information of a store 5 that has been invited to join the service by one of multiple employees 4 belonging to a company 3 that has a contract with a service operating company 2 that operates a service that introduces store information to each of the multiple employees 4 via their own mobile terminal 14, and a first point-granting unit 23 that adds a predetermined number of points to information regarding points linked to the identification information of the soliciting employee (the number of points held by the soliciting employee) based on the employee identification information JS of the soliciting employee, who is the employee 4 that invited the store 5 to join the service. In detail, the system is configured to include a server 11 provided by a service management company 2 that operates a service that introduces store information, a mobile terminal 14 carried by each of multiple employees 4 belonging to a company 3 that has a contract with the service management company 2, and a store terminal device 15 provided by the store.The server 11 includes a store introduction unit 22 that introduces store information about a store 5 received from the store terminal device 15 of a store 5 that has joined the service after being solicited by one of the multiple employees 4 to each of the multiple employees 4 via the mobile terminal 14 carried by each of the employees 4, and a first point allocation unit 23 that adds a predetermined number of points to information regarding points linked to the identification information of the soliciting employee (the number of points held by the soliciting employee) based on the employee identification information JS at the company 3 of the soliciting employee, who is the employee 4 that solicited the store 5 to join the service.

[0032] In this point-granting system 1, when an employee 4 of a company 3 invites a restaurant or other establishment 5 (primarily a establishment 5 located in the area where the company 3 is located) to join the service, the establishment 5's store information is introduced to other employees 4 of the company 3, allowing the establishment 5 to expect increased sales due to an increase in customer traffic. Furthermore, the employee 4 (the recruiting employee) who gets the establishment 5 to join the service is awarded points (reward points) as a reward, encouraging the employee 4 to actively invite the establishment 5 to join the service. As a result, the number of establishments 5 introduced to the employee 4 increases, allowing the company 3 to ensure sufficient satisfaction for the employee 4 even if the company 3 itself does not have facilities such as a company cafeteria. This allows the company 3 to improve the welfare of its employees 4 without having to make capital investments for them. Furthermore, as employees 4 actively visit the introduced establishments 5, the area in which the company 3 is located is economically revitalized.

[0033] As described above, the point-giving system 1 in this embodiment not only enables companies to provide employee welfare benefits, but also contributes to the economic revitalization of the region in which the company is located.

[0034] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above and various modifications are possible. For example, the flow of procedures when a store 5 newly subscribes to a service shown in the above embodiment is merely an example, and other flows for subscribing to a service may also be used.

[0035] Furthermore, in this embodiment, points are awarded to a user employee when the user employee uses a store 5, but points may be awarded only to the soliciting employee without being awarded to the user employee. Furthermore, points may be awarded to the soliciting employee not only when an employee 4 (user employee) belonging to the same company 3 uses the store 5, but also when an employee 4 of another company 3 that has a contract with the service operating company 2 uses the store 5. In other words, when identification information of an employee 4 belonging to a company 3 that has a contract with the service operating company 2 is transmitted based on payment processing performed at the store, the first point awarding unit 23 may award predetermined points for information related to points linked to the soliciting employee who solicited the service to the store 5 used by the employee 4. [Industrial Applicability]

[0036] To provide a point giving system that not only enables a company to provide employee welfare benefits but also enables the company to economically revitalize the area where the company is located. [Explanation of symbols]

[0037] 1. Point system 11 Server 12 Network 13 Corporate terminal equipment 14 Mobile devices 14D display 15 Store terminal equipment 16 Information reader 21 Reception 22 Store Introduction Department 23 First point allocation section 24 Second point allocation section JS Employee Identification Information

Claims

1. a store introduction unit that introduces store information of a store that has joined the service after being solicited by one of a plurality of employees belonging to a company that has entered into a contract with a service operating company that operates a store information introduction service to each of the plurality of employees via a mobile terminal carried by the employee; A points-granting system comprising: a first points-granting unit that grants predetermined points for information relating to points linked to a soliciting employee, who is the employee who invited the store to join the service, based on the employee identification information of the soliciting employee.

2. The point-giving system of claim 1, further comprising a second point-giving unit that, when employee identification information of a user employee who has used the store is transmitted based on payment processing performed at the store, grants a predetermined number of points based on information relating to points associated with the user employee based on the transmitted employee identification information of the user employee.

3. The point-granting system described in claim 2, wherein when granting points to the user employee, the second point-granting unit grants a predetermined number of points for information regarding points linked to the soliciting employee who invited the service to the store used by the user employee.

4. The point-giving system of claim 1, wherein, when identification information of an employee belonging to a company that has a contract with the service management company is transmitted based on payment processing performed at the store, the first point-giving unit grants a predetermined number of points for information related to points linked to the soliciting employee who solicited the service to the store used by the employee.

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