Negotiation support device, negotiation support method, and program

Abstract

To provide a negotiation support device that enables price negotiations that better reflect customer opinions. [Solution] The negotiation support device according to this disclosure includes an acquisition means for acquiring a customer's request for a discount for the simultaneous purchase of multiple products at a desired price in a store, a determination request means for requesting a determination of whether the discount is applicable, and an output means for outputting discount information for applying the discount if it is determined to be applicable.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a negotiation support device and the like.

Background Art

[0002] In the retail industry, strategies for enhancing customers' purchasing desires are diversifying. In particular, discounting and coupon application play important roles. The store side sets discount conditions and offers discounts and coupons to customers.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a device that facilitates negotiating a discount proposal. In Patent Document 1, a customer may request a discount for a specific quantity of a product or a specific combination of products.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] When the store side unilaterally sets and offers discount conditions, it may be difficult for customers to be satisfied with the discount.

[0006] One object of the present disclosure is to provide a negotiation support device and the like that enable discount negotiation that more reflects customers' opinions.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] A negotiation support device according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes an acquisition means for acquiring a request for a discount due to simultaneous purchase of a plurality of products at an amount desired by a customer in a store, a determination request means for requesting a determination as to whether the discount is applicable, and an output means for outputting discount information for applying the discount when it is determined to be applicable.

[0008] A negotiation support method in one aspect of this disclosure obtains a request from a customer for a discount on the simultaneous purchase of multiple items at a desired price in a store, requests a determination on whether the discount is applicable, and if it is determined to be applicable, outputs discount information for applying the discount.

[0009] A program in one aspect of this disclosure receives a request from a customer for a discount on the simultaneous purchase of multiple items at a desired price in a store, requests a determination as to whether the discount is applicable, and, if it is determined to be applicable, causes a computer to execute a process to output discount information for applying the discount. The program may be stored on a non-temporary recording medium that is readable by the computer. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] One example of the benefits of this disclosure is that it will enable price negotiations that better reflect customer opinions. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1] This is a diagram showing examples of the configuration of negotiation support devices. [Figure 2] This flowchart shows an example of how the negotiation support device works. [Figure 3] This is an explanatory diagram showing an example of connecting the negotiation support device with other devices. [Figure 4] This is a sequence diagram showing an example of the operation of the negotiation support device in conjunction with other devices. [Figure 5] This diagram shows an example of a screen displayed to the customer. [Figure 6] This figure shows an example of a screen displayed to a store employee. [Figure 7] This is an explanatory diagram showing an example of connecting the negotiation support device with other devices. [Figure 8] This diagram shows an example of a screen displayed to the customer. [Figure 9] This is a sequence diagram showing an example of the operation of the negotiation support device in conjunction with other devices. [Figure 10] It is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed to a customer. [Figure 11] It is an explanatory diagram showing an example of connection between the negotiation support device and other devices. [Figure 12] It is a sequence diagram showing an example of operations of the negotiation support device and other devices. [Figure 13] It is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed to a customer. [Figure 14] It is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed to a customer. [Figure 15] It is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the negotiation support device. [Figure 16] It is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the negotiation support device. [Figure 17] It is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of a computer.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0012] (First Embodiment) The negotiation support device 10 in the present disclosure is used, for example, when a customer requests a discount when purchasing a plurality of products at a store. Using FIG. 1, a basic configuration example of the negotiation support device 10 in the present disclosure will be described. The negotiation support device 10 according to the first embodiment includes an acquisition unit 101, a determination request unit 102, and an output unit 103.

[0013] The acquisition unit 101 acquires a discount request based on the simultaneous purchase of a plurality of products at the amount desired by the customer at the store. This request is received as data transmitted from, for example, a customer terminal or a store terminal. The discount request includes information on the target products and the discount amount desired by the customer. The customer selects a plurality of products that are the target of the discount request. These selected plurality of products are a combination of products intended to be purchased simultaneously by the customer. The selected products may be registered by the customer himself / herself using a customer terminal. For example, the customer can scan or select and register the products to be purchased using a smartphone app or a self-checkout terminal. On the other hand, the selected products may be registered by a store clerk using a store terminal. In this case, the customer tells the store clerk the products to be purchased or passes the products to the store clerk. Then, the store clerk registers the products using a store terminal such as a cash register terminal. On the customer terminal or the store terminal, for example, a plurality of products to be purchased simultaneously by the customer are displayed. The customer inputs a discount amount for the combination of the plurality of products displayed on the terminal. After the discount amount is input, a discount request is transmitted from the terminal to the negotiation support device 10.

[0014] The customer can specify the discount amount as a specific amount (e.g., 100 yen discount) or a percentage (e.g., 10% discount). If the requested discount is permitted, accounting is performed at the price after applying the discount. Also, the discount request may be a request for a substantial discount by distributing a coupon that can be used at a later date or by giving points for discount. For example, it includes a 500 yen coupon that can be used for the next shopping or a 5% point giving for the purchase amount. These discounts can be applied after the completion of the accounting process. The form of the discount shall be appropriately set according to the store's policy and the characteristics of the products. Depending on the customer's needs and situation, it may be possible for the customer to select and request a discount in an appropriate form from a plurality of forms.

[0015] The decision request unit 102 requests a determination on whether a discount is applicable based on the discount request acquired by the acquisition unit 101. The decision request unit 102 sends the decision request to the store's management system or the employee's terminal. The decision request is sent, for example, as information to be used to seek a decision from the store's system or a human. The decision request includes identification information of the product to be discounted, the quantity, and the discount amount proposed by the customer. Upon receiving this decision request, the store's management system or employee makes a decision on whether or not to apply the discount, taking into account the product's inventory status, profit margin, customer purchase history, etc.

[0016] If the output unit 103 determines that a discount is applicable, it outputs discount information for applying the discount. The discount information includes, for example, the discount amount, the target product, and the expiration date. The discount information is output in the form of, for example, a discount code or discount instruction. For example, the output unit 103 outputs the discount information to the terminal where the customer entered the discount amount. However, the output destination is not limited to this. The output content will be described later in subsequent embodiments.

[0017] The output unit 103 notifies the customer of the determination result. This notification is provided as a message displayed on the customer's terminal or as information conveyed to the customer by a store employee via a store terminal. For example, if it is determined that the request is not applicable, the output unit 103 notifies the customer that the request has been rejected.

[0018] In this disclosure, renegotiation may be possible if a discount is refused. In that case, the customer may request a discount again. However, to ensure fairness and efficiency in negotiations, there may be a limit on the number of renegotiations. For example, renegotiation may be conducted within a predetermined number of times, such as once or twice.

[0019] The output unit 103 may output the reason for the refusal of the discount along with the refusal notification. If possible, the output unit 103 may also output alternatives to the refused discount. The alternatives offered by the output unit 103 can take various forms. For example, if the requested discount is too large, the output unit 103 may propose a discount amount acceptable to the store. Acceptable discount amounts may include discounts agreed upon in past negotiations or discount limits set by the store. The output unit 103 may also suggest increasing the quantity of goods or adding other goods to make the discount acceptable. Furthermore, if a discount on a specific product is difficult, the output unit 103 may suggest equivalent or cheaper similar products as alternatives. Additionally, if an immediate discount is difficult, the output unit 103 may offer alternatives such as coupons usable on future purchases or point rewards.

[0020] The output unit 103 may output reference information to help the customer determine their desired discount amount. For example, the output unit 103 outputs reference information to the screen of the terminal where the customer enters the discount amount. This reference information may include the product's expiration date, inventory level, forecast demand, and reference discount amount. This information is obtained from a database.

[0021] Specifically, for example, the output unit 103 acquires expiration date information, calculates the difference with the current date and time, and displays it on the customer terminal in the format "X days remaining." The output unit 103 also acquires the current inventory quantity of the target product, compares it with a pre-set standard value for the appropriate inventory quantity, and displays it in the format "a lot," "appropriate amount," or "a little." For products nearing their expiration date or with excess inventory, information may be provided suggesting that a larger discount may be possible.

[0022] Forecasted demand can be expressed in the form of projected sales figures for a given period, or past sales rankings. Forecasted demand can also be predicted by a demand forecasting system (not illustrated). This system predicts demand by considering past sales data, seasonality, event information, etc. The forecast results are stored, for example, in a database. For products with high projected demand, information indicating limited room for price reductions may also be provided.

[0023] The reference discount amount is, for example, the discount amount negotiated in the past for the same or similar product. The reference discount amount may also be the amount offered by the customer in successful negotiations. For example, the range of amounts offered by the customer in multiple successful negotiations, or the average of the amounts offered, may be displayed. Alternatively, both the amount offered by the customer that was rejected and the amount that was actually applied may be displayed. The reference discount amount may relate to negotiations of other customers, or it may be the amount offered by the customer conducting the negotiation.

[0024] The output unit 103 outputs this reference information individually or in combination, providing the customer with the information needed to determine the discount amount. This enables mutually beneficial discount negotiations for both the customer and the store.

[0025] An example of the operation of the negotiation support device 10 in this disclosure will be illustrated using Figure 2. This process is initiated, for example, when a customer selects multiple items in a store and requests a discount on those items.

[0026] In step S11, the acquisition unit 101 acquires a request from the customer for a discount for purchasing multiple items simultaneously at a desired price in the store. In step S12, the determination request unit 102 requests a determination as to whether the discount is applicable. In step S13, if it is determined that the discount is applicable, the output unit 103 outputs discount information for applying the discount.

[0027] According to the first embodiment, the acquisition unit 101 acquires a customer's request for a discount for purchasing multiple items simultaneously at a desired price in the store. The determination request unit 102 then requests a determination on whether the discount is applicable. If the output unit 103 determines that the discount is applicable, it outputs discount information for applying the discount. Thus, a negotiation support device 10 can be provided that enables discount negotiations that better reflect the customer's opinion. Specifically, by realizing a process in which the customer proposes the discount amount they wish to receive and the store determines whether it is applicable, it becomes possible to more directly reflect the customer's intentions compared to a one-sided discount provision method.

[0028] Furthermore, the negotiation support device 10 allows for differentiation from competitors by providing a unique discount system based on combinations of multiple products, rather than discounts on individual items. This is expected to enhance the store's uniqueness and strengthen customer motivation to visit. In addition, it encourages customers to purchase multiple items at once, increasing the average purchase price per transaction. This directly contributes to increased store sales. Moreover, the discount applied to bundled purchases may encourage customers to consider purchasing items they had not initially planned to buy, thus promoting impulse purchases.

[0029] (Second embodiment) As a second embodiment, an embodiment of the negotiation support device 10 that outputs a discount code to the customer terminal 20 for reading by the accounting device 50 will be described. The same configuration of the negotiation support device 10 as in the first embodiment will not be described. Figure 3 will be used to illustrate an example of the connection between the negotiation support device 10 and other devices in this disclosure. The negotiation support device 10 is communicated with the customer terminal 20, the store terminal 30, the database 40, and the accounting device 50.

[0030] The customer terminal 20 is, for example, a mobile device such as a smartphone. The customer terminal 20 may also be a tablet-type terminal installed in the store for negotiation purposes. The customer terminal 20 is a device for customers to select items to purchase together and request a discount. Customers can also input the discount amount into the customer terminal 20. The customer terminal 20 is primarily intended to be operated in the store and to transmit discount requests from customers in the store. Customers can select items by scanning barcodes attached to the items, searching for and selecting items, or selecting from a list. A list of items for which discounts can be negotiated when purchased as a set may be used as the list. Customers select two or more items to purchase together from the list. Alternatively, customers may select items included in the list and items not included in the list to negotiate a discount when purchased as a set. Instead of scanning barcodes, image recognition of product images taken by the customer terminal 20 may be used for product selection. Customers may select multiple items by selecting recommended sets displayed on the customer terminal 20. For example, a set of a specific bento box and a specific tea is displayed on the customer terminal 20 as a product that is recommended to be purchased together.

[0031] Customers may negotiate discounts on two or more items out of three or more items purchased simultaneously. In this case, the customer may scan only the barcodes of the items for which they are negotiating a discount. Alternatively, the customer may scan the barcodes of three or more items and then select the items for which they are negotiating a discount on the customer terminal 20. This allows customers to select multiple items according to their needs and apply discounts to their desired combinations.

[0032] The store terminal 30 is a device for store employees to input their decisions regarding discount requests. The store terminal 30 may display reference information to help store employees decide whether or not to apply a discount. This reference information may include the product's expiration date, inventory level, forecast demand, and reference discount amount. This information is obtained from the database 40. The reference information displayed to store employees may be the same as the reference information displayed to customers as described in the first embodiment. Alternatively, the reference information displayed to store employees may be more detailed than the reference information for customers. The reference information may include the difference between a specific quantity and the appropriate inventory level, forecast sales volume, and past sales volume. More detailed reference discount amounts may include the minimum, maximum, and average discount amounts in past transactions. In addition, the profit margin at the current price and the expected profit margin after the discount may be displayed. Store employees can make a final decision by considering factors other than the displayed reference information, such as the customer's purchase history and the day's sales situation.

[0033] The reference information displayed to the store clerk may include the priority of product discounts. The store terminal 30 may indicate that a product has a high priority for discount application. Displaying the priority allows the store clerk to make quicker and more appropriate decisions. The priority of discount application can be represented, for example, by a rank from 1 to 10. Rank 1 indicates the highest priority and a product for which a discount is recommended, while rank 10 indicates the lowest priority and a product for which a discount is not recommended. The priority of discount application is determined by considering factors such as inventory level, expiration date, sales performance, forecast demand, seasonality, and profit margin. Products with excess inventory and approaching expiration dates tend to have a lower rank. Products with appropriate inventory levels and high profit margins tend to have a higher rank.

[0034] Database 40 stores product information, inventory information, sales history, customer information, and more.

[0035] The accounting device 50 is a device that performs accounting processing. The accounting device 50 may be operated by a store employee to register products, or it may be a self-checkout register operated by a customer.

[0036] The acquisition unit 101 of the negotiation support device 10 acquires discount requests from the customer terminal 20. The decision request unit 102 causes the store terminal 30 to display the product name, price, and quantity of each product for which a discount is requested. The decision request unit 102 may also display reference information on the store terminal 30 to allow the store clerk to determine whether or not the discount is applicable.

[0037] The output unit 103 outputs a discount code as discount information for applying the discount. The discount code is generated in the form of, for example, a two-dimensional code or a barcode. The discount code includes information such as the identifier of the product to be discounted, the quantity, the total discount amount, and the expiration date of the code. The output unit 103 may also obtain information about the product selected by the customer from the database 40 and output it to the customer terminal 20. For example, the output unit 103 displays the product name, the price before discount, and the product image of the selected product on the discount amount input screen.

[0038] Figure 4 illustrates an example of the operation of the customer terminal 20, the negotiation support device 10, and the store terminal 30. In step S21 of Figure 4, the customer terminal 20 generates a discount request. To generate a discount request, the customer first selects products on the customer terminal 20. Then, the customer enters the desired discount amount into the customer terminal 20. Figure 5 is an example of the discount negotiation screen displayed on the customer terminal 20. This screen displays a list of selected products, the total amount, an input field for the desired discount amount, and reference information. The customer terminal 20 sends the discount request, including the information on the selected products and the entered discount amount, to the negotiation support device 10.

[0039] In step S22, the acquisition unit 101 acquires the discount request sent from the customer terminal 20. In step S23, the judgment request unit 102 requests the store terminal 30 to make a judgment on whether or not to apply the discount. In step S24, the store terminal 30 displays the customer's discount request. Figure 6 is an example of the screen displayed on the store terminal 30. Product information being registered is displayed on the left, and information regarding set discount negotiations is displayed on the right. In Figure 6, the product that is the subject of the discount negotiation and all registered products are displayed, so the store clerk can look at the entire purchase and make a comprehensive decision on the discount. Based on the displayed information, the store clerk decides whether or not to apply the discount and presses the "Reject Discount" or "Apply Discount" button. If the reject button is pressed, a screen may be displayed for entering the applicable discount amount.

[0040] In step S25, the store terminal 30 receives the result of the store clerk's determination regarding whether or not the discount is applicable. The store terminal 30 then transmits the determination result to the negotiation support device 10.

[0041] If the system receives a determination that a discount is applicable, in step S26, the output unit 103 outputs a discount code as discount information for applying the discount. For example, the output unit 103 generates a discount code and outputs it to the customer terminal 20. In step S27, the customer terminal 20 displays the received discount code. The customer has the reader on the accounting device 50 read the discount code displayed on the customer terminal 20. As a result, the discount is applied to the accounting processed by the accounting device 50.

[0042] According to the second embodiment, similar to the first embodiment, a negotiation support device 10 can be provided that enables price negotiations that better reflect customer opinions. Furthermore, by including judgment by store staff, it becomes possible to provide detailed responses according to the situation, thereby achieving both improved customer satisfaction and store profits.

[0043] (Third embodiment) As a third embodiment, an embodiment of the negotiation support device 10 in which product registration and accounting processing are performed on the customer terminal 20 will be described. Figure 7 will be used to illustrate other examples of connections between the negotiation support device 10 and other devices in this disclosure. The negotiation support device 10 is connected to the customer terminal 20, the store terminal 30, the database 40, and the POS (Point of Sales) system 51 in a communicative manner. Of the configurations of the third embodiment, those that are the same as those of the first embodiment will not be described.

[0044] The customer terminal 20 is a mobile device such as a smartphone or a shopping cart register. The shopping cart register is a shopping cart equipped with a barcode reader for reading product barcodes and a tablet terminal. The customer terminal 20 is used for product registration and payment processing. For example, customers use the customer terminal 20 to scan products and create a purchase list. Price negotiations are also conducted using the customer terminal 20.

[0045] The POS system 51 works in conjunction with the customer terminal 20 to manage product information and process payments. The POS system 51 receives information about products scanned by the customer terminal 20. The POS system 51 generates a list of purchased items in which the scanned products are registered and sends the list to the customer terminal 20.

[0046] Figure 8 shows an example of the purchase list screen displayed by the customer terminal 20. The scanned items are displayed on the purchase list screen. Pressing the "Add Item" button on this screen displays the item scanning screen. Pressing the "Pay" button allows the customer to proceed with payment based on the registered information. Payment may be made on the customer terminal 20 using pre-registered credit card information, etc. Alternatively, payment may be made at the payment device by displaying a payment barcode on the customer terminal 20 for the payment device to read.

[0047] The customer can select multiple items from the purchase list in Figure 8. The customer selects the items for which they want to negotiate a discount when purchasing them as a set. In Figure 8, a check mark is displayed in the checkbox for the selected items. When the "Set Discount Proposal" button is pressed, an interface for entering the discount amount for the selected items is displayed. For example, the discount negotiation screen in Figure 5 may be displayed as the interface for entering the discount amount.

[0048] The above explanation described a scenario where a customer selects target products from a registered product list and negotiates a discount. This allows customers to choose the combination of products they most desire a discount on, according to their needs and budget. Customers can also choose combinations of products with a high probability of discounts and negotiate accordingly. Furthermore, stores can make more strategic discount decisions for specific product combinations. However, discount negotiations may also be conducted for the simultaneous purchase of all items included in the purchase list. This simplifies the negotiation process and encourages customers to make large purchases by negotiating discounts on all items together.

[0049] The output unit 103 of the negotiation support device 10 outputs a discount application instruction as discount information for applying the discount. The discount application instruction includes information such as an identifier that uniquely identifies each transaction, an identifier of the product to be discounted, the quantity, the total discount amount, application conditions, and a timestamp. The application conditions may be, for example, "applicable only if all eligible products are purchased."

[0050] Using Figure 9, an example of the operation of the customer terminal 20, the negotiation support device 10, and the POS system 51 will be explained. In step S31 of Figure 9, the customer terminal 20, which is used by the customer to register products in the store, generates a discount request. The customer terminal 20 then transmits the discount request. In generating the discount request, the customer first scans the product with the customer terminal 20. Then, the customer enters the desired discount amount into the customer terminal 20. The customer terminal 20 transmits the discount request, which includes the registered product information and the entered discount amount, to the negotiation support device 10.

[0051] In step S32, the acquisition unit 101 acquires the discount request transmitted from the customer terminal 20. In step S23, the determination request unit 102 requests the store terminal 30 to determine whether or not the store clerk can apply the discount. The cooperation between the negotiation support device 10 and the store terminal 30 is the same as in Figure 4, so the explanation in the sequence diagram is omitted. For example, the screen shown in Figure 6 is displayed on the store terminal 30.

[0052] If the system receives a result indicating that a discount is applicable, in step S34, the output unit 103 outputs a discount application instruction as discount information. For example, the output unit 103 outputs a discount application instruction to the POS system 51.

[0053] In step S35, the POS system 51 applies the discount to the purchase list according to the discount application instruction. The POS system 51 then outputs the updated purchase list to the customer terminal 20. In step S36, the customer terminal 20 displays the updated purchase list with the discount applied. The payment is then processed using the updated purchase list. If the application conditions of the application instruction output by the output unit 103 are not met (for example, if only some of the eligible items are purchased), the payment device 50 will either not apply the discount or will ask the store clerk for confirmation.

[0054] Figure 10 shows an example of a purchase list screen with discounts applied. This screen displays the discounted price, allowing the customer to confirm the final payment amount.

[0055] According to the third embodiment, a negotiation support device 10 can be provided that enables price negotiations that better reflect customer opinions, similar to the first embodiment. Furthermore, by allowing customers to perform a series of operations themselves, from product registration and price negotiation to payment, on the customer terminal 20, a smoother shopping experience can be provided. In addition, by linking with the POS system 51, real-time inventory management and sales analysis become possible, contributing to the efficiency of store operations.

[0056] (Fourth embodiment) As a fourth embodiment, a negotiation support device 10 that works in conjunction with a product registration device 31 operated by a store employee will be described. Figure 11 will be used to illustrate other examples of connections between the negotiation support device 10 and other devices in this disclosure. In the fourth embodiment, the negotiation support device 10 is connected to the product registration device 31 and the database 40 in a communicative manner. The configuration of the fourth embodiment that is the same as the configuration of the first embodiment will not be described.

[0057] The product registration device 31 includes a customer-side display 21 and a store employee-side display 32. The customer-side display 21 provides an interface for customers to negotiate discounts. The store employee-side display 32 provides an interface for store employees to register products and make decisions regarding discounts.

[0058] An example of the operation of the product registration device 31 and the negotiation support device 10 will be explained using Figure 12. In step S41 of Figure 12, the product registration device 31 generates a discount request. In generating the discount request, the store clerk first registers the products. The products to be registered are the products that the customer has selected at the store to purchase together. The customer may further select the products from the registered products that they wish to negotiate a discount on. The customer then enters the desired discount amount into the customer-side display 21. The product registration device 31 transmits the discount request to the negotiation support device 10.

[0059] Figure 13 shows an example of a discount negotiation screen displayed on the customer-side display 21. In this screen, Bento AAA and Delicious Tea are selected as the items to be negotiated. The screen displays buttons for 10 yen off, 20 yen off, 30 yen off, and 50 yen off, allowing the customer to select their desired discount amount. The displayed discount options can be adjusted as appropriate based on the customer's purchasing behavior and the store's policies. The discount options may be optimized depending on the situation. For example, the options may be changed based on the customer's total purchase amount. Also, previously requested discount amounts may be displayed preferentially. Providing options for small discount amounts lowers the customer's psychological barrier and makes it easier for them to start discount negotiations. The customer selects a discount amount that they believe will be successful or a discount amount they desire, taking into account the purchase amount and the condition of the products. In the example shown in the figure, the 50 yen off button is selected. Subsequently, when the customer presses the "Set Discount Proposal" button, the product registration device 31 sends a discount request to the negotiation support device 10.

[0060] In step S42, the acquisition unit 101 acquires a discount request in response to the operation on the customer-side display 21. In step S43, the judgment request unit 102 requests the employee-side display 32 to make a judgment on whether or not the discount can be applied. In step S44, the employee-side display 32 displays the discount request. The employee makes a judgment considering the condition of the product, inventory status, store policy, etc. In step S45, the product registration device 31 receives the employee's judgment result on whether or not the discount can be applied. The product registration device 31 then transmits the judgment result to the negotiation support device 10.

[0061] If the system receives a determination that a discount is applicable, in step S46, the output unit 103 outputs a discount application instruction as discount information for applying the discount. For example, the output unit 103 outputs a discount application instruction to the product registration device 31. This information includes the discount amount and details of the target product. Note that the discount application request may also be sent to the product registration device 31 via another device such as a POS system. In step S47, the product registration device 31 displays a list of purchased items to which the discount has been applied on the customer-side display 21 and the store clerk-side display 32.

[0062] Figure 14 shows an example of the screen displayed on the customer's display 21 after a discount has been applied. For example, the screen in Figure 13 transitions to the screen in Figure 14. This screen displays the result after the discount requested by the customer has been applied. Specifically, the original price, the discount amount, and the discounted price are clearly shown, allowing the customer to easily confirm the discount result.

[0063] According to the fourth embodiment, a negotiation support device 10 can be provided that enables price negotiations that better reflect customer opinions, similar to the first embodiment. Furthermore, price negotiations can be conducted through direct interaction between the customer and the store clerk via the product registration device 31. This allows for a more detailed understanding of customer requests and enables flexible responses according to the situation. In addition, by separating the customer-side display 21 and the store clerk-side display 32, information appropriate to the customer and the store clerk can be provided, enabling smooth transaction progress.

[0064] (Fifth embodiment) As a fifth embodiment, a negotiation support device 11 equipped with an automatic determination function will be described. An example of the configuration of the negotiation support device 11 in this disclosure will be explained using Figure 15. The negotiation support device 11 includes an acquisition unit 101, a determination request unit 102, an output unit 103, and a determination unit 112. Of the configurations of the fifth embodiment, those that are the same as those of the first embodiment will not be described.

[0065] The determination unit 112 automatically determines, based on the determination request acquired by the acquisition unit 101, whether a discount at the amount determined by the customer is applicable when multiple products are purchased simultaneously. The determination unit 112 may also consider inventory status, expiration date, time of day, customer status, etc., when determining whether a discount is applicable. The determination unit 112 allows for more flexible discounts for products with excess inventory. It also allows for larger discounts than usual for products nearing their expiration date. It offers more aggressive discounts during off-peak hours. It considers offering more favorable discounts to regular customers and members.

[0066] The determination unit 112 may make a determination using a pre-set discount limit. For example, a discount limit may be set in advance for each product or the entire set. This limit is set considering the cost of the product, profit margin, inventory status, etc. The determination unit 112 compares the discount amount proposed by the customer with the set discount limit. If a limit is set for each product, the sum of the discount limits for each product may be used as the basis. If the requested discount amount is less than or equal to the limit, the determination unit 112 determines that the discount is applicable. If the discount amount exceeds the limit, the determination unit 112 may refuse to apply the discount. Alternatively, if the discount amount slightly exceeds the limit (e.g., 100% to 120% of the limit), the determination unit 112 may determine that a discount with a new discount amount proposed by the store is applicable. The new proposed amount should be close to the limit (e.g., 95% of the limit). If the discount amount significantly exceeds the limit (for example, 120% or more of the limit), the determination unit 112 may refuse the discount.

[0067] A machine learning model may be used for the determination by the determination unit 112. The machine learning model is, for example, a model that has learned the relationship between elements such as product information, requested discount amount, time information, and customer information in past transactions and whether or not a discount is applicable. Product information includes, for example, the product category, price, inventory quantity, and expiration date. Time information includes the day of the week, time of day, and season. Customer information includes the customer's past purchase history and membership status. The determination unit 112 inputs the product information and other elements of the discount request into the trained model and obtains an output of the determination result regarding whether or not the discount is applicable.

[0068] The determination unit 112 may determine whether a discount is applicable based on the priority of discount application for each of the multiple products. The priority of discount application may be represented by ranks from 1 to 10. Products with rank 1 have the highest discount priority and are unlikely to be purchased by customers without a discount. Products with rank 10 are popular products or other products with the lowest discount priority. The determination unit 112 may also determine whether a discount is applicable based on the balance of the priorities of each of the multiple products. For example, the determination unit 112 compares the discount amount proposed by the customer with the recommended discount amount based on the balance of ranks and determines that it is applicable if the customer-proposed amount is within the limit of the recommended amount.

[0069] Specifically, for example, the probability of a discount being applied is low when combining top-selling products. For instance, a discount is not recommended for a combination of a rank 8 product and a rank 9 product, and the customer's request is rejected. The determination unit 112 may make a determination so that the probability of a discount being applied increases when there is a large difference in rank. A combination of a rank 1 product and a rank 10 product may be set to have a high probability of being eligible for a set discount at the customer's request. This is to sell out the rank 1 product quickly by combining it with a popular product.

[0070] When a discount is requested for a combination of three or more products, the determination unit 112 may make a decision based on the highest-ranked and lowest-ranked products. For example, the greater the difference between the highest and lowest ranks, the higher the likelihood that a discount will be applied. Alternatively, the average rank of all products may be calculated.

[0071] The output unit 103 may output to the customer the reason why the discount cannot be applied. For example, the output unit 103 may display to the customer terminal that the requested discount amount exceeds the limit, that the requested amount does not guarantee a profit margin, that the product has limited stock, or that it is a high-demand product. If the product is in high demand due to the season or an event and no discount is needed, a message such as "Currently, the product is on sale, so no further discounts can be applied" will be displayed. If the product is not included in the current campaign or discount, a message such as "We are sorry, but the product is not included in the current sale" will be displayed. If the combination of multiple products does not meet the conditions for a set discount, a message such as "We are sorry, but the set discount cannot be applied to the combination of products you have selected" will be displayed.

[0072] An example of the operation of the negotiation support device 11 of this disclosure will be explained using Figure 16.

[0073] In step S51, the acquisition unit 101 acquires a discount request from the customer terminal 20. The discount request includes information on multiple items to be purchased simultaneously and information on the discount amount determined by the customer. In step S52, the determination request unit 102 requests the determination unit 112 to determine whether the discount is applicable. In step S53, the determination unit 112 determines whether the discount is applicable. In step S54, if it is determined that the discount is applicable, the output unit 103 outputs discount information for applying the discount. The discount information is output in the form of, for example, a discount code or discount instruction.

[0074] According to the fifth embodiment, similar to the first embodiment, a negotiation support device 11 can be provided that enables price negotiations that better reflect customer opinions. In addition, automatic judgment enables quick price decisions, reducing customer waiting times. Furthermore, it is possible to suppress variability in human judgment and provide consistent price decisions. Moreover, when a machine learning model is used, it becomes possible to make optimal decisions that take into account past data and complex factors.

[0075] The automatic judgment function described in this embodiment can also be used in combination with other embodiments. Since the applicability of discounts is determined automatically, the store terminal 30 described in the second, third, and fourth embodiments can be provided in the fifth embodiment only as needed. For example, the judgment made by the store clerk can be replaced by the automatic judgment function. Alternatively, a hybrid operation can be envisioned in which the automatic judgment result is presented to the store clerk, who then makes the final decision. This allows for more flexible discount negotiations by combining system judgment with human experience and intuition.

[0076] The embodiments described above, as the first to fifth embodiments, illustrate the embodiments of this disclosure. Each embodiment can be used for data analysis and sales strategies. For example, it can be applied to the collection and analysis of customer purchasing behavior data. By analyzing customer discount request patterns and acceptance rates, it becomes possible to understand customer preferences and price sensitivity. It can also be applied to optimizing sales strategies based on the results of analyzing products that customers purchase together. For example, by analyzing customer selection trends regarding combinations of multiple products, it can be used to plan sales strategies that combine popular and unpopular products, or discount strategies that vary by time of day. Furthermore, each embodiment can be used for forecasting future demand. For example, by analyzing the relationship between past discount patterns and sales performance, it is possible to construct a more accurate demand forecasting model.

[0077] The first to fifth embodiments described above illustrate embodiments in which the customer proposes a discount amount. However, the customer setting the discount amount is only required as needed. That is, the discount amount may be automatically set for the combination of products for which the customer requests a discount. Alternatively, the discount amount may be set by a store employee.

[0078] [Hardware configuration] In each of the embodiments described above, each component of the negotiation support devices 10 and 11 represents a functional unit block. Some or all of the components of the negotiation support devices 10 and 11 may be implemented by any combination of the computer 500 and a program.

[0079] Figure 17 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of computer 500. Referring to Figure 17, computer 500 includes, for example, a processor 501, ROM (Read Only Memory) 502, RAM (Random Access Memory) 503, a program 504, a storage device 505, a drive device 507, a communication interface 508, an input device 509, an output device 510, an input / output interface 511, and a bus 512.

[0080] The processor 501 controls the entire computer 500. An example of a processor 501 is a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The number of processors 501 is not particularly limited; there may be one or more processors 501.

[0081] Program 504 includes instructions for implementing each function of the negotiation support devices 10 and 11. Program 504 is pre-stored in ROM 502, RAM 503, and storage device 505. The processor 501 implements each function of the negotiation support devices 10 and 11 by executing the instructions contained in Program 504. RAM 503 may also store data processed in each function of the negotiation support devices 10 and 11.

[0082] The drive device 507 reads and writes to the recording medium 506. The communication interface 508 provides an interface with the communication network. The input device 509 is, for example, a mouse or keyboard, and receives information input from the store manager, etc. The output device 510 is, for example, a display, and outputs (displays) information to the manager, etc. The input / output interface 511 provides an interface with peripheral devices. The bus 512 connects each of these hardware components. The program 504 may be supplied to the processor 501 via the communication network, or it may be stored in the recording medium 506 beforehand, read by the drive device 507, and supplied to the processor 501.

[0083] Note that the hardware configuration shown in Figure 17 is an example, and other components may be added, or some components may be omitted.

[0084] There are various modifications to the implementation of the negotiation support devices 10 and 11. For example, the negotiation support devices 10 and 11 may be implemented by any combination of different computers and programs for each component. Alternatively, the multiple components of the negotiation support devices 10 and 11 may be implemented by any combination of a single computer and program.

[0085] Although the present disclosure has been described above with reference to embodiments, the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above. Various modifications to the configuration and details of the present disclosure are possible, as can be understood by those skilled in the art within the scope of the present disclosure. Furthermore, the configurations in each embodiment can be combined with one another, as long as they do not depart from the scope of the present disclosure.

[0086] Some or all of the above embodiments may be described as follows, but are not limited to the following:

[0087] [Note 1] A means of obtaining a customer's request for a discount when purchasing multiple items simultaneously at a desired price in a store, A determination request means that requests a determination as to whether the aforementioned discount is applicable, If it is determined that the discount is applicable, an output means outputs discount information for applying the discount. A negotiation support device equipped with the following features.

[0088] [Note 2] The output means outputs reference information for determining the discount amount for the multiple products. The negotiation support device described in Appendix 1.

[0089] [Note 3] The aforementioned reference information includes at least one of the following: the product's expiration date, inventory level, projected demand, or reference discount amount. The negotiation support device described in Appendix 2.

[0090] [Note 4] The system includes a determination means for determining whether the discount is applicable based on the priority of discount application for each of the aforementioned multiple products. A negotiation support device as described in any one of the appendices 1 to 3.

[0091] [Note 5] The acquisition means acquires discount requests from customer terminals used by customers to register products in stores. A negotiation support device as described in any one of the appendices 1 to 4.

[0092] [Note 6] The acquisition means acquires discount requests in response to operations performed by store employees on the customer-side touch panel of a product registration device where products are registered. A negotiation support device as described in any one of the appendices 1 to 4.

[0093] [Note 7] The output means outputs a discount code to the customer terminal as discount information, which is to be read by the accounting device. Negotiation support devices as described in Appendix 1 to 5.

[0094] [Note 8] The output means outputs, as discount information, an instruction to apply a discount to a product registration device that registers products purchased by a customer. A negotiation support device as described in any one of the appendices 1 to 6.

[0095] [Note 9] The store obtains a request from the customer for a discount when purchasing multiple items at the same time at a desired price. The system requests a determination as to whether the aforementioned discount is applicable. If it is determined that the discount is applicable, the discount information for applying the discount will be output. Methods of supporting negotiations.

[0096] [Note 10] The store obtains a request from the customer for a discount when purchasing multiple items at the same time at a desired price. The system requests a determination as to whether the aforementioned discount is applicable. If it is determined that the discount is applicable, the discount information for applying the discount will be output. A program that instructs a computer to perform a process.

[0097] Some or all of the configurations described in Appendices 2-8, which are dependent on Appendice 1 above, may also be dependent on Appendices 9-10 in the same manner as in Appendices 2-8. Not limited to Appendices 1 and 9-10, some or all of the configurations described as appendices may also be dependent on various hardware, software, various recording devices or systems for recording software, without departing from the embodiments described above. [Explanation of symbols]

[0098] 10, 11 Negotiation support devices 101 acquisition section, 102 judgment request section, 103 output section, 112 judgment section 20 Customer terminal, 21 Customer-side display 30 Store terminals, 31 Product registration devices, 32 Store-side displays 40 databases 50 accounting devices, 51 POS systems

Claims

1. A means of obtaining a customer's request for a discount when purchasing multiple items simultaneously at a desired price in a store, A determination request means that requests a determination as to whether the aforementioned discount is applicable, If it is determined that the discount is applicable, an output means outputs discount information for applying the discount. A negotiation support device equipped with the following features.

2. The output means outputs reference information for determining the discount amount for the multiple products. The negotiation support device according to claim 1.

3. The aforementioned reference information includes at least one of the following: the product's expiration date, inventory level, projected demand, or reference discount amount. The negotiation support device according to claim 2.

4. The system includes a determination means for determining whether the discount is applicable based on the priority of discount application for each of the aforementioned multiple products. The negotiation support device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The acquisition means acquires discount requests from customer terminals used by customers to register products in stores. The negotiation support device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

6. The acquisition means acquires discount requests in response to operations performed by store employees on the customer-side touch panel of a product registration device where products are registered. The negotiation support device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

7. The output means outputs a discount code to the customer terminal as discount information, which is to be read by the accounting device. The negotiation support device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

8. The output means outputs, as discount information, an instruction to apply a discount to a product registration device that registers products purchased by a customer. The negotiation support device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

9. The store obtains a request from the customer for a discount when purchasing multiple items at the same time at a desired price. The system requests a determination as to whether the aforementioned discount is applicable. If it is determined that the discount is applicable, the discount information for applying the discount will be output. Methods of supporting negotiations.

10. The store obtains a request from the customer for a discount when purchasing multiple items at the same time at a desired price. The system requests a determination as to whether the aforementioned discount is applicable. If it is determined that the discount is applicable, the discount information for applying the discount will be output. A program that instructs a computer to perform a process.

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