Shipment management device, shipment management method, and program

Abstract

To assist in smoothly and quickly proceeding with processing in the case where only a portion of a desired number of items is shipped when an item in a warehouse runs out of stock. [Solution] The shipping management device 101 includes a receiving unit 110 that receives a first shipping request from the sales management device, in which a first item and a first shipping quantity are specified; a determining unit 120 that determines a first processing deadline depending on a first receiving date and time when the first shipping request is received; an output unit 130 that outputs a first instruction to ship the first shipping quantity from the inventory of the first item by the determined first processing deadline; an accepting unit 140 that accepts a failure report accompanied by the actual number from a user when the output first instruction cannot be carried out because the actual number in inventory is less than the specified first shipping quantity; and a transmitting unit 150 that transmits a first failure response to the sales management device, indicating the actual number related to the accepted failure report and that the first shipping request has failed to be processed.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a shipment management device, a sales management device, a shipment management method, a sales management method, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] There is known a warehouse management system that manages the shipping process of items from a warehouse managed by a business such as a shop, a distributor, a manufacturer, etc. For example, in the warehouse management system disclosed in Patent Document 1, a user who is a business transmits a shipping request for shipping a desired package to a warehouse management server via a user terminal, and has a delivery machine deliver the package. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2022-164206 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The number of items in the warehouse is managed by the supplier who made the shipping request, so normally there should be no shortage of stock that prevents the shipping request from being completed. However, there are various cases where an item or its packaging is damaged in the warehouse, an item is lost, or other reasons that lead to a shortage of stock.

[0005] If there is a shortage of inventory, a worker in the warehouse will report this to the requesting vendor, who will then consider and decide whether to ship only a portion of the desired quantity for that item, or to cancel the shipment altogether.

[0006] The present invention is intended to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to support smooth and rapid processing in the case where an item in a warehouse is in short supply and only a portion of the desired quantity is shipped. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] A representative embodiment of the present invention will be briefly described below. A shipment management device according to a first aspect of the present invention comprises: A shipping management device connected to a sales management device through a network, a receiving unit that receives a first shipping request from the sales management device, the first shipping request specifying a first item and a first shipping quantity; A determination unit that determines a first processing deadline according to a first reception date and time when the first shipping request is received; an output unit that outputs a first instruction to ship the first shipping quantity from the inventory of the first item by the first processing deadline; If the actual number of stocks is less than the specified first shipment number and therefore the output first instruction cannot be executed, a reception unit for receiving a failure report including the real number from a user; a transmission unit that transmits to the sales management device a first failure response indicating the actual number related to the received failure report and a fact that the processing of the first shipping request has failed; Equipped with When the receiving unit receives from the sales management device a second shipping request in response to the first failure response, the second shipping request specifying the first item and a second shipping quantity equal to or less than the actual quantity, The determination unit determines whether a margin time from a second reception date and time at which the second shipping request is received to the determined first processing deadline is: If the second processing deadline is longer than the predetermined standard, the second processing deadline is set to be equal to the first processing deadline; Otherwise, the second processing deadline is determined according to the second receiving date and time; The output unit outputs a second instruction to ship the second shipping quantity from the inventory of the first item by the determined second processing deadline.

[0008] In addition, a sales management device according to a second aspect of the present embodiment is A sales management device connected to a shipping management device via a network, a sales reception unit that receives a first shipping request from a user, the first shipping request specifying a first item and a first shipping quantity; a sales transmission unit that transmits the accepted first shipping request to the shipping management device; a sales receiving unit that receives from the shipping management device a first failure response indicating that the actual number of stocks is less than the specified first shipping quantity and that the first shipping request has failed to be processed; Equipped with the sales reception unit further receives, from the user, a second shipping request in response to the received first failure response, the second shipping request specifying the first item and a second shipping quantity equal to or less than the actual quantity; The sales transmission unit further transmits the accepted second shipping request to the shipping management device. Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the present invention, when an item in a warehouse runs out of stock, it is possible to assist in smoothly and quickly shipping only a portion of the desired number of items. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the cooperation between the shipping management device and the sales management device according to the embodiment; FIG. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the functional configuration of the shipment management device according to the present embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the functional configuration of the sales management device according to the present embodiment. [Figure 4] 4 is a sequence diagram showing the state of communication between the shipping management device and the sales management device according to the embodiment. FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an output instruction screen according to the embodiment; [Figure 6] 13 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a failure report screen displayed by the shipment management device according to the embodiment; FIG. [Figure 7]13 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a failure report screen output by the sales management device according to the embodiment; FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a re-request screen according to the embodiment; [Figure 9] 11 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a shipping management process according to the present embodiment. [Figure 10] 1A is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a shipping request table according to the embodiment, and FIG. 1B is an explanatory diagram showing the contents of statuses in the shipping request table according to the embodiment. [Figure 11] 11 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of a sales management process according to the embodiment. [Figure 12] 13 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a shipping management process according to a modified example. [Figure 13] 13 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of a storage determination process according to a modified example. [Figure 14] FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an item table T2 according to a modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] (Relationship between the shipping management device, sales management device and program) The shipment management device and the sales management device according to this embodiment are configured by a computer such as a smartphone, a tablet computer, a personal computer, etc. The shipment management device and the sales management device are connected to each other via a network such as the Internet.

[0012] The shipping management device is used by users such as workers and managers in the warehouse, and manages the shipping process of shipping items stored in the warehouse based on a shipping request. The sales management device is used by businesses such as shops, distributors, and manufacturers, and transmits shipping requests to ship desired items to the shipping management device of the warehouse where the items managed by the business are stored.

[0013] The shipping management device and the sales management device of the present embodiment are generally realized by causing a computer to execute a program, but it is also possible to execute the processing by a dedicated electronic circuit.

[0014] In addition, it is also possible to configure the shipping management device or sales management device of this embodiment by applying technology such as FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), which compiles a program into a design script for an electronic circuit as an intermediate form of a dedicated electronic circuit for a computer and dynamically configures the electronic circuit based on the design script.

[0015] The shipment management device and the sales management device according to the present embodiment are realized by one or more computers executing the functions realized by one or more programs.

[0016] The programs executed by the shipment management device or the sales management device can be recorded on a computer-readable non-transitory information recording medium such as a compact disk, a flexible disk, a hard disk, a magneto-optical disk, a digital video disk, a magnetic tape, a ROM (Read Only Memory), an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM), a flash memory, a semiconductor memory, etc. This information recording medium can also be distributed and sold independently of the shipment management device or the sales management device.

[0017] In the shipping management device and the sales management device, the program recorded on a non-transitory information recording medium such as a flash memory or a hard disk is read into a temporary storage device, a random access memory (RAM), and then the instructions contained in the read program are executed by a central processing unit (CPU). However, in an architecture that allows RAM and ROM to be mapped and executed in a single memory space, the instructions contained in the program stored in the ROM are directly read and executed by the CPU.

[0018] Furthermore, a program realizing a shipping management device or a sales management device can be distributed and sold to a computer on which the program is executed from a distribution server or the like managed by a business operator or operator via a temporary transmission medium such as a computer communication network, independently of the computer on which the program is executed.

[0019] In addition, when the shipment management device or the sales management device is composed of multiple computers, the programs that run on each computer are multiple different programs that have different functions but work together. Therefore, the combination of the multiple programs can be considered as a system program for realizing the shipment management device or the sales management device.

[0020] In the following, in this embodiment, a user who is an employee of a business uses a sales management device to send a shipping request for shipping an item to a desired destination to the shipping management device of the warehouse where the item is stored. The shipping management device outputs the shipping request received from the sales management device, and if for some reason the inventory of the item is insufficient and the shipping request cannot be completed, it sends a message to that effect to the sales management device.

[0021] (Overall composition) 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the cooperation between a shipment management device 101 and a sales management device 102. The following description will be given with reference to this diagram.

[0022] The shipment management device 101 is connected to one or more sales management devices 102 via a computer communication network 103 such as the Internet. The shipment management device 101 is used by warehouse users such as workers and managers in the warehouse. The shipment management device 101 outputs shipping requests transmitted from the sales management device 102 via the computer communication network 103 for the shipping work of the warehouse users, and receives reports from the warehouse users when they are unable to complete a shipping request and transmits such reports to the sales management device 102.

[0023] The sales management device 102 is used by vendor users who are employees of the vendor, etc. The sales management device 102 transmits a shipping request received from the vendor user to the shipping management device 101, and when the sales management device 102 receives a message from the shipping management device 101 that the shipping request could not be completed, it notifies the vendor user of the message.

[0024] (Functional configuration of the shipping management device and the sales management device) 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the functional configuration of the shipment management device 101. The shipment management device 101 includes a receiving unit 110, a determining unit 120, an output unit 130, a receiving unit 140, a transmitting unit 150, a determining unit 160, and a database (DB) 170.

[0025] The receiving unit 110 receives a first shipping request and a second shipping request from the sales management device 102. The shipping request sent from the sales management device 102 specifies the items to be shipped and their shipping quantities, as well as the destination to which the items are to be shipped, the requester's name, details of the shipping method, etc. In the shipping request of this embodiment, items other than the items and shipping quantities are omitted.

[0026] Here, the first shipping request is a new shipping request. The first shipping request specifies a first item and a first shipping quantity. The second shipping request is a second shipping request sent from the sales management device 102, and is a shipping request in response to a first failure response, which will be described later. The second shipping request specifies a first item and a second shipping quantity.

[0027] The determination unit 120 determines a first processing deadline according to a first receiving date and time when the first shipping request is received. The determination unit 120 also determines a second processing deadline according to a second receiving date and time when the second shipping request is received. The first processing deadline or the second processing deadline is a deadline by which the warehouse user must process the first shipping request or the second shipping request, for example, a deadline by which the procedure for shipping the first shipping quantity or the second shipping quantity of the first item or the second item must be completed.

[0028] The output unit 130 outputs a first instruction to output a first shipping quantity from the stock of the first item by a first processing deadline determined by the determination unit 120. The output unit 130 also outputs a second instruction to ship a second shipping quantity from the stock of the first item by a second processing deadline determined by the determination unit 120. As a form of outputting the first instruction or the second instruction, for example, it may be displayed on a monitor provided in the shipment management device 101, or it may be printed from a printer connected to the shipment management device 101 by wire or wirelessly.

[0029] When the first instruction output by the output unit 130 cannot be executed because the actual number of stocks is less than the first shipment number, the receiving unit 140 receives a failure report including the actual number of stocks from the warehouse user.

[0030] The transmitting unit 150 transmits to the sales management device 102 the actual number of stocks related to the failure report received by the receiving unit 140 and a first failure response indicating that the processing of the first shipping request has failed.

[0031] The determination unit 160 determines whether the second shipping request complies with the first failure response. In addition to the above-mentioned items, shipping quantity, etc., a request ID for identifying the shipping request may be specified in the shipping request, and the determination unit 160 may determine that the second shipping request complies with the first failure response if the request IDs of the first shipping request and the second shipping request match.

[0032] The DB 170 stores a shipping request table T1 and an item table T2. The shipping request table T1 registers detailed information on shipping requests received from the sales management device 102. The item table T2 registers detailed information on items stored in the warehouse. Details will be described later.

[0033] 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the functional configuration of the sales management device 102. The sales management device 102 includes a sales reception unit 210, a sales transmission unit 220, and a sales reception unit 230.

[0034] The sales reception unit 210 receives a first shipping request or a second shipping request from a trader user.

[0035] The sales transmitting unit 220 transmits the first shipping request or the second shipping request received by the sales receiving unit 210 to the shipping management device 101.

[0036] The sales receiving unit 230 receives the first failure reply from the shipment management device 101.

[0037] (Interaction between the shipping management device and the sales management device) 4 is a sequence diagram showing the state of communication between the shipment management device 101 and the sales management device 102. Below, an overview of the communication between the shipment management device 101 and the sales management device 102 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0038] First, we will explain an example of the exchange when a shipping request sent from the sales management device 102 is successfully completed. When the sales reception unit 210 of the sales management device 102 receives a new shipping request from a trader user specifying an item and a shipping quantity (301), the sales transmission unit 220 transmits a first shipping request specifying a first item and a first shipping quantity to the shipping management device 101 (302).

[0039] When the receiving unit 110 of the shipment management device 101 receives the first shipment request from the sales management device 102, the determining unit 120 determines the first processing deadline according to the first reception date and time when the first shipment request was received (303). After that, the output unit 130 outputs a first instruction to the effect that the first shipment of the first item should be shipped by the first processing deadline (304).

[0040] The shipping instruction screen output by the output unit 130 is as shown in the example of Fig. 5. The output instruction screen (first output instruction) 400 includes a request ID 410, a processing deadline (first processing deadline) 420, an item (first item) 430, and a shipment quantity (first shipment quantity) 440, and displays a completion button 450 and a failure button 460. The completion button 450 is a button that the warehouse user selects when the warehouse user has completed the first shipping request instructed in the first output instruction. The failure button 460 is a button that the warehouse user selects when the warehouse user was unable to complete the first shipping request due to a lack of inventory or the like.

[0041] 4, when the warehouse user completes the first shipping request and selects the completion button 450 (305), the transmission unit 150 transmits a completion response indicating that the processing of the first shipping request is completed to the sales management device 102 (306). In this manner, the shipping request transmitted from the sales management device 102 is completed.

[0042] Next, an example of an exchange will be described when a shipping request sent from the sales management device 102 fails. The flow from when the sales reception unit 210 of the sales management device 102 receives a new shipping request from a trader user (307) until the shipping management device 101 outputs the first output instruction (310) is the same as the flow from (301) to (304).

[0043] 5, when the warehouse user realizes that the first shipping instruction 400 cannot be completed due to a shortage of stock of the first item 430 indicated in the first shipping instruction 400 and selects the failure button 460 on the shipping instruction screen 400, a failure report screen 500 shown in the example of FIG. 6 is displayed. The failure report screen 500 includes input fields for a request ID 510, a processing deadline (first processing deadline) 520, an item (first item) 530, and an actual number of stocks (number that can be shipped) 540, and displays a report send button 550. The request ID 510, the processing deadline 520, and the item 530 may be displayed in a non-editable manner as shown in the example of FIG. 6, or may be displayed in input fields so that the warehouse user can edit them.

[0044] When the warehouse user inputs the actual inventory quantity 540 as a failure report and selects the report send button 550 (311), the sending unit 150 sends a first failure response to the sales management device 102 indicating the actual inventory quantity 540 and other items included in the failure report, as well as a message indicating that the first shipping request has failed to be processed (312).

[0045] When the sales receiving unit 230 of the sales management device 102 receives the first failure response from the shipping management device 101, it outputs (313) a failure report screen 600 as shown in the example of FIG. 7. The failure report screen 600 includes a failure report item 610 indicated in the first failure response sent from the shipping management device 101, and displays a re-request button 620 and a cancel button 630. The re-request button 620 is a button selected by the vendor user when making another request after checking the failure report and considering how to handle the situation. The cancel button 630 is a button selected by the vendor user when canceling the shipping request.

[0046] When the trader user selects the re-request button 620, a re-request screen 700 is displayed as shown in the example of Fig. 8. The re-request screen 700 includes an input field 730 for a request ID 710, an item (first item) 720, and a shipment quantity (second shipment quantity), and also displays a send re-request button 740 and a cancel button 750.

[0047] When the vendor user inputs the desired shipping quantity in the shipping quantity input field 730 as a second shipping request and selects the send re-request button 740 (314), the sales management device 102 transmits a second shipping request specifying the first item and the second shipping quantity to the shipping management device 101 (315). If the vendor user does not want to make a second shipping request, he or she can simply select the cancel button 750.

[0048] When the receiving unit 110 of the shipment management device 101 receives the second shipment request from the sales management device 102, the determining unit 120 determines a second processing deadline according to the second receiving date and time when the second shipment request was received (316). After that, the output unit 130 outputs a second instruction to ship the second shipping quantity of the first item by the second processing deadline (317). The warehouse user proceeds with the shipment process according to the contents of the shipping instruction screen output by the output unit 130.

[0049] (Shipping management processing) Fig. 9 is a flowchart explaining the flow of shipment management processing executed by the shipment management device 101 in this embodiment. The shipment management device 101 presents a shipping instruction to a warehouse user in response to a shipping request transmitted from a trader user via the sales management device 102, and when a warehouse user is unable to complete a shipping request, transmits a notice to that effect to the sales management device 102. The following will explain this with reference to Fig. 9.

[0050] The shipment management process starts, for example, when the power of the shipment management device 101 is turned on. When the shipment management process starts, the shipment management device 101 determines whether or not any event has occurred (step S801). The shipment management process remains in a standby state until any event occurs (No in step S801).

[0051] First, when the receiving unit 110 of the shipment management device 101 receives a shipment request (Yes in step S801), it registers the request ID, the reception date and time, the item, and the number of shipments in the shipment request table T1 stored in the DB 170. Here, for example, it is assumed that the above items are registered in row number #1 of the shipment request table T1.

[0052] FIG. 10(a) is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a shipping request table T1. The shipping request table T1 includes, for each shipping request, a row number #i, a request ID, a reception date and time, an item, a shipping quantity, a processing deadline, a status, and a number of items that can be shipped. The row number #i indicates the row number of the shipping request table T1. The request ID is the request ID of the shipping request specified by the sales management device 102. The reception date and time is the date and time when the shipping request was received. The item is the item specified in the shipping request. The number of items to be shipped is the number of items to be shipped that are specified in the shipping request. The processing deadline is the processing deadline determined by the determination unit 120 of the shipping management device 101. The status indicates the current state of the shipping request. The number of items that can be shipped indicates the actual number of inventory 540 that the warehouse user entered on the failure report screen 500.

[0053] Here, the details of the status indicating the current state of the shipping request are as shown in the example in FIG. 10(b). Status "1" is a "waiting for processing" state, which indicates the state from when the shipping request is received until the processing by the warehouse user is completed. Status "2" is a "processing completed" state, which indicates the state in which the processing by the warehouse user is completed. Status "3" is a "waiting for second shipping request" state, which indicates the state from when the first failure response is sent to the sales management device 102 until the second shipping request is received. Status "4" is a "second shipping request received" state, which indicates the state after the second shipping request is received from the sales management device 102. Status "5" is a "second shipping request not received" state, which indicates the state in which a predetermined time has passed without receiving the second shipping request after sending the first failure response to the sales management device 102. After sending the first failure response to the sales management device 102 and before receiving the second shipping request, the status is "3" until the predetermined time has passed, and becomes "5" after the predetermined time has passed.

[0054] Returning to step S801 in FIG. 9, since the status of the shipping request received by the receiving unit 110 is awaiting processing, the receiving unit 110 stores the status "1" in the record with row number #1.

[0055] Next, the determination unit 160 determines whether the received shipping request is the first shipping request or the second shipping request while referring to the shipping request table T1 (step S802). Specifically, the determination unit 160 determines whether the request ID included in the received shipping request matches the request ID of a shipping request with a status of "3", that is, a waiting state for a second shipping request, among the shipping requests received in the past, by referring to the shipping request table T1 stored in the DB 170. If the determination unit 160 determines that the request ID included in the received shipping request matches the request ID of a shipping request with a status of "3" received in the past, it determines that the received shipping request ID is the first shipping request (Yes in step S802). On the other hand, if the determination unit 160 determines that the request ID included in the received shipping request matches the request ID of a shipping request with a status of "3" received in the past, it determines that the received shipping request is the second shipping request (No in step S802). In this case, the shipping request with a status of "3" received in the past is the first shipping request.

[0056] When the determination unit 160 determines that the received shipping request is a first shipping request (Yes in step S802), the determination unit 120 determines a first processing deadline (step S803). For example, if the date and time of receipt of the received shipping request is between 0:00 and 14:00, the determination unit 120 sets the first processing deadline to the current day, and if the date and time of receipt is between 14:00 and 24:00, the determination unit 120 sets the first processing deadline to the next day.

[0057] After that, the determination unit 120 registers the determined first processing deadline in the shipping request table T1 shown in the example of Fig. 10 (step S804). Then, the output unit 130 outputs the shipping instruction shown in the example of Fig. 5 (step S805). After that, the process returns to step S801.

[0058] Next, when the receiving unit 140 receives a failure report such as that shown in the example of Figure 6 from the warehouse user (Yes in step S801), the transmitting unit 150 transmits a first failure response to the sales management device 102 indicating the actual quantity of inventory related to the received failure report and a fact that the processing of the first shipping request has failed (step S806).

[0059] Then, the transmitting unit 150 registers the contents of the transmitted first failure response in the DB 170 (step S807). Specifically, the transmitting unit 150 accesses the shipping request table T1 shown in the example of FIG. 10, and rewrites the shippable quantity and the status of the corresponding record. For example, if the received failure report is for the first shipping request of row number #1 as shown in the example of FIG. 6, the transmitting unit 150 writes the shippable quantity specified in the failure report, as in the record of row number #3, and rewrites the status to "3". Then, the process returns to step S801.

[0060] Returning to step S802, a case will now be described where the shipping request received by the receiving unit 110 is a second shipping request. If the determining unit 160 determines that the received shipping request is a second shipping request (No in step S802), it further determines whether the content of the second shipping request is appropriate (step S808). Specifically, the determining unit 160 determines whether the items related to the first and second shipping requests match and whether the second shipping quantity is equal to or less than the actual quantity in stock (shippable quantity).

[0061] When the judging unit 160 judges that the content of the second shipping request is appropriate (Yes in step S808), the deciding unit 120 decides the second processing deadline (step S809). In this case, if the time allowance from the second receiving date and time when the second shipping request is received to the first processing deadline is longer than a predetermined standard (e.g., six hours), the deciding unit 120 may decide the second processing deadline to be equal to the first processing deadline. Also, if the time allowance from the second receiving date and time to the first processing deadline is shorter than a predetermined standard (e.g., six hours), the deciding unit 120 may decide the second processing deadline according to the second receiving date and time, as in step S803.

[0062] Then, the determination unit 160 registers the determined second processing deadline in the DB 170 (step S810). The output unit 130 outputs a second instruction (step S811). The flow from step S810 to step S811 is the same as the flow from step S804 to step S805. After that, the process returns to step S801.

[0063] On the other hand, if the determination unit 160 determines that the content of the second shipping request is inappropriate, that is, the items related to the first and second shipping requests do not match, or the second shipping quantity is not equal to or less than the actual number in stock (shippable quantity) (No in step S808), the transmission unit 150 transmits an error response to the sales management device 102 (step S812). The error response indicates the request ID and a message to the effect that the items related to the second shipping quantity or the second shipping quantity is inappropriate. Then, the process returns to step S801.

[0064] Next, when the reception unit 140 receives a completion report from the warehouse user reporting that the processing of the shipping request has been completed (Yes in step S801), the transmission unit 150 transmits a completion response indicating that the processing of the shipping request related to the received completion report has been successful to the sales management device 102 (step S813). Then, the transmission unit 150 registers the contents of the transmitted completion response in the DB 170 (step S814). Specifically, the transmission unit 150 accesses the shipping request table T1 shown in the example of FIG. 10 and rewrites the status of the corresponding record. For example, if the received completion report is for the first shipping request with row number #1 as shown in the example of FIG. 6, the status is rewritten to "2" as in the record with row number #2. Then, the process returns to step S801.

[0065] If an event other than the above-mentioned events occurs (Yes in step S801), the shipment management device 101 executes the corresponding process (step S815), and then the process returns to step S801.

[0066] (Sales management processing) Fig. 11 is a flowchart explaining the flow of the sales management process executed by the sales management device 102 in this embodiment. The sales management device 102 receives shipping requests from vendor users and outputs the results of the received shipping requests. The following will explain with reference to Fig. 11.

[0067] The sales management process starts, for example, when the power of the sales management device 102 is turned on. When the sales management process starts, the sales management device 102 determines whether any event has occurred (step S901). The sales management process remains in a standby state until any event occurs (No in step S901).

[0068] First, when the sales reception unit 210 of the sales management device 102 receives a new shipping request (first shipping request) (Yes in step S901), the sales transmission unit 220 transmits the first shipping request, which specifies the first item and the first shipping quantity specified in the new shipping request, to the shipping management device 101 (step S902). At this time, the sales transmission unit 220 may further specify a request ID. After that, the process returns to step S901.

[0069] Next, when the sales receiving unit 230 receives the first failure response from the shipping management device 101 (Yes in step S901), the sales management device 102 outputs the failure report screen 600 shown in the example of Fig. 7 (step S903). Then, the sales receiving unit 210 judges whether a second shipping request has been received, that is, whether the re-request button 620 on the failure report screen 600 has been selected, and the necessary items have been entered into the re-request screen 700 shown in the example of Fig. 8, and then the re-request send button 740 has been selected (step S904).

[0070] On the re-request screen 700, the first item is specified for item 720, and a value greater than the actual number of items in stock on the failure report screen 600 cannot be entered for the shipping quantity (second shipping quantity) 730. That is, the sales reception unit 210 specifies the first item as the item related to the second shipping request, and receives a number equal to or less than the actual number of items in stock as the second shipping quantity from the user. The process remains in a standby state until the sales reception unit 210 determines that a second shipping request has been received (No in step S904).

[0071] When the sales reception unit 210 determines that a second shipping request (second shipping request) has been received (Yes in step S904), the sales transmission unit 220 transmits a second shipping request specifying the first item and a second shipping quantity that is equal to or less than the actual inventory quantity specified in the first failure response to the shipping management device 101 (step S905). When transmitting the second shipping request, the sales transmission unit 220 may specify the same request ID as the first shipping request, i.e., the request ID specified in the first failure response. Then, the process returns to step S901.

[0072] Next, when the sales receiving unit 230 receives a completion response from the shipment management device 101 (Yes in step S901), the sales management device 102 outputs the contents of the completion response (step S906). After that, the process returns to step S901.

[0073] If an event other than the above-mentioned events occurs (Yes in step S901), the sales management device 102 executes the corresponding process (step S907), after which the process returns to step S901.

[0074] As described above, according to this embodiment, when a shipping request from a trader user cannot be completed due to a shortage of an item, the warehouse user transmits a first failure response, and the trader user can make a shipping request again based on the first failure response. This saves the trader user the trouble of creating a new shipping request, and allows the trader user to smoothly and quickly proceed with processes such as shipping only a portion of the desired number or canceling the request.

[0075] (Modification) In the above-described embodiment, there may be cases where a first failure response is sent due to a stock shortage of a certain item and another shipping request is received while waiting for a second shipping request. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 12, in a step after receiving a shipping request in the shipping management process, a storage determination process (step S850) for storing the item waiting for the second shipping request may be executed. Here, "storing" means securing the item waiting for the second shipping request (storage item) for a certain period of time so that it is not shipped by another shipping request. That is, if the receiving unit 110 receives a shipping request other than the second shipping request in response to the first failure response and related to the first item within a predetermined period of time after the transmitting unit 150 transmits the first failure response, the determining unit 160 suspends the process. Hereinafter, a description will be given with reference to FIG. 13.

[0076] The storage determination process starts after the determination unit 160 determines that the received shipping request in the shipping management process is the first shipping request (after proceeding to Yes in step S802) and after the determination unit 160 determines that the contents of the second shipping request are appropriate (after proceeding to Yes in step S808).

[0077] When the storage determination process starts, the determination unit 160 refers to the item table T2 stored in the DB 170 and determines whether or not the item related to the received shipping request is a storage item (step S851).

[0078] FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an item table. Item table T2 includes row number #i, item, stock quantity, and status. Row number #i indicates the row number of item table T2. Item indicates an item stored in the warehouse. Stock quantity indicates the number of items in stock, and is counted by, for example, registering the number of items received when the items arrive, and registering the number of items shipped each time a warehouse user takes an item out for shipping processing. Status indicates whether each item is in a stored state or available for taking out (OK).

[0079] After the transmission unit 150 transmits the first failure response to the sales management device 102, while the shipping request status is "3" in the shipping request table T1 shown in the example of FIG. 10, the item is set in a reserved state in the item table T2. When the second shipping request is received and the status becomes "4", or when a predetermined time has passed without receiving the second shipping request and the status becomes "5", the item is set in a take-out state. Note that this predetermined time may be a fixed time that is determined in advance. In addition, this predetermined time may be determined based on the statistical distribution of the time from when the transmission unit 150 transmits the first failure response to when the receiving unit 110 receives the second shipping request. For example, the predetermined time may be determined to be a time that falls within 90% of the statistical distribution of the time from when the transmission unit 150 transmits the first failure response to when the receiving unit 110 receives the second shipping request.

[0080] When the determination unit 160 determines that the item related to the received shipping request is not a storage item (No in step S851), the process returns to the shipping management process shown in Fig. 12. Returning to Fig. 13, when the determination unit 160 determines that the item related to the received shipping request is a storage item (Yes in step S851), it monitors the item table T2 and further determines whether the storage state has been released (step S852). The determination unit 160 enters a standby state until the storage state is released (No in step S852).

[0081] When the determination unit 160 determines that the stored state has been removed (Yes in step S852), it further determines whether the items related to the received shipping request are sufficient, that is, whether the inventory quantity registered in the item table T2 is equal to or greater than the shipping quantity related to the received shipping request (step S853). When the determination unit 160 determines that the items related to the received shipping request are sufficient (Yes in step S853), the process returns to the shipping management process shown in FIG.

[0082] 13, if the determining unit 160 determines that an item related to the received shipping request is missing (No in step S853), the transmitting unit 150 transmits a first failure response to the sales management device 102 (step S854). Then, the transmitting unit 150 accesses the shipping request table T1 stored in the DB 170, and changes the status of the corresponding shipping request to "3". After that, the process proceeds to "A" shown in the example of FIG. 12.

[0083] In the modified example, even if another shipping request is received while waiting for a second shipping request for a certain item, the item is held for a certain period of time. This makes it possible to avoid problems such as a shortage of inventory while waiting for the second shipping request, making it impossible to complete the next shipping request.

[0084] (Additional Note) (Appendix 1) A shipping management device connected to a sales management device through a network, a receiving unit that receives a first shipping request from the sales management device, the first shipping request specifying a first item and a first shipping quantity; A determination unit that determines a first processing deadline according to a first reception date and time when the first shipping request is received; an output unit that outputs a first instruction to ship the first shipping quantity from the inventory of the first item by the first processing deadline; If the actual number of stocks is less than the specified first shipment number and therefore the output first instruction cannot be executed, a reception unit for receiving a failure report including the real number from a user; a transmission unit that transmits to the sales management device a first failure response indicating the actual number related to the received failure report and a fact that the processing of the first shipping request has failed; Equipped with When the receiving unit receives from the sales management device a second shipping request in response to the first failure response, the second shipping request specifying the first item and a second shipping quantity equal to or less than the actual quantity, The determination unit determines whether a margin time from a second reception date and time at which the second shipping request is received to the first processing deadline is: If the second processing deadline is longer than the predetermined standard, the second processing deadline is set to be equal to the first processing deadline; Otherwise, the second processing deadline is determined according to the second receiving date and time; The output unit outputs a second instruction to ship the second shipping quantity from the inventory of the first item by the second processing deadline. Shipping management device.

[0085] (Appendix 2) The first shipping request and the second shipping request further include a request ID. a determination unit that determines that the second shipping request complies with the first failure response if the request IDs of the first shipping request and the second shipping request match; Further equipped with The determination unit determines the second processing deadline related to the determined second shipping request. 2. The shipping management device according to claim 1.

[0086] (Appendix 3) The determination unit further determines whether or not items related to the first shipping request and the second shipping request match when the request IDs of the first shipping request and the second shipping request match, and whether or not the second shipping quantity is equal to or less than the actual quantity; When the determination unit determines that the request IDs of the first shipping request and the second shipping request match but the second shipping quantity is not equal to or less than the actual quantity, the transmission unit transmits the request ID and an error response indicating that the second shipping quantity related to the second shipping request is not appropriate to the sales management device. 3. The shipping management device according to claim 2.

[0087] (Appendix 4) When the receiving unit receives a shipping request other than a second shipping request in response to the first failure response and related to the first item within a predetermined time after the transmitting unit transmits the first failure response, the determining unit suspends processing. 4. The shipping management device according to claim 2 or 3.

[0088] (Appendix 5) The predetermined time is a predetermined fixed time. 5. The shipping management device according to claim 4.

[0089] (Appendix 6) the predetermined time is determined based on a statistical distribution of the time from when the transmitting unit transmits the first failure response to when the receiving unit receives the second shipping request. 5. The shipping management device according to claim 4.

[0090] (Appendix 7) A sales management device connected to a shipping management device via a network, a sales reception unit that receives a first shipping request from a user, the first shipping request specifying a first item and a first shipping quantity; a sales transmission unit that transmits the accepted first shipping request to the shipping management device; a sales receiving unit that receives from the shipping management device a first failure response indicating that the actual number of stocks is less than the specified first shipping quantity and that the first shipping request has failed to be processed; Equipped with the sales reception unit further receives, from the user, a second shipping request in response to the received first failure response, the second shipping request specifying the first item and a second shipping quantity equal to or less than the actual quantity; The sales transmission unit further transmits the accepted second shipping request to the shipping management device. Sales management device.

[0091] (Appendix 8) The sales transmitter further assigns a request ID to each shipping request; When sending the second shipping request, specify the same request ID as the first shipping request. 8. A sales management device as described in appendix 7.

[0092] (Appendix 9) The sales reception unit specifies the first item as an item related to the second shipping request, and receives a numerical value equal to or less than the actual number as the second shipping quantity from a user. 9. A sales management device as described in claim 8.

[0093] (Appendix 10) The shipping management computer, which is connected to the sales management computer via a network, receiving a first shipping request from the sales management computer, the first shipping request specifying a first item and a first shipping quantity; determining a first processing deadline according to a first receiving date and time when the first shipping request is received; outputting a first instruction to ship the first shipping quantity from the inventory of the first item by the first processing deadline; If the actual number of stocks is less than the specified first shipment number and therefore the output first instruction cannot be executed, receiving a failure report from a user, the failure report including the real number; Transmitting a first failure response indicating the actual number of the received failure reports and a failure to process the first shipping request to the sales management computer; When a second shipping request in response to the first failure response is received from the sales management computer, the second shipping request designating the first item and a second shipping quantity equal to or less than the actual quantity, A margin time from a second reception date and time at which the second shipping request is received to the first processing deadline is If the second processing deadline is longer than the predetermined standard, the second processing deadline is set to be equal to the first processing deadline; Otherwise, the second processing deadline is determined according to the second receiving date and time; outputting a second instruction to ship the second shipping quantity from the inventory of the first item by the second processing deadline; Shipping management method.

[0094] (Appendix 11) A sales management computer connected to a shipping management computer via a network receiving a first shipping request from a user, the first shipping request specifying a first item and a first shipping quantity; Transmitting the accepted first shipping request to the shipping management computer; receiving a first failure response from the shipping management computer, the first failure response indicating that the actual inventory quantity is less than the specified first shipping quantity and that the first shipping request has failed to be processed; further receiving, from the user, a second shipping request in response to the received first failure response, the second shipping request specifying the first item and a second shipping quantity that is equal to or less than the actual quantity; further transmitting the accepted second shipping request to the shipping management computer; Sales management methods.

[0095] (Appendix 12) A shipping management computer connected to a sales management computer via a network, a receiving unit that receives a first shipping request specifying a first item and a first shipping quantity from the sales management computer; A determination unit that determines a first processing deadline according to a first reception date and time when the first shipping request is received; an output unit that outputs a first instruction to ship the first shipping quantity from the inventory of the first item by the first processing deadline; If the actual number of stocks is less than the specified first shipment number and therefore the output first instruction cannot be executed, a reception unit for receiving a failure report including the real number from a user; a transmission unit that transmits to the sales management computer a first failure response indicating the actual number related to the received failure report and a fact that the processing of the first shipping request has failed; Functioning as a When the receiving unit receives from the sales management computer a second shipping request in response to the first failure response, the second shipping request specifying the first item and a second shipping quantity equal to or less than the actual quantity, The determination unit determines whether a margin time from a second reception date and time at which the second shipping request is received to the first processing deadline is: If the second processing deadline is longer than the predetermined standard, the second processing deadline is set to be equal to the first processing deadline; Otherwise, the second processing deadline is determined according to the second receiving date and time; The output unit outputs a second instruction to ship the second shipping quantity from the inventory of the first item by the second processing deadline. program.

[0096] (Appendix 13) A sales management computer connected to a shipping management computer via a network, a sales reception unit that receives a first shipping request from a user, the first shipping request specifying a first item and a first shipping quantity; a sales transmission unit that transmits the accepted first shipping request to the shipping management computer; a sales receiving unit that receives from the shipping management computer a first failure response indicating that the actual number of stocks is less than the specified first shipping quantity and that the first shipping request has failed to be processed; Functioning as a the sales reception unit further receives, from the user, a second shipping request in response to the received first failure response, the second shipping request specifying the first item and a second shipping quantity equal to or less than the actual quantity; The sales transmission unit further transmits the accepted second shipping request to the shipping management computer. program.

[0097] Various embodiments and modifications of the present disclosure are possible without departing from the broad spirit and scope of the present disclosure. The above-described embodiments are for explaining the present disclosure and do not limit the scope of the present disclosure. That is, the scope of the present disclosure is indicated by the claims, not the embodiments. Various modifications made within the scope of the claims and the scope of the disclosure equivalent thereto are considered to be within the scope of the present disclosure. [Industrial Applicability]

[0098] The present invention can be suitably adopted in a shipping management device, a sales management device, a shipping management method, a sales management method, and a program that assists in smoothly and quickly processing the case where an item in a warehouse runs out of stock and only a portion of the desired quantity is shipped. [Explanation of symbols]

[0099] 101 Shipping management device 102 Sales management device 103 Computer Communication Network 110 Receiving unit 120 Decision Section 130 Output section 140 Reception 150 Transmitter 160 Judgment section 170 Databases 210 Sales Reception 220 Sales Transmission Department 230 Sales Reception Department 400 Shipping instruction screen, 1st shipping instruction, 2nd shipping instruction 410, 510, 710 Request ID 420, 520 Processing Deadline, 1st Processing Deadline, 2nd Processing Deadline 430, 530, 720 items, 1st item 440 shipments, 1st shipments, 2nd shipments 450 Complete button 460 Fail button 500, 600 failure report screen 540 Actual stock 550 Report Send Button 610 Failure Report Item 620 Re-request button 630, 750 Cancel button 730 shipments, second shipment 740 Re-request send button

Claims

1. A shipping management device connected to a sales management device through a network, a receiving unit that receives a first shipping request from the sales management device, the first shipping request specifying a first item and a first shipping quantity; a determination unit that determines a first processing deadline according to a first receiving date and time when the first shipping request is received; an output unit that outputs a first instruction to ship the first shipping quantity from the inventory of the first item by the first processing deadline; If the actual number of stocks is less than the specified first shipment number and therefore the output first instruction cannot be executed, a reception unit for receiving a failure report including the real number from a user; a transmission unit that transmits to the sales management device a first failure response indicating the actual number related to the received failure report and a fact that the processing of the first shipping request has failed; Equipped with When the receiving unit receives from the sales management device a second shipping request in response to the first failure response, the second shipping request specifying the first item and a second shipping quantity equal to or less than the actual quantity, The determination unit determines whether a margin time from a second reception date and time at which the second shipping request is received to the first processing deadline is: If the second processing deadline is longer than the predetermined standard, the second processing deadline is set to be equal to the first processing deadline; Otherwise, the second processing deadline is determined according to the second receiving date and time; the output unit outputs a second instruction to ship the second shipping quantity from the inventory of the first item by the second processing deadline. Shipping management device.

2. A request ID is further specified in the first shipping request and the second shipping request, a determination unit that determines that the second shipping request complies with the first failure response if a request ID of the first shipping request and a request ID of the second shipping request match; Further equipped with The determination unit determines the second processing deadline related to the determined second shipping request. The shipment management device according to claim 1 .

3. The determination unit further determines whether or not items related to the first shipping request and the second shipping request match when the request IDs of the first shipping request and the second shipping request match, and whether or not the second shipping quantity is equal to or less than the actual quantity; When the determination unit determines that the request IDs of the first shipping request and the second shipping request match but the second shipping quantity is not equal to or less than the actual quantity, the transmission unit transmits the request ID and an error response indicating that the second shipping quantity related to the second shipping request is not appropriate to the sales management device. The shipment management device according to claim 2.

4. When the receiving unit receives a shipping request other than a second shipping request in response to the first failure response and related to the first item within a predetermined time after the transmitting unit transmits the first failure response, the determining unit suspends processing. The shipment management device according to claim 2 or 3.

5. The predetermined time is a predetermined fixed time. The shipment management device according to claim 4.

6. the predetermined time is determined based on a statistical distribution of the time from when the transmitting unit transmits the first failure response to when the receiving unit receives the second shipping request. The shipment management device according to claim 4.

7. The shipping management computer, which is connected to the sales management computer via a network, receiving a first shipping request from the sales management computer, the first shipping request specifying a first item and a first shipping quantity; determining a first processing deadline according to a first receiving date and time when the first shipping request is received; outputting a first instruction to ship the first shipping quantity from the inventory of the first item by the first processing deadline; If the actual number of stocks is less than the specified first shipment number and therefore the output first instruction cannot be executed, receiving a failure report from a user, the failure report including the real number; Transmitting a first failure response indicating the actual number of the received failure reports and a failure to process the first shipping request to the sales management computer; When a second shipping request in response to the first failure response is received from the sales management computer, the second shipping request designating the first item and a second shipping quantity equal to or less than the actual quantity, A margin time from a second reception date and time at which the second shipping request is received to the first processing deadline is If the second processing deadline is longer than the predetermined standard, the second processing deadline is set to be equal to the first processing deadline; Otherwise, the second processing deadline is determined according to the second receiving date and time; outputting a second instruction to ship the second shipping quantity from the inventory of the first item by the second processing deadline; Shipping management method.

8. A shipping management computer connected to a sales management computer via a network, a receiving unit that receives a first shipping request from the sales management computer, the first shipping request specifying a first item and a first shipping quantity; a determination unit that determines a first processing deadline according to a first receiving date and time when the first shipping request is received; an output unit that outputs a first instruction to ship the first shipping quantity from the inventory of the first item by the first processing deadline; If the actual number of stocks is less than the specified first shipment number and therefore the output first instruction cannot be executed, a reception unit for receiving a failure report including the real number from a user; a transmission unit that transmits to the sales management computer a first failure response indicating the actual number related to the received failure report and a fact that the processing of the first shipping request has failed; Function as a When the receiving unit receives from the sales management computer a second shipping request in response to the first failure response, the second shipping request specifying the first item and a second shipping quantity equal to or less than the actual quantity, The determination unit determines whether a margin time from a second reception date and time at which the second shipping request is received to the first processing deadline is: If the second processing deadline is longer than the predetermined standard, the second processing deadline is set to be equal to the first processing deadline; Otherwise, the second processing deadline is determined according to the second receiving date and time; the output unit outputs a second instruction to ship the second shipping quantity from the inventory of the first item by the second processing deadline. program.

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