Shipping Support Device

Abstract

To provide a shipping support device, method and program for streamlining product shipping operations by aligning the shipping timing of each product as much as possible, reducing the number of folding containers and shipping times, and optimizing the loading capacity of folding containers and delivery vehicles. [Solution] The shipping support device has a product information storage means for storing store inventory and trends in store sales for each product sold in the store, a shipping threshold storage means for storing a first threshold related to store inventory and a second threshold greater than the first threshold for each product, an inventory prediction means for calculating a predicted store inventory for each product after a specified period of time based on information stored in the product information storage means, a first candidate extraction means for extracting products whose store inventory amounts are below the first threshold as first shipping candidate products, a second candidate extraction means for extracting products whose predicted store inventory amounts are below the second threshold as second shipping candidate products, and a shipping means for performing processing related to the shipping of the first shipping candidate products and the second shipping candidate products.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] This relates to technology for replenishing inventory from warehouses, logistics centers, etc. to stores. [Background technology]

[0002] Inventory levels for products sold at drugstores and other retail outlets are managed to ensure that products displayed and sold in the store do not run out of stock. When inventory levels fall below a certain level, new products are shipped from manufacturers, wholesalers, the store's own warehouses, etc., and the store shelves are replenished.

[0003] Against this background, for example, Patent Document 1 proposes an order determination device that can provide quantitative criteria for determining an appropriate order quantity when ordering goods, thereby making it possible to verify the appropriateness of the order quantity. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2024-049832 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, with the above-mentioned conventional technology, there is a problem that, because stores handle a large variety of products, when products are shipped in order of decreasing stock, the number of folded containers and the number of shipments increases, the loading capacity of delivery trucks is not optimized, and the efficiency of product shipping operations decreases.

[0006] In view of the above problems, the present invention aims to provide a shipping support device that can align the shipping timing of each product as much as possible, reduce the number of folding containers and shipping times, and optimize the loading capacity of folding containers and delivery vehicles, thereby improving the efficiency of product shipping operations. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] One form of the shipping support device disclosed herein is characterized by having a product information storage means for storing store inventory and trends in store sales for each product sold in a store, a shipping threshold storage means for storing, for each product, a first threshold value related to the store inventory and a second threshold value greater than the first threshold, an inventory quantity prediction means for calculating, for each product, a predicted value of the store inventory quantity after a predetermined period of time based on information stored in the product information storage means, a first candidate extraction means for extracting products whose store inventory quantity is below the first threshold as first shipping candidate products, a second candidate extraction means for extracting products whose predicted value of the store inventory quantity is below the second threshold as second shipping candidate products, and a shipping means for performing processing related to the shipping of the first shipping candidate products and the second shipping candidate products. Effect of the Invention

[0008] The disclosed shipping support device aligns the shipping timing for each product as much as possible, reduces the number of folded containers and the number of shipments, and optimizes the loading capacity of folded containers and delivery vehicles, thereby improving the efficiency of product shipping operations. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing an overview of a shipping support device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] 1 is a functional block diagram of a shipping support device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of a shipping support device according to the present embodiment. [Figure 4] 10 is a flowchart showing a flow of a processing example that takes into account in-store positional relationships by the shipping support device according to the present embodiment. [Diagram 5] 10 is a flowchart showing a flow of a processing example that takes into account positional relationships within a warehouse by the shipping support device according to the present embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS With reference to the drawings, an embodiment of the present invention will be described. (Operation principle of the shipping support device according to this embodiment)

[0011] The operation principle of a shipping support device (hereinafter, simply referred to as "the device") 100 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. Figure 1 is a diagram showing the connection relationship between the device 100 and other devices, and Figure 2 is a functional block diagram of the device 100.

[0012] 1, the device 100 is connected to a store terminal 340 via a communication network 330. The communication network 330 may be either a wired or wireless network. The store terminal 340 is a device that notifies the device 100 of the sales status and inventory status of the product 220 sold in the store 210, and may be, for example, a POS (Point of Sales) system.

[0013] As shown in FIG. 2 , the device 100 has a product information storage means 110, a shipping threshold storage means 120, a store location storage means 130, a warehouse location storage means 140, an inventory quantity prediction means 150, a first candidate extraction means 160, a second candidate extraction means 170, and a shipping means 180.

[0014] The product information storage means 110 stores store inventory amount 230 and store sales volume trend 240 for each product 220 sold in the store 210. The store sales volume trend 240 is, for example, the most recent sales, seasonal characteristics of sales volume, weather-related characteristics of sales volume, etc. for each product 220, and is information necessary for predicting the future store inventory amount 270 of the product 220.

[0015] The shipping threshold storage means 120 stores, for each product 220 sold in a store 210, a first threshold 250 related to the store inventory amount 230 and a second threshold 260 that is greater than the first threshold 250.

[0016] The in-store position storage means 130 stores a display position 300 within the store 210 for each product 220 sold in the store 210. The display position 300 may be, for example, an XY coordinate when the inside of the store 210 is considered as a plane, or the height of a display shelf.

[0017] The internal location storage means 140 stores the location 320 within the warehouse 310 for each product 220 sold at the store 210. The warehouse 310 is a warehouse where inventory is stored to replenish the products 220 at the store 210, and is a concept that includes a logistics center. The location 320 may be, for example, the XY coordinates when the interior of the warehouse 310 is viewed on a plane, or the height of the shelf on which the product 220 is stored.

[0018] The inventory forecasting means 150 calculates a forecast value 270 of the future (predetermined period after) store inventory amount 230 for each product 220 based on the information 230, 240 stored in the product information storage means 110. The forecast value 270 is, for example, the store inventory amount 230 three days or one week after. The forecast value 270 is calculated based on a general forecasting method, and the forecasting method is not particularly limited.

[0019] The first candidate extraction means 160 extracts the product 220 whose store inventory amount 230 is below the first threshold value 250 as the first shipping candidate product 280. This is a general process for selecting a product to be shipped.

[0020] The second candidate extraction means 170 extracts the products 220 whose predicted store inventory amount 270 is below the second threshold value 260 as the second shipping candidate products 290. The products 220 extracted as the first shipping candidate products 280 by the first candidate extraction means 160 are excluded from the second shipping candidate products 290. This is a process of selecting products that still have more room in the store inventory amount 230 than the first shipping candidate products 280, but are close to the time for restocking (will be shipped soon).

[0021] In this way, by aligning the shipping timing of each product 220 as much as possible, the number of products 220 that can be put into one folding container (hereinafter referred to as "folding container") can be increased, and as a result, the number of folding containers can be reduced. Also, if the number of products 220 packed into one folding container increases, the number of shipments can be reduced. This optimizes the loading capacity of folding containers and delivery vehicles, thereby improving the efficiency of product shipping operations.

[0022] The second candidate extraction means 170 may be configured to extract, based on the information 300 stored in the in-store position memory means 130, a product that is in a predetermined positional relationship within the store 210 with the first shipping candidate product 280 and whose predicted store inventory amount 270 is below the second threshold value 260, as the second shipping candidate product 290.

[0023] In this case, being in a predetermined positional relationship with the first delivery candidate product 280 within the store 210 may be a relationship in which the first delivery candidate product 280 is within a predetermined distance within the store 210. Also, being in a predetermined positional relationship with the first delivery candidate product 280 within the store 210 may be a relationship in which the heights of the display shelves in the first delivery candidate product 280 and the store 210 are the same or within a predetermined difference. Also, being in a predetermined positional relationship with the first delivery candidate product 280 within the store 210 may be a relationship in which the first delivery candidate product 280 is within a predetermined distance within the store 210 and the heights of the display shelves in the first delivery candidate product 280 and the store 210 are the same or within a predetermined difference. The display work of the second proposed products for shipping 290 as described above can be carried out efficiently together with the display work of the first proposed products for shipping 280.

[0024] The second candidate extraction means 170 may be configured to extract, based on the information 320 stored in the internal location memory means 140, a product that is in a predetermined positional relationship with the first shipping candidate product 280 within the warehouse 310 and whose predicted store inventory amount 270 is below the second threshold value 260, as the second shipping candidate product 290.

[0025] In this case, the term "being in a predetermined positional relationship between the first delivery candidate product 280 and the warehouse 310" may mean that the first delivery candidate product 280 is within a predetermined distance from the warehouse 310. Also, the term "being in a predetermined positional relationship between the first delivery candidate product 280 and the warehouse 310" may mean that the heights of the storage shelves in the first delivery candidate product 280 and the warehouse 310 are the same or within a predetermined difference. Also, the term "being in a predetermined positional relationship between the first delivery candidate product 280 and the warehouse 310" may mean that the first delivery candidate product 280 is within a predetermined distance from the warehouse 310 and that the heights of the storage shelves in the first delivery candidate product 280 and the warehouse 310 are the same or within a predetermined difference. The above-mentioned selection and picking up of the second delivery candidate product 290 can be efficiently performed together with the first delivery candidate product 280 .

[0026] The shipping means 180 performs processing related to the shipping of the first shipping candidate product 280 and the second shipping candidate product 290. The shipping means 180 may be in the form of, for example, instructing an employee to perform the shipping work of the first shipping candidate product 280 and the second shipping candidate product 290, or supporting the shipping.

[0027] The shipping means 180 may be configured to perform processing related to shipping so that the first shipping candidate product 280 and the second shipping candidate product 290 are shipped in the same folding container. This increases the number of products 220 that can be packed in one folding container, which results in fewer folding containers being used. Also, if the number of products 220 packed in one folding container increases, the number of shipments can be reduced.

[0028] Based on the above operating principle, the device 100 aligns the shipping timing for each product 220 as closely as possible, reducing the number of folded containers and shipping times, while optimizing the loading capacity of folded containers and delivery vehicles, thereby improving the efficiency of product shipping operations. (Hardware configuration of the shipping support device according to this embodiment)

[0029] An example of the hardware configuration of the present device 100 will be described with reference to Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the present device 100. As shown in Fig. 3, the present device 100 has a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 510, a ROM (Read-Only Memory) 520, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 530, an auxiliary storage device 540, a communication I / F 550, an input device 560, a display device 570, and a storage medium I / F 580.

[0030] CPU 510 is a device that executes a program stored in ROM 520, performs arithmetic processing on data expanded (loaded) into RAM 530 in accordance with instructions from the program, and controls the entire device 100. ROM 520 stores programs and data to be executed by CPU 510. When CPU 510 executes a program stored in ROM 520, the program and data to be executed are expanded (loaded) into RAM 530, and RAM 530 temporarily holds the arithmetic data during calculation.

[0031] The auxiliary storage device 540 is a device that stores the OS (Operating System) which is basic software, the application program according to the present embodiment, and the like together with related data. The auxiliary storage device 540 is, for example, a HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or a flash memory.

[0032] The communication I / F 550 is an interface for connecting to a communication network 310 such as a wired or wireless LAN (Local Area Network) or the Internet, and for transmitting and receiving data to and from another device (such as a POS system) 340 that provides a communication function.

[0033] The input device 560 is a device such as a keyboard for inputting data to the present device 100. The display device (output device) 570 is a device constituted by an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or the like, and functions as a user interface when the user utilizes the functions of the present device 100 or when performing various settings. The storage medium I / F 580 is an interface for transmitting and receiving data to and from a storage medium 590 such as a CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, or USB memory.

[0034] Each of the means of the present device 100 may be realized by CPU 510 executing a program corresponding to each of the means stored in ROM 520 or auxiliary storage device 540. Each of the means of the present device 100 may be realized by hardware that performs processing related to each of the means. Alternatively, the present device 100 may be caused to read the program according to the present invention from an external server device via communication I / F 550, or to read the program according to the present invention from storage medium 590 via storage medium I / F 580, and cause the present device 100 to execute the program. (Example of processing by the shipping support device according to the present embodiment) (1) Example of processing that takes into account in-store positional relationships

[0035] An example of processing by the device 100 that takes into account in-store positional relationships will be described with reference to Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of an example of processing by the device 100 that takes into account in-store positional relationships.

[0036] In S10, the inventory forecasting means 150 calculates a forecast value 270 of the future (predetermined period ahead) store inventory amount 230 for each product 220 based on the information 230, 240 stored in the product information storage means 110. The forecast value 270 is, for example, the store inventory amount 230 three days or one week ahead. The forecast value 270 is calculated based on a general forecasting method, and the forecasting method is not particularly limited.

[0037] In S20, the first candidate extraction means 160 extracts the product 220 whose store inventory amount 230 is below the first threshold value 250 as the first shipping candidate product 280. This is a general process for selecting a product to be shipped.

[0038] In S30, the second candidate extraction means 170 extracts the products 220 whose predicted store inventory amount 270 is below the second threshold value 260 as the second shipping candidate products 290. The products 220 extracted as the first shipping candidate products 280 by the first candidate extraction means 160 are excluded from the second shipping candidate products 290. This is a process of selecting products that still have more room in the store inventory amount 230 than the first shipping candidate products 280, but are close to the time for restocking (will be shipped soon).

[0039] In S30, the second candidate extraction means 170 may be configured to extract, based on the information 300 stored in the in-store position storage means 130, a product that is in a predetermined positional relationship within the store 210 with the first shipping candidate product 280 and whose predicted store inventory amount 270 is below the second threshold value 260, as the second shipping candidate product 290.

[0040] In this case, being in a predetermined positional relationship with the first delivery candidate product 280 within the store 210 may be a relationship in which the first delivery candidate product 280 is within a predetermined distance within the store 210. Also, being in a predetermined positional relationship with the first delivery candidate product 280 within the store 210 may be a relationship in which the heights of the display shelves in the first delivery candidate product 280 and the store 210 are the same or within a predetermined difference. Also, being in a predetermined positional relationship with the first delivery candidate product 280 within the store 210 may be a relationship in which the first delivery candidate product 280 is within a predetermined distance within the store 210 and the heights of the display shelves in the first delivery candidate product 280 and the store 210 are the same or within a predetermined difference.

[0041] In this way, if the shipping timing for each product 220 is aligned as much as possible, the number of products 220 that can be put into one folding container can be increased, and as a result, the number of folding containers can be reduced. Also, if the number of products 220 that can be packed into one folding container increases, the number of shipments can be reduced. This optimizes the loading capacity of folding containers and delivery vehicles, thereby improving the efficiency of product shipping operations. In addition, the display work of the second delivery candidate products 290 as described above can be carried out efficiently at the same time as the display work of the first delivery candidate products 280.

[0042] In S40, the shipping means 180 performs processing related to the shipping of the first shipping candidate product 280 and the second shipping candidate product 290. The shipping means 180 may be in the form of, for example, instructing an employee to perform the shipping work of the first shipping candidate product 280 and the second shipping candidate product 290, or supporting the shipping.

[0043] In S40, the shipping means 180 may perform processing related to shipping so that the first shipping candidate product 280 and the second shipping candidate product 290 are shipped in the same folding container. This increases the number of products 220 that can be packed in one folding container, and as a result, the number of folding containers used can be reduced. Furthermore, if the number of products 220 packed in one folding container increases, the number of shipments can also be reduced.

[0044] By carrying out the above-mentioned processing, the device 100 aligns the shipping timing for each product 220 as closely as possible, reduces the number of folding containers and shipping times, and optimizes the loading capacity of folding containers and delivery vehicles, thereby improving the efficiency of product shipping operations. (2) Example of processing considering the positional relationship within the warehouse

[0045] An example of processing by the device 100 in consideration of positional relationships within a warehouse will be described with reference to Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of an example of processing by the device 100 in consideration of positional relationships within a warehouse.

[0046] In S110, the inventory quantity forecasting means 150 calculates a forecast value 270 of the future (predetermined period ahead) store inventory quantity 230 for each product 220 based on the information 230, 240 stored in the product information storage means 110. The forecast value 270 is, for example, the store inventory quantity 230 three days or one week ahead. The forecast value 270 is calculated based on a general forecasting method, and the forecasting method is not particularly limited.

[0047] In S120, the first candidate extraction means 160 extracts the product 220 whose store inventory amount 230 is below the first threshold value 250 as the first shipping candidate product 280. This is a general process for selecting a product to be shipped.

[0048] In S130, the second candidate extraction means 170 extracts the products 220 whose predicted store inventory amount 270 is below the second threshold value 260 as the second shipping candidate products 290. The products 220 extracted as the first shipping candidate products 280 by the first candidate extraction means 160 are excluded from the second shipping candidate products 290. This is a process of selecting products that still have more room in the store inventory amount 230 than the first shipping candidate products 280, but are close to the time for restocking (will be shipped soon).

[0049] In S130, the second candidate extraction means 170 may be configured to extract, based on the information 320 stored in the in-warehouse position memory means 140, a product that is in a predetermined positional relationship with the first shipping candidate product 280 within the warehouse 310 and whose predicted store inventory amount 270 is below the second threshold value 260, as the second shipping candidate product 290.

[0050] In this case, the term "being in a predetermined positional relationship between the first delivery candidate product 280 and the warehouse 310" may mean that the first delivery candidate product 280 is within a predetermined distance from the warehouse 310. Also, the term "being in a predetermined positional relationship between the first delivery candidate product 280 and the warehouse 310" may mean that the heights of the storage shelves in the first delivery candidate product 280 and the warehouse 310 are the same or within a predetermined difference. Also, the term "being in a predetermined positional relationship between the first delivery candidate product 280 and the warehouse 310" may mean that the first delivery candidate product 280 is within a predetermined distance from the warehouse 310 and that the heights of the storage shelves in the first delivery candidate product 280 and the warehouse 310 are the same or within a predetermined difference.

[0051] In this way, by aligning the shipping timing of each product 220 as much as possible, the number of products 220 that can be put into one folding container (hereinafter referred to as "folding container") can be increased, and as a result, the number of folding containers can be reduced. Also, if the number of products 220 packed into one folding container increases, the number of shipments can be reduced. This optimizes the loading capacity of folding containers and delivery vehicles, thereby improving the efficiency of product shipping operations. The above-mentioned selection and picking up of the second delivery candidate product 290 can be efficiently performed together with the first delivery candidate product 280 .

[0052] The shipping means 180 performs processing related to the shipping of the first shipping candidate product 280 and the second shipping candidate product 290. The shipping means 180 may be in the form of, for example, instructing an employee to perform the shipping work of the first shipping candidate product 280 and the second shipping candidate product 290, or supporting the shipping.

[0053] The shipping means 180 may be configured to perform processing related to shipping so that the first shipping candidate product 280 and the second shipping candidate product 290 are shipped in the same folding container. This increases the number of products 220 that can be packed in one folding container, which results in fewer folding containers being used. Also, if the number of products 220 packed in one folding container increases, the number of shipments can be reduced.

[0054] By carrying out the above-mentioned processing, the device 100 aligns the shipping timing for each product 220 as closely as possible, reduces the number of folding containers and shipping times, and optimizes the loading capacity of folding containers and delivery vehicles, thereby improving the efficiency of product shipping operations.

[0055] Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to such specific embodiment, and various modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention described in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0056] 100 Shipping Support Device 110 Product information storage means 120 Shipping threshold storage means 130 In-store location storage means 140 Internal position storage means 150 Inventory forecasting methods 160 First candidate extraction means 170 Second candidate extraction means 180 Shipping Method 210 stores 220 Products sold in stores 230 Store inventory 240 Store Sales Volume Trends 250 First Threshold 260 Second Threshold 270 Estimated store inventory after a given period 280 First shipment candidate item 290 2nd shipment candidate item 300 Display location in store 310 Warehouse 320 Warehouse location 330 Communication Network 340 Store terminal (POS (Point of Sales) system) 510 CPU 520 ROM 530 RAM 540 Auxiliary storage 550 Communication Interface 560 Input Device 570 Output Device 580 Storage Media Interface 590 Storage medium

Claims

1. a product information storage means for storing store inventory and store sales trends for each product sold in the store; a shipping threshold storage means for storing a first threshold value related to the store inventory amount and a second threshold value greater than the first threshold value for each of the products; an inventory amount forecasting means for calculating a forecast value of the store inventory amount after a predetermined period for each of the commodities based on the information stored in the commodity information storage means; a first candidate extraction means for extracting a commodity whose store inventory amount is below the first threshold as a first delivery candidate commodity; A second candidate extraction means for extracting, as a second delivery candidate commodity, a commodity whose predicted value of the store inventory amount is lower than the second threshold value; and a shipping means for performing processing related to shipping of the first shipping candidate commodity and the second shipping candidate commodity.

2. A shipping support method in a shipping support device having a product information storage means for storing store inventory and store sales trends for each product sold in a store, and a shipping threshold storage means for storing a first threshold related to the store inventory and a second threshold greater than the first threshold for each product, comprising: a step of an inventory amount prediction means calculating a prediction value of the store inventory amount after a predetermined period for each of the commodities based on the information stored in the commodity information storage means; A step of a first candidate extraction means extracting a commodity whose store inventory amount is below the first threshold as a first delivery candidate commodity; A step of extracting a second candidate product by a second candidate extraction means, the second candidate product being a product whose predicted store inventory amount is less than the second threshold value; A shipping means performs processing related to shipping of the first shipping candidate product and the second shipping candidate product.

3. A shipping assistance program for causing a computer to execute the method according to claim 2.

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