Merchandise management system and merchandising method

Abstract

To provide a product management system and a product management method capable of carrying out inventory work in parallel with receiving work and shipping work.SOLUTION: A product management system 1 comprises: a storage unit 16 for storing unique information attached to a product G that has arrived at a store; a reading unit 42 for reading the unique information attached to the product G in the store; and a processing unit 14 for collating the unique information stored in the storage unit 16 with the unique information read by the reading unit 42 at the time when the reading unit 42 starts reading.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a merchandise management system and a merchandise management method. [Background technology]

[0002] Inventory is a part of product management tasks in stores, and a system for performing inventory includes a management server and an input terminal. The input terminal is a terminal that reads identification information attached to products in the store and transmits the read identification information to the management server. The management server manages not only product information such as product name and price, but also the number of products in stock in association with the identification information, and checks whether there is an excess or shortage of stock based on the identification information received from the input device.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an RFID reader used as an input terminal for inventorying products. This RFID reader has a first communication mode in which identification information is read collectively from RF tags attached to multiple products and transmitted to a server, and a second communication mode in which identification information is read individually from the RF tags attached to multiple products and transmitted to a server. According to the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1, reading is performed in the first communication mode, thereby shortening the reading operation time. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2016-177778 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] When new products arrive at a store, the number of products in stock must be added to the inventory count for each product managed on the server. Because the inventory count fluctuates when new products arrive, stocktaking has traditionally been carried out after stocktaking has confirmed the number of products in stock. This means that stocktaking and stocktaking cannot be carried out in parallel, which takes a significant amount of time. This applies not only to when new products arrive, but also when products are shipped (sold), which means that stocktaking must be carried out at a time that avoids shipping (sales) times.

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a product management system and a product management method that enable inventory work to be carried out in parallel with receiving work and shipping work. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the product management system of the present invention is characterized by comprising a memory unit that stores unique information attached to products at a base, a reading unit that reads the unique information, and a processing unit that compares the unique information stored in the memory unit at the time the reading unit starts reading with the unique information read by the reading unit.

[0008] Furthermore, when a difference is detected in the comparison, the processing unit outputs the difference.

[0009] The product management method of the present invention is characterized by including the steps of storing unique information attached to products at a base in a memory unit, reading the unique information, and comparing the unique information stored in the memory unit at the time reading of the unique information is started with the read unique information. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] The present invention allows inventory work to be carried out in parallel with receiving and shipping work. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] (a) is an overall view of a product management system according to the present embodiment; (b) is a diagram showing products and unique information according to the present embodiment; [Figure 2] FIG. 10 shows a management table and a unique information list according to the present embodiment. [Figure 3] A flowchart showing the processing flow of a management server provided in a product management system. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] Hereinafter, a product management system and a product management method according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0013] As shown in FIG. 1, the product management system 1 is a system for managing products G in a store, and includes a management server 10 connected to a LAN established in the store.

[0014] The management server 10 is a server that manages the products G in the store, and in addition to a network module that functions as a communication unit 12 that communicates via a LAN, it is equipped with a CPU that functions as a processing unit 14, and a memory that functions as a storage unit 16.

[0015] The memory (storage unit 16) has a management table 162 for managing the products G in the store by type. As shown in Fig. 2, the management table 162 has a record for each JAN code, which is type information of the product G, and has columns for the name, price, and stock quantity of the product G. In this way, the memory stores the name, price, and stock quantity of the product G in association with the type information of the product G.

[0016] 1, the product management system 1 of this embodiment includes an administrator terminal 20 that can communicate with the management server 10 via a LAN. The administrator terminal 20 is typically a known computer installed in a store, and is operated by an administrator to access the management server 10, obtain information about the product G stored in the management table 162, and display the information on a display (not shown).

[0017] In the product management system 1 of this embodiment, in order to manage products within the store, an RF tag 4 storing unique information is attached to all products G, and the system is equipped with a receiving terminal 30 and an inventory terminal 40 that can communicate with the management server 10.

[0018] The unique information is a code assigned individually to each product G, and the coding system is configured by adding a serial number to the end of a JAN code, as shown in FIG. 1(b). The unique information is not limited to this coding system, and a product number, which is other type information, may be used instead of the JAN code. A random number may also be used instead of the serial number. In this way, the coding system for the unique information is preferably configured to combine type information of the product G with identification information that identifies each product G among products G of the same type. The unique information is written to the RF tag 4, for example, when the product G is shipped from the factory, read by the receiving terminal 30 when it arrives, read by the inventory terminal 40 when it is inventoryed, and managed by the management server 10.

[0019] The receiving terminal 30 is a terminal used to record received goods G, and is, for example, a gate-type RFID reader installed on the carrying-in route of goods G. The RFID reader includes a reader module functioning as a reading unit 32 that reads unique information from the RF tags 4 of goods G received at the store, a memory functioning as a storage unit 34 that temporarily stores the read unique information, a network module functioning as a transmitting unit 36 ​​that collectively transmits all the read unique information to the management server 10, and a CPU functioning as a control unit 38 that controls the reader module, network module, and memory.

[0020] The inventory terminal 40 is a terminal used to check the products G in the store, and is a mobile RFID reader that employees use to read unique information from the RF tags 4 attached to each product G while patrolling the store or warehouse. The RFID reader includes a reader module that functions as a reader unit 42 that reads unique information from the RF tags 4 of the products G in the store, a memory that functions as a memory unit 44 that temporarily stores the read unique information, a network module that functions as a transmitter 46 that transmits the read unique information to the management server 10, and a CPU that functions as a controller 48 that controls the reader module, the network module, and the memory. When the CPU of the inventory terminal 40 controls the reader module to start reading, it also transmits start information indicating the start of inventory to the management server 10.

[0021] The management server 10 receives start information from the inventory terminal 40, and receives unique information from the receiving terminal 30 and the inventory terminal 40 to manage the products G in the store. The received unique information is stored in a file in the memory (storage unit 16) as a unique information list 164. Specifically, the memory of the management server 10 stores a management program that manages the arrival and inventory of the products G, and the management program causes the CPU (processing unit 14) to execute the processing shown in Figure 3.

[0022] First, the CPU of the management server 10 executes a process to confirm reception from the receiving terminal 30 and the inventory terminal 40 (s1).

[0023] When unique information is received from the receiving terminal 30, the CPU of the management server 10 executes a list addition process (s2) and a table update process (s3) in this order. The list addition process (s2) is a process for adding the received unique information to the unique information list 164. The table update process (s3) is a process for updating the stock quantity in the management table 162 based on the unique information list 164, and first, all unique information in the unique information list 164 is extracted. Then, type information is further extracted from all the extracted unique information. When type information is extracted, the number of each type information is counted, and the count number is temporarily stored in memory in association with the type information. Then, the count number is entered into the stock quantity of the product G corresponding to the type information in the management table 162.

[0024] When start information is received from the inventory terminal 40, a determination process (s4) is executed to determine the unique information to be the inventory target. The unique information to be the inventory target is the unique information of the product G that is present in the store at the time when the inventory is started. In other words, it is the unique information that is included in the unique information list 164 at the time when the management server 10 receives the start information. Therefore, the CPU of the management server 10 determines the unique information to be the inventory target by executing an extraction process to extract unique information from the unique information list 164 and a flag setting process to set a flag on the unique information in the unique information list 164.

[0025] When the unique information is received from the inventory terminal 40, a verification process (s5) is executed to verify the unique information confirmed in the above-mentioned confirmation process (s4) with the received unique information. If the result of the verification process (s5) shows that there is neither a surplus nor a deficiency in the unique information confirmed as the inventory target, a report process (s6) is executed to send a report to the manager terminal 20 indicating that there are no errors in the unique information list 164 and the management table 162.

[0026] On the other hand, if the result of the matching process shows that there is a surplus or deficiency in the unique information confirmed as the inventory target, an surplus / deficiency update process is executed. The surplus / deficiency update process is a process for updating the unique information list 164 and the management table 162 based on the unique information with the surplus or deficiency, and executes a report process (s7), a list update process (s8), and a table update process (s9) similar to the table update process (s3) described above, in this order. The report process (s7) is a process for extracting product names from the management table 162 using type information in the unique information with the surplus or deficiency as a search key, and for transmitting a report to the administrator terminal 20 indicating that there is a surplus or deficiency in the extracted product names. The list update process (s8) is a process for adding missing unique information to the unique information list 164 and / or deleting unique information that should not be included in the unique information list 164.

[0027] According to the product management system 1 and product management method of this embodiment, when starting an inventory, the unique information to be counted is determined (s4) based on the start information transmitted from the inventory terminal 40, and a verification process (s5) is executed for the determined unique information. Therefore, even if an addition occurs to the unique information list 164 due to the arrival of product G, the information to be verified does not change, and the inventory can be carried out. In other words, inventory work and receiving work can be carried out in parallel.

[0028] The product management system 1 of this embodiment may include a POS terminal capable of communicating with the management server 10 via a LAN. The POS terminal includes a reader module that functions as a reading unit that reads unique information from the RF tag 4 attached to the product G, a memory that stores the read unique information, a network module that functions as a transmitting unit that transmits the read unique information to the management server 10 and a receiving unit that receives from the management server 10 the product name and price corresponding to the unique information, a display that functions as a display unit that displays the received product name and price to the customer, and a CPU that functions as a control unit that controls the reader module, memory, network module, and display.

[0029] The POS terminal reads the unique information of the product G that the customer is about to purchase, receives the name and price of the product G from the server based on the read unique information, and presents it to the customer. When the customer pays the purchase price, the CPU of the POS terminal transmits payment information to the management server 10. The payment information includes the unique information of the purchased product G, and the unique information can be obtained by extracting the information stored in memory after reading.

[0030] When the CPU of the management server 10 receives payment information from the POS terminal, it executes a list deletion process to delete the unique information included in the payment information from the unique information list 164, and executes a process similar to the table update process (s3) described above. As a result, the inventory quantity corresponding to the sold product G in the management table 162 is decreased.

[0031] Even in this embodiment having a POS terminal, when starting inventory, the unique information to be counted is determined based on the start information transmitted from the inventory terminal 40, and a verification process (s5) is executed for the determined unique information. Therefore, even if a product G is deleted from the unique information list 164 due to its sale, the information to be verified does not change, and inventory can be carried out. In other words, inventory work and sales work can be carried out in parallel.

[0032] The present invention may be modified from the above-described embodiment.

[0033] <Variation 1> In the above embodiment, if a surplus or shortage occurs as a result of the verification process, a report process is executed. However, for example, information about the surplus or shortage of products may be sent to a network printer connected to a LAN and the information may be printed. That is, if a difference is detected between the information to be verified (the unique information in the unique information list at the start of reading) and the read information (the information read from the product during inventory) during the verification process, a process may be executed to output the details of the difference. In this way, outputting the details of the difference detected during the verification process can be used as evidence of fluctuations in store assets caused by changes in the managed product inventory.

[0034] <Variation 2> In the above embodiment, the POS terminal may be equipped with a barcode reader in addition to the RFID reader. In such an embodiment, for example, if the RF tag attached to a product is broken, it becomes possible to read the product type information from the JAN code of the product using the barcode reader instead of the RFID reader, and to execute the payment process based on the read type information.

[0035] If the payment process is performed using a barcode reader, the management server cannot receive the unique information from the POS terminal and therefore cannot update the unique information list. Therefore, the management server executes a table update process to reduce the stock quantity of the product corresponding to the category information (JAN code) received from the POS terminal.

[0036] As a result, the number of unique information stored in the unique information list will be greater than the number of items in stock stored in the management table. However, by performing an inventory operation, reading the unique information from all products in the store, and performing a matching process, it is possible to detect surplus unique information in the unique information list and identify the surplus unique information as unique information for products paid for using the above-mentioned type information (JAN code).

[0037] <Variation 3> In the above embodiment, product management has been described using the example of receiving and selling goods in a store, but it is not limited to sales and may also be product receiving and shipping management. In order to manage shipping, a shipping terminal having the same configuration as the receiving terminal is provided on the shipping route of the goods, and unique information of the goods shipped from the store is read and the read unique information is transmitted to the management server, so that the goods that have been shipped can be managed by the management server.

[0038] <Variation 4> In the above embodiment, a store serving as a sales base has been used as an example, but the present invention may also be used for product management at a factory serving as a production base, or for managing the inflow and outflow of products at a logistics warehouse serving as a logistics base.

[0039] The present invention can be implemented in various forms, including improvements, modifications, and variations based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention. Furthermore, the invention can be implemented in a form in which any of the features of the invention are replaced with other technology, as long as the same action or effect is achieved. [Explanation of symbols]

[0040] 1... Product management system 14 ... Processing section 16 … Storage section 42 ... Reading unit

Claims

1. A receiving terminal used to receive merchandise at a base, the receiving terminal having a reading unit that reads unique information attached to the merchandise arriving at the base; an inventory terminal used for inventorying products at the base, the inventory terminal having a reading unit for reading unique information of the products at the base; a server capable of communicating with the receiving terminal and the inventory terminal; Equipped with The receiving terminal and the inventory terminal transmit the read unique information to the server, The server a storage unit for storing the unique information; a processing unit that adds the unique information to the storage unit every time the unique information is received from the receiving terminal, and when start information for starting the reading is acquired from the inventory terminal, determines the unique information stored in the storage unit at the time the start information is acquired as the object of comparison, and compares the determined unique information with the unique information received from the inventory terminal; A product management system comprising:

2. The merchandise management system according to claim 1 , wherein the processing unit, when detecting a difference in the comparison, outputs the difference.

3. A step in which a receiving terminal used to receive goods at a base reads unique information of goods arriving at the base; an inventory terminal used for inventorying the products at the base station reading unique information of the products at the base station; a step in which the receiving terminal and the inventory terminal transmit the read unique information to a server; The server: a processing step of adding the unique information to a storage unit each time the unique information is received from the receiving terminal, and when start information for starting the reading is acquired from the inventory terminal, determining the unique information stored in the storage unit at the time of acquisition of the start information as the object of comparison, and comparing the determined unique information with the unique information received from the inventory terminal; A product management method comprising:

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