After-sales service providing system, after-sales service billing method, information processing device, and computer program

Abstract

To provide an after-sales service providing system, an after-sales service accounting method, an information processing device and a program capable of receiving provision of a service while preventing a user from strongly feeling a financial burden feeling even in the case of including a service provided in each fixed period.SOLUTION: In an information processing device, a charge calculation part calculates a charge to be paid by a service recipient for a service provided by a service provider in each fixed period. A settlement amount calculation part calculates a settlement amount which should be paid by a registered service recipient who should newly receive provision of a service from information on the service. A ratio calculation part calculates a ratio showing how many times the calculated settlement is about an amount to be paid by a user in each fixe period. A difference addition part adds the settlement amount to a charge from a registered period when the provision of the service is newly received till the next nearest period when a service of the highest amount is received when the determination-calculated ratio is determined to exceed a threshold.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an after-sales service providing system, an after-sales service billing method, an information processing device, and a computer program that can provide regular after-sales service while reducing the financial burden on users and stabilizing the management of after-sales service providers. [Background technology]

[0002] Traditionally, after-sales service, including maintenance contracts, has been understood as necessary for consumers who purchase a product, but there has been a strong resistance to the cost. For example, when it comes to vehicle maintenance after purchasing a vehicle, the most expensive and major event is the vehicle inspection. Regular maintenance such as six-month and one-year inspections has been stipulated in the Road Transport Vehicle Act and is also recommended by vehicle dealers and maintenance shops. However, due to concerns about forgetting when to visit a dealer or being provided with more after-sales service than necessary when the dealer visits, many users tend to receive after-sales service, including inspection, maintenance, and repairs, all at the time of the vehicle inspection.

[0003] Therefore, the impression that vehicle inspections are extremely expensive remains deeply rooted among users, preventing proper after-sales service. This increases the likelihood that problems will arise at times the user does not anticipate, resulting in unnecessary expenses and higher overall costs.

[0004] Various efforts have been made to alleviate users' financial burden. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a method of providing automobile-related services to registered members, which enables them to arrange for procedures such as applying for automobile insurance, arranging for automobile transport companies in the event of an accident or breakdown, and requesting vehicle inspections to be performed by a reliable company at a lower cost than if the member were to do so individually. In Patent Document 1, reliable companies that can provide each service are registered in advance, making it possible for the member to receive inexpensive services from the nearest location. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-041636 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, Patent Document 1 only provides discounts on spot charges. In other words, there are services that cannot be received unless a member has an accident, breakdown, or other trouble, which can easily create a sense of unfairness among members.

[0007] Furthermore, for services that require a large amount of money at regular intervals, such as vehicle inspections, it is difficult to register as a member at any time, as it would be disadvantageous to the service provider if members register or withdraw before or after the large amount of money is incurred. Even if a fee is charged to cover the difference, the amount of the fee may become large depending on the timing, which could cause people to hesitate to join.

[0008] On the other hand, even if a service provider prepares a service menu, it is not guaranteed that consumers will request it. Therefore, it is preferable to combine it with a system that can reliably calculate monthly income, such as a membership system, to level out revenue and distribute the workload.

[0009] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and aims to provide an after-sales service providing system, an after-sales service billing method, an information processing device, and a computer program that enable users to receive services without feeling a strong financial burden, even in cases where the services include those provided at fixed intervals. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] In order to achieve the above object, the after-sales service providing system according to the present invention comprises: Information about the services provided by each service provider, including at least the timing, intervals, and fee structure Please register and The aforementioned Services provided by the provider Fee the recipient of the service Changes depending on when the provider's services start being used An after-sales service providing system including an information processing device, Calculating a fee to be paid by a service recipient for a periodic service provided periodically at a fixed interval among services provided by a service provider, based on information about the service A fee calculation means and information on the service Based on this, the settlement amount to be paid by the service recipient for spot services provided at longer intervals than the regular services or for spot services provided irregularly is calculated. a settlement amount calculation means, and when the calculated settlement amount exceeds a predetermined multiplier of the fee calculated by the fee calculation means, The settlement amount is divided equally over the fixed period during which the subscription service is provided and added to the fee. The system is characterized by comprising a fee adjustment means.

[0012] In addition, the after-sales service providing system according to the present invention includes a ratio calculation means for calculating a ratio indicating how many times the settlement amount is the fee, a determination means for determining whether the ratio exceeds a predetermined threshold, and when the determination means determines that the ratio exceeds the predetermined threshold, The fee to be paid for the regular service from the time when the regular service is newly provided to the time when the spot service is provided. and a means for adding the settlement amount to the transaction amount.

[0013] In the after-sales service providing system according to the present invention, the information processing device includes a service provider. terminal devices used by, and A terminal device used by a person to whom a service is provided is connected so as to be able to perform data communication, and the information processing device Before the time for providing the spot service arrives, It is preferable to provide provision notification means for transmitting information notifying the time of service provision to both or either one of a terminal device used by a service provider and a terminal device used by a service recipient.

[0014] Next, in order to achieve the above object, the after-sales service billing method according to the present invention comprises: Information about the services provided by each service provider, including at least the timing, intervals, and fee structure Please register and The aforementioned Services provided by the provider Fee the recipient of the service Changes depending on when the provider's services start being used An after-sales service billing method that can be executed by an information processing device, the information processing device Among the services provided by the provider, a fee to be paid by the provided party for a periodic service provided periodically at a fixed interval is calculated based on information about the service. Steps and information about the service Based on the above, the settlement amount to be paid by the provided party for a spot service provided at intervals longer than the regular service or for a spot service provided irregularly is calculated.If the step and the calculated settlement amount exceed the specified multiplier for the calculated fee, The settlement amount is divided equally over the fixed period during which the subscription service is provided and added to the fee. The method is characterized by performing the steps of:

[0016] Furthermore, the after-sales service billing method according to the present invention includes a step in which the information processing device calculates a ratio indicating how many times the settlement amount is the fee, a step in which the information processing device determines whether or not the ratio exceeds a predetermined threshold, and if it is determined that the ratio exceeds the predetermined threshold, The fee to be paid for the regular service from the time when the regular service is newly provided to the time when the spot service is provided. It is preferable to carry out a step of adding the settlement amount to the above.

[0017] In the after-sales service billing method according to the present invention, the information processing device includes a service provider. terminal devices used by, and A terminal device used by a person to whom a service is provided is connected so as to be able to perform data communication, and the information processing device Before the time for providing the spot service arrives, It is preferable to carry out a step of transmitting information notifying the time of service provision to both or either one of a terminal device used by the service provider and a terminal device used by the service recipient.

[0018] Next, in order to achieve the above object, the information processing device according to the present invention comprises: Information about the services provided by each service provider, including at least the timing, intervals, and fee structure Please register and The aforementioned Services provided by the provider Fee the recipient of the service Changes depending on when the provider's services start to be used An information processing device, Among the services provided by the provider, a fee to be paid by the provided party for a periodic service provided periodically at a fixed interval is calculated based on information about the service. A fee calculation means and information on the service Based on the above, the settlement amount to be paid by the provided party for a spot service provided at intervals longer than the regular service or for a spot service provided irregularly is calculated. a settlement amount calculation means, and when the calculated settlement amount exceeds a predetermined multiplier of the fee calculated by the fee calculation means, The settlement amount is divided equally over the fixed period for which the subscription service is provided and added to the fee. and a fee adjustment means.

[0020] In addition, the information processing device according to the present invention includes a ratio calculation means for calculating a ratio indicating how many times the settlement amount is the fee, a determination means for determining whether the ratio exceeds a predetermined threshold, and when the determination means determines that the ratio exceeds the predetermined threshold, The fee to be paid for the regular service from the time when the regular service is newly provided to the time when the spot service is provided.and a means for adding the settlement amount to the transaction amount.

[0021] The information processing device according to the present invention is also a service provider. terminal devices used by, and A terminal device used by a service recipient is connected so as to be able to perform data communication; Before the time for providing the spot service arrives, It is preferable to provide provision notification means for transmitting information notifying the time of service provision to both or either one of a terminal device used by a service provider and a terminal device used by a service recipient.

[0022] Next, in order to achieve the above object, the computer program according to the present invention comprises: Information about the services provided by each service provider, including at least the timing, intervals, and fee structure Please register and The aforementioned Services provided by the provider Fee the recipient of the service Changes depending on when the provider's services start to be used A computer program that can be executed by an information processing device, the information processing device Among the services provided by the provider, a fee to be paid by the provided party for a periodic service provided periodically at a fixed interval is calculated based on information about the service. Fee calculation means, information on the service Based on the above, the settlement amount to be paid by the provided party for a spot service provided at intervals longer than the regular service or for a spot service provided irregularly is calculated. A settlement amount calculation means, and when the calculated settlement amount exceeds a predetermined multiplier of the fee calculated by the fee calculation means, The settlement amount is divided equally over the fixed period for which the subscription service is provided and added to the fee. It is characterized by functioning as a fee adjustment means.

[0024] Furthermore, the computer program according to the present invention includes a ratio calculation means for calculating a ratio indicating how many times the settlement amount is the fee, a determination means for determining whether the ratio exceeds a predetermined threshold, and, when the determination means determines that the ratio exceeds the predetermined threshold, The fee to be paid for the regular service from the time when the regular service is newly provided to the time when the spot service is provided. It is preferable that the function of the above-mentioned means is to add the settlement amount to the above-mentioned amount.

[0025] The computer program according to the present invention further comprises a step of: terminal devices used by, and A terminal device used by a person to whom a service is provided is connected so as to be able to perform data communication, and the information processing device is Before the time for providing the spot service arrives,It is preferable that the service provision notification means functions as a provision notification means that transmits information notifying the time of service provision to both or either one of a terminal device used by a service provider and a terminal device used by a service recipient. [Effects of the Invention]

[0026] According to the above invention, in the case of after-sales services including maintenance contracts, the total amount of payment at the time of periodic payment does not vary significantly, and it is possible to provide services without causing financial burden to the service recipient. Furthermore, since the service provider can obtain a fixed amount of profit, it is possible to stabilize the management base and equalize the number of work hours. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0027] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of an after-sales service providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an information processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 3] 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a terminal device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 4] 1 is a functional block diagram of an information processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 5] 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data configuration of a member information storage unit of the information processing device according to the embodiment of the present invention; FIG. [Figure 6] 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data configuration of a servicer information storage unit of the information processing device according to the embodiment of the present invention; FIG. [Figure 7] 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data configuration of a service information storage unit of the information processing device according to the embodiment of the present invention; FIG. [Figure 8] 4 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a CPU of the information processing device according to the embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0028] The following is a detailed description of an after-sales service providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following embodiments do not limit the invention described in the claims, and it goes without saying that not all of the combinations of the characteristics described in the embodiments are essential to the solution.

[0029] Furthermore, the present invention can be implemented in many different forms, and should not be construed as being limited to the description of the embodiments. The same elements are denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the embodiments.

[0030] The following embodiments describe an after-sales service system using an information processing device with a computer program installed in a computer system. However, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the present invention can be implemented as a computer program executable by a computer. Therefore, the present invention can be implemented as a hardware, software, or combination of software and hardware, which is an after-sales service system that allows users to receive services without feeling a significant financial burden, even if the services include those provided at regular intervals. The computer program can be recorded on any computer-readable recording medium, such as a hard disk, DVD, CD, optical storage device, or magnetic storage device.

[0031] According to the embodiment of the present invention, in the case of after-sales services including maintenance contracts, the total amount of payment at the time of periodic payment does not vary significantly, and it is possible to provide services without causing the recipient of the service to feel a financial burden. Furthermore, since the service provider can obtain a fixed amount of profit, it is possible to stabilize the management base and equalize the number of work hours.

[0032] In the following embodiments of the present invention, the after-sales service will be described taking as an example after-sales service provided after a vehicle purchase. Of course, the after-sales service is not limited to this, and any after-sales service that provides both periodic maintenance service and one-off maintenance service after purchase is acceptable.

[0033] For example, when purchasing a new vehicle, regular inspections are provided, starting with a three-month inspection, followed by a six-month inspection, a 12-month inspection, and a vehicle inspection, with after-sales services provided to maintain the condition of the vehicle. However, users do not necessarily carry out all of these inspections, and in many cases, they only complete the vehicle inspection.

[0034] The biggest reason for this is not so much ignorance of the benefits of daily maintenance, but rather the fact that the biggest expense occurs at the time of vehicle inspection. Of course, regular maintenance such as 6-month and 12-month inspections are required by the Road Transport Vehicle Act and are also recommended by vehicle dealerships and repair shops. However, there is a strong tendency to avoid visiting vehicle dealerships and repair shops for reasons such as forgetting when to visit, or fearing that visiting a dealership will result in more after-sales service than is necessary to maintain the vehicle's condition.

[0035] Furthermore, because the cost of vehicle inspections is higher than other inspections, many users request inspections, maintenance, repairs, etc. all at once when they have their vehicle inspected. Therefore, users have a strong impression that vehicle inspections are extremely expensive, and they are unable to perform appropriate maintenance at the appropriate time. This can lead to problems with the vehicle's condition occurring at times that users do not anticipate.

[0036] Therefore, in this embodiment, we have invented a system that allows users to drive their vehicles with peace of mind, with the same cost burden as a subscription, whether they purchase the vehicle as a new car or a used car.

[0037] 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an after-sales service providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The after-sales service providing system according to this embodiment includes an information processing device 1 that stores information about a vehicle sales and repair shop that is a service provider, information about a vehicle purchaser (hereinafter, "user") that is a recipient of the service, and information about services provided by the vehicle sales and repair shop, a terminal device 3a used by the vehicle sales and repair shop, and a terminal device 3b used by a user, all of which are connected so as to be able to perform data communications via a communication network 3 such as the Internet.

[0038] 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an information processing device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The information processing device 1 according to this embodiment is configured with at least a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11, a memory 12, a storage device 13, an I / O interface 14, a video interface 15, a portable disk drive 16, a communication interface 17, and an internal bus 18 that connects the above-mentioned hardware.

[0039] The CPU 11 is connected to the above-mentioned hardware components of the information processing device 1 via an internal bus 18, and controls the operation of the above-mentioned hardware components, and executes various software functions in accordance with a computer program 100 stored in a storage device 13. The memory 12 is composed of a volatile memory such as an SRAM or SDRAM, into which a load module is expanded when the computer program 100 is executed, and which stores temporary data and the like generated when the computer program 100 is executed.

[0040] The storage device 13 is composed of an internal fixed storage device (hard disk), ROM, etc. The computer program 100 stored in the storage device 13 is downloaded by a portable disk drive 16 from a portable recording medium 90, such as a DVD or CD-ROM, on which information such as programs and data is recorded, and is then expanded from the storage device 13 to the memory 12 and executed when executed. Of course, the computer program 100 may also be downloaded from an external computer connected via the communication interface 17.

[0041] The storage device 13 includes a member information storage unit 131, a servicer information storage unit 132, and a service information storage unit 133. The member information storage unit 131 stores personal information including the member's address and the like in association with the registered member's name and member ID, as well as the member registration date, a service ID that identifies the subscribed service, and the contract start date for the service for each service ID. In the case of information regarding a vehicle purchaser, information regarding the vehicle, such as the model name, vehicle number, chassis number, vehicle inspection registration date, and engine displacement, is also stored.

[0042] The servicer information storage unit 132 stores information about a service provider (servicer). When the service provider is a vehicle sales and maintenance shop, the information stored includes the name of the vehicle sales and maintenance shop, a servicer ID, contact information such as an address, and information about the content of the service to be provided.

[0043] The service information storage unit 133 stores information about services provided by the servicer. If the servicer is a vehicle sales and maintenance shop, the information stored includes the timing, price, details of maintenance, and costs (including labor costs) for 6-month inspections, 12-month inspections, and vehicle inspections.

[0044] The communication interface 17 is connected to an internal bus 18, and by being connected to an external network 2 such as the Internet, a LAN, or a WAN, it is possible to perform data communication with the terminal devices 3a, 3b, etc. In this embodiment, a browser is installed in the terminal devices 3a, 3b, and data communication with the information processing device 1 is performed via the Internet.

[0045] The I / O interface 14 is connected to input devices such as a keyboard 21 and a mouse 22, and receives input of setting data, maintenance data, etc. The video interface 15 is connected to a display device 23 such as a CRT display or LCD display, and displays predetermined images associated with setting and maintenance.

[0046] 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of terminal devices 3a and 3b according to an embodiment of the present invention. The terminal devices 3a and 3b according to this embodiment are assumed to be portable terminal devices such as smartphones. The terminal device 3 is composed of at least a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 31, a memory 32, a storage device 33, an input unit 34, a communication interface 35, a display unit 36, and an internal bus 37 connecting the above-mentioned hardware.

[0047] The CPU 31 is connected to the above-mentioned hardware components of the terminal devices 3a and 3b via an internal bus 37, and controls the operation of the above-mentioned hardware components, and executes various software functions in accordance with a computer program 110 stored in a storage device 33. The memory 32 is composed of a volatile memory such as an SRAM or SDRAM, into which a load module is loaded when the computer program 110 is executed, and stores temporary data and the like generated when the computer program 110 is executed.

[0048] The storage device 33 is configured with an internal fixed storage device (hard disk), a ROM, a removable external memory, etc. The computer program 110 stored in the storage device 33 is a computer program downloaded from an external computer connected via the communication interface 35, and is deployed from the storage device 43 to the memory 42 and executed when executed.

[0049] The communication interface 35 is connected to an internal bus 37, and is connected to an external network 2 such as the Internet, a LAN, or a WAN, thereby enabling data communication with the information processing device 1 and the like.

[0050] The member user and the vehicle sales and repair shop exchange information via the input unit 34, and the user decides whether or not to request service, and the vehicle sales and repair shop decides whether or not to accept the request, based on the results displayed on the display unit 36, such as a liquid crystal display. Of course, the display unit 36 ​​may be configured as a touch display and may also serve as the input unit 34.

[0051] Fig. 4 is a functional block diagram of an information processing device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In Fig. 4, a fee calculation unit 401 of the information processing device 1 calculates a fee to be paid by a user at regular intervals for a service provided by a service provider. In this embodiment, since the service provider is a vehicle sales and repair shop, the fee to be paid by a user at regular intervals such as for periodic inspections and vehicle inspections is calculated.

[0052] 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of the data configuration of the member information storage unit 131 of the information processing device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention. In addition to personal information including the member's address, etc., the member registration date, a service ID identifying the service to which the member has subscribed, etc. are stored in association with the registered member ID and member name. In the case of information regarding a vehicle purchaser, the service ID indicates a car maintenance service such as a vehicle inspection, and other information related to the vehicle, such as the model of the purchased vehicle, the vehicle number, the date of the first vehicle inspection registration (when the vehicle was new), and the license plate number, is also stored.

[0053] When purchasing a new car or when purchasing and registering a used car whose inspection has expired, the membership registration date will be the same as the first inspection date (when the car was new). When purchasing a regular used car, the timing of regular inspections, including inspections, is calculated based on the first inspection date (when the car was new), and this is used to adjust the fees described below.

[0054] Fig. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of the data configuration of the servicer information storage unit 132 of the information processing device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the service provider (servicer) is a vehicle sales and maintenance shop, so as shown in Fig. 6, the name of the vehicle sales and maintenance shop, the servicer ID, contact information such as the address, information about the content of the service to be provided, etc. are stored. As the information about the content of the service, a service ID is assigned to each service, so only the service IDs that can be provided are stored.

[0055] 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of the data configuration of the service information storage unit 133 of the information processing device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention. Information about services provided by the servicer is stored. If the servicer is a vehicle sales and maintenance shop, the service IDs for six-month inspections, 12-month inspections, vehicle inspections, etc., the timing of service provision for each service ID, the price for each service ID, etc. may be stored. In addition, costs (including labor costs) for parts that need to be replaced may also be stored.

[0056] From this information, fee calculation unit 401 shown in Fig. 4 calculates the fee to be paid by the user at regular intervals. In this embodiment, a monthly fee is calculated assuming a subscription service, but the present invention is not limited to this and may be calculated every three months, every six months, every year, or every two weeks, every week, every three days, or the like.

[0057] First, there are three years between the purchase of a new car and the first vehicle inspection, so let's assume the vehicle inspection fee is 100,000 yen, with three six-month inspections during that time costing 5,000 yen each, and two 12-month inspections costing 15,000 yen each. In this case, the total amount is 145,000 yen, which is divided proportionally over 36 months to arrive at a monthly fee of 4,000 yen (4,027 yen to be exact). To make the service fee uniform, the monthly fee for the first vehicle inspection can be set to the same amount as the amount for the second and subsequent inspections, as described below. Note that when purchasing a vehicle whose vehicle inspection has expired, the time of the vehicle purchase and the time of the vehicle inspection certificate issuance coincide, and this is the starting point for calculating the monthly fee.

[0058] From the second inspection onwards, the inspection will be every two years. Therefore, let's assume that the inspection fee is 100,000 yen, with two 6-month inspections costing 5,000 yen each and one 12-month inspection costing 15,000 yen. In this case, the total amount is 102,500 yen, which is divided by 24 months to arrive at a monthly fee of 5,200 yen (5,208 yen to be exact).

[0059] To this amount, the cost of replacement parts, if necessary, is added, and the monthly fee is calculated by dividing this amount by the period between vehicle inspections.

[0060] The monthly fees mentioned above are calculated when purchasing a new car. If you purchase a used car, the price may be higher depending on the remaining period of the vehicle inspection. Also, if you register as a member just before the vehicle inspection and cancel immediately after the inspection, you may not have enough funds to pay the fee to the vehicle sales and repair shop.

[0061] Therefore, in this embodiment, a device is provided to enable adjustment of fees according to the time. That is, the settlement amount calculation unit 402 shown in Fig. 4 calculates the settlement amount to be paid by a user who has newly registered to receive the service, based on information about the service stored in the service information storage unit 133. In this embodiment, the "settlement amount" refers to the difference from the amount paid when purchasing a new car (excluding the cost of parts, etc.).

[0062] In other words, the settlement amount is calculated based on the difference between the time when the vehicle is registered to receive the service and the time when the service is actually received. Specific explanations based on the time when the vehicle was purchased are given below.

[0063] First, if you purchase a one-year-old used car, the time when it is registered to receive new service is the time when you purchase the used car. The time when it actually receives service is the time when it undergoes its first vehicle inspection after purchase. In the case of a one-year-old car, the period until the actual vehicle inspection is 24 months, during which time you will undergo two six-month inspections and one 12-month inspection. Therefore, if the vehicle inspection fee is 100,000 yen, the total amount required will be 125,000 yen. Prorated over 24 months, this works out to 5,200 yen per month (5,208 yen to be exact). Therefore, the settlement amount is 1,200 yen per month, which is the difference between this and the 4,000 yen monthly fee when purchasing a new car.

[0064] Also, if you purchase a two-year-old used car, there will be 12 months until the actual vehicle inspection, during which time you will have one six-month inspection. Therefore, if the vehicle inspection fee is 100,000 yen, the total amount required will be 105,000 yen. Prorated over 12 months, this comes to 8,750 yen per month. Therefore, the settlement amount will be 4,750 yen per month, which is the difference between this and the monthly fee of 4,000 yen when purchasing a new car.

[0065] Furthermore, if you purchase a used car one month before its first vehicle inspection, there will be one month until the actual inspection, and assuming the inspection fee is 100,000 yen, the total amount required will be 100,000 yen. In this case, the monthly payment is calculated as 100,000 yen, and the settlement amount is the difference between that and the monthly fee of 4,000 yen when purchasing a new car, which is 96,000 yen per month.

[0066] If the calculated settlement amount exceeds a predetermined multiple of the fee calculated by fee calculation unit 401, fee adjustment unit 403 divides the settlement amount and adds the divided amount to the fee. That is, fee adjustment unit 403 includes ratio calculation unit 404, determination unit 405, and difference addition unit 406.

[0067] The ratio calculation unit 404 calculates a ratio indicating how many times the calculated settlement amount is the fee paid by the user at regular intervals. The judgment unit 405 judges whether the calculated ratio exceeds a predetermined threshold (predetermined ratio). If the judgment unit 405 judges that the calculated ratio exceeds the predetermined threshold (predetermined ratio), the difference addition unit 406 adds the calculated settlement amount as the difference to the fee from the time when the user newly registered to receive the service to the time when the highest-priced service is next received.

[0068] In the example above, the most expensive service is the vehicle inspection. If the predetermined multiplier is 2x, then if you purchase a one-year-old used car, (settlement amount / monthly fee) = (1200 / 4000) = 0.3x, so there is no need to adjust the fee, and once the first inspection is completed, the monthly fee will be 5200 yen, the same as when purchasing a new car.

[0069] Even if you purchase it as a two-year-old used car, (settlement amount / monthly fee) = (4750 / 4000) = 1.2 times, so there is no need to adjust the fee, and once the first vehicle inspection is completed, the monthly fee will be 5200 yen, the same as when purchasing a new car.

[0070] However, if you purchase a used car one month before its first vehicle inspection, (settlement amount / monthly fee) = (96,000 / 4,000) = 24 times, so the fee will be adjusted over the 25 months until the second vehicle inspection is completed. Specifically, the total amount, the same as when purchasing a new car, is 102,500 yen, but an additional 100,000 yen is added, and the total amount of 202,500 yen is divided pro rata over 25 months. Therefore, the monthly fee until the second vehicle inspection is completed will be 8,100 yen, making it possible to receive the service without feeling a relatively financial burden.

[0071] Of course, the method of adjusting the fee is not limited to this, and depending on the amount, it could be a lump sum payment at the time of purchase, or it could be changed depending on the service. The important thing is to set a fee that does not feel like a financial burden to the user. Any adjustment method that can maintain this is fine.

[0072] In this embodiment, the fee is adjusted according to how many times the settlement amount is compared to the fee, but this is not limited to a ratio. For example, it may be determined whether the amount exceeds the absolute amount of the monthly fee. The absolute amount may be any amount that is considered not to cause a financial burden on the user depending on the content of the service.

[0073] 8 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the CPU 11 of the information processing device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 8, the CPU 11 of the information processing device 1 calculates a fee to be paid by a user at regular intervals for a service provided by a service provider (step S801). In this embodiment, since the service provider is a vehicle sales and maintenance shop, the CPU 11 calculates a fee to be paid by a user at regular intervals such as for periodic inspections and vehicle inspections.

[0074] The CPU 11 calculates the settlement amount to be paid at regular intervals by a user newly registered to receive the service (step S802) from information about the service stored in the service information storage unit 133. The CPU 11 calculates a ratio indicating how many times the calculated settlement amount is the fee to be paid at regular intervals by the user (step S803).

[0075] The CPU 11 determines whether the calculated ratio exceeds a predetermined threshold (predetermined ratio) (step S804). If the CPU 11 determines that the calculated ratio exceeds the predetermined threshold (predetermined ratio) (step S804: YES), the CPU 11 adds the settlement amount prorated according to time to the fee from the time when the user newly registers to receive the service to the time when the user next receives the highest-priced service (step S805). If the CPU 11 determines that the calculated ratio is equal to or less than the predetermined threshold (predetermined ratio) (step S804: NO), the CPU 11 adds the calculated settlement amount to the fee paid by the user at regular intervals (step S806).

[0076] As described above, according to this embodiment, in the case of after-sales services including maintenance contracts, the total amount of payment at the time of periodic payment does not vary significantly, and it is possible to provide services without causing financial burden to the service recipient. Furthermore, since the service provider can obtain a fixed amount of profit, it is possible to stabilize the management base and equalize the number of work man-hours.

[0077] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications and improvements are possible within the scope of the present invention. For example, a provision notification unit 407 may be provided in which the service provider transmits information notifying the time of service provision to both or either of the terminal devices 3a and 3b used by the service provider and the service recipient before the time of service provision. This allows the user to be urged to prepare for the start of service provision at this time, and the service provider can be informed that customers will request service at this time, making it easier to adjust human resources, etc.

[0078] In addition, the price may be different for each service provider depending on the type of service, or a uniform price may be set and the service provider nearest to the user's residence may be contacted. This makes it possible to provide users with pricing and service formats that are suitable for the type of service.

[0079] Furthermore, by collecting a fixed amount, service providers can also level out the labor hours required to provide the service, which makes it possible to stabilize management without creating busy or slow seasons.

[0080] In the above embodiment, after-sales service after the purchase of a vehicle is used as an example for explanation, but it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to this and can be applied to any after-sales service after the purchase of a product, including maintenance contracts, etc. Since after-sales maintenance of a product can be performed reliably on a regular basis, it is possible to extend the product life and reduce the cost per hour to enjoy the resulting effects. [Explanation of symbols]

[0081] 1. Information processing equipment 2 Network 3, 3a, 3b terminal equipment 11, 31 CPUs 12, 32 memory 13, 33 Storage device 14 I / O Interfaces 15 Video Interface 16 Portable Disk Drive 17, 35 Communication Interface 18, 37 Internal Bus 34 Input section 36 Display section 90 Portable recording media 100, 110 Computer Programs

Claims

1. An after-sales service providing system including an information processing device that registers information about services provided by a service provider, including at least a provision time, a provision interval, and a fee structure, for each service provider, and changes the service fee provided by the provider depending on a start time of a service recipient's use of the service provided by the provider, The information processing device includes: a fee calculation means for calculating, for each of the provided parties, a fee to be paid by the provided party for a periodic service provided periodically at a fixed interval among the services provided by the provider, based on information on the service; a settlement amount calculation means for calculating, based on information about the service, a settlement amount to be paid for each of the provided services for a spot service provided at longer intervals than the regular service or provided irregularly; a fee adjustment means for, when the calculated settlement amount exceeds a predetermined multiple of the fee calculated by the fee calculation means, equally dividing the settlement amount for a certain period during which the regular service is provided and adding the divided amount to the fee; An after-sales service providing system comprising:

2. The fee adjustment means a ratio calculation means for calculating a ratio indicating how many times the settlement amount is compared to the fee; a determination means for determining whether the ratio exceeds a predetermined threshold; means for adding the settlement amount to the fee to be paid for the regular service from the time when the provision of the regular service is newly started until the time when the provision of the spot service is started, when the determination means determines that the amount exceeds a predetermined threshold; The after-sales service providing system according to claim 1, further comprising:

3. a terminal device used by a service provider and a terminal device used by a service recipient are connected to the information processing device so as to be able to perform data communication; The after-sales service provision system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the information processing device is provided with a provision notification means for transmitting information notifying the time of provision of the service to both or either one of a terminal device used by the service provider and a terminal device used by the person receiving the service before the time of provision of the spot service arrives.

4. An after-sales service billing method that can be executed by an information processing device that registers information about services provided by a service provider, including at least a provision time, a provision interval, and a fee structure, for each provider, and changes the service fee provided by the provider depending on a start time of a service recipient's use of the service provided by the provider, The information processing device, calculating, for each of the provided parties, a fee to be paid by the provided party for a periodic service provided periodically at a fixed interval among the services provided by the provider, based on information about the service; a step of calculating, based on information about the service, a settlement amount to be paid by the provided party for a spot service that is provided at longer intervals than the regular service or that is provided irregularly; If the calculated settlement amount exceeds a predetermined multiple of the calculated fee, the settlement amount is divided equally for a certain period during which the regular service is provided and added to the fee; An after-sales service billing method, characterized by carrying out the steps of:

5. The information processing device, calculating a ratio indicating how many times the settlement amount is the fee; determining whether the ratio exceeds a predetermined threshold; If it is determined that the predetermined threshold is exceeded, adding the settlement amount to the fee to be paid for the regular service from the time when the provision of the regular service is newly started to the time when the provision of the spot service is started; 5. The after-sales service billing method according to claim 4, wherein the following is executed:

6. a terminal device used by a service provider and a terminal device used by a service recipient are connected to the information processing device so as to be able to perform data communication; The after-sales service billing method according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the information processing device executes a step of transmitting information notifying the time of service provision to both or either one of a terminal device used by the service provider and a terminal device used by the service recipient before the time of provision of the spot service arrives.

7. An information processing device that registers information about services provided by a service provider, including at least a provision time, a provision interval, and a fee structure, for each service provider, and changes a service fee provided by the provider depending on a start time of a service recipient's use of the service provided by the provider, a fee calculation means for calculating a fee to be paid by the service recipient for a periodic service provided periodically at a fixed interval among the services provided by the service provider, based on information about the service; a settlement amount calculation means for calculating, based on information about the service, a settlement amount to be paid by the provided party for a spot service that is provided at longer intervals than the regular service or that is provided irregularly; a fee adjustment means for, when the calculated settlement amount exceeds a predetermined multiple of the fee calculated by the fee calculation means, equally dividing the settlement amount for a certain period during which the regular service is provided and adding the divided amount to the fee; An information processing device comprising:

8. The fee adjustment means a ratio calculation means for calculating a ratio indicating how many times the settlement amount is compared to the fee; a determination means for determining whether the ratio exceeds a predetermined threshold; means for adding the settlement amount to the fee to be paid for the regular service from the time when the provision of the regular service is newly started until the time when the provision of the spot service is started, when the determination means determines that the amount exceeds a predetermined threshold; 8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising:

9. A terminal device used by a service provider and a terminal device used by a service recipient are connected to each other so that they can communicate with each other, An information processing device as described in claim 7 or 8, characterized in that it is provided with a provision notification means for transmitting information notifying the time when the spot service will be provided to both or either one of a terminal device used by the service provider and a terminal device used by the person receiving the service before the time when the spot service will be provided.

10. A computer program that can be executed by an information processing device that registers information about services provided by a service provider, including at least a provision time, a provision interval, and a fee structure, for each provider, and changes the service fee provided by the provider depending on a start time of a service recipient's use of the service provided by the provider, The information processing device a fee calculation means for calculating a fee to be paid by the provided party for a periodic service provided periodically at a fixed interval among the services provided by the provider, based on information relating to the service; a settlement amount calculation means for calculating a settlement amount to be paid by the provided party for a spot service provided at longer intervals than the regular service or provided irregularly on a spot basis, based on information about the service; and a fee adjustment means for, when the calculated settlement amount exceeds a predetermined multiple of the fee calculated by the fee calculation means, equally dividing the settlement amount for a certain period during which the periodic service is provided and adding the divided amount to the fee; A computer program characterized by causing the computer to function as follows.

11. The fee adjustment means, a ratio calculation means for calculating a ratio indicating how many times the settlement amount is compared to the fee; a determining means for determining whether the ratio exceeds a predetermined threshold; and a means for adding the settlement amount to the fee to be paid for the regular service from the time when the provision of the regular service is newly started until the time when the provision of the spot service is started, when the determination means determines that the amount exceeds a predetermined threshold; 11. The computer program according to claim 10, wherein the computer program functions as follows:

12. a terminal device used by a service provider and a terminal device used by a service recipient are connected to the information processing device so as to be able to perform data communication; The computer program according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the information processing device functions as a provision notification means that transmits information notifying the time when the spot service will be provided to both or either one of a terminal device used by the service provider and a terminal device used by the person receiving the service before the time when the spot service will be provided.

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