Stocking support system and stocking support program

Abstract

To enable support for replenishing a commodity in response to a decrease in the number of commodities on a display shelf.SOLUTION: A stocking support system includes a setting acquisition unit, a sales number acquisition unit, a stocking number calculation unit, and an output instruction unit. The setting acquisition unit acquires, from a storage unit that stores a reference value which is set as a reference for the number of commodities to be displayed and a lower limit value for the number of commodities to be displayed on a per commodity item basis, the reference value and the lower limit value. The sales number acquisition unit acquires the number of sales, which is the number of commodities whose sales registration has been completed within a predetermined period of time, from a sales data processing device. When it is estimated that the number of commodities on display falls below the lower limit value based upon the reference value, the lower limit value, and the number of sales, the stocking number calculation unit calculates a stocking number which is the number of commodities to be replenished. The output instruction unit instructs a printing device to output a recording medium on which the stocking number calculated by the stocking number calculation unit is printed in association with information for identifying the commodity.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] An embodiment of the present invention relates to a stocking support system and a stocking support program. [Background technology]

[0002] It is desirable to keep the store shelves stocked with an appropriate number of products, but in reality, it is sometimes the case that products cannot be replenished in time due to reasons such as not checking the number of products on display thoroughly.

[0003] There have been technologies to date that recommend replenishment based on sales trends or specific customers (for example, Patent Document 1). However, there have been no technologies that directly recognize the amount of stock that has decreased on the shelves and lead to store clerks stocking the products. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to enable support for replenishing products in response to a decrease in the number of products on display shelves. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The stocking support system of the embodiment includes: memory The system includes a sales acquisition unit, a stock quantity calculation unit, an output instruction unit, and an inventory quantity management unit. memory The department is In the display area Number of products to be displayed of Reference value , a constant less than the reference value Lower limit the number of displays, which is the number of products displayed in the display area; the number of stock, which is the number of products before they are displayed in the display area; and the number of sales, which is the number of products registered for sale after being replenished in the display area and before the next replenishment. of The aforementioned The sales number acquisition unit stores the sales information by product. Accepting product sales registrations Sales data processing device acquires information identifying the product and the number of the product based on information transmitted by the sales registration of the product, adds the number to the sales number of the product, and subtracts the number from the display number of the product. The product number calculation section When the number of displayed items falls below the lower limit, the number of items displayed is set to at least equal to the number of sales. , the number of items to be replenished, Defined as The output instruction section is before The number of items listed is associated with information identifying the product. and output The inventory control department before The number of items listed The aforementioned Product The aforementioned Subtract from stock quantity , the number of items put out is added to the number of items displayed, and the sales number is reset do. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0006] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a stocking support system 1 according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the server 100. As shown in FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the control unit 110. As shown in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of the stocking support process executed by the control unit 110 of the server 100. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 shows a stocking instruction sheet, which is a recording medium output by the printer 200. As shown in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0007] An embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a stocking support system 1 according to the embodiment. The stocking support system 1 includes a server 100, a printer 200, a wireless LAN router 300, and a cart POS (POS stands for Point of Sale) 400. The cart POS 400 is used by shoppers to transport merchandise, and multiple cart POSs 400 are installed in a store 2. The server 100 and the printer 200 are installed in a backroom 3. The wireless LAN router 300 mediates communication between the cart POS 400 and the server 100, and between the server 100 and the printer 200.

[0008] The cart POS 400 is a cart (a basket with wheels; a basket is an example of a container) used by shoppers to transport merchandise, and is equipped with a POS terminal device (an example of a sales data processing device) that accepts merchandise sales registrations.

[0009] The POS terminal device is equipped with a product information reading unit for acquiring information for identifying a product. The product information reading unit obtains information (product code, etc.) that can identify the product, for example, by reading a barcode attached to the product. The POS terminal device identifies the product using the product information obtained by the product information reading unit, and stores the information of the identified product in a predetermined memory unit as a product to be purchased (sales registration process).

[0010] A shopper pushes the cart POS 400 around the store 2, picks up products from the display area, registers the products for sale, and places the products in the cart. At this time, the POS terminal device attached to the cart POS 400 transmits information about the registered products to the server 100 via the wireless LAN router 300.

[0011] Upon receiving the product information, the server 100 updates the number of products on display (the number of products in stock in the store 2) and the number of products in stock in the backyard 3. The number of products on display is calculated, for example, by setting a reference value set as the standard for the number of products to be displayed as the initial value, subtracting the number of products registered for sale, and adding the number of products to be replenished. The number of products in stock is calculated, for example, by subtracting the number of products to be replenished from the initial value.

[0012] 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of server 100. Server 100 is configured similarly to a normal PC (Personal Computer), and includes a control unit 110, a storage unit 120, a display unit 101, an operation unit 102, a communication I / F (Interface) 103, and the like. The display unit 101 is a display device such as a liquid crystal display, and displays information for an operator. The operation unit 102 is a keyboard, a mouse, and the like, and accepts input operations from an operator. The communication I / F 103 performs wireless communication with the wireless LAN router 300.

[0013] The control unit 110 is a microcomputer or the like equipped with a CPU (Central Processing Unit), ROM (Read Only Memory), RAM (Random Access Memory), etc. The CPU executes various arithmetic processes and controls various functions of the server 100. The ROM stores various programs and data executed by the CPU. The RAM temporarily stores various programs and rewritably stores various data.

[0014] The storage unit 120 is, for example, a storage device such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or an SSD (Solid State Drive). The storage unit 120 stores set values ​​(constants) for each product, such as a display location, a reference value that is a standard for the number of products to be displayed, and a lower limit that is a number that triggers replenishment, in association with product information (product code, product name, price, etc.).

[0015] The memory unit 120 also stores current values ​​(variables) such as the number in stock, the number sold, the number on display, and the number of items put out for each item. The number in stock is the number of items in question that exist in the backyard 3. The number of sales is the number of items registered for sale. The number on display is the number of items on display, i.e., the number of items in question that exist in the store 2. The number to be put out is the number of items to be replenished, which is presented together with information that can identify the target items when a stocking (replenishment) instruction is given.

[0016] 3 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of control unit 110. Control unit 110 realizes various functional units (setting acquisition unit 111, sales number acquisition unit 112, stock quantity calculation unit 113, inventory number management unit 114, and output instruction unit 115) by causing the CPU to execute a program stored in the ROM.

[0017] The setting acquisition unit 111 acquires various settings such as reference values ​​and lower limits from the storage unit 120. The sales number acquisition unit 112 acquires the sales number, which is the number of products registered for sale within a predetermined period, from a POS terminal device attached to the cart POS 400. More specifically, when the sales number acquisition unit 112 receives information on registered products for sale from the POS terminal device, it counts the number of registered products for sale based on the information and adds it to the sales number.

[0018] The stocking quantity calculation unit 113 calculates the stocking quantity, which is the number of products to be replenished, when it is estimated that the number of products on display (the number of products on display) has fallen below the lower limit, based on a reference value, a lower limit, and the sales number. More specifically, for example, the stocking quantity calculated based on the reference value and the sales number is compared with the lower limit, and when the number of products on display falls below the lower limit, the stocking quantity is determined based on the sales number.

[0019] The inventory quantity management unit 114 updates the current values ​​of each variable based on the number of items to be put out determined by the stock quantity calculation unit 113. That is, the inventory quantity management unit 114 subtracts the number of items to be put out from the stock quantity of the product stored in the storage unit 120, and updates the stock quantity.

[0020] Furthermore, in response to the inventory quantity update by inventory quantity management unit 114, control unit 110 adds the number of items put out to the number of items on display, thereby updating the number of items on display.

[0021] The output instruction unit 115 instructs the printer 200 to output a recording medium on which the number of items to be put calculated by the number-to-be-put calculation unit 113 is printed in association with information identifying the items.

[0022] Printer 200 is an example of a printing device, and executes print output onto a strip-shaped sheet (recording medium) in response to instructions from output instruction unit 115. Printer 200 also cuts the printed sheet along its width in response to instructions from output instruction unit 115. This cutting is selectively executed as either a full cut or a partial cut in response to instructions from output instruction unit 115. Note that full cutting is a method of completely cutting off the sheet, and partial cutting is a method of cutting off the sheet while leaving a portion (for example, the center portion in the width direction) intact.

[0023] If there is a predetermined relationship between multiple products to be replenished in order to make the replenishment work more efficient, the output instruction unit 115 instructs the printer 200 to output a recording medium for the replenishment of the multiple products as the same work unit. Cutting in the printer 200 is also performed for each work unit.

[0024] In this configuration, each functional unit of server 100 performs the following processing. Figure 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of the stocking support processing executed by control unit 110 of server 100. Control unit 110 (setting acquisition unit 111) reads various settings such as the product code, product name, display location, reference value, and lower limit value for each product from storage unit 120 (step S1). Next, control unit 110 acquires various current values ​​such as the number of products in stock, sales, number of products on display, and number of products on display from storage unit 120 (step S2). In step S2, if there is no current value for the number of products on display, the reference value is substituted for the number of products on display.

[0025] Next, the control unit 110 (sales number acquisition unit 112) waits for the transmission of sales registration information from the POS terminal device attached to the cart POS 400 (No in step S3). Upon receiving the sales registration information (Yes in step S3), the control unit 110 updates the sales number based on the information acquired from the POS terminal device attached to the cart POS 400 (step S4).

[0026] For example, if information is acquired from a POS terminal device that two units of a certain product A have been registered for sale, the control unit 110 adds two to the sales quantity of product A at the time the information was acquired, and sets this as the new sales quantity. In step S4, the control unit 110 of this embodiment also updates the number of units displayed together with the sales quantity. In this case, the control unit 110 subtracts two from the number of units displayed of product A at the time the information was acquired, and sets this as the new number of units displayed.

[0027] Next, the control unit 110 (stock number calculation unit 113) determines whether the number of displayed items has fallen below the lower limit (step S5), and if not (No in step S5), returns the process to step S3.

[0028] In step S5, if the number of displayed items is below the lower limit (Yes in step S5), the control unit 110 determines the number of items to be put out based on the number of sales. The number of items to be put out may be the number of sales itself, or may be, for example, a number a few items more than the number of sales.

[0029] Next, the control unit 110 (inventory management unit 114) updates the inventory quantity by subtracting the number of items put out from the inventory quantity of the product stored in the memory unit 120, updates the display quantity by adding the number of items put out to the display quantity, and resets the sales quantity (step S6).

[0030] Next, the control unit 110 (output instruction unit 115) 1 Check whether it is equal to or greater than this (step S7). 1 If so (Yes in step S7), a replenishment instruction is output (step S8), and the process returns to step S3. In this embodiment, the replenishment instruction is a print instruction to printer 200. Control unit 110 instructs printer 200 to print, on a recording medium, the number of items to be put out in association with information for identifying the items (product name and product code). The instruction also includes a cutting instruction to partially cut the recording medium for each task unit of replenishment of items.

[0031] In step S7, the control unit 110 0If there is (No in step S7), the inventory is depleted and replenishment (stocking) is not possible, so an error is issued and this process ends.

[0032] 5 is a diagram showing the stocking instruction sheet 210 (211, 213, 213) which is a recording medium output by the printer 200. In this figure, the recording medium is discharged from top to bottom. In other words, the stocking instruction sheet 211 is printed first, and the stocking instruction sheet 213 is printed last.

[0033] Stocking instruction sheet 210 is divided into stocking instruction sheets 211, 212, and 213 for each task of replenishing merchandise. Each of stocking instruction sheets 211, 212, and 213 is partially cut, and is connected only at the center of the width. Each store clerk engaged in merchandise replenishing work tears off a piece of stocking instruction sheet 210 and replenishes the merchandise listed on that stocking instruction sheet 210. During the replenishing work, when a stocking instruction sheet 210 has been torn off, the replenishment of the merchandise listed on that stocking instruction sheet 210 is considered to be "in progress."

[0034] The task unit is determined so as to make the replenishment work more efficient. For example, in this embodiment, the replenishment of products whose display locations are within a predetermined distance from each other is treated as the same task unit. That is, in store 2 of this embodiment, product B and product C, which are printed together on stocking instruction sheet 212, are close to each other in display locations (the distance between them is within a predetermined value).

[0035] Other examples of task units include a method of determining the quantity that one store clerk can carry, or a method of grouping together items that need to be replenished at similar times.

[0036] In addition, two types of products are printed together on the stocking instruction sheet 212, but in practice, separate sheets may always be printed and cut for each type of product, and the store clerk performing the restocking work may cut out one or more stocking instruction sheets 210 at their own discretion.

[0037] As described above, in this embodiment, the change in the number of items on display is monitored by receiving sales registration information, and by comparing the number of items on display with a lower limit value, replenishment instructions are output at the appropriate time, thereby supporting the replenishment of items in response to a decrease in the number of items on display shelves.

[0038] In addition, in this embodiment, the number of items on display is updated based on the sales registration information output by the POS terminal device (sales data processing device) attached to the cart POS 400, so changes in the number of items on display can be recognized immediately, thereby shortening the time lag from when the need for replenishment arises to when a replenishment instruction is issued.

[0039] Furthermore, as in this embodiment, by treating the replenishment of products that are displayed close to each other (within a predetermined distance) as the same task unit, work efficiency can be improved. While an experienced store clerk can determine such task units by himself, by outputting the stocking instruction sheet 212 that is printed together in advance as in this embodiment, even an inexperienced store clerk can efficiently proceed with the replenishment work.

[0040] Furthermore, by managing the inventory quantity as in this embodiment, it is possible to prevent inconveniences such as issuing a stocking instruction even when the item is out of stock.

[0041] In this embodiment, the number of displays is set as a variable, but in practice, even if the number of displays is not set as a variable, if a value equivalent to the number of displays is required, it can be calculated each time, for example, by subtracting the number of sales from a reference value and adding the number of items put out.

[0042] In addition, in this embodiment, the replenishment instruction is output by printing on a recording medium by the printer 200, but in practice, the replenishment instruction may be output by other methods (for example, screen output on a terminal device or audio notification, etc.).

[0043] In addition, in this embodiment, an example of a sales data processing device is a POS terminal device attached to the cart POS 400, and a basket attached to the cart POS 400 is an example of a container, but this is not a limitation in practice. In practice, for example, the sales data processing device or the container may be owned by the shopper. An example of a sales data processing device owned by a shopper is a POS terminal device mounted on a shopping basket. Another example of a sales data processing device owned by a shopper is a portable terminal device such as a smartphone (which may be owned by the customer or loaned by the store) with an application for processing sales data installed.

[0044] Furthermore, in this embodiment, printer 200 (an example of a printing device) cuts sheets printed collectively for each task unit into individual task units in accordance with instructions from output instruction unit 115, but this is not the only possible implementation. For example, printer 200 may be loaded with a strip-shaped sheet that has pre-made perforations that allow it to be torn by hand, and output instruction unit 115 may output instructions to printer 200 to print the content (product replenishment information) that constitutes one task unit between one perforation and the next.

[0045] Furthermore, the output instruction unit 115 of this embodiment is just an example, and implementation is not limited to this, and it is sufficient that when there is a predetermined relationship between multiple products to be replenished to make the replenishment work more efficient, it instructs the printer 200 (printing device) to output a recording medium for the replenishment of the multiple products as the same work unit. The work unit only needs to be determined so as to make the replenishment work more efficient, and may be different from this embodiment (determined taking into account the distance between display locations) in implementation. Examples of a method for determining a work unit based on the above "predetermined relationship" that differs from the embodiment include: (1) Pack it into a size or weight that is easy to carry at once. (2) Pack only frozen foods (3) Pack only items that can be transported without using a cart. Regarding (1), in more detail, it is considered acceptable to group lightweight products such as instant ramen noodles and tissues in the same work unit, even if they are displayed some distance apart. Regarding (2), in more detail, it is considered preferable to group frozen foods in a work unit only for frozen foods, because if frozen foods are mixed with other non-frozen products and are displayed in the non-frozen product area first, there is a risk that the frozen foods will melt.

[0046] The server 100 of the stocking support system 1 of this embodiment is equipped with a control device such as a CPU, a storage device such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) or RAM, an external storage device such as an HDD or CD drive, a display device such as a display device, and input devices such as a keyboard or mouse, and has a hardware configuration that utilizes a normal computer.

[0047] The stocking support program executed by the stocking support system 1 of this embodiment is provided as a file in an installable or executable format recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM, flexible disk (FD), CD-R, or DVD (Digital Versatile Disk).

[0048] The stocking support program executed by stocking support system 1 of this embodiment may be stored on a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and provided by being downloaded via the network. The stocking support program executed by stocking support system 1 of this embodiment may be provided or distributed via a network such as the Internet.

[0049] The stocking support program of the present embodiment may be provided by being pre-installed in a ROM or the like.

[0050] The stocking support program executed by the stocking support system 1 of this embodiment has a modular configuration including the above-mentioned units (setting acquisition unit 111, sales number acquisition unit 112, stocking number calculation unit 113, inventory number management unit 114, and output instruction unit 115). The CPU (processor) loads the above-mentioned units onto the main storage device by reading and executing the stocking support program from the storage device. As a result, the setting acquisition unit 111, sales number acquisition unit 112, stocking number calculation unit 113, inventory number management unit 114, and output instruction unit 115 are generated on the main storage device.

[0051] Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be embodied in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included within the scope and spirit of the invention, and are also included in the scope of the invention and its equivalents as defined in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0052] 1. Stocking support system, 2. Store, 3. Backyard 100...Server 101...Display section, 102...Operation section, 103...Communication I / F 110...Control unit 111...setting acquisition unit, 112...sales number acquisition unit, 113...stock number calculation unit, 114...Inventory control section, 115...Output instruction section 120...Storage section 200...Printer 210 (211-213)...Stocking Instruction Sheet 300...Wireless LAN router 400…Cart POS [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0053] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2018-136673

Claims

1. A memory unit that stores, for each product, a reference value for the number of products to be displayed in a display area, a lower limit value that is a constant less than the reference value, a display count that is the number of products displayed in said display area, an inventory count that is the number of said products before they are displayed in said display area, and a sales count that is the number of said products registered for sale after being replenished in said display area and before the next replenishment; a sales number acquisition unit that acquires information identifying the product and the number of the product based on information transmitted by a sales data processing device that accepts product sales registrations at the time of product sales registration, and adds the number to the sales number of the product and subtracts the number from the number of the product on display; a product-to-be-stocked number calculation unit that, when the number of products on display falls below the lower limit, determines a value equal to or greater than the sales number as the product-to-be-stocked number, which is the number of products to be replenished; an output instruction unit that outputs the number of items put out in association with information identifying the items; an inventory quantity management unit that subtracts the number of items put out from the inventory quantity of the product, adds the number of items put out to the number of items on display, and resets the sales quantity; A stocking support system equipped with the above.

2. The output instruction unit instructs the printing device to output a recording medium on which the number of items to be put out is printed in association with information identifying the items for each task of replenishing the items. The stocking support system according to claim 1 .

3. The output instruction unit instructs the printing device to output the recording medium when there is a predetermined relationship between a plurality of products to be replenished for improving the efficiency of the replenishment work, with the replenishment of the plurality of products being the same work unit. The stocking support system according to claim 2.

4. A setting and acquisition function that acquires the reference value and the lower limit value from a memory unit that stores, for each product, a reference value for the number of products to be displayed in a display area, a lower limit value that is a constant less than the reference value, a display count that is the number of products displayed in said display area, an inventory count that is the number of said products before being displayed in said display area, and a sales count that is the number of said products registered for sale after being replenished in said display area until the next replenishment; a sales number acquisition function that acquires information identifying the product and the number of the product based on information transmitted by a sales data processing device that accepts product sales registrations at the time of product sales registration, and adds the number to the sales number of the product and subtracts the number from the number of the product on display; a function of calculating the number of products to be put out, which determines a value equal to or greater than the number of sales when the number of products on display falls below the lower limit, as the number of products to be put out, which is the number of products to be replenished; an output instruction function for outputting the number of items put out in association with information identifying the items; an inventory management function that subtracts the number of items put out from the inventory number of the product, adds the number of items put out to the number of items on display, and resets the sales number; This is a stocking support program that enables computers to achieve this.

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