Information providing device, information providing method, and program

Abstract

To propose coupons that suit the circumstances of member stores. [Solution] An information providing device that provides information to affiliated stores that sell goods or services using electronic payment services, comprising: an acquisition unit that acquires sales data of the affiliated stores; an analysis unit that analyzes sales trends in the sales data from multiple perspectives; and a proposal unit that determines coupon application conditions to be proposed to the affiliated stores based on the results of the analysis, and displays information proposing coupons that correspond to the coupon application conditions on an information terminal used by the affiliated stores.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an information providing device, an information providing method, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, electronic payment services have provided a service in which a member store sets a coupon and, for electronic payments that correspond to the coupon application information, grants points that can later be used as a charge balance for electronic payments. Various conditions for coupon application can be set, such as day of the week, time period, new visit, and repeat visit, but it is troublesome for a member store to set these conditions from scratch. In response to this, Patent Document 1 describes that, when a request for issuing a new coupon is received, the new coupon is registered by adopting default values ​​for some or all of the coupon issuance conditions (application conditions). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 7403697 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, with conventional techniques, it has sometimes been impossible to propose coupons that are suited to circumstances such as sales trends of affiliated stores.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and one of its objectives is to provide an information provision device, an information provision method, and a program that are capable of proposing coupons that suit the circumstances of affiliated stores. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] One aspect of the present invention is an information providing device that provides information to affiliated stores that sell goods or services using electronic payment services, and includes an acquisition unit that acquires sales data of the affiliated stores, an analysis unit that analyzes sales trends in the sales data from multiple perspectives, and a proposal unit that determines coupon application conditions to be proposed to the affiliated stores based on the results of the analysis, and displays information proposing the coupon application conditions on an information terminal used by the affiliated stores. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to one aspect of the present invention, it is possible to propose coupons that suit the circumstances of member stores. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 illustrates basic aspects of brick-and-mortar electronic payment. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration for performing electronic payment (terminal payment) using a payment application. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of user information 172. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of affiliated store / shop information 174. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an outline of a processing flow when a user scan is performed. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an outline of the processing flow when a store scan is performed. [Figure 7] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration for performing electronic payment (card payment) using a payment card. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of affiliated store sales data 176. [Figure 9] 10 is a diagram for explaining the details of the processing performed by the analysis unit 150 and the proposing unit 160. FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram (part 1) showing an example of a screen that suggests issuing a coupon. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of an editing screen. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a diagram (part 2) showing an example of a screen that suggests issuing a coupon. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is a diagram (part 3) showing an example of a screen that suggests issuing a coupon. [Figure 14] FIG. 10 is a fourth diagram showing an example of a screen that suggests issuing a coupon. [Figure 15] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a flow of a process executed by the information providing device. [Figure 16] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen displaying analysis results. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] [overview] Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, embodiments of an information providing device, an information providing method, and a program according to the present invention will be described. The information providing device is realized by one or more processors. The information providing device provides information to affiliated stores that sell products or services using an electronic payment service. Specifically, the information providing device automatically determines the content of coupons that the affiliated store will issue and outputs the proposed information to the affiliated store's information terminal. The electronic payment service is provided, for example, through cooperation between an application program, a payment server, and a credit card server. In the following description, the application program is referred to as a payment app. The electronic payment service is a service that supports payments for purchasing products and services at a store. A store is, for example, a physical store (real store) existing in real space, but may also include a virtual store for e-commerce. A virtual store may also include a store operated by an entity other than the operator of the electronic payment service. In such a case, control is exercised to transition to an interface screen of the electronic payment service when making a payment for a purchase at the virtual store. In an electronic payment service, a store is treated as belonging to, for example, an affiliated store (brand), and electronic payments when a purchase is made at a store are primarily made between the user and the affiliated store. Alternatively, electronic payment may be made between the user and the store. The information providing device may be a device separate from the payment server, or may be a virtual machine built into the payment server. The following description assumes the latter.

[0010] [Electronic payment methods at brick-and-mortar stores] FIG. 1 illustrates the basic aspects of brick-and-mortar electronic payments. Electronic payments are generally carried out by three parties: a medium M held by a user U, store equipment E, and a payment system S. The medium M may be a portable computer device such as a smartphone or a credit card. The store equipment E resides in a physical brick-and-mortar store (hereinafter simply referred to as the store) in real space and may include a POS device, a wireless communication device, a credit card reader, a printed code image such as a QR Code (registered trademark), or a display device displaying the code image. In brick-and-mortar electronic payments, information that can identify the user and information about the payment amount are first shared unidirectionally or bidirectionally between the medium M and the store equipment E. At this time, either the medium M or the store equipment E optically reads various information from a code image displayed by the other, provides information via near-field communication (NFC), or reads the PAN (primary account number) using a credit card reader. Then, either the medium M or the store equipment E (the party that obtains information from the other) transmits the payment information required for the payment to the payment system S via a network NW. Both the medium M and the store equipment E may send some information to the payment system S. The payment system S manages various information about the user U and performs electronic payments between the store and the user U in various ways. Electronic payments are performed using either or both of a prepaid system and a postpaid system, or by other methods. In addition, electronic payments may also include so-called online shopping, which is performed between the user's terminal device and the payment system. The network NW includes, for example, the Internet, a LAN (Local Area Network), a wireless base station, a provider device, etc. The various devices that communicate via the network NW, which will be described below, are assumed to have communication devices such as network cards and wireless communication modules.

[0011] [Configuration (Terminal Payment)] 2 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration for performing electronic payment (terminal payment) using a payment app. This electronic payment is performed mainly by a payment app 20 running on a user terminal device 10, which is one of the media M, one or more store payment terminals 30 and one or more store code images 40, which are one of the store facilities E, and a payment server 100, which constitutes part of a payment system S. The payment server 100 communicates with the user terminal device 10, the store payment terminal 30, and one or more information terminals 50 via a network NW.

[0012] The user terminal device 10 is a portable terminal device such as a smartphone or tablet. The user terminal device 10 is a computer device having at least an optical reading function, a communication function, a display function, an input acceptance function, and a program execution function. In the following description, components for realizing these functions are referred to as a camera, a communication device, a touch panel, a central processing unit (CPU), etc. In the user terminal device 10, a processor such as a CPU executes a payment application 20, which operates in cooperation with a payment server 100 to provide electronic payment services to users. The payment application 20 is installed on the user terminal device 10 from, for example, an application distribution server (not shown) and controls the camera, communication device, touch panel, etc. of the user terminal device 10. In the following description, the terms "send information to the user terminal device 10 (or receive / acquire information from the user terminal device 10)" and "send information to the payment application 20 (or receive / acquire information from the payment application 20)" may be used interchangeably, but these terms are merely different expressions and are not intended to distinguish between them.

[0013] The store payment terminal 30 is installed, for example, in a store. The store payment terminal 30 is a computer device (or a collection of these) that has at least a product price acquisition function, an optical reading function, a program execution function, and a communication function. The store payment terminal 30 includes a so-called POS (Point of Sale) device, and the POS device may have a product price acquisition function and an optical reading function.

[0014] The store code image 40 is placed in a store and is a code image such as a QR code (registered trademark) printed on a paper or plastic medium. The store code image 40 may be displayed on a display placed in the store (or on a display of a terminal device such as a smartphone or tablet terminal).

[0015] The information terminal 50 is used by the operator of the affiliated store who oversees the stores. In electronic payment services, customers who provide goods or services are treated as affiliated stores (brands), and one or more stores exist under the affiliated store. An affiliated store may operate only one store. The information terminal 50 is a smartphone, tablet terminal, personal computer, etc. An affiliated store interface 55 runs on the information terminal 50. The affiliated store interface 55 may be an affiliated store app or a web page displayed by a general-purpose browser. The affiliated store interface 55 accepts coupon settings and the like from the affiliated store operator and transmits them to the payment server 100. By executing the affiliated store interface 55, the information terminal 50 may have the function of displaying a code image corresponding to the store code image 40 or reading a code image displayed by the user terminal device 10 (in the latter case, an optical reading function is required).

[0016] The payment server 100 communicates with the credit card server 200 via a network NW. The payment server 100 includes, for example, a content providing unit 110, an information management unit 120, a payment processing unit 130, an acquisition unit 140, an analysis unit 150, a proposal unit 160, and a storage unit 170. The components other than the storage unit 170 are realized by, for example, a hardware processor such as a CPU executing a program (software). Some or all of these components may be implemented using a large scale integration (LSI), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), or the like. The program may be realized by hardware (including circuitry) such as a Gate Array (GPU) or a Graphics Processing Unit (GPU), or may be realized by a combination of software and hardware. The program may be stored in advance in a storage device (a storage device with a non-transitory storage medium) such as a hard disk drive (HDD) or flash memory, or may be stored in a removable storage medium (a non-transitory storage medium) such as a DVD or CD-ROM, and installed in the storage device by inserting the storage medium into a drive device.

[0017] The storage unit 170 is a HDD, flash memory, RAM (Random Access Memory), etc. The storage unit 170 may be a NAS (Network Attached Storage) device that the payment server 100 can access via a network. The storage unit 170 stores information such as user information 172, affiliated store / shop information 174, affiliated store sales data 176, and coupon template information 178. The acquisition unit 140, analysis unit 150, proposal unit 160, affiliated store sales data 176, and coupon template information 178 are collectively an example of an information providing device.

[0018] The content providing unit 110 has, for example, a function of a web server, and provides information (content) for displaying various screens of the electronic payment service to the user terminal device 10. The content providing unit 110 provides the content to the user terminal device 10 in the form of a web page, and provides the user terminal device 10 with parameters required for the payment application 20 to render an image.

[0019] The information management unit 120 edits, adds, deletes, etc., user information 172 and affiliated store / shop information 174, and manages them.

[0020] 3 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of user information 172. User information 172 is information in which, for example, user URL, account ID, phone number, password, registration date, charge balance, electronic money type, terminal payment method, card payment method, various history information, identity verification flag, name, address, date of birth, email address, bank account, deferred payment settings, deferred payment condition information, etc. are associated with each other. Hereinafter, a user instance (electronic payment account) in which this information is associated may be referred to as an account. In the figure, items marked with "-" indicate that they are not set.

[0021] The user URL is used for remittance processing between users. When registering for the electronic payment service, registration of a phone number and password is required. The account ID is issued to the user by the payment server 100. The registration date is the date on which the user registered for the electronic payment service (the date on which the account was created). The charge balance is information indicating the balance of electronic money that the user has set by transferring money to the account in advance. Remittance methods include depositing money into an ATM (Automatic Teller Machine) of a designated service provider (bank) or transferring money from a registered bank account. The type of electronic money is information indicating, for example, whether the electronic money can be withdrawn or can only be used for electronic payments. The terminal payment method is setting information indicating whether the user will make electronic payment using the charge balance (balance payment) or by deferred payment in terminal payment. The card payment method is setting information indicating whether the user will make electronic payment using the charge balance (balance payment) or by deferred payment in card payment. The various historical information includes charge history, which is a record of the user transferring money to the electronic payment service in advance to increase the charge balance, and payment history, which shows the details of the payments made by the user for each payment (date and time, store ID of the store where the purchase was made, affiliated store ID, payment amount, payment method, etc.).

[0022] The identity verification flag is information indicating whether or not the user has completed identity verification using an ID document. Deferred payment can be selected if identity verification has been completed, and the user with account ID "002" in the figure has not completed identity verification and can only select balance payment as the terminal payment method. The bank account is the account number of a bank account that can be used to deposit funds into the electronic payment service. Deferred payment settings is information indicating whether or not the settings have been completed to make deferred payment selectable. Deferred payment condition information is information indicating various conditions such as the deferred payment limit and the amount used for the current month.

[0023] 4 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of affiliated store / store information 174. The affiliated store / store information 174 includes, for example, a first table 174A in which an affiliated store ID and a store ID are associated with a store URL, a second table 174B in which an affiliated store ID is associated with an affiliated store name and sales amount (described above), and a third table 174C in which a store ID is associated with a store ID. In addition to this information, the affiliated store / store information 174 may also include information such as the category of the affiliated store or store, the store's location, and payment patterns.

[0024] The payment processing unit 130 performs various processes for electronic payment. There are two methods for terminal payment: a first method (user scan) and a second method (store scan), which will be explained below.

[0025] FIG. 5 shows an overview of the process flow when a user scan is performed. First, the user terminal device 10, with the payment application 20 running, reads and decodes the store code image 40 using its optical reading function (S1). The store code image 40 contains store URL information. The payment application 20 sends first payment information, including the store URL and the user's account ID, to the payment server 100 (S2). The payment server 100 searches the affiliated store / store information 174 using the affiliated store ID and store ID corresponding to the store URL, acquires information about the affiliated store name and store name (S3), and sends this to the payment application 20 (S4). The user enters the payment amount into the payment application 20 on the screen displaying the affiliated store name and store name (S5). The payment application 20 then generates second payment information including at least the payment amount and sends it to the payment server 100 (S6).

[0026] If the "Terminal Payment Method" in the user information 172 of the user is set to "Balance Payment," the payment processing unit 130 of the payment server 100 performs electronic payment based on the received second payment information (S7-1). At this time, the payment processing unit 130 performs electronic payment by, for example, decreasing the charge balance managed in association with the user ID and increasing the item value of the affiliated store's sales proceeds. The item value of the affiliated store's sales proceeds is not used as electronic money itself, for example, but rather the amount corresponding to the item value of the sales proceeds is transferred to a bank account in a cycle determined by an agreement between the affiliated store and the electronic payment service. On the other hand, if the "Terminal Payment Method" is set to "Deferred Payment," the payment processing unit 130 transmits the first payment information and the second payment information to the credit card server 200 to request electronic payment (S7-2). The credit card server 200 performs electronic payment by adding the payment amount to the user's monthly usage amount based on the received information and deducting the monthly usage amount from the user's bank account after the closing date (S7-3).

[0027] Then, the payment processing unit 130 sends a payment completion notice (information for displaying a payment completion screen) to the payment app 20 via the content providing unit 110 (S8), and the payment app 20 displays the payment completion screen (S9). When the store code image 40 is displayed on a display installed in the store, the store code image 40 may include information on the payment amount in addition to the store URL. In this case, the procedure for the user to input the payment amount is omitted, and the information on the payment amount is included in the first payment information and sent to the payment server 100. Information on the affiliated store name and store name may be included and displayed on the payment completion screen.

[0028] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an overview of the processing flow when a store scan is performed. First, when the payment app 20 is launched, when a payment operation is performed using the payment app 20, when an automatic update timing (e.g., every minute) occurs, and at other timings, the payment app 20 sends a request to issue a one-time code to the payment server 100 (S11). The payment processing unit 130 of the payment server 100 generates a one-time code (S12) and sends it to the payment app 20 (S13). The payment app 20 displays a code image, such as a QR code or barcode, generated based on the one-time code (S14). The user holds (presents) the display surface of the user terminal device 10 over the store payment terminal 30, and the store payment terminal 30 reads and decodes the code image using its optical reading function to obtain the one-time code, etc. (S15). The store payment terminal 30 then generates payment information including the one-time code, payment amount, affiliated store ID, store ID, etc., and sends it to the payment server 100 (S16). The payment amount information is acquired in advance by reading a barcode or manually entering it.

[0029] The payment processing unit 130 of the payment server 100 identifies the user corresponding to the one-time code based on the received information, and if the "terminal payment method" in the user information 172 of the user is set to "balance payment," it performs electronic payment based on the received second payment information (S17-1). The processing content at this time is the same as the processing of S7-1 in FIG. 5. On the other hand, if the "terminal payment method" is set to "post-payment," the payment server 100 transmits the first payment information and the second payment information to the credit card server 200 to request electronic payment (S17-2). The credit card server 200 adds the payment amount to the user's monthly usage amount based on the received information, and performs electronic payment by deducting the monthly usage amount from the user's bank account after the closing date (S17-3).

[0030] Then, the payment processing unit 130 transmits a payment completion notification to the payment application 20 via the content providing unit 110 (S18), and the payment application 20 displays a payment completion screen (S19).

[0031] Note that electronic payment may be performed using only one of the above patterns. Furthermore, the "account ID" described in FIG. 2 may be other information (e.g., a phone number) that can be used as user identification information. Furthermore, issuing a one-time code may be omitted in store scanning, and the payment application 20 may display a code image generated based on the user's account ID. In this case, the payment server 100 identifies the user corresponding to the account ID instead of identifying the user corresponding to the one-time code.

[0032] It should be noted that the "post-payment" settlement may be performed within the settlement server 100, rather than being managed by the credit card server 200. In this case, the components such as the settlement card 60 and the credit card server 200 may be omitted.

[0033] [Configuration (Card Payment)] 7 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration for performing electronic payment (card payment) using a payment card. This electronic payment is performed mainly using a payment card 60, which is one of the media M, a credit card processing terminal 70, which is one of the store facilities E, a payment server 100, which constitutes part of a payment system S, and a credit card server 200. The credit card server 200 communicates with the credit card processing terminal 70 via a network NW.

[0034] The credit processing terminal 70 is installed in the store, similar to the in-store payment terminal 30. The credit processing terminal 70 includes, for example, a credit card reader and a POS device. The credit card terminal reads a personal identification number (PIN) from an inserted or held-up credit card and compares it with the PIN entered by the user. It also transmits a primary account number (PAN) read from the credit card to the credit card server 200 via the POS device. The POS device cooperates with the credit card terminal to transmit information such as the payment amount to the credit card server 200. A payment agent (acquirer) server may be interposed between the credit processing terminal 70 and the credit card server 200; however, for simplicity, the following description omits the server. The payment card 60 is, for example, similar to a commonly used credit card, with a communication chip embedded in the card substrate. The communication chip incorporates a storage medium storing the PIN and communicates with an external device via a contactor (or a wireless antenna). Alternatively, the payment card 60 may be a magnetic card. The information (messages) sent and received when using a credit card include an authorization message for authentication and a sales message for conveying the payment amount, but detailed explanations distinguishing between these will be omitted below.

[0035] The credit card server 200 communicates with the payment server 100 via a network NW. The credit card server 200 includes, for example, an information management unit 210, a credit interface 220, a payment allocation unit 230, a credit payment processing unit 240, and a memory unit 270. The components other than the memory unit 270 are implemented by, for example, a hardware processor such as a CPU executing a program (software). Some or all of these components may be implemented by hardware (including circuitry) such as an LSI, ASIC, FPGA, or GPU, or may be implemented by a combination of software and hardware. The program may be stored in advance in a storage device such as an HDD or flash memory (a storage device with a non-transitory storage medium), or may be stored in a removable storage medium (a non-transitory storage medium) such as a DVD or CD-ROM, and installed in the storage device by inserting the storage medium into a drive device. The memory unit 270 stores information such as card user information 272.

[0036] The information management unit 210 edits, adds, deletes, etc., and manages the card user information 272. The card user information 272 is information in which, for example, information unique to a user (e.g., PAN), a card payment method, and the user's account ID (used by the payment server 100) are associated with one another. The card payment method is setting information that indicates whether the user will make electronic payment using the charged balance (balance payment) or deferred payment when making a card payment.

[0037] The credit interface 220 determines whether the BIN (Bank Identification Number) in the PAN included in the message received from the credit processing terminal 70 is a code for the company, and if it is a code for the company, passes the message received from the credit processing terminal 70 to the payment allocation unit 230, and if it is not a code for the company, discards the received message.

[0038] The payment allocating unit 230 refers to the card user information 272 of the user corresponding to the message obtained from the credit interface 220, and determines whether the "card payment method" is set to "post-payment." If the "card payment method" is set to "post-payment," the payment allocating unit 230 notifies the credit interface 220 of this and passes the message obtained from the credit interface 220 to the credit payment processing unit 240. On the other hand, if the "card payment method" is set to "balance payment," the payment allocating unit 230 adds the user's account ID to the message obtained from the credit interface 220 and sends it to the payment server 100, requesting electronic payment. When requested to make electronic payment, the payment server 100 performs the same processes as S7-1 in Figure 5 and S17-1 in Figure 6.

[0039] The credit interface 220 checks the PAN and expiration date, and verifies whether the cumulative payment amount exceeds the current month's upper limit, etc. The credit payment processing unit 240 adds the payment amount to the user's monthly usage amount based on the information contained in the message obtained from the payment allocation unit 230, and performs electronic payment by deducting the monthly usage amount from the user's bank account after the closing date.

[0040] [Coupon suggestion] The coupon suggestion process executed by the information providing device will be described below. The acquisition unit 140 acquires affiliated store sales data 176. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of the affiliated store sales data 176. For example, the acquisition unit 140 references the history of electronic payments and stores information representing the total sales amount, calculated for each time slot on weekdays and holidays for each of the observation period TA and the comparison period TB, using whether the customer is a new customer or a returning customer as the affiliated store sales data 176 in the storage unit 170. As an example, the observation period TA is the most recent week to several weeks, and the comparison period TB is the several weeks immediately preceding the observation period TA. The affiliated store sales data 176 may be associated with an average unit price (the average payment amount per electronic payment) in addition to the conditional total sales amount. The affiliated store sales data 176 may also be associated with information about the business hours of the affiliated store (this information may be included in the affiliated store / store information 174). This processing may be performed as a normal processing of the payment server 100, in which case the acquisition unit 140 reads and acquires the affiliated store sales data 176 as a processing result of the payment server 100 from the storage unit 170.

[0041] The analysis unit 150 analyzes sales trends in the affiliated store sales data 176 from multiple perspectives. Perspectives are defined, for example, as sales trends by time slot on weekdays and holidays, sales trends limited to new customers, sales trends limited to returning customers, and average unit price. A new customer refers to a customer who has not used the service in the past year, and vice versa. Alternatively, a customer who has used the service at least once in the past may be classified as a returning customer. More specifically, the perspective may be sales trends by day of the week, or sales trends by time slot regardless of day of the week. For example, the analysis unit 150 calculates index values ​​for multiple perspectives by comparing sales, etc. corresponding to a perspective of interest in the observation period TA with sales, etc. corresponding to the same perspective in the comparison period TB. The values ​​calculated at each stage are stored in the storage unit 170 as values ​​to be referenced in the future.

[0042] Based on the results of the analysis, the suggestion unit 160 determines coupon application conditions to be proposed to the affiliated store, and causes the information terminal 50 used by the affiliated store to display information proposing coupons corresponding to the coupon application conditions via the affiliated store interface 55. Specifically, based on the results of the analysis, the suggestion unit suggests coupons corresponding to the coupon application conditions that are applied in situations where sales are relatively low.

[0043] The coupon application conditions are defined by the day of the week and / or time period, whether the customer is a new customer or a returning customer, or the average unit price. The suggestion unit 160 selects the coupon application condition that is considered to be the most effective (or the next best based on some other condition) from among these.

[0044] FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the details of the processing performed by the analysis unit 150 and the proposing unit 160. As shown in FIG.

[0045] (1) For example, the analysis unit 150 divides the sales for each time period of interest on weekdays within the observation period TA (for example, time periods divided into predetermined time periods (for example, approximately 2 hours) within business hours) by the average daily sales for each time period of interest on weekdays within the comparison period TB, and then subtracts 1 to calculate the first index value I1.

[0046] (2) In addition, the analysis unit 150 divides each sales amount for each time period of interest on holidays within the observation period TA by the average daily sales amount for each time period of interest on holidays within the comparison period TB, and then subtracts 1 to calculate the second index value I2.

[0047] (3) The analysis unit 150 also calculates the third index value I3 by dividing the sales from new customers in the observation period TA by the average daily sales from new customers in the comparison period TB and subtracting 1 from the result.

[0048] (4) The analysis unit 150 also calculates the fourth index value I4 by dividing the sales from returning customers in the observation period TA by the average daily sales from new customers in the comparison period TB and subtracting 1 from the result.

[0049] (5) Furthermore, the analysis unit 150 divides the average unit price in the observation period TA by the average unit price in the comparison period TB, and subtracts 1 from the result to calculate the fifth index value I5.

[0050] For example, the proposing unit 160 calculates standard deviations σI1 to σI5 of values ​​calculated in the past (for example, during a period similar to the comparison period TB) for each of the first index value I1 to the fifth index value I5, and calculates deviation values ​​sI1 to sI5 of the first index value I1 to the fifth index value I5 calculated currently based on these standard deviations. Note that for the first index value I1 and the second index value I2, deviation values ​​are calculated for each time period. Note that some normalization process may be performed at this time. Then, the proposing unit 160 selects the deviation value that is negative and has the largest absolute value. In the example of FIG. 9, the proposing unit 160 selects the deviation value from 12:00 to 14:00 on a weekday.

[0051] The suggestion unit 160 suggests issuing a coupon that corresponds to the viewpoint corresponding to the selected deviation value. For example, the suggestion unit 160 selects outline information of a coupon that corresponds to the viewpoint corresponding to the selected deviation value from the coupon template information 178, and determines its parameters as follows: The coupon template information 178 is information that is defined for each viewpoint, with some of the parameters left blank.

[0052] (1) If the selected deviation value corresponds to one of the target time slots on weekdays, the proposal unit 160 proposes issuing a coupon with a payment time limited to the time slot corresponding to the target time slot on weekdays. FIG. 10 shows an example of a screen that the proposal unit 160 displays on the information terminal 50, proposing the issuance of a coupon limited to a day of the week and a time slot. As shown in the figure, this screen displays either weekday or holiday and the applicable time slot corresponding to the target time slot (for example, set slightly wider than the target time slot so as to encompass the target time slot) in area A1, which displays the coupon application conditions and coupon content. In this way, if the decrease in sales during the target time slot on weekdays is significant compared to other perspectives (target time slot on holidays, new customers, repeat customers, average unit price), the proposal unit 160 proposes to the affiliated store a coupon with coupon application conditions corresponding to the target time slot on weekdays. When the operator of the affiliated store presses the "Create" button B1, the screen transitions to an editing screen where parameters such as "weekday," "time slot," and "15%" can be edited. Of the information displayed on this screen, information with parameters such as "weekday," "time period," and "15%" left blank corresponds to coupon template information 178.

[0053] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of the editing screen. In addition to the above parameters, the editing screen allows editing of the coupon's start date (set as a default) and end conditions (upon budget consumption, after a certain period of time has passed, etc.). The operator of the affiliated store edits the edited items by clicking on them as appropriate. When the "Set" button B2 is operated on the editing screen, the coupon is set and reflected in electronic payments from the start date onwards. The content provider 110 of the payment server 100 sends coupon information to the payment app 20 for display, and the payment processor 130 grants the user the benefit defined by the coupon when an electronic payment that meets the coupon application conditions is made.

[0054] (2) If the selected deviation value corresponds to one of the time periods of interest on a holiday, the proposal unit 160 proposes issuing a coupon that limits the payment time to a time period corresponding to the time period of interest on a holiday. In this case, the screen that the proposal unit 160 displays on the information terminal 50 is the screen shown in FIG. 10 with "weekday" in area A1 replaced with "holiday." In this way, if the decrease in sales during the time period of interest on a holiday is greater (more significant) than other perspectives (time period of interest on a weekday, new customers, repeat customers, average unit price), the proposal unit 160 proposes to the affiliated store a coupon with coupon application conditions that correspond to the time period of interest on a holiday.

[0055] (3) If the selected deviation value corresponds to a new store visit, the proposal unit 160 proposes issuing a coupon that limits payment targets to new store visitors. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a screen that the proposal unit 160 displays on the information terminal 50 when the selected deviation value corresponds to a new store visit, proposing the issuance of a coupon limited to new store visitors. As shown in the figure, on this screen, the area A1 displaying the coupon application conditions and coupon content indicates that the coupon is limited to new store visitors. In this way, if the decrease in sales due to new store visits is large (significant) compared to other perspectives (focused time periods on weekdays / holidays, repeat visits, average unit price), the proposal unit 160 proposes to the affiliated store a coupon with coupon application conditions that correspond to new store visits.

[0056] (4) If the selected deviation value corresponds to a repeat visit, the suggestion unit 160 suggests issuing a coupon that limits payment to returning customers. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a screen that the suggestion unit 160 displays on the information terminal 50 when the selected deviation value corresponds to a repeat visit, proposing the issuance of a coupon limited to returning customers. As shown in the figure, on this screen, the area A1 that displays the coupon application conditions and coupon content indicates that the coupon is limited to returning customers. In this way, if the decrease in sales due to repeat visits is greater (significant) than other perspectives (focused time slots on weekdays / holidays, new customers, average unit price), the suggestion unit 160 suggests to the affiliated store a coupon with coupon application conditions that correspond to repeat visits.

[0057] (5) If the selected deviation value corresponds to the average unit price, the proposal unit 160 proposes the issuance of a coupon that limits the payment object to a payment amount equal to or greater than a predetermined amount. FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of a screen that the proposal unit 160 displays on the information terminal 50 when the selected deviation value corresponds to the average unit price, proposing the issuance of a coupon that limits the payment object to a payment amount equal to or greater than a predetermined amount. As shown in the figure, this screen displays in area A1, where the coupon application conditions and coupon content are displayed, a message indicating that the coupon is limited to a payment amount equal to or greater than a predetermined amount. For example, the proposal unit 160 sets a default predetermined amount to a value slightly higher than the average unit price of the affiliated store during the observation period TA. In this way, if the decrease in the average unit price is large (significant) compared to other perspectives (focused time period on weekdays / holidays, new visits, repeat visits), the proposal unit 160 proposes to the affiliated store a coupon with a coupon application condition that limits the payment object to a payment amount equal to or greater than a predetermined amount.

[0058] 15 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of processing executed by the information providing device. First, the information providing device displays the home screen of the member store interface 55 on the information terminal 50 (S100). Next, the information providing device determines whether or not an analysis instruction has been issued by the operator of the member store (S102). If no analysis instruction has been issued, the information providing device determines whether or not a coupon creation instruction has been issued by the operator of the member store (S104). If no coupon creation instruction has been issued, the process returns to S102.

[0059] If a coupon creation instruction is received without an analysis instruction, the information providing device displays a list of coupon templates and allows the operator of the affiliated store to select one (S106). Here, the information providing device displays a list of images on the information terminal 50, with numerical values ​​and the like omitted from the screens shown in Figures 10 and 12-14. Then, based on the coupon template selected by the operator of the affiliated store, a coupon is created through operations on the editing screen shown in Figure 11 (S108).

[0060] On the other hand, if it is determined in S102 that an analysis instruction has been issued, the analysis unit 150 performs an analysis of sales trends (S110) as described above, and displays the analysis results on the information terminal 50 (S112). Thereafter, the proposal unit 160 proposes a coupon based on the analysis results in response to an operation by the operator of the affiliated store (S114). FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displaying the analysis results. This diagram shows the screen displayed when the selected deviation value corresponds to the average unit price. This screen has a button B3 for instructing the creation of a coupon that reflects the analysis (instructing the proposal of a coupon). When button B3 is operated, one of the screens shown as examples in FIGS. 10 and 12-14 is displayed according to the analysis results. Thereafter, the coupon is created through the operation of the editing screen shown as an example in FIG. 11 (S108).

[0061] According to the embodiment described above, sales data of affiliated stores is acquired, sales trends in the sales data are analyzed from multiple perspectives, and based on the results of the analysis, coupon application conditions to be proposed to the affiliated store are determined. Information proposing coupons that correspond to the coupon application conditions is displayed on the information terminal 50 used by the affiliated store, so that coupons that suit the circumstances of the affiliated store can be proposed.

[0062] In the above explanation, the analysis is based on a comparison between weekdays and holidays. However, for example, a lower limit may be set for the ratio of weekday sales to holiday sales, and weekday-only coupons may be proposed when the ratio falls below the lower limit. Similarly, for other perspectives, the proposed coupons may be determined based on the deviation between the perspectives. Furthermore, an objective index may be set based on the values ​​of other companies in the same industry, and the proposed coupons may be determined based on the deviation from that index.

[0063] In addition, a function for predicting the effectiveness of a coupon for each coupon application condition may be provided, and if the effectiveness of the coupon is equal to or greater than a standard, the setting of the coupon may be suggested.More specifically, the function for predicting the effectiveness of a coupon may be used only for the default setting of the point redemption rate (the default setting of the point redemption rate is set so that the effectiveness of the coupon is equal to or greater than a standard).

[0064] The above describes the form for carrying out the present invention using an embodiment, but the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment, and various modifications and substitutions can be made within the scope that does not deviate from the gist of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0065] E. Store Facilities M medium S payment system 10 User terminal device 20. Payment App 30 Store payment terminals 40 Store code image 50 Information terminal 55 Merchant Interface 60 Payment Cards 70 Credit card processing terminal 100 Payment Server 130 Payment processing unit 140 Acquisition Department 150 Analysis Department 160 Proposal Department 176 Affiliated store sales data 178 Coupon Template Information 200 Credit Card Server

Claims

1. An information providing device that provides information to affiliated stores that sell products or services using an electronic payment service, an acquisition unit that acquires sales data of the affiliated store; an analysis unit that refers to the sales data and calculates an index value that indicates a change in sales during an observation period relative to a comparison period for each of a plurality of narrowing conditions; a suggestion unit that selects a coupon application condition corresponding to a narrowing-down condition in which the index value indicates a decline in sales from among a plurality of coupon application conditions corresponding to the plurality of narrowing-down conditions, and displays information suggesting coupons corresponding to the coupon application condition on an information terminal used by the member store; Equipped with The narrowing conditions and the corresponding coupon application conditions include a condition defined by a first visit or a repeat visit, and a condition defined by a payment amount of a single electronic payment. Information provision device.

2. The narrowing conditions and the corresponding coupon application conditions further include conditions defined by whether the day is a weekday or a holiday, and / or a time period.

2. The information providing device according to claim 1.

3. When a coupon creation instruction is given without a calculation instruction to the analysis unit, a list of coupon templates that can be created is displayed.

3. The information providing device according to claim 1.

4. An information providing device that provides information to affiliated stores that sell products or services using an electronic payment service, Acquire sales data of the affiliated store, calculating, for each of a plurality of refinement conditions, an index value indicating a change in sales during an observation period relative to a comparison period, by referring to the sales data; selecting a coupon application condition corresponding to a narrowing-down condition in which the index value indicates a decline in sales from among a plurality of coupon application conditions respectively corresponding to the plurality of narrowing-down conditions, and displaying information proposing a coupon corresponding to the coupon application condition on an information terminal used by the member store; The narrowing conditions and the corresponding coupon application conditions include a condition defined by a first visit or a repeat visit, and a condition defined by a payment amount of a single electronic payment. Information provision method.

5. An information providing device that provides information to affiliated stores that sell products or services using an electronic payment service, Acquiring sales data of the affiliated store; calculating, for each of a plurality of refinement conditions, an index value indicating a change in sales during an observation period relative to a comparison period, by referring to the sales data; selecting a coupon application condition corresponding to a narrowing-down condition in which the index value indicates a decline in sales from among a plurality of coupon application conditions respectively corresponding to the plurality of narrowing-down conditions, and displaying information proposing coupons corresponding to the coupon application condition on an information terminal used by the member store; A program for executing The narrowing conditions and the corresponding coupon application conditions include a condition defined by a first visit or a repeat visit, and a condition defined by a payment amount of a single electronic payment. program.

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