Vending machine system

Abstract

To provide an automatic vending machine system which can significantly shorten the time required for commodity product replacement work.SOLUTION: A management server sets an adjustment full number D3 obtained by sequentially reducing a commodity product full number unique to a commodity product column such that the stock number of the commodity products becomes a prescribed minimum number or 0 in a commodity product replacement date t4 during a replenishment adjustment period T to the commodity product replacement date t4 from a registration date t1 of the commodity product replacement date when the commodity product replacement date t4 is registered from a terminal device by the operation of a route manager, and performs a commodity product replenishment instruction to a portable terminal of a route man by calculating a replenishment possible number based on the adjustment full number D3 and the current stock number when the adjustment full number D3 is set. The adjustment full number D3 is the commodity product sales prediction number predicted that the commodity product is sold by the commodity product replacement date and is sequentially updated.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a vending machine system that can significantly shorten the time required for product replacement work.

Background Art

[0002] Beverage manufacturers, which are vending machine installers, have route men visit each vending machine to collect sales money, replenish change, and replenish and replace products. Here, a proposal has been made to connect vending machines to the online network and grasp the amount of product replenishment to vending machines based on the sales data of vending machines (see Non-Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Non-Patent Documents

[0003]

Non-Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, since the number of replenishments is predicted for product replenishment to vending machines, the replenishment delivery of the same product is made more efficient. However, when a large amount of product replacement occurs at the turn of the season, all the inventory in the product column must be removed, and the product replacement work takes a great deal of time. In this case, including the switching of the cold / warm setting, this long product replacement work time will reduce the number of vending machines to be visited in a day.

[0005] In addition, all the withdrawn products, which are the inventory associated with product replacement, must be taken back, resulting in a decrease in delivery efficiency. Note that the product replacement work for each product column unit performed to improve sales also takes a long time and the delivery efficiency decreases.

[0006] Furthermore, in order to improve work efficiency by reducing the number of drawers required when changing products, the only option is to wait for items to sell out, resulting in lost sales opportunities. Also, if an event or other event that generates a large amount of sales occurs while waiting for items to sell out, a significant loss of sales opportunities will occur.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above, and aims to provide an automatic vending machine system that can significantly reduce the time required for product replacement work. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] To solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the objective, the present invention provides a vending machine system comprising: a plurality of vending machines; a portable terminal for a mobile worker who replenishes products in each vending machine, including product replacement, according to a predetermined delivery route; and a management server connected to a terminal device of a mobile manager who manages the mobile replenishment mobile operations. The management server obtains the inventory count of products in each vending machine based on product sales information obtained from each vending machine, calculates the number of products that can be replenished for each product column in each vending machine based on the obtained inventory count, and the mobile worker replenishes products in each vending machine by loading the number of products that can be replenished into a delivery vehicle and making a mobile patrol. The management server is characterized in that, when a product replacement date is registered from the terminal device by the operation of the mobile manager, during the replenishment adjustment period from the registration date of the product replacement date to the product replacement date, it sets an adjusted full capacity by successively decreasing the product full capacity unique to the product column so that the inventory count of products on the product replacement date becomes a predetermined minimum number or 0, and when the adjusted full capacity is set, it calculates the number of products that can be replenished based on the adjusted full capacity and the current inventory count and issues a product replenishment instruction to the mobile terminal.

[0009] Furthermore, the present invention is characterized in that, in the above invention, the adjusted full capacity is the predicted number of product sales that are expected to be sold by the product replacement date, and is updated sequentially.

[0010] Furthermore, the present invention is characterized in that, in the above invention, the adjusted full capacity is set to a predetermined small number greater than the predicted sales quantity of the product.

[0011] Furthermore, the present invention is characterized in that, in the above invention, the management server calculates the number of items that can be replenished on the day of product replenishment based on the adjusted full capacity on the day of product replenishment and the predicted inventory number obtained by subtracting the average daily sales forecast from the inventory number on the day before product replenishment, and notifies the mobile terminal on the day before product replenishment.

[0012] Furthermore, the present invention is characterized in that, in the above invention, if there is a sales increase forecast period in which an increase in product sales is expected during the replenishment adjustment period, the management server increases the adjustment full capacity during the sales increase forecast period in accordance with the increase in product sales, and if the adjustment full capacity exceeds the product full capacity, the number obtained by subtracting the current inventory quantity from the product full capacity becomes the number of items that can be replenished. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] According to the present invention, the time required for product replacement can be significantly reduced. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0014] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing the outline configuration of an automatic vending machine system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the adjustment to the maximum capacity set after registering the product replacement date. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the calculation of the number of items that can be replenished when there is a sales increase forecast period during which an increase in product sales is expected within the replenishment adjustment period. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a flowchart showing the product replenishment processing procedure during the replenishment adjustment period by the management server. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of product replenishment processing during the replenishment adjustment period. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0015] Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out this invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings.

[0016] <Overview of the Vending Machine System> Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing the outline configuration of an automatic vending machine system according to an embodiment of the present invention. This vending machine system includes communication units 11 and 12 for each of the multiple vending machines 1 and 2, a portable terminal 10 for a route man 100, who is a patrol worker who performs tasks such as product replenishment, including product replacement, at each of the vending machines 1 and 2 according to a predetermined delivery route R, and a management server 31 connected to a terminal device 50 for a route manager 200, who is a patrol manager who manages the delivery plan, including product replacement. In addition to product replenishment, including product replacement, the work of the route man 100 includes troubleshooting, collecting sales revenue, and replenishing change. Note that vending machines 1 and 2 are shown as an example of multiple vending machines.

[0017] The management server 31 is a server on the cloud 30 and has a vending machine DB 32, a vending machine inventory DB 33, and a delivery plan 34. The vending machine DB 32 contains static information about vending machines 1 and 2, storing information such as the installation location and product configuration of vending machines 1 and 2. The vending machine inventory DB 33 contains dynamic inventory information for each vending machine, for example, the product name, inventory quantity, and replenishable quantity are updated in near real time for each vending machine. The inventory quantity is updated based on the details sent from the vending machine, and the replenishable quantity is updated when product replenishment, including product replacement by the route man 100, is completed and notified via the mobile terminal 10 or communication units 11 and 12. The delivery plan 34 has product replenishment information D1 and product replacement information D2. The delivery plan 34 includes the delivery route, delivery date, delivery vehicle, and the number of items to be loaded (number of picks). It also includes product replenishment information D1, such as the number of items to be replenished for each vending machine, and product replacement information D2, which indicates the items to be replaced and the product columns. The adjusted full capacity D3 is the product full capacity, which is the upper limit of the product column, that is progressively reduced during the replenishment adjustment period from the registration date of the product replacement date to the product replacement date, so that the inventory of the product on the product replacement date is a predetermined minimum number or 0. Specifically, it is the predicted number of product sales that are expected to be sold by the product replacement date, and it is updated sequentially. The management server 31 also manages other data such as sales data.

[0018] The management server 31 obtains the inventory count of each product in vending machines 1 and 2 based on product sales information acquired from individual transaction details sent from each vending machine 1 and 2. Based on the acquired inventory count, the management server 31 calculates the number of items that can be replenished for each product column in each vending machine 1 and 2. The route man 100 loads the replenishment items of this number into the delivery vehicle 20 and makes rounds to replenish each vending machine 1 and 2, including replacing the products.

[0019] Specifically, the management server 31 sends a delivery plan including this replenishable quantity to the food storage 101. Although the delivery plan may also be sent to the mobile terminal 10, the management server 31 sends the delivery plan to a terminal (not shown) of the food storage 101, and based on this, the delivery plan for each route man 100 is passed on. The route man 100 loads the replenishment products onto the delivery vehicle 20 at the food storage 101 at the installation location LO based on the delivery plan.

[0020] On the delivery day, the route man 100 tours along the delivery route R with the delivery vehicle 20 loaded with the replenishment products and performs replenishment work for each vending machine 1, 2. When the delivery vehicle 20 arrives at the parking lot PP1 near the installation location LP1 of the first vending machine 1, the route man 100 unloads the replenishment products from the delivery vehicle 20 and transports the replenishment products to the vending machine 1 by means of a trolley 40 or the like. Then, the surplus products and the withdrawn products associated with product replacement are transported to the delivery vehicle 20 and loaded.

[0021] After that, when the delivery vehicle 20 arrives at the parking lot PP2 near the installation location LP2 of the next vending machine 2, the route man 100 performs the same work for the vending machine 2 as for the replenishment work for the vending machine 1.

[0022] <Setting of adjusted full cup number> Conventionally, regardless of the presence or absence of product replacement, the product replenishment calculates the replenishable quantity from the difference between the product full cup number, which is the fixed upper limit full cup number of the product column, and the current inventory quantity, and performs product replenishment of the replenishable quantity on the product replenishment day. For this reason, on the day of product replacement, the current inventory is withdrawn and new products are replenished. However, since the withdrawn products are in a fully replenished state, the number of withdrawn products is large, and a great deal of working time is required for product dispensing. In the present embodiment, when there is a registration on the day of product replacement, the product full cup number is set so that the product is sold out on the day of product replacement, and the replenishable quantity is calculated.

[0023] Figure 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the adjustment full quantity set after the product replacement date is registered. As shown in Figure 2, when the product replacement date t4 is registered from the route manager 200 via the terminal device 50, the management server 31 sets the adjustment full quantity D3, which is the number of products that are predicted to be sold by the product replacement date t4, during the replenishment adjustment period T from the product replacement date registration date t1 to the product replacement date t4, instead of the product full quantity. Then, the management server 31 calculates the number of items that can be replenished based on the difference between the adjustment full quantity D3 and the current inventory quantity.

[0024] The adjusted full quantity D3 is updated sequentially and represents the projected sales quantity of the product up to the product replacement date t4. Therefore, as the product replacement date t4 approaches, it changes to a lower value, and on the product replacement date t4, the inventory quantity is set to 0.

[0025] On product replenishment day t2 within the replenishment adjustment period T, the inventory quantity from the previous day (e.g., the day before) exceeds the adjustment capacity D3 for that day, so the number of items that can be replenished is 0, and no products are replenished. On product replenishment day t3 within the replenishment adjustment period T, the inventory quantity from the previous day (e.g., the day before) is less than the adjustment capacity D3 for that day, so the number of items that can be replenished is calculated and products are replenished. Then, on product replacement day t4, if the product sales forecast is correct, the inventory quantity will be 0. In this case, there will be no items to be withdrawn from inventory due to the product replacement, and only the replenishment of the items being replaced will be necessary. Even if there is inventory on product replacement day t4, the inventory quantity will be small, so the work of withdrawing items from inventory will be reduced.

[0026] Figure 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the calculation of the number of items that can be replenished when there is a sales increase forecast period TA within the replenishment adjustment period T, during which an increase in product sales is expected. As shown in Figure 3, when a sales increase forecast period TA occurs due to an event or other cause, the adjusted full capacity D3 exceeds the product's full capacity. In this case, the number of items that can be replenished is calculated as the product's full capacity.

[0027] Specifically, in Figure 3, on product replenishment day t2, the adjusted full quantity D3 exceeds the product full quantity, and the inventory quantity immediately prior (e.g., the previous day) is less than the adjusted full quantity D3, so products are replenished. However, the calculated number of items that can be replenished is the number of items that can be replenished at full capacity minus the inventory quantity immediately prior. Note that in Figure 3, on product replenishment day t3, the inventory quantity immediately prior (e.g., the previous day) is less than the adjusted full quantity D3, so the difference is used as the number of items that can be replenished.

[0028] This sales increase forecast period TA is possible as long as the adjusted full quantity D3 is the product sales forecast quantity. Therefore, by setting the adjusted full quantity D3 as the product sales forecast quantity, even when the adjusted full quantity D3 is set within the replenishment adjustment period T to reduce the inventory level, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of significant sales opportunity losses.

[0029] Furthermore, the adjusted maximum capacity D3 may be set to a predetermined small number greater than the projected sales quantity. This will result in a slight increase in inventory on product replacement days, but will prevent products from selling out.

[0030] <Product replenishment processing during the replenishment adjustment period> Figure 4 is a flowchart showing the product replenishment processing procedure during the replenishment adjustment period T by the management server 31. As shown in Figure 4, first, the management server 31 determines whether or not a product replacement date has been registered via the terminal device 50 from the route manager 200 (step S101). If a product replacement date has been registered (step S101: Yes), the management server 31 sets the adjustment full quantity based on the sales forecast (step S102).

[0031] Subsequently, the management server 31 determines whether it is a product replenishment day based on the delivery plan 34 (step S103). If it is a product replenishment day (step S103: Yes), the server calculates the number of items that can be replenished based on the difference between the adjusted full quantity and the previous inventory quantity, issues a replenishment instruction to the route driver 100's mobile terminal 10 (step S104), and terminates this process.

[0032] On the other hand, if it is not a product replenishment day (step S103: No), it is further determined whether or not it is a product replacement day (step S105). If it is a product replacement day (step S105: Yes), a product replacement instruction is sent to the mobile terminal 10 based on the delivery plan (step S106). After that, it is determined whether or not a product replacement completion notification has been received from the vending machine's communication unit (step S107). If there is no product replacement completion notification (step S107: No), this determination process is repeated. If a product replacement completion notification has been received (step S107: Yes), the setting for the adjusted full capacity is canceled (step S108), and this process is terminated. Also, if it is not a product replacement day (step S105: No), this process is terminated as is.

[0033] Furthermore, if no product replacement date is registered (Step S101: No), the replenishment adjustment period T does not occur, and the normal product replenishment process using the full product quantity is performed. That is, it is determined whether or not it is a product replenishment day (Step S109). If it is a product replenishment day (Step S109: Yes), the number of items that can be replenished is calculated based on the difference between the full product quantity and the previous inventory quantity, and a replenishment instruction is sent to the mobile terminal 10 of the route man 100 (Step S110), and this process is terminated. On the other hand, if it is not a product replenishment day (Step S109: No), this process is terminated as is. The above process is repeated at predetermined intervals, for example, every day.

[0034] <An example of product replenishment processing during the replenishment adjustment period> Figure 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of product replenishment processing during the replenishment adjustment period. Here, we will explain the case where all the products in the product storage unit that can be switched between cold and hot, which is one of the multiple product storage units that make up the product storage room 1a of the vending machine 1, are replaced. For example, as shown in Figure 5(a), the product storage room 1a of the vending machine 1 consists of a product storage unit with 2 rows and 5 columns on the left side when facing the front (left storage unit), a product storage unit with 1 row and 5 columns in the center (middle storage unit), and a product storage unit with 2 rows and 5 columns on the right side (right storage unit). The left and middle storage units can be switched between cold and hot, and the left storage unit is a product storage unit exclusively for cooling. Here, all the products in the middle storage unit are replaced, and the cold / hot setting is also switched from cooling to heating. The product capacity of each product column in the middle storage unit is 22, 22, 22, 20, and 20 from the top, and products A, B, C, D, and E are stored in them, respectively.

[0035] As shown in Figure 5(a), on the registration date of the product replacement date, the replenishment adjustment period begins, and as shown in product replenishment information D11, the adjusted full quantity is set instead of the full quantity of the product. The adjusted full quantity is the predicted sales quantity of the product, which is the product that is predicted to be sold from the registration date of the product replacement date to the product replacement date. The adjusted full quantities for products A, B, C, D, and E are set to 16, 12, 20, 15, and 20. The inventory quantities for products A, B, C, D, and E are 10, 10, 6, 14, and 4, respectively, so the available replenishment quantities for each are calculated to be 6, 2, 14, 1, and 16. These available replenishment quantities are updated daily.

[0036] Then, as shown in Figure 5(b), when it is a product replenishment day, the product replenishment information D12 is generated by setting the adjusted full quantity for the product replenishment day and calculating the number of items that can be replenished from the inventory quantity. In the product replenishment information D12, since the inventory quantity of product D "12" exceeds the adjusted full quantity "10", the number of items that can be replenished for product D becomes "0". Based on the number of items that can be replenished in this product replenishment information D12, the route man 100 performs product replenishment. As a result, in the product replenishment information D13 after product replenishment, the inventory quantities of products A, B, C, and E increase, and the number of items that can be replenished for each product A, B, C, D, and E is updated to "0".

[0037] Subsequently, as shown in the product replenishment information D14 in Figure 5(c), on the day before the product changeover date, the inventory quantity decreases and the adjustment full capacity is set to a smaller value. Specifically, the inventory quantities for products A, B, C, D, and E are 3, 2, 4, 3, and 1, respectively, and the adjustment full capacity is set to 4, 2, 4, 2, and 2, respectively, based on the daily sales forecast. As a result, on the day before this product changeover date, the number of items that can be replenished is "1" each for products A and E, and "0" for the other products.

[0038] Then, as shown in the product replenishment information D15 in Figure 5(d), sales of the product occur during the day, and the inventory count becomes only "2" of product D. Note that the adjustment full capacity on the day of product replacement is all "0", and therefore the number of items that can be replenished is also "0". As a result, Routeman 100, who is performing the product replacement, takes out 2 units of product D from the inventory and replenishes all product columns in the central warehouse with new products. Then, he switches the cold / hot setting to hot. Routeman 100 only needs to take the 2 units of product D that were replaced back in the delivery vehicle 20. In other words, the product replacement work by Routeman 100 involves almost no product drawing and is almost the same as the work of replenishing new products.

[0039] In the above embodiment, for the sake of explanation, it was explained under the assumption that picking for product replenishment is performed on the product replenishment day itself. However, product replenishment picking actually takes place the day before the product replenishment day. Therefore, the management server 31 calculates the number of products that can be replenished on the product replenishment day based on the adjusted full capacity on the product replenishment day and the predicted inventory number obtained by subtracting the average daily sales forecast from the inventory number the day before the product replenishment day, and notifies the mobile terminal 10 or the food management warehouse 101 the day before the product replenishment day.

[0040] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the adjusted full quantity was used as the predicted sales quantity for the product. However, the system is not limited to this, and the adjusted full quantity may be set by sequentially decreasing the product full quantity specific to the product column so that the inventory of the product becomes a predetermined minimum number or 0 on the day of product replacement.

[0041] In this embodiment, inventory adjustments within the product column are performed using the adjusted maximum capacity so that all products are sold out on the product changeover day. This reduces the amount of work required to retrieve products from inventory during product changeovers, significantly shortening the time required for product changeovers and allowing the product changeover process to be completed in a time frame similar to that of product replenishment. Furthermore, because fewer products are retrieved, a decrease in delivery efficiency can be prevented. In addition, when conducting rounds that involve product replenishment, the increase in work time due to product changeovers can be minimized, eliminating the need to reduce the number of vending machines that can be visited.

[0042] Furthermore, by using the adjusted maximum capacity as the projected sales quantity, the period during which products are sold out is reduced, minimizing lost sales opportunities. In addition, even if increased sales are predicted due to events or other factors before the product changeover date, sufficient stock can be replenished, further reducing lost sales opportunities.

[0043] Although the above embodiment was described using canned beverages as an example, it is not limited to canned beverages and can also be applied to temperature-controlled products such as ice cream, dairy products, and frozen foods. In this case, since the number of items pulled out during product replacement is small, food waste can also be reduced.

[0044] Furthermore, the configurations illustrated in the embodiments described above are functional schematics and do not necessarily have to be physically represented as shown. In other words, the forms of distribution and integration of each device and component are not limited to those shown, and all or part of them can be functionally or physically distributed and integrated in any unit according to various usage situations. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0045] 1,2 Vending machines 1a Product storage room 10 Mobile devices 11,12 Communication Unit 20 Delivery vehicle 30 Cloud 31 Management Server 32 Vending Machine Database 33 Vending Machine Inventory Database 34 Delivery Plan 40 bogies 50 Terminal devices 100 Route Man 101 Food storage 200 Route Manager A,B,C,D,E products D1,D11~D15 Product replenishment information D2 Product Replacement Information D3 Adjustment to full capacity LO, LP1, LP2 Installation Location PP1, PP2 Parking R Delivery Route T replenishment adjustment period TA Sales Increase Forecast Period t1 Registration date of product replacement t2,t3 Product replenishment date t4 Product replacement date

Claims

1. The vending machine system comprises multiple vending machines, a mobile terminal for a patrol worker who replenishes products in each vending machine, including replacing products, according to a predetermined delivery route, and a management server connected to a terminal device for a patrol manager who manages the patrols for product replenishment. The management server obtains the inventory count of products in each vending machine based on product sales information obtained from each vending machine, calculates the number of products that can be replenished for each product column in each vending machine based on the obtained inventory count, and the patrol worker replenishes products in each vending machine by loading the number of products that can be replenished into a delivery vehicle and making patrols. The vending machine system is characterized in that, when the management server registers a product replacement date from the terminal device by the operation of the patrolling administrator, it sets an adjusted full capacity by successively decreasing the product full capacity specific to the product column so that the product inventory on the product replacement date becomes a predetermined minimum number or zero during the replenishment adjustment period from the date of registration of the product replacement date to the product replacement date, and when the adjusted full capacity is set, it calculates the number of items that can be replenished based on the adjusted full capacity and the current inventory and issues a product replenishment instruction to the mobile terminal.

2. The aforementioned adjusted full capacity is the predicted sales quantity of the product expected to be sold by the product replacement date, and is updated sequentially, as described in claim 1.

3. The vending machine system according to claim 2, characterized in that the adjusted full capacity is set to a predetermined small number greater than the predicted number of product sales.

4. The vending machine system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the management server calculates the number of items that can be replenished on the day of product replenishment based on the adjusted full capacity on the day of product replenishment and the predicted inventory amount obtained by subtracting the average predicted daily sales amount from the inventory amount on the day before product replenishment, and notifies the mobile terminal on the day before product replenishment.

5. The vending machine system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, if there is a sales increase forecast period during the replenishment adjustment period in which an increase in product sales is expected, the management server increases the number of adjustment full tanks during the sales increase forecast period in accordance with the increase in product sales, and if the number of adjustment full tanks exceeds the number of full tanks of the product, the number of available replenishment tanks is the number obtained by subtracting the current inventory from the number of full tanks of the product.

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