Matching device

Abstract

We provide technology to effectively connect the needs of local governments with the flexible delivery capabilities of companies. [Solution] This is a matching system used when companies make donations to support local governments. The system obtains wish lists from local governments, presents various wish lists from different local governments to companies in a searchable format, accepts proposals from companies that have indicated their intention to donate, performs matching such as adjusting conditions, and manages the donation history.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a matching device.

Background Art

[0002] As a support scheme for public bodies such as local governments (hereinafter, described by taking local governments as an example), there is a known mechanism in which donors such as companies purchase items registered on an EC platform and deliver the items to those who wish. For example, a local government selects items from the product catalog of an EC platform and registers them in the "wish list" of the platform, and a company that sees it purchases and delivers the items. This format is suitable for simple selection, purchase, and delivery of off-the-shelf products existing in the product catalog.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2024-022748 discloses an information processing apparatus that presents a wish list in which products that can be sent as gifts to a group are listed for individual users who support a group that conducts predetermined activities, and when a user selects an arbitrary product, it transitions to a page where the product can be purchased and enables settlement processing of the product with the group as a fixed destination.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, the method using a simple wish list has the following problems. First, the needs required by local governments are not limited to single off-the-shelf products, and are often "specification-based" including performance requirements, introduction conditions, operation support, etc. The conventional product catalog selection type tends to lack flexibility in specifications (for example, customization, installation / maintenance, cooperation services, etc.).

[0006] Furthermore, the items that companies can offer are not limited to those listed in catalogs; they may also include their own products (often customizable or with product variations tailored to specific needs) and services (such as installation, setup, training, and maintenance). However, the traditional system does not allow companies to fully realize their flexible offering capabilities.

[0007] Furthermore, while companies can access wish lists from the websites of municipalities they have in mind, the needs of the municipalities and what companies can offer do not always match. In other words, companies currently lack a cross-sectional and structured understanding of what each municipality needs. As a result, even if a company is willing to contribute through donations, it cannot quickly determine the suitability of its products and services or the potential for proposals, leading to missed opportunities. In essence, there is a lack of matching functions (such as search, recommendation, and matching degree indication) that connect companies and municipalities at the requirements level.

[0008] In general, conventional technologies lack a framework for local governments to present their requirements on a specification basis, making it difficult for companies to determine the suitability of their products and services. Furthermore, there is insufficient mechanism to link companies' specific capabilities to local government requirements at an elemental level. As a result, companies have faced the challenge of failing to identify local government needs and missing timely opportunities to make proposals.

[0009] This invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a technology that effectively connects the needs of local governments with the flexible provision capabilities of companies. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] To achieve the above objective, the present invention employs the following configuration. That is, A matching device for supporting local government projects through donations of goods or services by companies, A communication unit that sends and receives information with the municipal terminal used by the aforementioned local government and the corporate terminal used by the aforementioned company, A list acquisition unit that acquires a wish list related to the donation content entered at the aforementioned municipal terminal and saves it for each of the aforementioned municipalities, wherein the wish list includes at least the category of the regional project and donation content information indicating the content of the goods or services that the municipality desires, the list acquisition unit A list display control unit that displays the acquired wish list on the corporate terminal in a way that allows filtering, using at least one of the following as search criteria: identification information indicating the municipality, the category, and the donation details information. A donation intention acquisition unit that acquires donation intention information entered by the company using the company terminal in accordance with the wish list displayed on the company terminal, and stores this information for each company, wherein the donation intention information includes, as a proposal from the company, the conditions for providing the goods or services that the company can provide in response to the donation content information, A matching unit that performs matching processing between the local government and the company based on the aforementioned wish list and the company's proposal, wherein the matching processing includes at least the determination of whether or not to accept the company's proposal and the adjustment of the terms of provision, A history management unit that stores the history of the matching process in association with the wish list and the regional project, This matching device is characterized by having the following features: [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a technology that effectively connects the needs of local governments with the flexible provision capabilities of companies. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0012] [Figure 1] Block diagram showing the overall system configuration, including the matching device. [Figure 2]Flowchart showing the entire process of Example 1 [Figure 3] Diagram showing an example of the interface of the enterprise terminal in Example 1 [Figure 4] Diagram showing an example of the interface of the local government terminal in Example 1 [Figure 5] Flowchart showing the process of Example 2 [Figure 6] Block diagram showing the system configuration of Example 3

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0013] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.However, the configuration blocks described below and their relative arrangements, etc., should be appropriately changed according to various conditions of the system, apparatus, or method to which the invention is applied, and are not intended to limit the scope of this invention to the following description.Various components in the embodiments of the present invention can be used in any combination as long as they do not conflict with each other.

[0014] The present invention relates to a matching system, a matching device, and a matching method.In particular, in the public-private partnership where donations and sponsorships are made according to the needs of public bodies such as local governments, such as the so-called corporate hometown tax payment, it relates to a system for matching the demand information presented by the local government with the product and service resources presented by the provider side such as enterprises, a device used in the system, and a method using the system.

[0015] <Example 1> (System Configuration) Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail based on the drawings.Figure ① is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the matching system 1 according to Example 1.As shown in Figure ①, the matching system 1 of this embodiment includes a matching device 100, a local government terminal 200, and an enterprise terminal 300.

[0016] Note: There is an unclear symbol "①" in the original text. It should be replaced with the correct figure number in actual use. Here, it is temporarily retained as "Figure ①".The matching device 100 is connected to the local government terminal 200 and the enterprise terminal 300 via a communication network, and supports the matching of the list of what the local government wants and the goods or services that the enterprise can provide. In this specification, the recipient of donations such as corporate hometown tax payments is a public organization based on local public bodies such as local governments, not the state, and will hereinafter be collectively referred to as "local government" for representation. Also, the donor side is an organization such as enterprises and various corporations, and will hereinafter be collectively referred to as "enterprise" for representation.

[0017] The matching device 100 includes a matching processing unit 101, a communication unit 102, a data management unit 103, a list acquisition unit 104, a list display control unit 105, a provision intention acquisition unit 106, and a history management unit 107.

[0018] The matching processing unit 101 (matching unit) undertakes the core processing of the matching device 100 and executes comprehensive processing related to matching, such as evaluating the compatibility between the list of what the local government wants and the enterprise-side proposal, assisting in determining whether to accept the proposal, and adjusting the provision conditions. The communication unit 102 transmits and receives data to and from the local government terminal 200 and the enterprise terminal 300 via the communication network.

[0019] The data management unit 103 manages databases such as a desired item list database 110, a provision intention database 120, and a history database 130, and controls the storage and acquisition of various data. The list acquisition unit 104 acquires the list of desired items input from the local government terminal 200 and stores it in the desired item list database 110 via the data management unit 103.

[0020] The list display control unit 105, in response to a request from the enterprise terminal 300, filters the list of desired items stored in the desired item list database 110 based on search conditions and controls the display on the enterprise terminal 300. The provision intention acquisition unit 106 acquires provision intention information including the enterprise's donation intention and provision conditions input through the enterprise terminal 300 and stores it in the provision intention database 120 via the data management unit 103.

[0021] The history management unit 107 records the progress and results of the matching process performed by the matching processing unit 101 as history and stores it in the history database 130 via the data management unit 103. This makes it possible to centrally manage the history of processes associated with wish lists, company proposals, and regional projects.

[0022] The municipal terminal 200 is operated by a municipal official and includes a list registration unit 201, a project management unit 202, and a proposal evaluation unit 203. The list registration unit 201 provides the function of creating a wish list that includes the contents of the goods or services that the municipal official wishes to donate and sending it to the matching device 100. The project management unit 202 registers and manages regional projects. The proposal evaluation unit 203 provides the function of evaluating the contents of proposals from companies and inputting information regarding acceptance or rejection and adjustment of conditions.

[0023] The corporate terminal 300 is operated by a company representative and includes a list viewing unit 301, a proposal creation unit 302, The system also includes a donation execution unit 303. The list viewing unit 301 provides a function to view wish lists provided by the matching device 100 and narrow down the list by specifying search conditions. The proposal creation unit 302 creates proposals and provision conditions from companies for the selected wish lists. The donation execution unit 303 provides a function to carry out the actual donation procedure after the conditions have been agreed upon with the local government.

[0024] The matching device 100, the local government terminal 200, and the corporate terminal 300 are each composed of an information processing device or information processing terminal having information processing functions. For example, the information processing device can be a computer, workstation, tablet, or smartphone equipped with a CPU, memory, communication functions, etc., that performs predetermined information processing operations according to program instructions. The information processing device may be either on-premise or cloud-based.

[0025] Here, in the matching device 100, the municipal terminal 200, and the corporate terminal 300, each component referred to as "~part" or "~means" is implemented as a program module that works in cooperation with the hardware resources (CPU, memory, communication interface, etc.) of the respective information processing device. Specifically, these "~parts" are pre-stored as computer programs in the storage unit (e.g., hard disk drive, SSD, ROM, etc.) of each information processing device, and function when the CPU of the information processing device loads the program into memory and executes it. Alternatively, they may be implemented as programs read from an external storage medium or programs received from other devices via a communication network.

[0026] Furthermore, some or all of these "~ sections" may be implemented as dedicated hardware circuits (e.g., ASIC, FPGA, etc.), or they may be realized through the collaboration of hardware and software. In addition, although each "~ section" is described as an individual module in this embodiment, depending on the implementation, the functions of multiple "~ sections" may be integrated into a single program module, or the functions of one "~ section" may be distributed and implemented across multiple program modules.

[0027] The communication network connecting each information processing device is implemented using various communication methods, such as the internet, dedicated lines, and wireless communication networks.

[0028] With the above configuration, the matching system 1 of this embodiment can efficiently support a series of processes, including registering the specifications-based needs of local governments as a wish list, allowing companies to search and browse and make suitable proposals, and facilitating coordination between both parties to realize donations.

[0029] (Overall processing flow) Figure 2 is a flowchart showing the overall processing flow of the matching system 1. First, in step S101, each local government registers its wish list. This registration is performed using the list registration unit 201 of the local government terminal 200. The list registration includes the name of the local government, the name of the regional project, the category of the regional project, the content of the goods or services to be donated, and information such as the specifications of the goods or services (quantity, etc.), the estimated budget, and the delivery date. The registered wish lists are acquired by the list acquisition unit 104 of the matching device 100 and stored in the wish list database 110 via the data management unit 103. The information used as specification information can be arbitrarily set. For example, the specification information may include at least one of the following: the model number, performance, and quantity of the goods, or at least one of the following: the content, duration, and frequency of the services.

[0030] Next, in step S102, the company accesses the matching device 100 using the list viewing unit 301 of the corporate terminal 300 and performs a narrowed search from the registered list of desired items. The user then goes and views the list. At this time, the list display control unit 105 narrows down the list based on the conditions specified by the company (such as the name of the local government, region, category, budget range, etc.) and displays it on the company terminal 300.

[0031] In step S103, companies that have viewed the wish list select municipalities they are interested in from the list and submit a proposal. The proposal includes information such as the specific contents, quantity, and conditions of the goods or services that can be provided. This proposal information is acquired by the provision intention acquisition unit 106 of the matching device 100 and stored in the provision intention database 120.

[0032] In step S104, the local government evaluates the proposals from the companies. Through the proposal evaluation unit 203 of the local government terminal 200, it examines whether the proposed goods or services meet the needs of the local government.

[0033] In step S105, the local government decides whether to accept the proposal. If the proposal meets the local government's requirements, the answer is "Yes," and the process proceeds to step S108, which is the execution of the donation. On the other hand, if adjustments are needed to the proposal, the answer is "No," and the process proceeds to step S106.

[0034] In step S106, the terms of supply are adjusted with the assistance of the matching processing unit 101 of the matching device 100. Here, the specifications, quantity, delivery date, and other conditions of the goods are negotiated and adjusted between the local government and the company.

[0035] After adjustments, in step S107, the local government makes another decision on whether to accept the revised proposal. If it is accepted ("Yes"), the process proceeds to step S108; if it is not accepted ("No"), the process ends.

[0036] In step S108, the donation from the company to the local government is made based on the agreed-upon conditions. At this stage, specific arrangements are made regarding the shipment of goods or the provision of services, and the history management unit 107 of the matching device 100 records information regarding the successful matching and the execution of the donation in the history database 130.

[0037] The above processing flow efficiently matches municipal wish lists with goods and services that companies can provide, promoting donation activities that are satisfying for both parties.

[0038] (Identifying the items or services to be donated) The goods and services eligible for donation are systematically managed to meet the diverse needs of local governments. Specifically, the information that can be entered when registering goods and services includes some or all of the following items:

[0039] First, the "name" of the item or service is set. The names are generally standardized by using a dropdown menu or similar selection method, but a free-form field is also provided for special items or services not listed. For example, item names such as "laptop," "projector," and "snowblower," and service names such as "legal consultation service," "system development support," and "event management support" can be selected.

[0040] Next, the "category" of goods and services is set using a selection method. Categories broadly classify goods and services and contribute to improved searchability and statistical processing. Examples of categories include at least one of the following: disaster prevention, education, welfare, environment, tourism, and industrial promotion. In addition, more specific examples of granular categories include "IT equipment," "office supplies," "disaster relief supplies," "educational supplies," "welfare supplies," "professional services," "human resources support," and Examples include "infrastructure development" and "event-related activities."

[0041] Furthermore, "specification information" is set, which defines the details of the goods or services. Examples of specification information items are listed below. • Quantity: The number of items or services required. • Delivery date / delivery time: The deadline for delivery of goods or the desired time for service provision. • Specifications / Performance: Technical specifications of an item (e.g., CPU performance and memory capacity of a computer) • Size / Capacity: Physical size or capacity of the item (e.g., screen size in inches, warehouse size) • Quality Requirements: Required quality standards (e.g., compliance with JIS standards, waterproof performance) • Brand / Manufacturer: Specify a particular brand or manufacturer. • Service life: The expected period of use • Warranty / Maintenance: Required warranty period and maintenance conditions • Installation / Implementation Requirements: Conditions for the installation location and the environment required for implementation. • Target audience / users: The number of people and attributes to whom the service will be provided. • Qualification requirements: Qualifications and experience required of the service provider (e.g., childcare worker qualification, medical license) • Substitutability: The acceptable range of equivalent or alternative products or services.

[0042] Additionally, the following items can be optionally set as "supplementary information." • Reference Amount Information: A budget estimate (range can be specified) based on the local government's anticipated figures. • Urgency: The degree of necessity or urgency. • Description of use: Specific purpose of use for the goods or services • Photos / Drawings: Attach reference images or drawings. • Past usage history: Past experience using similar items / services

[0043] This information is stored as structured data in the wish list database 110. By referring to this detailed information, companies can accurately understand the needs of the local government and make appropriate proposals. The matching processing unit 101 of the matching device 100 then performs matching with the most suitable company proposals based on this specification information.

[0044] (Example of using a matching system) The following flowchart will explain a specific example of how to use Matching System 1 in this embodiment.

[0045] (Step S102: Example of filtering search by company) A representative from Company A, a tech solutions company headquartered in the Tohoku region, logs into the company terminal 300 and uses the list viewing unit 301 to search the wish list. The representative selects the category "IT equipment," which is related to the company's business, and further narrows the region to "Tohoku region." They also specify a budget range of "500,000 to 1,000,000 yen." By combining multiple conditions in this way, it is possible to efficiently extract wish lists from regions that are within the company's resources and of interest. The region can be narrowed down based on identifying information that indicates a local government. The identifying information that indicates a local government can be the name of the local government itself, or it can be a regional division (region, prefecture, county, etc.), a division by population size, a municipal division, or a financial scale, and is arbitrary. Furthermore, the display order and filtering results of the wish list can be customized based on the company's conditions and past donation history. For example, local governments in the Tohoku region can be displayed at the top depending on Company A's location, or IT-related projects can be displayed at the top depending on the company's business.

[0046] (Step S102: Example of a refined search results list) Based on the above search conditions, the matching processing unit 101 of the matching device 100 performs a search by referring to the desired item list database 110. As a result, as shown in Figure 3, A filtered wish list is displayed according to the user's request. Specifically, the filtered list viewing section 301 displays: (1) a request for donation of laptop computers related to the "Elementary School ICT Environment Improvement Project" in City A, Miyagi Prefecture; (2) a request for donation of tablet devices related to the "Disaster Prevention Information System Strengthening Plan" in Town B, Iwate Prefecture; and (3) a request for donation of monitoring sensor devices related to the "Elderly Monitoring System Construction Project" in Village C, Fukushima Prefecture. Detailed specifications are also listed for each donation request.

[0047] (Step S103: Example of a proposal from the company) If a representative from Company A is interested in the "Elementary School ICT Environment Improvement Project" in List (1), they select the item by checking the corresponding checkbox 305. If they wish to apply with the contents as listed in List (1), they may use the "Apply with these conditions" button 306 to submit their donation application. Alternatively, if there is a discrepancy between the specifications and the items that Company A possesses or can provide, they may use the cursor to click the "Edit proposal details" button 307 and create a proposal using the proposal creation unit 302.

[0048] The following is an example of a proposal created using the proposal creation unit 302. • Proposed item: Laptop (Our own model, NoteEdu21) Quantity: 22 units (20 requested units + 2 spare units) • Specifications: CPU Core i5-12500, Memory 16GB, SSD 512GB (Higher specifications than those requested by the local government were proposed) • Delivery date: End of December 2025 • Additional services: Installation of basic software, initial setup service, and one year of technical support (free of charge) • Conditions for donation: Press release at the time of donation, and holding of a certificate of appreciation ceremony at the elementary school.

[0049] This proposal is acquired by the donation intention acquisition unit 106 and stored in the donation intention database 120. Thus, the company's proposal may include alternatives to the donation information, customization details, delivery conditions, and ancillary services, and these items can be set flexibly.

[0050] (Steps S104-S106: Example of proposal evaluation and adjustment) The matching processing unit 101 of the matching device 100 notifies City A of the proposal via email or other means. In response, the person in charge at City A, Miyagi Prefecture, checks the proposal from Company A via the municipal terminal 200. Figure 4 shows an example of the project management unit 202 of the municipal terminal 200. When the person in charge selects the proposed ICT development project using the checkbox 205, the proposal details are displayed in the proposal evaluation unit 203.

[0051] If the person in charge at City A agrees to the proposal, they will proceed to the approval process using the "Accept Proposal" button 206. In this case, the proposal was generally in line with the desired outcome, but adjustments were deemed necessary on the following points. Regarding the press release requested as an additional condition, it is possible to feature it in the city's public relations magazine, but press releases to the media will need to be coordinated with the city's public relations policy. The certificate presentation ceremony can be held, but parental consent is required for the use of the children's photographs. The matching processing unit 101 of the matching device 100 notifies the companies of these adjustment items and assists in adjusting the conditions to satisfy the requirements of both parties.

[0052] (Steps S107-S108: Example of accepting a revised proposal and making a donation) Upon receiving a request from City A to adjust the terms, Company A uses the "Adjust Terms" button (207) to move to the adjustment / editing screen and revise the proposed content as follows. Regarding public relations, we will primarily use the city's public relations magazine for announcements. Additionally, after receiving approval from the city, we will post activity reports on our company website. Regarding the use of photographs from the certificate of appreciation presentation ceremony, the photography method must be such that individuals cannot be identified, and approval from the city must be obtained before use. As an additional suggestion, we propose offering a free one-day ICT utilization training session for teachers.

[0053] City A agrees to this revised proposal and decides to accept it. The history management unit 107 of the matching device 100 records the log up to the successful matching as history in the history database 130. The adjustment of the terms of service may be done in a thread format that is easy to read, for example, using a UI displayed in a browser. The matching device 100 may also have a function to manage the adjustment history between companies and local governments and to keep the progress moving. For example, the history management unit 107 may refer to the adjustment history and, if communication has stopped for a certain period of time, send a notification to the operator of the matching device 100 to encourage mediation.

[0054] Subsequently, on December 1, 2025, Company A will deliver 22 laptop computers to an elementary school in City A, and simultaneously complete the installation of the basic software and initial setup. On December 5, an ICT utilization training session will be held for teachers, and on December 10, a certificate of appreciation presentation ceremony will be held at the elementary school. These donation execution processes are managed on the system through the donation execution unit 303 of the corporate terminal 300, and the progress can be checked on the municipal terminal 200 via the matching device 100.

[0055] Thus, in the matching system 1 of this embodiment, the entire process from narrowing down the search for companies to executing donations is efficiently managed, and the matching of the needs of local governments with the resources provided by companies is carried out smoothly. For companies, where it previously took time to understand the needs of local governments, by viewing wish lists and performing narrowed searches, they can visualize which local governments are undertaking which regional projects. Therefore, companies can discover the requests of local governments by visualizing, searching, and recommending across the board.

[0056] Furthermore, local governments can register their wish lists on the platform and receive donation offers from appropriately matched companies. They can also receive donation proposals from companies, which can lead to the optimization of local projects. By browsing the platform, they can refine the donation content needed to solve their own local projects by referring to other local governments. In addition, detailed management of specification information makes the proposal, adjustment, and agreement process transparent, resulting in highly satisfactory matches for both parties.

[0057] <Example 2>

[0058] The matching system 1 of Example 1 can be modified to Example 2, which provides a more efficient and transparent coordination process between local governments and companies. A specific example of the negotiation and confirmation workflow for coordination in Example 2 is described below.

[0059] Figure 5 is a flowchart of the adjustment process in Example 2, structuring the process from the local government's evaluation of the company's proposal to the final agreement. This flowchart begins when a company that has searched the wish list submits a donation request.

[0060] First, in step S201, the local government that receives proposals from companies uses the proposal evaluation unit 203 to evaluate the proposal content in two stages: "priority requirements" and "desired requirements," thereby clarifying the priority of adjustments. This classification may be done in advance when registering on the wish list. Priority requirements are conditions of high importance that cannot be changed, while desired requirements are conditions that would be liked to be met if possible. For example, in the case of the elementary school ICT environment improvement project in City A, Miyagi Prefecture, the "priority requirements" set were the product specifications / performance and the number of units, which was 20 or more. The "desired requirements" include expediting delivery, providing technical support, and conducting training for faculty members.

[0061] Next, in step S202, the matching processing unit 101 of the matching device 100 analyzes the evaluation results of the local government and the content of the company's proposal, and calculates the degree of suitability for both the priority requirements and the desired requirements. The degree of suitability is an indicator of how well the company's proposal meets the requirements of the local government, and is shown, for example, as a percentage, ABC evaluation, or a 5-point scale. In the example above, the results of the suitability analysis of Company A's proposal are calculated to be a 100% suitability for priority requirements (the proposal exceeds all priority requirements in terms of standards / performance and number), and a 70% suitability for desired requirements (there is no early delivery but the end of December deadline is met, technical support is provided but no training is proposed).

[0062] In step S203, it is determined whether the degree of conformity to the priority requirements is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold (e.g., 90%). If it is below the threshold, the process proceeds to step S204, where the company is specifically notified of the shortcomings in the priority requirements. In step S205, the company has the opportunity to revise its proposal using the proposal creation unit 302 of the company terminal 300. Since Company A's proposal has a sufficiently high degree of conformity to the priority requirements, it proceeds directly to the adjustment stage.

[0063] If the degree of suitability of the priority requirements exceeds the threshold, or if the company modifies its proposal, the process moves to the desired requirements adjustment phase in step S206. Here, as an example of adjustment, the matching processing unit 101 generates an "adjustment table." The adjustment table lists the desired content of the local government, the proposed content of the company, and the gap between the two for each desired requirement. In the example of City A and Company A, the adjustment table is organized as follows: no adjustment is needed for delivery date and technical support, but there is a gap in teacher training (City A: wants to implement, Company A: no proposal), so adjustment is needed. An example of the adjustment table is shown in Table 1. Note that the adjustment table is only one example of a method for comparing and evaluating the requests of the local government and the company proposal. It would suffice to have a function that detects the differences between the company proposal and the local government's wish list and presents the points to adjust between the two. [Table 1]

[0064] In step S207, interactive adjustments are made between the municipal terminal 200 and the corporate terminal 300 based on the adjustment table. This interactive adjustment utilizes the adjustment support function implemented in the matching processing unit 101. The adjustment support function has the following capabilities:

[0065] • Alternative proposals: If there is a gap between the desired requirements and the company's proposal, the matching processing unit 101 will automatically propose alternatives based on similar past cases. • Prioritization: Local governments can prioritize their desired requirements, and adjustments will proceed in order from the highest priority requirements. • Communication history: All interactions during the negotiation process are recorded to ensure transparency. • Timeline management: Set deadlines for each stage of the adjustment process to prevent delays. • Negotiation termination function: Allows the company to terminate negotiations if they wish to cancel the donation.

[0066] Specifically, in an example of interactive coordination between City A and Company A, when City A states that "teacher training is a desired requirement," the system provides information such as "in similar past cases, training lasting about one day has been provided." In response, Company A proposes, "We can provide one day of ICT utilization training free of charge."

[0067] In step S208, it is determined whether an agreement has been reached as a result of the interactive negotiation. If an agreement is not reached, the process returns to S207, and the negotiation proposal is further revised. Alternatively, the matching processing unit 101 may analyze the range of concessions that both parties are willing to make from a neutral standpoint, determine the optimal compromise, generate and present a final negotiation proposal, and request a final decision from both the local government and the company. If no agreement is reached, the process is terminated.

[0068] If an agreement is reached, a "Coordination Agreement" is automatically generated in step S209. The Coordination Agreement contains all the terms and conditions that have been finally agreed upon and is sent electronically to both the local government and the company. In the example above, the main contents of the Coordination Agreement include the items to be provided (22 laptops, model number NoteEdu21), specifications (CPU Core i5-12500, 16GB memory, 512GB SSD), ancillary services (basic software setup, one year of technical support, one-day training for teachers), publicity conditions (publication in the city newsletter, reporting on Company A's website after city approval), and photography conditions (photography method that does not identify individuals, city approval obtained before use). Such a Coordination Agreement can also be called a "Donation Offer" as it confirms the details of the donation from the company. Furthermore, based on the details of the adjustment, documents that can be used as detailed statements or quotations for internal company settlements (e.g., "Donation Offer Confirmation") can be generated.

[0069] In step S210, a specific donation execution plan is formulated based on the coordination agreement. The plan includes the delivery schedule for goods, the service provision schedule, and the timing of the implementation of any ancillary conditions. This plan is transmitted to the donation execution unit 303 of the corporate terminal 300 and used for execution management. An example of a specific donation execution plan would include schedules such as the PC delivery date, the date of the teacher training, the date of the certificate of appreciation presentation ceremony, and the period for providing technical support. Furthermore, the progress of the donation is saved as a status by the matching device 100 and can be displayed to both the corporate side and the local government side as progress information.

[0070] The coordination process in this embodiment 2 streamlines coordination between local governments and companies, ensuring transparency and fairness. In particular, by separating and evaluating priority requirements and desired requirements, flexible adjustments become possible while meeting essentially important conditions. Furthermore, the coordination support function enables efficient negotiations based on similar past cases, promoting the formation of mutually satisfactory agreements.

[0071] Furthermore, the method for calculating the degree of fit and setting thresholds at each stage of adjustment in the above-described Example 2 can be appropriately modified depending on the operating conditions and the characteristics of the target goods and services.

[0072] <Example 3> As Example 3, the integrated management of tax credit processing in the matching system 1 of the present invention will be described. Figure 6 shows the system configuration diagram in this example. Below, the parts that are the same as in Example 1 will be omitted from the explanation, and the parts that differ will be explained.

[0073] In the corporate version of the hometown tax donation system, companies make donations to local governments and then receive tax deductions. To receive tax deductions, a series of procedures are required, including converting the donation amount into monetary terms, calculating the deduction amount, and obtaining and submitting necessary supporting documents. Traditional simple matching functions, such as wish lists, and general matching systems1 lacked systematic management and support functions for these tax procedures. As a result, companies had to carry out cumbersome administrative procedures separately after making a donation, and this administrative burden was a factor that discouraged companies from donating.

[0074] In this embodiment 3, the matching system 1 is enhanced with a function to comprehensively manage the entire process from making a donation to applying for a tax deduction in the corporate version of the Furusato Nozei (hometown tax) system. As shown in Figure 6, the matching device 100 is equipped with a donation amount conversion unit 131, a deduction calculation unit 132, and a certificate issuance unit 133. Additionally, the local government terminal 200 is equipped with a certificate approval unit 231, and the corporate terminal 300 is equipped with a tax return support unit 331. Furthermore, a deduction information DB 140 is added to the database section.

[0075] The donation amount conversion unit 131 provides a function to convert donations of goods and services into monetary value. In the case of goods, the monetary value is calculated based on market price and cost information, and in the case of services, it is calculated based on standard provision time and labor cost per unit. For example, in the aforementioned example of a computer donation to City A in Miyagi Prefecture, the market price of the computer itself and the market value of the ancillary services (setup work, training, support) are added together to obtain the monetary value.

[0076] For example, in the case of goods, the company inputs information about the goods to be donated (product name, model number, quantity, etc.) via the company terminal 300. The donation amount conversion unit 131 automatically obtains the market price of the relevant goods by referring to a price database that has been registered in the system in advance. In addition, as an option, the company can upload a website URL or a PDF of a catalog containing price information, and the price information is extracted from these. In the case of services, the company inputs basic information such as the type of service provided, man-days, and labor cost per person via the company terminal 300. The donation amount conversion unit 131 calculates the amount by referring to a standard unit price table by industry and occupation and multiplying it by the input man-days.

[0077] Furthermore, if a company has previously provided similar goods or services, the matching device 100 automatically suggests an amount for a similar case by referring to past conversion records stored in the deduction information DB 140. This allows companies to avoid cumbersome estimation work, and local governments also benefit from obtaining a highly reasonable monetary conversion based on past performance. In this way, the donation amount conversion unit 131 calculates an objective and rational monetary value while reducing the burden on both companies and local governments by utilizing a database and providing a simple input form.

[0078] The deduction calculation unit 132 has the function of automatically calculating the amount of each deduction (corporate tax, corporate inhabitant tax, corporate business tax) that a company can receive based on the converted donation amount. Based on the tax credit mechanism in the corporate version of the hometown tax donation system, and taking into account that up to approximately 90% of the donation amount can be deducted as a tax credit, it calculates the specific amount of tax that can be deducted by cross-referencing it with the company's tax information.

[0079] The certificate issuing unit 133 provides the function of electronically issuing and managing legal documents such as "donation receipt certificates" that companies need to receive tax deductions. The certificate issuing unit 133 may also have a function to automatically issue legally binding certificates. The certificate issuing function may be linked with the electronic signature system of local governments.

[0080] The certificate approval unit 231 of the municipal terminal 200 provides functions for verifying the validity of the donation amount conversion and approving the certificate with the municipality's electronic signature. Municipal officials can verify the converted amount and request adjustments as necessary.

[0081] The tax return support unit 331 of the corporate terminal 300 supports the import of deduction information. By integrating with a company's accounting system and ensuring compatibility with major accounting software, the burden of tax filing work for companies is reduced. It is also preferable to provide functions such as assistance in preparing tax returns and checking submitted documents.

[0082] The Deduction Information DB140 centrally manages information related to tax credits, including donation history for each company, monetary equivalent amounts, deduction calculation results, and issued certificate information. Past deduction records are also accumulated, which companies can use to plan future donations.

[0083] Next, we will explain the process by adding the tax credit processing in this embodiment 2 to the basic processing flow shown in Figure 2. The following processing is added after step S108 "Execute donation" in Figure 2.

[0084] First, after the donation is made, the donation amount conversion unit 131 calculates the monetary value of the goods or services. Next, the municipal official verifies the validity of the converted amount through the certificate approval unit 231 of the municipal terminal 200. At this time, verification is performed by referring to the quotation submitted by the company and price information of similar services in the market. If necessary, the amount is adjusted between the municipality and the company.

[0085] Next, based on the confirmed monetary value, the certificate issuing unit 133 generates a "donation receipt certificate." This certificate automatically fills in necessary information such as the name of the donating company, the date of donation, and the monetary value. Next, the deduction calculation unit 132 calculates the estimated tax deduction amount. Based on the capital and taxable income registered by the company in advance, the estimated deduction amount for each of the three corporate taxes resulting from the donation is calculated. The generated certificate is electronically transmitted to the company terminal 300. The electronic data of the certificate is stored on the matching system, and the company can refer to and download it at any time as needed.

[0086] Next, the tax return support unit 331 of the corporate terminal 300 connects with the company's accounting system to assist in importing deduction information. After completing the tax return, the company can register the results in the deduction information DB 140. This records donations, such as deduction amounts, and serves as reference data for future donation plans.

[0087] As described above, Example 3 significantly reduces the administrative burden on companies by managing the entire process from matching goods and services donated under the corporate version of the hometown tax system to applying for tax deductions. This allows companies to reduce the burden of complicated tax procedures, and local governments can streamline administrative processing after receiving donations.

[0088] <Example 4> As Example 4, the matching combination recommendation function in Matching System 1 will be described. The matching processing unit 101 can recommend municipalities suitable for a company's resources automatically (in a push manner) or in response to a recommendation request from a company. The matching processing unit 101 can calculate the degree of compatibility between a company and a municipality by cross-referencing wish lists of multiple municipalities based on, for example, the company's past donation record stored in the history database 130, the company's available resources or business content registered using the company terminal 300, and the company's publicly available information (homepage, IR materials, etc.), and recommend combinations with a high degree of compatibility. In this case, it is preferable to present not only the name of the municipality and the name of the regional project, but also the adjustment table described above. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0089] 100: Matching device, 101: Matching processing unit, 104: List acquisition unit, 105: List display control unit, 106: Provision intention acquisition unit, 200: Local government terminal, 201: List registration Recording Department, 203: Proposal Evaluation Department, 300: Corporate Terminal, 302: Proposal Creation Department, 303: Donation Execution Department

Claims

1. A matching device for supporting local government projects through donations of goods or services by companies, A communication unit that sends and receives information with the municipal terminal used by the aforementioned local government and the corporate terminal used by the aforementioned company, A list acquisition unit that acquires a wish list related to the donation content entered at the aforementioned municipal terminal and saves it for each of the aforementioned municipalities, wherein the wish list includes at least the category of the regional project and donation content information indicating the content of the goods or services that the municipality desires, the list acquisition unit A list display control unit that displays the acquired wish list on the corporate terminal in a way that allows filtering, using at least one of the following as search criteria: identification information indicating the municipality, the category, and the donation details information. A donation intention acquisition unit that acquires donation intention information entered by the company using the company terminal in accordance with the wish list displayed on the company terminal, and stores this information for each company, wherein the donation intention information includes, as a proposal from the company, the conditions for providing the goods or services that the company can provide in response to the donation content information, A matching unit that performs matching processing between the local government and the company based on the aforementioned wish list and the company's proposal, wherein the matching processing includes at least the determination of whether or not to accept the company's proposal and the adjustment of the terms of provision, A history management unit that stores the history of the matching process in association with the wish list and the regional project, A matching device characterized by being equipped with the following features.

2. The aforementioned wish list further includes reference price information for the aforementioned goods or services. The matching device according to feature 1.

3. The aforementioned wish list includes specification information relating to the aforementioned goods or services, and the specification information includes at least one of the following for the goods: model number, performance, quantity, and delivery date, or at least one of the following for the services: content, duration, frequency, and delivery date. The matching device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The aforementioned wish list includes the priority of the conditions for the aforementioned donation. The matching device according to claim 1 or 2.

5. The list display control unit enables a refined search based on at least one of the following as identification information: municipality name, regional classification, and population size. The matching device according to claim 1 or 2.

6. The list display control unit enables a refined search based on at least one of the following categories: disaster prevention, education, welfare, environment, tourism, and industrial promotion. The matching device according to claim 1 or 2.

7. The list display control unit customizes the display order of the wish list based on the company's location, business activities, or donation history. The matching device according to claim 1 or 2.

8. The aforementioned corporate proposal includes alternatives or customizations to the aforementioned donation information. The matching device according to claim 1 or 2.

9. The matching unit cross-references the wish lists of multiple municipalities and recommends to the company the municipality with the highest degree of suitability. The matching device according to claim 1 or 2.

10. The matching unit has the function of detecting the difference between the company's proposal and the wish list, and suggesting points for adjustment between the two. The matching device according to claim 1 or 2.

11. The matching unit generates a donation offer form based on the agreed-upon terms after the adjustment of the terms of provision between the local government and the company is completed. The matching device according to claim 1 or 2.

12. The history management unit has the function of saving the status at each stage of the matching process and displaying the progress on the municipal terminal and the corporate terminal. The matching device according to claim 1 or 2.

13. The history management unit has a function to manage the progress of the donation after the matching process. The matching device according to claim 1 or 2.

14. The aforementioned history management unit will send a notification to the operator according to the progress of the negotiation of the terms and conditions of provision between the local government and the company. The matching device according to claim 1 or 2.

15. A donation amount conversion unit that converts the donation of the aforementioned goods or services into a monetary value, A deduction calculation unit that calculates the amount of tax deductible based on the converted monetary value, A certificate issuing unit that electronically generates the necessary supporting documents for deductions, The matching device according to claim 1, further comprising:

16. The certificate issuing unit has the function of transmitting the contents of the certificate generated by the certificate issuing unit to the local government terminal and obtaining approval from the local government. The matching device according to claim 15.

17. The deduction calculation unit has a function to cooperate with the company's accounting system and to support the import of information regarding the deductible amount. The matching device according to claim 15 or 16, characterized by the features described herein.

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