Sales promotion support device

Abstract

We will establish a system to provide customers with samples of products intended for sale, simplify the process for providing samples, and reduce costs. [Solution] The sales promotion support device includes: an inventory storage means that stores product identification information and the inventory quantity of the product identified by the product identification information in association; a purchase data storage means that stores the sales date of a product, the product identification information of the sold product, and the sales price of the sold product in association; a coupon usage acceptance means that accepts the use of a coupon presented by a user for a single product; a product provision means that performs processing to provide a single product to a user from the sales inventory, and registers information that the date on which the single product was provided is set as the sales date, the product identification information of the single product, and information that the sales price of the single product is set as a predetermined price in association with the purchase data storage means; and an inventory management means that subtracts the quantity of the single product provided to the user from the inventory quantity associated with the product identification information of the single product.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] It relates to a technology for promoting the sale of products.

Background Art

[0002] In order to improve the sales of products, sales promotion measures are important. Among them, the distribution of samples is one of the effective means. By allowing potential customers to actually try the product, they can experience the quality and usability, increasing the likelihood of being convinced and making a purchase. If they become interested in the product based on the sample and develop a sense of trust in it, there are many cases where potential customers become actual customers.

[0003] By the way, conventionally, there has been an idea of using samples as a sales promotion measure. For example, in Patent Document 1, a sales promotion system has been proposed that can easily recognize the location where products or product samples are placed and can more effectively utilize consumer information.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, in the prior art as described above, it is necessary to separately prepare the target product and its sample, and there is a problem that the work of providing the sample is time-consuming.

[0006] Therefore, in view of the above problems, the present invention aims to provide a sales promotion support device that constructs a mechanism for providing customers with products for sale as samples, simplifies the process for providing samples, and reduces costs.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] One form of the disclosed sales promotion support device includes: an inventory storage means that stores product identification information and the inventory quantity of the product identified by the product identification information in association; a purchase data storage means that stores the sales date of the product, the product identification information of the sold product, and the sales price of the sold product in association; a coupon usage acceptance means that accepts the use of a coupon presented by a user for one of the products; and a means that tells the user to purchase the product from the sales inventory. As a sample The system performs processing to provide the product, and also includes information that the date on which the product was provided is the sales date, product identification information relating to the product, and the sales price relating to the product. 0 yen The system is characterized by comprising: a product provision means that associates information and registers it in the purchase data storage means; and an inventory management means that subtracts the quantity of the product provided to the user from the inventory quantity associated with the product identification information for the product. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] The sales promotion support device to be disclosed will establish a system for providing sales products to customers as samples, simplify the process for providing samples, and reduce costs. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This figure shows an overview of the sales promotion support device according to this embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a functional block diagram of the sales promotion support device according to this embodiment. [Figure 3] This figure shows an example of the hardware configuration of the sales promotion support device according to this embodiment. [Figure 4] This flowchart shows an example of the processing flow using the sales promotion support device according to this embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] The embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. (Operating principle of the sales promotion support device according to this embodiment)

[0011] The operating principle of the sales promotion support device (hereinafter simply referred to as "this device") 100 according to this embodiment will be explained using Figures 1 and 2. Figure 1 is a diagram showing the connection relationship between this device 100 and other devices, and Figure 2 is a functional block diagram of this device 100.

[0012] As shown in Figure 1, the device 100 is connected to other devices such as a POS (Point of Sale) system 310 via a communication network 300. The communication network 300 can be either wired or wireless.

[0013] As shown in Figure 2, the device 100 includes an inventory storage means 110, a purchase data storage means 120, a coupon usage acceptance means 130, a product provision means 140, an inventory management means 150, and a product ordering means 160. The inventory storage means 110 stores product identification information 220 and the inventory quantity 230 related to the product 210 identified by the product identification information 220 in association with each other.

[0014] The purchase data storage means 120 stores the sales date 250 of the product 210, product identification information 220 related to the sold product 210, and the sales price 260 related to the sold product 210 in association with each other. The sales date 250, product identification information 220, and sales price 260 overlap with the information registered in the POS system 310.

[0015] The coupon redemption method 130 accepts the use of a coupon 270 presented by a user 290 for a single product 210. The coupon 270 may be in electronic data, paper form, or any other form.

[0016] The product providing means 140 performs a process for providing a single product 210, which is the target of the coupon 270, from the sales inventory 240 to the user 290. In addition, the product providing means 140 associates information with the sales date 250 being the date when the single product 210 was provided, product identification information 220 related to the single product 210, and information with the sales price 260 related to the single product 210 being a predetermined price, and registers them in the purchase data storage means 120. The product providing means 140 performs a process equivalent to registering information related to the sale of a single product 210 in the POS system 310. Regarding the product 210 provided to the user 290 by using the coupon 270, a process is performed such that the product 210 is delivered from the sales inventory 240 instead of the sample inventory, and sold to the user 290 at a predetermined price, and the same process as normal sales is performed. Note that the predetermined price includes 0 yen.

[0017] The inventory management means 150 subtracts the quantity of the single product 210 provided to the user 290 from the inventory quantity 230 associated with the product identification information 220 related to the single product 210, which is the target of the coupon 270. The inventory management means 150 subtracts the quantity of the single product 210 provided to the user 290 from the inventory quantity 230 associated with the product identification information 220 related to the single product 210 stored in the inventory storage means 110. Regarding the product 210 provided to the user 290 by using the coupon 270, a process is performed such that the product 210 is delivered from the sales inventory 240 instead of the sample inventory, that is, the same process as normal sales is performed.

[0018] When the inventory quantity 230 related to a single product 210 provided to the user 290 as the target of the coupon 270 becomes a predetermined threshold value 280 or less, the product ordering means 160 performs a process related to ordering the single product 210. Regarding the product 210 provided to the user 290 by using the coupon 270, a process is performed to manage the inventory quantity of the sales product 210 instead of managing the sample inventory quantity, that is, the inventory management is unified for the sales product 210.

[0019] Based on the above operating principle, the device 100 constructs a mechanism to provide the sales product 210 to the customer 290 as a sample, simplifies the process for providing the sample, and aims to reduce costs. (Hardware Configuration of the Device According to this Embodiment)

[0020] Using FIG. 3, an example of the hardware configuration of the device 100 will be described. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the device 100. As shown in FIG. 3, the device 100 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 510, a ROM (Read-Only Memory) 520, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 530, an auxiliary storage device 540, a communication I / F 550, an input device 560, a display device 570, and a storage medium I / F 580.

[0021] The CPU 510 is a device that executes the programs stored in the ROM 520, performs arithmetic processing on the data expanded (loaded) into the RAM 530 according to the instructions of the programs, and controls the entire device 100. The ROM 520 stores the programs and data that the CPU 510 executes. The RAM 530 is where the programs and data to be executed are expanded (loaded) when the CPU 510 executes the programs stored in the ROM 520, and temporarily holds the arithmetic data during the arithmetic operations.

[0022] The auxiliary storage device 540 is a device that stores the OS (Operating System), which is basic software, and application programs according to this embodiment, together with related data. The auxiliary storage device 540 is, for example, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or a flash memory, and includes an inventory storage means 110 and a purchase data storage means 120.

[0023] The communication I / F 550 is an interface for connecting to a communication network 300 such as a wired / wireless LAN (Local Area Network) or the Internet, and performing data exchange with other devices 310 that provide a communication function.

[0024] The input device 560 is a device for inputting data into the main device 100, such as a keyboard. The display device (output device) 570 is a device consisting of an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or the like, and functions as a user interface for the user to use the functions of the main device 100 and to make various settings. The storage medium I / F 580 is an interface for sending and receiving data with storage media 590 such as CD-ROMs, DVD-ROMs, and USB memory.

[0025] Each of the means of this device 100 may be realized by the CPU 510 executing a program corresponding to each means stored in the ROM 520 or auxiliary storage device 540. Alternatively, each of the means of this device 100 may be realized by the processing related to each means being implemented as hardware. Furthermore, the program according to the present invention may be read from an external server device via a communication I / F 550, or read from a storage medium 590 via a storage medium I / F 580, and the device 100 may execute the program. (Example of processing using the apparatus according to this embodiment) The processing flow of this device 100 will be explained using Figure 4. Figure 4 is a flowchart showing the processing flow of this device 100.

[0026] In S10, the coupon redemption acceptance method 130 accepts the use of a coupon 270 presented by a user 290 for a single product 210. The coupon 270 may be in electronic data, paper form, or any other form.

[0027] In S20, the product provision means 140 processes to provide a product 210, which is the target of the coupon 270, from the sales inventory 240 to the user 290. In addition, in S20, the product provision means 140 associates information that the date on which the product 210 was provided is set as the sales date 250, product identification information 220 related to the product 210, and information that the sales price 260 related to the product 210 is set to a predetermined price (for example, 0 yen) and registers this information in the purchase data storage means 120.

[0028] The product provision means 140 performs processing equivalent to registering information regarding the sale of a single product 210 in the POS system 310. With respect to the product 210 provided to the user 290 by using the coupon 270, the product 210 is issued from the sales inventory 240 rather than from the sample inventory, and the process is performed as if it were sold to the user 290 at a predetermined price (for example, 0 yen), thus performing processing similar to that of a normal sale.

[0029] In S20, the inventory management means 150 subtracts the quantity of the product 210 provided to the user 290 from the inventory quantity 230 associated with the product identification information 220 for the product 210 that is the target of the coupon 270. The inventory management means 150 subtracts the quantity of the product 210 provided to the user 290 from the inventory quantity 230 associated with the product identification information 220 for the product 210 stored in the inventory storage means 110. With respect to the product 210 provided to the user 290 by the use of the coupon 270, the process is carried out as if the product 210 was issued from the sales inventory 240 rather than from the sample inventory, that is, the process is carried out in the same way as a normal sale.

[0030] If, in S30, the inventory quantity 230 associated with the product identification information 220 for a single product 210 eligible for coupon 270 is less than a predetermined threshold 280 (YES in S30), the process proceeds to 40.

[0031] In S40, the product ordering means 160 processes the order for one product 210. With respect to the product 210 provided to the user 290 by using the coupon 270, the process manages the inventory quantity of the product 210 for sale, rather than managing the inventory quantity of the sample product. In other words, inventory management is unified for the product 210 for sale.

[0032] By performing the above-described process, the device 100 establishes a system for providing the product 210 for sale to customers 290 as samples, simplifying the process for providing samples and reducing costs.

[0033] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to these specific embodiments, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention as described in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0034] 100 Sales Promotion Support Devices 110 Inventory storage means 120 Purchase data storage means 130 Coupon redemption methods 140 Means of providing products 150 Inventory Management Methods 160 Product Ordering Methods 210 products 220 Product Identification Information 230 in stock 240 items in stock for sale 250 Sales date 260 Selling price 270 coupons 280 Inventory threshold 290 users 300 Communication Networks 310 POS (Point of Sale) System 510 CPU 520 ROM 530 RAM 540 Auxiliary storage 550 Communication Interfaces 560 Input Device 570 Output device 580 Storage Media Interface 590 Storage medium

Claims

1. An inventory storage means that stores product identification information and the inventory quantity of the product identified by the product identification information in association with each other. A purchase data storage means that stores the sales date of the said product, the product identification information relating to the said product that was sold, and the sales price relating to the said product that was sold, in association with each other. Regarding the aforementioned product, a coupon usage acceptance method that accepts the use of coupons presented by users, A product provision means that performs a process to provide the user with the product from the sales inventory as a sample, and registers in the purchase data storage means the date on which the product was provided as the sales date, the product identification information relating to the product, and the sales price relating to the product as 0 yen, in association with the following: A sales promotion support device characterized by having an inventory management means that subtracts the quantity of the product provided to the user from the inventory quantity associated with the product identification information for the product.

2. The sales promotion support device according to claim 1, characterized in that it has a product ordering means that processes an order for the aforementioned product when the inventory quantity of the aforementioned product falls below a predetermined threshold.

3. A sales promotion support method performed by a computer comprising: inventory storage means for storing product identification information and the inventory quantity of the product identified by the product identification information in association; and purchase data storage means for storing the sales date of the product, the product identification information of the sold product, and the sales price of the sold product in association; The coupon redemption method includes the step of accepting the use of a coupon presented by a user for one of the aforementioned products, The product provision means performs a process to provide the user with the product from the sales inventory as a sample, and registers the following in association with the purchase data storage means: information on the date the product was provided as the sales date, product identification information relating to the product, and information setting the sales price of the product to 0 yen; A sales promotion support method characterized by comprising the step of subtracting the inventory quantity associated with the product identification information for the one product from the quantity of the one product provided to the user.

4. The sales promotion support method according to claim 3, characterized in that the product ordering means includes the step of processing an order for the first product when the inventory quantity of the first product falls below a predetermined threshold.

5. A promotional support program for causing a computer to perform the method described in claim 3 or 4.

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