Information processing system, information processing method, and program

Abstract

To issue an estimate promptly and accurately on-site at a proposed location for building construction. [Solution] A person in charge processing control unit 51 determines the construction details of building renovation work, one or more products (building materials, etc.) required for the work, and the construction schedule for the work by appropriately communicating with a renovation person terminal 2. The person in charge processing control unit 51 issues an estimate for the work based on cost information previously agreed upon between the candidate contractor for the work and the construction details and products determined for the work.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing system, an information processing method, and a program.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, there has been a system for creating an estimate for renovation work of a building (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, there is a demand for immediately and accurately issuing an estimate at the site such as the location of the candidate for building work, but the conventional technology including the above-mentioned Patent Document 1 cannot meet such a demand.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and an object thereof is to immediately and accurately issue an estimate at the site such as the location of the candidate for building work.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] To achieve the above object, an information processing system according to an aspect of the present invention includes construction content determination means for determining the construction content of building work, product determination means for determining products required for the work, estimate issuance means for issuing an estimate for the work based on cost information pre-agreed with candidates for the constructor of the work for the determined construction content and the products of the work, and includes.

[0007] Furthermore, a means for determining the construction schedule for the aforementioned construction work, An order-taking means that executes the process related to the order for the construction work based on the construction details, products, and construction schedule determined for the said construction work, It can provide even more.

[0008] A means for acquiring preparation information that acquires information regarding the preparations of a candidate contractor for the said construction work, based on the construction details, products, and construction schedule determined for the said construction work. Furthermore, The order-taking means can further execute the processing related to the order for the construction work based on the setup information.

[0009] A means of ordering the construction work, which determines the candidate as the contractor for the construction work based on the details of the order for the construction work, and orders the construction work to be carried out by the said contractor. It can provide even more.

[0010] A management means for hierarchically managing accounts for accessing the aforementioned information processing system, and for setting and managing whether or not access restrictions are necessary for each predetermined unit at each level. It can provide even more.

[0011] Each of the information processing method and program according to one aspect of the present invention corresponds to the information processing apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention described above. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] According to the present invention, it becomes possible to issue estimates immediately and accurately at the site, such as at a candidate location for building construction. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0013] [Figure 1] This is a block diagram showing an example configuration of one embodiment of the information processing system of the present invention. [Figure 2]It is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of a renovation contractor server in the information processing system shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 3] It is a functional block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the renovation contractor server in FIG. 2. [Figure 4] It is a functional block diagram showing an example of the detailed functional configuration of the person-in-charge processing control unit among the functional configurations of the renovation contractor server in FIG. 3. [Figure 5] It is a screen transition diagram showing an example of the transition of various screens displayed on the display unit of the renovation person-in-charge terminal in FIG. 1. [Figure 6] It is a diagram showing an example of a home screen among the various screens displayed on the display unit of the renovation person-in-charge terminal in FIG. 1. [Figure 7] It is a diagram showing an example of a product screen among the various screens displayed on the display unit of the renovation person-in-charge terminal in FIG. 1. [Figure 8] It is a diagram showing an example of a product blowing screen among the various screens displayed on the display unit of the renovation person-in-charge terminal in FIG. 1. [Figure 9] It is a diagram showing an example of a product blowing - wage popup screen among the various screens displayed on the display unit of the renovation person-in-charge terminal in FIG. 1. [Figure 10] It is a diagram showing an example of a calendar screen among the various screens displayed on the display unit of the renovation person-in-charge terminal in FIG. 1. [Figure 11] It is a diagram showing an example of a schedule calendar screen among the various screens displayed on the display unit of the renovation person-in-charge terminal in FIG. 1. [Figure 12] It is a diagram showing an example of a screen of the "ordered" tab among the various screens displayed on the display unit of the renovation person-in-charge terminal in FIG. 1. [Figure 13] It is a functional block diagram showing an example of the detailed functional configuration of the constructor processing control unit among the functional configurations of the renovation contractor server in FIG. 3. [Figure 14] It is a screen transition diagram showing an example of the transition of various screens displayed on the display unit of the renovation person-in-charge terminal in FIG. 1, which is an example different from the example in FIG. 5. [Figure 15]This figure shows an example of planning information, specifically information indicating the schedule at the level of a construction company, as an example of a candidate contractor. [Figure 16] This figure shows a different example from Figure 15 of the planning information, and illustrates information showing the schedule at the level of individual craftsmen, etc., as an example of a candidate contractor. [Figure 17] This figure shows an example of the order history screen, one of the various screens displayed on the display unit of the renovation staff terminal shown in Figure 1. [Figure 18] This figure shows an example of the ordering screen, one of the various screens displayed on the display unit of the renovation staff terminal shown in Figure 1. [Figure 19] Figure 1 shows an example of a screen used for inputting or confirming product information, among the various screens displayed on the display unit of the renovation contractor's server. [Figure 20] This diagram illustrates an example of the account hierarchy for a renovation server or a renovation staff terminal. [Figure 21] This is a schematic diagram showing an example of the operational configuration of an information processing system to which the present invention is applied. [Figure 22] This is a block diagram showing an example configuration of a second embodiment of the information processing system of the present invention. [Figure 23] Figure 22 is a functional block diagram showing an example of the detailed functional configuration of the person in charge processing control unit, which is part of the functional configuration of the renovation contractor server. [Figure 24] This is a flowchart showing the contract processing process for purchase orders using electronic signatures. [Figure 25] This diagram shows the screens from quotation to order placement. [Figure 26] This shows the signature screen. [Figure 27] This is a diagram showing the dialog box for selecting the contract type. [Figure 28] This figure shows a dialog box indicating that order information has been generated. [Figure 29] This figure shows a dialog box indicating that a signature request is in progress. [Figure 30] This is a diagram showing the signature request screen. [Figure 31] This is a diagram showing the document signing screen. [Figure 32] This is a diagram showing the signature selection screen. [Figure 33] This diagram shows the screen indicating the completion of the electronic contract procedure. [Figure 34] This diagram shows a selection dialog box prompting the user to choose between printing, emailing, or completing. [Figure 35] This figure shows an example of a PDF file of an electronically signed order form with terms and conditions. [Figure 36] This is a flowchart showing the process of processing paper-based order forms. [Figure 37] This is a flowchart showing the process of processing construction contracts using electronic signatures. [Figure 38] This is a flowchart showing the process for processing paper-based construction contracts. [Figure 39] This is a flowchart showing the process of processing a contract termination agreement using an electronic signature. [Figure 40] This is a flowchart showing the process for processing paper-based contract termination agreements. [Figure 41] This flowchart shows the process for processing construction completion confirmation documents using electronic signatures. [Figure 42] This flowchart shows the processing steps for paper-based construction completion confirmation documents. [Figure 43] This is a diagram showing the order analysis screen. [Figure 44] This is a diagram showing the sales analysis screen. [Figure 45] This is a diagram of the sales analysis screen. [Figure 46] This is a diagram showing the sales analysis details screen. [Figure 47] This is a diagram showing the target master screen. [Figure 48] This is a diagram showing the order management screen. [Figure 49] This is a diagram showing the process control screen. [Figure 50] This is a diagram showing the payment management screen. [Figure 51]This is a diagram showing the deposit management screen. [Figure 52] This is a diagram showing the reservation management screen. [Figure 53] This diagram shows the screen for the CAD integration function. [Figure 54] This diagram shows the screen for the catalog linking function. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0014] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0015] Figure 1 is a block diagram showing an example configuration of one embodiment of the information processing system of the present invention. The information processing system of this embodiment supports a series of tasks related to building renovation work, from estimation to order placement and contracting. As shown in Figure 1, this information processing system consists of a renovation contractor server 1, renovation personnel terminals 2-1 to 2-n (where n is an arbitrary integer value), and contractor terminals 3-1 to 3-m (where m is an arbitrary integer value independent of n), all of which are connected to a network N such as the Internet.

[0016] Renovation contractor server 1 is managed by contractors who undertake building renovation work (hereinafter referred to as "renovation contractors") and supports a series of tasks related to building renovation work, from obtaining estimates to receiving and placing orders.

[0017] Although the term "support" is used here, the person who handles tasks from estimation to order placement is an employee of the renovation company, and is the person in charge of the user requesting the renovation work (hereinafter referred to as the "renovation person in charge"). In the example shown in Figure 1, each of the n renovation staff members possesses one renovation staff terminal 2-1 to 2-n, each consisting of a tablet device or similar, and performs tasks such as providing estimates and taking orders at the user's home or other work site. In the following, if it is not necessary to distinguish between each of the n renovation personnel individually, renovation personnel terminals 2-1 through 2-n will be collectively referred to as "renovation personnel terminal 2". In other words, the renovation staff can operate the renovation staff terminal 2 on-site and hold meetings with the user, allowing them to perform tasks such as obtaining estimates, receiving orders, and placing orders on-site.

[0018] In other words, the renovation staff terminal 2, in collaboration with the renovation contractor server 1, can perform a series of processes, such as the following, to support the entire process from estimating to receiving and placing orders for building renovation work. Here, the method of "collaboration" is not particularly limited. For example, the first method, in which the renovation staff terminal 2 communicates with the renovation contractor server 1 as needed and has the renovation contractor server 1 perform the main processing, can be adopted as the method of "collaboration." Alternatively, the renovation staff terminal 2 can adopt a second method, in which it pre-downloads dedicated application software (hereinafter simply referred to as "app") from the renovation contractor server 1 or a device under its management (not shown) and executes it using the app, can be adopted as the method of "collaboration." Or, an appropriate combination of the first and second methods can also be adopted as the method of "collaboration." However, for the sake of explanation, the following example will be described assuming that the first method is adopted as a "collaborative" method. In other words, in the following example, the parts where the processing entity is "Renovation Contractor Server 1" are merely illustrative examples, and it goes without saying that in implementation, it may be appropriately changed to "Renovation Personnel Terminal 2".

[0019] In other words, in this example, the renovation contractor server 1 performs a series of tasks to support the process from estimating and receiving orders for building renovation work, while communicating with the renovation staff terminal 2 as needed.

[0020] In this example, the renovation company does not undertake the renovation work itself, but rather commissions contractors and craftsmen (hereinafter collectively referred to as "contractors") to carry out the work, and the contractor then undertakes the work. However, this example is merely illustrative, and renovation companies may also undertake at least a portion of the renovation work themselves. In other words, it is necessary to make arrangements to secure (order) a contractor to undertake the renovation work before the work actually begins. In this example, there are m candidates for such contractors, and each of the m contractors will possess one contractor terminal 3-1 through 3-m to disclose their schedule and respond to orders from renovation contractors. Hereafter, when it is not necessary to distinguish each of the m contractors individually, contractor terminals 3-1 through 3-m will be collectively referred to as "Contractor Terminal 3". In this example, the renovation contractor server 1 communicates with the contractor terminal 3 as needed to perform processes that support the arrangements of potential contractors.

[0021] In summary, for example, the renovation contractor server 1 determines the details of the building renovation work, one or more products (building materials, etc.) required for the work, and the schedule for the work by communicating with the renovation staff terminal 2 as needed. Renovation contractor server 1 issues an estimate for the construction work based on cost information agreed in advance with the candidate contractor for the construction work, regarding the construction details and products decided for the work.

[0022] This can produce the following effects: In other words, when renovation staff used the conventional system, even if they wanted to issue an estimate on-site, they had to do various tasks such as contacting potential contractors or getting approval from their superiors for the price. As a result, it was extremely difficult for renovation staff to issue estimates immediately or accurately on-site. However, by using the information processing system shown in Figure 1, cost information agreed upon in advance with the prospective contractors for the construction work is prepared for each product and construction item. This means that tasks equivalent to those required in the conventional system for issuing estimates, such as contacting prospective contractors or obtaining approval for the price from superiors, have already been completed. Therefore, the renovation manager does not need to perform these tasks, and can issue estimates immediately and accurately on-site.

[0023] Furthermore, the renovation contractor server 1 can perform processing related to the order for the construction work based on the determined construction details, products, and construction schedule. This allows renovation staff to not only provide estimates but also secure orders on-site.

[0024] Specifically, in home renovations, users have problems with their homes and a desire to "get it fixed as soon as possible." However, traditionally, renovation companies have had to handle a considerable amount of administrative work, both legally and procedurally, requiring the following steps ST1 through ST10. As a result, they have been unable to fully meet the aforementioned demands.

[0025] In other words, Step ST1 is the process of "obtaining estimates from subcontractors." Step ST2 is the process of "revisiting the site to create an estimate and having the subcontractor conduct on-site inspections (surveys, etc.)." Step ST3 is the process of "waiting for the submission of estimates from subcontractors (approximately one week)." Step ST4 is the process of "checking with a supervisor, etc., to see if it is okay to submit the estimate to the customer with a profit margin added to the estimate obtained from the subcontractor in Step ST1, and obtaining approval as a renovation contractor (company)." Step ST5 is the process of "creating an estimate to present to the user after approval and obtaining approval as a renovation contractor (company)." Step ST6 is the process of "submitting the estimate to the user (this generally takes two weeks)." Step ST7 is the process of "receiving the user's intention to contract." Step ST8 is the process of "creating an order form and construction contract." Step ST9 is the process of "receiving the order form and construction contract documents from the user." Step ST10 is the process of "issuing an acceptance form to the user." Once this step ST10 is completed, the order from the user is finalized.

[0026] However, by using the information processing system shown in Figure 1, the renovation staff can immediately provide estimates and accept projects on-site, such as at the user's home, without having to manually perform the tedious and time-consuming administrative tasks in steps ST1 through ST10. In this way, by applying the information processing system shown in Figure 1, it becomes possible to respond to users' requests for home renovations when they have problems at home and "want to get it fixed as soon as possible."

[0027] Furthermore, the renovation contractor server 1 can acquire information regarding the arrangements of potential contractors for the construction work, based on the construction details, products, and construction schedule that have been decided for the construction work, as arrangement information. Furthermore, the renovation contractor server 1 can perform processing related to receiving orders for construction work based on the scheduling information. This allows renovation managers to ensure proper scheduling with contractors and secure appropriate orders from customers. For specific examples of setup information, please refer to Figures 15 and 16, which will be discussed later.

[0028] Furthermore, the renovation contractor server 1 can, based on the details of the construction order, select a candidate as the contractor and place an order with that contractor to perform the construction work. This allows renovation personnel to not only provide estimates and accept orders, but also to place orders for construction work quickly and easily.

[0029] Specifically, as mentioned above, in home renovations, users have problems with their homes and a desire to "get it fixed as soon as possible." However, traditionally, renovation companies had a considerable amount of administrative work to do, both legally and procedurally. In addition to the steps ST1 to ST10 mentioned above, steps ST11 to ST16 were necessary to place an order for the work, which meant they were unable to fully meet the aforementioned demands.

[0030] Specifically, Step ST11 is the process of "creating a construction ledger and referring to and transcribing the estimates from subcontractors (candidate contractors)." Step ST12 is the process of "obtaining contract-related information (user customer information, construction-related information, payment-related information)." Step ST13 is the process of "creating a purchase order based on the contents of each step ST11 and ST12 described above." Step ST14 is the process of "the renovation business (company) approving the contents of this purchase order." Step ST15 is the process of "submitting the purchase order to the subcontractor (candidate contractor) for example by email or fax." Note that the construction schedule is confirmed at the time of Step ST15. Step ST16 is the process of "receiving a purchase order confirmation from the subcontractor (candidate contractor)."

[0031] However, by using the information processing system shown in Figure 1, the renovation manager can place orders for construction work in a short period of time with only simple operations, without having to manually perform the tedious and time-consuming administrative tasks in steps ST11 to ST16. In this way, by applying the information processing system shown in Figure 1, it becomes possible to respond to users' requests for home renovations when they have problems at home and want to "get it fixed as soon as possible."

[0032] Thus, in this example, the renovation contractor server 1 performs the main processing (processing according to the first method described above), so we will focus on the renovation contractor server 1 in the information processing system shown in Figure 1 and provide the following explanation.

[0033] Figure 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the renovation contractor's server within the information processing system shown in Figure 1.

[0034] The renovation contractor server 1 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 12, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 13, a bus 14, an input / output interface 15, an output unit 16, an input unit 17, a storage unit 18, a communication unit 19, and a drive 20.

[0035] The CPU 11 executes various processes according to the program recorded in the ROM 12 or the program loaded from the storage unit 18 into the RAM 13. RAM13 also stores data and other information necessary for the CPU11 to perform various processes.

[0036] The CPU 11, ROM 12, and RAM 13 are interconnected via a bus 14. An input / output interface 15 is also connected to this bus 14. An output unit 16, an input unit 17, a storage unit 18, a communication unit 19, and a drive 20 are connected to the input / output interface 15.

[0037] The output unit 16 consists of a display such as an LCD, a speaker, etc., and outputs various information as images and sounds. The input unit 17 is composed of, for example, a keyboard, and outputs various types of information. The memory unit 18 is composed of DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) and stores various types of data. The communication unit 19 communicates with other devices (for example, the renovation staff terminal 2 and the contractor terminal 3 in Figure 1) via a network N that includes the Internet.

[0038] A removable media 30, such as a magnetic disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, or semiconductor memory, is appropriately mounted in the drive 20. Programs read from the removable media 30 by the drive 20 are installed in the storage unit 18 as needed. Furthermore, the removable media 30 can store various types of data stored in the storage unit 18, just as the storage unit 18 does.

[0039] Although not shown in the diagram, the renovation staff terminal 2 and the contractor terminal 3 in Figure 1 can have essentially the same hardware configuration as those shown in Figure 2. Therefore, the explanation of the hardware configurations of the renovation staff terminal 2 and the contractor terminal 3 will be omitted.

[0040] Through the collaboration of various hardware and software components of the renovation contractor server 1 shown in Figure 2, it becomes possible to execute processes that support a series of tasks related to building renovation work, from estimation to order placement and contracting. The following describes an example of the functional configuration of the renovation contractor's server 1 for performing such processing.

[0041] Figure 3 is a functional block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the renovation contractor server shown in Figure 2.

[0042] As shown in Figure 3, the CPU 11 of the renovation contractor server 1 functions as follows: the person in charge processing control unit 51, the contractor processing control unit 52, and the main control unit 53. The personnel processing control unit 51 communicates with the renovation personnel terminal 2 via the communication unit 19, and in cooperation with the renovation personnel terminal 2, controls processing to support the work of the personnel. The contractor processing control unit 52 communicates with the contractor terminal 3 via the communication unit 19 to control processing to support the preparations of candidate contractors.

[0043] The personnel processing control unit 51 determines the details of the building renovation work, one or more products (building materials, etc.) required for the work, and the schedule for the work by communicating with the renovation personnel terminal 2 as appropriate. The contractor processing control unit 52 acquires information regarding the preparations of candidate contractors for the construction work from the contractor terminal 3 as preparation information, based on the construction details, one or more products, and schedule decided for the construction work. The personnel processing control unit 51 determines whether or not to accept the order for the construction work based on this setup information.

[0044] The main control unit 53 controls the overall processing of the renovation contractor server 1, which includes the person in charge processing control unit 51 and the contractor processing control unit 52. For example, the main control unit 53 processes the information exchanged between the person in charge processing control unit 51 and the contractor processing control unit 52 as appropriate, and then performs control to transmit it from one to the other. For example, the main control unit 53 can hierarchically manage accounts for accessing the information processing system (for example, managing accounts in the hierarchy shown in Figure 20, which will be described later), and can set and manage whether or not access restrictions are necessary for each predetermined unit at each hierarchy. For example, the main control unit 53 can execute various controls to provide support when renovation personnel or others confirm the details of estimates and orders. Here, the confirmation of the details of estimates and orders includes confirmation of the schedule, project progress, and process management. The functional block that executes such controls is not shown in the diagram, but will be called the "estimate / order confirmation means." As mentioned above, this estimate / order confirmation means also includes functions for confirming the schedule, project progress, and process management.

[0045] The following will explain the personnel processing control unit 51 and the contractor processing control unit 52 individually, in that order.

[0046] First, a detailed example of the functional configuration of the person in charge processing control unit 51 will be described. Figure 4 is a functional block diagram showing an example of the detailed functional configuration of the person in charge processing control unit, which is part of the functional configuration of the renovation contractor server shown in Figure 3. As shown in Figure 4, the person in charge processing control unit 51 is equipped with a construction content determination unit 61, a product candidate presentation unit 62, a product determination unit 63, a quotation issuance unit 64, a construction schedule proposal presentation unit 65, a construction schedule determination unit 66, a contractor setup confirmation unit 67, an order acceptance / rejection determination unit 68, and an order processing unit 69.

[0047] In explaining the detailed functional configuration of the personnel processing control unit 51 in Figure 4 (each functional block shown in Figure 4), specific examples shown in Figures 5 to 12 will be used as appropriate.

[0048] The person in charge processing control unit 51 controls the display of various screens that transition as shown in Figure 5 on a display unit (not shown) of the renovation person in charge terminal 2, while appropriately activating each of the construction content determination unit 61 to the order processing unit 69.

[0049] Figure 5 is a screen transition diagram showing an example of the transitions between various screens displayed on the display unit of the renovation staff terminal shown in Figure 1. In the screen transition diagram in Figure 5, each rectangle represents a single screen. Within each rectangle (screen), symbols containing "P" indicate the screen ID, and the text below them indicates the screen's content (or name). Furthermore, in the screen transition diagram of Figure 5, the arrow pointing from the first rectangle (first screen) to the second rectangle (second screen) indicates that when predetermined transition conditions are met, the object displayed on the display unit of the renovation staff terminal 2 transitions from the first screen to the second screen. The transition conditions are not particularly limited, and in many cases, conditions such as pressing a predetermined software button displayed on the first screen are used.

[0050] Returning to Figure 4, the construction details determination unit 61 determines the details of the renovation work. Specifically, for example, the construction details determination unit 61 displays the screen shown in Figure 6 (the home screen of ID: P-002 in Figure 5) on the renovation staff terminal 2. Figure 6 shows an example of the home screen, one of the various screens displayed on the display unit of the renovation staff terminal shown in Figure 1. In the screen shown in Figure 6, the selection boxes displaying messages such as "Package Products," "Kitchen," ..., "Exterior," ... are clicked when the user or renovation manager selects the scope of work. In other words, the messages "Package Products," "Kitchen," ..., "Exterior," ... indicate the scope of work. Therefore, the construction content determination unit 61 in Figure 4 determines the construction content based on the message displayed in the selection box pressed by the user or the renovation manager, such as "Exterior".

[0051] In this way, once the construction details are determined, that is, when the selection box displaying the message indicating the construction details is pressed, the screen displayed on the display unit of the renovation staff terminal 2 transitions from the screen shown in Figure 6, via the refined search screen (not shown) of ID:P-002_2 in Figure 5, to the screen shown in Figure 7 (the product selection screen of IDP-002_3 in Figure 5). In other words, the product candidate presentation unit 62 in Figure 4 presents one or more product candidates necessary for the renovation work of the decided construction details by displaying, for example, the screen shown in Figure 7 on the renovation staff terminal 2. Figure 7 shows an example of a product screen, which is one of the various screens displayed on the display unit of the renovation staff terminal shown in Figure 1. The screen in Figure 7 displays selection boxes (three selection boxes in the example in Figure 7) showing multiple candidates for products necessary for the renovation work based on the decided construction details. From these multiple candidates, the user or renovation manager selects the product necessary for the renovation work. That is, a click operation is performed on the selection box displaying the selected product.

[0052] In this case, the screen displayed on the display unit of the renovation staff terminal 2 will transition from, for example, the screen shown in Figure 7 to the screen shown in Figure 8 (the product information screen for IDP-002_4_1 in Figure 5). Figure 8 shows an example of the product information screen, which is one of the various screens displayed on the display unit of the renovation staff terminal shown in Figure 1. In the screen shown in Figure 8, the details of the product selected in the screen shown in Figure 7 are displayed in callouts. In other words, a single product may consist of multiple smaller products (parts, etc.), and these smaller products may be customizable, such as through modifications. In such cases, information necessary for customization and descriptions of each smaller product are displayed in a speech bubble. This is very convenient because users can refer to the speech bubbles as needed when making customization choices. In other words, the product candidate presentation unit 62 in Figure 4 can, for example, display not only the screen in Figure 7 but also the screen in Figure 8 on the renovation staff terminal 2, thereby presenting one or more product candidates necessary for the renovation work of the decided construction details.

[0053] Based on the user's or the renovation manager's operation on the renovation manager terminal 2, when a product is selected and operations are performed to customize a small product (parts, etc.), the display unit of the renovation manager terminal 2 will show, for example, the screen shown in Figure 9 (the product callout / labor cost pop-up screen for IDP-002_4_3 in Figure 5). Figure 9 shows an example of the product notification / labor cost pop-up screen, which is one of the various screens displayed on the display unit of the renovation staff terminal shown in Figure 1. The screen in Figure 9 displays a pop-up showing the labor costs (construction fees) for the products (items) selected as necessary for the renovation work. In other words, the product candidate presentation unit 62 in Figure 4 can, for example, display not only the screens in Figures 7 and 8 but also the screen in Figure 9 on the renovation staff terminal 2, thereby presenting one or more product candidates necessary for the renovation work of the decided construction details.

[0054] When a user views the various screens described above, selects the details of the renovation work and one or more products (items) required for the work, and confirms their selection, they perform a predetermined operation (on a screen not shown in the diagram). Then, the product determination unit 63 in Figure 4 determines one or more products (items) that have been confirmed by a predetermined operation by the user as one or more products (items) necessary for the renovation work.

[0055] The estimate issuance unit 64 issues an estimate as data for one or more products determined by the product selection unit 63, including the price of the products and labor costs. The renovation staff terminal 2 can display the estimate on its display unit, print it on paper, or send the estimate data to a user's terminal (not shown). Here, the estimate issuing unit 64 can issue an estimate for the construction work based on cost information agreed in advance with the prospective contractor (subcontractor, etc.) for the construction work, regarding the construction details and products that have been decided for the construction work. As a result, as mentioned above, renovation personnel will no longer need to perform the time-consuming and tedious tasks that were previously required, allowing them to issue accurate estimates on-site immediately. Although not shown in the illustration, before issuing the estimate, the user may be presented with a screen (estimate confirmation screen) that includes an area for entering an electronic signature and a button (product confirmation button) to confirm that the products are necessary for the renovation work. Furthermore, the estimate issuing unit 64 may also be configured to perform a discount on the estimate amount on the spot (by obtaining approval from a supervisor or by granting special discounting authority to the renovation manager's account, as described later) regarding the scope of work and products. Furthermore, there are no particular restrictions on the method of processing discounts; methods such as rounding off the fractional amount or offering a percentage discount can be adopted.

[0056] The construction schedule proposal unit 65 can propose a construction schedule to the user for the renovation work, based on the construction details determined by the construction details determination unit 61 and the products determined by the product determination unit 63. In other words, as described above, when the product determination unit 63 determines multiple products (which may be multiple items or multiple parts within a single item), there may be products (building materials) that can be installed simultaneously, products that should be installed, and products that cannot be installed simultaneously. In such cases, the installation schedule proposal unit 65 can propose an efficient installation schedule and payment date (the date of receipt for the renovation contractor) according to the relationships between these products.

[0057] Proposals regarding the schedule for the renovation work are included in screens such as the one shown in Figure 10 (the calendar screen with ID: P-003 in Figure 5) and the one shown in Figure 11 (the schedule calendar screen with ID: P-004_7 in Figure 5), and are displayed on the display unit of the renovation staff terminal 2. Figure 10 shows an example of the calendar screen, one of the various screens displayed on the display unit of the renovation staff terminal shown in Figure 1. Figure 11 shows an example of the schedule calendar screen, one of the various screens displayed on the display unit of the renovation staff terminal shown in Figure 1. Each screen in Figures 10 and 11 displays a calendar, along with the schedule of the renovation work as appropriate. In the above explanation, the schedule proposed by the construction schedule proposal unit 65 is merely a proposal and can be changed as appropriate by the user or the renovation manager performing a prescribed operation on the renovation manager terminal 2. Alternatively, the user or the renovation manager can set their desired schedule without waiting for a proposal from the construction schedule proposal unit 65 by performing a prescribed operation on the renovation manager terminal 2. The construction schedule determination unit 66 determines the date finally set by the user or the renovation manager's terminal 2 as the construction date for the renovation work.

[0058] The contractor setup confirmation unit 67, under the control of the main control unit 53, notifies the contractor processing control unit 52 of the construction details, one or more products, and schedule that have been decided for the renovation work. As will be explained in more detail later, the contractor processing control unit 52 communicates with the contractor terminal 3 as needed to obtain information regarding the arrangements of potential contractors for renovation work from the contractor terminal 3 as arrangement information. The arrangement information is transmitted from the contractor processing control unit 52 to the person in charge processing control unit 51 under the control of the main control unit 53. Therefore, the contractor setup confirmation unit 67 of the person in charge processing control unit 51 checks whether the setup of the candidate contractor (securing the candidate contractor through reservation, etc.) has been completed based on the setup information.

[0059] The order acceptance determination unit 68 determines whether it is possible to accept an order from the user for the renovation work, based on the results of the confirmation by the contractor arrangement confirmation unit 67, that is, whether or not arrangements for a candidate contractor have been made (such as securing a candidate contractor through reservations, etc.). The order acceptance / rejection determination unit 68 is not an essential component and can be omitted as appropriate.

[0060] In this example, if the order processing unit 69 determines that an order can be accepted by the order acceptance / rejection determination unit 68, it notifies the user or the person in charge of renovations and performs various processes related to the order received from the user for the renovation work. It should be noted that this example is merely illustrative, and as mentioned above, if the order acceptance / rejection determination unit 68 does not exist, the order processing unit 69 can independently perform various processes related to orders received from users for renovation work, regardless of whether or not there is information on the contractor's arrangements.

[0061] The above series of processes can be executed independently for each unit, such as the user or the renovation project. Therefore, it would be convenient for the renovation manager if they could distinguish the progress status for each user and renovation project, for example, whether it is in the stage where an estimate has been issued but the order has not yet been placed, or the stage where the order has been placed. Therefore, for example, the screen shown in Figure 12 (the order search screen for ID: P-007_4 in Figure 5 (the screen under the "Order Received" tab)) is displayed on the display screen of the renovation staff terminal 2 as appropriate. Figure 12 shows an example of the "Order Received" tab screen, which is one of the various screens displayed on the display unit of the renovation staff terminal shown in Figure 1. By performing a predetermined search operation on the renovation staff terminal 2, the screen shown in Figure 12 is displayed, allowing the renovation staff member to easily confirm users who have placed orders.

[0062] The above explanation describes an example of the functional configuration of the personnel processing control unit 51, which is part of the functional configuration of the renovation contractor server 1 shown in Figure 3, with reference to Figures 4 to 12. Next, an example of the functional configuration of the contractor processing control unit 52, which is part of the functional configuration of the renovation contractor server 1 shown in Figure 3, will be explained with reference to Figures 13 to 20.

[0063] Figure 13 is a functional block diagram showing an example of the detailed functional configuration of the contractor processing control unit, which is part of the functional configuration of the renovation contractor server shown in Figure 3. As shown in Figure 13, the contractor processing control unit 52 is equipped with a construction information acquisition unit 81, a contractor setup unit 82, an order confirmation unit 83, and a contractor order processing unit 84.

[0064] In explaining the detailed functional configuration of the contractor processing control unit 52 in Figure 13 (each functional block shown in Figure 13), specific examples shown in Figures 14 to 18 will be used as appropriate.

[0065] The contractor processing control unit 52 controls the display of various screens that transition as shown in Figure 14 on a display unit (not shown) of the renovation staff terminal 2, while appropriately activating each of the construction information acquisition unit 81 to the contractor order processing unit 84.

[0066] Figure 14 is a screen transition diagram showing an example of the transitions between various screens displayed on the display unit of the renovation staff terminal in Figure 1, and is a different example from the example in Figure 5. The rules for describing the screen transition diagram are the same as in Figure 5, so we will omit those explanations here.

[0067] The construction information acquisition unit 81 acquires information from the person in charge processing control unit 51 via the main control unit 53, as construction information, including the details of the work, one or more products, and the schedule, which have been determined by the person in charge processing control unit 51 regarding the renovation work.

[0068] The contractor scheduling unit 82 acquires information regarding the scheduling of candidate contractors for renovation work from the contractor terminal 3 as scheduling information, based on the construction information of the renovation work (work details, one or more products, and schedule).

[0069] Such a contractor preparation unit 82 is equipped with a contractor scheduling unit 91 and a contractor order reservation unit 92.

[0070] The contractor scheduling unit 91 acquires information from the contractor terminal 3 as part of the setup information, including information showing the schedule of the contractor shown in Figure 15 (an example of a candidate contractor) and information showing the schedule of the craftsmen, etc. shown in Figure 16 (another example of a candidate contractor).

[0071] Figure 15 is an example of planning information, showing information at the level of a construction company, as an example of a candidate contractor. Figure 16 is a different example from Figure 15 of the planning information, and shows information indicating the schedule at the level of individual craftsmen, etc., as an example of a candidate contractor. In the planning information shown in Figures 15 and 16, the work schedule (plan) for each contractor or craftsman is included on a daily basis, making it easy to determine whether there are other appointments scheduled on a daily basis, that is, whether the schedule can be adjusted (booked) to accommodate the renovation work.

[0072] Based on the product and scope of work, the number of contractors capable of undertaking the project is narrowed down, and the schedules of these narrowed-down contractors can be viewed. Specifically, the example of scheduling information shown in Figure 15 includes and displays the daily schedules for projects A through D by "Contractor X". First, based on the product and scope of work, the number of contractors (Contractor X in the example of Figure 15) capable of undertaking the project (eligible to accept the order) is narrowed down. Next, the renovation manager's terminal 2 can display the schedules of the narrowed-down contractors. Regarding the decision on whether to accept an order, when the scope of work and schedule are determined on the renovation staff terminal 2 (tablet), if there are no contractors available who can undertake that scope of work, the decision will be rejected. In other words, if there are no contractors available who can undertake the specified scope of work and schedule, the order will be rejected. Specifically, for example, if the renovation staff terminal 2 accepts the decision to accept an order for the specified scope of work and schedule, and there are no contractors available who can undertake that scope of work, the decision to accept the order will be rejected. Each craftsman's schedule is viewable, and craftsmen have the authority to write their schedules. These schedules are then reflected in Figure 15, allowing the contractor to check the contractor's schedule. Specifically, craftsmen can view their own schedules using the contractor terminal 3. Craftsmen can also write their own schedules using the contractor terminal 3. Schedules written by craftsmen are included in the scheduling information. That is, schedules written by craftsmen are displayed on the renovation manager terminal 2, etc., as individual craftsman schedules, as shown in Figure 16.

[0073] Returning to Figure 13, the contractor scheduling unit 91, based on the planning information such as the examples in Figures 15 and 16, determines whether it is possible to schedule the renovation work (whether a reservation can be made) for each candidate contractor (either on a contractor-by-contractor basis, by individual craftsman, or by combining both).

[0074] The contractor order reservation unit 92 executes various processes to make a reservation for a candidate contractor at the contractor terminal 3 of a candidate contractor that the contractor scheduling unit 91 has determined can adjust the schedule for the renovation work (make a reservation). Specifically, for example, the contractor order reservation unit 92 notifies the contractor terminal 3 (candidate contractor) of the construction information for the renovation work (construction details, one or more products, and schedule). The contractor terminal 3 then transmits information indicating the candidate contractor's intention to accept the order for the work. The contractor order reservation unit 92 can then reserve the candidate contractor by obtaining this information from the contractor terminal 3 (candidate contractor) as at least part of the aforementioned scheduling information.

[0075] The key point here is that by establishing the Contractor Order Reservation Department 92, it is possible to solve the problem that, while it was possible to secure contractors before or after receiving an order, it was not possible to actually place an order. In other words, the contractor order reservation unit 92, which functions based on the operation of the renovation contractor (or renovation manager), can directly contact the candidate contractor (the contractor terminal 3) and receive an indication from the candidate contractor that they intend to accept the order for the work. As a result, the aforementioned conventional problems are solved.

[0076] In this way, once a candidate contractor has made a reservation for the renovation work schedule, information indicating this is transmitted as part of the scheduling information to the person in charge processing control unit 51 via the main control unit 53 in Figure 3. Then, the person in charge processing control unit 51 determines, as described above, that it is possible to accept an order from the user for renovation work, and executes the processing related to the order.

[0077] The order confirmation unit 83 checks whether the order has been placed with the user for the renovation work that is scheduled to be ordered by the candidate contractor. For example, the order confirmation unit 83 displays the screen shown in Figure 17 (the "Order History" screen for ID: P-025 in Figure 14) on the display screen of the renovation staff terminal 2. Figure 17 shows an example of the order history screen, which is one of the various screens displayed on the display unit of the renovation staff terminal shown in Figure 1. The screen in Figure 17 displays the status (progress) for each stage of the renovation work, such as the estimation (not yet ordered) stage, the ordered stage, and the pickup (completion of work). Therefore, the order confirmation unit 83 checks the status (progress) of the renovation work that the candidate contractor is planning to order, in order to confirm whether or not the order has been placed with the user.

[0078] The contractor order processing unit 84 executes various processes to formally place orders with the reserved contractor candidates for renovation work for which it has been confirmed that an order has been placed with the user. For example, the contractor order processing unit 84 displays the screen shown in Figure 18 (the "Order" screen for ID: P-025_3 in Figure 14) on the display screen of the renovation staff terminal 2. Figure 18 shows an example of the ordering screen, which is one of the various screens displayed on the display unit of the renovation staff terminal shown in Figure 1. The screen in Figure 18 has an area for entering information necessary to formally place an order with a contractor for each individual renovation project (e.g., duration). The renovation manager then operates the renovation manager terminal 2 to enter various information into this area and perform predetermined operations such as making a decision. For example, when the contractor order processing unit 84 receives the prescribed operation, it generates order form data including various information entered by the renovation manager, etc., and sends it to the contractor terminal 3, thereby placing a formal order with the contractor.

[0079] As mentioned above, once the details of the renovation work are determined based on the user's or the renovation manager's operation on the renovation manager terminal 2, and the products (goods) required for that renovation work are determined, it becomes possible to issue an estimate. In order to enable the renovation staff to issue an estimate immediately and accurately on-site, without having to perform the time-consuming and cumbersome tasks that were previously required, the estimate will be issued in the following manner. In other words, as described above, an estimate for the construction work is issued based on cost information agreed upon in advance with the prospective contractor (subcontractor, etc.) for the construction work, regarding the determined construction details and products.

[0080] To enable the issuance of such estimates, it is convenient that cost information agreed upon in advance with the prospective contractor (subcontractor, etc.) for each construction item or product is pre-entered and pre-managed by the renovation contractor server 1. Therefore, a screen for inputting or confirming product information, including cost information for the specified product, is displayed as appropriate on the renovation contractor server 1 shown in Figure 1. The authorized person of the renovation contractor inputs (including updates) or views the product information for the specified product. The authorized person will be described later, referring to Figure 20. Furthermore, the system includes a function to input costs on the spot, even if they are not pre-entered for a product or part of the construction work. However, it is not appropriate to allow the renovation staff to input costs freely; it is preferable that only their superiors or other higher-ranking individuals (as shown in Figure 20 below) be able to input costs. Of course, the renovation staff may be granted permissions to handle discount processing, etc.

[0081] Figure 19 shows an example of a screen used for inputting or confirming product information, among the various screens displayed on the display unit of the renovation contractor server shown in Figure 1. The screen in Figure 19 displays detailed product information for the product selected as the item to be entered or confirmed as a pop-up. In other words, the authorized person for the renovation company can input (including updating) and verify product information for specified products while viewing the screen shown in Figure 19.

[0082] Specifically, for example, in the screen shown in Figure 19, the item labeled "Product Name" is entered (including updates) into the field containing the name and part number of the specified product presented to the user (customer) during the quotation process, and the entered information is displayed.

[0083] For example, in the screen shown in Figure 19, the item labeled "Cost" contains the price of a specified product that has been agreed upon in advance with the cooperating contractor (candidate construction company), and this price is entered (including updates). In other words, since the cost of a given product is predetermined, the renovation manager no longer needs to determine the cost by calling potential contractors (subcontractors) as they did in the past when issuing an estimate. As a result, estimates can be issued immediately and easily on-site. Furthermore, when information regarding a specified product is presented to the user (customer) on the screen of the renovation staff terminal 2, restrictions are imposed to prevent the user (customer) from seeing the cost.

[0084] For example, in the screen shown in Figure 19, the sales price and list price of the specified product presented to the user (customer) during the quotation process are entered (including updates) into the respective fields labeled "Sales Price" and "List Price," and these entered values ​​are displayed.

[0085] For example, in the screen shown in Figure 19, the profit amount and profit margin (when selling a specified product to a user (customer)) determined in advance by the renovation contractor are entered (including updates), and the entered content is displayed. In other words, for each designated product, not only the cost but also the profit amount and profit margin for the renovation company are predetermined. This eliminates the need for renovation staff to obtain approval from their superiors, such as by calling them, when issuing an estimate. As a result, estimates can be issued immediately and easily on-site.

[0086] For example, in the screen shown in Figure 19, under the item labeled "Supplier," the trading partners (cooperating companies, i.e., potential construction companies) with whom a unit price contract has already been concluded for the specified product (this product) are entered (including updates), and the entered information is displayed. Note that there may be multiple trading partners with whom a unit price contract has already been concluded for the specified product (this product).

[0087] For example, in the screen shown in Figure 19, the item labeled "Details" allows users (customers) to input (including updates) detailed information such as points to note about the designated product (this product), and that input content is displayed.

[0088] For example, in the screen shown in Figure 19, the item labeled "Popup Image" contains an image of a designated product (the merchandise) that the user (customer) can view when selecting a product. This image is entered (including updates), and the entered content is displayed.

[0089] As described above, using the screen in Figure 19, it becomes possible to pre-register and update costs, profit margins, and other information for specified products. However, the costs and profits for specified products are set or updated by the renovation company as a whole, and should not be set or updated arbitrarily by, for example, a renovation manager simply because they belong to the renovation company. In other words, it is preferable that only a limited number of people, such as those in a management position within the renovation company (e.g., the renovation manager's supervisor), be able to set or update the costs and profits for specified products. Therefore, only those who have been assigned an account can use the renovation server 1 (or the renovation staff terminal 2 that may access it). Furthermore, as shown in Figure 20, these accounts are managed in a hierarchical structure, and access restrictions can be freely set for each predetermined unit (for example, a screen or function), specifying which hierarchical levels of users can access the information managed by the renovation server 1 (or the renovation staff terminal 2 that may access it). In other words, it is possible to create differences in the information that can be accessed depending on the account hierarchy. For example, it is possible to set it so that access to input (including updating) each item on the screen in Figure 19 is permitted only to those with a higher-level account. In other words, those with this higher-level account are the "authorizers" mentioned above in the explanation of Figure 19.

[0090] Figure 20 illustrates an example of the account hierarchy for a renovation server or a renovation staff terminal. In Figure 20, the headquarters management system corresponds to the renovation server 1. This is the account of a renovation specialist (employee or branch employee). In Figure 20, Persons A, B, ...n are examples of individuals who will be assigned an account, and each is a person belonging to the renovation company (user company) and its head office or branch office, as shown at the top of the figure. Each of the personnel A, B, ...n has their own account, and their account permissions allow them to set the extent to which they can view screens and functions under the management of the renovation company (client company) to which they belong, as well as the head office or branch office (connected to the personnel by the solid line above in the diagram). In other words, the extent to which they can view is determined by the account hierarchy, and they can access screens and functions up to the scope permitted by the set hierarchy. Furthermore, the houses shown at the bottom of Figure 20 represent users (customers). That is, each of the personnel A, B, ...n can view information about the users they are responsible for (customers connected to the personnel by solid lines in the figure), but they cannot view information about the users of other personnel (customers not connected to the personnel by solid lines in the figure). It should be noted that the individuals who will be granted accounts are not limited to the renovation staff shown in Figure 20, but also include employees or branch employees, such as managers (supervisors of the renovation staff). Furthermore, account permission management can be applied not only to viewing but also to various operations. For example, it is possible to assign the discount processing to the renovation staff (e.g., only staff member B), and if the request exceeds that limit or the staff member does not have the necessary permissions, it is possible to have a higher-level authority person (e.g., renovation staff member A's superior) who is not shown in Figure 20 perform the operation.

[0091] Furthermore, although not shown in the diagram, functions provided on the renovation staff terminal 2, etc., can be transferred to the user's (customer's) terminal. This allows users (customers) to request or order renovations directly (not as downloadable applications (so-called native apps), but as web apps), rather than being limited to downloadable apps.

[0092] Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and any modifications, improvements, etc. that can achieve the objectives of the present invention are included in the present invention.

[0093] For example, in the embodiment described above, the information processing system performed processing to support a series of tasks from estimating to receiving and ordering orders for building renovation work, but it is not particularly limited to renovations.

[0094] Furthermore, the system configuration shown in Figure 1 and the hardware configuration of the renovation contractor server 1 shown in Figure 2 are merely examples for achieving the objectives of the present invention and are not particularly limited.

[0095] Furthermore, the functional block diagrams shown in Figures 3, 4, and 13 are merely illustrative and not particularly limiting. In other words, it is sufficient for the information processing system to have the functionality to execute the series of processes described above as a whole, and the functional blocks used to realize this functionality are not particularly limited to the examples given above.

[0096] Furthermore, the location of the functional blocks is not limited to the examples described above in Figures 3, 4, and 13, but can be any location. For example, in each of the above examples, all functional blocks are provided on the renovation contractor server 1, but this is merely an example. For example, as mentioned above, the renovation staff terminal 2 may be configured to have at least some of the functional blocks that are located on the renovation contractor server 1 side, as functional blocks that are executed by the application installed on the renovation staff terminal 2. Furthermore, a single functional block may consist of hardware alone, software alone, or a combination of both.

[0097] For example, an information processing system can be operated with a functional configuration like that shown in Figure 21. Figure 21 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of an information processing system to which the present invention is applied. The blocks in Figure 21 represent a single functional block, information, or information processing device. For example, the headquarters system represents a function corresponding to the headquarters management system in Figure 20.

[0098] A second embodiment of an information processing system to which the present invention is applied will be described below. The second embodiment enjoys the configuration shown in Figures 1 to 4. Figure 22 is a block diagram showing an example configuration of a second embodiment of the information processing system. Components identical to those shown in Figure 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and their descriptions are omitted. As shown in Figure 22, the second embodiment of the information processing system includes a renovation staff terminal 2, a renovation contractor server 1, and an electronic signature system 4.

[0099] Renovation staff terminal 2 is a tablet or similar device that accepts input from at least one of the following: the user requesting the work and the staff member of the renovation company undertaking the work. The electronic signature system 4 communicates with the renovation contractor server 1 via the network N. The electronic signature system 4 is a designated certification body (an organization that performs electronic authentication fairly) that performs electronic authentication in response to a request from the renovation contractor server 1. The electronic signature system 4 authenticates the signatures of both the user and the renovation contractor. By registering signatures in the electronic signature system 4 in advance, authentication is automatically performed when conducting transactions with other parties. At a minimum, renovation contractors must register their signatures in the electronic signature system 4 in advance.

[0100] Renovation contractor server 1 supports a series of tasks performed by renovation contractors, from obtaining estimates for construction work to signing contracts, and is described in detail below.

[0101] Next, the functional configuration of the renovation contractor management server and the renovation staff terminal will be described with reference to Figure 23. Note that the renovation contractor management server in the second embodiment includes the same reference numeral components as those described in Figures 3 and 4; these same components are denoted by the same numerals and their descriptions are omitted. Figure 23 is a functional block diagram showing an example of the detailed functional configuration of the personnel processing control unit, which is part of the functional configuration of the renovation personnel terminal in Figure 22 and the functional configuration of the renovation contractor server in Figure 3.

[0102] As shown in Figure 23, the person in charge processing control unit 51 includes a construction content determination unit 101, a product candidate presentation unit 62, a product determination unit 63, a quotation issuance unit 64, an order processing unit 102, and a contract control unit 103. The contract control unit 103 has an authentication control unit 111. Furthermore, the area between the quotation issuing unit 64 and the order processing unit 102 (the dashed line portion) includes the construction schedule proposal unit 65, the construction schedule determination unit 66, the contractor arrangement confirmation unit 67, and the order acceptance / rejection determination unit 68 shown in Figure 4. The memory unit 18 stores the product and construction details DB121. The product and construction details DB121 stores product catalogs, product specifications, product prices, etc., as well as estimates created through negotiations with users, order details, schedules of renovation and construction companies, and construction details.

[0103] The construction details determination unit 101, after a product is selected by touch operation on the screen (see Figure 54) displayed on the renovation staff terminal 2, displays the product catalog for the user to confirm and then determines the construction details. Another method involves remote contracts where the user and the renovation contractor are in different locations. In this case, for example, the renovation contractor can listen to the user's requests over the phone, and then use a separate renovation contractor terminal (terminal 2) to select products, create a work plan, and generate an estimate. If the user is satisfied with the quote, the contract can then be finalized remotely. With remote contracts, it's unnecessary to conduct on-site contracts and estimates (at the customer's home), which is standard practice in the renovation industry. Renovation projects can be ordered from users located in different places than the renovation staff. This contributes to reduced workload and supports teleworking, which is increasingly in demand.

[0104] The estimate issuance unit 64 issues estimates for construction work to the renovation staff terminal 2. Specifically, the estimate issuance unit 64 refers to the product and construction details DB 121, creates an estimate for the renovation work to be carried out using the confirmed products, converts it into a PDF estimate, and issues it to the renovation staff terminal 2. The order processing unit 102 has the functions of the order processing unit 69 and processes orders for construction work based on construction requests from users who have received a quotation. The contract control unit 103 executes a control to facilitate the electronic contract for the construction work between the user and the renovation contractor, based on the user's request for construction work after receiving an estimate. This control is performed via the electronic signature system 4. Specifically, the contract control unit 103 performs electronic contract processing related to the construction contract via the electronic signature system 4, based on instructions from the estimate issuance unit 64 or the order processing unit 102. The contract control unit 103 accepts an operation from the user to select whether to conduct a contract using paper media (paper-based contract) or electronic contract (contract with electronic signature) (for example, the checkbox 223 for "contract on paper" in Figure 26). If an electronic contract is selected, the unit executes a control to conduct an electronic contract for the construction work between the user and the contractor. The authentication control unit 111 executes control to authenticate the signatures of the user and the renovation contractor, respectively, with the electronic signature system 4 shown in Figure 23.

[0105] In the CPU 61 of the renovation staff terminal 2, the presentation unit 131, the request operation reception unit 132, the fastening operation reception unit 133, and the display control unit 134 are functional. The presentation unit 131 presents the estimate issued by the estimate issuance unit 64 to the user. The request operation reception unit 132 receives operations from users who have received an estimate, indicating a request for construction work. These operations are performed by the user or the contractor, and include, for example, pressing the content confirmation button, the terms and conditions confirmation button, and the order acceptance button as shown in S102 and S103 of Figure 24. The contract signing operation reception unit 133 accepts at least user-side operations related to contract signing based on the control of the contract control unit 103. These operations include, for example, pressing the signature button 256 in Figure 32.

[0106] The display control unit 134 executes control to sequentially display the operators (software buttons, etc.) that are to be operated, as received by the request operation reception unit 132 and the fastening operation reception unit 133, on the same screen (see, for example, the screens in Figures 25 to 29). Specifically, the display control unit 134 displays, for example, the operator (button, etc.) that is to be operated by the fastening operation reception unit 133 on the screen 211 in Figure 25, and when the customer signature field 212 on the screen is operated, the signature screen 220 in Figure 26 is displayed as a pop-up.

[0107] The operation of the information processing system of the second embodiment will be described below with reference to Figures 24 to 35. Figure 24 is a flowchart showing the processing operation of an order form with electronic signature. Figure 25 is a diagram showing the screen from quotation to order acceptance. Figure 26 shows the signature screen. Figure 27 is a diagram showing the contract format selection dialog box. Figure 28 is a diagram showing the dialog box indicating that order information has been generated. Figure 29 is a diagram showing the dialog box indicating that a signature request is in progress. Figure 30 is a diagram showing the signature request screen. Figure 31 is a diagram showing the document signing screen. Figure 32 is a diagram showing the signature selection screen. Figure 33 is a diagram showing the electronic contract procedure completion screen. Figure 34 is a diagram showing a selection dialog box prompting the user to choose between print, email, or complete. Figure 35 is a diagram showing an example of a PDF file of an electronically signed order form with terms and conditions.

[0108] In this embodiment, the information system allows for both on-site and remote estimation and contracting. However, since the system configuration and an example without user terminals (see Figures 22 and 23) are used for explanation, on-site estimation and contracting will be described for clarity. However, user terminals may be added to the system to allow users and renovation personnel to perform procedures remotely.

[0109] In step S101 of Figure 24, when the renovation manager who has been negotiating with the user at the renovation construction site operates the renovation manager terminal 2, the display unit 131 displays the screen 211 shown in Figure 25 on the renovation manager terminal 2.

[0110] On screen 211, the renovation staff member inputs the ordered products, price, customer information such as customer details, and construction schedule, creating an estimate data that includes contract and customer information, and presenting the estimate to the user on screen 211. At this point, the renovation manager will confirm the details of the estimate (products, construction details, etc.) with the user and then explain the terms and conditions. Note that explaining the terms and conditions is often not a legal requirement; therefore, simply agreeing to the terms and conditions attached to the order form during electronic signing is considered as agreement to the terms and conditions as well.

[0111] After explaining the terms and conditions, in step S102, the user is asked to press the content confirmation button on the screen of the renovation staff terminal 2, check the box in the content confirmation column, and then press the terms and conditions confirmation button (not shown). Pressing the content confirmation button means checking the checkbox next to the message "I have confirmed the product."

[0112] Finally, the user signs electronically. In this case, pressing the customer signature field 212 on screen 211 will cause the signature screen 220 shown in Figure 26 to pop up on the top surface of screen 211.

[0113] This signature screen 220 includes a signature field 221, a checkbox 222 to skip this procedure, a checkbox 223 to contract on paper, a cancel button 224, an OK button 225, and so on. The Cancel button 224 is used to dismiss the signature screen 220. The OK button 225 is used to confirm the selection made here. On this signature screen 220, the user can sign in the signature field 221 by hand, or they can choose to skip this step or sign the contract on paper.

[0114] For example, checking checkbox 222 allows you to skip the signature process. For instance, if the user is in a different location from the renovation representative (e.g., a remote location), identity verification cannot be performed, allowing them to proceed to the next step without signing.

[0115] Additionally, by checking checkbox 223, you can skip the electronic signature and opt for a printed (paper) contract. In a paper contract, you may either affix your seal to the signature field on the paper or sign it.

[0116] On the signature screen 220, the user signs in the signature field 221 and presses the OK button 225, which clears the signature screen 220 and returns to screen 211 in Figure 25. This handwritten signature allows the user to feel that they have requested the renovation work.

[0117] (Electronic contract procedures) If the user selects an electronic contract, the contract control unit 103 executes a control to have the user and the renovation contractor enter into an electronic contract for the construction work. Specifically, after the user signs the document, in step S103, when the renovation manager presses the order button 213 on screen 211 to formally enter into a renovation contract with the user, information for order processing is saved to the product and construction details DB 121 on the renovation contractor server 1, and a dialog box 214 pops up on the top of screen 211, as shown in Figure 27. Note that the customer signature field on screen 211 has already been filled with a signature.

[0118] Dialog box 214 is a screen that prompts the user to select the contract type, and it has checkboxes to select one of the following: purchase order / order confirmation or construction contract. For example, if you want to select a purchase order, check the checkbox for purchase order / order confirmation. The significance of classifying documents into order confirmations, purchase orders, and construction contracts lies in the fact that, in the home renovation industry, simple projects tend to be handled using purchase orders, while large-scale projects tend to be handled using construction contracts. Having these two contract types available effectively satisfies the industry's need for different types of contracts. The user checks the order form and order confirmation checkboxes in the dialog box 214 and presses the order button 213 on screen 211, at which point the order processing unit 102 generates order information based on the quotation data. The order information is the original information for the order form. Note that prior registration of an email address is required to generate order information. The order processing is completed by sequentially performing the button operations on the screen in this manner. The operations that can be received by the request operation reception unit 132 are as shown in the screen transitions in Figures 6 to 9.

[0119] When order information is successfully generated, a dialog box 215 indicating that order information has been generated will be displayed, as shown in Figure 28. A check mark is provided in the dialog box 215.

[0120] Next, in step S104, the order processing unit 102 creates an order form with terms and conditions (PDF file) based on the order information and instructs the contract control unit 103 to request an electronic signature from the electronic signature system 4 along with the email address. The contract control unit 103 sends an order form with terms and conditions (PDF file) and an electronic signature request including an email address to the electronic signature system 4. When an electronic signature request is sent to the electronic signature system 4, the contract control unit 103 displays a dialog box 216 on the top of the screen 211, as shown in Figure 29, indicating that a signature request is pending (waiting for electronic signature processing). In addition, when a remote contract is made, processing of other orders will not be possible while waiting for the electronic contract to be completed. Therefore, the system may transition to the screen shown in Figure 12 or the screen shown in Figure 25 (screen 211) without displaying the dialog box 216, or it may transition to any other screen.

[0121] In the screen shown in Figure 19, the product code is displayed in addition to the product name and part number. The product code is essentially the part number, and contractors use this part number and product name to identify the requested items. While the part number may sometimes be included in the product name, the product code is an essential element for identifying the product. Furthermore, the screen in Figure 19 shows icons for content images and pop-up images. Pressing the content image icon displays the image. Pressing the pop-up image icon displays the detailed product description image that appears when you tap the magnifying glass icon on the screen in Figure 8. In addition, for example, a default quantity is set for the quantity field. The appropriate unit for the product is set for the unit of measurement. If the unit of measurement is not "formula" but, for example, "m" for length, a pop-up screen will appear when the product is selected, allowing you to enter the value. The product type distinguishes between labor costs and products. The "Enabled" checkbox is a button to specify whether or not to display the product. The "Default Product" checkbox, when checked, makes the product the default item selected from the product group in the speech bubble.

[0122] In step S105, the electronic signature system 4, having received a request from the renovation contractor server 1, sends a signature request to the user (customer) to the address specified by the user. If the address specified by the user is, for example, the user's terminal, the signature request will be delivered to the user's terminal. If the address specified by the user is the renovation staff terminal 2, the signature request will be delivered to the renovation staff terminal 2. In this embodiment, the user's specified address is described as the renovation staff terminal 2.

[0123] When a signature request is delivered to the renovation staff terminal 2, the screen 231 of the received signature request (see Figure 30) is displayed on the renovation staff terminal 2. Screen 231 contains a link to the electronic signature URL 232. The user clicks on the electronic signature URL 232 on screen 231 displayed on the renovation staff terminal 2, which displays the document signature screen 241 shown in Figure 31, linked to that URL. The document signature screen 241 displays the contract details for the received renovation work, with a signature field 242 at the end. A signature button 243 is also provided at the bottom of screen 241. After the user views the document signature screen 241 to confirm the contract details and the location of the signature field 242, they press the signature button 243, at which point the signature selection screen 251 pops up on the top of screen 241, as shown in Figure 32.

[0124] The signature selection screen 251 is provided with buttons 252 through 256. Button 252 is for using a seal impression as an electronic signature. Button 253 is for uploading a signature image, allowing users to use a pre-prepared signature image as an electronic signature. Button 254 is for creating a one-time signature image, displaying a signature screen similar to Figure 26, where the user signs by hand. Button 255 is a cancel button for canceling the signature. Button 256 is for confirming the selected signature. The user can select the desired button from these options and proceed with the next step. Furthermore, on the signature selection screen 251, in addition to a handwritten signature, users can create a signature using computer fonts such as Gothic, or a simple stamp of their name, and use that stamp as the signature image.

[0125] Furthermore, the electronic signature in this embodiment employs a mechanism where an electronic signature URL 232 is sent to the user, and the electronic signature is performed when the user accesses the electronic signature URL 232. While typical electronic contract systems require creating a contract PDF and uploading it to the system along with customer information, this is unnecessary in this embodiment.

[0126] For example, when a user selects button 252 and presses the signature confirmation button 256, the electronic signature system 4 determines that the contract contents have been approved, applies the selected electronic signature to the order form with terms and conditions, stores it in the storage device of the electronic signature system 4, and displays the screen 261 indicating the completion of the electronic contract procedure on the renovation staff terminal 2, as shown in Figure 33. The renovation staff member will also receive a separate notification email from the electronic signature system 4 informing them that the electronic signature process has been completed. Furthermore, once the user approves the order details upon completion of the electronic contract procedure, the electronic signature system 4 sends a URL to the renovation contractor server 1 indicating the location where the electronically signed order form with terms and conditions is stored.

[0127] In step S106, after the user's electronic signature, the order processing unit 102 on the renovation contractor server 1 accesses the URL received from the electronic signature system 4 and generates an order confirmation in PDF format from the electronically signed order form. At this time, the renovation contractor's electronic signature is automatically entered into the order confirmation.

[0128] Products registered in the Product & Construction Details DB121 have their construction and product prices pre-agreed with the company, and one of the features of the information processing system in the second embodiment is that the electronic signature from the company, which is normally required, is automatically applied. This eliminates the need for the renovation manager to request an electronic signature from the company. The omission of electronic signatures can also be applied in cases of contract cancellation or contract replacement, which are common in renovation work.

[0129] After generating the order confirmation, the order processing unit 102 instructs the contract control unit 103 to request that the company (renovation contractor) affix its electronic signature to the order confirmation. Upon receiving this instruction, the contract control unit 103 sends the order confirmation in PDF format to the electronic signature system 4 and requests its electronic signature.

[0130] In step S107, the electronic signature system 4, having received a request from the renovation contractor server 1, processes the order confirmation with the renovation contractor's electronic signature, stores it within the system, and sends a URL indicating the location of the electronically signed order confirmation to the requesting party. The electronic signature system 4 also sends an email to the user confirming the completion of the contract once both the user and the renovation contractor have submitted their electronic signatures.

[0131] On the renovation contractor server 1, the order processing unit 102 accesses the URL received from the electronic signature system 4 and receives the electronically signed order confirmation. In this way, in step S108, the renovation contractor server 1 receives a PDF file of the electronically signed order confirmation and a PDF file of the electronically signed order form with terms and conditions from the electronic signature system 4.

[0132] In step S109, the renovation contractor server 1, having received the two files mentioned above, displays the selection dialog box 217 shown in Figure 34, overlaid on top of the screen 211. The selection dialog box 217 is provided with buttons prompting the user to select one of the following options: print, email, complete, etc. The order processing unit 102 performs processing according to the button pressed.

[0133] When the email button is pressed, the order processing unit 102 sends the received electronically signed order confirmation PDF file and the electronically signed order form with terms and conditions PDF file via email to the registered recipient (renovation staff terminal 2) and displays them on its screen. When the print button is pressed, the order processing unit 102 can print the document as a paper document using the printer set by default. When the "Complete" button is pressed, the order processing unit 102 terminates the order processing.

[0134] Figure 35 shows an example of a PDF file of an electronically signed order form with terms and conditions. As shown in Figure 35, the PDF file of the electronically signed order form with terms and conditions combines the order form 271 and terms and conditions 272 to 274 into a single PDF file. Since multiple documents are electronically signed simultaneously with a single electronic signature procedure, the user does not have to perform the same operation multiple times. In the electronic signature field of order form 271, the user's handwritten signature is inserted at the location of signature field 242, which was confirmed on the document signature screen 241 in Figure 31. Please note that the PDF file of the electronically signed order confirmation will only have the electronic signature of the renovation contractor.

[0135] Next, we will explain the processing operation of paper-based order forms with reference to Figure 36. Figure 36 is a flowchart showing the processing operation of paper-based order forms. In explaining the processing operation of each document below, the same step numbers will be used for processes that are the same as those for electronically signed order forms shown in Figure 24, and their explanations will be omitted. The operations from steps S101 to S105 are the same as the operation of processing an order form with an electronic signature shown in Figure 24. In step S106, when the checkbox 223 for contracting on paper is checked on the displayed signature screen 220 (see Figure 26), the order processing unit 102 of the renovation contractor server 1 operates to process the order on paper. In this case, in step S201, the renovation person hands the user an order form with terms and conditions attached, asks the user to sign the signature field on the order form with terms and conditions attached, and then receives the order form with terms and conditions attached. Upon receiving the order form with terms and conditions, the renovation manager returns to their company, uses a scanner or similar device to convert the order form into a PDF file, uploads it to the renovation company server 1, and stores it in the product & construction details DB 121. Specifically, by clicking the "Details" item on the order history screen shown in Figure 17, and then importing the construction contract from the "Import" button (not shown) on the order details screen, the construction contract in PDF format will be stored in the Product & Construction Details DB121. Note that this process only occurs if a paper-based contract is selected.

[0136] This paper-based order processing operation allows for the uploading of contract PDFs, such as order forms with terms and conditions, to the system, even for paper-based contract requests. This enables subsequent processes, such as creating purchase orders, to be carried out within the system, allowing for consistent management of the contract process, whether paper-based or electronic. Furthermore, this facilitates the consolidation of all electronic and paper contracts into this system.

[0137] Next, we will explain the processing operation of a construction contract using electronic signatures with reference to Figure 37. Figure 37 is a flowchart showing the processing operation of a construction contract using electronic signatures. In explaining the processing operation of a construction contract using electronic signatures, the same steps as those shown in Figure 24 for the electronic purchase order will be used, and their explanations will be omitted.

[0138] In the dialog box 214 shown in Figure 27, if the checkbox for the construction contract is checked, the order processing unit 102 of the renovation contractor server 1 will operate to process the construction contract. In this case, if the checkbox for the construction contract is checked, in step S104, the order processing unit 102 creates a construction contract with terms and conditions (PDF file) based on the order information.

[0139] Subsequently, after processing the user's electronic signature in steps S105 and S106, as in Figure 24, the process proceeds from step S106 to step S109 without performing the electronic signature on the part of the renovation contractor in steps S107 and S108.

[0140] In step S109, the construction contract with terms and conditions, complete with an electronic signature (PDF file), is displayed on the renovation staff terminal 2. Then, the construction contract with terms and conditions, complete with an electronic signature (PDF file), is registered (stored) in the product & construction details DB121 of the renovation contractor server 1. Subsequently, if necessary (such as upon user request), a construction contract with terms and conditions, complete with an electronic signature (PDF file), will be sent to the user's specified address (device, etc.). This electronic signature processing method for construction contracts allows them to be managed as formal contract documents with electronic signatures from both parties.

[0141] Next, we will explain the processing operation of a paper-based construction contract with reference to Figure 38. Figure 38 is a flowchart showing the processing operation of a paper-based construction contract. In the following explanation of the processing operation of a construction contract, the same steps as those shown in Figure 36 will be given the same step numbers and their explanations will be omitted. The operations from steps S101 to S103 are the same as the paper-based order processing operations shown in Figure 38. In step S104, when the checkbox 223 for paper-based contract is checked on the displayed signature screen 220 (see Figure 26), the order processing unit 102 of the renovation contractor server 1 operates to process the construction contract on paper. Specifically, the order processing unit 102 waits until the paper construction contract is uploaded to the renovation contractor server 1. In this case, in step S201, the renovation person hands the user a written construction contract with terms and conditions attached, asks the user to sign the signature section of the construction contract with terms and conditions attached, and then receives the construction contract with terms and conditions attached. Upon receiving the construction contract with terms and conditions, the renovation manager returns to their company, uses a scanner or similar device to convert the construction contract into a PDF file, uploads it to the renovation company server 1, and stores (registers) it in the product & construction details DB 121. In this way, with the processing of paper-based construction contracts, even paper-based construction contracts are converted into PDF files after the exchange of documents between the user and the renovation manager, and then uploaded to the renovation company server 1. Therefore, they can be managed as official contract documents with signatures, just like those with electronic signatures.

[0142] Next, we will explain the processing operation of the termination agreement using electronic signature with reference to Figure 39. Figure 39 is a flowchart showing the processing operation of the termination agreement using electronic signature. In explaining the processing operation of the termination agreement using electronic signature, the same steps as those shown in Figure 37 for the construction contract using electronic signature will be assigned the same step numbers and their explanations will be omitted.

[0143] When processing a cancellation agreement with an electronic signature, the contents of the order contract are displayed on screen 211 in Figure 25. After confirming the user's cancellation details, the signature screen 220 in Figure 26 is displayed to obtain the user's approval. Then, the user signs the displayed signature screen 220 by hand or other means, and presses the cancellation button (not shown in the diagram). Note that handwritten signatures are not required for remote contracts. In step S301 of Figure 39, when the cancellation button is pressed, information for the cancellation process is sent to the renovation contractor server 1 in step S103. The subsequent operations from step S104 onwards are the same as those for processing an electronically signed construction contract, except that the document being processed changes to a cancellation agreement. Thus, by processing termination agreements using electronic signatures, termination agreements can be managed as formal documents with electronic signatures and digital signatures, just like construction contracts.

[0144] Next, we will explain the processing operation of a paper-based termination agreement with reference to Figure 40. Figure 40 is a flowchart showing the processing operation of a paper-based termination agreement. In explaining the processing operation of a paper-based termination agreement, the same steps as those shown in Figure 38 for paper-based construction contracts and Figure 39 for electronically signed termination agreements will be given the same step numbers and their explanations will be omitted.

[0145] When processing a paper-based cancellation agreement, the cancellation button is pressed in step S301 of Figure 40, similar to the processing operation of an electronically signed cancellation agreement shown in Figure 39. As a result, the order processing unit 102 on the renovation contractor server 1 creates a cancellation agreement and sends the cancellation agreement in PDF format to the user's registered email address. The user prints the received PDF cancellation agreement in paper form, signs the signature section of the paper cancellation agreement, and hands the paper cancellation agreement to the renovation representative. The subsequent steps S201, S202, etc., are the same as the processing of a paper-based construction contract as shown in Figure 38, except that the document being processed changes to a termination agreement. According to this paper-based cancellation agreement processing procedure, even paper-based cancellation agreements are converted to PDF files after the exchange of documents between the user and the renovation contractor, and then uploaded to the renovation contractor's server 1. This allows them to be managed as official documents with signatures, similar to those with electronic signatures.

[0146] Next, we will explain the processing operation of the construction completion confirmation form using electronic signature, referring to Figure 41. Figure 41 is a flowchart showing the processing operation of the construction completion confirmation form using electronic signature. In explaining the processing operation of the construction completion confirmation form using electronic signature, the same steps as those used in the processing operation of the contract termination agreement form using electronic signature shown in Figure 39 will be assigned the same step numbers and their explanations will be omitted.

[0147] When processing a construction completion confirmation document using an electronic signature, the contents of the order contract are displayed on screen 211 in Figure 25. After confirming the details of the user's construction work, the signature screen 220 in Figure 26 is displayed to obtain the user's approval. Then, the user signs the displayed signature screen 220 by hand or other means, and presses the construction completion confirmation button (not shown in the diagram). In step S401 of Figure 41, when the "Confirm Completion of Work" button is pressed, information for processing the completion of work is sent to the renovation contractor server 1 in step S103. The subsequent operations from step S104 onward are the same as the processing operation for the electronic signature cancellation agreement in Figure 39, except that the document to be processed changes to the "Confirm Completion of Work" document. Thus, by processing the construction completion confirmation document using electronic signatures, the construction completion confirmation document can be managed as a formal document with electronic signatures and digital signatures, just like the contract termination agreement.

[0148] Next, we will explain the processing operation of a paper-based construction completion confirmation form with reference to Figure 42. Figure 42 is a flowchart showing the processing operation of a paper-based construction completion confirmation form. In explaining the processing operation of a paper-based construction completion confirmation form, the same steps as those shown in Figure 40 for the paper-based termination agreement and Figure 41 for the electronically signed construction completion confirmation form will be given the same step numbers and their explanations will be omitted.

[0149] The processing operation for a paper-based construction completion confirmation is similar to the processing operation for an electronically signed construction completion confirmation shown in Figure 41. In step S401 of Figure 42, the construction completion confirmation button is pressed, and in step S104, the construction completion confirmation is created and sent to the user's registered address. The subsequent steps S201, S202, etc., are the same as the processing of the paper-based contract termination agreement shown in Figure 40, except that the document being processed is the construction completion confirmation.

[0150] Please note that the completion confirmation form is not part of the required workflow and therefore does not affect the status. For this reason, if an electronic signature is not used, the renovation manager should simply place a PDF file of the completion confirmation form in the storage area of ​​renovation contractor server 1, where electronically signed completion reports are scheduled to be stored.

[0151] In this way, with the processing operation of paper-based construction completion confirmations, even paper-based construction completion confirmations can be managed as signed documents, similar to those with electronic signatures, by exchanging documents between the user and the renovation manager, converting them into PDF files, and storing them on the renovation company server 1.

[0152] Next, the analysis function of the information processing system of the second embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 43 to 46. Figure 43 is a diagram of the order analysis screen. Figure 44 is a diagram of the sales analysis screen. Figure 45 is a diagram of the sales analysis screen. Figure 46 is a diagram of the sales analysis details screen.

[0153] The order analysis screen 301 shown in Figure 43 is provided with input fields 302 to 306 and a display field 307 for the analysis results. The order analysis screen 301 is a screen for performing order analysis.

[0154] Input field 302 is a checkbox type, allowing you to select a branch. If you do not select a branch within the company's scope, all branches within the company's scope will be selected. The scope of what can be viewed varies depending on the permissions of the user logged into the renovation contractor server 1. In short, the scope of what you can search varies depending on your account permissions. For example, a CEO's account can search all areas and shops, while a team leader's account can only search within their own shop. Input field 303 is a checkbox format, and it displays shop options within the range selected in the previous input field 302 (within the branch's area). For example, you can select options such as South Osaka Team, Hyogo Team, Tokyo Team, etc. If no selection is made, all shops within the branch's area will be selected. Input field 304 consists of checkboxes for "within a period" and "within a month." Checking the "within a period" checkbox will analyze data from the last fiscal year update date to today. Checking the "within a month" checkbox will analyze data from the 1st of the current month to today. Input field 305 is a checkbox format, allowing you to select a person in charge. Input field 305 displays a list of names of people in charge within the range selected in the previous input field 303 (shops). If no selection is made, all names of people in charge will be selected. Input field 306 is a pull-down menu that allows you to sort the analysis results, for example, by the number of quotes, by the amount of the quote, by the amount of the order, by the gross profit from the order, by the order completion rate, by the gross profit completion rate, etc.

[0155] Display area 307 displays analysis results related to orders, divided into sections such as estimate, order, gross profit, and profit margin. In the data for each team in display field 307, if there are lower levels, clicking on the team name 308 will display those lower levels. If there are further lower levels after clicking, clicking again will display them. If there is a sorting rule, the lower levels will also be sorted according to that rule.

[0156] The estimate section displays, for example, the number of estimates, the estimated amount, and the gross profit for each team. The number of quotes is the total number of quotes created within the selected period, area, shop, and assigned representative. The quote amount is the total quote amount within the selected period, area, shop, and assigned representative. All quote amounts are displayed excluding tax. Gross profit is the total estimated gross profit for the selected period, area, shop, and individual employee.

[0157] The order section displays the number of orders, order amount, order target, achievement rate, etc. The number of orders is the total number of orders within the selected period, area, shop, and assigned staff member. The order amount is the total order amount within the selected period, area, shop, and assigned salesperson. The order target is determined by referring to the data in the target master. The achievement rate is calculated as the total order amount within the selected period, area, shop, and salesperson, divided by the total order target (displayed as a percentage) within the selected period, area, shop, and salesperson. The achievement rate is displayed without any decimal places.

[0158] The gross profit column displays the gross profit on orders, gross profit target, and achievement rate as results of the gross profit analysis. Order gross profit is the total order gross profit (actual gross profit amount, not projected) for the selected period, area, shop, and salesperson. The gross profit target is data set in the target master and can be obtained by referring to the target master. The achievement rate is calculated as the total gross profit amount within the selected period, area, shop, and salesperson / the total order target (expressed as a percentage) within the selected period, area, shop, and salesperson. The gross profit from orders serves as the source data for creating the target master. By setting the base, each person in charge can edit their target amount each month. Only authorized users can edit this data. (See Target Master Screen 341 in Figure 47)

[0159] The profit margin column displays the estimated profit margin and the order profit margin. The profit margin is displayed to two decimal places. The estimated profit margin is the total estimated gross profit for the selected period, area, shop, and salesperson / the total estimated amount (actual gross profit, not projected) for the selected period, area, shop, and salesperson. The order profit margin is calculated as the total gross profit from orders within the selected period, area, shop, and salesperson, divided by the total order amount (actual gross profit, not projected) within the selected period, area, shop, and salesperson.

[0160] In this way, the order analysis screen 301 allows you to obtain order analysis results from various perspectives, such as estimates, orders, gross profit, and profit margins, by narrowing the focus to a specific period, area, shop, or person in charge.

[0161] The sales analysis screen 311 shown in Figure 44 is provided with input fields 312 to 316 and a display field 317 for the analysis results. The sales analysis screen 311 is a screen for performing sales analysis.

[0162] Input fields 312 to 316 have the same function as input fields 302 to 306 on the order analysis screen 301 shown in Figure 43, and their explanation is omitted. Display area 317 displays analysis results related to sales, divided into sections such as sales, gross profit, and profit margin. In the data for each team in display field 317, if there are lower levels, clicking on the team name 318 will display those lower levels.

[0163] The sales section displays information for each team, such as the number of sales, sales amount, sales target, achievement rate, projected sales amount, and projected achievement. The sales figure represents the total number of orders for which payment has been completed within the selected period, area, shop, and assigned staff member. The sales amount is the total order value for orders that have been flagged as paid within the selected period, area, shop, and salesperson. Sales targets refer to data in the target master. The achievement rate is calculated as the total order amount within the selected period, area, shop, and salesperson / the total order target (displayed as a percentage) within the selected period, area, shop, and salesperson. The projected sales amount is the total order value for orders within the selected period, area, shop, and salesperson for which the payment completion flag has not been set, and for which the last day of the selected period is greater than or equal to the last day of the projected payment date. The expected achievement rate is (sales amount + projected sales amount) / sales target.

[0164] The gross profit column displays information for each team, such as gross profit from sales, gross profit target, achievement rate, projected gross profit amount, and projected achievement rate. Gross sales profit is the total gross profit amount (actual gross profit amount, not projected) for orders that have been flagged as paid within the selected period, area, shop, and person in charge. The gross profit target is determined by referencing data from the target master. The achievement rate is the total gross profit from orders within the selected period, area, shop, and salesperson / the total gross profit target (expressed as a percentage) within the selected period, area, shop, and salesperson. It can exceed 100% (e.g., 300%). The projected gross profit is the total gross profit for orders within the selected period, area, shop, and salesperson for which the payment completion flag has not been set, and for which the last day of the selected period is greater than or equal to the last day of the projected payment date. The projected achievement rate is calculated as (gross profit from sales + projected gross profit from sales) / gross profit target.

[0165] The profit margin column displays, for example, the profit margin and projected profit margin for each team. The profit margin is calculated as the total gross profit from sales within the selected period, area, shop, and salesperson / the total sales amount (actual gross profit, not projected) within the selected period, area, shop, and salesperson. The projected profit margin is calculated as (gross profit on sales + projected gross profit on sales) / (sales amount + projected sales amount).

[0166] Thus, the sales analysis screen 311 allows you to obtain sales analysis results from various perspectives, such as sales, gross profit, and profit margin, by narrowing the focus to a specific period, area, shop, or salesperson.

[0167] The sales analysis screen 321 shown in Figure 45 is provided with input fields 322 to 326 and a display field 327 for the analysis results. The sales analysis screen 321 is a screen for performing sales analysis.

[0168] Input fields 322 to 326 have the same function as input fields 302 to 306 on the order analysis screen 301 shown in Figure 43, and their explanation is omitted. Display area 327 displays the analysis results, categorized into sections such as quotation, contract, contract rate, and product market share.

[0169] The estimate section displays the number of items estimated, the estimated amount, and the profit margin for each item and for the total. The number of estimates is the total number of estimates created at the relevant level within the selected period, area, shop, and staff member. Note that the count uses only the first level used. Levels two and below are not counted. For example, if you select an Amaju Z toilet with optional features such as no handwashing sink, toilet seat, toilet paper holder, 24-liter gas water heater, and optional circulation cover, the count will be 1 toilet, 1 water heater, etc. The estimated price is the total estimated price for the relevant tier within the selected period, area, shop, and assigned staff member. The profit margin is calculated as the total estimated gross profit for the relevant tier within the selected period, area, shop, or salesperson / the total estimated amount (expressed as a percentage) for the relevant tier within the selected period, area, shop, or salesperson.

[0170] The "Contracts" section displays the number of orders, order value, profit margin, etc. The number of orders represents the total number of orders within the selected period, area, shop, and assigned staff member at the relevant level. The order value is the total order value for the relevant tier within the selected period, area, shop, and salesperson. The profit margin is calculated as the total gross profit from orders at the relevant level within the selected period, area, shop, or salesperson, divided by the total order value (expressed as a percentage) at the relevant level within the selected period, area, shop, or salesperson.

[0171] The conversion rate column displays the conversion rate (number) and the conversion rate (amount). The closing rate (number) is calculated as the number of orders received / the number of quotes (expressed as a percentage). The closing rate (amount) is calculated as: Order amount / Estimated amount (expressed as a percentage).

[0172] The product share column displays the number of orders and the order value. The number of orders is the total quantity of all products ordered within the selected period, area, shop, and assigned person / the total number of orders (displayed as a percentage) for the relevant level within the selected period, area, shop, and assigned person. The order amount is the total amount of orders for all products within the selected period, area, shop, and assigned person / the total order amount (displayed as a percentage) for the relevant level within the selected period, area, shop, and assigned person.

[0173] In this way, the sales analysis screen 321 allows you to narrow down the results to a specific period, area, shop, or salesperson, and obtain sales analysis results from various perspectives, such as quotes, contracts, conversion rates, and product market share, for each product and for the total.

[0174] The sales analysis details screen 331 shown in Figure 46 includes an area input field 332, a purchased product field 333, and a display field 334. The sales analysis details screen 331 is a screen for analyzing the products being sold in detail. An area is entered in the area input field 332. When jumping from the sales analysis screen 321 in Fig. 45 to the sales analysis details screen 331 by selecting a product, the area selected on the sales analysis screen 321 is automatically selected and entered in the area input field 332. In the purchased product column 333, products can be filtered using checkboxes. If there is a checkbox next to the product name, the product can be filtered by checking the checkbox. For product names without a checkbox, the second layer is displayed. In the display column 334, an estimate column and an order received column for each product are provided. In the estimate column, the total number, the number of adopted estimates, the share, etc. are displayed. The total number displays the total estimated number of the target products displayed in the item. For example, it is the total number of estimates for carports. The number of adopted estimates displays the total number of adopted estimates of the target products displayed in the item. For example, it is the number of estimates for Nesca among the carports. The share is the number of adopted estimates / the total number, is displayed as a percentage, and has no decimal places. For example, it is the ratio of Nesca being adopted among the carports.

[0175] In the order received column, the total number, the number of adopted orders, the share, the profit rate, etc. are displayed. The total number displays the total number of orders received for the target products displayed in the item. The number of adopted orders displays the total number of adopted orders received for the target products displayed in the item. The share is the number of adopted orders / the total number, is displayed as a percentage, and has no decimal places. The profit rate is the total gross profit of the received orders for the target products on the left / the total amount of the received orders for the target products on the left.

[0176] In this way, on the sales analysis details screen 331, detailed sales analysis results of products can be obtained by analyzing from aspects such as estimates and orders received for each product, narrowed down within a period, within an area, within a store, etc.

[0177] The target master screen 341 shown in Figure 47 has the same filtering window 342 (area, shop, person in charge, period, month) as the order analysis screen 301 shown in Figure 43, as well as fields for specifying the range of input months, order amount target basis, order gross profit target basis, sales amount target basis, sales gross profit target basis, etc. The target master is located within the product & construction details DB121, and data can be searched and updated on the target master screen 341. The target master is used to define order targets, order gross profit targets, sales targets, and sales gross profit targets for each person in charge. The operational method involves setting each person's target figures at the beginning of the period based on the period's sales and order plan, and if there are any changes to the targets during the period, the corresponding data is updated. The target master screen 341 includes a year tab 343, allowing users to change the year by switching tabs. This fulfills requests such as needing to set past targets or wanting to perform past calculations. The target master screen 341 displays monthly order value targets, order gross profit targets, sales value targets, and sales gross profit targets set for each area, shop, and salesperson. The numerical values ​​344 for order value targets, order gross profit targets, sales value targets, and sales gross profit targets can be displayed horizontally up to 99,999,999, and individual values ​​can also be edited. The monthly column 345 is arranged horizontally. The Reflect button 346, when pressed, reflects all target bases entered within the search range in the filtering window 342 into the target master, meaning that the target master can be updated with the entered target bases. In this way, the target master screen 341 allows you to search and display target master data from various perspectives.

[0178] Next, the data management function of the information processing system of the second embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 48 to 52. Figure 48 is a diagram of the order management screen. Figure 49 is a diagram of the process management screen. Figure 50 is a diagram of the payment management screen. Figure 51 is a diagram of the receipt management screen. Figure 52 is a diagram of the reservation management screen.

[0179] The order management screen 351 shown in Figure 48 is a screen for managing order data from the product & construction details DB 121 of the renovation contractor server 1. The order management screen 351 includes the same filtering window 352 (area, shop, person in charge, period, month) as the order analysis screen 301 shown in Figure 43, as well as checkboxes 353 for order status, checkboxes for order confirmation, input fields for supplier and customer names, and a pull-down menu for setting the number of items to display in the display field 354.

[0180] The order status checkbox 353, as seen on the customer details screen (not shown), will show "Completed" if the purchase order has been created, "Not yet created" if it hasn't, and exclude items for which no order has been placed. If checkbox 353 is not checked, both types of orders will be searched. The same applies to the order confirmation checkbox.

[0181] Display column 354 includes items such as person in charge, estimate number, customer name, project name, supplier, construction cost (including tax), order status, order confirmation, order date, planned start date, and planned completion date. A construction cost (including tax) of "0" is not included in this table. The planned completion date is the date determined at the time of contract. The data obtained by filtering using the above filtering window 352 and searching the Product & Construction Details DB121 will be displayed in each respective field. In this way, the order management screen 351 allows you to search and display data from the product & construction details DB 121 from an ordering perspective. For example, being able to search for planned orders and completed orders in a list helps prevent forgetting to place orders and makes it easy to search past orders.

[0182] The construction management screen 361 shown in Figure 49 is a screen for managing construction data stored in the product & construction details DB 121 of the renovation contractor server 1. The construction management screen 361 includes, in addition to the same filtering window 362 (area, shop, person in charge) as the order analysis screen 301 shown in Figure 43, input fields 363 for entering periods such as the planned start date, planned completion date, start date, and completion date, input field 364 for entering the customer name, and a display field 365. Display field 365 shows data that has been filtered using the filtering window 362 for each item, such as order number, customer name, planned start date, planned completion date, start date, completion date, and schedule PDF. In this way, the construction management screen 361 allows you to search and display data from the product & construction details DB 121 from a construction perspective. For example, it makes it possible to manage the progress of construction schedules, which tend to be left to individual personnel, in a single overview. It can also be expected to have the effect of preventing forgotten construction tasks.

[0183] The payment management screen 371 shown in Figure 50 is a screen for managing payment data from the product & construction details DB 121 of the renovation contractor server 1. The payment management screen 371 includes, in addition to the same filtering window 372 (area, shop, person in charge) as the order analysis screen 301 shown in Figure 43, input fields for customer name, customer payment status, contractor name, etc., a field for specifying a period such as start date, completion date, payment date, etc., and a display field 373. The customer payment status is displayed as either "OK" or "NG". Display field 373 shows data that has been filtered using the filtering window 372 for each item, such as site address, contractor name, contract date, purchase order, start date, completion date, customer payment status, payment amount, and payment date. The purchase order field displays the order date. The start date field displays the start date for each contractor. Thus, the payment management screen 371 allows you to search and display data from the product & construction details DB 121 from a payment perspective. The system displays a list showing whether each order placed with a supplier has been paid or is still outstanding, preventing double billing and resulting double payments from suppliers. Furthermore, it allows you to check whether the ordered construction work has been completed, so when you receive an invoice from the contractor for unpaid work that has already been ordered, you can check whether you should pay the amount invoiced.

[0184] The payment management screen 381 shown in Figure 51 is a screen for managing payment data from the product & construction details DB 121 of the renovation contractor server 1. The payment management screen 381 includes filtering windows 382 (area, shop, person in charge) similar to those on the order analysis screen 301 shown in Figure 43, as well as fields for specifying periods such as the expected payment date and payment date, an input field for entering the customer name, a checkbox for payment status, and a display field 373. By checking either "OK," "NG," or "None" for customer payment status, the searchable data can be narrowed down. Display section 383 includes fields for order amount, contract payment, down payment, completion payment, invoice issuance date, and payment status. The contract payment section displays the scheduled date, scheduled amount, payment date, and payment amount. The "Retainer Payment" section displays the scheduled date, scheduled amount, payment date, and payment amount. The "Completion Payment" column displays the scheduled date, scheduled amount, payment date, and payment amount. The invoice issuance date column displays the contract date, start date, and completion date. The payment status section displays the status of the contract payment, down payment, and completion payment. The status of the contract payment, down payment, and completion payment will be displayed as either "OK" or "NG". "NG" is displayed when payment is not received by the due date or when the payment amount differs from the expected amount (too much or too little). "OK" is not displayed by default. "OK" status can be searched for by payment schedule. Thus, the payment management screen 381 allows you to search and display data from the product & construction details DB121 from a payment perspective. In the home renovation industry, it's common for contractors to take on many projects, leading to situations where they forget to collect payment and end up with uncollected debt. This system helps prevent that. For example, there are cases where construction has not started even though there has been no report on the scheduled start date. In such cases, a senior administrator can check the payment management screen 371 to infer that there may be some kind of dispute with the customer. In addition, there are cases where payment has been made even though it is the scheduled payment date. In such cases, it can be inferred that the construction may be delayed or there may be a claim from the customer and the payment has not been made, etc. Also, as described above, by performing order management, construction management, payment management, and receipt management, there is also a function of making potential customer claims hidden by the person in charge apparent.

[0185] The schedule management screen 400 shown in FIG. 52 is a screen for managing schedule data among the data stored in the product & construction content DB 121 of the remodeling contractor server 1, and is displayed in a calendar with a square grid structure where the horizontal axis represents the day of the week and the vertical axis represents the date. In each cell, the content of that day can be managed for each user, each shop, each area, and each company. The schedule management screen 400 is provided with a time editing button 401, a memo editing / confirmation button 402, and a memo creation button 403. With the time editing button 401, time can be selected. The memo editing / confirmation button 402 is a button for editing the memo in the memo field and viewing a memo that does not fit in the memo field. With the memo creation button 403, it is possible to input the customer name, subject, site address, memo, etc., and one memo field can be created with one button operation. In this way, on the schedule management screen 400, the data in the product & construction content DB 121 can be searched and displayed from the perspective of the schedule. For example, since the administrator can check the schedules of each relevant person in charge, it can have an aspect as a schedule management tool.

[0186] Next, referring to FIGS. 53 and 54, various cooperation functions of the information processing system according to the second embodiment will be described. FIG. 53 is a diagram showing a screen of the CAD cooperation function. FIG. 54 is a diagram showing a screen of the catalog cooperation function. On the product pop-up screen shown in FIG. 8, the detailed content (specifications, etc.) of the product selected on the screen is displayed in a pop-up form, or the color of the product is displayed in the side menu.

[0187] In this second embodiment, when a product pointer 411 is selected on the screen 410 shown in Figure 53, the product candidate display unit 62 in Figure 23 launches the linked CAD program (CAD software, etc.) and displays the CAD data 412 in which the product is located in a pop-up window.

[0188] CAD data 412 is a layout diagram of a specific product, showing where and how the product is positioned. In this diagram, a plan view is shown as an example of CAD data 412, but a three-dimensional view or other three-dimensional view may also be used. In this way, you can create drawings in conjunction with CAD software and check the feel of actually placing tapped items in 3D (three-dimensional) models.

[0189] Furthermore, when a product pointer 411 is selected on screen 410 shown in Figure 54, the product candidate display unit 62 in Figure 23 jumps to the corresponding page 420 of the catalog for the product pointed to by that pointer 411, and displays the corresponding page 420 as a pop-up. By linking with the online catalog page in this way, users can check detailed specifications, color variations, and coordination examples for the product.

[0190] If an agreement is reached on the estimate for the renovation work conducted on-site, a contract will be signed quickly (immediately, depending on the type of work). In this embodiment, the information processing system can consistently manage a series of processes from estimation and order placement to contract signing, document creation at each stage, progress management of the construction work, and payment of construction fees from the user after completion of the work. Therefore, it can provide users with a total renovation service. In particular, in renovation work, when a renovation contractor undertakes a renovation project and prepares an estimate, legal requirements dictate that even for small jobs or products, they must commission a subcontractor to prepare an estimate for that specific part of the work, and then they must add a profit margin to that estimate before submitting it to the customer. Furthermore, when moving from an estimate to a contract, it is necessary to prepare contract documents in a different format than the estimate, and to coordinate the construction dates with the contractors before deciding on the construction schedule. In this type of work, time is often spent on paperwork and communication between contractors is delayed, which tends to cause delays in the construction period. However, by introducing the information processing system of this embodiment, these steps can be eliminated, and the work of the renovation contractor can be made more efficient.

[0191] The example screen in Figure 12 shows a screen indicating that an order has been received. However, other screens can also be displayed, such as a list of orders. On this order list screen, you can perform actions such as "replace an order," "create a contract termination agreement," and, after the completion of the work, create a "work completion confirmation document." Furthermore, the same screen allows for contract cancellation, replacement, contract printing, and emailing. This makes it easy for renovation staff to check the details of received orders on the order list screen and perform contract replacement or cancellation processes. Furthermore, on the order list screen, clicking the "Order Details" button allows users to jump to the "Order Details Screen" on the web. This makes it easy for renovation staff to edit the relevant order information.

[0192] The information processing system of this embodiment further includes a management function that hierarchically manages accounts for accessing the renovation contractor server 1 and sets and manages whether access restrictions are necessary for each predetermined unit at each level, an order information creation function that creates order information, an order form creation function that creates order forms, and a document creation function that creates ledgers and documents.

[0193] The management function has pre-configured permissions, such as the right to create order information and the right to create purchase orders, and the scope of creation for each is restricted according to these permissions. The renovation contractor server 1 includes an estimate issuing unit 64 (see Figure 23) that issues estimates for the construction work based on cost information agreed in advance with the candidate contractor for the construction work, regarding the construction details and products decided for the construction work. Although cost information is agreed upon in advance, prices may increase or decrease from the planned cost information after on-site surveys. Alternatively, the agreed-upon cost information may include a note stating that it may fluctuate depending on on-site conditions. In such cases, ordering cannot be done based solely on the planned ordering information. Therefore, the Product & Construction Details DB121 contains both planned costs (which cannot be edited) and actual costs (which can be edited), and orders can be placed using the actual cost price information. However, if the actual cost could be edited by anyone, cost agreements would break down, allowing for abuse such as ordering with excessive amounts by the person in charge, which would lead to system vulnerabilities.

[0194] Therefore, in this embodiment, the renovation contractor server 1 is equipped with an order information creation function and a management function. When the order information creation function creates order information, the management function determines for each person in charge whether or not they can edit the execution cost. Depending on the permissions, it is also possible to create order information for other people in charge. On the other hand, even if it has been agreed upon in advance, many companies do not allow sales teams to place orders independently, but instead have administrative departments such as sales administration manage orders. In light of this situation, a separate purchase order creation and management function has been established, allowing users to print and send actual PDF documents, in addition to the order information creation function. When the purchase order creation function creates purchase orders on a sales basis, the management function restricts who or what scope of purchase orders can be created. Depending on the permissions, it may be possible to create purchase orders for multiple departments. Furthermore, in order to visualize the projected profit and the actual profit for each order unit, and to ensure that editors are clearly aware of the difference between projected costs and actual costs, projected cost information will be retained. It should be noted that cases in which the actual cost can be changed are premised on prior confirmation that various tasks equivalent to those involved, such as contacting a supervisor and obtaining approval for the amount, have been performed.

[0195] The document creation function allows for the automatic output of all necessary documents, from estimates to payments, in a consistent manner. In renovation projects, from providing estimates and securing orders to finalizing contracts, it's necessary to create various documents, including construction ledgers, purchase orders for each contractor, invoices, receipts, and completion confirmation certificates. When creating a large number of documents from estimate to payment, errors in document creation are common. From the customer's perspective, this can lead to incorrect construction work due to ordering errors or specification errors in the contract, and it can also cause delays in responding to customer requests because the contractor's time is tied up. Equipping the renovation company's server 1 with a document creation function is extremely effective because it prevents renovation personnel at the renovation company from making critical mistakes such as forgetting to create documents. For example, forgetting your ledger can cause problems during an audit. Without a ledger, it becomes difficult to track your budget. Also, forgetting invoices can result in customers not paying. Accounts receivable are common in the home renovation industry. Despite the large number of documents and the difficulty of creating them, errors are unacceptable in these documents, and duplicate information must be created multiple times. Therefore, many companies spend a lot of time checking these documents. Furthermore, the renovation industry needs to handle a large volume of work. Even the smallest projects require the creation of the aforementioned documents. Equipping the renovation contractor's server 1 with a document creation function, thereby automatically outputting these various documents, is extremely valuable for the operation of a renovation business.

[0196] Furthermore, for example, the functional blocks shown in Figures 3, 4, and 13 above are merely illustrative examples, and other functional blocks not shown may be provided in the information processing system. For example, as mentioned above, the information processing system may include a section for confirming the details of estimates and orders (means that include functions for confirming schedules, project progress, and process management). For example, the information processing system may have a section that not only determines the scope of work but also determines its price (construction price) (hereinafter referred to as the "scope of work / construction price determination section"). This would enable discount processing for the scope of work. For example, an information processing system may have a unit that not only determines the product but also determines its price (product price) (hereinafter referred to as the "product / product price determination unit"). This would enable the processing of discounts on products. For example, the information processing system may also have a section that performs the function of creating menus for products and construction work under other categories. For example, the information processing system may also have a section that performs so-called BI (Business Intelligence) functions for projects.

[0197] The information processing system may include access control functions, analysis functions, and schedule management functions. • About the permission setting function Some companies have separate departments for sales and construction management. Others may have a sales department that handles orders, but the authority to place orders rests with the supervisor. In such cases, it may be inconvenient for the sales representative to have free access to the ordering system. To address this need, it is possible to set up a system where only those with certain permissions can create purchase orders. Furthermore, those with higher permissions can create purchase orders for other people. Furthermore, we can anticipate company structures where it would be inconvenient for one sales representative to be able to see the quote and order history of another sales representative. To address such needs, it is possible to set the scope of what can be viewed based on the level of permission.

[0198] • About the analysis function To meet the need to identify best-selling products, the system leverages its feature of reflecting all products to display information such as the number of orders for each product group and their share of the total product market. It also allows users to see which products are bestsellers within each product group.

[0199] Regarding the schedule management function, The system includes fields for entering planned and actual dates for each customer, such as the estimate submission date, estimate deadline, contract date, planned start date, planned completion date, start date, completion date, planned payment date, and payment date. This allows each person to manage their schedule on a calendar. Permissions can be set to allow users to view which sections of their schedule are relevant to their assigned responsibilities.

[0200] In the above embodiment, CAD integration and catalog integration functions were given as examples, but in addition, API integration can be performed from software in various departments, such as quotation software from other companies, customer data systems, and accounting software, to company-wide systems such as enterprise systems and ERP packages.

[0201] When the processing of each functional block is to be executed by software, the programs that make up that software are installed on a computer or other device from a network or storage medium. A computer may be a computer built into dedicated hardware. Alternatively, a computer may be a computer capable of performing various functions by installing various programs, such as a server, a general-purpose smartphone, or a personal computer.

[0202] Recording media containing such programs consist not only of removable media distributed separately from the main unit to provide programs to each user, but also of recording media provided to each user in a state where they are pre-installed in the main unit.

[0203] In this specification, the step of describing a program to be recorded on a recording medium includes not only processes that are performed chronologically in that order, but also processes that are not necessarily performed chronologically, but are executed in parallel or individually.

[0204] Furthermore, in this specification, the term "system" refers to an overall system composed of multiple devices, means, etc.

[0205] In summary, the information processing system to which the present invention is applied only needs to have the following configuration, and various embodiments can be adopted. In other words, the information processing system to which the present invention is applied is: A means for determining the construction details of a building (for example, the construction details determination unit 61 in Figure 4), A product determination means (for example, the product determination unit 63 in Figure 4) for determining the products necessary for the aforementioned construction work, A cost estimation means (for example, the cost estimation unit 64 in Figure 4) that issues an estimate for the said construction work based on cost information agreed in advance with the candidate contractor for the said construction work regarding the said construction work, the said construction work, and the said products, It is equipped with.

[0206] Furthermore, the information processing system is A construction schedule determination means (for example, the construction schedule determination unit 66 in Figure 4) for determining the schedule for the execution of the aforementioned construction work, Based on the construction details, products, and construction schedule determined for the aforementioned construction, an order processing means (for example, the order processing unit 69 in Figure 4) executes the process related to receiving the order for the aforementioned construction, It can provide even more.

[0207] A means for acquiring preparation information (for example, the contractor preparation unit 82 in Figure 4) acquires information regarding the preparation of a candidate contractor for the said construction work, based on the construction details, products, and construction schedule determined for the said construction work. Furthermore, The order-taking means can further execute the processing related to the order for the construction work based on the setup information.

[0208] Based on the details of the contract for the aforementioned construction work, the candidate is selected as the contractor for the aforementioned construction work, and an ordering means (for example, the contractor ordering processing unit 84 in Figure 13) is used to order the construction work from the contractor. It can provide even more.

[0209] A management means (for example, the main control unit 53 in Figure 3) manages accounts for accessing the aforementioned information processing system in a hierarchical manner (for example, managing accounts in the hierarchy shown in Figure 20), and sets and manages whether or not access restrictions are necessary for each predetermined unit at each hierarchy. It can provide even more.

[0210] Furthermore, the information processing system to which the present invention applies includes a first information processing device (for example, a renovation worker terminal 2 such as a tablet with the application shown in Figure 23 installed) that accepts operations from at least one of a user requesting construction work and a contractor undertaking said construction work (for example, a person in charge of the renovation company managing the renovation company server 1), and a second information processing device (for example, the renovation company server 1 shown in Figure 23) that supports a series of tasks performed by the contractor, from estimating the construction work to signing the contract. The second information processing device (for example, the renovation contractor server 1 in Figure 23) An estimate issuing means (for example, the estimate issuing unit 64 in Figure 23, etc.) that issues an estimate for the aforementioned construction work to the first information processing device, Based on the request for the work from the user who received the aforementioned estimate, a contract control means (for example, the contract control unit 103 in Figure 23, etc.) executes control (for example, control via the electronic signature system 4) to cause the user and the contractor to enter into the aforementioned electronic contract for the work, Equipped with, The first information processing device (for example, the renovation staff terminal 2 in Figure 23) A presentation means for presenting the aforementioned estimate to the user (for example, the presentation unit 131 in Figure 23), A first operation receiving means (for example, the request operation receiving unit 132 in Figure 23) that receives an operation by the user who has received the aforementioned estimate indicating a request for the aforementioned construction work (an operation performed by the user or contractor: for example, pressing the content confirmation button, the terms and conditions confirmation button, the order confirmation button, etc., in S102 and S103 in Figure 24), Based on the control of the contract control means, a second operation receiving means (for example, the contract signing operation receiving unit 133 in Figure 23) receives at least the user's operation related to concluding the contract (for example, the operation of pressing the signature confirmation button 256 in Figure 32), Equipped with, This allows the contractor to perform a series of operations, from issuing an estimate for the work to concluding the contract, in real time by bringing a tablet or other renovation staff terminal 2 to the construction site and interacting with the user face-to-face, or remotely with the user in a remote location. For users, this reduces the hassle of having to go through several rounds of communication with contractors, such as receiving quotes and signing contracts. Furthermore, for the contractor (renovation manager), since the contract is finalized on the spot, there is no need to return to the office to prepare documents, thus improving work efficiency. Furthermore, by introducing electronic contracts instead of simple paper contracts, it is possible to save on stamp duty, postage, paper costs, and other expenses that would be incurred with paper contracts. Furthermore, with electronic contracts, the contract details are stored as data in the system, and necessary information can be easily searched within the system. Also, there is no need for physical storage space like with paper documents, and there is no risk of loss. The aforementioned construction work includes renovation work. As a result, in renovation work, the contractor's sales representatives need to visit the user's home to conduct detailed negotiations and provide estimates regarding which parts will be remodeled or extended. At that time, the estimate and contract created from the negotiation can be displayed on the renovation staff terminal 2, etc., and presented to the user, allowing the negotiation to be concluded on the spot with the user's consent, thus improving work efficiency. The second operation receiving means (for example, the fastening operation receiving unit 133 in Figure 23) further receives a signature by the user through a written operation (for example, the signature screen 220 in Figure 26). As a result, in the context of a contract, users can gain a sense of having entered into a contract by performing an explicit action, such as manually entering a signature (by experiencing the visual representation of a handwritten signature). The second operation receiving means (for example, the fastening operation receiving unit 133 in Figure 23) Furthermore, as a method for conducting the aforementioned contract, the system accepts an operation that allows the user to select either an in-person or non-in-person method. If the aforementioned face-to-face method is selected, the system will allow the user to sign by writing, If the non-face-to-face option is selected (for example, if the skip check button in Figure 26 is pressed), the acceptance of the signature by the user's handwriting operation is prohibited. This allows users to choose whether the contract is conducted in person or remotely. If the user chooses an in-person format, they can benefit from the visual effect of a handwritten signature (similar to the effect described above), giving them a sense of having actually entered into a contract. On the other hand, if a user chooses a non-face-to-face approach for reasons such as being far from the site, the need for special effects can be eliminated, and electronic contracts can be concluded quickly. The aforementioned contract control means (for example, the contract control unit 103 in Figure 23) This includes authentication control means (e.g., authentication control unit 111 in Figure 23) that executes control to have the signatures of the user and the contractor authenticated by a predetermined authentication authority (e.g., the electronic signature system 4 in Figure 23), By doing so, a reliable contract can be established by having the signatures of both the user and the contractor authenticated by an external certification body (for example, a designated certification body such as the electronic signature system 4 in Figure 23). The aforementioned contract control means (for example, the contract control unit 103 in Figure 23) The system accepts an operation that allows the user to select whether to proceed with the aforementioned contract in paper format (a contract on paper) or electronically (a contract with an electronic signature) (for example, the checkbox 223 for "contract on paper" in Figure 26). If an electronic contract is selected, the system will execute a control (for example, control via the electronic signature system 4 in Figure 23) to have the electronic contract for the construction work executed between the user and the contractor. As a result, some users want to experience the weight and reality of a contract by signing the signature field on a paper contract with a pen. This allows us to meet such requests. The first information processing device (for example, the renovation staff terminal 2 in Figure 23) A display control means (for example, the display control unit 134 in Figure 23) executes control to sequentially display the operators (software buttons, etc.) that are operated by the first operation reception means and the second operation reception means, respectively, on the same screen. Furthermore, This allows users to complete a series of tasks, from obtaining a construction estimate to signing a construction contract, by clicking through the on-screen controls (software buttons, etc.) in the order they appear. This enables even users unfamiliar with operating tablets or similar devices to proceed with the process with the contractor. In addition, the system automatically generates forms such as contractor purchase orders, construction ledgers, and invoices after the contract is signed. Specifically for purchase orders, the system can read the contractor's contact person's name and email address pre-registered in the system, allowing for immediate dispatch of the order. Furthermore, since there are fields to input all the necessary items for renovation work, such as the start and completion dates, the completion dates for each contractor, payment information, and payment information from the customer, the entire process from estimate to payment for renovation work can be completed on this system. Taking advantage of these characteristics, the system also includes management functions such as managing unpaid wages from vendors and unpaid wages from customers. The information processing method to which the present invention is applied is: An information processing method executed by an information processing system including a first information processing device (for example, a renovation contractor terminal 2 such as a tablet with an app installed) that accepts operations from at least one of the users requesting construction work and the contractor undertaking said construction work (for example, a renovation contractor's representative who manages the renovation contractor server 1), and a second information processing device (for example, the renovation contractor server 1 in Figure 23) that supports the contractor's series of tasks from estimation to contract signing for said construction work, The steps performed by the second information processing device are: A cost estimate is issued to the first information processing device in a cost estimate for the aforementioned construction work (for example, S101 in Figure 24), Based on the request for the work from the user who received the aforementioned estimate, a contract control step (for example, S104 to S106 in Figure 24) is performed to control the electronic contract for the work between the user and the contractor (for example, control via the electronic signature system 4 in Figure 23), Includes, The steps performed by the first information processing device are: A presentation step of presenting the aforementioned estimate to the user, A first operation reception step that receives an operation by the user who has received the aforementioned estimate indicating a request for the aforementioned construction work (an operation performed by the user or contractor: for example, pressing the content confirmation button, the terms and conditions confirmation button, the order confirmation button, etc., in S102 and S103 of Figure 24), Based on the control in the contract control step, a second operation reception step accepts at least an operation on the user's side related to the conclusion of the contract (for example, the operation of pressing the signature confirmation button 256 in Figure 32), Includes. The program to which this invention applies is: A program used in an information processing system that includes a first information processing device (for example, a renovation contractor terminal 2 such as a tablet with an app installed) that accepts operations from at least one of the users requesting construction work and the contractor undertaking said construction work (for example, a person in charge at a renovation company that manages the renovation contractor server 1), and a second information processing device (for example, the renovation contractor server 1 in Figure 23) that supports the contractor's series of tasks from estimation to contract signing for said construction work, The computer that controls the second information processing device (CPU 11 in Figure 23) A cost estimate is issued to the first information processing device in a cost estimate for the aforementioned construction work (for example, S101 in Figure 24), Based on the request for the work from the user who received the aforementioned estimate, a contract control step (for example, S104 to S106 in Figure 24) is performed to control the electronic contract for the work between the user and the contractor (for example, control via an electronic signature system), The control process including this is executed, The computer that controls the first information processing device (CPU 61 in Figure 23) A presentation step of presenting the aforementioned estimate to the user, A first operation reception step that receives an operation by the user who has received the aforementioned estimate indicating a request for the aforementioned construction work (an operation performed by the user or contractor: for example, pressing the content confirmation button, the terms and conditions confirmation button, the order confirmation button, etc., in S102 and S103 of Figure 24), Based on the control in the contract control step, a second operation reception step accepts at least an operation on the user's side related to the conclusion of the contract (for example, the operation of pressing the signature confirmation button 256 in Figure 32), This will execute a control process that includes this process. [Explanation of symbols]

[0211] 1...Renovation contractor server, 2,2-1 to 2-n...Renovation staff terminal, 3,3-1 to 3-m...Contractor terminal, 11...CPU, 51...Staff processing control unit, 52...Contractor processing control unit, 53...Main control unit, 61...Construction content determination unit, 62...Product candidate presentation unit, 63...Product determination unit, 64...Quotation issuance unit, 65...Construction schedule proposal presentation unit, 66...Construction schedule determination unit, 67...Contractor arrangement confirmation unit, 68...Order feasibility determination unit, 69...Order processing unit, 81...Construction information acquisition unit, 82...Contractor arrangement unit, 83...Order confirmation unit, 84...Contractor order processing unit, 91...Contractor schedule adjustment unit, 92...Contractor order reservation unit

Claims

1. Contract control means, as at least part of the control that causes an electronic contract to be made between a first party and a second party for a predetermined object, executes control to request a predetermined certification body to authenticate the signature of the contract document relating to the said contract. Equipped with, The contract control means is If the First or Second party gives instructions to enter into the said contract, By sending the first request for certification of the aforementioned contract to the designated certification body, The designated certification body that received the first certification request sends a request to sign the contract to the device operated by the first party. If the first party to whom the signature request was made performs the signing operation on the device, the first party's signature on the contract shall be certified by the designated certification authority. A first-party authentication control means that performs control, A first processing mode that, after the authentication of the first party's signature has been performed, executes control to terminate the authentication process of the second party's signature without requesting the second party to sign the contract, A second processing mode is defined as a control that, after the authentication of the first party's signature has been performed, the designated authentication authority sends a notification that the authentication of the first party's signature has been completed, sends a second authentication request for the contract to the designated authentication authority, and when the designated authentication authority receives the second authentication request and is notified by the designated authentication authority that the authentication of the second party's signature has been performed, it executes control to terminate the authentication process of the second party's signature. It has, Based on the contract format selected as the electronic contract for the predetermined target, the first processing mode and the second processing mode are switched. A second-party authentication control means that performs control, An information processing device equipped with the following features.

2. The aforementioned agreement also includes a second agreement between the first and second parties, based on the first agreement between the first and second parties. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1.

3. The aforementioned contract is a contract for renovation work in which the first party is the user requesting the renovation work and the second party is the contractor for said renovation work. A management system for managing information relating to the renovation work for which the aforementioned contract has been concluded, including the details of the renovation work, one or more products required for the renovation work, and the schedule for the renovation work, by linking these respective pieces of information. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

4. In an information processing method executed by an information processing device, A contract control step, which includes, as part of the control for enabling an electronic contract to be made between a first party and a second party for a predetermined object, a control that requests a predetermined certification body to authenticate the signature of the contract document relating to the said contract. Includes, The aforementioned contract control step is: If the First or Second party gives instructions to enter into the said contract, By sending the first request for certification of the aforementioned contract to the designated certification body, The designated certification body that received the first certification request sends a request to sign the contract to the device operated by the first party. If the first party to whom the signature request was made performs the signing operation on the device, the first party's signature on the contract shall be certified by the designated certification authority. A first-party authentication control step that performs the control, A first processing mode that, after the authentication of the first party's signature has been performed, executes control to terminate the authentication process of the second party's signature without requesting the second party to sign the contract, A second processing mode is defined as a control that, after the authentication of the first party's signature has been performed, the designated authentication authority sends a notification that the authentication of the first party's signature has been completed, sends a second authentication request for the contract to the designated authentication authority, and when the designated authentication authority receives the second authentication request and is notified by the designated authentication authority that the authentication of the second party's signature has been performed, it executes control to terminate the authentication process of the second party's signature. It has, Based on the contract format selected as the electronic contract for the predetermined target, the first processing mode and the second processing mode are switched. A second-party authentication control step that performs the control, Information processing methods including

5. On the computer, A contract control step, which includes, as part of the control for enabling an electronic contract to be made between a first party and a second party for a predetermined object, a control that requests a predetermined certification body to authenticate the signature of the contract document relating to the said contract. The control process including this is executed, As the aforementioned contract control step, If the First or Second party gives instructions to enter into the said contract, By sending the first request for certification of the aforementioned contract to the designated certification body, The designated certification body that received the first certification request sends a request to sign the contract to the device operated by the first party. If the first party to whom the signature request was made performs the signing operation on the device, the first party's signature on the contract shall be certified by the designated certification authority. A first-party authentication control step that performs the control, A first processing mode that, after the authentication of the first party's signature has been performed, executes control to terminate the authentication process of the second party's signature without requesting the second party to sign the contract, A second processing mode is defined as a control that, after the authentication of the first party's signature has been performed, the designated authentication authority sends a notification that the authentication of the first party's signature has been completed, sends a second authentication request for the contract to the designated authentication authority, and when the designated authentication authority receives the second authentication request and is notified by the designated authentication authority that the authentication of the second party's signature has been performed, it executes control to terminate the authentication process of the second party's signature. It has, Based on the contract format selected as the electronic contract for the predetermined target, the first processing mode and the second processing mode are switched. A second-party authentication control step that performs the control, A program that executes control processes, including those mentioned above.

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