Method, device, and recording medium for inventory management

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a method, an apparatus, and a recording medium for inventory management. The method for inventory management, which is performed by an electronic apparatus, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may comprise the steps of: identifying a warehouse group including one or more warehouses; determining first inventory quantities and first inventory ages for respective warehouses and stock keeping units (SKUs) at levels of the one or more warehouses; determining second inventory quantities and second inventory ages for respective SKUs at a level of the warehouse group; and executing an audit for verifying matching between the first inventory quantities and the second inventory quantities.

Description

Inventory management method, device, and recording medium

[0001] The present invention relates to an inventory management method and device, and more particularly, to a method for determining inventory age and verifying consistency for each inventory management unit at the warehouse and warehouse group level, and a device for performing the same.

[0002] In modern society, e-commerce companies deal with numerous vendors and products, storing their goods in warehouses. In these industries, inventory management must be done in real time. Accurately understanding inventory age is crucial for efficient inventory management and fair storage fees or inventory holding costs with vendors. In particular, inventory age can serve as a basis for critical decision-making processes such as determining storage costs, forecasting demand, and establishing discount strategies, leading to a demand for accurate inventory age data.

[0003] However, managing a diverse range of products in a large-scale warehouse environment and maintaining accurate inventory information is challenging. Furthermore, each product experiences incoming and outgoing events, and calculating inventory age based on these events requires significant time and effort.

[0004] Traditional inventory management methods typically rely on simple, individual receipt and delivery events for each warehouse, which can lead to inaccuracy and consistency issues. In particular, in large-scale inventory management, omissions or errors in receipt and delivery events can reduce reliability of inventory age, negatively impacting inventory management.

[0005] Therefore, in order to achieve efficient and accurate inventory management and fair inventory storage cost estimation, a method and device for determining and verifying inventory age for each inventory unit to increase the reliability of inventory information are required.

[0006] The technical challenge to be addressed by one embodiment of the present invention is to improve the reliability and management efficiency of inventory status by quickly and accurately determining inventory age for multiple warehouses and each stock keeping unit (SKU). One objective of the present invention is to group warehouses and calculate inventory age at a higher level, thereby increasing the accuracy of inventory age calculations and inventory storage cost calculations.

[0007] Another technical problem to be solved through one embodiment of the present invention is to provide a warning system that verifies the consistency of inventory quantities at the warehouse level and warehouse group level and determines errors, thereby further enhancing the reliability of the calculated inventory age.

[0008] Another technical challenge to be solved by one embodiment of the present invention is to implement a system capable of performing advanced inventory management functions by utilizing up-to-date inventory age information for each SKU.

[0009] In addition, the present invention aims to improve user experience by integrating and managing inventory snapshots and incoming information for each warehouse using meta tags and providing error determination and automated correction procedures through the same.

[0010] The technical problems of the present invention are not limited to the technical problems mentioned above, and other technical problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description below.

[0011] According to the present invention, by updating and managing inventory information at the warehouse level and warehouse group level, accurate information on the quantity and age of inventory in a warehouse can be provided. This improves the accuracy of inventory management and reduces the likelihood of errors.

[0012] According to the present invention, by calculating and tracking the age of inventory at each warehouse level and warehouse group level, a more effective inventory turnover rate can be maintained and inventory storage costs can be calculated based on a reasonable inventory age.

[0013] According to the present invention, the accuracy and reliability of inventory age data can be increased by verifying the consistency of inventory age through audit at each warehouse level and warehouse group level.

[0014] According to the present invention, by managing inventory data using meta tags, tracking and management of inventory data by warehouse can be facilitated, and consistency between inventory data can be maintained, thereby increasing data reliability.

[0015] The present invention can reduce the risk of business operations by providing a function to generate an alert or notification for SKUs whose inventory age exceeds a threshold, thereby calling attention to inventory status and preventing inventory loss or customer service issues.

[0016] The effects according to the technical idea of ​​the present invention are not limited to the effects mentioned above, and other effects not mentioned can be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description of the specification of the present invention.

[0017] FIG. 1 is a drawing for explaining an inventory management system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 2 is a block diagram of an electronic device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0020] FIG. 4 is a block diagram schematically illustrating the configuration of an electronic inventory management system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an inventory snapshot according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 6 is a diagram showing import information according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] FIGS. 7A and 7B are diagrams illustrating steps for calculating SKU age according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 8 is a drawing illustrating a meta tag according to the present invention.

[0025] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing dividing SKUs into grades according to age according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] The present disclosure may propose an inventory management method performed by an electronic device. According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the inventory management method performed by an electronic device may include: identifying a warehouse group including one or more warehouses; determining a first inventory quantity and a first inventory age for each warehouse and stock keeping unit (SKU) at each of the one or more warehouse levels; determining a second inventory quantity and a second inventory age for each SKU at the warehouse group level; and executing an audit to verify consistency between the first inventory quantity and the second inventory quantity.

[0027] In one embodiment, the method may further include calculating a storage cost for each SKU based on the first inventory age or the second inventory age, according to a predetermined criterion.

[0028] In one embodiment, the step of determining the first inventory quantity and the first inventory age for each warehouse and SKU may include the step of determining the first inventory quantity and the first inventory age based on an inventory snapshot and incoming information for each warehouse.

[0029] In one embodiment, the inventory snapshot includes at least snapshot time, SKU identifier, and inventory quantity information, and the import information includes import events, each import event including at least import time, SKU identifier, and import quantity information.

[0030] In one embodiment, the step of determining the first inventory age may include the steps of: for each SKU, sorting the import events in chronological order; calculating a summed import quantity by sequentially adding up the import quantities from the most recent import event among the sorted import events; determining import events until the summed import quantity becomes equal to or greater than the first inventory quantity as valid import events; and determining the first inventory age based on the valid import events.

[0031] In one embodiment, the step of determining the first inventory age based on the valid import events may include the step of determining the time interval between the import time of the oldest import event among the valid import events and the current time as the first inventory age.

[0032] In one embodiment, the step of determining the first inventory age based on the valid import events may include the step of determining the first inventory age by weighting the time interval between the import time of the valid import events and the current time by the corresponding import quantity.

[0033] In one embodiment, the step of determining the second inventory quantity and the second inventory age for each SKU at the warehouse group level may include the step of determining the second inventory quantity and the second inventory age based on an inventory snapshot and incoming information of one or more warehouses belonging to the warehouse group.

[0034] In one embodiment, the inventory snapshot includes at least snapshot time, SKU identifier, and inventory quantity information, and the import information includes import events, each import event including at least import time, SKU identifier, and import quantity information.

[0035] In one embodiment, the step of determining the second inventory age may include the steps of: for each SKU, sorting the import events in chronological order; calculating a summed import quantity by sequentially adding up the import quantities from the most recent import event among the sorted import events; determining import events until the summed import quantity becomes equal to or greater than the second inventory quantity as valid import events; and determining the second inventory age based on the valid import events.

[0036] In one embodiment, the step of determining the second inventory age based on the valid import events may include the step of determining the time interval between the import time of the oldest import event among the valid import events and the current time as the second inventory age.

[0037] In one embodiment, the step of determining the second inventory age based on the valid import events may include the step of determining the second inventory age by weighting the time interval between the import time of the valid import events and the current time by the corresponding import quantity.

[0038] In one embodiment, the method may further include a step of assigning a meta tag that can identify a warehouse corresponding to the inventory snapshot and the import information to the inventory snapshot and the import information.

[0039] In one embodiment, the step of executing the audit may include the step of determining whether a sum of the first inventory quantities of the one or more warehouses belonging to the warehouse group matches the second inventory quantity.

[0040] In one embodiment, the method may further include the step of generating a warning signal via a user interface in response to a determination that an error has occurred in which the first inventory quantity and the second inventory quantity do not match as a result of executing the audit.

[0041] In one embodiment, the method may further include the step of classifying the corresponding SKU into a grade based on the first inventory age or the second inventory age according to a predetermined criterion.

[0042] In one embodiment, the method may further include the step of determining whether the first age or the second age exceeds a predetermined threshold; and, in response to determining that the first age or the second age exceeds the threshold, generating an alert or notification.

[0043] An electronic device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure comprises one or more processors, one or more memories storing instructions configured to be executed by the one or more processors, and when the instructions are executed by the one or more processors, the one or more processors may be configured to execute the above method.

[0044] In a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon instructions that, when executed by one or more processors according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, cause the one or more processors to perform an operation, the instructions may be configured to cause the one or more processors to perform the above method.

[0045] The various embodiments described in this disclosure are exemplified for the purpose of clearly explaining the technical concept of this disclosure and are not intended to be limited to specific embodiments. The technical concept of this disclosure includes various modifications, equivalents, alternatives, and embodiments selectively combined from all or part of the embodiments described in this disclosure. Furthermore, the scope of the technical concept of this disclosure is not limited to the various embodiments presented below or the specific descriptions thereof.

[0046] Terms used in this disclosure, including technical or scientific terms, unless otherwise defined, may have the meaning commonly understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs.

[0047] The expressions "includes," "may include," "comprises," "may have," "have," and "may have" used in this disclosure indicate the presence of a target feature (e.g., a function, operation, or component), but do not exclude the presence of other additional features. In other words, such expressions should be understood as open-ended terms that imply the possibility of including other embodiments.

[0048] The singular expressions used in this disclosure may include the plural meaning unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, and the same applies to the singular expressions set forth in the claims.

[0049] The expressions "first," "second," or "first", "second", etc. used in this document, unless the context indicates otherwise, are used to refer to multiple similar objects and to distinguish one object from another, and do not limit the order or importance among the objects.

[0050] As used herein, the expressions "A, B, and C", "A, B, or C", "A, B, and / or C", or "at least one of A, B, and C", "at least one of A, B, or C", "at least one of A, B, and / or C", etc., may refer to each of the listed items or to all possible combinations of the listed items. For example, "at least one of A or B" may refer to (1) at least one A, (2) at least one B, (3) at least one A and at least one B.

[0051] The expression "based on" as used in this disclosure is used to describe one or more factors that influence a decision, act of judgment, or action described in a phrase or sentence containing this expression, and this expression does not exclude additional factors that influence the decision, act of judgment, or action.

[0052] As used herein, the expression that a component (e.g., a first component) is “connected” or “connected” to another component (e.g., a second component) may mean that the component is directly connected or connected to the other component, as well as connected or connected via a new other component (e.g., a third component).

[0053] The expression "configured to" used in the present disclosure may have the meanings of "set to", "having the ability to", "modified to", "made to", "capable of", etc., depending on the context. This expression is not limited to the meaning of "specifically designed in hardware", and for example, a processor configured to perform a specific operation may mean a general purpose processor that can perform the specific operation by executing software, or a special purpose computer that is structured through programming to perform the specific operation.

[0054] Hereinafter, various embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the attached drawings. In the attached drawings and the description of the drawings, identical or substantially equivalent components may be assigned the same reference numerals. Furthermore, in the description of various embodiments below, duplicate descriptions of identical or corresponding components may be omitted, but this does not mean that such components are not included in the embodiments.

[0055] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an inventory management system according to one embodiment of the present invention. One or more electronic devices (110a-f) are connected via a network (120), and each electronic device (110) may be capable of storing and processing data, including a database. The one or more electronic devices (110a-f) may be a single electronic device or a plurality of electronic devices. Hereinafter, the electronic devices (110a-f) will be referred to as the electronic device (110).

[0056] In one embodiment, the system of the present invention comprises a plurality of electronic devices (110) connected through a central network, each electronic device (110) operating with an independent database to store and transmit data according to a user's request. The electronic devices (110) within the network have their own processing capabilities and can perform data sharing and processing tasks with other electronic devices (110) as needed.

[0057] For example, each electronic device (110) can receive a request from a software application, web service, or another electronic device (110), process specific data, and transmit the results back to the requesting device or service via the network. Furthermore, the database of each electronic device (110) provides quick access to data and enables efficient data management. The network itself can also include multiple electronic devices and databases, enabling data management and distributed processing at the network level.

[0058] For example, an electronic device (110) can receive data from another electronic device (110) via a network (120), process the data, and then store the processed data or retransmit it via the network (120) as needed. Through this, the electronic device (110) can process data in real time and exchange data efficiently with the network (120) level.

[0059] Additionally, the electronic device (110) can manage transactions related to e-commerce services provided to users, i.e., manage the inventory of online products. That is, the electronic device (110) can track inventory imports and exports and display user interface alerts based on the inventory status.

[0060] The electronic device (110) of the present invention is connected via a network (120) and can calculate the age of inventory. Through this, the electronic device (110) can contribute to improving the efficiency of the inventory management system.

[0061] In one embodiment, the electronic device (110) can collect inventory data and analyze it to calculate the elapsed time for each inventory item. This allows the electronic device (110) to calculate inventory storage costs. Additionally, in additional embodiments, the electronic device (110) can determine inventory freshness and inventory turnover.

[0062] For example, the electronic device (110) can calculate the age of inventory by comparing the date of receipt with the current date based on inventory information. Furthermore, the electronic device (110) can calculate the age of inventory based on incoming information and inventory snapshots. The electronic device (110) stores the calculated age in a database and can use it to make future inventory management decisions.

[0063] The ability of the electronic device (110) of the present invention to connect to a network (120) and share information with other electronic devices (110) will be understood by those skilled in the art to be crucial for aggregating and analyzing data across multiple inventory items. This allows the task of calculating inventory age to be performed independently by each electronic device (110) or collaboratively over the network (120).

[0064] The electronic device (110) of the present invention can attach meta tags to data. The electronic device (110) can classify data using meta tags and effectively manage and search data.

[0065] In one embodiment, the electronic device (110) may include a mechanism for assigning meta tags to information generated or modified during data processing. This mechanism may collect meta tags, such as the content, source, and creation date of the data, and associate them with the data and store them. This allows the electronic device (110) to make subsequent data retrieval more efficient and increase data reliability.

[0066] The electronic device (110) can perform an audit during data processing via the network (120) and generate a warning signal if an error occurs. In one embodiment, the electronic device (110) can display calculated results, data, and warning signals on a user interface.

[0067] In addition, it should be noted that even if an operation is not mentioned in the present disclosure regarding an operation that an electronic device (110) can perform, if it is a general operation that an electronic device included in inventory management of a known e-commerce service can perform, applying the technical idea of ​​the present disclosure with reference to that operation is not excluded from the scope of the present disclosure.

[0068] Specifically, the electronic device (100) may include a plurality of computer systems or computer software implemented as network servers, and may provide various information by configuring them as web pages. For example, the electronic device (100) may refer to a computer system and computer software that are connected to a lower device that can communicate with other network servers through a computer network such as an intranet or the Internet, receive a task execution request, perform the task accordingly, and provide the execution result. In addition, the electronic device (100) may be understood as a broad concept that includes a series of application programs that can operate on a network server, and various databases built within it. For example, the electronic device (100) may be implemented using a network server program that is provided in various ways depending on the operating system such as DOS, Windows, Linux, UNIX, or MacOS.

[0069] The electronic device (110) may be a server, i.e., a server device that interacts with one or more other electronic devices (110) and hosts various software. The electronic device (110) may, for example, host warehouse management system software and manage inventory data, order processing, inventory planning, etc. The electronic device (110) may perform database management, user interface provision, and backend logic processing.

[0070] A database can be a system that stores and manages a variety of information. For example, a database can store data related to e-commerce services, such as inventory, inventory inflow information, and inventory outflow information.

[0071] The database may be connected to or included as a built-in component of the electronic device (110). The database may be accessed by the electronic device (110) and updated in real time. Specifically, the database may be accessed by the electronic device (110) and may provide or update information. For example, if inventory age calculation is required, the electronic device (110) may retrieve relevant data from the database and perform calculations based on the data.

[0072] Additionally, the database may include security features. Specifically, the database may include various mechanisms and protocols to prevent unauthorized access, modification, deletion, etc. of data.

[0073] The network (120) may connect one or more electronic devices (100) and may play a role in connecting with electronic devices (not shown) at the network level. For example, the network (120) may provide a connection path so that the electronic device (100) can be connected to electronic devices at the network level and transmit and receive packet data. The network (120) may be implemented as any type of wired or wireless network (120), such as a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a mobile radio communication network, or Wibro (Wireless Broadband Internet).

[0074] The inventory management system according to various embodiments may be implemented as a single physical device, or may be implemented in a manner in which multiple physical devices are organically combined. For example, some of the components included in the inventory management system may be implemented by a single physical device, and the remaining components included in the inventory management system may be implemented by another physical device. For example, one physical device may be implemented as part of an electronic device (110a), and the other physical device may be implemented as part of an electronic device (110b) or an external device (not shown). In some cases, each component included in the inventory management system may be distributed and arranged in different physical devices, and the distributed components may be organically combined to perform the functions and operations of the inventory management system.

[0075] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an electronic device (110) according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0076] Referring to FIG. 2, an electronic device (100) according to various embodiments may include one or more processors (210), one or more memories (220), and a communication interface (230) as components. In one embodiment, at least one of the components of the electronic device (200) may be omitted, or another component may be added to the electronic device (200). In one embodiment, additionally or alternatively, some of the components may be implemented in an integrated manner, or may be implemented as a single or multiple entities. In the present disclosure, one or more processors (210) may be expressed as a processor (210). The expression “processor (210)” may mean a set of one or more processors, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In the present disclosure, one or more memories (220) may be expressed as a memory (220). The expression “memory (220)” may mean a set of one or more memories, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In one embodiment, at least some of the components inside / outside the electronic device (200) are connected to each other through a bus, GPIO (General Purpose Input / Output), SPI (Serial Peripheral Interface), MIPI (Mobile Industry Processor Interface), etc., and can exchange information (data, signals, etc.).

[0077] The processor (210) may control at least one component of an electronic device (200) connected to the processor (210) by executing software (e.g., commands, programs, etc.). In addition, the processor (210) may perform various operations related to the present disclosure, such as calculations, processing, data generation, and processing. In addition, the processor (210) may load data from the memory (220) or store data in the memory (220). In one embodiment, the processor (210) may control the communication interface (230) to request various types of information from the user terminal (120) and receive various types of information from the user terminal (120).

[0078] The processor (210) can control other components of the electronic device (110) in general and process a series of steps for performing an inventory management method according to various embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0079] The processor (210) may have the ability to process data received from other electronic devices via a network (120) together with the running software, store such data in memory, and then retransmit it via the network (120) as needed. The real-time data processing capability of the processor (210) and the storage function of the memory enable efficient data exchange via the network (120).

[0080] The processor (210) may be connected via the network (120) to perform inventory age calculations. In one embodiment, the processor (210) of the electronic device (110) may collect, process, and analyze various inventory data to calculate the elapsed time for each inventory item, which may be utilized to calculate inventory storage costs. For example, the processor (210) may utilize incoming information and inventory snapshots stored in memory to calculate inventory age, and store this information in a database for use in future management decisions. Additionally, the processor (210) may also be responsible for determining inventory freshness and turnover. The processor (210) may interact with other devices via the network (120) to perform broader data aggregation and analysis, and may support individual or collaborative inventory age calculations.

[0081] The processor (210) can assign meta tags to data. In one embodiment, meta tags can be assigned to information created or modified during data processing. Furthermore, the processor (210) can monitor for errors that may occur during data processing via the network (120), perform audit functions for such errors, and display warning signals on the user interface.

[0082] The memory (220) can store various information (data). The information stored in the memory (220) is information acquired, processed, or used by at least one component of the electronic device (200), and may include software (e.g., commands, programs, etc.). The memory (220) may include volatile and / or non-volatile memory. In the present disclosure, the commands or programs are software stored in the memory (220), and may include an operating system for controlling the resources of the electronic device (200), an application, and / or middleware for providing various functions to the application so that the application can utilize the resources of the electronic device (200). In one embodiment, the memory (220) may store commands that, when executed by the processor (210), cause the processor (210) to perform operations. The memory (220) may store at least a portion of information received from a database via the communication interface (230) and / or information transmitted to the database via the communication interface (230). In one embodiment, the memory (220) may replace the role of a database. The memory (220) may store information relating to e-commerce and instructions configured to be executed by the processor (210).

[0083] The communication interface (communication interface, 230) can perform wireless or wired communication between the electronic device (200) and a database or other external electronic device (110). For example, the communication interface (230) can perform wireless communication according to a method such as eMBB (enhanced Mobile Broadband), URLLC (Ultra Reliable Low-Latency Communications), MMTC (Massive Machine Type Communications), LTE (Long-Term Evolution), LTE-A (LTE Advance), NR (New Radio), UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System), GSM (Global System for Mobile communications), CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access), WCDMA (Wideband CDMA), WiBro (Wireless Broadband), WiFi (Wireless Fidelity), Bluetooth (Bluetooth), NFC (Near Field Communication), GPS (Global Positioning System), or GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System). For example, the communication interface (230) may perform wired communication according to a method such as Universal Serial Bus (USB), High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI), Recommended Standard-232 (RS-232), or Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS). In one embodiment, the electronic device (200) may be implemented by being integrated with another device. In this case, the communication interface (230) may function as a connection circuit or interface connecting the electronic device (200) and the other device.

[0084] Hereinafter, the operations described as being performed by the electronic device (110) in FIGS. 3 to 8 can be understood as being performed by the processor (210) of the electronic device (200) described in FIG. 2.

[0085] Figure 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0086] The electronic device (110) can identify a warehouse group including one or more warehouses (S310).

[0087] The electronic device (110) can integrate inventory data and management methods by grouping multiple warehouses into a single management group. Specifically, the electronic device (110) can identify each warehouse and group or classify one or more warehouses according to preset criteria (e.g., location, inventory type, size, etc.).

[0088] In one embodiment, the electronic device (110) groups one or more warehouses into one or more groups according to preset criteria, and this grouping can be executed through a database or management program.

[0089] For example, the software of the electronic device (110) can automatically or through user input assign warehouses to warehouse groups, taking into account warehouse location, operational type, inventory characteristics, etc. The grouped warehouses are managed according to an integrated inventory management procedure and can provide basic data for subsequent steps such as determining inventory quantity and age, and performing audits.

[0090] Those skilled in the art will understand that by grouping multiple warehouses together, inventory data can be centrally managed and the inventory status of each warehouse can be effectively monitored.

[0091] The electronic device (110) can determine a first inventory quantity and a first inventory age for each warehouse and stock keeping unit (SKU) at one or more warehouse levels (S320).

[0092] The warehouse level can refer to the management unit of an individual warehouse. A SKU is an inventory management unit, which can be a unit that identifies each distinct item or service. Inventory age is an indicator of the length of time a specific stock has been stored in a warehouse or store, representing the time from when the product was received into inventory to the current time.

[0093] Step S320 is further explained with reference to FIG. 4.

[0094] The electronic device (110) can determine each first inventory quantity and first inventory age at the warehouse level (410, S320). Referring to FIG. 4, determining the first inventory age may be associated with a warehouse SKU age calculation component (411), a warehouse SKU age publisher component (412), and a warehouse database component (413).

[0095] Components may form part of a process for calculating the age of a SKU. In one embodiment, the warehouse SKU age calculation component (411) may execute a process for calculating the inventory age of each SKU. This is performed using data stored in the warehouse database component (413), and the calculated first inventory age may be written back to the warehouse database component (413). The warehouse SKU age publisher component (412) may then communicate the calculated first inventory age to other systems or modules. Specifically, the warehouse SKU age publisher component (412) may publish the first inventory age as an event.

[0096] For example, a warehouse SKU age calculation component (411) may calculate the age of inventory based on data from a database component (413), and this information may be stored in the warehouse database component (413). A warehouse SKU age publisher component (412) may then use this age information to pass it to a system that calculates the storage cost for each SKU.

[0097] The electronic device (110) can determine the second inventory quantity and second inventory age for each SKU at the warehouse group level (S330). The electronic device (110) can aggregate data from multiple warehouses within a warehouse group at the warehouse group level to determine the second inventory quantity and second inventory age at the group level. The inventory quantity and age at the warehouse group level can be determined by synthesizing data from all warehouses within the group, and can represent the overall inventory status within the group.

[0098] The electronic device (110) can receive data from each warehouse at the warehouse level at the warehouse group level. For example, the electronic device (110) can receive data from each warehouse at the warehouse level at the warehouse group level via the network (120). Additionally, for example, the electronic device (110) can receive real-time streaming data from each warehouse at the warehouse level at the warehouse group level.

[0099] The warehouse group level can refer to a higher level of management unit that manages multiple warehouses as a single group.

[0100] Step S330 is further described with reference to FIG. 4 (420). Determining the second inventory age may be associated with a group SKU age calculation component (421), a group SKU age publisher component (422), and a group database component (423).

[0101] In one embodiment, the group SKU age calculation component (421) can determine the age for each SKU using data stored in the group database component (423). For example, the group SKU age calculation component (421) can aggregate data from all warehouses belonging to the group at the warehouse group level to calculate the inventory quantity and average inventory age for the entire group. The determined second inventory age can be recorded again in the group database component (423). Thereafter, the second inventory age can be communicated to relevant systems or modules through the group SKU age publisher component (422). Specifically, the group SKU age publisher component (422) can publish the second inventory age as an event. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that this configuration can improve the efficiency of inventory management, maintain inventory freshness, and maintain optimized inventory levels.

[0102] The electronic device (110) can execute an audit to verify consistency between the first inventory quantity and the second inventory quantity (S340).

[0103] The electronic device (110) may perform an audit to ensure the accuracy of inventory age calculations. An audit is a process for verifying the accuracy of data or records, and in the present invention, it may refer to verifying the consistency of inventory quantity and inventory age.

[0104] Step S340 is further described with reference to FIG. 4 (430). The electronic device (110) can verify whether the inventory quantities identified at the warehouse level and the warehouse group level match. This can be used by the electronic device (110) to ensure the accuracy of inventory data and serve as a basis for detecting errors.

[0105] In one embodiment, the electronic device (110) may compare inventory quantities at the warehouse level (the first inventory quantity) with inventory quantities at the warehouse group level (the second inventory quantity) to determine if there is a discrepancy. For example, the electronic device (110) may compare the first and second inventory quantity data from the warehouse database component (413) and the group database component (423), respectively, to determine if there is a match. As described below, if a discrepancy is determined, the discrepancy indicates an error and may require additional action.

[0106] FIG. 4 is a block diagram schematically illustrating the configuration of an electronic inventory management system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0107] Steps 410, 420, and 430, which correspond to steps S320, S330, and S340, respectively, are as described above. The service unit (440) can interact with data published by the warehouse SKU age publisher component (412) and the group SKU age publisher component (422). That is, the service unit (440) can collect data and interact with each component. Through the service unit (440), multiple pieces of data can be transmitted or streamed, so that data can be collected / processed, tasks can be coordinated, and the load on the entire system can be distributed.

[0108] The cost calculation unit (450) of FIG. 4 can calculate inventory storage costs based on the first inventory age or the second inventory age.

[0109] In one embodiment, the cost calculation unit (450) may calculate the storage cost that increases as inventory ages. For example, the cost calculation unit (450) may execute an algorithm that calculates the additional cost incurred when inventory items are stored in a warehouse for a certain period of time. The storage cost may increase gradually with the storage period or increase sharply after a certain period of time. The storage cost may be calculated by combining the inventory age with the cost of storing the inventory, handling costs, loss risk, or other related cost factors. The calculated inventory management cost may be adjusted based on criteria used for classification or used to adjust the inventory management strategy for the SKU.

[0110] Calculating holding costs can make the age-related costs of inventory items transparent in an inventory management system and provide crucial information needed to adjust inventory levels. Those skilled in the art will understand that reliable age determination of SKUs is crucial for calculating transparent costs.

[0111] In one embodiment, the method may further include calculating a storage cost per SKU based on the first inventory age or the second inventory age, according to a predetermined criterion.

[0112] In one embodiment, the predetermined criteria may be criteria determined by the goods supplier. Specifically, the cost calculation unit (450) may calculate storage costs based on the first inventory age or the second inventory age, as determined by the goods supplier. For example, if the goods of a specific goods supplier have special storage requirements or if rapid distribution is important and the location of the warehouse from which the goods are shipped is important, the goods supplier may preset the storage cost to be calculated based on the first inventory age, and the cost calculation unit (450) may calculate the storage cost based on that determination. This may appropriately reflect the storage cost by considering the freshness and distribution period of the goods. Alternatively, for example, the goods supplier may set the second inventory age as the criterion for calculating the storage cost, and the cost calculation unit (450) may calculate the storage cost based on that determination.

[0113] Additionally, alternatively, in one embodiment, the predetermined criteria may be criteria determined by the warehouse manager. Specifically, the cost calculation unit (450) may calculate storage costs based on the first inventory age or the second inventory age for each product supplier and / or SKU, as determined by the warehouse manager.

[0114] In another embodiment, the predetermined criteria may be criteria determined based on the characteristics of the SKU. The cost calculation unit (450) may calculate the storage cost based on the first inventory age or the second inventory age, depending on the characteristics of the SKU. For example, in the case of a product with a long distribution period, the storage cost may be calculated based on the second inventory age, thereby calculating the inventory storage cost. For example, in the case of a product with a short distribution period, the storage cost may be calculated based on the first inventory age, thereby calculating the inventory storage cost. The cost calculation unit (450) may calculate the storage cost based on the first inventory age or the second inventory age, depending on the criteria determined based on the characteristics of the SKU. This may enable more efficient cost management depending on the characteristics of the inventory item.

[0115] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an inventory snapshot according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0116] An inventory snapshot can refer to a data set representing the inventory status within a warehouse at a specific point in time. The data in an inventory snapshot can be used as a data source for determining inventory quantity and age.

[0117] In one embodiment, an inventory snapshot may include the current inventory quantity and status for each SKU within a warehouse at a specific date and point in time. The data in the inventory snapshot may be snapshotted (or captured) periodically by the inventory management system or based on specific events.

[0118] In one embodiment, the inventory snapshot includes at least a snapshot time point, a SKU identifier, and inventory quantity information, and the import information includes import events, each import event including at least a import time point, a SKU identifier, and import quantity information.

[0119] The items in the inventory snapshot according to one embodiment are as follows:

[0120] - Snapshot point in time ('stock_create_dttm'): The date and time that serves as the basis for the stock quantity.

[0121] - SKU identifier ('SKU_id'): A unique identifier that distinguishes inventory items in each inventory management unit.

[0122] - Stock quantity ('stock_unit'): Stock quantity according to SKU identifier.

[0123] Figure 6 is a diagram showing import information according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0124] Receipt information represents data about inventory items that entered the warehouse at a specific time. In other words, receipt information can record the most recent receipt date and quantity for each SKU. The data in receipt information can be used as a data source for determining inventory quantity and age.

[0125] The items of import information according to one embodiment are as follows:

[0126] - SKU identifier ('SKUid'): A unique identifier for an inventory item.

[0127] - Created date ('createdat_day'): The date the stock was created.

[0128] - Inbound quantity ('inbound_quantity'): Quantity of stock received.

[0129] In one embodiment, the step of determining the first inventory quantity and the first inventory age for each warehouse and SKU may include the step of determining the first inventory quantity and the first inventory age based on the inventory snapshot and the incoming information of each warehouse. Specifically, the electronic device (110) may determine the first inventory quantity and the first inventory age for each warehouse and SKU based on the data of the inventory snapshot and the incoming information. For example, the electronic device (110) may use a specific date of the inventory snapshot as a reference date, compare the reference date with the snapshot time of the inventory snapshot, and calculate the inventory age of each SKU on the reference date based on the compared period and incoming quantity. In addition, the electronic device (110) may identify the flow of inventory through the above.

[0130] In one embodiment, the step of determining the second inventory quantity and the second inventory age for each SKU at the warehouse group level may include the step of determining the second inventory quantity and the second inventory age based on an inventory snapshot and retrieval information of one or more warehouses belonging to the warehouse group.

[0131] Figure 7a is a diagram illustrating steps for calculating SKU age according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 7a shows the number of SKUs remaining in the warehouse and the age of SKUs imported according to each import event.

[0132] For example, in FIG. 7A, a warehouse had 100 units in stock on February 1, 2022, and a "Intake: 40, Withdrawal: 20" event occurred on February 2, 2022. Accordingly, 20 of the 100 oldest existing SKUs were used for withdrawal using FIFO (First In First Out), leaving 80 units. The electronic device (110) can calculate the inventory age of the corresponding SKU as "age 1." The newly received 40 units of the SKU mature from "age 0."

[0133] As above, according to import events 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, and 2.6, the warehouse will have 200 units of 'Age 1', 5 units of 'Age 3', and 27 units of 'Age 4' in stock.

[0134] FIG. 7b is a drawing detailing the import and export of SKU inventory quantities in chronological order according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0135] Figure 7b tracks inventory changes for SKUs in a warehouse, i.e., inventory inflows and outflows, over time. "Inbound Quantity" indicates the quantity of inventory entering the warehouse, "Existing Inventory at EOD (End of Day)" indicates the quantity of inventory existing at the end of the day, and "Replenished Quantity" indicates the quantity of inventory removed.

[0136] Each box represents the inventory quantity at a specific point in time, and the arrows can represent changes in inventory and inventory levels at that point in time.

[0137] Looking at the import column (710), for example, on February 1st there were no imports (no boxes), and on February 2nd 40 items of inventory were imported (boxes marked 40).

[0138] The shipment column (720) indicates inventory removed from the warehouse on a specific date. For example, the boxes in the shipment column (720) indicate how much inventory was removed on a specific date (e.g., 20, 50).

[0139] In one embodiment, determining age may include the following steps:

[0140] 1. For each SKU, sort the import events chronologically.

[0141] 2. Among the sorted import events, the import quantities are sequentially added up starting from the most recent import event to calculate the total import quantity.

[0142] 3. The import events that occur when the total import quantity is equal to or greater than the current inventory quantity are determined as valid import events.

[0143] 4. Determine the inventory age of each SKU based on valid import events.

[0144] Additionally, in one embodiment, determining the age may include the steps of determining a reference date and a reference SKU quantity for determining the age, determining one or more import events including a reference point in time and a reference SKU import quantity of the first inventory based on the import information, and sorting them in chronological order of creation time, determining a valid import event among the import events from the sorting to hold the reference SKU quantity, wherein the valid import event indicates quantities corresponding to which of the import events remain in inventory on the reference date, and calculating the age of the SKU based on the determination of the valid import event, starting from an oldest import event among the valid import events, until the SKU quantity on the reference date is reached, wherein the age calculation is calculated as the difference between the reference date and the reference point in days.

[0145] In one embodiment, the step of determining the second inventory age may include, for each SKU, the steps of: sorting the import events chronologically; calculating a summed import quantity by sequentially adding up the import quantities of the sorted import events starting from the most recent import event; determining the import events until the summed import quantity is equal to or greater than the second inventory quantity as valid import events; and determining the second inventory age based on the valid import events.

[0146] In one embodiment, the step of determining the first inventory age based on valid import events may include the step of determining the time interval between the import time of the oldest import event among the valid import events and the current time as the first inventory age. According to the above embodiment, this may indicate how much time has passed since the inventory arrived at the warehouse. For example, if the inventory was received at the warehouse on January 1st and today is January 31st, the age of the inventory may be calculated as 30 days. This inventory age may be used to determine whether the inventory is maintained in a fresh state or is approaching its expiration date.

[0147] In one embodiment, the step of determining the second inventory age based on the valid import events may include the step of determining the time interval between the import time of the oldest import event among the valid import events and the current time as the second inventory age.

[0148] In one embodiment, the step of determining the first inventory age based on valid receipt events may include determining the first inventory age by weighting the time interval between the receipt time of the valid receipt events and the current time by the corresponding receipt quantity. According to the above embodiment, the importance of each valid receipt event can be adjusted based on the receipt quantity to calculate a more accurate inventory age. For example, if 10 units of inventory were received on January 1st and another 20 units were received on January 15th, the average inventory age can be calculated not simply based on the passage of time, but rather as a weighted average that reflects the impact of each received quantity. The first inventory age calculated in this way will be particularly useful when large quantities of inventory are received at different times.

[0149] In one embodiment, the step of determining the second inventory age based on the valid import events may include the step of determining the second inventory age by weighting the time interval between the import time of the valid import events and the current time by the corresponding import quantity.

[0150] Additionally, in one embodiment, the step of determining the valid import event may include the step of calculating a difference between the total of the SKU import quantities and the reference SKU quantity, and the step of determining from which import event the quantity difference was exported by a first method or a second method, wherein the first method determines that the export was sequentially from an import event corresponding to the oldest import point among the import events, and the second method determines that the export was sequentially from an import event corresponding to the most recent import point among the import events.

[0151] Although physical movement of inventory into and out of inventory occurs at each warehouse level, it will be understood that the first inventory age calculated at each warehouse level and the second inventory age calculated at the warehouse group level may differ depending on the unit level at which inventory age is calculated.

[0152] Figure 8 is a drawing illustrating a meta tag according to the present invention.

[0153] Meta tags can be used to provide additional information about data items, making them easier to identify and search. By assigning meta tags, you can assign additional identifiers to each data point, allowing you to categorize and manage the data's source, attributes, and purpose. Meta tags can be particularly useful in complex systems with large inventories.

[0154] Meta tag items according to one embodiment are:

[0155] - fc_id: This is the identifier of the Fulfillment Center, which can be used to identify the warehouse where the inventory is located.

[0156] - fc_lot_suric: A number that identifies the area or batch to which the inventory belongs, and can be used to track and manage products.

[0157] - fc_location_type: This indicates the storage area within the warehouse, and can broadly indicate a picking, packing, or cart movement area.

[0158] - rfm_flag: A flag indicating whether an inventory item meets certain management criteria or requirements (e.g., requires rapid movement, is subject to special management, etc.).

[0159] There may be.

[0160] In one embodiment, these meta tags can be entered into an inventory management system to help users quickly find the information they need. For example, an inventory item with the "rfm_flag" set to "YES" indicates that it requires special attention, potentially indicating that the warehouse manager can prioritize review or processing of that inventory.

[0161] In one embodiment, inventory snapshot data may be tagged to identify the location or zone of each warehouse. For example, an inventory snapshot for Warehouse A may be tagged with the meta tag "Zone A," identifying the inventory item as being managed in a specific zone within Warehouse A.

[0162] In one embodiment, the method may further include a step of assigning a meta tag that can identify a warehouse corresponding to the inventory snapshot and the import information to the inventory snapshot and the import information.

[0163] In one embodiment, the step of performing an audit may include determining whether the sum of the first inventory quantities of one or more warehouses belonging to the warehouse group matches the second inventory quantity. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that such an audit can enhance the reliability of the first and second inventory ages.

[0164] Additionally, in one embodiment, the method may further include the step of performing an audit immediately after data is received at the warehouse group level and / or at regular time intervals after storage.

[0165] In one embodiment, the step of executing the audit may further include using meta tags to determine whether the warehouse level data matches data at the warehouse group level.

[0166] In one embodiment, the method may further include a step of generating a warning signal via a user interface in response to a determination that an error has occurred in which the first inventory quantity and the second inventory quantity do not match as a result of performing the audit. Specifically, if the quantity data does not match, such a mismatch may indicate a loss or error in inventory. Furthermore, if the quantity data does not match, the reliability of the first inventory age and / or the second inventory age may not be guaranteed. Accordingly, if a mismatch is detected during the audit process, the electronic device (110) may generate a warning signal via the user interface.

[0167] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing dividing SKUs into grades according to age according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0168] SKU grades can represent inventory data categorized by age, based on SKU ID. For example, each SKU ID uniquely identifies a product, and the age grade can indicate the number of days the product has been in the warehouse. Age grades might be "1-30 days," "31-40 days," "41-50 days," "51-60 days," "61-90 days," and "91+ days." For example, a high number in the "61-90 days" grade could indicate that a significant amount of inventory remained unsold during that period.

[0169] In one embodiment, the method may further include the step of classifying the corresponding SKU into a predetermined tier based on the first or second inventory age. The tier may provide valuable information for managing inventory at the warehouse level and / or warehouse group level to prevent overstocking. For example, discount sales may be promoted for SKUs with high inventory counts in the "91+ Days" tier, or production volumes may be adjusted to prevent overstocking.

[0170] In one embodiment, the method may further include the step of determining whether the first age or the second age exceeds a predetermined threshold, and in response to determining that the first age or the second age exceeds the threshold, the step of generating an alert or notification. For example, if the first age or the second age of a SKU exceeds 90 days and is in the '91 days+' category, the threshold may be determined to have been exceeded, and an alert or notification may be generated. Additionally, a special discount may be applied to SKUs in the '91 days+' category, or advertisements may be targeted to consumers in that category.

[0171] Additionally, in one embodiment, the method may further include the steps of determining whether the inventory count of a SKU in each tier falls below a lower threshold, and generating an alert or notification in response to determining that the inventory count of the SKU falls below the lower threshold. For example, if the inventory count of a SKU in the "31-40 Days" tier is lower than expected, actions such as urgently placing additional orders or increasing production of the product may be taken.

[0172] In one embodiment, an electronic device (110) may include one or more processors, one or more memories storing instructions configured to be executed by the one or more processors, and when the instructions are executed by the one or more processors, the one or more processors are configured to perform the method described above.

[0173] In one embodiment, a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause one or more processors to perform an operation, the instructions may include a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium configured to cause one or more processors to perform the method described above.

[0174] In the flowcharts according to the present disclosure, each step of the method or algorithm is described in a sequential order. However, the steps may be performed in any order that can be arbitrarily combined, in addition to being performed sequentially. The description of the flowcharts or flowcharts of the present disclosure does not exclude changes or modifications to the method or algorithm, and does not imply that any step is essential or desirable. In one embodiment, at least some of the steps may be performed in parallel, iteratively, or heuristically. In another embodiment, at least some of the steps may be omitted, or other steps may be added.

[0175] Various embodiments according to the present disclosure may be implemented as software on a machine-readable storage medium. The software may be software for implementing various embodiments described in the present disclosure. The software may be inferred from various embodiments described in the present disclosure by programmers skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains. For example, the software may be a program including machine-readable instructions (e.g., instructions, codes, or code segments). The device may be a device capable of operating according to instructions called from a storage medium, such as a computer. In one embodiment, the device may be a computing device according to various embodiments described in the present disclosure. In one embodiment, the processor of the device may execute the called instructions, causing components of the device to perform functions corresponding to the instructions. The storage medium may refer to any type of recording medium that stores data and can be read by the device. The storage medium may include, for example, ROM, RAM, CD-ROM, magnetic tape, floppy disk, optical data storage, etc. In one embodiment, the storage medium may be implemented in a distributed form, such as in a computer system connected to a network (120). In this case, the software may be distributed, stored, and executed in the computer system. In another embodiment, the storage medium may be a non-transitory storage medium. A non-transitory storage medium refers to a medium that exists regardless of whether data is stored semi-permanently or temporarily (tangible medium), and does not include signals that are transmitted transitively (transitory).

[0176] While the technical concepts of the present disclosure have been described through various embodiments, the technical concepts of the present disclosure encompass various substitutions, modifications, and variations that can be made within the scope understandable to those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure pertains. Furthermore, it should be understood that such substitutions, modifications, and variations are encompassed within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. In a method of inventory management performed by an electronic device, A step of identifying a warehouse group including one or more warehouses; A step of determining a first inventory quantity and a first inventory age for each warehouse and stock keeping unit (SKU) at one or more of the above warehouse levels; A step of determining the second inventory quantity and the second inventory age for each SKU at the warehouse group level; and A step of executing an audit to verify consistency between the first inventory quantity and the second inventory quantity. An inventory management method including:

2. In paragraph 1, The above method, A method further comprising the step of calculating a storage cost for each SKU based on the first inventory age or the second inventory age, according to a predetermined criterion.

3. In paragraph 1, The step of determining the first inventory quantity and first inventory age for each of the above warehouses and SKUs is as follows: An inventory management method comprising the step of determining the first inventory quantity and the first inventory age based on the inventory snapshot and the incoming information of each of the warehouses.

4. In paragraph 3, The above inventory snapshot includes at least snapshot time, SKU identifier, and inventory quantity information, An inventory management method, wherein the above import information includes import events, and each import event includes at least information on an import time, an SKU identifier, and an import quantity.

5. In paragraph 4, The step of determining the first stock age is as follows: For each SKU, a step of chronologically sorting the above import events; A step of calculating the summed import quantity by sequentially adding up the import quantities from the most recent import event among the above sorted import events; A step of determining the import events until the summed import quantity becomes equal to or greater than the first inventory quantity as valid import events; and A step of determining the first inventory age based on the above valid import events An inventory management method including:

6. In paragraph 5, The step of determining the first inventory age based on the above valid import events is: A step of determining the time interval between the import time of the oldest import event among the above valid import events and the current time as the first inventory age. An inventory management method including:

7. In paragraph 5, The step of determining the first inventory age based on the above valid import events is: A step of determining the first inventory age by weighting the time interval between the import time of the above valid import events and the current time with the corresponding import quantity. An inventory management method including:

8. In paragraph 1, The step of determining the second inventory quantity and second inventory age by SKU at the above warehouse group level is: An inventory management method comprising the step of determining the second inventory quantity and the second inventory age based on an inventory snapshot and incoming information of one or more warehouses belonging to the warehouse group.

9. In paragraph 8, The above inventory snapshot includes at least snapshot time, SKU identifier, and inventory quantity information, An inventory management method, wherein the above import information includes import events, and each import event includes at least information on an import time, an SKU identifier, and an import quantity.

10. In paragraph 9, The step of determining the second inventory age is as follows: For each SKU, a step of chronologically sorting the above import events; A step of calculating the summed import quantity by sequentially adding up the import quantities from the most recent import event among the above sorted import events; A step of determining the import events until the summed import quantity becomes equal to or greater than the second inventory quantity as valid import events; and A step of determining the second inventory age based on the above valid import events. An inventory management method including:

11. In paragraph 10, The step of determining the second inventory age based on the above valid import events is: A step of determining the time interval between the import time of the oldest import event among the above valid import events and the current time as the second inventory age. An inventory management method including:

12. In paragraph 10, The step of determining the second inventory age based on the above valid import events is: A step of determining the second inventory age by weighting the time interval between the import time of the above valid import events and the current time with the corresponding import quantity. An inventory management method including:

13. In paragraph 3, A step of assigning a meta tag that can identify a warehouse corresponding to the inventory snapshot and the import information to the above inventory snapshot and the import information. A method of inventory management, which further includes:

14. In paragraph 1, The steps to execute the above audit are: A step of determining whether the sum of the first inventory quantity of the one or more warehouses belonging to the warehouse group matches the second inventory quantity. An inventory management method including:

15. In paragraph 1, The above method, A step of generating a warning signal through a user interface in response to a determination that an error has occurred in which the first inventory quantity and the second inventory quantity do not match as a result of executing the above audit. A method of inventory management, which further includes:

16. In paragraph 1, The above method, A step of classifying the corresponding SKU into a grade based on the first inventory age or the second inventory age according to a predetermined standard. A method of inventory management, which further includes:

17. In paragraph 1, The above method, a step of determining whether the first age or the second age exceeds a predetermined threshold; and In response to a determination that the first age or the second age exceeds the threshold, a step of generating an alert or notification. A method of inventory management, which further includes:

18. In electronic devices, one or more processors; and comprising one or more memories storing instructions configured to be executed by said one or more processors; An electronic device, wherein when the instructions are executed by the one or more processors, the one or more processors are configured to execute a method according to any one of claims 1 to 17.

19. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform an operation, A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium, wherein the instructions are configured to cause the one or more processors to execute a method according to any one of claims 1 to 17.

Images