Information analysis system, information analysis method, and information analysis program

Abstract

The present invention addresses the problem of analyzing competitive relationships among sales targets with high accuracy. This information analysis system is provided with: a storage device that stores sales performance data for a plurality of sales targets, and feature data in which features of the sales targets are associated with the sales targets; and an analysis unit that uses index values of the plurality of sales targets, which are obtained on the basis of the feature data, and transitions of the sales performance of the plurality of sales targets, which are obtained on the basis of the sales performance data, and outputs, as sales targets having a competitive relationship, sales targets for which the index values are similar and trends in the transitions of the sales performance are in opposite directions.

Description

Information analysis system, information analysis method, and information analysis program

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

[0002] In stores that sell products, a phenomenon called cannibalization can occur. Cannibalization is a phenomenon in which, for example, a certain product competes with other products of the same type and cannibalizes each other's demand. Furthermore, stores are subject to physical constraints such as sales floor space, making it unrealistic to display all of the many types of products or countless products available on the market. In order to improve sales in a store, it is important to determine the product lineup by taking into account cannibalization between products within the physical constraints of the sales floor. Patent Literature 1 discloses an example of a technology for determining the product lineup by taking into account cannibalization between products within the physical constraints of the sales floor.

[0003] Patent Document 1 states that "in a situation where no store has a complete product lineup, the order quantity of a product is determined taking into consideration cannibalization between products." and "the management device 20 includes an acquisition unit 212, an estimation unit 213, and a determination unit 214. The acquisition unit 212 acquires first and second sales quantities. The first sales quantity indicates the sales quantity of product X at a first store that does not sell product Y, of products X and Y that cannibalize each other's demand. The second sales quantity indicates the sales quantity of product Y at a second store that sells product X and product Y. The estimation unit 213 estimates the substitution probability between product X and product Y, the original demand rate of a product group consisting of product X and product Y at the first store, and the original demand rate of the product group at the second store, based on the first and second sales quantities. The determination unit 214 determines the order quantities of product X and product Y at the first store based on the substitution probability and the original demand rate of each of product X and product Y."

[0004] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2023-111136

[0005] The technology disclosed in Patent Document 1 assumes that cannibalization occurs between products of the same type, such as sweets and soft drinks. However, cannibalization can occur across types. For example, cannibalization occurs between sweets and soft drinks to meet a customer's need for refreshment. The technology disclosed in Patent Document 1 cannot be applied to determining a product lineup that takes into account cannibalization between products of different types that satisfy the same need. The present disclosure has been made in light of the above circumstances, and aims to solve the problem of analyzing competitive relationships that occur across product types. This makes it possible to determine a product lineup that takes into account cannibalization between products of different types that satisfy the same need, for example, within the physical constraints of a sales floor.

[0006] The information analysis system of the present invention that solves the above-mentioned problems includes a storage device that stores sales performance data for multiple sales targets and feature data that associates the sales targets with their features, and an analysis unit that uses index values ​​for the multiple sales targets calculated based on the feature data and trends in sales performance for the multiple sales targets calculated based on the sales performance data, and outputs, as competing sales targets, sales targets with similar index values ​​and opposite trends in sales performance. The information analysis method of the present invention includes the steps of: acquiring index values ​​based on the features of the sales targets; acquiring sales performance for the sales targets; and outputting, as competing sales targets, sales targets with similar index values ​​and opposite trends in sales performance. The information analysis program of the present invention causes a computer to execute the steps of acquiring index values ​​based on the features of the sales targets, acquiring sales performance for the sales targets, and outputting, as competing sales targets, sales targets with similar index values ​​and opposite trends in sales performance.

[0007] The information analysis system, information analysis method, and information analysis program disclosed herein can analyze competitive relationships among sales targets with high accuracy.

[0008] 1 is a diagram illustrating a network configuration including an information analysis system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the hardware configuration of an information analysis Web / AP server according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the hardware configuration of an information analysis DB server according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the hardware configuration of a client terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a data configuration of a sales performance (daily single item) table provided in the information analysis DB server according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a table structure of a product hierarchy master provided in the information analysis DB server according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a data configuration of a product master provided in the information analysis DB server according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a data configuration of a product feature needs conversion master provided in the information analysis DB server according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a data configuration of a product needs level master provided in the information analysis DB server according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram illustrating a first example of a processing procedure of an information analysis method according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a flow diagram illustrating a second example of a processing procedure of an information analysis method according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a cannibalization input screen in a client terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a cannibalization output screen in a client terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 14 is a modified example of output information. FIG. 15 is a modified example (part 1) of a case where customer needs levels are used. This is a modified example (part 2) in which the customer needs level is used.

[0009] Hereinafter, an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0010] (System Configuration) An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a network including an information analysis system according to this embodiment. The information analysis system 100 shown in Fig. 1 is a computer system that enables cannibalization between products of different types that satisfy the same needs in the retail industry, under the physical constraints of a sales floor.

[0011] 1, this information analysis system 100 is configured by the cooperation of an information analysis Web / AP server 101 and an information analysis DB server 102, which are communicatively connected to each other via a network 104. Of course, this configuration of the information analysis system 100 is just one example, and these servers may also be implemented as an integrated server device.

[0012] On the other hand, the client terminal 103 is a terminal used by a user who wants to recognize cannibalization between products in order to determine the product lineup, such as in a retail product department, and is capable of communicating with, for example, the information analysis Web / AP server 101 via the above-mentioned network 104.

[0013] Next, a description will be given of the hardware configuration of each server that constitutes the information analysis system 100. Fig. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the information analysis Web / AP server 101 in this embodiment.

[0014] The information analysis Web / AP server 101 in this embodiment includes a storage device 201 configured as an appropriate nonvolatile storage device such as a hard disk drive, a memory 203 configured as a volatile storage device such as a RAM, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 202 that is a computing device that reads out a program 210 stored in the storage device 201 into the memory 203 and executes it to perform overall control of the device itself and perform various determinations, calculations, and control processing, and a communication device 206 that communicates with a client terminal 103 operated by a user via a network 104. The program 210 in the storage device 201 is a program that implements a cannibalization analysis function, which is a function necessary for the information analysis system 100 of this embodiment.

[0015] 3 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the information analysis DB server 102 in this embodiment. The information analysis DB server 102 in this embodiment includes a storage device 301 configured as an appropriate nonvolatile storage device such as a hard disk drive, a memory 303 configured as a volatile storage device such as RAM, a CPU 302 that reads out a program 310 stored in the storage device 301 into memory and executes it to perform overall control of the device itself as well as various judgments, calculations, and control processing, and a communication device 306 that connects to the network 104 and handles communication processing with other devices. In addition to the program 310, the storage device 301 also includes a sales performance (daily single item) table 311, a product hierarchy master 315, a product master 312, a product feature needs conversion master 313, and a product needs level master 314.

[0016] Next, an example of the hardware configuration of the client terminal 103 according to this embodiment will be described. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the hardware configuration of the client terminal 103 according to this embodiment. The client terminal 103 includes a storage device 401 configured as a suitable nonvolatile storage device such as a hard disk drive, a memory 403 configured as a volatile storage device such as RAM, a CPU 402 that reads a program 410 stored in the storage device into the memory 403 and executes it to perform overall control of the device itself and perform various determinations, calculations, and control processing, an input device 404 that accepts key inputs and voice inputs from the user, an output device 405 such as a display that displays processed data, and a communication device 406 that connects to the network 104 and handles communication processing with the information analysis Web / AP server 101. In addition to the program 410, the storage device 401 also includes screen data for a cannibalization analysis information input screen 450 and a cannibalization analysis information output screen 460. The screen data for the cannibalization analysis information input screen 450, the cannibalization analysis information output screen 460, and the like may be part of the program 410.

[0017] (Functions of the System) Next, the functions of the information analysis system 100 of this embodiment will be described. The functions described below are implemented, for example, by executing a program 210 provided in the information analysis Web / AP server 101 in the information analysis system 100. Of course, other servers may also have similar functions, or functions may be divided and held between servers to cooperate with each other.

[0018] (Product master registration) The information analysis system 100 of this embodiment has the function of accepting product information describing the characteristics of each product from the client terminal 103 as information about each product by the user, and storing the accepted information in a storage device as a product master 312.

[0019] (Registering the needs level of each product) Furthermore, the information analysis system 100 has the function of searching for the needs level linked to the product value of the relevant product in a storage device (which is assumed to have obtained and stored information on the product feature needs conversion master 313 from the information analysis DB server 102) based on the product information acquired in the above-mentioned process, and storing the relevant product name and needs level in the storage device as the product needs level master 314.

[0020] Here, as will be described in detail later, product values ​​are assigned words that indicate the characteristics of the product. Need levels are index values ​​that correspond to product values ​​in Maslow's hierarchy of needs. For example, the product value of satisfying hunger satisfies physiological needs and is a need at the first level of Maslow's hierarchy of needs. The product value of beauty satisfies social needs and is a need at the third level of Maslow's hierarchy of needs. In other words, even though they belong to the same food and beverage category, snacks and diet foods are at different levels. On the other hand, diet foods and cosmetics are classified differently, but both have beauty value and are at the same level. Product competition is expected to occur even if they are classified differently, as long as they are at the same level. For example, when shopping within an allocated budget for beauty purposes, a choice may arise between purchasing diet foods and cosmetics. Need levels use the levels in Maslow's hierarchy of needs as indicators, and in this embodiment, each product is assigned a value between 0 and 1.

[0021] (Function for acquiring information in response to an analysis request) The information analysis system 100 also has the function of receiving an analysis request including the relevant needs level and comparison period from the client terminal 103, acquiring the relevant product corresponding to the received identification information from a storage device, and acquiring information on the sales performance of the relevant product during the relevant period from the storage device (which is assumed to have obtained and stored information on the sales performance table 311 from the information analysis DB server 102).

[0022] (Information Aggregation Function) The information analysis system 100 also has a function of aggregating the sales performance information of the relevant product acquired in the above-described process for the relevant period.

[0023] (Cannibalization calculation and display function) Furthermore, the information analysis system 100 has a function to calculate the sales amount and sales growth rate of the relevant product for the relevant period based on the results of the above-mentioned aggregation, and display the information on the sales amount and sales growth rate on the client terminal 103.

[0024] (Data Configuration Example) Next, an example of the configuration of data held by the server constituting the information analysis system 100 of this embodiment will be described. Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the data configuration of a sales performance (daily item) table 311 provided in the information analysis DB server 102. This sales performance table is a table generated by, for example, the information analysis DB server 102 by storing POS data acquired from the POS system or the like at each store where products are sold, and has the following table items:

[0025] That is, the information includes organizational level 1, organizational level 2, organizational level 3, product level 1, product level 2, product level 3, the product code or JAN code of the product, the date of sale, the selling price, the number of units sold, and the total sales amount. In this sales performance table, the organizations that sell the products are categorized hierarchically, starting from the broadest concept, as follows: organizational level 1 corresponds to the store operating company, organizational level 2 corresponds to the store location area, and organizational level 3 corresponds to each store. Similarly, in this sales performance table, the products sold at each store are hierarchically categorized according to their concepts, with product level 1 corresponding to a broad product category such as "coffee," product level 2 corresponding to medium-level product categories such as "instant coffee" and "regular coffee," which are sub-concepts of "coffee," product level 3 corresponding to lower-level product categories such as "bottled," "refill," and "small bottled," which are sub-concepts of "instant coffee."

[0026] 6 shows the table structure of the product hierarchy master 315 provided in the information analysis DB server 102. The product hierarchy master 315 is a table that the information analysis DB server 102 generates by storing user input values ​​received from the client terminal 103, for example, and has the following items as table items:

[0027] That is, product layer 1, product layer 1 name, product layer 2, product layer 2 name, product layer 3, and product layer 3 name. The concept of product layers has already been described above. In the configuration illustrated in FIG. 6 , the highest concept, "product layer 1," is defined as "coffee," "product layer 2," which is a subordinate concept of product layer 1, is defined as "instant coffee" and "regular coffee," and "product layer 3," which is a subordinate concept of product layer 2, is defined as "bottled," "refill," "small bottle," etc. In addition, each product layer is assigned identification information "111," "1112," and "11121." When a user inputs conditions via the cannibalization analysis information input screen on the client terminal 103, the information analysis DB server 102 transmits this product layer master 315 to the information analysis WEB / AP server 101.

[0028] 7 shows the table structure of the product master 312 included in the information analysis DB server 102. The product master 312 is a table that the information analysis DB server 102 generates by storing user input values ​​received from the client terminal 103, for example, and has the following items as table items:

[0029] That is, the product code, product name, product layer 1, product layer 2, product layer 3, product value 1, product value 2, and product value 3. The concept of product layers has already been described above. In the configuration illustrated in Figure 7, "product value" is defined as "refreshment," "health," "peace of mind," "interaction," "diversity," etc.

[0030] 8 shows the table structure of the product feature needs conversion master 313 provided in the information analysis DB server 102. This product feature needs conversion master 313 is a table that is generated by, for example, the information analysis DB server 102 by storing user input values ​​received from the client terminal 103, and has the following items as table items.

[0031] That is, product features and needs levels. Here, product features include product hierarchy and product value. The concept of product hierarchy has already been described above, and in the configuration illustrated in FIG. 8, "product value" is defined as "candy," "carbonated drinks," "beauty products," "refreshment," "health," "peace of mind," "interaction," and "diversity," and "needs level" is defined as 0.2, 0.1, 0.5, 0.3, 0.4, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, etc.

[0032] 9 shows the table structure of the product needs level master 314 provided in the information analysis DB server 102. This product needs level master 314 is calculated from the product hierarchy master 315, the product master 312, and the product feature needs conversion master 313, and associates each product with its needs level.

[0033] 9 has the items of product code, product name, and need level. For example, the product name of product code "1111111" is "Candy A" and the need level is "0.3". The product name of product code "1112111" is "Carbonated Drink B" and the need level is "0.3". The product name of product code "1191111" is "Facial Paper C" and the need level is "0.3". As such, when the need levels are the same or similar, it is shown that competition occurs across product categories.

[0034] (Processing Procedure Example 1) The actual procedures of the information analysis method according to this embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. The various operations corresponding to the information analysis method described below are realized by a program that is read into each memory or the like and executed by each server constituting the information analysis system 100. This program is composed of code for performing the various operations described below.

[0035] (Overall Overview) Figure 10 is a sequence diagram showing Example 1 of the processing procedure of the information analysis method in this embodiment, and specifically, it is a sequence diagram showing the flow in which the information analysis Web / AP server 101, the information analysis DB server 102, etc. that make up the information analysis system 100 receive various requests from the client terminal 103 via the cannibalization analysis information input screen, and finally output the analysis results to the cannibalization analysis information output screen.

[0036] (Product Registration Request, Product Registration Processing, Sales Performance Accumulation) First, a predetermined user or the like who manages a retail store sends product information describing the characteristics of the product as information about the products they handle from the client terminal 103 to the information analysis Web / AP server 101. Having received the product information from the client terminal 103, the information analysis Web / AP server 101 executes a product registration function and first instructs the information analysis DB server 102 to acquire information necessary for product registration processing. On the other hand, the information analysis DB server 102 receives this acquisition instruction and transmits information from the product feature needs conversion master 313 to the information analysis Web / AP server 101 in response to the request.

[0037] The information analysis WEB / AP server 101 receives the information transmitted in the above steps from the information analysis DB server 102 and executes product registration processing using the product registration function. The results of the product registration processing are transmitted to the information analysis WEB / AP server 101 and registered in the product master 312 and product needs level master 314. Furthermore, sales records and the like for the registered products are transmitted from the POS system of the corresponding store to the information analysis DB server 102 and stored in the sales record table 311.

[0038] (Acceptance and transmission of user ID and password) After that timing, the client terminal 103 receives a predetermined instruction from the user via the input device, displays a predetermined login screen on the output device, and accepts input of the user ID and password on that screen. The client terminal 103 transmits this user ID and password to the information analysis DB server 102 via the network.

[0039] (Authentication Process) Meanwhile, the information analysis DB server 102 receives the login ID and password from the client terminal 103, and executes authentication process by comparing them with a predetermined login table (authentication information stored for each user in a storage device). This authentication process itself is based on existing technology.

[0040] (Regarding processing according to the result of the authentication processing) If the result of the authentication processing is unsuccessful, the information analysis DB server 102 generates an error screen, returns it to the client terminal 103, and ends the processing. On the other hand, if the result of the authentication is successful, the information analysis DB server 102 returns a cannibalization analysis information input screen to the client terminal 103. For this reason, although not particularly shown, the information analysis DB server 102 stores screen data for the cannibalization analysis information input screen in advance in a storage device.

[0041] (Acceptance of conditions on cannibalization analysis information input screen) On the other hand, the client terminal 103 accepts input of conditions related to the analysis request from the user on the cannibalization analysis information input screen, and transmits these to the information analysis Web / AP server 101. As the conditions accepted on this cannibalization analysis information input screen, items such as the needs level and the comparison method can be assumed, as exemplified in FIG. 12 .

[0042] (Information acquisition instruction for cannibalization analysis processing, acceptance of information acquisition instruction, acquisition / transmission of special sale product master, acquisition / transmission of special sale store master) The information analysis Web / AP server 101, which has received the above-mentioned input conditions from the client terminal 103, executes the cannibalization analysis function and first issues an instruction to the information analysis DB server 102 to acquire information necessary for the information analysis processing of this embodiment. Meanwhile, the information analysis DB server 102 receives this acquisition instruction and transmits each piece of information stored in its own storage device, namely, the sales performance (daily single item) table 311 and the product needs level master 314, to the information analysis Web / AP server 101.

[0043] (Execution of cannibalization analysis process, output of cannibalization analysis information) The information analysis WEB / AP server 101 obtains the information transmitted in the above steps from the information analysis DB server 102 and performs cannibalization analysis using a cannibalization analysis function. The information analysis WEB / AP server 101 transmits the results of this cannibalization analysis to the client terminal 103 via a cannibalization analysis information output screen. The client terminal 103 displays the results of the cannibalization analysis on this cannibalization analysis information output screen.

[0044] 11 is a flow diagram showing a processing procedure example 2 of the information analysis method according to this embodiment, specifically, a flowchart executed by the cannibalization analysis function of the information analysis WEB / AP server 101. Here, the above-mentioned steps, i.e., the cannibalization analysis process, will be described in detail.

[0045] (Receiving an Analysis Request) First, in step 1001, the information analysis Web / AP server 101 receives an analysis request including the needs level and comparison method values ​​input on the cannibalization analysis information input screen from the client terminal 103.

[0046] (Extracting information from product needs level master based on analysis request) Next, in step 1002, the information analysis Web / AP server 101 extracts the product code and product name values ​​from the product needs level master 314 that has already been obtained from the information analysis DB server 102 and stored in the storage device, using the needs level indicated by the above-mentioned analysis request as a key.

[0047] (Extract information from sales performance table based on acquired data) Next, in step 1003, the information analysis Web / AP server 101 extracts sales performance such as unit price, sales quantity, and sales amount for each product code in the sales performance table 311 based on the product codes acquired in the above steps and the values ​​of the comparison method indicated in the above analysis request.

[0048] (Tallying Up Sales Amounts) In addition, in step 1004, the information analysis Web / AP server 101 extracts the date that belongs to the relevant comparison method from each record in the above-mentioned sales performance (single item by day) table 311, using the value of the comparison method indicated by the analysis request as a key, and classifies the relevant period from which this value was extracted into a previous period (the date that corresponds to the previous period of the comparison method indicated by the analysis request) and a subsequent period (the date that corresponds to the subsequent period of the comparison method indicated by the analysis request), and tallies up the sales amount for each based on the sales performance (obtained in step 1004). The sales amount can be calculated by tallying up the sales for the relevant period in the sales performance table 311.

[0049] (Calculation of Sales Growth Rate) Subsequently, in step 1005, the information analysis Web / AP server 101 calculates the sales growth rate from the sales amounts (extracted in step 1005) for the previous and subsequent periods aggregated in the above steps. Here, the sales growth rate can be calculated using the formula "sales amount for the subsequent period / sales amount for the previous period."

[0050] (Classification) Next, in step 1006, the information analysis Web / AP server 101 classifies the sales into increased sales, same sales, and decreased sales based on the sales growth rate for each product calculated in the above steps. For example, the classification method can be as follows: if the sales growth rate is less than -5%, it is decreased sales; if it is greater than +5%, it is increased sales; otherwise it is the same sales.

[0051] (Screen Data Generation Table) At this time, the information analysis Web / AP server 101 generates screen data for a cannibalization analysis information output screen, as shown in Fig. 13. In this example, the needs level and comparison method that were the subject of the information analysis are displayed as keys, and a table is constructed in which the product name, sales amount, and sales growth rate values ​​are associated with representative products for each classification that is the processing result of the cannibalization analysis function. To select representative products, for example, a product with the highest sales growth rate can be selected as a representative product with increased sales, and a product with the lowest sales growth rate can be selected as a representative product with decreased sales.

[0052] (Display of Calculation Results) Next, in step 1007, the information analysis Web / AP server 101 transmits the calculation results obtained by the cannibalization analysis function through the above processing to the client terminal 103, and displays them on a cannibalization analysis information output screen. A user viewing the output screen on the client terminal 103 can recognize at a glance from the screen contents of Figure 13 which products are experiencing sales growth and which products are experiencing sales declines within the range of the selected need level and comparison method, based on, for example, the sales growth rate in the table, and can determine a product lineup that takes into account cannibalization between products across categories that satisfy the same need.

[0053] Fig. 12 is a specific example of a cannibalization input screen displayed on the client terminal 103. The cannibalization input screen in Fig. 12 allows input of items such as organizational level 1 (store operating company), organizational level 2 (area), organizational level 3 (store), product level 1, product level 2, product level 3, need level, and comparison method, and is provided with an "OK" button and a "Cancel" button.

[0054] 13 is a specific example of a cannibalization output screen displayed on the client terminal 103. The cannibalization output screen in Fig. 13 displays a results table in addition to input items such as organizational level 1 (store operating company), organizational level 2 (area), organizational level 3 (store), product level 1, product level 2, product level 3, need level, and comparison method. The results table displays the product name, need level, sales amount, and sales growth rate.

[0055] FIG. 14 shows a modified example of output information. As shown in FIG. 14, the information analysis Web / AP server 101 can also generate graph display data as a cannibalization analysis information output screen. The graph display data in FIG. 14 is a bubble chart showing the need level, sales in the later period, and sales growth rate for each product, with the horizontal axis representing the need level for each product, the vertical axis representing the sales growth rate for each product, and the size of the circle representing the sales amount for each product. This chart may be displayed together with the screen data in FIG. 13. The bubble chart shown in FIG. 14 indicates that products with similar values ​​on the horizontal axis and opposite positive and negative sales rates are in a competitive relationship.

[0056] Next, calculation of the needs level will be described. The needs level for each product is calculated, for example, by the following formula (1). a is the need level of the product tier to which the product belongs, b is the need level of the product value of the product, and c is the need level of the product. In other words, the need level for each product may be calculated as a simple average of the need level of each of one or more product tiers to which the product belongs and the need level of each of one or more product values ​​that the product has.

[0057] Although cannibalization between products at similar need levels can be analyzed from the relationship between need level, sales growth rate, and sales amount for each product as shown in Fig. 14, a more detailed analysis may also be performed by extracting at the need level. For example, when extracting at the need level, the table displayed in Fig. 13 corresponds to the selected need level, and cannibalization can be determined by focusing only on the sales growth rate and sales amount, making it easier to select a product lineup that takes cannibalization into consideration.

[0058] When selecting the need level in the above analysis, the user can set it manually, or it is also possible to select a store or customer and automatically extract the corresponding need level. The latter need level will be called the customer need level.

[0059] The customer need level is calculated, for example, by the following equation (2). where c is the need level of each product, S is the sales amount of each product, and d is the customer need level. In other words, the customer need level can be calculated by multiplying the need level of each product by the sales amount and then dividing the sum by the total sales amount of each product. In this formula, the customer need level is calculated taking into account the size of sales amount.

[0060] In this formula, the number of sales may be used instead of the sales amount, and the customer need level may be calculated taking into account the scale of the number of sales. In this case, the following formula (3) is used. P is the sales amount of each product.

[0061] Alternatively, the average of the need levels of the purchased products may be calculated as the customer need level without taking sales into consideration. In this case, the following formula (4) is used.

[0062] The customer need level can be extracted for the target by using the extraction conditions of the original data. For example, if a specific store is selected in organizational hierarchy 3 and calculated, the overall customer need level for that store can be calculated, and if a specific area is selected in organizational hierarchy 2, the overall customer need level for that area can be calculated. For a more detailed analysis, if a customer attribute (e.g., gender, age, occupation, etc., and combinations thereof) is selected and calculated, the overall customer need level for that customer attribute can be calculated. For example, when a user wants to decide on a product lineup targeting a specific age group, it is conceivable to analyze cannibalization at the overall customer need level for that age group.

[0063] 15 and 16 show modified examples using customer need levels. When the need level item is set to "customer need level" on the input screen shown in FIG. 12, a customer need level item is added to the output screen as shown in FIG. 15. The customer need level is calculated based on the needs of customers at a specified store. The calculated customer need level can also be displayed in a bubble chart as shown in FIG. 16.

[0064] As described above, the information analysis system 100 disclosed in the embodiments includes a storage device 301 that stores sales performance data for multiple sales targets and feature data that associates the sales targets with their features, and an information analysis web / AP server 101 that functions as an analysis unit that uses index values ​​for the multiple sales targets calculated based on the feature data and trends in sales performance for the multiple sales targets calculated based on the sales performance data, and outputs sales targets that have similar index values ​​and whose sales performance trends are in opposite directions as competing sales targets. This makes it possible to analyze the competitive relationships between sales targets with high accuracy.

[0065] The storage device further stores conversion data for converting words used as characteristics of the sales object into the index value, and the analysis unit calculates the index value from the characteristic data and the conversion data. Therefore, the characteristics of the sales object can be easily converted into index values, and various values ​​can be evaluated using a single evaluation axis.

[0066] The feature data associates one or more words with one sales object, and the analysis unit determines one or more index values ​​for the one or more words associated with one sales object by referring to the conversion data and statistically processes the one or more index values ​​to determine the index value of the one sales object. Therefore, appropriate index values ​​can be obtained for sales objects with diverse features.

[0067] The feature data classifies the sales objects into a hierarchical structure, and each hierarchical level is associated with a word used as the feature, thereby making it possible to obtain an appropriate index value that reflects the classification of the sales objects.

[0068] The index values ​​correspond to the stages of consumer needs, for example, so that sales items can be compared using appropriate evaluation indices that transcend classification based on Maslow's five stages of needs.

[0069] Although the best mode for carrying out the present invention has been specifically described above, the present invention is not limited to this and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, in the above example, the index values ​​were calculated based on Maslow's five-stage hierarchy of needs, but any index values ​​can be used as long as they can evaluate multiple sales targets using a single evaluation axis.

[0070] According to this embodiment, for example, predetermined personnel can easily grasp what types of cannibalization are occurring between products in the product lineup of a store or the like. Furthermore, the personnel can grasp cannibalization not only between products in the same category, but also between products in different categories that satisfy the same needs. In other words, when determining the product lineup of a store or the like, the information from the information analysis of this embodiment can be used as auxiliary information for determining a product lineup that avoids cannibalization and effectively satisfies needs within the physical constraints of the sales floor. Therefore, it is possible to determine a product lineup that takes into account cannibalization between products across categories that satisfy the same needs within the physical constraints of the sales floor.

[0071] In addition, although the above embodiment shows an example in which cannibalization between products in the retail industry can be analyzed, the sales objects are not limited to goods, but may also include services. For example, it is possible to evaluate the competition between goods such as diet foods and services such as sports gyms.

[0072] 100 Information analysis system 101 Information analysis Web / AP server 102 Information analysis DB server 103 Client terminal (other terminal) 104 Network 201 Storage device 202 CPU 203 Memory 206 Communication device 210 Program 301 Storage device 302 CPU 303 Memory 306 Communication device 310 Program 311 Sales performance table 312 Product master 313 Product feature needs conversion master 314 Product needs level master 315 Product hierarchy master 401 Storage device 402 CPU 403 Memory 404 Input device 405 Output device 406 Communication device 410 Program 450 Cannibalization analysis information input screen 460 Cannibalization analysis information output screen

Claims

1. An information analysis system comprising: a storage device that stores sales performance data for a plurality of sales targets and feature data that associates the sales targets with their features; and an analysis unit that uses index values for the plurality of sales targets calculated based on the feature data and trends in sales performance for the plurality of sales targets calculated based on the sales performance data, and outputs sales targets that have similar index values and whose sales performance trends are in opposite directions as competing sales targets.

2. An information analysis system as described in claim 1, wherein the storage device further stores conversion data that converts words used as characteristics of the sales object into the index value, and the analysis unit calculates the index value from the characteristic data and the conversion data.

3. An information analysis system as described in claim 2, wherein the feature data associates one or more words with one sales object, and the analysis unit determines one or more index values for the one or more words associated with one sales object by referring to the conversion data, and statistically processes the one or more index values to determine the index value of the one sales object.

4. An information analysis system according to claim 3, wherein the feature data classifies the sales objects in a hierarchical structure and associates words used as the features with each hierarchy.

5. An information analysis system according to claim 1, wherein the index value is a value corresponding to a stage of consumer desire.

6. An information analysis method comprising the steps of: an information analysis device acquiring index values based on the characteristics of a sales object; acquiring sales performance for the sales object; and outputting, as competing sales objects, sales objects having similar index values and sales performance trends in opposite directions.

7. An information analysis program that causes a computer to execute the steps of: acquiring index values based on the characteristics of a sales object; acquiring sales performance for said sales object; and outputting sales objects that have similar index values and whose sales performance trends are in opposite directions as competing sales objects.

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