A method, server and device for obtaining a KPI of a product from a store

Abstract

A method of obtaining a retail-related key performance indicator (KPI) of a product from a store is disclosed. The method includes creating a task for online completion by the store. The task includes instructions for capturing an image of the product in the store. The method further includes receiving the image from the store, and processing the image to obtain the KPI. A server and a device for implementing the method are also disclosed.

Description

A METHOD, SERVER AND DEVICE FOR OBTAINING A KPI OF A PRODUCT FROM A STORETECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] This invention relates to a method, server and device for obtaining a retail- related key performance indicator (KPI) of a product from a store. More particularly, this invention relates to a method, server and device for obtaining a retail-related key performance indicator (KPI) of a product from a store for use to boost per store sales and enhance retail execution efficiency.BACKGROUND

[0002] The following discussion of the background to the invention is intended to facilitate an understanding of the present invention only. It should be appreciated that the discussion is not an acknowledgement or admission that any of the material referred to was published, known or part of the common general knowledge of the person skilled in the art in any jurisdiction as at the priority date of the invention.

[0003] In a country like Malaysia, there are many stores that are strewn across the entire country. While some stores are in major cities, majority of them are in smaller towns that are far apart and spread across the country. It is therefore not feasible to have a merchandizer visit each of these stores in the smaller towns on a regular basis for the purpose of checking stock availability, replenishing stock and promoting of products. For some of these stores, it may be several months before a merchandizer gets to visit them.

[0004] There is therefore a need for a method and system to obtain up-to-date information of a product from the store.SUMMARY

[0005] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method of obtaining a retail-related key performance indicator (KPI) of a product from a store. The method includes creating a task for online completion by the store. The task includes instructions for capturing an image of the product in the store. The methodfurther includes receiving the image from the store, and processing the image to obtain the KPI.

[0006] In some embodiments of the method, the task includes one or more of a task type associated with the KPI, a product category for which the task is created, a location where only stores located thereat are able to access the task, a validity period when the task is accessible, and a usage limit below which the task is accessible.

[0007] In some embodiments of the method, the task type includes one of a survey, an on shelf availability, a point of sales material presence, a planogram compliance, a price check, and a promo compliance.

[0008] In some embodiments of the method, the method further includes rewarding the store for completing the task.

[0009] In some embodiments of the method, the method further includes rewarding the store based on the KPI obtained.

[0010] In some embodiments of the method, the method further includes generating a product order based on the KPI obtained.

[0011] In some embodiments of the method, processing the image includes processing the image using a trained convolution neural network (CNN).

[0012] In some embodiments of the method, the method further includes registering the store, and allowing the store to access the task after it is successfully registered.

[0013] In some embodiments of the method, registering includes receiving a photo each of a front of the store and an inside of the store.

[0014] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a server for obtaining a retail-related key performance indicator (KPI) of a product from a store. The server includes a processor configured to create a task for online completion by the store. The task includes instructions for capturing an image of the product in the store. The processor is further configured to receive the image from the store, and process the image to obtain the KPI.

[0015] In some embodiments of the server, the task includes one or more of a task type associated with the KPI, a product category for which the task is created, a location where only stores located thereat are able to access the task, a validity period when the task is accessible, and a usage limit below which the task is accessible.

[0016] In some embodiments of the server, the task type includes one of a survey, an on-shelf availability, a point of sales material presence, a planogram compliance, a price check, and a promo compliance.

[0017] In some embodiments of the server, the processor is further configured to reward the store for completing the task.

[0018] In some embodiments of the server, the processor is further configured to reward the store based on the KPI obtained.

[0019] In some embodiments of the server, the processor is further configured to generate a product order based on the KPI obtained.

[0020] In some embodiments of the server, the processor is further configured to register the store and allow the store to access the task after it is successfully registered.

[0021] According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a device for providing a retail-related key performance indicator (KPI) of a product from a store. The device includes a processor configured to receive from a server a task for online completion by the store. The task includes instructions for capturing an image of the product in the store. The processor is further configured to capture the image and provide the image to the server for processing to obtain the KPI.

[0022] In some embodiments of the device, the task includes one or more of a task type associated with the KPI, a product category for which the task is created, a location where only stores located thereat are able to access the task, a validity period when the task is accessible, a usage limit below which the task is accessible.

[0023] In some embodiments of the device, the task type includes one of a survey, an on-shelf availability, a point of sales material presence, a planogram compliance, a price check, and a promo compliance.

[0024] In some embodiments of the device, the server further rewards the store for completing the task and the processor is further configured to receive the reward from the server.

[0025] In some embodiments of the device, the server further generates a product order based on the KPI obtained.

[0026] In some embodiments of the device, the processor is further configured to register the store with the server, and the server provides the store with the task after the store is successfully registered.

[0027] In some embodiments of the device, registering the store includes providing the server with a photo each of a front of the store and an inside of the store.

[0028] Other aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrating by way of example the principles of the invention.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0029] The invention will be better understood with reference to the drawings, in which:Figure 1 is a ladder diagram showing a method, according to an embodiment of the invention, for obtaining a KPI of a product from a store;Figure 2 is a drawing showing a system, according to another embodiment of the invention, for implementing the method in Figure 1 , the system including a server, an administrator’s device, and a store’s device;Figure 3 is a block diagram illustrating typical elements of each computing device in Figure 2;Figure 4 is a store registration screen on the administrator’s device showing a list of store registrations captured in the method of Figure 1 ;Figure 5 is a task record screen on the administrator’s device showing a list of tasks created in the method of Figure 1 ;Figure 6 is a task list screen on the store’s device showing a list of tasks that the store can perform;Figure 7A is a task info screen on the store’s device for a planogram compliance task;Figure 7B is a task performance screen for the planogram compliance task in Figure 7A;Figure 8A is a task info screen on the store’s device for a promo survey task;Figure 8B is a task performance screen for the promo survey task in Figure 8A;Figure 9 is a drawing illustrating the manner in which the server processes a photograph it receives from the store’s device to obtain the KPI;Figure 10 is an orders screen on the store’s device showing a list of orders;Figure 11 is an order details screen on the store’s device showing details of one of the orders in Figure 10; andFigure 11 is a rewards screen on the store’s device.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0030] Throughout this document, unless otherwise indicated to the contrary, the terms “comprising”, “consisting of”, “having” and the like, are to be construed as non- exhaustive, or in other words, as meaning “including, but not limited to.”

[0031] Furthermore, throughout the specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word “include” or variations such as “includes” or “including” will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

[0032] Throughout the description, it is to be appreciated that the term ‘server’ and its plural form can include local, distributed servers, and combinations of both local and distributed servers.

[0033] Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as is commonly understood by a skilled person to which the subject matter herein belongs.

[0034] As shown in the drawings for purposes of illustration, the invention may be embodied in a less labour-intensive method for obtaining a retail-related key performance index (KPI) of a product from a store. Existing methods of obtaining the KPI requires a merchandizer to travel to each store on a regular basis which is very labour intensive. Referring to Figure 1 , the method generally includes creating a task for online completion by each store, wherein the task includes instructions for capturing an image of the product in the store. The method further includes receiving the image from the store and processing the image to obtain the KPI. The product may be any product, including but not limited to fast-moving consumer good (FMCG). FMCG includes but are not limited to snacks, soft drinks, beverages, cleaning supplies, cosmetics, etc.

[0035] Figure 2 shows a computing system 2 according to one embodiment on which the method may be implemented. The computing system 2 includes a number of computing devices connected to a computing network 4 such as but not limited to the Internet. More specifically, the computing devices include an administrator’s device 6, a store’s device 10 and a server 12. The administrator’s device 6, and the store’s device 12 are data communicatively coupled with the server 12 in a client-server architecture. Each of the administrator’s device 6, and the store’s device 10 may be a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a smartphone, or the like. These devices 6, 10 may be coupled to the computing network 4 by either a wired or a wireless means.

[0036] The client-server architecture allows different applications running on the administrator’s device 6, and the store’s device 10 as clients to exchange data and communicate with the server 12 over the computing network 4. Each client is an application (not shown) that requests services from the server 12, such as retrieving or storing data, performing calculations, or executing commands. The server 12, or more specifically an application running thereon, provides services to the client, such as processing requests, sending responses, or completing actions. The server 12 and the client communicate using a predefined protocol, such as HTTP, FTP, SMTP, etc.

[0037] In the client-server architecture, the client first sends a request to the server 12 via the network 4. This request may be a query, a command, or a message. The server 12 receives the request and processes it according to its logic and data. The server 12 may access its own resources to fulfil the request. The server 12 then sends a response back to the client via the network 4. The response may be data, an acknowledgement, or an error message. The client receives the response and displays it to the user or performs further actions based on it.

[0038] Figure 3 is a block diagram illustrating typical elements of each of the computing devices 6,10 and the server 12 that may be appropriately programmed to perform the method. The elements include a programmable processor 16 connected to a system memory 18 via a system bus 20. The processor 16 accesses the system memory 18 as well as other input / output (I / O) channels 22 and peripheral devices 24. The elements further include at least one program storage device 26, such as a CD- ROM, tape, magnetic media, EPROM, EEPROM, ROM or the like. The elements of the server 12 further include a graphics processing unit (GPU) 28. The computing system stores one or more computer programs that implement the method. The processor 16 reads and executes the one or more computer programs to perform one or more steps in the method. Each of the computer programs may be implemented in any desired computer programming language (including machine, assembly, high level procedural, or object-oriented programming languages). In any case, the language may be a compiled or interpreted language.

[0039] Specifically, Figure 1 is a ladder diagram showing a sequence 30 of steps for implementing an embodiment of the method. The sequence 30 starts in a REGISTER STORE step 32 in the store’s device 10 for registering the store with the server 6. In this step, a store user runs an application, referred to herein as a store app, on the store’s device 10, for example a mobile phone of the store user. The store user may be the store owner or an employee of the store. The store app displays a screen (not shown) on the store’s device 10 for the store user to enter his personal details and the store details. The user details may include, but not limited to, the user’s name, mobile number, address, identity card number, date of birth, gender, and marital status. The store details may include, but not limited to, the store’s name, address, email address and phone number. The user and store details are sent to the server as they are entered. This information entered by the store user is sent to the server for requesting registration of the store. The store user may further be required to upload a copy of the store’s company registration certificate and a copy of the store user’s identity card or passport onto the server as part of the registration request. The store user may further be required to upload a photograph of a front of the store and another photograph of an inside of the store.

[0040] The sequence 30 next proceeds to a STORE REGISTRATION REQUEST step 34 in the server 12, when the server 12 receives the registration request from the store. In this step, the server 12 stores the registration information received from the store’s device 10 into a store database (not shown). The server 12 may receive multiple registration requests from different stores. Information for each store is stored as a separate record in the store database. The sequence 30 next proceeds to a VALIDATE REGISTRATION step 36 in the administrator’s device 6 when the administrator runs an admin app on the administrator’s device 6. In this step 36, the administrator accesses the server 12 via the administrator’s device 12 to view and manage the records in the store database through a store registration screen of the admin app. Figure 4 shows an example of such a store registration screen 38 that is viewable on the administrator’s device 6. Each store record 40 may include a store name, a user name, a status of the registration request, a person who submitted the request, a date of submission of the request, a person who approved the request, the approval date of the request, a person who rejected the request, a rejected date and a rejection reason. When the store user first provides details of the store to the server12 before clicking a button to submit the registration request, the status of the store record is DRAFT. After the store user has provided all the necessary information and submitted the registration request by clicking an appropriate submit button, the status of the record will be changed to SUBMITTED. Next to each record 40 in the store registration screen 38 of the admin app is an APPROVE button 42 and a REJECT button 44. The administrator reviews each submitted store record to decide whether to approve or reject its registration. The administrator may do so by mousing over a record 40 in the store registration screen 38 to view a list of submitted documents from the store. As mentioned above, this list will include the company registration certificate, identity card / passport and the storefront photograph and photograph of an inside of the store. The administrator may click on the documents to open and review them. When the administrator is satisfied that the store record is submitted by a legitimate store, the administrator may approve it by clicking on the APPROVE button 42. If, however, the administrator is not satisfied with the submitted store record for whatever reason, the administrator may reject the registration request by clicking on the REJECT button 44. When either the APPROVE button 42 or the REJECT button 44 is selected, a confirmation dialogue window (not shown) will appear on the store registration screen 38 requesting the administrator to confirm his selection. If it is the REJECT button 44 that has been selected, the administrator may be required to enter into a text field in the confirmation dialogue window a reason for rejecting registration of the store. The status of the registration record 40 will be updated to either APPROVED or REJECTED depending on the administrator’s selection. If the registration of a store is approved, the server will send a one-time password (OTP) to the mobile phone of the store user. The store user can then log in to the store app using the OTP. A screen (not shown) will appear on the mobile phone to request the user to renew his / her password. The store user’s entered password is captured and stored in the stored record. The password will be required for subsequent logging in to the store app.

[0041] The administrator may also view selected fields of the store records through the admin app. For example, the administrator is able to view fields related to the user only, fields related to the store only, or fields related to both the user and the store, on respective screens (not shown). Each of these screens may display only selected fields. To view fields that are not shown on the initial screen, the administrator maymouse over a record and a modal window (not shown) including these additional fields will appear.

[0042] The sequence 30 next proceeds to a CREATE TASKS step 46 in the administrator’s device when the administrator is ready to create tasks in the server 12 for the stores to perform. The administrator may enter each task through an appropriate task entry screen (not shown) of the admin app. For example, a widget may appear on the task entry screen for the user to enter task details such as a location, a product category, a task type, a validity period and a task usage limit. The details are preferably entered via dropdown, radio button or date picker user interface elements. For example, the task type may be entered via radio buttons corresponding to a list of available task types, such as but not limited to on-shelf availability (OSA), point of sake material (POSM) presence, planogram compliance, promotion compliance, price check, etc. each of which is associated with a retail-related KPI. The product category is the category of the product for which the task is created for. Again, this may be entered through suitably labelled radio buttons. The location is the location of stores that are able to access the task. For example, if the location is set to the state of Johor in Malaysia, only stores located within that state would be able to see and perform the task. The location may also be entered via radio buttons. The validity period specifies the period when the task is available for access and performed. The validity period may be entered via a date picker element. The usage limit specifies the maximum number of times the task may be performed by the stores during the validity period. The usage limit may be entered by selecting a number in a dropdown element or typed into a number field. To enter further details of the task, the user may click on a pagination element on the task entry screen to move on to a second widget to enter, for example, a description of the task in a multiline text field therein. For example, the description of the task may include instructions for performing the task. An example would be “take a picture of the entire shelf on which Product X is displayed.” The administrator may further use the pagination link to open a third widget for entering into a number field the reward for completion of the task. The reward amount may also be KPI dependent. In this case, the administrator may enter the rewards corresponding to KPI values. The details of how rewards are awarded when a task is completed will be described later. The tasks are stored in a task database on the server. The administrator may view all entered tasks via a taskrecord screen 47 as shown in Figure 5. The administrator may use a pagination link to move between pages of task records if they do not all fit into a single page.

[0043] The sequence 30 next proceeds to an ACCESS TASKS step 48 in the store’s device 10 when the store user selects a task item on a navigational screen (not shown) of the store app. When selected, the store’s device will send a request to the server to provide it with a list of tasks that can be performed by the store user. Based on the store’s details, the server 12 queries the task database to retrieve a list of tasks that the store is allowed to perform. The server 12 then provides the store’s device 10 with the list of tasks for displaying on the store’s device. Figure 6 shows an example of a task list screen 50 showing three tasks 52 that the store may perform. This task list screen 50 may also include the rewards earned by the store, the number of pending tasks and the number of completed tasks. All available tasks may be shown or tasks may be shown based on their status, that is, whether they are pending or completed by clicking on the appropriate button. For each task 52, the task type and the product associated therewith are shown. The store user may select a task 52 to view further details of the task before deciding whether to start performing the task 52.

[0044] Figure 8A shows the details of a promo survey task on a task info screen 54. The details include a description and / or instructions for the store to perform the task 52. In this task 52, the instructions may include how a product is to be displayed on a shelf, e.g. how many, on which shelf level, etc. and instructions of what the store user is to do if it is not self-explanatory in a subsequent task performance screen 56. The task info screen 54 also includes a start button 58. The user may select the START button 58 to begin performing the task 52. When the START button 58 is pressed, the task performance screen 56 as shown in Figure 8B, will appear on the store’s device 10. The task type will determine what appears on the task performance screen 56. For this particular promo survey task, text related to a question is shown on the task performance screen 58. The question may relate to whether the product is on promotional display. The task performance screen also includes a dropdown box 60 including a list of available answers from which the store user can select one. The task performance screen 56 also includes an instruction to take a photograph of the product. A button 62 with a camera icon is also provided in the task performance screen 56 for the store user to click on to take the photograph. The button 62 on the task performance screen 56 will be replaced with the photograph once it is taken. Ifthere are further steps in the task 52 to be performed, the task performance screen 56 may include a NEXT button 64 for user to select to move on to these additional steps.

[0045] Figure 7A shows a task info screen 70 if the planogram compliance task 52 on the task list screen 50 in Figure 6 is selected by the store user. The task info screen 70 includes an objective and / or instructions for the planogram compliance task 52. For example, there may be instructions to arrange a number of products according to a predefined planogram. The task info screen 70 also includes a START button 72 for the user to select to start performing the task. When selected, a task performance screen 74 as shown in Figure 7B appears for the store user to take a predetermined number of photographs of the product via a corresponding number of buttons 76 each bearing a camera icon. Each button 76 on the task performance screen 74 is replaced by an image 78 of a photograph that is taken. Each photograph may be sent to the server 12 when taken. Alternatively, the photographs taken may be sent to the server 12 in one go when all the photographs have been taken.

[0046] The sequence 30 next proceeds to a PERFORM TASK step 80 on the store’s device to perform a selected task 52. The sequence 30 next proceeds to an EVALUATE PERFORMANCE step 82 in the server 12 after the store user has completed performance of the task 52. In this step 82, the server 12 processes the user’s performance of the task and credits the rewards associated with the task to the store user’s account. The manner in which the server 12 processes the performance of the task depends on the task type. For example, if the task is the PROMO SURVEY task shown in Figures 8A and 8B, the server 12 processes the image received from the store’s device to determine if and how the product is being promoted in the store.

[0047] If the task 52 is an OSA OR NPD compliance for one or more products, evaluation of the performance of the task involves a number of steps illustrated in Figure 9. As shown in Figure 9, the server 12 processes the photograph 78 received from the store’s device 10 to obtain an image 84 of a shelf area 86 therein. The server 12 next processes the shelf area image 84 to recognize the one or more products so as to determine their OSA or NPD in the store. For example, if the task 52 is to determine the OSA for a first product and a second product, and to determine the NPD for a third product, the server 12 processes the shelf area image 84 to determine if the three products are on the shelf of the store. The result of the task performance will be the presence or absence of each of the three products on the store shelf as illustratedby a table 90 in Figure 9. OSA and NPD may be used by the administrator to detect out of stocks of the products in the store.

[0048] If the task is a planogram compliance task 52, the server 12 processes the one or more photographs 78 received to obtain an image 84 of a shelf area 86. If there are two or more photographs 78 from the store’s device 10, the server 12 stitches the photographs into one single image. From that one single image, the server 12 then identifies the ends of the shelf to obtain the image 84 of the shelf area 86. The server 12 next performs image recognition of products in the shelf area image 84 to generate a realogram 92. The server 12 further compares the generated realogram 92 with a planogram template 94 associated with the task 52 to determine a level of planogram compliance by the store. A planogram is a detailed diagram / schematic about how and which products will be placed on the shelf of the store. It is detailed and explicitly specifies which product occupies which space on the shelf of the store and in what quantity. The planogram compliance KPI tries to ensure that there is no out of stock occurrence, and that the products are kept at the right place and in right quantity to create a powerful impact for visual merchandising purposes. The server sends the stock level of the products to the store’s device 10 for display thereon as shown in the task performance screen in Figure 7B.

[0049] If the task type is a Share of Shelf (SOS) compliance task 52, the server 12 first obtains a realogram 92 as described above before determining a SOS compliance by the store from the obtained realogram 92. The SOS compliance of a product may ensure optimum usage of shelf space that gives the product maximum visibility.

[0050] If the task type is a Point of Sales Material (POSM) compliance task 52, the server 12 processes the shelf area image 84 to determine if the required promotional material or materials are on the shelf. For example, the task 52 may require that a first promotional material be present on a shelf tray, a second promotional material be present on a second shelf tray and a third promotional material be present on a shelf talker. The result, as shown in the table 96 in Figure 9, shows if any of these promotional materials are present in the store shelf. POSM may influence consumer’s purchasing decision.

[0051] Any image recognition algorithm may be used to process the images described above, including but not limited to, the use of GPU-accelerated convolution neural networks (CNN). Those skilled in the art are aware that the CNN may betrained to recognize products in photographs taken at different angles and image sharpness, with precision and consistency. The image recognition algorithm is therefore not described in detail herein.

[0052] In the EVALUATE PERFORMANCE step 82, the server 12 also credits rewards for the completion of the task and / or determined level of KPI compliance. The server 12 also increases the usage limit value associated with the task. Furthermore, if it is determined in this step 82 that a product is out of stock or low on stock, the server 12 may further generate a sales order of the product for the store. The quantity for the product in the sales order may be any appropriate number or based on past sales records of the product by the store. For example, the quantity may be the average monthly sales figure for the last three months.

[0053] As mentioned above, compliance results or any result related to processing of the photographs by the server 12 in this step may be sent back to the store’s device for display thereon. If there is any non-compliance, the store user may take the necessary steps to be compliant and attempt to perform the task again when it is next available to earn more rewards.

[0054] The sequence 30 next proceeds to an ORDER PRODUCTS step in the store’s device 10 when the user selects the orders item in the navigational screen of the store app. After the orders item is selected, the store’s device sends a request to the server to retrieve pending orders associated with the store. The server responds by sending the store’s pending orders to the store’s device. The pending orders are displayed on an orders screen 102 on the store’s device 10 as shown in Figure 10. The orders screen 102 includes a number of orders. The user may then select each of these orders to view details of the order in an order details screen 104, an example of which is shown in Figure 11 . The user can amend the quantity of the order before submitting the order to the server 12. The server 12 is then able to consolidate all orders placed in this manner from the different stores before forwarding the consolidated orders of a product to a distributor of the product.

[0055] The sequence 30 ends in a REQUEST PAYOUT step 106 in the store’s device 10 when the store user selects the rewards item in the navigational screen of the store app. The store’s device 10 requests the server 12 to retrieve rewards associated with the store. The server 12 responds by sending the details of the rewards to the store’s device 10. The reward details are then displayed on a rewardsscreen 108 on the store’s device. The rewards screen 108 may include a history of rewards and a history of cashing out of the rewards. When the store user decides to cash out the reward, the server 12 may convert the rewards to an equivalent amount of money and transfer that amount of money into the store’s bank account. Alternatively, the money may be used to offset payment for any outstanding orders of the store.

[0056] Advantageously, the above-described method allows a merchandiser to collect data, such as data related to a retail-related KPI of a product in a store without having to make a trip to the store. The KPI data collected may be used to boost per store sales and enhance retail execution efficiency. By analyzing the KPIs alongside data on product displays, valuable insights into the effectiveness of their retail strategies may be gained. The more frequently KPIs are measured, the faster businesses can determine if they are off target and make necessary course corrections.

[0057] Although the present invention is described as implemented in the above described embodiments], it is not to be construed to be limited as such. It is to be appreciated that modifications and improvements may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0058] For example, although the method is described to be implemented in applications running on the store’s device. The method can also be implemented through web browsers on the device instead.

[0059] As another example, some of the manual steps performed by the administrator may be carried out automatically. For example, validation of store registration requests may be processed automatically.

[0060] As yet a further example, it is not to be construed that the the KPIs obtainable using the method are limited to those described above. It is also possible to obtain other KPIs, which include but are not limited to, overall display quality, sales performance, typical time to sell, product margins, brand preference versus competitors, eye-level product placement, category separation, etc.

[0061] It should be further appreciated by the person skilled in the art that one or more of the above modifications or improvements, not being mutually exclusive, may be further combined to form yet further embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

AMENDED CLAIMS received by the International Bureau on 13 October 2025 (13.10.2025)CLAIMS1. A method of obtaining a retail-related key performance indicator (KPI) of a product from a store, the method comprising: creating a list of tasks; receiving a request from a store for tasks to perform; presenting to the store tasks obtained from the list of tasks that the store is allowed to perform; receiving a request to perform one of the tasks obtained from the list of tasks, the task including instructions for capturing an image of the product in the store; receiving the image from the store; and processing the image to obtain the KPI.

2. The method according to Claim 1 , wherein each task in the list comprises: a task type associated with the KPI; a product category for which the task is created; a location where only stores located thereat are able to access the task; a validity period when the task is accessible; and a usage limit below which the task is accessible.

3. The method according to Claim 2, wherein the task type comprises one of: a survey; an on shelf availability; a point of sales material presence; a planogram compliance; a price check; and a promotion compliance.

4. The method according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising rewarding the store for completing the task.

5. The method according to Claim 4, further comprising rewarding the store based on the KPI obtained.

6. The method according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising generating a product order based on the KPI obtained.

7. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein processing the image comprises processing the image using a trained convolution neural network (CNN).

8. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising: registering the store; and allowing the store to access the tasks obtained from the list of tasks after it is successfully registered.

9. The method according to Claim 8, wherein registering the store comprises receiving a photo each of a front of the store and an inside of the store.

10. A server for obtaining a retail related key performance indicator (KPI) of a product from a store, the server comprising a processor configured to: create a list of tasks; receive a request from a store for tasks to perform; present to the store tasks obtained from the list of tasks that the store is allowed to perform; receive a request to perform one of the tasks obtained from the list of tasks, the task including instructions for capturing an image of the product in the store; receive the image from the store; and process the image to obtain the KPI.11 . The server according to Claim 10, wherein each task in the list comprises: a task type associated with the KPI; a product category for which the task is created;a location where only stores located thereat are able to access the task; a validity period when the task is accessible; and a usage limit below which the task is accessible.

12. The server according to Claim 11 , wherein the task type comprises one of: a survey; an on shelf availability; a point of sales material presence; a planogram compliance; a price check; and a promotion compliance.

13. The server according to any of Claims 10-12, wherein the processor is further configured to reward the store for completing the task.

14. The server according to Claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured to reward the store based on the KPI obtained.

15. The server according to any of Claims 10-14, wherein the processor is further configured to generate a product order based on the KPI obtained.

16. The server according to any one of Claims 10-15, wherein the processor is further configured to: register the store; and allow the store to access the tasks obtained from the list of tasks after it is successfully registered.

17. A device for providing a retail related key performance indicator (KPI) of a product from a store, the device comprising a processor configured to: send a request to a server for tasks to perform; receive from the server tasks that can be performed by the store; send a request to perform one of the tasks, the task including instructions for capturing an image of the product in the store;capture the image; and provide the image to the server for processing to obtain the KPI.

18. The device according to Claim 17, wherein each task comprises: a task type associated with the KPI; a product category for which the task is created; a location where only stores located thereat are able to access the task; a validity period when the task is accessible; and a usage limit below which the task is accessible.

19. The device according to Claim 18, wherein the task type comprises one of: a survey; an on shelf availability; a point of sales material presence; a planogram compliance; a price check; and a promotion compliance.

20. The device according to any of Claims 17-19, wherein the server further rewards the store for completing the task and the processor is further configured to receive the reward from the server.

21. The device according to any of Claims 17-20, wherein the server further generates a product order based on the KPI obtained.

22. The device according to any one of Claims 17-21 , wherein the processor is further configured to register the store with the server; and the server provides the store with the tasks after the store is successfully registered.

23. The device according to Claim 22, wherein registering the store comprises providing the server with a photo each of a front of the store and an inside of the store.STATEMENT UNDER ARTICLE 19(1)In response to the rejections raised in the International Search Report (ISR), the Applicant has amended pending claims 1 -3, 8, 10-12, 16-19 and 22 to overcome the objections. In view of these amendments, substituted claims 1 -23 have been submitted together with this statement. The Applicant has amended claims 1 , 10 and 17 to add features that are not disclosed, taught or suggested by the cited references D1 and D2. Support for the amendment is found in paragraph [0043] of Applicant’s specification.Novelty and Inventive step:Amended Claim 1 now recites:“A method of obtaining a retail-related key performance indicator (KPI) of a product from a store, the method comprising: creating a list of tasks; receiving a request from a store for tasks to perform; presenting to the store tasks obtained from the list of tasks that the store is allowed to perform; receiving a request to perform one of the tasks obtained from the list of tasks, the task including instructions for capturing an image of the product in the store; receiving the image from the store; and processing the image to obtain the KPI.Applicant submits that neither D1 nor D2 discloses the underlined features in claim 1 above. Since none of these cited references discloses each and every feature in Claim 1 , claim 1 is novel. Independent claims W and 17 recite similar subject matter as claim 1 and should therefore also be novel.There is also no hint or indication in the cited references D1 and D2 how a person skilled in the art could obtain the claimed subject matter of amended independent claims 1 , 10 and 17 in an obvious manner. Thus, amended independent claims 1 , 10 and 17 should be considered inventive.With regard to Claims 2-9, 11-16 and 18-23, Applicant submits that these claims are also patentable in that they variously depend from one of the independent claims.

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