Quotation system, quotation method, and quotation program

Abstract

A quotation information system (2) according to the present disclosure comprises: a quotation information acquiring unit (18) that acquires quotation information indicating quotation conditions under which two or more contractors each provide products or services; and a presenting unit (processing unit 14, information presenting unit 24) that presents the quotation information at predetermined intervals corresponding to differences in the quotation conditions. As a result, each contractor that has presented conditions in response to a customer's transaction request can be presented with information that includes the conditions presented by other contractors, and can provide information that makes it easy to compare the conditions presented by different contractors.

Description

Quotation System, Quotation Method and Quotation Program

[0001] The technology of the present disclosure relates to a quotation system, a quotation method, a quotation program and an information processing apparatus that provide information including quotation conditions of competing other traders with respect to provision conditions of goods and services.

[0002] There are many traders that sell goods and provide services of the same content. For a user who is a customer desiring to purchase the goods or receive the provision of the service, there exists a system that selects a trader in consideration of transaction relationships and the like, and intermediates orders for goods and services.

[0003] Regarding such systems that intermediate traders to users desiring transactions, there is one that selects a trader to conduct a transaction from a plurality of traders in consideration of information such as transaction relationships with traders and evaluation values of transaction results (for example, Patent Document 1).

[0004] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 10-269282

[0005] By the way, Patent Document 1 does not disclose a technology that allows easy visual and intuitive comparison of quotation conditions for services provided by a plurality of traders.

[0006] Accordingly, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a quotation system, a quotation method and a quotation program that allow easy visual and intuitive comparison of a plurality of quotation conditions.

[0007] In order to achieve the above object, one aspect of the quotation system of the present disclosure comprises: a quotation information acquisition unit that acquires quotation information indicating quotation conditions for goods or services respectively provided by two or more traders; and a presentation unit that presents each of the quotation information at predetermined intervals according to a difference between the quotation conditions.

[0008] In the above-described estimation system, the estimation information acquisition unit acquires two or more estimation information items of different types of estimation conditions and associates them with the vendors, and the presentation unit presents an estimation distribution chart for each of the different types of estimation conditions, in which the estimation information is arranged at intervals corresponding to the difference between the same type of estimation conditions, and each estimation distribution chart indicates vendor identification information that associates the estimation information with the vendors by at least one of the following: color, shape, and text. In the above-described estimation system, the estimation conditions include price and delivery date, and the estimation distribution chart shows the estimation information of high conditions, which are estimation conditions where the delivery date is relatively short or the price is relatively low, at one end, and shows the estimation information of low conditions, which are estimation conditions where the delivery date is relatively long or the price is relatively high, at the other end, and shows the estimation information of intermediate conditions, which are estimation conditions between the high conditions and the low conditions, at a relative position based on the high conditions and the low conditions. In the above estimation system, the system further includes a selection unit that selects two or more estimation information other than the low-condition estimation information from the estimation information acquisition unit for each type of estimation condition, the estimation distribution diagram includes an estimation information display range for each estimation information, and the vendor identification information is displayed within the estimation information display range, and the display unit displays the estimation information selected by the selection unit as the high-condition or intermediate-condition estimation information in the estimation distribution diagram.

[0009] The above-described quotation system further comprises a customer-side presentation unit that presents the quotation information selected by the selection unit to the customer, and an adopted quotation acquisition unit that acquires adopted quotation information, which is the quotation information adopted by the customer from among the quotation information presented to the customer-side presentation unit, wherein the presentation unit is owned by the vendor and is a vendor-side presentation unit that presents the quotation distribution map, and the vendor-side presentation unit presents the quotation distribution map that indicates the adopted quotation information by at least one of color, graphic, and text. In the above-described quotation system, the vendor-side presentation unit presents the quotation distribution map according to the ID (identification) information used for login, and the quotation distribution map includes a comparison range in which the quotation information is arranged at intervals corresponding to the differences in the quotation conditions, and a company-specific range that shows the vendor's quotation information corresponding to the ID information in association with the quotation information in the comparison range.

[0010] To achieve the above objective, one aspect of the estimation method of this disclosure includes the steps of obtaining estimation information, including estimation conditions for the provision of goods or services, from two or more vendors using an estimation information acquisition unit, and presenting the respective estimation information at predetermined intervals using a presentation unit, according to the difference in estimation conditions determined by comparison.

[0011] To achieve the above objective, one aspect of the quotation program of this disclosure is a computer that performs the following functions: a function that causes two or more businesses to obtain quotation information indicating the quotation conditions for providing goods or services, and a function that causes the computer to present the respective quotation information at predetermined intervals according to the differences in the quotation conditions.

[0012] According to this disclosure, the following effects can be obtained: (1) Each company that has submitted an available quotation condition can be provided with information that makes it easy to visually and intuitively grasp the differences between the quotation conditions submitted by other companies.

[0013] (2) It becomes possible to compare the quotation conditions that your company can offer with the conditions offered by other companies.

[0014] (3) By using this quotation system, the burden of collecting information such as the terms and conditions offered by other competing companies and the conditions adopted by customers can be reduced.

[0015] (4) By showing the difference between the quotation conditions of other companies and our own quotation conditions to the companies providing quotations, we can help them understand the level of conditions they are offering and increase competition among companies. This increased competition will enable us to provide customers with goods and services under fair conditions.

[0016] Furthermore, other purposes, features, and advantages of the technology described herein will become clearer with reference to the accompanying drawings and each embodiment.

[0017] This figure shows an example configuration of the estimation system according to the first embodiment. This is a sequence diagram showing the processing content of the estimation system. This figure shows the configuration of the estimation distribution screen. This figure shows an example configuration of the database of the estimation system according to the second embodiment. This figure shows an example of a table for executing estimation processing. This figure shows the estimation result screen presented to the customer. This figure shows the configuration of the estimation distribution screen presented to the vendor. This is a flowchart showing an example of estimation processing.

[0018] [First Embodiment] Figure 1 shows the configuration of the quotation system according to the first embodiment. The configuration shown in Figure 1 is an example, and the technology of this disclosure is not limited to such a configuration. This quotation system 2 includes functions to select, present, and mediate with a customer the vendors who can purchase goods or provide services, and to generate and present quotation conditions for vendors seeking customers who can provide goods or services, and to provide the adopted quotation information.

[0019] The quotation system 2 includes, for example, an information processing device 4, a customer terminal 6, and a vendor terminal 8, as shown in Figure 1. The information processing device 4 and the customer terminal 6, and the information processing device 4 and the vendor terminal 8, respectively, send and receive information via a network such as the Internet. The information processing device 4 provides quotation information to customers based on information collected from vendors, and also has functions for mediation and providing each vendor with information on quotation conditions between vendors. The customer terminal 6 is an information terminal on the user side who wishes to purchase goods or receive services. The vendor terminal 8 is an information terminal used by one or more vendors who provide services, etc.

[0020] <Information Processing Device 4> The information processing device 4 is a computer equipped with functions for sending and receiving information with, for example, customer terminals 6 and vendor terminals 8, as well as functions for generating and selecting quotation information and screen generation processing. It is composed of a PC (Personal Computer) or a server device capable of operating the quotation system 2 on a network. This information processing device 4 is composed of, for example, a communication unit 10, a storage unit 12, and a processing unit 14. Furthermore, the information processing device 4 is not limited to being composed of a single computer, but may be composed of multiple computers linked together for each function, such as the operation function of the quotation system 2, the function of generating and selecting quotation information, and the function of generating screens including quotation information.

[0021] The communication unit 10 is an example of a functional unit that connects to customer terminals 6 and vendor terminals 8 via a network and exchanges information. For example, the communication unit 10 receives a quotation request instruction from customer terminal 6 and sends a quotation result screen in response. It also receives the quotation conditions to be adopted for the quotation results presented by the customer terminal, i.e., instructions to select vendors that can provide under those conditions. The quotation request from the customer includes information necessary for the quotation, such as information that identifies the desired goods or services and the quantity, as well as condition information set by the customer, such as price, delivery date, and other conditions. The communication unit 10 also sends a presentation instruction to each vendor terminal 8-1, 8-2, ... 8-X to present the information necessary for generating a quotation, receives the vendor setting information presented accordingly, and sends a quotation distribution screen, including quotation information from other vendors, to each vendor terminal 8-1, 8-2, 8-X.

[0022] The storage unit 12 is an example of a functional unit that stores programs for operating the information processing device 4, as well as information used for estimation processing. For example, it is composed of ROM (Read-Only Memory) or non-volatile memory, with programs, collected or generated information, and screens as its storage area. The storage unit 12 stores, for example, an OS (Operating System) for controlling the basic operation of the information processing device 4, and estimation programs for executing processes such as generating vendor estimation information, comparing estimation conditions, and generating images such as estimation result screens and distribution screens, as a program area. The storage unit 12 may also include, for example, an estimation DB 16 as a data area for storing vendor setting information, vendor information, and other generated screens. The stored vendor setting information includes, for example, estimation conditions generated by vendors, or unit price information and calculation rules used by the information processing device 4 to generate estimation information. The vendor information includes ID (IDentification) information to identify the vendor that provided the vendor setting information.

[0023] The processing unit 14 is an example of a functional unit that performs tasks such as generating estimation information and generating images of estimation results and estimation distributions by executing an estimation program stored in the memory unit 12, for example, when the processor of the information processing device executes the estimation program stored in the memory unit 12, and is configured within a memory element such as RAM (Random-Access Memory). This processing unit 14 includes, for example, an information acquisition unit 18, a comparison processing unit 20, an estimation screen generation unit 22, and an information presentation unit 24 as functions that perform estimation processing.

[0024] The information acquisition unit 18 is a functional unit that collects vendor setting information from the vendor terminal 8 via the communication unit 10, and also acquires the quotation information adopted by the customer, and is an example of the adopted quotation acquisition unit of this disclosure. In collecting this vendor setting information, for example, the information acquisition unit 18 requests quotation conditions such as goods and services, or unit prices, calculation formulas, and other information for generating quotation information from the vendor terminal 8, and acquires the information returned in response. The information acquisition unit 18 stores the collected vendor setting information in the quotation DB 16 of the storage unit 12, associating it with the vendor ID.

[0025] The comparison processing unit 20 is a functional unit that calculates quotation information for goods and services requested by a customer using, for example, vendor setting information, and compares quotation information from multiple vendors to select the quotation information to present to the customer. It is an example of a selection unit in this disclosure. The quotation conditions included in the quotation information include multiple pieces of information, such as price information for goods and services and delivery time information for goods and services. The conditions included in this quotation information are not limited to, for example, two types, and may include just one type of information, either price information or delivery time information, or may include three or more types of information in addition to these, such as vendor evaluation information. The comparison processing unit 20 may be, for example, one that is pre-set in the quotation system 2, or it may generate quotation information based on the type and number of information set as conditions for selecting a vendor when a quotation request is made by the customer. The comparison processing unit 20 then compares multiple quotation information based on comparison criteria included in the quotation request or that are pre-set, and selects a predetermined number of quotation information.

[0026] The estimate screen generation unit 22 is an example of a screen generation function unit that generates an estimate result screen to present to the customer based on the estimate information selected by the comparison processing unit 20, and generates an estimate distribution screen that presents estimate information to each vendor at predetermined intervals according to the differences in estimate conditions, using the estimate information of the vendors adopted by the customer. This estimate distribution screen displays the estimate information associated with vendors using, for example, at least one of color, shape, and text.

[0027] The information presentation unit 24 is an example of a customer-side presentation unit of this disclosure that presents an estimate result screen to the customer terminal 6 via the communication unit 10, and is also an example of a vendor-side presentation unit of this disclosure that presents an estimate distribution screen to each vendor terminal 8-1, 8-2, ... 8-X. The information presentation unit 24 manages identification information for the recipients of the estimate result screen and the estimate distribution screen, respectively, and performs setting processing of customer and vendor address information for the communication unit 10. In addition, the information presentation unit 24 may, for example, display the estimate result screen or the estimate distribution screen according to an ID specified on the monitor of an information processing device 4 (not shown), or it may have a function to print the estimate result screen or the estimate distribution screen on paper or the like in conjunction with a printing device connected to the information processing device 4.

[0028] <Regarding Customer Terminal 6 and Vendor Terminal 8> Customer Terminal 6 is a terminal device used by users who wish to receive goods or services, and can be any computer equipped with communication functions and display means capable of displaying quotation results information, such as a PC, smartphone, or small portable mobile terminal. Vendor Terminal 8 is a computer capable of providing goods and services, generating quotation information and vendor setting information for generating quotations, and presenting them to the information processing device 4. Vendor Terminal 8 may be any PC used by each person in charge, or a server device that manages the vendor's internal information.

[0029] <Regarding the Quotation Process> Figure 2 shows the processing details of the quotation system. The processing details and procedures shown in Figure 2 are examples, and the technology of this disclosure is not limited to such configurations. This quotation process is an example of the quotation method or quotation program of this disclosure.

[0030] In the estimation process, for example, as a preparatory process to enable the generation of estimation information for each product or service offered to the customer in the estimation system 2, the information processing device 4 requests vendor setting information from each vendor that can provide the product or service. Here, the vendor setting information is shown as an example of using two estimation conditions. When the information processing device 4 obtains vendor setting information from each vendor terminal 8-1, 8-2, ... 8-X (S11), it stores this information in the estimation DB 16 of the storage unit 12, linked to the vendor's ID (S12). This vendor setting information may be executed, for example, at the start of the estimation process, or new information may be requested periodically, such as monthly or yearly, or new vendor setting information may be sent when the vendor changes or updates the condition content.

[0031] Next, when the information processing device 4 receives a request for quotation from the customer terminal 6 (S13), it generates quotation information for vendors using the vendor setting information (S14), and selects candidate vendors from the generated quotation information that meet the set selection criteria (S15). As a quotation response, the information processing device 4 presents a quotation result screen containing the quotation information of the selected vendors to the customer terminal 6 (S16).

[0032] On the customer terminal 6, the received quotation result screen is displayed on a display means (not shown) (S17), and the customer selects which quotation information to adopt (S18). When the information processing device 4 receives notification of the adopted quotation information from the customer terminal 6 (S19), it generates a quotation distribution screen (S20) using the quotation conditions of the adopted vendors, notifies each vendor (S21), and provides it to vendor terminals 8-1, 8-2, ... 8-X. Then, each vendor can, for example, display the quotation distribution screen containing the adopted quotation information presented on their respective vendor terminals 8-1, 8-2, ... 8-X (S22), and perform processing for reviewing the next quotation request, updating vendor setting information, etc.

[0033] <About the Quotation Distribution Screen 30> Figure 3 shows the structure of the quotation distribution screen. The structure and information displayed in Figure 3 are examples. This quotation distribution screen 30 is an example of the information presented for each vendor that participates in providing goods and services to a customer and for which quotation information has been provided. The quotation distribution screen 30 includes quotation distribution diagrams 32A and 32B, which are divided according to the conditions used for selection, as shown in Figure 3, for example. Here, we show the case where two quotation conditions, "Condition 1" and "Condition 2," are adopted in the selection. These two conditions are, for example, "Price Information" and "Delivery Date Information."

[0034] The estimate distribution screen 30 also consists of, for example, estimate distribution diagrams 32A and 32B, each of which is composed of a condition information display unit 33A and a distribution result unit 33B. The condition information display unit 33A shows the condition information used for selection. The distribution result unit 33B shows, for example, the magnitude of the values ​​for each estimate condition and the level of the evaluation value calculated using that condition as a straight line graph, with estimate conditions that are highly rated placed on the left and estimate conditions that are less highly rated placed on the right. Estimate conditions that are highly rated include, for example, estimate conditions that are considered favorable to the buyer, such as low price or short delivery time. These conditions are also referred to as high conditions. Estimate conditions that are less highly rated include, for example, estimate conditions that are considered unfavorable to the buyer, such as high price or long delivery time. These conditions are also referred to as low conditions.

[0035] The estimate distribution diagram 32A shows, as a comparison result of "Condition 1", an estimate information display 34A representing the vendor that presents the estimate condition with the highest value, such as price, or evaluation, other estimate information displays 34B, and an estimate information display 42-1 presented by vendor X, to whom this estimate distribution screen 30 is presented, arranged on the condition axis 38, which indicates the magnitude of the values ​​of the estimate conditions, at predetermined intervals 44-1 and 44-2. Interval 44-1 represents the difference between estimate information display 34A and vendor X's estimate information display 42-1. Interval 44-2 represents the difference between estimate information display 34B and vendor X's estimate information display 42-1.

[0036] Furthermore, in the estimate distribution diagram 32B, as a comparison result of "Condition 2," the estimate information display 36A of the company that presents the highest-rated estimate conditions, other estimate information displays 36B, and the estimate information display 42-2 of company X are arranged on the condition axis 40 at predetermined intervals 44-3 and 44-4, similar to the estimate distribution diagram 32A. Interval 44-3 represents the difference between estimate information display 36A and company X's estimate information display 42-2. Interval 44-4 represents the difference between estimate information display 36B and company X's estimate information display 42-2.

[0037] The estimate information displays 34B and 36B are, for example, examples of intermediate comparison targets, and may be set to estimate information of a vendor with favorable estimate conditions for subsequent stages from among the estimate information selected by the comparison processing unit 20, or, if different vendors present the highest estimate conditions for "Condition 1" and "Condition 2" of the estimate target, the estimate conditions of vendors with different conditions may be set. The condition axes 38 and 40 of these estimate distribution diagrams 32A and 32B show, for example, the minimum estimate information for each estimate condition on the left end, and represent a state in which the values ​​change proportionally or by equal amounts toward the right, with the maximum estimate information on the right end. Furthermore, the condition axes 38 and 40 display estimate condition sections 46A and 46B that display the minimum values ​​L1 and L2 for each estimate condition near the left end, and estimate condition sections 48A and 48B that display the maximum values ​​H1 and H2 for each estimate condition near the right end. In these estimation condition sections 46A and 46B, for example, the minimum value L1 may be set to the value "AAAAAA" and the minimum value L2 to the value "DDDDDD".

[0038] These estimate information displays 34A, 34B, 36A, 36B, 42-1, and 42-2 show, for example, at least vendor identification information and estimate condition values, using a combination of text, colors, patterns, and other shapes. In estimate distribution charts 32A and 32B, if the same vendor is displayed, for example, the estimate information display should be shown using the same color or pattern. Then, for vendor X on the estimate distribution screen 30, if the vendor's estimate conditions have been adopted, for example, the estimate information displays 42-1 and 42-2 are placed at the left end of the condition axes 38 and 40 as the estimate conditions with the highest evaluation, etc.

[0039] The intervals 44-1, 44-2, 44-3, and 44-4 between the quotation information displays 42-1 and 42-2 and the other quotation information displays 34A, 34B, 36A, and 36B are examples of comparative information whose display position is set according to the difference between the quotation conditions of the highest-rated and intermediate comparison vendors and the quotation conditions of vendor X. In other words, the quotation distribution screen 30 is evaluation information that represents the gap between the quotation conditions presented by the company and the quotation conditions presented by other vendors that were adopted, or by other vendors, using intervals 44-1, 44-2, 44-3, and 44-4. A larger interval indicates a larger difference in the presented quotation conditions, while a smaller interval indicates a smaller difference in the quotation conditions. Hereinafter, "our company" refers to a vendor among two or more vendors that has the quotation distribution screen 30 shown in Figure 3 or the quotation distribution screen 90 shown in Figure 7 displayed on the vendor terminal 8.

[0040] In the generation process for the estimate distribution charts 32A and 32B, for example, the estimate screen generation unit 22 can calculate the difference between the estimate conditions of the selected contractor and contractor X, and then set intervals 44-1, 44-2, 44-3, and 44-4 based on the difference value and the amount of data in the display area, which is long enough to display the condition axes 38 and 40.

[0041] In this estimate distribution screen 30, the case where there are two pieces of comparative estimate information for each evaluation target is shown, but this is not limited to this. Estimate distribution diagrams 32A and 32B may display the distribution of three or more estimate conditions, or they may display the estimate conditions of all companies that have provided estimate information. Furthermore, estimate distribution diagrams 32A and 32B may, for example, display the lowest-rated estimate condition and show the interval between that lowest-rated estimate condition and the estimate condition of company X.

[0042] [Effect of First Embodiment] According to such a configuration, the following effects can be obtained. (1) By collectively presenting the quotation conditions presented by each trader and the quotation conditions of other adopted traders, etc., the difference in quotation conditions between traders can be grasped, thereby enhancing competitiveness between traders. (2) For the quotation conditions presented by each trader, by presenting the distribution state of quotation information display with intervals corresponding to the difference in values for each evaluation target condition, the gap between conditions can be grasped visually and in terms of intervals. (3) By having quotation information prepared for a plurality of evaluation objects and presenting the quotation distribution screen 30 in which the quotation conditions are listed side by side, the adoption conditions for each customer can be grasped, and the information collection load on the trader can be reduced. (4) On each distribution screen, not only the gap between the company's quotation conditions and the quotation conditions of other traders, but also the magnitude and state of the difference in quotation conditions among the plurality of selected traders can be grasped.

[0043] [Second Embodiment] Fig. 4 shows a configuration example of a database (hereinafter referred to as "DB") used in an estimation system according to the second embodiment, and Fig. 5 shows a configuration example of a processing table used for estimation processing and distribution screen generation processing. The configurations and displayed information shown in Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 are merely examples, and the technology of the present disclosure is not limited to such configurations.

[0044] <Regarding Estimation DB 16> This estimation DB 16 is stored in the storage unit 12 of the information processing apparatus 4, and is used for generation of estimation information, management processing of trader information, and generation processing of the estimation distribution screen 30 to be presented to each trader. As shown in, for example, A of Fig. 4, the estimation DB 16 includes a trader ID unit 50, a trader setting information unit 51, an estimation information unit 52, a date and time unit 53, an adoption information unit 54, an estimation distribution screen unit 55, another information storage unit 56, and the like.

[0045] The vendor ID unit 50 is an example of an area that is registered in the estimation system 2 and stores information for identifying a vendor that provides goods or services. The vendor ID stored herein is, for example, a registration ID that each vendor registers with the estimation system 2 and is input at the time of login, or the name of the vendor, or the like. The vendor setting information unit 51 is an example of an area that stores vendor setting information such as price information and delivery date information for the number of products used by the processing unit 14 of the information processing apparatus 4 to generate estimation information. The estimation information unit 52 is, for example, an example of an area that stores estimation information, and may store past estimation information previously generated by the information processing apparatus 4 in response to an estimation request from a customer, or estimation information generated and presented by a vendor without using the estimation information generation function of the information processing apparatus 4.

[0046] The date and time unit 53 is an area for registering information such as, for example, the date and time when vendor setting information is stored, or the date and time when previously generated estimation information is stored in the estimation information unit 52. The information registered in the date and time unit 53 may be used, for example, for checking whether each vendor has updated vendor setting information, and for determining whether registered old estimation information can be used for the latest estimation request.

[0047] The adoption information unit 54 is an example of an area for registering information indicating whether or not estimation information is selected by the comparison processing unit 20 and used for generating an estimation result screen. Each vendor may use the information registered in the adoption information unit 54 for analysis such as updating vendor setting information and tracking changes in estimation conditions required by customers. The information processing apparatus 4 may also use the information as information for determining whether to prompt a vendor with few adoptions to update vendor setting information, for example. The estimation distribution screen unit 55 is an area for storing a generated estimation distribution screen.

[0048] The other information storage unit 56 is an area for storing information other than the information described above, and may store, for example, information such as conditions to be evaluated, information specifying goods / services to be estimated, and the number of products included in a customer's estimation request. Furthermore, the estimation DB 16 may be composed of, for example, a plurality of files formed for each goods or service to be estimated.

[0049] <Difference Information DB60> This difference information DB60 stores interval information used to generate the estimate distribution screen 90 (Figure 7) presented to each vendor. The difference information DB60 includes multiple difference information files 60A, 60B, ... set for each estimate evaluation target, as shown in Figure 4B, for example. These evaluation targets are, for example, price information and delivery date information, and each has different condition values ​​and scales of differences between estimate conditions.

[0050] The difference information files 60A and 60B include, for example, a difference information section 62 and an interval information section 64. The difference information section 62 is a region in which the difference value calculated by comparing the estimation conditions and its range P are set. The interval information section 64 stores information on the interval L between estimation conditions set in the estimation distribution screen 90, relative to the value and range set in the difference information section 62.

[0051] In the process of generating the estimate distribution screen 90, the interval between estimate conditions can be set using the information stored in the difference information DB 60, or, as previously described, the interval can be set using the difference value between the calculated estimate conditions and the capacity information of the display area on the screen.

[0052] <About Quotation Tables 70A and 70B> These quotation tables 70A and 70B are examples of processing areas that, for example, the comparison processing unit 20 of the information processing device 4 performs the comparison and selection process of the generated quotation conditions for each vendor. Quotation table 70A is a processing table generated for "price information," which is a condition for the evaluation of the quotation. Quotation table 70B is a processing table generated for "delivery date information," which is a condition for the evaluation. Furthermore, quotation tables 70A and 70B can be similarly generated for evaluation items other than "price information" and "delivery date information," and if three or more evaluation items are set, a quotation table should be generated according to the number of evaluation items.

[0053] The estimation tables 70A and 70B are configured with, for example, a ranking section 71, a vendor ID section 72, estimation condition sections 73A and 73B, and a difference section 74, as shown in Figures 5A and 5B.

[0054] The ranking section 71 is an area that shows the ranking of the results of the comparison of quotation conditions by the comparison processing unit 20. Each quotation table 70A and 70B has comparison conditions set according to the conditions to be evaluated, and quotation information from each vendor is stored according to the comparison results based on those comparison conditions. In quotation table 70A, for example, "price priority" is set as a comparison condition, and quotation information with a low price is set to the top as a high condition. Similarly, in quotation table 70B, for example, "delivery time priority" is set as a comparison condition, and quotation information with a short delivery time is set to the top as a high condition. These comparison conditions are just examples, and for example, quotations with a high price or a long delivery time may be evaluated as high conditions, or quotations with the second-highest price or delivery time may be set to the top.

[0055] The vendor ID section 72 contains vendor identification information and stores the same information as the vendor ID section 50 of the estimate DB 16. The estimate condition sections 73A and 73B are the estimate conditions to be evaluated set in each table and are areas that store the price and delivery date of goods and services. The difference section 74 is an area that stores the difference value calculated using the estimate conditions stored in the estimate condition sections 73A and 73B. This difference may be, for example, the difference between adjacent estimate conditions, or the difference between estimate information selected in the generation of the estimate distribution screen. It may also store the difference value with other estimate conditions that are not adjacent.

[0056] <About the Quotation Results Screen> Figure 6 shows an example of a quotation results screen presented from the information processing device 4 to the customer terminal. The configuration shown in Figure 6 is just one example. The information processing device 4 generates quotation results screens that include multiple different quotation conditions and multiple different comparison conditions, for example, based on a quotation request from a customer or setting information. Here, as described above, an example of quotation results screens 80A and 80B is shown that adopt price information and delivery date information as quotation conditions and are based on the comparison conditions of "price priority" and "delivery date priority".

[0057] The quotation result screens 80A and 80B include a comparison condition section 81, quotation condition sections 82 and 83, and an adoption instruction section 84, as shown in Figures 6A and 6B, for example. The comparison condition section 81 is an area that displays information on the comparison conditions generated by the comparison processing unit 20 for multiple quotation conditions, and displays comparison conditions such as "price priority" and "delivery date priority". The quotation condition sections 82 and 83 are areas that display two quotation conditions included in the quotation information of the vendor selected based on the comparison conditions. In this example of quotation processing, different vendors are selected for the "price priority" comparison condition and the "delivery date priority" comparison condition. Therefore, in the price-priority quotation result screen 80A, for example, the unit price and amount are "8,578 yen" and the delivery date is "shipped 5 days after order". In contrast, in the delivery date priority quotation result screen 80B, for example, the unit price and amount are "21,766 yen" and the delivery date is "shipped 4 days after order". Comparing these quotes, the prices differ significantly, while the delivery time differs by only one day.

[0058] Furthermore, it is not limited to cases where different vendors are selected for each comparison condition; the same vendor may also be selected. In such cases, the quotation result screens 80A and 80B only need to display the same content, or only one screen may be displayed to the customer terminal 6.

[0059] The selection instruction unit 84 is an example of an operation unit that generates selection instructions from the customer regarding which comparison criteria to use to select a vendor. This selection instruction unit 84 displays, for example, operation buttons to instruct ordering goods or services and operation buttons to instruct printing a quotation. In addition, the selection instruction unit 84 may also display operation buttons to instruct the customer to request a revised quotation regarding the presented price and delivery date, or operation buttons to change the quotation conditions or comparison conditions.

[0060] <About the Estimate Distribution Screen 90> Figure 7 shows the configuration of the estimate distribution screen 90. The configuration and information displayed in Figure 7 are examples. Also, in Figure 7, parts that are the same as those in Figure 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals and their explanations are omitted. This estimate distribution screen 90 is an example of a screen that is presented to a vendor who submitted the adopted estimate information when, for example, price-priority estimate conditions are adopted. The estimate distribution screen 90 includes, for example, a company estimate conditions area 92 and an estimate distribution area 94, as shown in Figure 7.

[0061] The company's own quotation conditions area 92 includes, for example, an evaluation information unit 96 and a quotation conditions unit 98 for the quotation conditions presented by the company. The evaluation information unit 96 displays information such as the adoption results of the presented quotation conditions, the comparison conditions selected by the customer, and the results of comparison with the quotation conditions of other vendors in text format or other representation formats. The quotation conditions unit 98 displays a list of the quotation conditions presented by the company. Here, for example, information such as "processing time," "estimated amount," and "delivery time" for products, etc., which are automatically generated by the information processing device 4, are displayed.

[0062] The estimate distribution area 94 displays information such as order information in the information display unit 100 and estimate distribution diagrams 102A and 102B generated for each comparison condition. Estimate distribution diagrams 102A and 102B each include a comparison range 109 and a company range 112. The comparison range 109 contains estimate information displays 110-1, 110-2, 112-1, and 112-2. Estimate information displays 110-1, 110-2, 112-1, and 112-2 are estimate information selected by the comparison processing unit 20. The company range 112 shows the estimate information of vendors associated with the registered ID used to log in to the estimate distribution screen 90. Estimate distribution diagrams 102A and 102B also contain estimate information displays 104A and 104B, which display the company's estimate conditions on the upper part of condition axes 38 and 40, which are represented by straight lines of predetermined lengths in the horizontal direction. In these company quotation information displays 104A and 104B, price information and delivery date information are displayed with a predetermined background color, for example, black. Furthermore, quotation information displays 104A and 104B clearly indicate the vendor whose quotation information has been accepted, for example, by displaying a star-shaped mark as an acceptance mark 105. In this way, the quotation distribution screen 90 indicates accepted quotation information using graphics. The acceptance mark 105 is not limited to drawings such as marks, but may also be a color or text.

[0063] The quotation information displays 104A, 104B, 110-1, 110-2, 112-1, and 112-2 are placed within the quotation information display area 113. In this embodiment, the quotation information display area 113 is rectangular. In this embodiment, in addition to the quotation information, the quotation information display area 113 displays at least one of the following: vendor identification information, adoption display 105, and the type of quotation conditions. The vendor identification information is different for each vendor that has presented the quotation conditions. The vendor identification information is at least one of the following: color, graphic, and text. In this embodiment, the vendor identification information is color, and the background of the quotation information display area 113 is set to a different color for each vendor.

[0064] Figure 7 shows the difference in color of the quotation information display area 113 using hatching. The quotation information display area 113 of quotation information display 110-1 and the quotation information display area 113 of quotation information display 110-2 show the same vendor identification information, indicating that the source of the respective quotation information is the same. The quotation information display area 113 of quotation information display 112-1 and the quotation information display area 113 of quotation information display 112-2 also show the same vendor identification information, indicating that the source of the respective quotation information is the same. In other words, multiple quotation information displays 110-1, 110-2, 112-1, and 112-2 are arranged in the lower section of the condition axes 38 and 40 to be compared with the company's own quotation conditions. These quotation information displays 110-1, 110-2, 112-1, and 112-2 display, for example, comparison conditions and quotation conditions, and each comparison condition has a different background color. For example, the background color is set to green for the quotation information displays 110-1 and 112-2 presented to the customer terminal 6 as "price priority," and to blue for the quotation information displays 110-2 and 112-1 presented to the customer terminal 6 as "delivery date priority."

[0065] In this embodiment, the comparison range 109 and the company range 112 are related to each other. Specifically, since the conditions are the same, the starting mark 111 for the estimate information display 104A and the estimate information display 110-1 are at the same position on the condition axis 38 and are positioned at the same position in the vertical direction. Since the conditions are the same, the starting mark 111 for the estimate information display 104B and the estimate information display 112-2 are at the same position on the condition axis 40 and are positioned at the same position in the vertical direction.

[0066] At the left end of condition axes 38 and 40, the highly rated quotation condition sections 106A and 106B display, for example, the condition with the lowest "price" or the shortest "delivery time" among the companies that submitted quotations. Conversely, at the right end of condition axes 38 and 40, the less rated quotation condition sections 108A and 108B display, for example, the condition with the highest "price" or the longest "delivery time". These quotation condition sections 108A and 108B display the quotation conditions of companies that were not selected among the companies that submitted quotation information, and these values ​​were not presented to the customer. Furthermore, the quotation condition sections 106A, 106B, 108A, and 108B are not limited to displaying the highest-rated or lowest-rated condition among all the submitted quotation conditions; they may also display conditions that are relatively highly rated or relatively low-rated, such as the second-highest or subsequent-ranked conditions.

[0067] As previously described, these quotation information displays 104A, 104B, 110-1, 110-2, 112-1, and 112-2 are arranged with a predetermined interval 114 according to the difference in quotation conditions. That is, quotation information is not displayed in the range where the interval 114 is set. Also, the interval 114 widens when the difference in quotation conditions is large and narrows when the difference in quotation conditions is small. In the quotation distribution diagram 102A, for example, an interval 114 is set according to the difference between the company's quotation information display 110-1, which is located at the far left, and the intermediate condition quotation information display 110-2. Similarly, in the quotation distribution diagram 102B, an interval 114 is set according to the difference between the quotation information display 112-1, which has the shortest delivery time and is located at the far left, and the quotation information display 112-2. In this way, the quotation distribution screen 90 displays the intermediate condition quotation information displays 110-2 and 112-2, which are quotation conditions between high and low conditions, in a relative position based on high and low conditions within the comparison range 109. The estimate information display 110-2 has a starting point mark 111 located approximately in the center of the condition axis 38, and is positioned approximately in the middle of the estimate information display 110-2 and the estimate condition section 108A in the direction of the condition axis 38. This is because the estimate amount of 21,766 yen, which is the intermediate condition, is approximately in the middle of the estimate amount of 8,578 yen, which is the high condition, and the estimate amount of 38,698 yen, which is the low condition. In a typical tabular list of estimate prices containing estimate amounts from multiple companies, even if they are arranged in order of amount, it is necessary to grasp the difference between each amount based on specific numerical values. However, as in this disclosure, by displaying the estimate information displays 110-1 and 110-2 with intervals 114 corresponding to the difference in estimate conditions, the differences between each estimate condition can be grasped visually and intuitively.

[0068] The interval 114 shown here merely specifies the arrangement set on the condition axes 38 and 40, and does not limit the way in which the estimation conditions are judged using the estimation distribution diagrams 102A and 102B. The differences between estimation conditions should be judged by the contractors using the estimation distribution diagrams 102A and 102B.

[0069] <Regarding the Quotation Process> Figure 8 shows an example of the quotation process. The processing content and procedure shown in Figure 8 are examples only, and the technology of this disclosure is not limited to such a configuration. This quotation process is an example of the quotation method or quotation program of this disclosure.

[0070] The information processing device 4 acquires vendor setting information from each vendor (S101) and registers this information in the estimate DB 16 (S102). When the information processing device 4 receives an estimate request from the customer terminal 6 (S103), it reads the vendor setting information for each vendor based on conditions such as the identification and quantity of goods and services included in the estimate request and generates estimate information (S104). The comparison processing unit 20 generates estimate tables 70A and 70B using the generated estimate information based on the set conditions (S105), and sorts the estimate conditions in estimate tables 70A and 70B based on the comparison conditions (S106). As a result, the distribution state of estimate tables 70A and 70B is set, for example, by ranking all estimate conditions based on the comparison conditions.

[0071] The comparison processing unit 20 then selects two or more vendors for each comparison condition and presents the quotation information of the selected vendors on the quotation result screens 80A and 80B to the customer terminal 6 (S107). The processing unit 14 determines whether the customer has entered an acceptance instruction for the presented quotation information (S108), and if so (YES in S108), it issues an order instruction to the accepted vendor and proceeds to the process of generating quotation distribution screens for each vendor.

[0072] In the process of generating the estimate distribution screen, for example, the estimate screen generation unit 22 collects information such as the estimate conditions for each vendor and the estimate conditions that were adopted (S109), calculates the difference between these estimate conditions (S110), and sets intervals according to the difference based on the difference information DB 60 (S111). Then, the processing unit 14 generates an estimate distribution screen for each vendor and presents it to the vendor (S112), and stores this estimate distribution screen in the estimate DB (S113).

[0073] [Effects of the Second Embodiment] With this configuration, the following effects can be obtained: (1) The same effects as the first embodiment can be obtained. (2) On the estimate distribution screen, by displaying the spacing between estimate information displays along with the background color, it becomes easier to recognize the distribution of estimates for each comparison condition. (3) On the estimate distribution screen, by displaying high and low evaluation values ​​at both ends of condition axes 38 and 40, it becomes possible to recognize the differences in estimate conditions in more detail by combining the spacing between estimate information displays with specific numerical values. (4) By limiting the number of estimate information displayed on the estimate distribution screen, it is possible to prevent the estimate distribution from becoming complicated and to easily grasp the position of one's own company among the many companies that have submitted estimates. [Modifications] Modifications of the embodiment described above are listed below.

[0074] (1) In the above embodiment, the system generates quotation information for all registered vendors, presents the customer with a quotation results screen, and then generates a quotation distribution screen for vendors after the customer has given an acceptance order. However, the technology of this disclosure is not limited to such a configuration. The information processing device 4 may generate and present the quotation distribution screen to vendors before or at the same time as presenting the customer with a quotation results screen.

[0075] (2) In the above embodiment, only the estimate information of the highest-rated vendor for each comparison condition is shown to the customer terminal 6 as the estimate result screen, but the invention is not limited to this. The estimate result screen may include, for example, multiple estimates selected for each comparison condition, and comparable information arranged at intervals corresponding to the differences in those estimate conditions, or by other display methods.

[0076] (3) In the above embodiment, the estimate distribution screens 30 and 90 were shown to be arranged with estimate information displays 34A, 34B, 36A, 36B, 42-1, and 42-2 arranged at predetermined intervals 44-1, 44-2, 44-3, and 44-4 on horizontal straight condition axes 38 and 40 according to the difference between the estimate conditions of each vendor and the adopted estimate conditions or estimate conditions presented by other vendors. However, the technology of this disclosure is not limited to such a configuration. The estimate distribution screens 30 and 90 may employ display means other than the intervals 44-1, 44-2, 44-3, and 44-4 to represent the difference between the estimate information displays 34A, 34B, 36A, 36B, 42-1, and 42-2. The estimate distribution screens 30 and 90 may employ, for example, a mountain-shaped display means that arranges multiple comparable estimate information displays in an inclined manner according to the difference between them. In addition, the estimate distribution screens 30 and 90 may employ expressive means such as displaying estimate information or lines connecting multiple estimate information tables, using colors or patterns corresponding to the differences in estimate conditions, or changing the facial expressions of characters. Such expressive means also make it possible to easily grasp the degree of difference in estimate conditions and the distribution of estimate conditions presented by the company, both visually and intuitively.

[0077] (4) Alternatively, the estimate distribution screen may use a coordinate display with two comparison conditions on the vertical and horizontal axes, and place some or all of the calculated estimate information to represent the distribution of the estimate conditions.

[0078] (5) The above embodiment displays the estimate distribution screens 30 and 90 for contractors, but is not limited to this configuration, and may also be configured to present estimate information to general users using estimate distribution diagrams 102A and 102B.

[0079] As described above, the most preferred embodiments and modifications of the technology of this disclosure have been explained. The technology of this disclosure is not limited to what is described above, and the configurations of the embodiments and modifications described above may be combined. Various modifications and changes are possible for those skilled in the art based on the gist of the invention as described in the claims or disclosed in the forms for carrying out the invention. It goes without saying that such modifications and changes are within the scope of the technology of this disclosure.

[0080] 2 Quotation System 4 Information Processing Device 6 Customer Terminals 8, 8-1, 8-2, ... 8-X Vendor Terminals 10 Communication Unit 12 Storage Unit 14 Processing Unit 16 Quotation DB 18 Information Acquisition Unit 20 Comparison Processing Unit 22 Quotation Screen Generation Unit 24 Information Presentation Unit 30, 90 Quotation Distribution Screen 32A, 32B Quotation Distribution Diagram 33A Condition Information Display Unit 33B Distribution Result Unit 34A, 34B, 36A, 36B, 42-1, 42-2, 104A, 104B, 110-1, 110-2, 112-1, 112-2 Quotation Information Display 38, 40 Condition Axis 44, 44-1, 44-2, 44-3, 44-4, 114-1, 114-2, 114-3, 114-4 Interval 46A, 46B, 48A, 48B Estimate Conditions Section 50, 72 Vendor ID Section 51 Vendor Setting Information Section 52 Estimate Information Section 53 Date and Time Section 54 Recruitment Information Section 55 Estimate Distribution Screen Section 56 Other Information Storage Section 60 Difference Information DB 60A, 60B Difference Information File 62 Difference Information Section 64 Interval Information Section 70A, 70B Estimate Table 71 Rank Section 73A, 73B, 98 Estimate Conditions Section 74 Difference Section 80A, 80B Estimate Result Screen 81 Comparison Conditions Section 82, 83 Estimate Conditions Section 84 Recruitment Instruction Section 92 Company Estimate Conditions Area 94 Estimate Distribution Area 96 Evaluation Information Section 100 Information Display Section 102A, 102B Estimate Distribution Diagram 105 Recruitment Display 106A, 106B Highly rated quotation conditions section 108A, 108B Lowly rated quotation conditions section 109 Comparison range 111 Starting point mark 112 Company range 113 Quotation information presentation range

Claims

1. An estimation system characterized by comprising: an estimation information acquisition unit that acquires estimation information indicating the estimation conditions for which two or more businesses provide goods or services; and a presentation unit that presents the respective estimation information at predetermined intervals corresponding to the differences in the estimation conditions.

2. The estimation system according to claim 1, characterized in that the estimation information acquisition unit acquires two or more estimation information items of different types of estimation conditions in association with the contractor, the presentation unit presents an estimation distribution chart for each of the different types of estimation conditions, in which the estimation information is arranged at intervals corresponding to the difference in the estimation conditions of the same type, and each estimation distribution chart indicates contractor identification information that associates the estimation information with the contractor by at least one of color, graphic, and text.

3. The estimation system according to claim 2, wherein the estimation conditions include price and delivery date, the estimation distribution chart shows the estimation information for high conditions, where the estimation conditions are relatively short delivery time or relatively low price, at one end, the estimation information for low conditions, where the estimation conditions are relatively long delivery time or relatively high price, at the other end, and the estimation information for intermediate conditions, which are between the high conditions and the low conditions, is shown at a relative position based on the high conditions and the low conditions.

4. The estimation system according to claim 3, further comprising a selection unit that selects two or more estimates other than the low-condition estimates for each of the different types of estimate conditions from the estimate information acquired by the estimate information acquisition unit, the estimate distribution diagram comprises an estimate information display range surrounding each estimate, and the vendor identification information is displayed within the estimate information display range, and the display unit displays the estimate information selected by the selection unit as the high-condition or intermediate-condition estimates in the estimate distribution diagram.

5. The estimation system according to claim 4, further comprising: a customer-side presentation unit that presents the estimation information selected by the selection unit to the customer; and an adopted estimation acquisition unit that acquires adopted estimation information, which is the estimation information adopted by the customer from among the estimation information presented to the customer-side presentation unit, wherein the presentation unit is owned by the vendor and is a vendor-side presentation unit that presents the estimation distribution map, and the vendor-side presentation unit presents the estimation distribution map showing the adopted estimation information by at least one of color, graphic, and text.

6. The quotation system according to claim 5, characterized in that the vendor-side display unit displays the quotation distribution chart corresponding to the ID (identification) information used for login, and the quotation distribution chart includes a comparison range in which the quotation information is arranged at intervals corresponding to the differences in the quotation conditions, and a company range in which the vendor's quotation information corresponding to the ID information is shown in association with the quotation information in the comparison range.

7. A method for obtaining estimates, which includes the steps of: obtaining estimate information, including estimate conditions for the provision of goods or services, from two or more vendors using an estimate information acquisition unit; and presenting the respective estimate information, spaced at predetermined intervals, using a presentation unit, according to the difference in the estimate conditions determined by comparison.

8. A computer-based estimation program that performs the following functions: a function to obtain estimation information indicating the estimation conditions for which two or more businesses provide goods or services; and a function to present the respective estimation information at predetermined intervals according to the differences in the estimation conditions.

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