Image-Based Inventory Management Server Reducing Master Data Complexity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing inventory management systems require the creation of a merchandise master for each product variant, leading to high creation and management costs, especially in industries like the food industry where products are frequently replaced, making it impractical for small and medium enterprises to implement.
Innovation Solution
An inventory management server that uses images of merchandise for identification, eliminating the need for a merchandise master by acquiring and storing data such as basic images, identification information, and quantities through user terminals, allowing for easy warehousing and delivery processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a merchandise master is created for each product variant to enable inventory management, then inventory management accuracy is improved, but creation cost and management complexity become extremely high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses images (photographs) of merchandise as a simplified copy or representation of the actual product, replacing the complex merchandise master system. Instead of creating detailed digital records for each product variant, the system captures and stores images that visually represent the merchandise, thereby maintaining inventory management accuracy while dramatically reducing creation and management complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical process of creating and maintaining merchandise masters with an automated image-based system. The image acquisition unit automatically captures merchandise images, and the system automatically associates these images with inventory data, eliminating the manual work of creating and updating merchandise master records for each product variant
2Reliability
If a merchandise master is created for each product variant to enable inventory management, then inventory tracking capability is improved, but labor cost for creation and updates becomes extremely high
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service by automatically acquiring images of merchandise and associating them with inventory data without requiring manual intervention. The image acquisition unit automatically captures images when merchandise is stored or delivered, and the system automatically processes and stores these images, eliminating the need for manual creation and updating of inventory records
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical process of creating and updating merchandise masters with an automated image-based system. The image acquisition unit automatically captures merchandise images, and the system automatically associates these images with inventory data, eliminating the manual work of creating and updating merchandise master records for each product variant
3Measurement precision
If detailed product information is entered manually for each warehousing and delivery operation, then inventory data accuracy is improved, but operational efficiency and speed deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual process of entering product information with an automated image-based system. Instead of manually typing or inputting detailed product information for each warehousing and delivery operation, the system automatically captures images of the merchandise and uses these images to identify and track the products, thereby maintaining data accuracy while dramatically improving processing speed
Solution Approach 2:
The image-based system enables continuous and uninterrupted inventory management operations. Since the system automatically captures and processes images without requiring manual data entry, warehousing and delivery operations can proceed continuously without the interruptions and delays associated with manual information input
Data Source
AI summary
To provide an inventory management server, an inventory management system, an inventory management program, and an inventory management method which are capable of carrying out inventory management such as warehousing processing and delivery processing easily and inexpensively by using an image for identifying merchandise together with an image of the merchandise. Provided is an inventory management server 4 for carrying out inventory management using images of merchandise, the inventory management server 4 including: a warehousing data acquisition unit 61 which acquires warehousing data from a user terminal, the warehousing data including a merchandise basic image obtained by photographing merchandise to be warehoused, an identification information image obtained by photographing identification information on the merchandise, a warehoused quantity of the merchandise, and a warehousing date of the merchandise; and an inventory data storage unit 52 which stores the identification information image and the warehoused quantity and warehousing date of the merchandise as inventory data in association with the acquired merchandise basic image.