JP2000029963A - Electronic settlement system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system for efficiently operating reading and settlement processing and fund movement. SOLUTION: A settlement server 11 preliminarily collects information for electronic settlement from data bases 21 and 22 of an account department or a personnel department, and stores it in a data base 12 for using preparation of a settlement document or the decision of a settlement path. The settlement server 11 prepares settlement document including settlement sum of money, and offers this for electronic reading according to the input of each client terminal. Each client terminal sets attributes such as approval or sending-back by referring to the document. When all settlers approve this document, the settlement server 11 or the terminal of a person in charge of accounting is connected with an ANSER system, and the movement of funds registered in the settlement document is indicated.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to the digitization of business processing, and more particularly to an electronic settlement system which digitizes operations such as creation, circulation, and approval of documents such as decision documents, and also automates the transfer of funds. About.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In companies, government offices, etc., a decision document is prepared, and after receiving a decision of a superior, business processing is advanced.

[0003]

Conventionally, a decision document has been drafted on paper. For this reason, in many cases, it was not possible to refer to or reuse a decision document drafted by another person, and it was difficult to unify the format. In addition, after drafting, the drafter circulated the decision document by handing the decision document directly to the decider, so that it took time to process the decision.

In recent years, in order to make such a decision making process more efficient, a workflow system which circulates decision documents on a network and performs the decision making electronically is also used (for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 10-49598). . However, in corporate organizations, etc., there are many changes in the organization and personnel changes, etc., and the range of circulation of the approval slip and the route of the circulation are frequently changed.
There is a problem that the management is complicated and difficult.

[0005] Even if the payment process is approved by electronic approval, it is necessary to prepare a withdrawal slip again and send it to the accounting section using paper documents, in order to transfer funds. Despite the electronic decision-making process, the transfer of funds and the like had to be done using paper, and the process was complicated. For this reason, the usefulness of the electronic settlement system has been limited.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a system capable of efficiently performing circulation and approval processing, and furthermore, transferring funds.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, an electronic approval system according to a first aspect of the present invention comprises: an approval document creating means for creating the approval document data including an amount of the approval; A plurality of terminals for browsing and approving or rejecting the decision document data created by the means, and a circulation means for electronically circulating the decision document data created by the decision document creation means between the plurality of terminals, Payment for instructing a payment apparatus for payment of the settlement amount included in the settlement document data for the settlement document data electronically circulated among the plurality of terminals by the circulation means and having received predetermined approval. And indicating means. With this configuration, according to the present invention, a document can be circulated electronically and a decision can be made. Furthermore, funds of the amount registered in the document approved by the approval can be transferred electronically, and complicated processing such as refilling a withdrawal slip after approval becomes unnecessary, and centralized management becomes easy. .

The payment instructing means includes, for example, means such as a computer for instructing an answer system to perform a payment process, or means for instructing an electronic money transmitting means for transmitting electronic money to perform a payment process. .

The circulation means includes personnel information collection means for collecting personnel information created by a personnel department, and means for controlling circulation objects and circulation routes based on the personnel information collected by the personnel information collection means. May be provided. The HR department creates HR-related information as his / her duties. By controlling the circulation target and the circulation route using such information, when the organization or personnel changes, there is no need to input personnel information or organization information only for electronic payment, and an electronic payment system Maintenance is easy.

[0010] The approval document creating means includes at least one of a personnel information collecting means for collecting personnel information created by a personnel department and an accounting information collecting means for collecting accounting information created for accounting by the accounting department. The decision document creating means may include means for creating a decision document using information collected by the personnel information collecting means and the accounting information collecting means. By creating a decision document using such information, it is not necessary to input personnel information or accounting information only for creating the decision document, and the decision document is automatically created with changes in personnel information or accounting information. Can be created by appropriately changing the contents of the electronic payment system, and the maintenance of the electronic settlement system is easy.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an electronic decision system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

This electronic settlement system is a system for electronic settlement within a company, and includes a plurality of sites interconnected via a wide area network WAN, as shown in FIG. The plurality of sites include a settlement center ST1 for processing electronic settlement, a site ST2 of the human resources department, a site ST3 of the accounting department, a site ST4 of a plurality of branches, a site ST5 of a plurality of business units, and the like. Each site includes a local server connected by a local area network (LAN) and a plurality of clients (user terminals).

Further, the site ST3 of the accounting department is connected to a so-called ANSER (automatic response service) system ANS via a public line network PN in order to transfer funds electronically.

FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the decision center ST1.
As shown in the figure, in the decision center ST1, a decision server 11 for electronic decision and a database 12 for decision are arranged.

The database 12 includes a form file 121 for storing a form of a decision document, a decision document file 122 for storing a decision document, a section information file 123 for storing information on each business unit, and an employee information file for storing information about employees. 124, an approval route information file 125 for determining a route for approval, and the like.

The form file 121 stores an input form for a decision document. This electronic approval system is intended for business approval as shown in FIG. 3, and an input form is prepared for each of them in a directory structure as illustrated in FIG.

The decision document file 122 stores a plurality of decision documents created and their attribute information (information indicating a circulation route, information indicating approval / non-approval, information indicating a current state, etc.).

The section information file 123 stores information on the members and posts of each section. The employee information file 124 stores information on employees. The approval route information file 125 stores in advance the basic form of the decision route as illustrated in FIG. 5 for each decision content.

The decision server 11 executes processes such as creation of decision documents, circulation of decision documents, and the like. The contents of this processing will be described later.

Further, the decision making server 11 sends accounting information, for example, an accounting code (an accounting identification code assigned to each charge) from the accounting information database 21 installed at the accounting department site ST3, Read the code (payment type code, account code, etc.)
If they have changed from the previous one, the information is read out and stored in the section information file 123 of the database 12.

Further, the decision making server 11 is an organization / personnel information database 2 installed at the site ST2 of the personnel department.
The organization information and personnel information (for example, departments and their names and positions) are read out from 2 and the information is stored in the department information file 123 and the employee information file 124 of the database 12.

Further, the decision making server 11 reads internal personnel information of each department from the department personnel information database 23 and stores the information in the department information file 123 and the employee information file 134 of the database 12.

The accounting information stored in the accounting information database 21, the organization information and personnel information stored in the organization / personnel information database 22, and the department information stored in the department personnel information database 23 of each department The personnel information is not data created for the electronic circulation system, but data created according to the necessity of the original business of each section.

The decision making server 11 performs these collecting operations,
For example, the data is collected by batch processing at night, and the data is reflected on the database 12 only when there is a difference from the previous data. Therefore, for example, in the case of personnel and organizational information, the database 12
To reflect.

A plurality of responsible clients are connected to the decision making server 11 via a WAN and a LAN. Each client is composed of, for example, a personal computer equipped with a WWW browser or the like, a workstation, a business computer, etc., and creates a decision document, or
Approve and perform related required tasks. Further, the client of the accounting manager (clerk in charge of each department) stores a connection application program for accessing the ANSER system and executing a transfer process, a confirmation process, and the like.

Next, the operation of the electronic approval system having the configuration shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 will be described. First, a process for creating a decision document will be described.

A person instructed by a drafter (for example, the section manager) to create a decision document (decision document) (hereinafter, creator)
From the own terminal (client) to the approval server 11
Login to The decision server 11 reads the contents of the decision document file 122, creates a list of decision documents as shown in FIG. 6, and displays the list on the terminal. The creator inputs the department to which the drafter belongs on the screen (the decision making server 11 may provide a list of selectable departments from the contents of the department information file 123). Further, a new draft button is clicked.

In response to this selection, the decision making server 11 displays a list of forms stored in the form file 121 as shown in FIG. The creator selects a desired document.

Thereafter, the creator prepares a decision document by sequentially inputting necessary items in the displayed input form. The decision server 11 displays selection candidates for each selection item using the latest information stored in the database 12.

FIG. 7 shows an example of the first input screen (decision tab) when the creator selects "unit price contract" as the document. The creator inputs necessary information in order to create a decision document by inputting necessary items in each input field of the input screen. The decision making server 11 reads out the name of the person who belongs to the department in charge from the employee information file 124 in the input field for the name and the like, and provides the name in the form of a drop-down list.

Next, a tab of "business" is clicked, and input is made in respective input fields as shown in FIG. The decision server 11
For example, information such as a required category, a required category, a purchase category, and a reference number unit price of an article is provided as a selection item in the form of a drip-down list using information collected in advance from the accounting information database 21.

Next, a tab of "remarks" is clicked, and supplementary items and the like are input as necessary. As described above,
After inputting the details of the decision, the creator selects the "document browsing" tag, and further selects the "select browsing user" button. In response to this selection, the decision making server 11 displays a list of persons belonging to the department entered together with the department list based on the personnel information stored in the employee information file 124 as shown in FIG. I do.

Further, the approval server 11 selects an approval path corresponding to the type of the approval document from the approval paths illustrated in FIG. 5 stored in the approval path information file 125, and further selects the approval path. The relevant persons in the department (or charge) are specified, and those persons are selected in advance as circulation targets. The creator selects a person who wants to circulate other than the person registered in advance.

When the input and selection are completed in this manner, the user clicks the "Approve" button displayed at the bottom of the screen. In response to this operation, the approval server 11
Records this decision document in the decision document file 122 and registers it in the decision document list (FIG. 4). Also, the status of the document is set during circulation. Further, an e-mail is sent to the first approver notifying that the document to be approved exists.

On the other hand, each person in charge logs in to the decision making server 11 as appropriate or in accordance with the notification of the e-mail, and refers to the decision making document list shown in FIG. The decision making server 11 identifies the accessor by performing authentication processing at the time of login, and inverts the name of the document to be viewed by the accessor, so that it can be identified at a glance. In addition, rejecting the reference of the person who is not on the approval route (note that, if it is listed on the approval route, but is not the subject of approval at this time, only the reference is allowed and the approval act etc. may be prohibited) .

When an appropriate document is selected from the list of the approved documents, the approval server 11 starts the processing shown in the flow of FIG. 11, and determines whether the accessing person has authority to refer to the document (authorization authority). , Or is selected as a browsable person) (step S11).
If the user does not have the authority to refer to the information, a message to that effect is displayed (step S12), and the process ends.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S11 that the access is made by a person having the authority to approve the document, the approving document is displayed (step S13). Click “Approve etc.” if approved, “Send back” if not approved, and “Viewed” for those who are only allowed to view.

These operations are performed in steps S14 and S15.
If it is detected and approved, the attribute information indicating the approval with the approver is added to the approval document as attribute information (step S16). Next, it is determined whether or not there is a person who should refer to this decision document (step S1).
7) If so, send an e-mail (step S1)
8) If not, the decision is completed and the status of this document is set to "decided" (step S19).

On the other hand, if the decision-making authority designates "return", this operation is detected in step S15, and the attribute information indicating that the person has been returned to the returnee is added to this decision document as attribute information. (Step S20), and sends an e-mail notifying the drafter of the return (step S2).
1), the status of the document is set to "returned" (step S22).

If the person who has accessed the document is permitted to view only the document, the document is displayed (step S23). When the person presses the browse button, this is detected, and the attribute is detected. (Step S24), and sends an e-mail to the next referrer (step S25).

The attribute information added to this document is, for example, as shown in FIG. 10 and FIG.
And can be referred to, and the progress status and the like can be known.

When it is determined in step S17 that there is no next referrer, that is, OK of the last clerk in the decision route
Is normally obtained, the decision making process ends, and a process such as "save" is performed. However, if there is a process involving the transfer of funds such as the transfer of travel expenses as a result of the approval, the clerk in charge of final approval (usually the accounting (payment / payment) clerk) will be required
Access to the SER system and the section information file 123
Alternatively, the approved amount is transferred to a bank account or the like registered in the employee information file 124 in advance.

That is, in response to the approval process of the accountant,
The connection application to the ANSER system ANS is automatically started and a transfer is instructed. The connected app checks the status of the subject approval document,
Only in the case of "decision completed", it instructs the ANSER center to transfer the designated amount to the transfer destination.

Further, after the instruction, from the ANSER center,
The transfer request history is fetched, and the fact that the house bank has correctly received the transfer request via the ANSER system ANS is determined from the message from the ANSER system ANS and the processing result code, and is recorded. If the information from the ANSER system ANS cannot be received due to some trouble of the approval system, the history is manually reflected based on the communication information logged on the terminal. These records are registered in the database 12 on a par with a decision document. In addition, for each transfer request, a list of processing results and the like can be output as a form.

Thus, according to this embodiment, the decision can be made electronic. Moreover, since various information for making a decision is automatically collected, there is no need to input personnel information or the like only for the decision making process, and the efficiency is high. Further, since the transfer of funds can be digitized, the efficiency is further improved, and connection is enabled only when the approval document has been approved, so that there is no danger of requesting a transfer by mistake.

Next, the approval process involving the transfer of funds will be described with reference to FIG. First, the traveler accepts the travel order of the holder of the travel order, and at the request of the traveler (input request), the creator of the decision document prepares the decision document (travel expense application).

In accordance with the input form, the destination document, travel reason, schedule, transportation expenses, daily allowance, accommodation expenses,
Set system code, circulation route, etc. If the approval document prepared in this way is approved by the traveler (drafter) and the travel commander, the process proceeds to the approval process of the general affairs officer. If the approval document is approved here, the approval process of the accounting officer is performed. Receive. Here, if approved, the connection application program is automatically started, and since the status of the document is "approved", the ANSER system ANS is automatically accessed, and the travel expenses to the traveler's account, Request a transfer, etc. In addition, it reads out the deposit and withdrawal information from the ANSER system ANS, checks its contents, performs application data clearing processing, creates a transfer file,
Notify the internal accounting system. Then register in the in-house accounting system. If the document is returned at any stage in the decision making route, the document is created or corrected again and the same operation is performed.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various changes can be made. For example, in the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the approval route is determined and approval is requested in that order. However, the approval may be made in any order without regard to the order. In this case, the control of the order of the approval is simplified. Further, it is not necessary to collect personnel information and accounting information and use the collected information as information for approval processing, but may input the information separately for approval.

In addition, the ANSER system AN
S, and from the terminal in charge of accounting, ANSER system A
Although the NS has been instructed to transfer funds, other methods may be used for transferring funds. For example, information with monetary value,
Funds may be transferred by transmitting and receiving so-called electronic money (which may be either electronic bills or electronic coins).

In step S19 of FIG. 11, when the approval of all the decision-makers is obtained, the decision-making server 11 automatically accesses the ANSER system ANS and automatically performs the transfer processing, the confirmation processing, and the like. Is also good.

[0051]

As described above, in the electronic approval system according to the present invention, documents requiring approval and circulation are circulated and approved electronically, so that quick and reliable business processing can be performed. Becomes In addition, funds can be transferred electronically with the approval.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an electronic settlement system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a configuration and functions of a decision center of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of tasks, target ranges, and remarks handled by the electronic settlement system of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a terminal.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a decision route of an electronic decision.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a list of decision documents (decision documents).

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of an input screen when a unit price contract of a purchasing business is selected as a decision document and a tab of decision is selected.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of an input screen when a unit price contract of a purchasing business is selected as a decision document and a business tab is selected.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a screen for selecting a viewer.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a display example of a list of viewers and a decision result.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a schematic operation of a decision making server.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a display example of a decision result.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of the flow of a decision process.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 Decision server 12 Database 21 Accounting information database 22 Organization and personnel information database 23 Personnel information database within department

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Toshiyuki Aoike 3-3-3 Toyosu, Koto-ku, Tokyo Inside NTT Data Communications Corporation (72) Inventor Shunzo Fujisawa 3-chome, Toyosu, Koto-ku, Tokyo No. 3-3 NTT Data Communications Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Kenichiro Nakamura 3-3-3 Toyosu, Koto-ku, Tokyo Inside NTT Data Communications Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Katsunao Toka F-term (reference) in NTT Data Communication Corporation, 3-3-3 Toyosu, Koto-ku, Tokyo 5B049 BB00 CC36 GG02 GG09

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A decision document creating means for creating decision document data including a decision amount, a plurality of terminals for browsing and approving or rejecting the decision document data created by the decision document creating means, and the decision document creating means A circulation means for electronically circulating the decision document data created by the plurality of terminals, and electronically circulating between the plurality of terminals by the circulation means, and receiving predetermined approval. And a payment instruction means for instructing the payment device to pay the settlement amount included in the decision document data with respect to the decision document data. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said payment instruction means comprises means for instructing an answer system to perform payment processing, or means for instructing electronic money transmitting means for transmitting electronic money to perform payment processing. The electronic approval system according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The circulation means comprises: personnel information collection means for collecting personnel information created by a personnel department; and means for controlling circulation objects and circulation routes based on the personnel information collected by the personnel information collection means. The electronic approval system according to claim 1, further comprising: 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the decision document creating means collects personnel information created by a department in charge of personnel, an accounting information collecting means collects accounting information created for accounting by the department in charge of accounting, The decision document creating means comprises means for creating a decision document using information collected by the personnel information collecting means and the accounting information collecting means. 3. The electronic approval system according to 2.