JP2002157650A - Method and system for returning purchase point - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To return profit to not only a member who actually buys an article, but also other members having close personal relation. SOLUTION: The method and system have a stage where a genealogical table is generated by relating a member who bears a member card to a member who introduces the member when the member card is issued and a stage where when a member in an Nth stage in the genealogical table has shopping, specific return points are allotted to the member of an (N-1)th stage having introduced the member, the member of an (N-2)th stage having introduced the member of the (N-1)th stage..., i.e., the members as direct line up to a specific upstream stage respectively according to the purchase amount of the member in the Nth stage.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to the return of purchasing points to members in a large-scale shopping center or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a large-scale store such as a large-scale shopping center or a department store where a large number of shoppers gather every day and buy and sell a large amount of goods, subtle fluctuations in the percentage of customers attracted greatly affect the actual business balance. Subtle fluctuations in the balance, especially when moving up and down across the surplus and deficit lines, pose a serious problem that is directly linked to the management policy of large stores. For this reason, various large stores have conventionally issued a membership card after requesting entry of, for example, an address, a name, a telephone number, and the like. We offer point reduction services.

[0003] Generally, such point reduction according to the purchase amount is carried out by giving a cash discount sale of a predetermined ratio such as 3% or 5% of the purchase amount to a product purchaser having a membership card, or reducing the purchase amount. Generally, a discount service is performed in which points are recorded according to the number of points, and a product price is deducted according to the number of points.

[0004]

By the way, the conventional method of operating a membership card in a large-scale store is that the store returns (pays) points corresponding to the purchase amount to the member card holder (registered member). Cash discount, issuance of discount coupons, etc.), and each member is assumed to take their own independent consumption behavior, and each member's consumption behavior is limited to profit return to the member only Is done.

However, in a large store in an area where similar stores are densely packed or in a district where purchasers are acquainted with each other, such as a large suburban store, in order to differentiate itself from other stores competing in the same district, members are There is a demand for a new customer service system for large-scale stores based on human connections between each other.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to return a certain amount of profit at a predetermined rate not only to the member who actually purchased the product but also to other members who have a close personal relationship with the purchaser. It is possible to do it.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, a method for redeeming purchase points according to the present invention is characterized in that, when a member card is issued, a member holding the member card and a member who is an introducer of the member are provided. And a step of creating a genealogy by associating the members with the (N-1) -th and (N-1) -th members who introduced the member when the member at the N-th row on the genealogy did shopping. (N-2) -th member who introduced the member of ... and the direct members from the N-th member to a predetermined upstream member, the purchase amount of the N-th member Assigning predetermined return points.

[0008] Further, a purchasing point redemption system for realizing such a method stores a member holding a member card, a genealogy creating unit for associating a member who is an introducer of the member, and stores the created genealogy. A genealogy search unit that searches for members from the member to a predetermined upstream stage based on the member identification data recorded on the member card and the data in the genealogy storage unit. A point allocating unit that distributes redemption points to the members searched by the genealogy searching unit at a predetermined ratio based on the purchase amount of the member holding the member card is provided.

[0009]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION In the method of redeeming purchasing points according to the present invention, a person introduced by a primary member recruited by an appropriate method registers as a secondary member, and a person introduced by a secondary member as a tertiary member. Registration is performed, and this is sequentially repeated to create a genealogy with association between members, and points are returned based on this genealogy.

[0010] In creating a pedigree, a new member (a downstream member in the pedigree) to be registered upon receiving an introduction and a registered member (upstream member in the pedigree) that introduces the new member are represented in a pedigree. You only need to relate them. However, the term “family association” as used in the present invention does not mean that a visible genealogy tree is created, but that when a certain member is targeted, at least the identification (including search) of the nearest upstream member is performed. This means that data processing is performed in a possible state. still,
Data on members immediately downstream is not required. However, if the association with the nearest upstream member is repeated, the upstream and downstream genealogy of a certain member can be automatically searched, and a tree can be displayed on the monitor screen.

For example, as shown in FIG. 2, when assuming a genealogical tree extending from the primary member located at the uppermost stream on the genealogical tree, the genealogical tree usually forms a plurality of series while branching on the way. In the pedigree shown in FIG. 2, there are three pedigree branches A, B, and C. Taking the registration of a quaternary member in column B as an example, at the time of registration of this member, the introducer is a tertiary member in column B, and performs an association data process for identifying the tertiary member. For example, a simple hierarchical process may be performed at the time of registration of the fourth member in column B,
The identification number of the tertiary member in column B may be registered in the information item of the tertiary member in column 4, and the genealogy may be traced upstream so as to be searchable.

[0012] On the other hand, the method of redeeming purchase points according to the present invention, when a certain member purchases a product, returns points to that member and gives a predetermined number to other members directly upstream of that member. Points are returned at the rate of Points may be redeemed to all members directly upstream, but preferably, for example, redistribution is distributed to members in the range of 3 to 4 stages, and each member is limited by limiting the number of distributors. Increase the reduction ratio of

FIG. 1 shows an example of a method for redeeming purchase points according to the present invention. When an N-th member in a certain row on a genealogy makes a purchase, for example, 1% of the purchase amount is paid to the person ( (N-th member) and 0.5% of the (N-1) -th member who is the most upstream member who introduced this member, for example, 0.5%, (N
-2) For the next member, for example, 0.25% of half,
A case is shown in which, for example, 0.12% of about half of the (N-2) next member who introduced the next member is returned to the (N-3) next member. Of course, the reduction ratio can be changed and set as appropriate.

For example, if the fifth member in row B in FIG. 2 purchases a product for 3,000 yen, if the point is returned to the third stage upstream of the direct line, the person himself is 30 yen, A 15-member point for the fourth member of the B-row, 7 yen for the third-member of the B-row (for example, when rounded down; round-up is acceptable; the same applies hereinafter), and a 3-member for the B-column secondary member is 3 yen. In this case, points are not redeemed to the primary member located four steps upstream from the fifth member in row B.

Therefore, according to such a method of redeeming the purchase points, no matter where the member is located on the genealogy, if the member purchases the product, the member and the direct upstream member who goes back to the member are purchased. Is redeemed at a predetermined ratio only for. Only the primary and secondary members located at the most upstream position will not benefit, but profits will be returned only to the principal and the direct upstream members irrespective of the position on the genealogy.

Also, unless the introduced member purchases the product with his / her free will, no profit is returned to the upstream member. Therefore, there is a possibility that the members of the present system will suffer an unexpected disadvantage due to the consumption behavior of others. Not at all. Conversely, since each member often has another direct downstream introduction member that is divided into branches and leaves, there is an advantage that a reward point is accumulated even when one does not shop.

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of a point redemption system according to the present invention. This system 10
A card reader 12 is provided in conjunction with the register 11, and the card reader 12 reads data from the membership card 14. Reference numeral 20 denotes a management computer device, which includes a genealogy creating unit 21 for associating a new member with a member who has introduced the member when the membership card 14 is issued, and stores data of the genealogy creating unit 21 in a genealogy storage unit 22. To record.

Reference numeral 24 denotes a genealogy search unit for searching for a direct member related to the member card holder based on the data of the member card 14 read by the card reader device 12. The search range in the genealogy search unit 24 is a member located a predetermined number from the holder of the member card 14, for example, a member located three steps upstream.

In accordance with the purchase amount of a certain member (for example, the fourth member in column B in FIG. 2), the member 25 and other members (for example, in FIG. It is a point allocating unit for allocating return points to the B-member (tertiary member / secondary member and primary member). For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the point redemption rate is 1% of the purchase amount for the principal (the fourth member in column B),
For example, 0.5% for the row B tertiary member, 0.25% for the row B secondary member, 0.12% for the row B primary member, etc. The calculation result in the point assignment unit 25 is:
For example, the data is directly written in the individual data area in the genealogy storage unit 22 or stored and recorded in a point recording unit 27 separately provided in the genealogy storage unit 22. Whatever the format,
Any record format may be used in which appropriate point redemption is performed for members directly upstream of the person other than the principal, and the record can be retrieved at a later date.

According to this system configuration, based on the member genealogy created at the time of issuance of the member card 14, even if a member at any position does shopping, it is fair and equal to members directly upstream including the person. Points can be redeemed.

The upstream / downstream in the present invention refers to an introducer who is already a member on the upstream side, and a new registrant who becomes a new member on the downstream side. Points are always returned from the downstream side to the upstream side. Therefore, for example, when a secondary member does shopping, points are redeemed only to the principal and the primary member located immediately upstream of the secondary member, and there is no other point allocation to distribute. Also in this case, in principle, 1% of the purchase price for the principal (secondary member) and 0.5% for the primary member
% Point reduction rate. When a tertiary member does shopping, 0.5% is assigned to the secondary member who is a direct upstream member and 0. 0 to the primary member.
25% point reduction, no further reduction.

Further, FIG. 3 does not show a means for recording the history of members who have actually made a purchase, but such means are conventionally known, and there is a possibility that they will also develop into privacy issues. Therefore, in the system according to the present invention, it is not always necessary to leave a purchase history in a format for specifying a member.

According to the present system, each member accumulates redemption points irrespective of his / her shopping amount. Therefore, it is desirable that the number of points acquired can be confirmed from the register device 11 in the store or the terminal device 30 via the communication network N such as the Internet or i-mode.

[0024]

As described above, according to the present invention, not only the member who actually purchased the product, but also the other members having a close personal relationship with the purchaser can obtain a predetermined ratio. Can return a certain amount of profit.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing one embodiment of a point redemption method according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a genealogy according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing one embodiment of a point redemption system according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 System 11 Register device 12 Card reader device 14 Member card 20 Computer device 21 Genealogy creation part 22 Genealogy storage part 24 Genealogy search part 25 Point allocation part

Claims (2)

[Claims] When issuing a member card, a step of creating a genealogy by associating a member holding the member card with a member who is an introducer of the member; , The (N-1) th member who introduced the member, the (N-2) th member who introduced the (N-1) th member, and so on. Allocating a predetermined redemption point to the purchase amount of the N-th member from the member of the tier to the direct members from the predetermined upstream tier. . 2. A member which holds a member card, a genealogy creating unit for associating a member who is an introducer of the member, and a genealogy storage unit which stores the created genealogy, while being recorded on the member card. Based on the member identification data and the data in the genealogy storage unit, a genealogy search unit that searches for members from the member to a predetermined upstream stage, based on the purchase amount of the member holding the member card,
A redemption system for purchased points, comprising: a point allocating unit that distributes redemption points to members searched by the genealogy search unit at a predetermined ratio.