JP2004155567A - Selling method, sales system, server, computer readable recording medium recording selling program, selling program, and collecting method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a selling method, allowing unitary distribution management of business consumables, a sales system, a server, a computer readable recording medium recording a selling program, the selling program, and a collecting method. <P>SOLUTION: The server searches a seller 2B different from a seller 2A who receives an order from a customer, as an alternative delivery candidate, in accordance with preset conditions. A stock is set aside for the searched seller 2B and the searched seller 2B is instructed to alternatively deliver an ordered article from his stock to a user 3. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a sales method, a sales system, a server, a computer-readable recording medium on which a sales program is recorded, a sales program, and a collection method. The present invention relates to a system, a server, a computer-readable recording medium recording a sales program, a sales program, and a collection method.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art A printer, a copying machine, and a facsimile machine using an electrophotographic system are essential devices for executing a business. These devices utilizing the electrophotographic method require consumables such as toner. If the consumables are used up and the consumables cannot be refilled immediately, the equipment becomes unavailable. In order to prevent such a situation, each office maintains an appropriate stock of consumables. Recently, there is a case where a department called IMS (Information Manager of System) or the like that maintains and manages a proper stock of consumables in the whole business site exists.
[0003]
2. Description of the Related Art Some devices that use an electrophotographic system supply toner by a cartridge called a toner cartridge.
[0004]
Each device needs to be equipped with a toner cartridge according to its model, and different models generally require different toner cartridges even for the same printer. Therefore, in an office or a business where various types of devices are used, it is necessary to stock and maintain various types of toner cartridges.
[0005]
Not only toner cartridges but also all business supplies consumed in offices and business establishments require proper inventory maintenance and management. Hereinafter, an article such as a toner cartridge may be referred to as a “business consumable”. In addition, the “business consumables” include toners for copying machines, photosensitive drums, inks for inkjet printers, other service parts, paper and OHP sheets, in addition to toner cartridges.
[0006]
Further, the business consumables are not limited to toner cartridges and the like used in companies and the like, and may include office equipment widely.
[0007]
There are the following demands regarding the sales form and inventory management of business consumables having such characteristics.
[0008]
[Sales form]
With the spread of the Internet, the use of the Internet is also desired for sales and orders of business consumables. Although systems for selling goods using the Internet already exist, it is not easy to correctly select and order business consumables from a wide variety of goods according to the equipment used. Moreover, the price of a product displayed in such a sales system does not correspond to the customer.
[0009]
[Inventory control]
Merchandise suppliers and retailers that supply and sell business consumables according to the equipment used have a large inventory of business consumables in their warehouses because they need to supply business consumables to customers in a short period of time. However, due to the wide variety of business consumables and difficulties in forecasting demand, it cannot be said that the stock is appropriate.
[0010]
For this reason, there occurs a situation in which the business consumables ordered from the customer are not in stock, and are excessive at other dealers geographically separated. In this case, even though the business consumables can be supplied to the customer from the store having excess inventory, it cannot be delivered in a short period of time due to a problem such as deviating from the normal delivery area. Therefore, inventory management that takes into account the variety of business consumables and the difficulty of forecasting demand is desired.
[0011]
FIG. 17 is a conceptual diagram illustrating the current business distribution flow of business consumables. In FIG. 17, the toner cartridge manufactured in accordance with the production plan in the factory 4 of the product supplier 1 is sent to the warehouse 11 of the product supplier at any time.
[0012]
Then, when the order is sent from the seller 2 to the goods supplier 1, it may take a considerable number of days to deliver the order to the warehouse 12 of the seller. However, if the stock is available from the seller's warehouse 12 to the user 3, it can be delivered in at least one day (the day after the order).
[0013]
As described above, when there is no available stock in the warehouse 12 of the seller, the seller 2 places an order with respect to the merchandise supplier 1, and is then transported from the warehouse 1 of the merchandise supplier to the warehouse 12 of the seller. The time required for the procedure for delivering to the user 3 is much longer than when the stock is in the warehouse of the seller. In many cases, the warehouse of the goods supplier 1 is not near the warehouse of the seller, and it usually takes one day or more, and at present, it is impossible to promptly respond to the user.
[0014]
In order to solve these problems, product suppliers and multiple sellers share each other's sales and inventory information by using concepts such as SCM (Supply Chain Management) to constantly optimize inventory, and to quickly place orders for users. A mechanism that can be shipped has been established.
[0015]
As an example, a technique described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-306686 (Patent Document 1) has been proposed as a solution related to the sales form and inventory management of business consumables.
[0016]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2001-306686 A
[0017]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
According to the technology described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-306865, a business consumable is sold to a user, a seller supplies a business consumable without having stock, and a merchandise supplier or a merchandise maker operates a business consumable. Product distribution and inventory management are realized by centrally managing the server.
[0018]
However, sellers who sell business consumables to users in the distribution process of goods have played an important role in procedures such as selling and delivering goods.
[0019]
For example, if a merchant has a warehouse near a user, he wants to stock business consumables in that warehouse, or because of geographical conditions, stores business consumables in that warehouse. Inventory may be more efficient, or the seller may have business consumables in the warehouse due to their own sales strategy.
[0020]
Therefore, the supply chain model proposed by the technology described in JP-A-2001-306865 may not always be realized. The problem that arises in this case is that having inventory for each seller and performing inventory management for each seller increases the inventory of the entire supply chain.
[0021]
This is mainly due to the following reasons. Sellers tend to have more stock because they do not want to run out of stock for orders from users.
[0022]
There is mistrust to the product supplier or manufacturer, for example, the product may not be delivered on time.
[0023]
There are many types of merchandise, and depending on the seller, there is a case where inventory cannot be managed completely and inventory management accuracy is not high. In particular, business consumables need to be sold as long as the user continues to use the main body device after the sales end, in addition to the consumables whose main body device is on sale. For this reason, sales models tend to be very large.
[0024]
In this way, if each seller has inventory, it is the most important issue how quickly it can be shipped in response to a user's order without having a large amount of inventory. It is desired to build a business consumable sales system.
[0025]
An object of the present invention is to provide a sales method, a sales system, a server, a computer-readable recording medium storing a sales program, a sales program, and a collection method capable of centrally managing the distribution of business consumables. .
[0026]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, a sales method according to the present invention is characterized in that a server manages inventory of goods handled by at least two or more sellers, and the server Allocating the inventory of the seller, the allocating the inventory of the seller, based on the order information from the customer, allocates the inventory of the first seller constituting the seller, or in a predetermined group The method is characterized in that it is a step of determining, for each order from a customer, whether to replace and ship inventory of a second seller constituting the seller, which is different from the first seller.
[0027]
Further, the selling method according to the present invention is characterized in that the server includes a step of issuing a shipping instruction from a warehouse of the seller whose shipping has been confirmed based on the result of the step of allocating the seller's inventory.
[0028]
Further, in the sales method according to the present invention, the server may determine whether or not the second seller's inventory is to be shipped as a substitute, based on a condition that the first seller's inventory is not allocated to an order. Characterized in that it comprises a step of determining based on
[0029]
Further, in the selling method according to the present invention, the server may determine whether or not to ship the inventory of the second seller as an alternative, by the alternative set by the first seller and the second seller. The method is characterized in that it includes a step of transmitting delivery date change information to a customer who has transmitted the order information and which has been determined based on the shipment approval information and does not substitute the order information.
[0030]
Further, in the selling method according to the present invention, the server determines whether or not to carry out alternative shipment of the inventory of the second seller based on predetermined alternative shipping conditions, and the predetermined alternative shipping conditions If it does, the method includes a step of determining an alternative shipment of the inventory of the second seller, and a step of transmitting the delivery date change information to the customer who transmitted the order information if the predetermined alternative shipment condition is not satisfied. It is characterized by the following.
[0031]
Further, in the selling method according to the present invention, the server generates surplus stock information according to the seller and the product, and manages alternative shipping consignment information based on the surplus stock information according to the seller and the product. It is characterized by having.
[0032]
In addition, the selling method according to the present invention, the server, based on the alternative shipping consignment information, when the stock of the first seller is not reserved for the order, belonging to the predetermined group, the optimal The method further comprises a step of determining a seller who is a substitute shipping consignee.
[0033]
Further, the selling method according to the present invention, the server, when the order from the customer, instead of the first seller, when the alternative shipment from the second seller, the commission for each seller, And a step of managing sales information including a condition for giving / receiving, a result, points based on the result, and the like.
[0034]
Further, the selling method according to the present invention is characterized in that the server includes a step of outputting information to an image output device based on sales information including conditions for receiving and receiving the commission, results, points based on results, and the like. And
[0035]
Further, in the selling method according to the present invention, the server includes information disclosure information in which one of disclosure and non-disclosure is set as predetermined information serving as a condition for alternative shipping, and the server determines alternative shipping. At this time, the method includes a step of controlling transmission / reception of information on the order and the seller or the customer to the seller based on the information disclosure information.
[0036]
Further, in the selling method according to the present invention, the step of controlling the transmission and reception of the information of the seller and the customer related to the order is performed by controlling the disclosure of the information of the second seller and the information of the customer for which the alternative shipment is entrusted. A first information control step performed on the second seller, and a second information control performing disclosure control of the first seller information and customer information entrusted with the alternative shipment to the second seller And a step.
[0037]
The selling method according to the present invention is characterized in that the transmission and reception of the order and / or the transmission and reception of information between the server and a client connected to the server via a network are performed via the Internet.
[0038]
Further, the selling method according to the present invention is characterized in that the request for the alternative shipment is made using an electronic mail.
[0039]
Further, in the selling method according to the present invention, the product includes at least one of a toner, a toner cartridge, a consumable part, and ink, and the consumable part includes at least a photosensitive drum and a photosensitive unit. And
[0040]
Further, the sales system according to the present invention includes a server having management means for managing inventory of goods handled by at least two or more sellers, and allocation means for allocating inventory of the seller based on order information from customers. In the sales system having one or more, the allocating means for allocating the inventory of the seller, based on order information from a customer, allocates the inventory of the first seller constituting the seller, or allocates the inventory to a predetermined group. And a determination means for determining, for each order from a customer, whether to substitute and ship inventory of a second seller constituting the seller, which is different from the first seller.
[0041]
Further, the sales system according to the present invention is characterized in that the server includes a shipping instruction unit for issuing a shipping instruction from a warehouse of a seller whose shipping is determined based on a result of the determining unit.
[0042]
Further, in the sales system according to the present invention, the server determines whether or not the second seller's inventory is to be shipped as a substitute, based on a condition that the first seller's inventory is not allocated to an order. Characterized in that it comprises a determination means for determining based on
[0043]
Also, in the sales system according to the present invention, the server may determine whether or not to ship the inventory of the second seller as an alternative, by an alternative set by the first seller and the second seller. A first delivery date change information transmitting unit that determines the delivery date information based on the shipment approval information and transmits the delivery date change information to the customer who transmitted the order information for the replacement order information that does not ship is provided.
[0044]
Further, in the sales system according to the present invention, the server determines whether or not the second seller's inventory is to be alternately shipped based on predetermined alternative shipping conditions, In the case of conformity, the second seller's inventory is determined to be a substitute shipment, and in the case of not conforming to the predetermined substitute shipment condition, the delivery date change information is transmitted to the customer who transmitted the order information. It is characterized by comprising a delivery date change information transmitting means.
[0045]
Further, in the sales system according to the present invention, the server generates surplus inventory information according to the seller and the product, and manages the alternative shipping consignment information based on the surplus inventory information according to the seller and the product. It is characterized by comprising management means.
[0046]
Further, in the sales system according to the present invention, when the server does not reserve the inventory of the first seller for the order, based on the alternative shipment consignment information, the optimal substitute belonging to a predetermined group It is characterized by comprising a seller determining means for determining a seller as a shipping consignee.
[0047]
Further, in the sales system according to the present invention, the server, the order from the customer, not the first seller, when the alternative shipment from the second seller, commission for each seller, And sales information management means for managing sales information including conditions for giving / receiving, results, points based on results, and the like.
[0048]
Further, the sales system according to the present invention, wherein the server includes an output unit that outputs information to an image output device based on sales information including conditions for receiving and receiving the commission, results, points based on results, and the like. Features.
[0049]
Further, in the sales system according to the present invention, the server includes information disclosure information in which one of disclosure and non-disclosure is set as predetermined information serving as a condition for alternative shipping, and the server determines alternative shipping. In this case, an information control unit for controlling transmission / reception of information on the order and the seller or the customer to the seller based on the information disclosure information is provided.
[0050]
Further, in the sales system according to the present invention, the server controls transmission and reception of information on the seller and the customer regarding the order, and controls disclosure of information on the second seller and customer information on behalf of the alternative shipment. The first information control to be performed on the first seller and the second information to perform the disclosure control of the information of the first seller and the information of the customer entrusted with the alternative shipment to the second seller And control.
[0051]
The sales system according to the present invention is characterized in that the transmission and reception of the order and / or the transmission and reception of information between the server and a client connected to the server via a network are performed via the Internet.
[0052]
Further, the sales system according to the present invention is characterized in that the request for the alternative shipment is performed using an electronic mail.
[0053]
Further, in the sales system according to the present invention, the product includes at least one of a toner, a toner cartridge, a consumable part, and ink, and the consumable part includes at least a photosensitive drum and a photosensitive unit. And
[0054]
Further, the server according to the present invention is a server comprising: a managing unit that manages inventory of goods handled by at least two or more sellers; and an allocation unit that allocates inventory of the seller based on order information from customers. The allocation means for allocating the inventory of the seller, based on order information from a customer, allocates the inventory of the first seller constituting the seller, or the first seller in a predetermined group. And a determining means for determining, for each order from a customer, whether to substitute and ship the inventory of the second seller constituting the seller.
[0055]
Further, a computer-readable recording medium recording a sales program according to the present invention is a computer-readable recording medium, based on management means for managing inventory of products handled by at least two or more sellers, and information on orders received from customers. A computer-readable recording medium that records a sales program that functions as an allocation unit that allocates the inventory of the seller, wherein the allocation unit that allocates the inventory of the seller configures the seller based on order information from a customer. Whether to reserve the inventory of the first seller or to alternately ship the inventory of the second seller constituting the seller, which is different from the first seller in a predetermined group, from the customer. The sales program that functions as a judgment means for judging each order is recorded.
[0056]
Further, the sales program according to the present invention uses the computer as management means for managing inventory of goods handled by at least two or more sellers, and as allocation means for allocating inventory of the seller based on order information from customers. A sales program to be operated, wherein the allocation means for allocating the inventory of the seller, based on order information from a customer, allocates the inventory of the first seller constituting the seller, or within a predetermined group. It functions as a judgment unit for judging, for each order from a customer, whether to substitute and ship the inventory of the second seller constituting the seller, which is different from the first seller.
[0057]
Further, the collection method according to the present invention is a collection method in which a screen is supplied to a logged-in user and collection of used goods is set in accordance with the screen. And an item for the user to set or non-set the collection of used products.
[0058]
Here, the step of outputting the information to the image output device refers to a step of displaying a screen on the client side. That is, this means, for example, a screen display on the terminal device 31 or the like shown in FIG.
[0059]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, a business consumable goods sales system according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the embodiment, a toner cartridge used for an apparatus such as an electrophotographic printer, a copying machine, a facsimile machine or the like will be described as an example of a business consumable, but the present invention can be applied to other products.
[0060]
For example, toners for consumables, consumable parts, paper and OHP sheets, inks for ink jet printers, and the like can be cited as examples of business consumables. Consumable parts are parts that are consumed in a shorter period of time than the main body, such as photoconductor drums, photoconductor units, replacement lamps, and fuser rollers used in image forming apparatuses such as copiers and printers. is there.
[0061]
In addition, the following description of each embodiment of the sales system according to the present invention includes a sales method, a server, a computer-readable recording medium storing a sales program, a sales program, and a collection method according to the present invention. It also serves as a description of the form.
[0062]
(First Embodiment of Sales System)
FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a sales logistics flow of business consumables in the first embodiment of the sales system according to the present invention.
[0063]
The shared database (DB) 5 stores the production of the factory 4, the stock of the goods supplier warehouse 11 and the seller warehouse 12, the order of the user 3, and the factory 4, the goods supplier warehouse 11, the seller warehouse 12, and the user 3. Integrally manage the logistics including
[0064]
Although FIG. 1 shows two sellers and two seller warehouses by way of example, it is assumed that there are more than two sellers and seller warehouses.
[0065]
The information provided from the shared DB 5 corresponds to information stored in the auxiliary storage device 305 in FIG. 3 described later. However, a plurality of sellers do not necessarily disclose all information because they are usually competing in sales. Whether to disclose information is managed by an information disclosure / non-disclosure database described later.
[0066]
In the sales and distribution flow shown in FIG. 1, in addition to the normal sales and distribution flows shown in FIG. 17, alternative shipping can be performed between different sellers as necessary.
[0067]
By constructing such a flow of the toner cartridge and systematizing it, quick shipment to the user and efficient distribution / inventory management can be performed.
[0068]
The term “alternate shipment” here means that, for example, when a user places an order with the seller (A) 2 in FIG. 1, another seller (B) 2 ships instead of the seller (A) 2. I do. Further, at this time, the system also manages a mechanism for giving and receiving incentives such as a sales fee due to performing a predetermined alternative shipment between sellers.
[0069]
In the present invention, when the seller 2 is used, an arbitrary seller or all the sellers is represented, and when the seller (A) 2 or the seller (B) 2 is used, the above-mentioned alternative shipment is performed by the seller (A). ) 2 is an example of a consignment, seller (B) 2 is an example of a consigned seller. The same applies to the seller warehouse 12, the seller warehouse (A) 12, and the seller warehouse (B) 12.
[0070]
First, a sales system that realizes the flow of the toner cartridge shown in FIG. 1 will be described in detail.
[0071]
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration example of a toner cartridge selling system in the first embodiment of the selling system according to the present invention. The main server 81 is a server device that provides the shared DB 5. Note that the shared DB 5 is not always provided by a single server device, and may be divided into a plurality of server devices or provided in parallel. That is, the shared DB 5 may be provided as a logically one database.
[0072]
A plurality of terminal devices using the shared DB 5 are connected to the main server 81 via a wide area network (WAN) 100 such as the Internet. The terminal devices 13, 31, 41, 51, 61 and 71 are terminals of the product supplier 1, the seller 2, the user 3, the product supplier warehouse 11 and the seller warehouse 12, respectively.
[0073]
The terminal device 32 is a mobile terminal used by a salesman or a serviceman of the seller 2, and the terminal device 62 is a mobile terminal used by a delivery clerk of a distributor. Here, if the mobile terminal used by the salesman or the serviceman has the same configuration / function as the terminal device 41, the object of the present invention can be achieved.
[0074]
Here, the internal structure of the main server 81 shown in FIG. 2 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is an internal block diagram of the main server 81 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the main server 81 includes a CPU 301, an input device 302, a main storage device 303, an output device 304, an auxiliary storage device 305, and a communication device 306.
[0075]
Here, the CPU 301 is a member also called a processing device, and has a control function of sending a command to each device in the system and controlling its operation, and a function of performing digital data arithmetic processing in a central part of the server. is there.
[0076]
Here, the CPU 301 may be used alone or in combination with other components shown in FIG. 3 or in cooperation with a program stored in the main storage device 303 or the auxiliary storage device 305. Management means, allocation means, determination means, shipping instruction means, determination means, first delivery date change information transmission means, second delivery date change information transmission means, information management means, seller determination means, sales information described in the range It functions as a management unit, an output unit, and an information control unit.
[0077]
The input device 302 is a member for inputting various data, and may be, for example, a keyboard, a mouse, a pointing device, a touch panel, a mouse pad, a CCD camera, a card reader, a paper tape reader, a magnetic tape device, and the like. For example, when instruction data is input to an output device such as a mouse via the interface screen of FIG. 4, the CPU 301 recognizes the input information and performs processing to shift to the next processing. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the terminal device 41 of the user 3 when ordering a toner cartridge in the first embodiment of the sales system according to the present invention.
[0078]
The main storage device 303 is a member also called a memory, and is a member indicating each addressable space used for executing an instruction in each processing device and the internal storage device. The main storage device 303 is mainly composed of a semiconductor element, and stores and holds input programs and data, and reads out the stored and held data into, for example, a register in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 301.
[0079]
In addition, the semiconductor element included in the main storage device 303 includes a random access memory (RAM) and a read only memory (ROM).
[0080]
For example, ID and password information input via the user interface of FIG. 6 is temporarily stored in the main storage device 303, and the temporarily stored information is transmitted by the CPU 301 via the communication device 306 (FIG. 5). Corresponding to S501). It also has a function as a display memory for displaying the user interface of FIG.
[0081]
The output device 304 is a member for outputting a calculation result by the CPU 301, and corresponds to, for example, a CRT, a plasma display panel and a liquid crystal display, other display devices, a printing device such as a printer, an audio output device, and the like. In the present invention, for example, the display device of each terminal device shown in FIG.
[0082]
The auxiliary storage device 305 is a device for supplementing the storage capacity of the main storage device 303. For example, a floppy (R) disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic disk device, an optical disk device, and a semiconductor disk device. CD-W, MO, DVD, etc. correspond. The auxiliary storage device 305 is a device for realizing the function of a database. In the present invention, for example, the shared DB 5 corresponds to the auxiliary storage device 305. In addition, it has a function of storing a program similarly to the main storage device.
[0083]
The communication device 306 is a device for communicating with an external network, and performs data transmission / reception and digital-analog conversion as appropriate according to the connected network. In the present invention, for example, data transmitted in each step of FIG. 5 is transmitted under the control of the CPU 301 via the communication device 306.
[0084]
The devices described above are interconnected by an address bus or a data bus, and are used for bidirectional communication of various data.
[0085]
The description of the steps of each flowchart described in the present embodiment, and the processing described with reference to various drawings, control the control of each device based on various program codes stored in the main storage device 303 or the auxiliary storage unit 305. The processing is realized by the CPU 301.
[0086]
The terminal device 41, the terminal devices 13, 31, 41, 51, 61, 71, the terminal device 32, and the mobile terminal device 62 shown in FIG. 1 also have the same configuration as that of FIG.
[0087]
Next, the shared database will be described. The shared DB 5 stores a database and its field information as shown below as an example, and the information shown in the shared DB 5 is stored in the auxiliary storage device 305 in FIG.
[0088]
The information stored in these shared DBs is provided and stored in an auxiliary storage device of each terminal device shown in FIG. 2, and is updated by a CPU provided in each of the terminal devices. Note that the database and its fields shown below may be added or deleted depending on the characteristics of the user or business consumables targeted by the sales system.
[0089]
● Seller information database
Seller ID and password
Name, address, telephone number and facsimile number
e-mail address
Customer contact information
Sales performance information
Conditions for giving and receiving fees
Points based on results
Inventory information
Information disclosure flag
Alternative shipment consignment / consignment flag
[0090]
● Warehouse information database
Product supplier warehouse information
Seller warehouse information
Consolidated information between product suppliers and sellers
Inventory information by warehouse
[0091]
Here, the stock information for each warehouse (for each seller) in the warehouse information database includes the surplus stock information for each product. Then, there is a relationship of warehouse stock (real number of goods by product)-appropriate stock = surplus stock.
[0092]
The goods supplier warehouse information and the seller warehouse information include the locations of those warehouses. In addition, the merchandise supplier / seller connection information includes the time required to deliver the goods from the merchandise supplier warehouse 11 to the seller warehouse 12 and the time required to deliver the goods between the seller warehouses 12. And information indicating the appropriate time. Further, the warehouse-specific inventory information includes information indicating an appropriate inventory amount of each warehouse.
[0093]
The main server 81 can control the stock transfer from the commodity supplier warehouse 11 to the seller warehouse 12 and the distribution of the delivery to the plurality of seller warehouses 12 based on the information. Further, when the toner cartridge ordered from the user 3 is not in the nearest seller warehouse 12, it is possible to control the stock transfer between warehouses so that the user 3 can deliver the product at the desired delivery date or in the shortest time.
[0094]
● Regional information database
Regional merchant warehouse information
Regional sales forecast information
Regional inventory information
[0095]
The regional merchant warehouse information includes information such as the name of the merchant and the location of the warehouse in the area, for example, within the same zip code. The region-specific sales forecast information includes information indicating sales forecasts in the region and in each store warehouse. Further, the stock information by warehouse includes information indicating the stock of each seller warehouse in the area, information indicating the appropriate stock amount in the area and each seller warehouse, and the like.
[0096]
● Product information database
Product name and model number
Related consumables
Stock information by product
Pricing information
[0097]
The information on the product name and the model number indicates the product name and the model number of the apparatus main body. The related consumable is information stored / managed in association with the apparatus main body in which the consumable is used. The price information is also information associated with the product name and model number and the related consumables, and is information indicating price information on the model number and related consumables.
[0098]
● Customer information database
User ID and password
Name, address, telephone number and facsimile number
e-mail address
Salesperson, salesman and serviceman
Nearest seller warehouse # 1
Nearest seller warehouse # 2
Purchased product name (model number) and number
Order history
Payment history
Pricing information
[0099]
● Shipping information database
Ship-to customer information
status
order number
Order date and time
Order items
Delivery date
price
Payment Method
Shipping date and time
Arrival date
Inspection date and time
Alternative shipping flag
Alternative shipping consignment seller
Alternative shipment consignment seller
Shipping warehouse
Alternative sales consignment / consignment information between sellers
Alternative sales consignment / consignment results by product / customer
[0100]
The substitute sales consignment / consignment results for each product / partner include the names of the sellers, the date and time, the product, the quantity, the shipping method, the points of both sides, etc., which performed the substitution sales consignment / consignment.
[0101]
● Product supplier, seller information, distribution company information
Product supplier ID and password
Seller ID and password
Salesman ID and password
Serviceman ID and password
Warehouse ID and password
Delivery person ID and password
[0102]
● Information disclosure / non-disclosure database
Product supplier vs seller
Seller VS seller
[0103]
An information disclosure database is a database that manages information to be disclosed and information not to be disclosed between a product supplier and a seller or between sellers. Specifically, a database other than the seller who actually sold the user's purchase history and the like It is a database that manages information not to be disclosed.
[0104]
(Ordering sequence)
Next, an order sequence in the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0105]
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of a toner cartridge ordering sequence in the first embodiment of the sales system according to the present invention. FIGS. 4 and 6 to 9 are schematic diagrams showing an example of a screen displayed on the terminal device 41 of the user 3 when ordering a toner cartridge in the first embodiment of the sales system according to the present invention. .
[0106]
Here, the processing performed in each step of the flowchart of FIG. 5 is realized by the CPU 301 executing processing based on a program code stored in the main storage device or the auxiliary storage device provided in the terminal device 41. is there.
[0107]
First, the user 3 accesses the main server 81 via the terminal device 41. That is, the user 3 specifies the URL (Uniform Resource Locator) of the main server 81 by software such as a Web browser running on the terminal device 41.
[0108]
In response, data described in HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) corresponding to the login screen (hereinafter, referred to as “HTML data”) is supplied from the main server 81 to the terminal device 41, and the data is displayed on the monitor of the terminal device 41. The login screen shown in FIG. 6 is displayed.
[0109]
The supply or notification of data / information in the present invention means the transmission of data / information. For example, the notification / supply of data / information from the main server 81 to the user terminal device 41 or the notification / supply of data / information from the terminal device 41 to the main server 81 are both provided in the device. It is assumed that the processing includes data / information transmission processing by communication means.
[0110]
The user 3 inputs the user ID corresponding to the customer number and the password in step S501 shown in FIG. 5, and then presses the [OK] button to notify the main server 81 of the user ID and the password.
[0111]
That is, the user ID and the password information are transmitted from the terminal device 41 to the main server 81 in response to the user's input instruction. It is assumed that the user ID and the password are notified in advance by the seller 2 (A) (customer charge) for each user (office or office) such as a printer. In the present invention, a mode in which the main server 81 notifies the user terminal device 41 of the user ID and the password information is also assumed.
[0112]
In step S502, the main server 81 notified of the user ID and the password information from the terminal device 41 refers to the customer information database to determine whether a user corresponding to the notified user ID and the password information exists. judge.
[0113]
Note that referencing the customer information database by the main server 81 indicates referencing the customer information database. Then, if it is determined that the corresponding user exists, the user data is generated, and the HTML data corresponding to the order screen is generated and supplied to the terminal device 41. The order screen shown in FIG. 4 is displayed on the monitor of the terminal device 41 which has received the information corresponding to the supplied order screen.
[0114]
The order screen shown in FIG. 4 is a display example of display information transmitted from the main server to the terminal device 41 in S502 in FIG. 5, and mainly includes a toner cartridge list 101 corresponding to a device used by the user, a payment, The method includes a method selection unit 102, a delivery date designation unit 103, and a participation application unit 104 for collecting used toner cartridges.
[0115]
Note that, in the order screen shown in FIG. 4, when an application for participating in the collection of used toner cartridges has already been made, the order screen shown in FIG. 9 may be used as the order screen.
[0116]
On the order screen shown in FIG. 9, the collection status 105 of the used toner cartridge is displayed.
[0117]
The delivery date designation unit 103 preferably has a pull-down menu format in which a portion enclosed by the following brackets [] is reduced and business days excluding holidays and public holidays can be designated. In that case, the corresponding message is "Please specify the desired delivery date using the pull-down menu, and specify the morning / afternoon delivery time zone."
(Example) Delivery date [2000] Year [2] Month [14] ● Morning ○ Afternoon
[0118]
The list 101 includes the model number of the toner cartridge, the model number of the corresponding device, and price information, and these are displayed, and an input frame for inputting the number of orders for each model number of the toner cartridge is provided. .
[0119]
Although FIG. 4 shows only two types of toner cartridges, in actuality, a process of listing the model numbers of toner cartridges corresponding to all models of printers, copiers, facsimile machines, and the like used by the user is performed. Is performed by the main server 81.
[0120]
Here, FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a detailed process until the information of the list 101 is displayed on the display unit of the terminal device 41 in the first embodiment of the sales system according to the present invention.
[0121]
Here, the processing performed in each step of the flowchart of FIG. 10 is realized by the CPU 301 executing processing based on a program code stored in a main storage device or an auxiliary storage device provided in the main server 81. This is a process performed by cooperation between the shared DB 5 storing various data and the main server 81.
[0122]
In S1001, the main server 81 receives user-specific information transmitted from the terminal device 41. The user-specific information corresponds to the user ID and the password described in S501 of FIG. Further, the user-specific information may be any information that can specify the user.
[0123]
In S1002, search processing of output device information managed in correspondence with the user-specific information received in S1001 and acquisition of search result information are performed.
[0124]
In step S <b> 1003, a process of searching for related consumable information related to the output device and acquisition of search result information are performed based on the searched output device information.
[0125]
Here, the related consumable information refers to consumable information such as a toner cartridge, an ink cartridge, and a photosensitive drum that can be used in the output device. Further, for example, even if the consumable corresponding to the device is changed for some reason, if the changed consumable information is stored / managed in the database corresponding to the output device information, the user can change the consumable. It is not necessary to be conscious of the consumable part number for the device owned by the user.
[0126]
In S1004, price information corresponding to the searched consumables-related information is searched. In S1005, it is determined whether the search for consumables information and price information for all devices registered and managed for each user ID has been completed. , And if “No”, the processes of S1003 and S1004 are repeated.
[0127]
On the other hand, if it is determined in S1005 that the related consumables information and price information corresponding to all the output devices have been searched and acquired, in S1006, the acquired output device information and the corresponding output device information are determined. The display data is generated based on the related consumable information and the price information corresponding to the related consumable information, and the generated information is transmitted.
[0128]
The information generated in step S1006 by the main server 81 is to be displayed on the terminal device 41, and is transmitted from the main server 81 to the terminal device 41.
[0129]
After a predetermined item on the ordering screen is input, a [Send] button is pressed, and information indicating the pressing is input to the terminal device 41. In step S503, data of the order item and the number of orders corresponding to the list 101 are displayed. The data of the settlement method corresponding to the selection unit 102, the data of the desired delivery date corresponding to the designation unit 103, and the collection flag corresponding to the participation application unit 104 are sent from the terminal device 41 to the main server 81.
[0130]
Next, the main server 81 generates HTML data corresponding to the order confirmation screen in step S504 according to the received data and the flag, and supplies the generated display screen information to the terminal device 41. Thereby, the order confirmation screen shown in FIG. 7 is displayed on the monitor of the terminal device 41.
[0131]
In step S505, the user 3 refers to the order confirmation screen and presses the [OK] button if the contents of the order are correct. That is, the order confirmation information indicating either [OK] or [Cancel] input in response to the user's press is notified from the terminal device 41 to the main server 81 in S504.
[0132]
If there is an error or a content to be corrected, the user presses the [Cancel] button. When the [Cancel] button is pressed, the order screen is displayed again on the monitor of the terminal device 41.
[0133]
Subsequently, the main server 81 calculates the delivery date based on the data in the customer information database and the warehouse information database. Specifically, the warehouse # 1 field of the seller 2 (A) corresponding to the user ID is extracted, and whether or not the ordered items of the order number are stocked in the seller warehouse 12 from the warehouse-specific inventory information field. Is determined, and the delivery date is set from the result. Normally, if there is more inventory than the number of orders, that is, available inventory, in the seller warehouse 12 registered in the warehouse # 1 field of the seller 2 (A), delivery can be made in a short time.
[0134]
However, if there is no stock that can be allocated in the seller warehouse 12 at this time, the main server 81 determines in step S506 that the alternative shipment has been managed in the regional information database as the same area as the warehouse 12 of the seller 2 (A). The shipment from the warehouse of the seller 2 (B) who has concluded the consignment contract is determined, the alternative shipment flag set to OFF by default is turned on, and new order information is generated in step S507.
[0135]
The information includes an order number, alternative shipping flag, shipping consignment seller ID, shipping consignment seller ID, user ID, order history, order date and time, order item, number of orders, desired delivery date, price payment method, shipping consignment seller points, Includes shipping consignment seller points, delivery date setting, etc. However, they are added or deleted as needed.
[0136]
Subsequently, in steps S508, S509, S510, and S511, when receiving the order approval, the main server 81 generates an e-mail indicating the order confirmation, and transmits the e-mail to the terminal device 41 of the user 3 and the seller 2 ( A), and transmits it to the terminal device 31 of the seller 2 (B).
[0137]
This e-mail includes the order number, user name, order date and time, order item, delivery quantity, delivery date, price, and information of seller 2 (A) and seller 2 (B) (name, address, telephone number, and facsimile number). , Shipping consignment seller points, and shipping consignment seller points).
[0138]
However, since the seller 2 (A) may not want to disclose the customer information to the seller 2 (B), for example, the information shown in FIG. It is assumed that only the information registered and disclosed in the information disclosure / non-disclosure database described above is transmitted.
[0139]
By carrying out the shipment by the above-described mechanism, the seller 2 (A) can carry out the shipment from the seller warehouse 3 which is geographically closer without requesting the commodity supplier.
[0140]
Although not shown in FIG. 5, when the status in the order information is a status indicating order cancellation, an e-mail indicating order cancellation confirmation is generated, and the e-mail is transmitted to the user 3 and the seller 2. .
[0141]
This e-mail includes information such as order cancellation reason, order number, user name, order date and time, order item, number of deliveries, delivery date, price and information of seller 2 (name, address, telephone number and facsimile number). It is. After the user 3 sends the order confirmation, a screen for selecting the continuation of the order, the reconfirmation of the order contents, or the end of the order (logout) is displayed on the monitor of the terminal device 41 of the user 3 as shown in FIG. Is done.
[0142]
When the user 3 presses the [logout] button, the connection between the main server 81 and the terminal device 41 is released. Thus, the order receiving process by the main server 81 ends.
[0143]
[Shipping process]
Next, a shipping process in the first embodiment of the sales system according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a shipping process based on order information in the first embodiment of the sales system according to the present invention.
[0144]
Here, the processing performed in each step of the flowchart in FIG. 11 is realized by the CPU 301 executing processing based on a program code stored in a main storage device or an auxiliary storage device provided in the main server 81. .
[0145]
The main server 81 reads the order information in step S1101. If the alternative shipment flag read in the order information in step S1102 is ON, shipping arrangements are made to the trustee's warehouse registered in the alternative shipment consignment ID in S1105.
[0146]
If the alternative shipping flag read into the order information in step S1102 is OFF, shipping is arranged in the warehouse of the seller who received the order in step S1103.
[0147]
In step S1104, when the arrival information is transmitted from the portable terminal of the delivery person or the like, the main server 81 determines whether or not the delivery corresponding to the order information has been correctly performed. The data is updated.
[0148]
As described above, according to the first embodiment of the sales system according to the present invention, inventory management of business consumables is performed accurately and alternative shipment is performed to supply business consumables to the user. The ability to provide business consumables to
[0149]
That is, in the present embodiment, an effective product sales system that can be shipped in a short period of time for a customer's order without having a large amount of stock can be constructed even if each seller has stock.
[0150]
(Second embodiment of sales system)
Next, a second embodiment of the sales system according to the present invention will be described. Since the second embodiment of the sales system according to the present invention has substantially the same configuration as the first embodiment of the above-described sales system according to the present invention, detailed description of the configuration is omitted, and In the following, portions different from the first embodiment will be mainly described.
[0151]
In the first embodiment of the above-mentioned sales system, a mechanism for automatically carrying out alternative shipping from the warehouse of the seller 2 (B) when it is not possible to reserve inventory for the order from the user in the warehouse of the seller 2 (A). It has become.
[0152]
However, there are cases where the seller 2 (B) does not have sufficient surplus inventory, or where the seller 2 (B) wants to keep a large amount of inventory for some products in anticipation of future sales.
[0153]
On the other hand, if the seller 2 (A) also wants to pick up the goods from the warehouse of the goods supplier and then ship them from their own warehouse, even if the shipment is not on the schedule desired by the user, rather than performing the alternative shipping until the commission is paid Is also conceivable. In the second embodiment, a business flow in consideration of such a case can be realized.
[0154]
FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an example of a shipping process based on toner cartridge order information in the second embodiment of the sales system according to the present invention.
[0155]
Here, the processing performed in each step of the flowchart in FIG. 12 is realized by the CPU 301 executing processing based on a program code stored in a main storage device or an auxiliary storage device provided in the main server 81. is there.
[0156]
In step S1201, one piece of order information is read. Then, in step S1204, the customer responsible seller 2 (A) is selected from the user ID or the seller ID recorded in the order information.
[0157]
The main server 81 determines whether or not there is an unallocated inventory satisfying the order item and the order quantity recorded in the order information in the warehouse of the selected seller in step S1205. An order reception screen including information indicating that the reserved inventory is in the warehouse of the customer sales representative 2 (A) is generated, and the screen data is transmitted to the client of the customer sales representative 2 (A) in step S1207, and step S1215. Update the order data.
[0158]
On the other hand, if there is no unallocated inventory satisfying the order item and the order quantity recorded in the order information in step S1205, the main server 81 determines in advance the seller in the warehouse of the alternative shipping seller 2 (B) in step S1208 by the seller. If it is determined that the surplus stock quantity obtained by the calculation method obtained is equal to or greater than the replacement shipment request quantity, an order screen including information indicating that there is surplus stock of the product in the warehouse of the replacement shipment seller 2 (B) in step S1209. Is created, and the screen data is transmitted to the client of the seller in charge 2 (A) in step S1210.
[0159]
As an example of the method of calculating the surplus inventory, a surplus ratio α and the unallocated inventory quantity S are compared with the predicted sales quantity F on the day of shipment calculated based on a known prediction method, and S- ( 1 + α) × F. Of course, other methods may be used.
[0160]
Returning the description to the flow, if the data input to the client by the salesperson in charge of customer 2 (A) in step S1211 is “consignment of alternative shipping”, the delivery to the alternative shipping consignment seller 2 (B) is performed in step S1212. Is generated, and the screen data is transmitted to the client of the alternative shipping seller 2 (B) in step S1213.
[0161]
After that, if the data input to the client by the alternative shipping seller 2 (B) in step S1214 is "accept alternative shipping", the order data is updated in step S1215.
[0162]
On the other hand, when the main server 81 determines in step S1208 that the surplus inventory does not satisfy the quantity for which the alternative shipping is requested, the data input to the client by the salesperson in charge of customer 2 (A) in step S1211 is “alternative shipping”. Is not entrusted. ", Or when the data input to the client by the alternative shipping seller 2 (B) in step S1214 is" do not accept alternative shipping. "In step S1216, the main server 81 stores the stock of the goods supplier. Check the delivery date by checking the allocation data.
[0163]
In step S1217, the delivery date change data is transmitted to the client client based on the changed delivery date. If the data input by the customer to the client in step S1218 is "Approve the delivery date change." In step S1215, new order data is created. Here, if the data input by the customer to the client is “do not approve the change of delivery date”, the order data is canceled and the processing is terminated.
[0164]
After the new order data is created in step S1215, in step S1219, data of a plurality of order confirmation screens, such as for a sales consignor, a sales consignor, and a customer, is created based on the order data, and in step S1219, the customer information database is created. Then, in step S1220, the shipping procedure and the order information database are updated.
[0165]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, the seller 2 (A) also obtains goods from the warehouse of the goods supplier even if the shipment is not on the schedule desired by the user, rather than performing the alternative shipping until the commission is paid. After that, even if you want to ship from your own warehouse, you can respond.
[0166]
(Third Embodiment of Sales System)
Next, a third embodiment of the sales system according to the present invention will be described. Since the third embodiment of the sales system according to the present invention has substantially the same configuration as the above-described second embodiment of the sales system according to the present invention, a detailed description of the configuration is omitted, and In the following, portions different from the above-described second embodiment will be mainly described.
[0167]
In the second embodiment of the above-mentioned sales system, when the stock can not be reserved for the order from the user in the warehouse of the seller 2 (A), when both the substitute delivery consignor and the trustee understand the alternative delivery, Substitute delivery is performed.
[0168]
However, this method may delay the shipping process, such as when the substitute delivery consignee is not near the terminal. The third embodiment of the sales system according to the present invention can realize a business flow in which these processes are automatically performed based on conditions agreed in advance.
[0169]
FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a shipping process based on order information of a toner cartridge in the third embodiment of the sales system according to the present invention.
[0170]
Here, the processing performed in each step of the flowchart of FIG. 13 is realized by the CPU 301 executing processing based on a program code stored in a main storage device or an auxiliary storage device provided in the main server 81. is there.
[0171]
Note that the third embodiment is an automation of the flow of substituting and outsourcing replacement and consignment based on the above-described second embodiment of the sales system according to the present invention. Hereinafter, the second embodiment of the sales system will be described. An explanation is given in relation to.
[0172]
Steps S1301 to S1308 in FIG. 13 perform exactly the same processing as steps S1201 to S1208 in FIG.
[0173]
In step S1309, the server 81 refers to the alternative shipping consignment / consignment database of FIG. Is the consignment flag of the substitute consignment subcontractor of the ordered item "ON"? , Condition 2. Is the consignment flag of the substitute shipment consignee for the ordered item "ON"? , Condition 3. Does the fulfillment of the contract automation requirements of the substitute shipping consignee of the order be fulfilled? Is checked, and if all of the conditions 1, 2, and 3 are satisfied, new order data is created in step S1309. FIG. 14 is a conceptual diagram of an alternative shipping consignment / consignment database used in the third embodiment of the sales system according to the present invention.
[0174]
If at least one of the conditions 1, 2, and 3 is not satisfied, the process of step S1310 is performed.
[0175]
In subsequent processing steps S1310 to S1315, the same processing as steps S1216 to S1221 in FIG. 12 is performed.
[0176]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, the shipping process is automatically performed based on the previously agreed conditions, so that the shipping process is delayed when the alternative delivery consignee is not near the terminal. Can be avoided.
[0177]
(Fourth embodiment of sales system)
Next, a fourth embodiment of the sales system according to the present invention will be described. Since the fourth embodiment of the sales system according to the present invention has substantially the same configuration as the above-described third embodiment of the sales system according to the present invention, detailed description of the configuration is omitted, and In the following, parts different from the third embodiment will be mainly described.
[0178]
In the third embodiment of the sales system according to the present invention, when it is not possible to reserve inventory for an order from a user in the warehouse of the seller (A) 2, an alternative shipment is performed to a predetermined alternative delivery consignee. Since it was determined whether or not to accept the contract, if it was not accepted, the alternative shipment would not be established.
[0179]
On the other hand, if there are a plurality of alternative shipping candidates, even if the first alternative shipping seller is not accepted, the second and third conditions are checked sequentially and a substitute that matches the conditions is searched for. It is expected that the establishment of shipment will be higher. In the fourth embodiment, it is possible to realize the business flow of the alternative shipment when there are a plurality of alternative shipment candidates.
[0180]
FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a shipping process based on toner cartridge order information in the fourth embodiment of the sales system according to the present invention.
[0181]
Here, the processing performed in each step of the flowchart in FIG. 15 is realized by the CPU 301 executing processing based on a program code stored in a main storage device or an auxiliary storage device provided in the main server 81. is there.
[0182]
The fourth embodiment of the sales system according to the present invention is an automated flow of selecting an alternative shipper from a plurality of alternative shipping consignment candidates based on the above-described third embodiment of the sales system according to the present invention. Hereinafter, description will be made in connection with the above-described third embodiment of the sales system according to the present invention.
[0183]
Steps S1501 to S1507 in FIG. 15 perform exactly the same processing as steps S1301 to S1307 in FIG.
[0184]
In step S1508, the server 81 searches the area information database for all other sellers registered in the same sales area as the substitute shipping consignor 3A, and sets the number of sellers to n.
[0185]
If n> 0 in step S1509, the same determination as in step S1308 described above is performed in step S1510, and if YES, new order data is created in step S1512.
[0186]
In the case of NO, in step S1511, 1 is subtracted from n and incremented to n, and the process of step S1509 is performed again.
[0187]
If n is less than 1, the process of step S1513 is performed. In subsequent processing steps S1513 to S1518, the same processing as in steps S1310 to S1315 in FIG. 13 is performed.
[0188]
When the above-described processing is performed, the main server 81 accumulates the history data of each dealer regarding the consignment and the consignment of the substitute shipment. The history data includes the name of the store to which the alternative shipment was entrusted and entrusted, the alternative shipping date, the item (product name), the quantity, the alternative shipping fee calculated by the main server 81 from the condition (consignment fee) in FIG. 14, and the like.
[0189]
Further, in response to a history display request from the seller's client, the main server 81 extracts the requested store data from the accumulated history data, transmits the extracted data to the client, and is connected to the client. A screen as shown in FIG. 16 is displayed on the display. FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the seller's client in the fourth embodiment of the sales system according to the present invention.
[0190]
Display contents will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 16 as an example. FIG. 16 shows a screen when the alternative shipping fee is confirmed. FIG. 16 shows the total shipping commission, the alternative shipping commission history, the alternative shipping commission history, and the commission. The column “Alternate Shipment Receipt” indicates that five BBB CRGs have been received from Jan. 10th on behalf of BBB CRG.
[0191]
The ABC company has a condition of receiving the commission for the BBB CRG at 3% of the selling price of the condition (consignment fee) shown in FIG. 14, so the fee of the BBB CRG sold at 30,000 yen / piece 900 yen / piece × 5 pieces This indicates that a sales commission of = 4500 yen was obtained from B Trading. The same applies to CCC CRG.
[0192]
Further, the column of “Alternate Shipment Outsourcing” shows the history of the ABC Shokai outsourcing AAA CRG's alternative shipping to XYZ Shokai.
[0193]
In this case, the terms and conditions of the XYZ firm in FIG. 14 are applied, indicating that the ABC firm pays 2% of the selling price to the XYZ firm for the AAA CRG. The sum of the above amounts is shown in the total amount column. (4500 yen + 1800 yen-2000 yen = 4300 yen)
[0194]
Although not described in detail, settlement processing is performed between sellers at predetermined timing such as once a month according to the total amount accumulated in the main server 81 described above.
[0195]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to realize a business flow of alternative shipping when there are a plurality of alternative shipping candidates.
[0196]
【The invention's effect】
As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, inventory reduction in the entire supply chain for each product can be achieved, sales prices can be reduced by reducing logistics costs by reducing inventory, and inventory of sellers can be reduced. Can be shipped in a short time for customer orders.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a sales logistics flow of business consumables in a first embodiment of a sales system according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration example of a toner cartridge sales system in the first embodiment of the sales system according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an internal block diagram of a main server 81 shown in FIG.
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the terminal device 41 of the user 3 when ordering a toner cartridge in the first embodiment of the sales system according to the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a toner cartridge ordering sequence in the first embodiment of the sales system according to the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the terminal device 41 of the user 3 when ordering a toner cartridge in the first embodiment of the sales system according to the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the terminal device 41 of the user 3 when ordering a toner cartridge in the first embodiment of the sales system according to the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the terminal device 41 of the user 3 when ordering a toner cartridge in the first embodiment of the sales system according to the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the terminal device 41 of the user 3 when ordering a toner cartridge in the first embodiment of the sales system according to the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a detailed process until information of the list 101 is displayed on the display unit of the terminal device 41 in the first embodiment of the sales system according to the present invention.
FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a shipping process based on order information in the first embodiment of the sales system according to the present invention.
FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an example of shipping processing based on toner cartridge order information in the second embodiment of the sales system according to the present invention.
FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing an example of a shipping process based on toner cartridge order information in the third embodiment of the sales system according to the present invention.
FIG. 14 is a conceptual diagram of an alternative shipping consignment / consignment database used in the third embodiment of the sales system according to the present invention.
FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing an example of a shipping process based on toner cartridge order information in the fourth embodiment of the sales system according to the present invention.
FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a seller's client in the fourth embodiment of the sales system according to the present invention.
FIG. 17 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a current flow of sales distribution of business consumables.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Product supplier
2 Seller
3 users
4 factories
5 Shared database
12 seller warehouse
13 Terminal device
31, 32, 41, 61 terminal device
62 Mobile Terminal
71 Terminal device
81 Main Server
101 List
102 Selector
103 Designation part
104 Participation application part
105 Collection status
301 CPU
302 input device
303 main storage
304 output device
305 Auxiliary storage device
306 Communication device

Claims (32)

A step in which the server manages inventory of products handled by at least two or more sellers;
The server, based on order information from the customer, to allocate the seller's inventory,
The step of allocating the seller's inventory, based on order information from a customer, allocates the inventory of the first seller constituting the seller, or differs from the first seller in a predetermined group. A method of determining, for each order from a customer, whether to substitute and ship the inventory of a second seller constituting the seller. 2. The selling method according to claim 1, further comprising a step in which the server issues a shipping instruction from a warehouse of the seller determined to be shipped based on a result of the step of allocating the seller's inventory. The server comprising a step of determining whether or not the second seller's inventory is to be replaced-shipped based on a condition that the first seller's inventory is not reserved for an order. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein The server determines whether or not to substitute shipment of the inventory of the second seller based on the alternative shipment approval information set by the first seller and the second seller. The sales method according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a step of transmitting delivery date change information to a customer who has transmitted the order information when the order information is not received. The server determines whether or not to substitute shipment of the inventory of the second seller based on predetermined substitute shipping conditions, and when the server satisfies the predetermined substitute shipping conditions, 3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of: determining a substitute shipment of the inventory of the seller and, if the predetermined substitute shipment condition is not satisfied, transmitting the delivery date change information to the customer who transmitted the order information. Sales method described in. 2. The server according to claim 1, further comprising a step of generating surplus inventory information according to the seller and the product, and managing alternative shipping consignment information based on the surplus inventory information according to the seller and the product. 6. The selling method according to any one of items 1 to 5. The server determines a seller that belongs to the predetermined group and is an optimal alternative shipping consignee based on the alternative shipping consignment information when the stock of the first seller is not reserved for an order. The method according to claim 6, further comprising the step of: The server, if the order from the customer, instead of the first seller, if the alternative shipment from the second seller, for each seller, based on the conditions for receiving and receiving commissions, results, based on results The sales method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising a step of managing sales information including points and the like. 9. The selling method according to claim 8, further comprising a step of the server outputting information to an image output device based on sales information including a condition for giving and receiving the commission, a result, points based on the result, and the like. . The server includes information disclosure information in which one of disclosure and non-disclosure is set as predetermined information serving as a condition for alternative shipping,
The server according to claim 1, further comprising a step of controlling transmission / reception of information on a seller or a customer regarding an order based on the information disclosure information to the seller when the alternative shipping is determined. The sales method described. The step of controlling the transmission and reception of information of the seller and the customer regarding the order,
A first information control step of performing disclosure control of the information of the second seller or the customer of the second seller to be entrusted with the alternative shipment to the first seller,
The method according to claim 10, further comprising a second information control step of controlling disclosure of the information of the first seller or the information of the customer who entrusts the substitute shipping to the second seller. How to sell. The transmission / reception of the order and / or the transmission / reception of information between the server and a client connected to the server via a network is performed via the Internet. Sales method described in section. 13. The selling method according to claim 1, wherein the request for the alternative shipment is made by using an electronic mail. 14. The product according to claim 1, wherein the product includes at least one of a toner, a toner cartridge, a consumable part, and ink, and the consumable part includes at least a photoconductor drum and a photoconductor unit. The sales method according to item 1. Management means for managing inventory of products handled by at least two or more sellers;
A sales system including one or more servers including an allocation unit that allocates inventory of the seller based on order information from a customer;
The allocating means for allocating the inventory of the seller, based on order information from the customer, allocates the inventory of the first seller constituting the seller, or with the first seller in a predetermined group. A sales system, comprising: a determination unit that determines, for each order from a customer, whether to substitute and ship inventory of a different second seller configuring the seller. 16. The sales system according to claim 15, wherein the server includes a shipping instruction unit that issues a shipping instruction from a warehouse of a seller whose shipment is determined based on a result of the determination unit. The server may further include a determination unit that determines whether or not the second seller's inventory is to be alternately shipped based on a condition that the first seller's inventory is not reserved for an order. The sales system according to claim 15 or 16, wherein: The server determines whether or not to carry out alternative shipment of the inventory of the second seller, based on the alternative shipment approval information set by the first seller and the second seller,
17. The sales system according to claim 15, further comprising a first delivery date change information transmitting unit that transmits delivery date change information to a customer who has transmitted the order information for the substitute shipment information. The server determines whether or not the second seller's inventory is to be shipped alternately based on predetermined alternative shipping conditions. If the server satisfies the predetermined alternative shipping conditions, the second sales To determine alternative shipments of inventory
17. The sales method according to claim 15, further comprising a second delivery date change information transmission unit that transmits delivery date change information to a customer who has sent order information when the predetermined substitute shipping condition is not satisfied. system. The server includes information management means for generating surplus stock information according to the seller and the product, and managing alternative shipping consignment information based on the surplus stock information according to the seller and the product. Item 20. The sales method according to any one of items 15 to 19. The server determines a seller that belongs to a predetermined group and is an optimal substitute shipping consignee based on the alternative shipping consignment information when the stock of the first seller is not reserved for an order. 21. The sales system according to claim 20, further comprising seller determination means. The server is not based on the first seller, and the server is not replaced by the second seller. In this case, the server is based on the conditions for receiving and receiving commissions, results, and results for each seller. 22. The sales system according to claim 15, further comprising sales information management means for managing sales information including points and the like. 23. The sales according to claim 22, wherein the server includes an output unit that outputs information to an image output device based on sales information including a condition for giving and receiving the commission, a result, points based on the result, and the like. system. The server comprises:
Either disclosure or non-disclosure is provided as predetermined information serving as a condition of the alternative shipment, and information disclosure information is provided,
The said server is provided with the information control means which controls transmission / reception of the information of a seller and a customer regarding an order based on the said information disclosure information with respect to a seller, when the alternative shipment is determined. 15. The sales system according to item 15. The server controls transmission and reception of information on sellers and customers regarding the order,
First information control to perform disclosure control of the information of the second seller and customer information to be entrusted with the alternative shipment to the first seller,
25. The sales according to claim 24, further comprising a second information control for controlling a disclosure of the information of the first seller or the information of the customer who entrusts the substitute shipping to the second seller. system. 26. The transmission / reception of the order and / or transmission / reception of information between the server and a client connected to the server via a network is performed via the Internet. The sales system described. The sales system according to any one of claims 15 to 26, wherein the request for the alternative shipment is performed using an electronic mail. 28. The product according to claim 15, wherein the product includes at least one of a toner, a toner cartridge, a consumable part, and ink, and the consumable part includes at least a photosensitive drum and a photosensitive unit. The sales system according to claim 1. Management means for managing inventory of products handled by at least two or more sellers;
A server comprising: an allocation unit that allocates inventory of the seller based on order information from a customer,
The allocating means for allocating the inventory of the seller, based on order information from the customer, allocates the inventory of the first seller constituting the seller, or with the first seller in a predetermined group. A server, comprising: a determination unit configured to determine, for each order from a customer, whether to substitute and ship the inventory of a different second seller configuring the seller. Management means for managing the inventory of products handled by at least two or more sellers, and
A computer-readable recording medium that records a sales program that functions as an allocation unit that allocates the seller's inventory based on order information from a customer,
Allocation means for allocation of the seller's inventory,
Based on the order information from the customer, the inventory of the first seller constituting the seller is allocated or the second seller constituting the seller is different from the first seller in a predetermined group. A computer-readable recording medium on which a sales program is recorded for functioning as a determining means for determining, for each order from a customer, whether to substitute shipment of a seller's stock. Management means for managing the inventory of products handled by at least two or more sellers, and
A sales program that functions as an allocation unit that allocates inventory of the seller based on order information from a customer,
Allocation means for allocation of the seller's inventory,
Based on the order information from the customer, the inventory of the first seller constituting the seller is allocated or the second seller constituting the seller is different from the first seller in a predetermined group. A sales program that functions as a determining means for determining whether to substitute the seller's inventory for each order from a customer. A collection method of supplying a screen to a logged-in user and setting collection of used goods according to the screen,
A collection method, wherein the screen includes an item for receiving an order for a product from the user and an item for setting or not setting collection of a used product by the user.

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