JP2021060679A - Price determination system, price determination method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a price determination system, a price determination method, and a program that can determine the price of a target article for sale suitable for improving business conditions of a target store.SOLUTION: A price determination system 10 includes a first determination unit 122 and a second determination unit 123. The first determination unit 122 determines a plurality of provisional prices for a target article for sale. The second determination unit 123 determines the price of the target article for sale based on a change in business index regarding a target store obtained from sales results of the target article for sale at the plurality of provisional prices in the target store.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

The disclosure generally relates to pricing systems, pricing methods, and programs. The disclosure, in more detail, relates to pricing systems, pricing methods, and programs for determining the prices of merchandise sold in stores.

Patent Document 1 discloses a selling price determination system (price determination system) for determining the selling price of a product. The selling price determination system of Patent Document 1 includes a demand degree calculation means and a selling price fluctuation means. The demand degree calculation means calculates the demand degree for a specific product by using a predetermined demand degree calculation rule. The selling price fluctuation means raises the notified selling price when the calculated demand degree changes higher than a predetermined demand degree.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2004-185053

The challenge is to provide a pricing system, pricing method, and program that can determine the price of the target product that is suitable for improving the business conditions of the target store.

The price determination system according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a first determination unit and a second determination unit. The first determination unit determines a plurality of provisional prices for the target product. The second determination unit determines the price of the target product based on a change in the management index related to the target store obtained from the sales result of the target product at the plurality of provisional prices at the target store.

The price determination method according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a first determination step and a second determination step. The first determination step is a step of determining a plurality of provisional prices for the target product. The second determination step is a step of determining the price of the target product based on a change in the management index related to the target store obtained from the sales result of the target product at the plurality of provisional prices at the target store. is there.

The program according to one aspect of the present disclosure is a program for causing one or more processors to execute the price determination method.

According to the aspect of the present disclosure, there is an advantage that the price of the target product suitable for improving the business condition of the target store can be determined.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a pricing system of one embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a target store that sells a target product of the same price determination system. FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the same pricing system. FIG. 4 is a graph showing an example of the relationship between the number of sales of the target product and the basket profit. FIG. 5 is a graph showing another example of the relationship between the number of sales of the target product and the basket profit. FIG. 6 is a graph showing another example of the relationship between the number of sales of the target product and the basket profit. FIG. 7 is a graph showing another example of the relationship between the number of sales of the target product and the basket profit. FIG. 8 is a graph showing another example of the relationship between the number of sales of the target product and the basket profit. FIG. 9 is a graph showing an example of the relationship between the price of the target product and the basket profit. FIG. 10 is a graph showing another example of the relationship between the price of the target product and the basket profit. FIG. 11 is a graph showing another example of the relationship between the price of the target product and the basket profit. FIG. 12 is a graph showing another example of the relationship between the price of the target product and the basket profit. FIG. 13 is a graph showing another example of the relationship between the price of the target product and the basket profit. FIG. 14 is a graph showing another example of the relationship between the price of the target product and the basket profit. FIG. 15 is a graph showing another example of the relationship between the price of the target product and the basket profit. FIG. 16 is a graph showing another example of the relationship between the price of the target product and the basket profit. FIG. 17 is a flowchart of the operation of the above-mentioned price determination system.

(1) Outline of Embodiment (1-1) FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the price determination system 10 of the present embodiment. The price determination system 10 is a system for determining the price of the target product 3 suitable for improving the business condition of the target store 20. As shown in FIG. 2, the target store 20 is a store that displays and sells a plurality of types of merchandise 3 on a plurality of display shelves 201. The target store 20 is a store that sells the target product 3 at a price determined by the price determination system 10 among the plurality of stores 2. In the present embodiment, the store 2 is a retail store, and examples thereof include a convenience store, a supermarket, a department store, a drug store, a clothing store, a consumer electronics mass retailer, and a home center.

The price determination system 10 aims to improve the business condition of the target store 20 by appropriately setting the price of the target product 3 to be sold at the target store 20. More specifically, the price determination system 10 aims to improve the customer unit price, the average value of LTV (Life Time Value), or the profit (including gross profit, operating profit, etc.) at the target store 20. As a result, the price determination system 10 is a system for the purpose of improving the sales of the target store 20 and improving the business condition of the target store 20.

The “LTV (Life Time Value)” as used in the present disclosure means a consideration paid by a customer who purchases a product or is provided with a service within a predetermined period (Life Time) as a consideration for the product or service. As an example, if the predetermined period is one day (24 days), the amount of money that a customer spends at the target store in one day is the LTV of this customer. Therefore, in the case where a customer shop N times a day (N is 2 or more) at the target store, the customer used it N times instead of the amount used for one shopping. The total amount is the LTV of this customer. As described above, although LTV is similar to the customer unit price at first glance, it differs from the customer unit price in that it represents the total amount of money used in a predetermined period.

"Profit" as used in this disclosure means all profits related to sales at the target store 20, for example, gross profit (gross profit), operating profit, operating profit, pre-tax net profit, and after-tax. Includes net income, etc.

The price determination system 10 proposes optimizing the price of the target product 3 in the target store 20 as a means for improving the sales of the target store 20 as described above. At the target store 20, it is possible to improve the sales by selling the target product 3 at an appropriate price.

As shown in FIG. 3, the price determination system 10 includes a first determination unit 122 and a second determination unit 123. The first determination unit 122 determines a plurality of provisional prices for the target product 3. The second determination unit 123 determines the price of the target product 3 based on the change in the management index regarding the target store 20 obtained from the sales results of the target product 3 at the target store 20 at a plurality of provisional prices.

According to the above-mentioned price determination system 10, for example, the price of the target product 3 that leads to the improvement of the sales of the target store 20 and eventually to the improvement of the business condition of the target store 20 can be obtained. That is, according to the price determination system 10, there is an advantage that the price of the target product 3 suitable for improving the business condition of the target store 20 can be determined.

(1-2) Details Hereinafter, the price determination system 10 according to the present embodiment will be described in detail. In the present embodiment, a convenience store will be described as an example of the store 2 in which the price determination system 10 is introduced. In other words, the "clerk" is a convenience store clerk (including part-time workers and part-time workers), and the "customer" is a convenience store visitor. In this embodiment, as an example, it is assumed that the number of stores 2 is 10,000 or more. Hereinafter, the case where one of the plurality (many) stores 2 is the target store 20 will be described, but in reality, the plurality of stores 2 can be the target stores 20 respectively. That is, the price determination system 10 can support each of the plurality of stores 2, but in the following, for the sake of simplicity, the case where the target store 20 is one will be described as an example.

In the store 2, the plurality of types of the product 3 are sold in a state where the plurality of types of the product 3 are displayed in the store. The customer picks up a desired product 3 from a plurality of types of products 3 displayed in the store, and makes a payment for the picked-up product 3 to purchase the desired product 3. "Settlement" of product 3 is necessary for the act (buying and selling) of transferring the ownership of product 3 from the seller (store 2) to the buyer (customer) and paying the consideration (price) for this to the seller. It means the settlement process on the buyer side. In the present embodiment, the customer executes the settlement of the product 3 by paying the price of the product 3 with, for example, a credit card, a prepaid card, electronic money, a point card, or cash.

(2.1) Configuration The price determination system 10 is composed of the server device 1. In the present embodiment, the price determination system 10 is installed in the POS (Point Of Sales) system 21 and the store terminal 22 installed in the plurality of stores 2 (including the target store 20), respectively, through the network NT1 such as the Internet. It is connected. Further, in the present embodiment, the price determination system 10 is connected to the headquarters terminal 51 installed in the chain headquarters 5 that develops a plurality of stores 2 through the network NT1.

Here, the price determination system 10 is configured to be able to communicate with each of the POS system 21, the store terminal 22, and the headquarters terminal 51. The term "communicable" as used in the present disclosure means that signals can be exchanged directly or indirectly via a network NT1 or a repeater by an appropriate communication method of wired communication or wireless communication. In the present embodiment, the price determination system 10 can communicate with each of the POS system 21, the store terminal 22, and the headquarters terminal 51 in both directions. Further, in the present embodiment, the POS system 21, the store terminal 22, and the headquarters terminal 51 are also configured to be able to communicate with each other.

As described above, one or more POS systems 21 and one or more store terminals 22 are installed in each store 2 (including the target store 20). A plurality of POS systems 21 and store terminals 22 may be provided in each store 2. In FIG. 1, each store 2 is described as if it is connected to the network NT1, but in reality, devices such as the POS system 21 and the store terminal 22 installed in each store 2 are gateways. It is connected to the network NT1 via the above.

Each of the POS system 21 and the store terminal 22 mainly comprises a computer system having one or more processors and memories. Therefore, one or more processors function as each of the POS system 21 and the store terminal 22 by executing the program recorded in the memory. The program may be pre-recorded in a memory, provided through a telecommunication line such as the Internet, or may be recorded and provided on a non-temporary recording medium such as a memory card.

In this embodiment, in particular, the POS system 21 is a so-called "ID-POS" capable of handling ID-POS data. The "ID-POS data" referred to here is data in which a "customer ID" as customer identification information (ID: identification) is added to the POS data. This type of POS system 21 (ID-POS) acquires customer identification information (customer ID) by authenticating the customer when the customer makes a purchase. As an example, customer authentication may be realized by various cards such as membership cards, point cards, credit cards, etc., communication with the customer's mobile information terminal, biometric authentication (including face authentication), and the like. May be done. The POS system 21 may be a mere POS, not an ID-POS.

The store terminal 22 is an information terminal owned by a clerk of the store 2, an owner, or the like. The store terminal 22 has a touch panel display as a user interface, accepts user operations, and presents (displays) information to the user.

According to such a POS system 21 and a store terminal 22, at least the purchase history of the product 3 in the store 2 can be transmitted to the server device 1 (price determination system 10) via the network NT1 as data. .. In particular, in the present embodiment, the POS system 21 can handle the ID-POS data. Therefore, for example, every time the accounting is performed, the information of the purchased product 3 is used as the customer identification information (customer). It can be output as a purchase history in a state associated with ID).

Further, each store 2 may have a device connected to the network NT1 in addition to the POS system 21 and the store terminal 22. As an example, even if a store computer or a device mainly composed of a computer system such as a mobile terminal (including a smartphone and a wearable terminal) owned by each store clerk is provided in each store 2 and connected to the network NT1. Good.

As described above, the headquarters terminal 51 is installed in the chain headquarters 5 that develops a plurality of stores 2. The main terminal 51 includes a computer system having one or more processors and a memory as a main configuration. Therefore, one or more processors function as the headquarters terminal 51 by executing the program recorded in the memory. The program may be pre-recorded in a memory, provided through a telecommunication line such as the Internet, or may be recorded and provided on a non-temporary recording medium such as a memory card.

The headquarters terminal 51 has a touch panel display as a user interface, accepts user operations, and presents (displays) information to the user. The user of the headquarters terminal 51 is mainly an operator of the chain headquarters 5.

As shown in FIG. 3, the price determination system 10 includes a communication unit 11 and a processing unit 12. The price determination system 10 is installed in, for example, a service company that provides the price determination system 10, an operating company of the store 2, or the like. The pricing system 10 preferably uses a Paas (Platform as a Service) environment and is a public cloud environment without management of the OS, runtime, and middleware.

The communication unit 11 is a communication interface. In particular, the communication unit 11 is a communication interface that can be connected to the network NT1 and has a function of performing communication through the network NT1. As a result, the price determination system 10 can communicate with each of the POS system 21, the store terminal 22, and the headquarters terminal 51 through the network NT1. The communication protocol of the communication unit 11 can be selected from various well-known wired and wireless communication standards.

The processing unit 12 is configured to control the price determination system 10 as a whole. The processing unit 12 can be realized by, for example, a computer system including one or more processors (microprocessors) and one or more memories. That is, one or more processors execute one or more programs (applications) stored in one or more memories to function as the processing unit 12. Although the program is pre-recorded in the memory of the processing unit 12 here, it may be recorded and provided through a telecommunication line such as the Internet or a non-temporary recording medium such as a memory card.

As shown in FIG. 3, the processing unit 12 includes an acquisition unit 121, a first determination unit 122, a second determination unit 123, a change evaluation unit 124, a competition evaluation unit 125, and a group change unit 126. .. In FIG. 3, the acquisition unit 121, the first determination unit 122, the second determination unit 123, the change evaluation unit 124, the competition evaluation unit 125, and the group change unit 126 show a substantive configuration. Instead, it shows the function realized by the processing unit 12.

The acquisition unit 121 acquires various information from each of the POS system 21, the store terminal 22, and the headquarters terminal 51. More specifically, the acquisition unit 121 communicates with each of the POS system 21, the store terminal 22, and the headquarters terminal 51 through the network NT1 to obtain information used for determining the price of the target product 3 in the price determination system 10. get.

The first determination unit 122 determines a plurality of provisional prices for the target product 3. The target product 3 is a type of product sold at a price determined by the price determination system 10 among a plurality of types of products 3 sold at the target store 20. Merchandise 3 may include goods and services. Examples of products include foods, clothing, pharmaceuticals, beauty-related products, electrical appliances, daily necessities, and the like. Examples of services include services related to leisure, accommodation, finance, education, information, medical care, rental, expertise, business contracting, temporary staffing, employment placement, delivery, communications, dining out, and entertainment. In the present embodiment, the product 3 is a product. The product 3 is managed by an item or a SKU (Stock Keeping Unit). In this embodiment, the SKU is used to manage the product 3. The "SKU (Stock Keeping Unit)" referred to in the present disclosure means the smallest management unit in order management or inventory management of goods. For example, even products with the same product name are counted as individual SKUs depending on the size, color, package, number of pieces, etc., and are classified into smaller units as SKUs. The "item" in the present disclosure means one product in a broad sense, and for example, a product having the same product name is counted as one item. As an example, if there are three types of products named "ABC bread", cut into four pieces, cut into five pieces, and cut into six pieces, the number of items for "ABC bread" is "1" and the number of SKUs is "". 3 ”.

The first determination unit 122 selects the target product 3 from the product 3 sold at the target store 20. In the present embodiment, the first determination unit 122 selects the target product 3 from the group of the product 3 having similar attributes. The plurality of types of merchandise 3 sold at the target store 20 are managed by attributes. Attributes include, for example, product categories. If the product categories match, it can be said that the attributes are similar. The "merchandise category" referred to in the present disclosure is a label for classifying the merchandise 3 by use, function, customer base, etc., such as food, clothing, pharmaceuticals, beauty-related products, electrical appliances, daily necessities, etc. In addition, it may be a relatively large category (large category). Further, the product category may be a medium category that further classifies the large category into a plurality of categories, and as a specific example of the medium category, some foods include soft drinks, liquor, lunch boxes, delicatessen, sweets, sweets, and There are medium categories such as ice cream. Further, the product category may be a small category that further classifies the medium category into a plurality of small categories. As a specific example of the small category, some soft drinks include barley tea, green tea, black tea, kohi, lactic acid drinks, and carbonated drinks. There are small categories such as mineral water and sports drinks. In addition, the product category may be composed of a large category, a medium category, and a small category. In this case, if any of the categories included in the product category matches, it can be said that the attributes are similar.

The selection of the target product 3 may be performed by the user or may be performed by the price determination system 10. For example, the first determination unit 122 may select the target product 3 according to the input of the user. In this case, the user may select the target product 3 by using the store terminal 22 or the headquarters terminal 51. The first determination unit 122 acquires the result of the user's selection by the acquisition unit 121, and selects the target product 3 according to the result of the user's selection.

The first determination unit 122 selects the target product 3 from the products included in the group. Here, the impact of cannibalization within the group is considered. If the price of the product with the lowest profit or rate of return is reduced in the group, the following will occur. That is, the number of products sold in the group with the lowest profit or profit margin increases, and the number of products sold in the group other than the lowest profit or profit margin decreases accordingly. This causes a decline in profits as a group. On the other hand, if the price of a product other than the one with the lowest profit or profit margin is reduced in the group, the following will occur. That is, the number of products sold in the group other than the lowest profit or profit margin increases, and the number of products sold in the group with the lowest profit or profit margin decreases accordingly. This makes it less likely that the profits of the group will decline. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the first determination unit 122 selects the target product 3 from the products whose profits or profit margins are not the lowest in the group. In particular, the first determination unit 122 selects the product 3 having the highest profit or profit margin as the target product 3 in the group. For example, when the products belonging to the group are coffee A, coffee B, and coffee C, and the profit of coffee A is the highest, the first determination unit 122 selects coffee A as the target product 3. .. Information on the profit or the rate of return of the products belonging to the group can be acquired from the store terminal 22 or the headquarters terminal 51 through the acquisition unit 121.

The first determination unit 122 determines a plurality of provisional prices for the selected target product 3. The provisional price is the price at which the target product 3 is sold at the target store during the predetermined sales period. In particular, the first determination unit 122 is targeted so as to satisfy the constraint condition for reducing the influence of the price change of the target product 3 on the reference product which is the product 3 other than the target product 3 included in the group. Determine at least one of the plurality of provisional prices of the product 3. Here, the effect of the price change of the target product 3 on the reference product is evaluated based on the sales result of the product 3 included in the group. Here, the effect of changing the price of the target product on the reference product includes a decrease in the number of sales of the reference product. For example, suppose that the products belonging to the group are coffee A, coffee B, and coffee C, coffee A is the target product 3, and coffee B and coffee C are reference products. In this case, the effect of the price change of the target product 3 on the reference product is evaluated based on the sales results of coffee A, coffee B, and coffee C. If the sales volume of coffee B and coffee C decreases due to the price reduction of coffee A, coffee A and coffee B and coffee C are in a competitive relationship. That is, cannibalization may occur for groups that include coffee A, coffee B, and coffee C. In such cases, it is desirable to set a provisional price for coffee A in consideration of the effects of cannibalization. In other words, if the effects of cannibalization are not taken into consideration at all, there is a high possibility that a loss will occur if the coffee A is sold at a provisional price.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, the price determination system 10 includes a competition evaluation unit 125 for determining competition. The competition evaluation unit 125 is configured to obtain a competition evaluation value that is an index of competition between the target product 3 and the reference product. The competition evaluation unit 125 obtains a competition evaluation value that is an index of competition between the target product 3 and the reference product based on the sales result of the product 3 included in the group. Information on the sales result of the product 3 included in the group can be acquired from the store terminal 22 or the headquarters terminal 51 through the acquisition unit 121. The competitive evaluation value shows the correlation between the change in the number of sales of the target product 3 and the change in the number of sales of the reference product. In particular, in the present embodiment, the competitive evaluation value shows the correlation between the increase in the number of sales of the target product 3 and the decrease in the number of sales of the reference product. As an example, the correlation is a correlation coefficient between the number of sales of the target product 3 and the number of sales of the reference product, and a proportional coefficient between the number of sales of the target product 3 and the number of sales of the reference product. May include. That is, the correlation (competitive evaluation value) can be evaluated by the correlation coefficient and the proportionality coefficient. The smaller the competitive evaluation value, the smaller the correlation between the increase in the number of sales of the target product 3 and the decrease in the number of sales of the reference product, and it is considered that there is no competition between the target product 3 and the reference product. Be done. On the other hand, the larger the competitive evaluation value, the greater the correlation between the increase in the number of sales of the target product 3 and the decrease in the number of sales of the reference product, and the competition occurs between the target product 3 and the reference product. It is thought that there is.

Further, in the price determination system 10, the first determination unit 122 selects the target product 3 from the group of the product 3 having similar attributes. The group of product 3 is formed from the viewpoint of similar attributes as a group in which competition may occur. However, conflict does not always occur when the attributes are similar, and does not necessarily occur when the attributes are similar. Therefore, the price determination system 10 includes a group change unit 126 as shown in FIG. 3 in order to optimize the group. The group change unit 126 is configured to change the group according to the influence of the price change of the target product 3. That is, according to the group change unit 126, it is possible to modify the organization of the group of the product 3 according to the sales result obtained by actually changing the price of the target product 3.

In the present embodiment, the group change unit 126 excludes the product 3 included in the group but not affected by the price change of the target product 3 from the group. That is, in the initial group, even if the product 3 was included because there is a possibility of conflict with the target product 3, if the product 3 does not actually conflict with the target product 3, the product 3 is included. You may exclude it from the group. For example, when the target product 3 is coffee (sweetened), coffee (unsweetened) is included in the same group because it has the same attributes as the target product 3. Here, if there is no competition between coffee (sweetened) and coffee (unsweetened), the group changing unit 126 excludes coffee (unsweetened) from the group. As a result, the group can be optimized.

In addition, the group change unit 126 includes the product 3 that is not included in the group but is affected by the price change of the target product 3 in the group. That is, in the initial group, even if the product 3 is not included because there is no possibility of conflict with the target product 3, if the product 3 actually conflicts with the target product 3, the product 3 is not included. May be included in the group. For example, when the target product 3 is a rice ball, it is assumed that the sandwich is not included in the same group because the attribute is different from that of the target product 3. Here, if there is a conflict between the rice ball and the sandwich, the group changing unit 126 includes the sandwich in the group. As a result, the group can be optimized.

When the group is changed by the group changing unit 126, the first determination unit 122 may select the target product 3 again.

The first determination unit 122 applies the constraint condition when the competition evaluation value is equal to or more than the competition threshold value, and does not apply the constraint condition when the competition evaluation value is less than the competition threshold value. As a result, it can be expected that the loss at the target store 20 that may occur when the target product 3 is sold at the provisional price due to the competition between the target product 3 and the reference product 3 can be reduced. The competition threshold is a value for determining whether or not to apply the constraint condition. Therefore, the competition threshold value can be appropriately determined from the viewpoint of how much the target product 3 and the reference product compete with each other to apply the constraint condition.

In the present embodiment, the constraint condition is to set the provisional price of the target product 3 to be equal to or higher than the representative value of the price of the product 3 included in the group. The representative value can be appropriately selected from an average value, a maximum value, a minimum value, a mode value, and the like. In the present embodiment, the representative value is an average value. For example, suppose that the products belonging to the group are coffee A, coffee B, and coffee C, coffee A is the target product 3, and coffee B and coffee C are reference products. When the selling price of coffee A is PA, the selling price of coffee B is PB, and the selling price of coffee C is PC, the representative value of the price of the product 3 included in the group is (PA + PB + PC) / 3. Become. Therefore, the provisional price of coffee A is set to (PA + PB + PC) / 3 or more.

The plurality of provisional prices may be set based on, for example, the reference price of the target product 3. The reference price can be selected from the desired retail price, the reference retail price, and the current price (over-the-counter price, actual selling price) for the target product 3. In the present embodiment, the plurality of provisional prices are set based on the current prices of the target product 3. The plurality of provisional prices are set to be equal to or lower than the current price of the target product 3. In addition, the standard price itself can be adopted as a provisional price.

In the present embodiment, the first determination unit 122 determines three provisional prices, that is, the current price, the lowest price, and the intermediate price of the target product 3, as a plurality of provisional prices. Here, the current price is the highest price among the plurality of provisional prices. The lowest price is the lowest of the multiple provisional prices. The intermediate price is the price between the current price and the lowest price. As an example, the mid-price can be the median price between the current price and the lowest price. Here, when the constraint condition is applied, the lowest price may be a representative value of the price of the product 3 included in the group. In the above example, the lowest price is the average value of the prices of the products 3 included in the group.

When the first determination unit 122 determines a plurality of provisional prices of the target product 3, the price determination system 10 may output information on the plurality of provisional prices of the determined target product 3 to an external device. In the present embodiment, the first determination unit 122 outputs (transmits) to the store terminal 22 and the headquarters terminal 51, which are external devices, through the communication unit 11. As a result, the user can know the plurality of provisional prices of the target product 3 determined by the price determination system 10 by the store terminal 22 or the headquarters terminal 51. Then, the user sells the target product 3 in order at the target store 20 at a plurality of provisional prices, thereby obtaining the sales result of the target product 3 at the target store 20 at the plurality of provisional prices. Such sales results can be stored in the store terminal 22 and the headquarters terminal 51.

The second determination unit 123 determines the price of the target product 3 based on the change in the management index regarding the target store 20 obtained from the sales results of the target product 3 at the target store 20 at a plurality of provisional prices. In the present embodiment, the management index is information regarding the sales of the target store 20. Specific examples of the management index include the number of sales of the target product 3, the basket profit related to the target product 3 at the target store 20, and the group profit related to the target product 3 at the target store 20. The number of sales of the target product 3 represents the number of purchases of the target product 3 during the sales period. The number of sales of the target product 3 may be the total number of sales of the target product 3 in the sales period, or may be the number of sales per predetermined period (for example, per day). The basket profit is an example of an index based on the sales of the product purchased together with the target product 3 in any of the sales periods of the target product 3 at a plurality of provisional prices. The basket profit represents the profit obtained by the target product 3 and the product 3 purchased together with the target product 3 during the sales period. The basket profit may be the profit for the entire sales period, the profit per customer, or the profit per purchase. That is, the basket profit was obtained by dividing the profit obtained by the target product 3 and the product 3 purchased together with the target product 3 by the number of customers who purchased the target product 3 during the sales period. It may be a value. Further, the basket profit is the profit obtained by the target product 3 and the product 3 purchased together with the target product 3, and is issued by the number of times the customer purchases the target product 3 (that is, during the sales period). It may be a value obtained by dividing by the number of receipts including the target product 3). The sales period may be the same for a plurality of provisional prices, but may be different. If the sales periods are different, the basket profit corresponding to each provisional price may be corrected so that they are considered to be the same sales period. The group profit represents the profit obtained by the product 3 belonging to the group including the target product 3 during the sales period. The group profit may be the profit for the entire sales period, the profit per customer, or the profit per purchase. That is, the group profit may be a value obtained by dividing the profit obtained by the product 3 belonging to the group including the target product 3 by the number of customers who purchased the target product 3 during the sales period. .. Further, the group profit includes the profit obtained by the product 3 belonging to the group including the target product 3 and the number of times the customer purchased the target product 3 (that is, the target product 3 issued during the sales period). It may be a value obtained by dividing by the number of receipts). The sales period may be the same for a plurality of provisional prices, but may be different. If the sales period is different, the group profit corresponding to each provisional price may be corrected so that the sales period is considered to be the same.

As an example, the case where the target product 3 is coffee is taken. Suppose coffee was purchased by three customers A, B, and C during the sales period. Here, it is assumed that customer A purchases only coffee, customer B purchases coffee and sandwich, and customer C purchases coffee and pudding. In this case, the number of the target product 3 sold is 3, and the basket profit is the profit obtained by selling three coffees, one sandwich, and one pudding.

Management indicators are obtained for each of multiple provisional prices. The change in the management index represents the influence of the management index due to the change in the provisional price (that is, the change in the price of the target product 3).

Each of FIGS. 4 to 8 shows the relationship between the number of target products sold 3 and the basket profit for each of the plurality of provisional prices. That is, each of FIGS. 4 to 8 shows a change in the management index. In each of FIGS. 4 to 8, P0 is represented by a management index corresponding to the current price, the number of sales n0, and the basket profit r0. P1 is a management index corresponding to the lowest price, and is represented by the number of sales n1 and the basket profit r1. P2 is a management index corresponding to the intermediate price, and is represented by the number of sales n2 and the basket profit r2.

In FIGS. 4 to 6, the relationship between the number of sales and the basket profit cannot be found in particular. However, in FIGS. 4 to 6, the sales number n1 of the management index P1 and the sales number n2 of the management index P2 are within the range nL to nH centered on the sales number n0 of the management index P0. Therefore, in FIGS. 4 to 6, it is considered that the number of sales of the target product 3 has not changed so much due to the change in the price of the target product 3. On the other hand, in FIGS. 7 and 8, the relationship between the number of sales and the basket profit is represented by a straight line L0. In FIG. 7, the slope of the straight line L0 is negative, but in FIG. 8, the slope of the straight line L0 is positive. Further, in FIGS. 7 and 8, the sales number n1 of the management index P1 and the sales number n2 of the management index P2 are outside the range nL to nH centered on the sales number n0 of the management index P0, and in particular, n1 and n2. Is greater than nH. Here, the range nL to nH can be determined by the standard deviation of the number of sales n0 of the management index P0. That is, nH is a value obtained by adding the standard deviation to the number of sales n0, and nL is a value obtained by subtracting the standard deviation from the number of sales n0. Therefore, in FIGS. 7 and 8, it is considered that the number of sales of the target product 3 has changed significantly due to the change in the price of the target product 3.

The second determination unit 123 changes the method of determining the price of the target product 3 according to the influence of such a change in the price of the target product 3 on the number of sales of the target product 3 (that is, the management index). ..

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, the price determination system 10 includes a change evaluation unit 124 for determining the influence of the price change of the target product 3 on the management index. The change evaluation unit 124 obtains a change evaluation value which is an index of the influence of the price change of the target product 3 on the management index based on the change of the management index. For example, the change evaluation value may be a representative value of the difference between the number of sales of the target product 3 at the provisional price and the number of sales of the target product 3 at the reference price. The representative value can be appropriately selected from an average value, a maximum value, a minimum value, a mode value, and the like. In the present embodiment, the representative value is an average value. For example, for each of FIGS. 4 to 8, since the management index P0 corresponds to the reference price (current price), the change evaluation value is given by (| n1-n0 | + | n2-n0 |) / 2. obtain. The change evaluation value may be the price elasticity of the target product 3.

The second determination unit 123 changes the method of determining the price of the target product 3 by using the change evaluation value obtained from the change evaluation unit 124. More specifically, the second determination unit 123 uses a plurality of pricing models for determining the price of the target product 3. The second determination unit 123 selects a price determination model to be used for determining the price of the target product 3 according to the change evaluation value from the plurality of price determination models. Each of the plurality of price determination models is a model in which the price of the target product 3 is determined based on the plurality of provisional prices and the management indicators corresponding to the plurality of provisional prices. The plurality of pricing models include an arithmetic model and a selection model. The second determination unit 123 selects the calculation model when the change evaluation value is equal to or greater than the change threshold value. Further, the second determination unit 123 selects the selection model when the change evaluation value is less than the change threshold value. Here, the change threshold value is a threshold value for determining the influence of the price change of the target product 3 on the management index. The change threshold value is determined by the relationship between the change evaluation value and the degree of influence on the management index due to the change in the price of the target product 3. In the present embodiment, the change threshold value is set to a value at which it is considered that the change in the price of the target product 3 does not affect the management index if the change evaluation value is less than the change threshold value. As described above, when the change evaluation value is given by (| n1-n0 | + | n2-n0 |) / 2, the change threshold is a value corresponding to the standard deviation of the number of sales n0 of the management index P0. ..

The selection model is a model in which the provisional price having the best management index among the plurality of provisional prices is selected as the price of the target product 3. That is, when it is considered that the change in the price of the target product 3 does not affect the management index, the second determination unit 123 selects the provisional price having the best management index among the plurality of provisional prices. Select as the price of 3. In the following example, basket profit is used as a management index. However, the management index may be group profit.

For example, in the examples of FIGS. 4 to 6, the sales number n1 of the management index P1 and the sales number n2 of the management index P2 are within the range nL to nH centered on the sales number n0 of the management index P0. Therefore, in the examples of FIGS. 4 to 6, the second determination unit 123 determines that the change in the price of the target product 3 does not affect the management index. Then, the second determination unit 123 determines the price of the target product 3 according to the selection model. In the example of FIG. 4, the basket profit r0 of the management index P0 is larger than the basket profit r1 and r2 of the other management indexes P1 and P2. That is, the provisional price corresponding to the management index P0, that is, the current price is selected as the price of the target product 3. Further, in the example of FIG. 5, the basket profit r1 of the management index P1 is larger than the basket profit r0, r2 of the other management indexes P0 and P2. That is, the provisional price corresponding to the management index P1, that is, the lowest price is selected as the price of the target product 3. In the example of FIG. 6, the basket profit r2 of the management index P2 is larger than the basket profit r0, r1 of the other management indexes P0 and P1. That is, the provisional price corresponding to the management index P2, that is, the intermediate price is selected as the price of the target product 3.

The calculation model is the price of the target product 3 based on the extremum of the graph showing the relationship between the price of the target product 3 and the management index, which is obtained from the management indicators corresponding to the plurality of provisional prices and the plurality of provisional prices. It is a model that determines. In the present embodiment, the calculation model obtains a graph showing the relationship between the price of the target product 3 and the basket profit which is a management index, and determines the price of the target product 3 based on the maximum value of the graph. In this embodiment, the graph is obtained by approximation using a quadratic function. If the graph does not have a maximum value, the calculation model determines the price of the target product 3 based on the same criteria as the selection model. That is, the provisional price having the best management index among the plurality of provisional prices is selected as the price of the target product 3.

For example, in the examples of FIGS. 7 and 8, the sales number n1 of the management index P1 and the sales number n2 of the management index P2 are outside the range nL to nH centered on the sales number n0 of the management index P0. Therefore, in the examples of FIGS. 7 and 8, the second determination unit 123 determines that the change in the price of the target product 3 has an influence on the management index. Then, the second determination unit 123 determines the price of the target product 3 by the calculation model.

9 to 16 show an example in the case of applying the calculation model. In FIGS. 9 to 16, p0 indicates the current price, p1 indicates the lowest price, and p2 indicates the intermediate price. Further, in FIGS. 9 to 16, G1 is a graph obtained by approximating a quadratic function using the management indexes P0 to P2, that is, the relationship between the price of the target product 3 and the basket profit which is the management index. It is a graph which shows.

In the example of FIG. 9, the basket profit r1 of the management index P1 corresponding to the lowest price p1 is the largest, then the basket profit r2 of the management index P2 corresponding to the intermediate price p2, and the management index P0 corresponding to the current price p0. The basket profit is higher in the order of r0. In FIG. 9, G1 is an upwardly convex parabola, has a maximum value P3 at a price p3 lower than the minimum price p1, and a basket profit r3 at the maximum price P3 is a basket profit r0 to r2 of the management indicators P0 to P2. Greater than any of. Therefore, the calculation model determines the price p3 at the maximum value P3 as the price of the target product 3.

In the example of FIG. 10, the basket profit r1 of the management index P1 corresponding to the lowest price p1 is the largest, then the basket profit r2 of the management index P2 corresponding to the intermediate price p2, and the management index P0 corresponding to the current price p0. The basket profit is higher in the order of r0. In FIG. 10, G1 is an upwardly convex parabola, has a maximum value P3 at a price p3 between the lowest price p1 and the intermediate price p2, and the basket profit r3 at the maximum price P3 is the management index P0 to P2. The basket profit is larger than any of r0 to r2. Therefore, the calculation model determines the price p3 at the maximum value P3 as the price of the target product 3.

In the example of FIG. 11, the basket profit r2 of the management index P2 corresponding to the intermediate price p2 is the largest, then the basket profit r0 of the management index P0 corresponding to the current price p0, and the management index P1 corresponding to the lowest price p1. The basket profit is higher in the order of r1. In FIG. 11, G1 is an upwardly convex parabola, has a maximum value P3 at a price p3 between the intermediate price p2 and the current price p0, and the basket profit r3 at the maximum value P3 is the management index P0 to P2. The basket profit is larger than any of r0 to r2. Therefore, the calculation model determines the price p3 at the maximum value P3 as the price of the target product 3.

In the example of FIG. 12, the basket profit r0 of the management index P0 corresponding to the current price p0 is the largest, then the basket profit r2 of the management index P2 corresponding to the intermediate price p2, and the management index P1 corresponding to the lowest price p1. The basket profit is higher in the order of r1. In FIG. 12, G1 is an upwardly convex parabola, has a maximum value P3 at a price p3 higher than the current price p0, and a basket profit r3 at the maximum value P3 is a basket profit r0 to r2 of the management indicators P0 to P2. Greater than any of. Therefore, the calculation model determines the price p3 at the maximum value P3 as the price of the target product 3.

In this way, in the calculation model, when the graph showing the relationship between the price of the target product 3 and the basket profit, which is a management index, has a maximum value, the price corresponding to the maximum value is set to the price of the target product 3. To determine as.

In the example of FIG. 13, the basket profit r0 of the management index P0 corresponding to the current price p0 is the largest, then the basket profit r2 of the management index P2 corresponding to the intermediate price p2, and the management index P1 corresponding to the lowest price p1. The basket profit is higher in the order of r1. However, in FIG. 13, G1 does not have a maximum value. G1 is a downwardly convex parabola, and the extremum is not the maximum value but the minimum value. In FIG. 13, there is a minimum price at a price lower than the lowest price p1. Further, at the provisional price (current price p0, minimum price p1, and intermediate price p2), the straight line L1 representing the relationship between the price and the basket profit has a positive slope. Further, the basket profit r0 in the management index P0 corresponding to the current price p0 is the largest among the basket profits r0 to r2 in the management indexes P0 to P2. That is, the current price p0 is the provisional price having the best management index among the plurality of provisional prices. Therefore, the calculation model selects the current price p0 as the price of the target product 3.

In the example of FIG. 14, the basket profit r0 of the management index P0 corresponding to the current price p0 is the largest, then the basket profit r2 of the management index P2 corresponding to the intermediate price p2, and the management index P1 corresponding to the lowest price p1. The basket profit is higher in the order of r1. In FIG. 14, G1 does not have a maximum value. G1 is a downwardly convex parabola, and the extremum is not the maximum value but the minimum value. In FIG. 14, there is a minimum price between the lowest price p1 and the middle price p2. Further, at the provisional price (current price p0, minimum price p1, and intermediate price p2), the straight line L1 representing the relationship between the price and the basket profit has a positive slope. The basket profit r0 in the management index P0 corresponding to the current price p0 is the largest among the basket profits r0 to r2 in the management indexes P0 to P2. That is, the current price p0 is the provisional price having the best management index among the plurality of provisional prices. Therefore, the calculation model selects the current price p0 as the price of the target product 3.

In the example of FIG. 15, the basket profit r1 of the management index P1 corresponding to the lowest price p1 is the largest, then the basket profit r0 of the management index P0 corresponding to the current price p0 and the management index P2 corresponding to the intermediate price p2. The basket profit is higher in the order of r2. In FIG. 15, G1 does not have a maximum value. G1 is a downwardly convex parabola, and the extremum is not the maximum value but the minimum value. In FIG. 15, there is a minimum price between the intermediate price p2 and the current price p0. Further, at the provisional price (current price p0, minimum price p1, and intermediate price p2), the straight line L1 representing the relationship between the price and the basket profit has a negative slope. The basket profit r1 in the management index P1 corresponding to the lowest price p1 is the largest among the basket profits r0 to r2 in the management indexes P0 to P2. That is, the lowest price p1 is the provisional price having the best management index among the plurality of provisional prices. Therefore, the calculation model selects the lowest price p1 as the price of the target product 3.

In the example of FIG. 16, the basket profit r1 of the management index P1 corresponding to the lowest price p1 is the largest, then the basket profit r2 of the management index P2 corresponding to the intermediate price p2, and the management index P0 corresponding to the current price p0. The basket profit is higher in the order of r0. In FIG. 16, G1 does not have a maximum value. G1 is a downwardly convex parabola, and the extremum is not the maximum value but the minimum value. In FIG. 16, there is a minimum value at a price higher than the current price p0. Further, at the provisional price (current price p0, minimum price p1, and intermediate price p2), the straight line L1 representing the relationship between the price and the basket profit has a negative slope. The basket profit r1 in the management index P1 corresponding to the lowest price p1 is the largest among the basket profits r0 to r2 in the management indexes P0 to P2. That is, the lowest price p1 is the provisional price having the best management index among the plurality of provisional prices. Therefore, the calculation model selects the lowest price p1 as the price of the target product 3.

In this way, in the calculation model, when the graph showing the relationship between the price of the target product 3 and the basket profit, which is a management index, does not have a maximum value, the provisional model has the best management index among the plurality of provisional prices. The price is selected as the price of the target product 3.

When the second determination unit 123 determines the price of the target product 3, the price information of the determined target product 3 may be output from the price determination system 10 to the external device. In the present embodiment, the second determination unit 123 outputs (transmits) to the store terminal 22 and the headquarters terminal 51, which are external devices, through the communication unit 11. As a result, the user can know the price of the target product 3 determined by the price determination system 10 by the store terminal 22 or the headquarters terminal 51.

(1-3) Operation Hereinafter, the operation of the price determination system 10 according to the present embodiment, that is, the price determination method according to the present embodiment will be briefly described with reference to FIG.

First, in the price determination system 10, the first determination unit 122 selects the target product 3 (S11). Next, the competition evaluation unit 125 obtains a competition evaluation value for the target product 3 (S12). If the competition evaluation value is equal to or greater than the competition threshold value (S13; YES), the first determination unit 122 determines the provisional price of the target product 3 by applying the constraint condition (S14). On the other hand, if the competition evaluation value is less than the competition threshold value (S13; NO), the first determination unit 122 determines the provisional price of the target product 3 without applying the constraint condition (S15).

Information on a plurality of provisional prices of the target product 3 determined by the first determination unit 122 is output from the price determination system 10 to the external device, the store terminal 22, or the headquarters terminal 51. As a result, the user can know the plurality of provisional prices of the target product 3 determined by the price determination system 10 by the store terminal 22 or the headquarters terminal 51. Then, the user sells the target product 3 in order at the target store 20 at a plurality of provisional prices, thereby obtaining the sales result of the target product 3 at the target store 20 at the plurality of provisional prices. Such sales results can be stored in the store terminal 22 and the headquarters terminal 51.

In the price determination system 10, the acquisition unit 121 acquires the sales result of the target product 3 at the target store 20 at a plurality of provisional prices from the store terminal 22 or the headquarters terminal 51 (S16). Then, the change evaluation unit 124 obtains a change evaluation value for the target product 3 by using the sales results of the target product 3 at the target store 20 at a plurality of provisional prices (S17). If the change evaluation value is equal to or greater than the change threshold value (S18; YES), the second determination unit 123 determines the price of the target product 3 using the calculation model (S19). On the other hand, if the change evaluation value is less than the change threshold value (S18; NO), the second determination unit 123 determines the price of the target product 3 using the selection model (S20).

Then, the price information of the target product 3 determined by the second determination unit 123 is output from the price determination system 10 to the external device, the store terminal 22, or the headquarters terminal 51 (S21). As a result, the user can know the price of the target product 3 determined by the price determination system 10 by the store terminal 22 or the headquarters terminal 51.

(1-4) Summary As described above, the price determination system 10 of the present embodiment includes a first determination unit 122 and a second determination unit 123. The first determination unit 122 determines a plurality of provisional prices for the target product 3. The second determination unit 123 determines the price of the target product 3 based on the change in the management index regarding the target store 20 obtained from the sales results of the target product 3 at the target store 20 at a plurality of provisional prices. Therefore, according to the price determination system 10, the price of the target product 3 suitable for improving the business condition of the target store 20 can be determined.

In other words, it can be said that the price determination system 10 executes the following pricing method. The pricing method includes a first determination step and a second determination step. The first determination step is a step of determining a plurality of provisional prices for the target product 3. The second determination step is a step of determining the price of the target product 3 based on the change in the management index regarding the target store 20 obtained from the sales results of the target product 3 at the target store 20 at a plurality of provisional prices. .. According to such a price determination method, the price of the target product 3 suitable for improving the business condition of the target store 20 can be determined.

The pricing system 10 is implemented by a computer system that includes one or more processors. That is, the price determination system 10 is realized by executing a program (price determination program) by one or more processors. This program is a program (computer program) for causing one or more processors to execute a pricing method. According to such a program, the price of the target product 3 suitable for improving the business condition of the target store 20 can be determined in the same manner as the price determination method.

(2) Modified Example The embodiment of the present disclosure is not limited to the above embodiment. The above-described embodiment can be changed in various ways depending on the design and the like as long as the object of the present disclosure can be achieved. The modifications of the above embodiment are listed below.

In one modification, the management index may include an index relating to a customer who has purchased the target product 3 during any of a plurality of provisional price sales periods of the target product 3. Here, the index related to the customer may be a representative value of the LTV of the customer. The representative value can be appropriately selected from an average value, a maximum value, a minimum value, a mode value, and the like.

In one modification, at least one of the number of target products 3 and the number of reference products may be 2 or more. For example, when a group of products having similar attributes includes coffee A, coffee B, coffee C, juice A, and juice B, coffee A and juice A may be the target product 3. In this case, for coffee A, coffee B and coffee C may be used as reference products, and coffee B, coffee C, juice A, and juice B may be used as reference products. Similarly, for juice A, juice B may be used as a reference product, and coffee A, coffee B, coffee C, and juice B may be used as reference products.

In one modification, the constraint may be to set the provisional price of the target product 3 to be equal to or higher than the price of the reference product. In this case, the reference product is the product 3 whose profit or rate of return is larger than that of the target product 3 in the group. For example, suppose that the products belonging to the group are coffee A and coffee B, coffee A is the target product 3, and coffee B is the product 3 whose profit or rate of return is larger than that of coffee A. When the selling price of coffee A is PA and the selling price of coffee B is PB, the provisional price of coffee A is set to be equal to or higher than the selling price PB of coffee B, which is a reference product. In other words, the selling price PB of coffee B is used as the lowest provisional price of coffee A. In this way, the business condition of the target store 20 can be improved even when the target product 3 is sold at the provisional price.

In one modification, the constraint may be to make the provisional price of the target product 3 different from the price of the reference product. In this case, the reference product is a product 3 whose quality and quantity are different from those of the target product 3 in the group. For example, suppose that the products belonging to the group are coffee A, coffee B, and coffee C, and coffee A is the target product 3. Further, it is assumed that coffee B is a product 3 having the same quality as coffee A but a different quantity, and coffee C is a product 3 having the same quantity as coffee A but a different room. As an example, assume that the amount of coffee A is 500 ml and the amount of coffee B is 200 ml. Further, it is assumed that the quality of coffee A is better than that of coffee C. When the selling price of Kohi A is PA, the selling price of Kohi B is PB, and the selling price of Kohi C is PC, the provisional price of Kohi A is the selling price PB and Kohi C of Kohi B, which is a reference product. The selling price is set to a different price from the PC. In particular, the provisional price of coffee A is preferably a price that can be differentiated from the reference products, coffee B and coffee C. If the difference between the provisional price of coffee A and the selling price PB of coffee B is small, the merit of purchasing coffee B is diminished. Further, if the difference between the provisional price of coffee A and the selling price PC of coffee C is small, the merit of purchasing coffee C is diminished. In such a case, it will not be possible to obtain appropriate customer feedback on the provisional price of Coffee A. Therefore, by avoiding such a situation, it is possible to improve the management situation of the target store 20 even when the target product 3 is sold at the provisional price.

In one modification, the constraint condition may be a condition that considers the influence of the price change of the target product 3 on the upper group including all the products included in the group. For example, if the group is a coffee beverage group, the superordinate group may be a beverage group. For example, even if the price change of the target product 3 does not affect the group, it may occur in the upper group. Constraints may be set in consideration of such cases. That is, the constraint condition may be a condition for determining the provisional price of the target product 3 so that the management index of the target store 20 regarding the upper group does not deteriorate. As an example, the constraint condition may be to set the provisional price of the target product 3 to be equal to or higher than the price of the product whose profit or rate of return is larger than that of the target product 3 in the upper group. Further, the constraint condition may be that the provisional price of the target product 3 is different from the price of the product whose quality and quantity are different from those of the target product 3 in the upper group. Further, the constraint condition may be to set the provisional price of the target product 3 to be equal to or higher than the representative value of the price of the product included in the upper group. As described above, the constraint condition is not particularly limited as long as it is a condition for preventing the management index of the target store 20 from being adversely affected when the target product 3 is sold at the target store 20 at a provisional price.

In one modification, the plurality of provisional prices determined by the first determination unit 122 do not have to include the current price. Since the sales results have already been obtained for the current price, it is not necessary to include it in multiple provisional prices. In this case, with respect to the current price, the sales result is already used for evaluating the change in the management index together with the sales result at the target store 20 at the plurality of provisional prices of the target product 3. Also, in one variant, the plurality of provisional prices may include one or more intermediate prices between the lowest price and the current price. Also, the plurality of provisional prices may include a maximum price higher than the current price, and may include one or more intermediate prices between the maximum price and the current price. However, it should be noted that as the number of provisional prices increases, so does the time required to obtain sales results.

In one modification, the calculation model is a function other than the quadratic function, and a graph showing the relationship between the price of the target product 3 and the basket profit, which is a management index, may be obtained. For example, it is possible to use a cubic function or a quartic function, but it is desirable that the function has an extreme value. When there are a plurality of maximum values, it is preferable to adopt the larger maximum value.

In one modification, the calculation model may determine the price of the target product 3 within the permissible price range. Here, the permissible price range is a range of prices that are allowed to be set as the price of the target product 3. The permissible price range can be set by the manager of the store 2 or the like as an example. For example, the calculation model is based on the extremum of the graph showing the relationship between the price of the target product 3 and the management index, which is obtained from the management indicators corresponding to the plurality of provisional prices and the plurality of provisional prices, respectively. Determine the price of. At this time, if the extremum is not included in the permissible price range, the calculation model may select the price having the maximum management index among the prices within the permissible price range as the price of the target product 3. On the other hand, in the calculation model, when there is no maximum value in the graph showing the relationship between the price of the target product 3 and the management index, the target product is the price within the permissible price range in which the management index is the maximum. It may be selected as the price of 3. By setting the permissible price range in this way, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the price of the target product 3 becomes an unexpected value (unrealistic value).

The price determination system 10 in the present disclosure includes a computer system in, for example, a server device 1. A computer system mainly consists of a processor and a memory as hardware. When the processor executes the program recorded in the memory of the computer system, the function as the pricing system 10 in the present disclosure is realized. The program may be pre-recorded in the memory of the computer system, may be provided through a telecommunication line, and may be recorded on a non-temporary recording medium such as a memory card, optical disk, hard disk drive, etc. that can be read by the computer system. May be provided. A processor in a computer system is composed of one or more electronic circuits including a semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) or a large scale integrated circuit (LSI). The integrated circuit such as IC or LSI referred to here has a different name depending on the degree of integration, and includes an integrated circuit called a system LSI, VLSI (Very Large Scale Integration), or ULSI (Ultra Large Scale Integration). Further, an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array) programmed after the LSI is manufactured, or a logical device capable of reconfiguring the junction relationship inside the LSI or reconfiguring the circuit partition inside the LSI should also be adopted as a processor. Can be done. A plurality of electronic circuits may be integrated on one chip, or may be distributed on a plurality of chips. The plurality of chips may be integrated in one device, or may be distributed in a plurality of devices. The computer system referred to here includes a microprocessor having one or more processors and one or more memories. Therefore, the microprocessor is also composed of one or a plurality of electronic circuits including a semiconductor integrated circuit or a large-scale integrated circuit.

Further, it is not an essential configuration for the price determination system 10 that a plurality of functions in the price determination system 10 are integrated in one housing, and the components of the price determination system 10 are dispersed in a plurality of housings. May be provided. Further, at least a part of the functions of the price determination system 10, for example, a part of the functions of the server device 1 may be realized by a cloud (cloud computing) or the like.

On the contrary, at least a part of the functions of the pricing system 10 distributed in a plurality of devices may be integrated in one housing.

Further, the use of the price determination system 10 is not limited to the convenience store, and the price determination system 10 may be introduced in the store 2 other than the convenience store.

Further, the user interface in the store terminal 22 or the like is not limited to the touch panel display, and may have, for example, an input device such as a keyboard, a pointing device, a mechanical switch, or a gesture sensor. Further, the user interface may include, for example, a display device such as a projector that projects an image by projection mapping technology. Further, the user interface may have an audio input / output unit instead of the touch panel display or together with the touch panel display. In this case, the user interface can present various information to the clerk or the like by the voice output from the speaker. Further, the user interface can perform voice operation (voice input) by a store clerk or the like by performing voice recognition and semantic analysis processing on the voice signal output from the microphone.

Further, in the above embodiment, the price determination system 10 includes a change evaluation unit 124, a competitive evaluation unit 125, and a group change unit 126, but these are not essential. That is, the price determination system 10 may have at least the first determination unit 122 and the second determination unit 123. As an example, the processing in the change evaluation unit 124, the competition evaluation unit 125, and the group change unit 126 may be executed by a person.

The sales form of the product 3 at the store 2 is not limited to the form in which a plurality of products 3 are displayed in the store as shown in FIG. For example, the product 3 may be sold in a form in which payment and payment of the product 3 are executed for the product 3 selected by the customer by using a vending machine that stocks a plurality of products 3. .. Further, even if the product is sold in a state of being displayed in three stores of a plurality of products, for example, by using a self-checkout or the like, the customer can make a payment without going through a clerk. There may be. Further, the store 2 is not limited to the actual store, but may include a virtual store. A virtual store is a means, method, etc. that can be used for selling products, although it is not a real store. An example of a virtual store is a medium that provides information on mail-order products. Examples of media include specialty channels such as television and radio, catalogs, postcards (leaflets, booklets), emails, web pages, online shops (net shops), and the like.

(3) Aspects As is clear from the above embodiments and modifications, the present disclosure includes the following aspects. In the following, reference numerals are given in parentheses only to clearly indicate the correspondence with the embodiments.

The first aspect is a price determination system (10), which includes a first determination unit (122) and a second determination unit (123). The first determination unit (122) determines a plurality of provisional prices (p0 to p2) for the target product (3). The second determination unit (123) manages the target store (20) obtained from the sales result of the target product (3) at the target store (20) at the plurality of provisional prices (p0 to p2). The price of the target product (3) is determined based on the change of the index (P0 to P2). According to this aspect, the price of the target product (3) suitable for improving the business condition of the target store (20) can be determined.

The second aspect is the pricing system (10) based on the first aspect. The price determination system (10) is a change that becomes an index of the influence of the price change of the target product (3) on the management index (P0 to P2) based on the change of the management index (P0 to P2). A change evaluation unit (124) for obtaining an evaluation value is further provided. The second determination unit (123) determines the price of the target product (3) using the change evaluation value. According to this aspect, it is possible to improve the accuracy of determining the price of the target product (3) suitable for improving the business condition of the target store (20).

The third aspect is the pricing system (10) based on the first aspect. The price determination system (10) is a change that becomes an index of the influence of the price change of the target product (3) on the management index (P0 to P2) based on the change of the management index (P0 to P2). A change evaluation unit (124) for obtaining an evaluation value is further provided. The second determination unit (123) determines the price of the target product (3) according to the change evaluation value from a plurality of price determination models for determining the price of the target product (3). Select the pricing model you want to use. According to this aspect, it is possible to improve the accuracy of determining the price of the target product (3) suitable for improving the business condition of the target store (20).

A fourth aspect is a pricing system (10) based on the third aspect. In the fourth aspect, each of the plurality of pricing models has a management index (P0 to P2) corresponding to the plurality of provisional prices (p0 to p2) and the plurality of provisional prices (p0 to p2), respectively. This is a model for determining the price of the target product (3) based on the above. According to this aspect, it is possible to improve the accuracy of determining the price of the target product (3) suitable for improving the business condition of the target store (20).

A fifth aspect is a pricing system (10) based on the fourth aspect. In the fourth aspect, the plurality of pricing models include an arithmetic model. The calculation model is a model for determining the price of the target product (3) based on the extreme value of the graph showing the relationship between the price of the target product (3) and the management index (P0 to P2). The graph is obtained from the management indicators (P0 to P2) corresponding to the plurality of provisional prices (p0 to p2) and the plurality of provisional prices (p0 to p2), respectively. The second determination unit (123) selects the calculation model when the change evaluation value is equal to or greater than the change threshold value. According to this aspect, it is possible to improve the accuracy of determining the price of the target product (3) suitable for improving the business condition of the target store (20).

The sixth aspect is the pricing system (10) based on the fourth or fifth aspect. In a sixth aspect, the plurality of pricing models include a selection model. The selection model is a model in which the provisional price (p0 to p2) having the best management index (P0 to P2) among the plurality of provisional prices (p0 to p2) is selected as the price of the target product (3). is there. The second determination unit (123) selects the selection model when the change evaluation value is less than the change threshold value. According to this aspect, it is possible to improve the accuracy of determining the price of the target product (3) suitable for improving the business condition of the target store (20).

A seventh aspect is a pricing system (10) based on any one of the second to sixth aspects. In the seventh aspect, the change evaluation value is the price elasticity of the target product (3). According to this aspect, it is possible to improve the accuracy of determining the price of the target product (3) suitable for improving the business condition of the target store (20).

An eighth aspect is a pricing system (10) based on any one of the first to seventh aspects. In the eighth aspect, the management index (P0 to P2) is combined with the target product (3) at any of the sales periods of the target product (3) at the plurality of provisional prices (p0 to p2). Includes indicators based on the sales of purchased products. According to this aspect, it is possible to improve the accuracy of determining the price of the target product (3) suitable for improving the business condition of the target store (20).

A ninth aspect is a pricing system (10) based on any one of the first to eighth aspects. In the ninth aspect, the management index (P0 to P2) refers to the target product (3) at any of the sales periods of the target product (3) at the plurality of provisional prices (p0 to p2). Includes metrics about customers who have purchased. According to this aspect, it is possible to improve the accuracy of determining the price of the target product (3) suitable for improving the business condition of the target store (20).

A tenth aspect is a pricing system (10) based on any one of the first to ninth aspects. In the tenth aspect, the first determination unit (122) selects the target product (3) from the group of products (3) having similar attributes. The first determination unit (122) satisfies the plurality of provisional provisions of the target product (3) so as to satisfy the constraint condition for reducing the influence of the price change of the target product (3) on the reference product. Determine at least one of the prices (p0 to p2). The reference product is a product (3) other than the target product (3) included in the group. According to this aspect, the management situation of the target store (20) can be improved even when the target product (3) is sold at the provisional price.

The eleventh aspect is a pricing system (10) based on the tenth aspect. In the eleventh aspect, the influence of the price change of the target product (3) on the reference product is evaluated based on the sales result of the product (3) included in the group. According to this aspect, the management situation of the target store (20) can be improved even when the target product (3) is sold at the provisional price.

A twelfth aspect is a pricing system (10) based on the tenth or eleventh aspect. In the twelfth aspect, the effect of the price change of the target product (3) on the reference product includes a decrease in the number of sales of the reference product. According to this aspect, the management situation of the target store (20) can be improved even when the target product (3) is sold at the provisional price.

A thirteenth aspect is a pricing system (10) based on any one of the tenth to twelfth aspects. In the thirteenth aspect, the price determination system (10) further includes a group change unit (126) that changes the group according to the influence of the price change of the target product (3). According to this aspect, the group of the product (3) can be appropriately changed.

A fourteenth aspect is a pricing system (10) based on the thirteenth aspect. In the fourteenth aspect, the group changing unit (126) excludes the product (3) included in the group but not affected by the price change of the target product (3) from the group. To do. According to this aspect, the group of the product (3) can be appropriately changed.

A fifteenth aspect is a pricing system (10) based on the thirteenth or fourteenth aspect. In the fifteenth aspect, the group changing unit (126) includes a product (3) that is not included in the group but is affected by the price change of the target product (3) in the group. According to this aspect, the group of the product (3) can be appropriately changed.

A sixteenth aspect is a pricing system (10) based on any one of the tenth to fifteenth aspects. In the sixteenth aspect, the constraint condition is a condition in which the influence of the price change of the target product (3) on the upper group including all the products (3) included in the group is taken into consideration. According to this aspect, the management situation of the target store (20) can be improved even when the target product (3) is sold at the provisional price.

A seventeenth aspect is a pricing system (10) based on any one of the tenth to sixteenth aspects. In the seventeenth aspect, at least one of the number of the target product and the number of the reference product is two or more. According to this aspect, the price of the target product (3) suitable for improving the business condition of the target store (20) can be determined.

The eighteenth aspect is a pricing system (10) based on any one of the tenth to seventeenth aspects. In the eighteenth aspect, the reference product is a product (3) whose profit or rate of return is larger than that of the target product (3) in the group. The constraint condition is to set the provisional price (p0 to p2) of the target product (3) to be equal to or higher than the price of the reference product. According to this aspect, the management situation of the target store (20) can be improved even when the target product (3) is sold at the provisional price.

A nineteenth aspect is a pricing system (10) based on any one of the tenth to seventeenth aspects. In the nineteenth aspect, the reference product is a product in the group whose quality or quantity is different from that of the target product (3). The constraint condition is that the provisional price (p0 to p2) of the target product (3) is different from the price of the reference product. According to this aspect, the management situation of the target store (20) can be improved even when the target product (3) is sold at the provisional price.

A twentieth aspect is a pricing system (10) based on any one of the tenth to seventeenth aspects. In the twentieth aspect, the constraint condition is to set the provisional price (p0 to p2) of the target product (3) to be equal to or higher than the representative value of the price of the product (3) included in the group. .. According to this aspect, the management situation of the target store (20) can be improved even when the target product (3) is sold at the provisional price.

The 21st aspect is a pricing system (10) based on any one of the 10th to 20th aspects. In the 21st aspect, the first determination unit (122) selects the target product (3) from the products (3) whose profit or rate of return is not the lowest in the group. According to this aspect, the management situation of the target store (20) can be improved even when the target product (3) is sold at the provisional price.

The 22nd aspect is a pricing system (10) based on any one of the 10th to 21st aspects. In the 22nd aspect, the price determination system (10) further includes a competition evaluation unit (125) for obtaining a competition evaluation value as an index of competition between the target product (3) and the reference product. The first determination unit (122) applies the constraint condition when the competition evaluation value is equal to or more than the competition threshold value, and does not apply the constraint condition when the competition evaluation value is less than the competition threshold value. According to this aspect, the management situation of the target store (20) can be improved even when the target product (3) is sold at the provisional price.

The 23rd aspect is a price determination method, which includes a first determination step and a second determination step. The first determination step is a step of determining a plurality of provisional prices (p0 to p2) for the target product (3). The second determination step is a management index (P0) relating to the target store (20) obtained from the sales result of the target product (3) at the target store (20) at the plurality of provisional prices (p0 to p2). It is a step of determining the price of the target product (3) based on the change of ~ P2). According to this aspect, the price of the target product (3) suitable for improving the business condition of the target store (20) can be determined.

A twenty-fourth aspect is a program for causing one or more processors to execute the pricing method of the twenty-third aspect. According to this aspect, the price of the target product (3) suitable for improving the business condition of the target store (20) can be determined.

10 Price determination system 122 1st decision department 123 2nd decision department 124 Change evaluation department 125 Competitive evaluation department 126 Group change department p0 to p2 Provisional price P0 to P2 Management index 20 Target stores 3 Products, target products

Claims (24)

The first decision section, which determines multiple provisional prices for the target product,
A second determination unit that determines the price of the target product based on a change in the management index related to the target store obtained from the sales result of the target product at the target stores at the plurality of provisional prices.
To prepare
Pricing system. Further provided with a change evaluation unit that obtains a change evaluation value that serves as an index of the influence of a change in the price of the target product on the management index based on the change in the management index.
The second determination unit determines the price of the target product using the change evaluation value.
The pricing system of claim 1. Further provided with a change evaluation unit that obtains a change evaluation value that serves as an index of the influence of a change in the price of the target product on the management index based on the change in the management index.
The second determination unit selects a price determination model used for determining the price of the target product according to the change evaluation value from a plurality of price determination models for determining the price of the target product.
The pricing system of claim 1. Each of the plurality of price determination models is a model for determining the price of the target product based on the plurality of provisional prices and the management index corresponding to each of the plurality of provisional prices.
The pricing system of claim 3. The plurality of pricing models include arithmetic models.
The calculation model is based on the extremum of the graph showing the relationship between the price of the target product and the management index, which is obtained from the management index corresponding to the plurality of provisional prices and the plurality of provisional prices. It is a model that determines the price of materials,
The second determination unit selects the calculation model when the change evaluation value is equal to or greater than the change threshold value.
The pricing system of claim 4. The plurality of pricing models include a selection model.
The selection model is a model in which the provisional price having the best management index among the plurality of provisional prices is selected as the price of the target product.
The second determination unit selects the selection model when the change evaluation value is less than the change threshold value.
The pricing system of claim 4 or 5. The change evaluation value is the price elasticity of the target product.
A pricing system according to any one of claims 2 to 6. The management index includes an index based on the sales of the product purchased together with the target product in any of the sales periods of the target product at the plurality of provisional prices.
A pricing system according to any one of claims 1 to 7. The management index includes an index relating to a customer who has purchased the target product during any of the sales periods of the target product at the plurality of provisional prices.
A pricing system according to any one of claims 1 to 8. The first determination unit
Select the target product from the group of products with similar attributes, and select
The plurality of provisional prices of the target product so as to satisfy the constraint condition for reducing the influence of the price change of the target product on the reference product which is a product other than the target product included in the group. Determine at least one of
A pricing system according to any one of claims 1-9. The effect of the price change of the target product on the reference product is evaluated based on the sales result of the product included in the group.
The pricing system of claim 10. The effect of the price change of the target product on the reference product includes a decrease in the number of sales of the reference product.
The pricing system of claim 10 or 11. Further provided with a group change unit that changes the group according to the influence of the price change of the target product.
A pricing system according to any one of claims 10-12. The group change unit excludes products included in the group but not affected by the price change of the target product from the group.
The pricing system of claim 13. The group change unit includes products that are not included in the group but are affected by the price change of the target product in the group.
The pricing system of claim 13 or 14. The constraint condition is a condition that takes into consideration the influence of a change in the price of the target product on the upper group including all the products included in the group.
A pricing system according to any one of claims 10 to 15. At least one of the number of the target products and the number of the reference products is 2 or more.
A pricing system according to any one of claims 10 to 16. The reference product is a product in the group whose profit or rate of return is larger than that of the target product.
The constraint condition is to set the provisional price of the target product to be equal to or higher than the price of the reference product.
A pricing system according to any one of claims 10 to 17. The reference product is a product in the group whose quality or quantity is different from that of the target product.
The constraint condition is to make the provisional price of the target product different from the price of the reference product.
A pricing system according to any one of claims 10 to 17. The constraint condition is to set the provisional price of the target product to be equal to or higher than the representative value of the price of the product included in the group.
A pricing system according to any one of claims 10 to 17. The first determination unit selects the target product from the products whose profit or rate of return is not the lowest in the group.
A pricing system according to any one of claims 10 to 20. Further provided with a competition evaluation unit for obtaining a competition evaluation value as an index of competition between the target product and the reference product.
The first determination unit
When the competition evaluation value is equal to or greater than the competition threshold, the constraint condition is applied.
If the competition evaluation value is less than the competition threshold, the constraint condition is not applied.
A pricing system according to any one of claims 10 to 21. The first decision step to determine multiple provisional prices for the target product,
A second determination step of determining the price of the target product based on a change in the management index related to the target store obtained from the sales result of the target product at the target stores at the plurality of provisional prices.
including,
Pricing method. To cause one or more processors to execute the pricing method of claim 23,
program.

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