CN111160820B

CN111160820B - Inventory management device, inventory management method, readable storage medium, and electronic device

Info

Publication number: CN111160820B
Application number: CN201910667375.6A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 二宮茂樹
Original assignee: Toshiba TEC Corp
Current assignee: Toshiba TEC Corp
Priority date: 2018-11-07
Filing date: 2019-07-23
Publication date: 2024-02-02
Anticipated expiration: 2039-07-23
Also published as: CN111160820A; JP2020077160A; JP7242258B2

Abstract

The invention discloses an inventory management device, an inventory management method, a readable storage medium, and an electronic device, which can easily move commodities from a store with rest inventory to a store with insufficient inventory. The inventory management device acquires the inventory numbers of the commodities in the plurality of stores. The inventory management device detects an inventory shortage commodity whose inventory number is reduced to an inventory number threshold value in any one of the stores. The inventory management device searches stores for which the inventory number of the inventory-deficient commodity remains. The inventory management device receives a delivery request for the commodity to the searched store, the commodity being delivered to the store whose inventory number is reduced to the inventory number threshold value.

Description

Inventory management device, inventory management method, readable storage medium, and electronic device

The present application claims priority to japanese application No. JP2018-209693, date 11, date 07, and the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Technical Field

The embodiment of the invention relates to an inventory management device, an inventory management method, a readable storage medium and electronic equipment.

Background

In general, in a store in a retail industry, sales of goods are predicted in advance, and orders are regularly made based on the predicted sales, so that lost sales opportunities due to out-of-stock (stock break) are prevented. However, inventory may become inadequate due to the sudden increase in sales volume. The order may be temporarily placed at a point in time when the inventory is insufficient. However, since time is required from the supplier to the shipment, a loss of sales opportunities occurs in many cases.

On the other hand, in some cases, the product that is not sufficiently stored in the store is left in other stores. In this case, if the product can be moved from a store with a surplus stock to a store with a shortage stock, both stores can be benefited.

Disclosure of Invention

The invention provides an inventory management device, an inventory management method, a readable storage medium, and an electronic device, which can easily move commodities from a store with rest inventory to a store with insufficient inventory.

To solve the above problems, an embodiment of the present invention provides an inventory management device, including: an acquisition unit, a detection unit, a search unit, and a reception unit. The acquisition unit acquires the stock numbers of the commodities in the plurality of stores. The detection unit detects an insufficient inventory item whose inventory count has decreased to an inventory count threshold value in any one of the stores. The search unit searches for the stores having the remaining inventory number of the inventory-deficient product. The receiving unit receives a delivery request for a store whose stock number is reduced to a stock number threshold value for the store whose stock number is insufficient.

With this configuration, the commodity can be easily moved from the store with stock to the store with insufficient stock.

For the inventory management device, in one possible implementation manner, the inventory management device further includes: and a notifying unit configured to notify a terminal set in association with a store in which the number of the insufficient-stock commodity is reduced to the threshold number of stocks, of the information of the store searched by the searching unit, wherein the receiving unit receives the distribution request from the terminal.

According to this configuration, the operator of the store with insufficient stock can directly perform the distribution request to the store with stock, and thus can cope with the problem promptly.

In one possible embodiment, the information of the store notified by the notification unit includes at least one of a remaining number, a price, and a shortest transmission date and time of the inventory-less commodity in the store.

According to this configuration, in a store where the inventory-deficient commodity is generated, the inventory-deficient commodity can be efficiently and preferentially requested to be transmitted or delivered at a higher cost.

For the inventory management device, in one possible implementation manner, the inventory management device further includes: and a predicting unit configured to predict whether or not the number of the inventory-insufficient products is equal to or smaller than a predetermined value smaller than the threshold value of the number of the inventory-insufficient products on the same day in a store where the number of the inventory-insufficient products is reduced to the threshold value of the number of the inventory-insufficient products, wherein the notifying unit varies the notification content according to a result of the prediction by the predicting unit.

With this configuration, an operator of a store in which a product with insufficient stock is generated can easily recognize whether an emergency delivery request is required.

For the inventory management device, in one possible implementation manner, the inventory management device further includes: and an instruction unit configured to instruct, in response to receiving the distribution request, distribution of the inventory-deficient commodity in a terminal set in association with a store at the distribution request.

According to this configuration, the store with stock can be automatically instructed to move the commodity to the store with insufficient stock, and therefore, the store with stock can be more quickly associated.

Another embodiment of the present invention provides an inventory management method, including the steps of: an acquisition step of acquiring the stock numbers of the commodities in the plurality of stores; a detection step of detecting an inventory shortage commodity in which the inventory count is reduced to an inventory count threshold value in any one of the stores; a searching step of searching stores with the rest of the inventory number of the inventory-deficient commodity; and a receiving step of receiving a delivery request for the commodity to the store whose stock number is reduced to the stock number threshold value with respect to the store searched by the search step.

According to this method, the commodity can be easily moved from the store with stock to the store with insufficient stock.

For the inventory management method, in one possible implementation, the method further includes: and a notifying step of notifying information of the store searched by the searching step to a terminal set in association with the store whose stock number of the insufficient-stock commodity is reduced to the stock number threshold, wherein the receiving step receives the distribution request from the terminal.

According to this method, an operator of a store with insufficient inventory can directly perform a delivery request to the store with inventory, and thus can quickly cope with the problem.

For the inventory management method, in one possible embodiment, the information of the store notified by the notifying step includes at least one of the remaining number, price, and shortest transmission date and time of the inventory-less commodity in the store.

According to this method, in a store where the inventory-deficient commodity is generated, the inventory-deficient commodity can be efficiently and preferentially requested to be transmitted or transmitted at a higher cost.

A third embodiment of the present invention provides an electronic apparatus including: at least one processor; and a memory communicatively coupled to the at least one processor, wherein the memory stores instructions executable by the at least one processor to enable the at least one processor to perform the inventory management method.

With this configuration, a function of easily moving the commodity from the store with stock to the store with insufficient stock can be realized.

A fourth embodiment of the present invention provides a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer instructions for causing a computer to perform the inventory management method.

Drawings

The inventory management device and the inventory management program according to the embodiments will be described below with reference to the drawings. The invention, together with a further understanding of the many of its attendant advantages, will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description, when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and the accompanying drawings, illustrate and do not constitute a part of this application, and are not intended to limit the invention, in any way:

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a system including an inventory management device of an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a configuration of store data stored in a store database;

fig. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of insufficient product data stored in the insufficient product database;

fig. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of the remaining product data stored in the remaining product database;

fig. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main circuit of the inventory adjustment server;

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the order in which the processor performs the primary information processing in accordance with the inventory management program;

fig. 7 is a flowchart specifically showing the order of the deficiency process shown in fig. 6;

fig. 8 is a flowchart specifically showing the order of the remaining processes shown in fig. 6;

fig. 9 is a flowchart specifically showing the order of the notification process shown in fig. 6;

fig. 10 is a flowchart specifically showing the order of the accepting process shown in fig. 9;

fig. 11 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a normal notification image displayed on a display device of an information processing terminal;

fig. 12 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an emergency notification image displayed on a display device of an information processing terminal;

fig. 13 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a shop remaining commodity list image displayed on a display device of an information processing terminal;

Fig. 14 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a shop remaining commodity list image displayed on a display device of an information processing terminal; and

fig. 15 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a distribution instruction image displayed on a display device of an information processing terminal.

Description of the reference numerals

1. Store system 2 information processing terminal

3. Inventory management device 4 stock database

5. Sales database 6 stock number database

7. Store database 8 shortage commodity database

9. Residual commodity database 11 processor

12. Auxiliary storage device of main memory 13

14. Interface between clock 15 and server

16. Communication interface 17 system transmission line

31. Data summarization server 32 inventory adjustment server

311 data collection interface 312, 322 database management unit

321 data analysis unit 323 notifies receiving unit

Detailed Description

An embodiment of an inventory management device that can easily move a commodity from a store with a surplus inventory to a store with a shortage inventory will be described below with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, stock adjustment is performed between stores in the vicinity (vicinity) where retail businesses are engaged in the same area.

Fig. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a system including an inventory management device 3 of an embodiment. The system includes a store system 1, an information processing terminal 2, an inventory management device 3, and a network connecting these. The network is typically the internet. The network may be a blocking network (closed network) dedicated to the system. The network may also comprise a mobile communications network.

The store system 1 is a generic name of a system constructed by each of a plurality of stores a, B, and..bureaus that operate (engage in) retail business in the same area. The store system 1 includes a POS (Point Of sale) system, an order management system, an inventory management system, and the like.

The POS system is a system for managing data on a point of sale time of a commodity in the store. The data managed in the POS system includes a commodity code, commodity name, number of sales, amount of sales, date and time of sales, and the like. The commodity code is a unique code set for each commodity to identify the commodity sold in each store.

The order management system is a system for managing data concerning orders for goods in the store. The data managed in the order management system includes commodity code, order quantity, order date and time, order quantity, order price, and the like.

The inventory management system is a system for managing data related to the inventory of the commodity in the store. The data managed in the inventory management system includes commodity codes, date and time of inventory designation, inventory number, and the like. The POS system, the order management system and the inventory management system can be directly applicable to the existing system of the same kind.

The information processing terminal 2 is a computer terminal that regards an order taker having an order service authority as an operator among a plurality of stores a, B, and..of retail stores operating in the same area. The order is responsible for human discretion. The store manager such as a store manager may be the order manager, or a store member other than the store manager may be the order manager. The number of persons in charge of ordering is not limited. However, in this embodiment, an example will be described in which one information processing terminal 2 is provided in one store.

The information processing terminal 2 includes at least a display device and an input device. The display device and the input device are typical touch panels. The information processing terminal 2 may be provided with a liquid crystal display as a display device and a keyboard, a mouse, or the like as an input device. The information processing terminal 2 can display the data received from the inventory management device 3 on a display device. The information processing terminal 2 can output the data input through the input device to the inventory management device 3. The information processing terminal 2 can be directly applied to a conventional personal computer, tablet terminal, smart phone, or the like.

The inventory management device 3 includes a data aggregation server 31 and an inventory adjustment server 32. The inventory management device 3 provides computer resources of the data aggregation server 31 and the inventory adjustment server 32 as cloud computing.

The data aggregation server 31 includes a data collection interface 311 and a database management section 312. The data collection interface 311 has a function for collecting data from the store system 1. That is, the data collection interface 311 collects data related to the point-in-sale time of the commodity from the POS system of each store. The data collection interface 311 collects data related to ordering of the commodity from the order management system of each store. The data collection interface 311 collects data related to the inventory of the commodity from the inventory management system of each store.

The database management unit 312 has a function of managing the stock database 4, the sales database 5, and the inventory database 6. The stock database 4 is an aggregate of data related to the stock of commodities in each store. The data related to the order, the order data, includes information such as store codes, commodity names, order date and time, order number, order price, and the like. The store code is a unique code set for each store to identify each store of store a, store B, and. The database management unit 312 creates shipment data based on data on the orders of the products collected from the order management systems of the stores, and stores the shipment data in the shipment database 4.

The sales database 5 is an aggregate of data related to sales of commodities in each store. The sales related data, so-called sales data, includes information such as store codes, commodity codes, sales dates and times, the number of sales, and sales prices. The database management unit 312 creates sales data based on data on sales time points of the commodities collected from POS systems of the respective stores, and stores the sales data in the sales database 5.

The stock number database 6 is an aggregate of data relating to the stock number of the commodity in each store. The data related to the number of stores, so-called stock number data, includes information such as store codes, commodity names, the number of stores, and the date and time specified by the number of stores, and the database management unit 312 creates stock number data based on the data related to the stock of commodities collected from the stock management system of each store, and stores the data in the stock number database 6.

The inventory adjustment server 32 includes a data analysis unit 321, a database management unit 322, and a notification reception unit 323. The data analysis unit 321 has a function of analyzing the data stored in the stock database 4, the sales database 5, and the stock number database 6 to create insufficient product data 8D or surplus product data 9D.

The database management unit 322 has a function of managing the store database 7, the insufficient product database 8, and the remaining product database 9. The store database 7 is an aggregate of store data 7D. The insufficient product database 8 is an aggregate of insufficient product data 8D. The remaining commodity database 9 is an aggregate of the remaining commodity data 9D.

Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an exemplary configuration of the store data 7D. The store data 7D includes a store code, a store name, a store closing time, a transmission time, a communication address, a stock number threshold table, and a remaining number threshold table. The store data 7D may include other items.

In fig. 2, the store name is the name of the store identified by the store code. The closing time is a time when the business of the store is ended. Incidentally, when the closing time differs depending on the week, the store data 7D includes closing times according to the week. The transmission time is a time when the commodity can be transmitted from its store to another store. The time of delivery is determined, for example, by the trade company and the logistics provider. The transmission time is not limited to one type. Various transmission times may also be determined during the day. When a plurality of transmission times are determined, the store data 7D includes the respective transmission times. The communication address is an address for network communication set for the information processing terminal 2 of the store. By transmitting data from the inventory management device 3 to the communication address, the data thereof is received by the information processing terminal 2 set with the communication address.

The stock number threshold value table is a table storing a threshold value for determining whether or not the stock of each commodity is in an insufficient state, in association with a commodity code of each commodity sold in its store. Hereinafter, this threshold value will be referred to as an inventory count threshold value. The inventory adjustment server 32 determines that the inventory number of the commodity is smaller than the inventory number threshold value as the insufficient inventory commodity. The inventory adjustment server 32 may determine that the inventory number of the commodity is equal to or less than the inventory number threshold value as the insufficient inventory commodity.

The remaining number threshold table is a table storing a threshold value for determining whether or not the inventory of each commodity is in a remaining state, in association with the commodity code of each commodity sold in its store. Hereinafter, this threshold will be referred to as a remaining number threshold. The inventory adjustment server 32 determines that the inventory number of the commodity is larger than the remaining number threshold value as the remaining commodity. The inventory adjustment server 32 may determine that the inventory number of the commodity is equal to or greater than the remaining number threshold value as the remaining commodity.

The database management unit 322 adds a new store to the system, and stores store data 7D related to the new store in the store database 7. When each store is withdrawn from the system, the database management unit 322 deletes the store data 7D related to the store from the store database 7. When the store closing time, the transmission time, the communication address, the stock number threshold table, or the remaining number threshold table is changed among stores added to the system, the database management unit 322 updates store data 7D of the store corresponding to the store stored in the database management unit 322.

Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of insufficient commodity data 8D. The insufficient commodity data 8D includes a store code, commodity name, stock number threshold value, and emergency flag F. The insufficient commodity data 8D may include other items.

In fig. 3, the emergency flag F is one-bit information for identifying whether or not there is a need to urgently deal with the shortage of stock of the commodity. In the present embodiment, when a current date out of stock (stock break) is predicted, it is determined that emergency processing is necessary. When an emergency treatment is necessary, the emergency flag F is "1". When the emergency treatment is not necessary, the emergency flag F is "0". The database management unit 322 holds the insufficient product data 8D created by the data analysis unit 321 in the insufficient product database 8.

Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of the remaining product data 9D. The remaining commodity data 9D includes a store code, commodity name, remaining number, commodity price, and shortest transmission date and time. The remaining commodity data 9D may include other items.

In fig. 4, the remaining number is a number obtained by subtracting a remaining number threshold from the inventory number. The shortest transmission date and time is the shortest date and time at which a store designated by the store code can transmit a commodity designated by the commodity code to other stores. The database management unit 322 stores the remaining product data 9D created by the data analysis unit 321 in the remaining product database 9.

The description returns to fig. 1.

The notification reception unit 323 has a notification function to the information processing terminal 2 and a response function from the information processing terminal 2. The notifying function includes a function of notifying the information processing terminal 2 of the store in which the commodity whose stock number is lower than the stock number threshold value exists, a function of notifying that the stock number of the commodity is lower than the stock number threshold value, or a function of notifying information of other stores in which the stock number of the commodity is higher than the remaining number threshold value. The response receiving function is a function of receiving a response from the information processing terminal 2 that has received the notification by the notification function.

Fig. 5 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the essential part of the inventory control server 32. The inventory adjustment server 32 realizes functions as a data analysis unit 321, a database management unit 322, and a notification reception unit 323 by a circuit configuration and an inventory management program described below.

As shown in fig. 5, the inventory adjustment server 32 includes a processor 11, a main memory 12, an auxiliary storage device 13, a clock 14, an inter-server interface 15, a communication interface 16, and a system transmission line 17. The system transmission line 17 includes an address bus, a data bus, a control signal line, and the like. The stock adjustment server 32 connects the processor 11, the main memory 12, the auxiliary storage 13, the clock 14, the inter-server interface 15, and the communication interface 16 to the system transmission line 17. The inventory adjustment server 32 is a computer configured by the processor 11, the main memory 12, the auxiliary storage device 13, and the system transmission line 17 connecting these.

The processor 11 corresponds to a central part of the computer. The processor 11 controls each unit to realize various functions as the inventory control server 32 in accordance with an inventory management program that operates under the management of the operating system. The processor 11 is, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit: central processing unit).

The main memory 12 corresponds to a main memory portion of the computer. The main memory 12 includes a nonvolatile memory area and a volatile memory area. The main memory 12 stores an operating system in a nonvolatile memory area. The main memory 12 stores data necessary for the processor 11 to execute processing for controlling each section in a nonvolatile memory area or a volatile memory area. The main memory 12 uses a volatile memory area as a work area suitable for rewriting data by the processor 11. The main memory 12 also stores applications including inventory management programs in a nonvolatile storage area or a volatile storage area. The nonvolatile Memory area is, for example, a ROM (Read Only Memory). Volatile storage area is, for example, RAM (Random Access Memory: random access memory).

The auxiliary storage device 13 corresponds to an auxiliary storage section of the computer. The auxiliary storage device 13 uses, for example, an EEPROM (Electric Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory), an HDD (Hard disk Drive), an SSD (Solid State Drive: solid state Drive), or the like. The auxiliary storage device 13 stores data used when the processor 11 performs various processes, data created by the processes of the processor 11, and the like. The auxiliary storage device 13 also stores application programs including inventory management programs.

The clock 14 counts the date and time. The processor 11 processes the date and time counted by the clock 14 as the current date and time.

The inter-server interface 15 performs data communication with the data aggregation server 31. The communication interface 16 performs data communication with the information processing terminals 2 of the respective stores.

The inventory adjustment server 32 of the above configuration is provided with a store database 7, an insufficient product database 8, and a remaining product database 9 in the auxiliary storage device 13. The processor 11 performs information processing in accordance with the inventory management program, and the inventory adjustment server 32 has functions as a data analysis unit 321, a database management unit 322, and a notification reception unit 323.

Fig. 6 to 10 are flowcharts showing the order of main information processing performed by the processor 11 in accordance with the inventory management program. Hereinafter, the operation of the inventory adjustment server 32 will be described with reference to these flowcharts. The operation described below is an example. The sequence thereof is not particularly limited as long as the same result is obtained.

The processor 11 starts the information processing of the sequence shown in the flowchart of fig. 6 every time the time counted by the clock 14 passes by N minutes, and proceeds to Act1. In addition, "N" for N minutes is arbitrary. The smaller the value of "N", the higher the resolution (resolution capability) of the inventory management. However, when the load on the processor 11 increases, a corresponding increase in speed is also demanded. Therefore, the cost increases because the high-quality processor 11 is used. The value manager of "N" is appropriately determined in consideration of resolution, cost, and the like.

The processor 11 empties the insufficient commodity database 8 and the remaining commodity database 9 as Act 1. The processor 11 communicates with the data aggregation server 31 as Act2 via the inter-server interface 15, and searches the stock number database 6. Then, the processor 11 checks whether or not the unprocessed stock number data is stored in the stock number database 6 as Act 3. As described above, the processor 11 executes this process every N minutes. Accordingly, the stock number data of a specific date and time, which is the stock number, is set as unprocessed at the date and time before and after N minutes according to the time counted by the clock 14.

When the unprocessed stock number data is detected from the stock number database 6, the processor 11 determines YES at Act3 and proceeds to Act4. The processor 11 reads, as Act4, the oldest stock number data of the specified date and time from the unprocessed stock number data. The processor 11 obtains the store code, the commodity code, and the stock number S1 from the stock number data as Act 5. The processor 11 searches the store database 7 using the store code obtained from the stock number data as a search key as Act 6. Then, the processor 11 reads, as Act7, store data 7D of a store code including a search key from the store database 7.

The processor 11 refers to the stock number threshold table included in the store data 7D as Act8, and acquires the stock number threshold S2 associated with the commodity code acquired from the stock number data. The processor 11 confirms whether the stock number S1 is lower than the stock number threshold S2 as Act 9. When the stock number S1 is lower than the stock number threshold S2, the processor 11 determines YES in Act9 and proceeds to Act10. The processor 11 identifies, as Act10, the commodity identified by the commodity code obtained from the stock number data as an inventory-insufficient commodity. Further, the processor 11 performs the shortage processing for the inventory shortage commodity. The shortage processing will be described later.

When the stock number S1 is not lower than the stock number threshold S2, the processor 11 determines NO at Act9 and proceeds to Act11. The processor 11 confirms whether the stock number S1 is higher than the stock number threshold S2 as Act11. When the stock number S1 is higher than the stock number threshold S2, the processor 11 determines YES at Act11 and proceeds to Act12. The processor 11 identifies, as Act12, the commodity identified by the commodity code obtained from the stock number data as the stock remaining commodity. Further, the processor 11 performs a remaining process for the inventory remaining commodity. The remaining process is described later.

When the stock number S1 is equal to the stock number threshold S2, the processor 11 determines NO at Act11 and returns to Act2. When the shortage processing or the surplus processing is ended, the processor 11 also returns to Act2. The processor 11 searches the stock number database 6 and confirms whether or not the unprocessed stock number data is stored in the stock number database 6. At this time, the processor 11 confirms whether or not the stock number data of the old date and time is present after the stock number data read from the stock number database 6 in the previous processing of Act 4. When the matching stock number data exists in the stock number database 6, the processor 11 reads in its stock number data from the stock number database 6. The processor 11 executes the processing of the ACTs 5 to ACT12 in the same manner as described above.

The processor 11 sequentially executes the processing of Act4 to Act12 on the unprocessed stock number data held in the stock number database 6. If it is confirmed that the unprocessed stock number data does not exist in the stock number database 6, the processor 11 determines NO at Act3 and proceeds to Act13. The processor 11 checks whether or not the insufficient product data 8D is stored in the insufficient product database 8 as Act13. The insufficient commodity database 8 is emptied in the process of Act 1. However, there is a possibility that new insufficient commodity data 8D is stored by the subsequent insufficient processing.

When the insufficient product data 8D is stored in the insufficient product database 8, the processor 11 determines YES in Act13 and proceeds to Act14. The processor 11 performs notification processing as Act14. The notification process will be described later.

When the insufficient product data 8D is not stored in the insufficient product database 8, the processor 11 determines NO at Act13, and skips the notification process at Act14. Thus, if the notification processing is completed or skipped, the processor 11 ends the information processing of the order shown in the flowchart of fig. 6.

Fig. 7 is a flowchart showing the main sequence of the shortage processing. When the shortage processing is entered, the processor 11 calculates the remaining time T of business hours as Act 21. That is, the processor 11 calculates, as the remaining time T, a time from the current time counted by the clock 14 to the closed time included in the store data read from the store database 7 in the processing of Act 7.

The processor 11 calculates, as Act22, an average sales number X of the articles for which insufficient inventory is predicted to be sold for the remaining time T thereof. That is, the processor 11 communicates with the data aggregation server 31 via the inter-server interface 15 to search the sales database 5. At this time, the processor 11 uses the store code included in the store data read from the store database 7 in the processing of Act7 as the first search key. Further, the processor 11 uses the commodity code of the inventory-deficient commodity as the second search key. Further, the processor 11 extracts sales data of a sales time after the current time from sales data including a store code as a first search key and a commodity code as a second search key. At this time, the processor 11 takes sales data made during a search period from the present day to one month before the past as a search target, for example. The processor 11 divides the number of sales data extracted from the sales database 5 by the number of business days during the search, and takes the quotient thereof as the average sales number X.

The processor 11 subtracts the average sales number X from the stock number S as Act23 to obtain a difference D1. Then, the processor 11 confirms whether the difference D1 is equal to or smaller than "0" as Act 24. At differences D1 greater than "0", there is little likelihood that under-stocked goods will be out of stock during the end of business hours to this day. In contrast, when the difference D1 is equal to or less than "0", there is a high possibility that the inventory-deficient commodity is out of stock until the end of today's business hours.

When the difference D1 is greater than "0", the processor 11 determines NO in Act24 and proceeds to Act25. The processor 11 sets the emergency flag F to "0" as Act25. When the difference D1 is equal to or less than "0", the processor 11 determines YES in Act24 and proceeds to Act26. The processor 11 sets the emergency flag F to "1" as Act26.

When the processing of Act25 or Act26 is completed, the processor 11 creates insufficient commodity data 8D as Act 27. That is, the processor 11 extracts the store code, the commodity name, and the stock number from the stock number data read from the stock number database 6 in the processing of Act 4. The processor 11 adds the stock number threshold S2 and the emergency flag F to the data extracted from the stock number data, and creates insufficient commodity data 8D. The stock number threshold S2 is a threshold obtained in the process of Act8 in fig. 6. The emergency flag F is a flag set in the processing of Act25 or Act26. The processor 11 saves the insufficient item data 8D as Act28 to the insufficient item database 8. As described above, the processor 11 ends the shortage processing of Act 10.

Fig. 8 is a flowchart showing the main sequence of the remaining processing. When the remaining processing is entered, the processor 11 calculates the remaining time T of business hours as Act 31. Further, the processor 11 calculates, as Act32, an average sales number X of the remaining articles of the inventory which are predicted to be sold for the remaining time T thereof. The processing of Act31 and Act32 is similar to the processing of Act21 and Act22 described above, and therefore, description thereof is omitted here.

The processor 11 subtracts the average sales number X from the stock number S as Act33 to obtain a difference D2. Further, the processor 11 obtains a remaining number threshold S3 as Act 34. That is, the processor 11 refers to the remaining number threshold table included in the store data 7D acquired in the process of Act7 of fig. 6, and acquires the remaining number threshold S3 associated with the commodity code of the remaining commodity in stock.

The processor 11 confirms whether the difference D2 exceeds the remaining number threshold S3 as Act 35. When the difference D2 does not exceed the remaining number threshold S3, there is no remaining commodity corresponding to the remaining commodity to be moved to the other store in the inventory of the remaining commodity. At this time, the processor 11 determines NO at Act35, and ends the remaining processing.

When the difference D2 exceeds the remaining number threshold S3, the store stores remaining products, of which there are remaining products to be moved to other stores. At this time, the processor 11 determines YES in Act35, and proceeds to Act36. The processor 11 calculates the remaining number by subtracting the remaining number threshold S3 from the difference D2 as Act36.

The processor 11 communicates with the data summarization server 31 as Act37 via the inter-server interface 15 and retrieves the shipment database 4. At this time, the processor 11 uses the store code included in the store data 7D as a search key. The processor 11 reads the shipment data including the store code of the search key from the shipment database 4, and obtains the shipment price.

The processor 11 determines the shortest transmission date and time as Act 38. That is, the processor 11 obtains the shortest transmission time from the store data 7D. At this time, when there are a plurality of transmission times, the processor 11 acquires the latest time (the latest time after acquiring the current time) among the times preceding the current time counted by the clock 14. For example, when 11 hours 00 minutes and 19 hours 00 minutes are set as the transmission time, the current time is 11 hours 00 minutes later to 18 hours 59 minutes earlier, and 19 hours 00 minutes are selected as the transmission time. In contrast, when the current time is 19 hours 00 minutes later or 10 hours 59 minutes earlier, 11 hours 00 minutes is selected as the transmission time. When the acquired time is the current time of the day, the processor 11 determines the date and time of the day as the shortest transmission date and time. When the acquired time is the time elapsed on the same day, the processor 11 determines the date of the next day and the acquired time as the shortest transmission date and time.

The processor 11 creates the remaining commodity data 9D as Act 39. That is, the processor 11 extracts the store code, the commodity code, and the commodity name from the stock number data read from the stock number database 6 in the process of Act4 of fig. 6. The processor 11 adds the remaining amount, the shipping price, and the shortest delivery date and time to the data extracted from the stock number data to create remaining product data 9D. The remaining number is the number calculated in the processing of Act 36. The price of the shipment is the price obtained in the process of Act 37. The shortest transmission date and time is the time acquired in the processing of Act 38. The processor 11 saves the remaining commodity data 9D as Act40 to the remaining commodity database 9. The processor 11 ends the remaining processing of Act11 as described above.

Fig. 9 is a flowchart showing a main sequence of notification processing. When the notification processing is entered, the processor 11 retrieves the insufficient item database 8 as Act 51. Then, the processor 11 determines as Act52 whether or not the unprocessed insufficient product data 8D is present. The unprocessed insufficient product data 8D is the insufficient product data 8D that is not read in Act53 described later.

Initially, there is unprocessed insufficient product data 8D in the insufficient product database 8. That is, the processor 11 determines YES in Act52 and proceeds to Act53.

The processor 11 reads in unprocessed insufficient product data 8D from the insufficient product database 8 as Act 53. The processor 11 obtains the store code from the insufficient commodity data 8D as Act 54. Then, the processor 11 searches the store database 7 using the store code as a search key as Act 55.

The processor 11 reads, as Act56, store data 7D including a search key as a store code from the store database 7. Then, the processor 11 obtains the communication address from the store data 7D as Act 57. The processor 11 searches for the emergency flag F included in the commodity data 8D as Act 58. Here, when the emergency flag is set to "0", there is a low possibility that the inventory-insufficient commodity will be out of stock on the same day in the store identified by the store code of the store data 7D. At this time, the processor 11 determines NO at Act58, and proceeds to Act59. The processor 11 controls the communication interface 16 so that a normal notification instruction is transmitted as Act59. By this control, the communication interface 16 transmits a normal notification instruction to the information processing terminal 2 identified by the communication address acquired in the processing of Act57 via the network. The general notice instruction includes, in addition to data representing a general notice message, a store code, a commodity name, a stock number threshold value, an emergency flag, and the like of the commodity of which stock is insufficient.

On the other hand, when the emergency flag is set to "1", there is a high possibility that the inventory-insufficient commodity will be out of stock on the same day in the store identified by the store code of the store data 7D. At this time, the processor 11 determines YES at Act58 and proceeds to Act60. The processor 11 controls the communication interface 16 as Act60 to cause an emergency notification instruction to be sent. By this control, the communication interface 16 transmits an emergency notification instruction to the information processing terminal 2 identified by the communication address acquired in the processing of Act57 via the network. The emergency notification instruction includes, in addition to data indicating a message of emergency notification, a store code, a commodity name, a stock number threshold, an emergency flag, and the like of the insufficient commodity.

Here, the difference between the normal notification and the emergency notification will be described with reference to fig. 11 and 12. Fig. 11 shows an example of the normal notification image SC1 displayed on the display device in the information processing terminal 2 that received the normal notification instruction. As shown in fig. 11, the normal notification image SC1 displays a message M1 indicating a normal notification, and also displays commodity codes, commodity names, numbers of stock and thresholds of stock for the stock-insufficient commodities whose stock number is lower than the threshold of stock number in the store "AAA store" where the information processing terminal 2 is regarded as the notification. The message M1 is a message informing that the stock number of the commodity is lower than the stock number threshold value and that there is a possibility that the stock shortage occurs. In the normal notification image SC1, a button image BT1 of "delivery order" and a button image BT2 of "no delivery order" are displayed as means (section) for allowing the operator to select whether to order delivery of the inventory-deficient commodity in other stores.

The operator who has confirmed the normal notification image SC1 decides whether to order other stores to deliver the inventory-deficient commodity. Further, at the time of delivery request, the operator performs an operation for inputting the button image BT1 of "delivery request". When the delivery request is not issued, the operator performs an operation for inputting the button image BT2 of "delivery request". When the display device has a touch panel, the operation is a touch operation of the button image. When the display device is not a touch panel, a cursor operation using a mouse, a keyboard, or the like is typical.

Fig. 12 shows an example of the emergency notification image SC2 displayed on the display device in the information processing terminal 2 that has received the emergency notification instruction. As shown in fig. 12, in addition to the message M2 indicating the emergency notification, the emergency notification image SC2 displays a commodity code, a commodity name, a stock number, and a stock number threshold of the stock-insufficient commodity whose stock number is lower than the stock number threshold in the store "AAA store" where the information processing terminal 2 is the notification. The message M1 is a message informing that the stock number of the commodity is lower than the stock number threshold and that there is a possibility of out-of-stock in the present day. The emergency notification image SC2 also displays a button image BT1 of "delivery request" and a button image BT2 of "no delivery request" in the same manner as the normal notification image SC 1.

The operator who has confirmed the emergency notification image SC2 decides whether to order other shops to deliver the inventory-deficient commodity. Further, at the time of delivery request, the operator performs an operation for inputting the button image BT1 of "delivery request". When the delivery request is not issued, the operator performs an operation for inputting the button image BT2 of "delivery request". The operation method is the same as when the image SC1 is normally notified.

When the button image BT1 for inputting the "delivery request" is operated, an acknowledgement command is transmitted from the information processing terminal 2 to the stock adjustment server 32. When the button image BT2 for inputting the "no delivery request" is operated, a negative acknowledgement command is transmitted from the information processing terminal 2 to the stock adjustment server 32. The positive acknowledgement command or the negative acknowledgement command always includes a store code, a commodity name, a stock number threshold value, an emergency flag, and the like included in the normal notification command or the emergency notification command.

The description of fig. 9 is returned.

The processor 11 of the inventory adjustment server 32 that controls transmission of the normal notification instruction or the emergency notification instruction waits for reception of a response instruction from the information processing terminal 2 as Act 61. If the response instruction is received through the communication interface 16, the processor 11 determines YES at Act61 and proceeds to Act62. The processor 11 determines the type of the response instruction as Act62.

When the response command is a negative response command, the processor 11 determines NO at Act62 and returns to Act51. When the response instruction is an affirmative response instruction, the processor 11 determines YES in Act62 and proceeds to Act63. The processor 11 performs an acceptance process as Act63. The receiving process will be described later. When the acceptance process ends, the processor 11 returns to Act51.

The processor 11 returning to Act51 retrieves the insufficient item database 8. If the presence of unprocessed insufficient commodity data 8D has been confirmed, the processor 11 executes the processing of Act53 to Act63 in the same manner as described above.

As described above, when the processing from Act53 to Act63 is completed with respect to the unprocessed insufficient product data 8D, the processor 11 determines NO at Act52 and ends the notification processing.

Fig. 10 is a flowchart showing the main sequence of the acceptance process. When the reception process is entered, the processor 11 obtains, as Act71, the commodity code of the inventory-insufficient commodity from the acknowledgement instruction. Then, the processor 11 searches the remaining product database 9 using the product code as a search key as Act 72. The processor 11 determines, as Act73, whether or not there is any remaining product data 9D of the product code including the search key. When there is one matching remaining product data 9D in the remaining product database 9, the processor 11 determines YES in Act73 and proceeds to Act74.

The processor 11 looks up the emergency flag F contained in the acknowledgement instruction as Act 74. When the emergency flag F is set to "0", the processor 11 determines NO in Act74, and proceeds to Act76 with skipping Act75. The processor 11 creates a shop remaining commodity list (list) using the remaining commodity data 9D including the commodity code of the search key as Act76.

In contrast, when the emergency flag F is set to "1", the processor 11 determines YES at Act74 and proceeds to Act75. The processor 11 confirms, as Act75, whether or not there is remaining product data 9D whose shortest transmission date and time is the current day among the remaining product data 9D of the product code including the search key. When present, processor 11 determines YES in Act75 and proceeds to Act76. The processor 11 creates a shop remaining commodity list using the remaining commodity data 9D having the shortest transmission date and time as the current day, as Act76, from the remaining commodity data 9D including the commodity code of the search key.

The store remaining commodity list will be described later. If the store remaining commodity list has been created, the processor 11 controls the communication interface 16 so that the information processing terminal 2 that has sent the acknowledgement command source sends data of the store remaining commodity list as the recipient address as Act 77. With this control, the communication interface 16 transmits data of the shop remaining commodity list through the network. The data includes, in addition to the store remaining commodity list data, a store code, commodity name, stock number threshold value, emergency flag, and the like included in the acknowledgement command.

The data of the shop remaining commodity list transmitted from the stock adjustment server 32 is received by the information processing apparatus 2 of the acknowledgement instruction transmission source. The display device of the information processing terminal 2 that has received the data of the store remaining commodity list displays a store remaining commodity list image.

Fig. 13 is an example of the shop remaining commodity list image SC3 when the emergency flag F is set to "0", that is, when the operator inputs the button image BT1 of "delivery request" in the normal notification image SC1 shown in fig. 11. As shown in fig. 13, in the remaining store commodity list image SC3, a remaining store commodity list L1 is displayed in which the store name, the remaining number, and the shipping price and the shortest transmission date and time specified by the store code of the remaining commodity data 9D that is the object of the remaining store commodity list are listed. A radio button RB is displayed in association with the shop name in the shop remaining commodity list L1. In addition, the store remaining product list image SC3 also displays the product codes, product names, the number of products, and the threshold number of stock for the insufficient products whose stock number is lower than the threshold number of stock. The store remaining commodity list image SC3 displays a transmission number box IN1, a button image BT3 of [ execute ], and a button image BT4 of [ stop ].

Fig. 14 shows an example of the shop remaining commodity list image SC4 when the emergency flag F is set to "1", that is, when the operator inputs the "delivery request" button image BT1 in the emergency notification image SC2 shown in fig. 12. As shown in fig. 14, the store remaining commodity list image SC4 displays a store remaining commodity list L2 created from the remaining commodity data 9D whose shortest transmission date and time is the current day. The other display is similar to the store remaining product list image SC 3.

The operator who has confirmed the store remaining product list image SC3 or SC4 determines the store and the distribution number of the distribution request from the store remaining product list L1 or L2 in consideration of the remaining number, the purchase price, and the shortest delivery date and time. Then, the operator selects the radio button RB associated with the shop name of the shop for which the delivery request is made, and inputs the delivery number IN the delivery number input box IN 1. After that, the operator performs an operation for inputting the [ execution ] button image BT 3. When the delivery request is terminated, the operator performs an operation for inputting the [ terminate ] button image BT 4.

Further, when the button image BT3 for inputting [ execute ] is operated, an execution response instruction is transmitted from the information processing terminal 2 to the inventory adjustment server 32. When the button image BT4 for inputting [ suspend ] is operated, a suspension response instruction is transmitted from the information processing terminal 2 to the inventory adjustment server 32. The execution response command includes a store code, a commodity name, a stock number threshold, an emergency flag, and the like included IN the acknowledgement command, IN addition to the store code of the entrusted store selected from the store remaining commodity list L1 or L2 and the distribution number input to the distribution number input box IN 1.

The description returns to fig. 10.

In Act77, processor 11, which controls the transmission of the store remaining commodity list, confirms as Act78 whether or not the execution response instruction has been received. When the execution response instruction is not received, processor 11 determines NO at Act78 and proceeds to Act79. Processor 11 acknowledges whether or not an abort response command is received as Act79. When the suspension response instruction is not received, processor 11 determines NO at Act79 and returns to Act78. Here, processor 11 waits for reception of the execution response instruction or reception of the suspension response instruction in Act78 and Act79. In the state of waiting for acceptance, when receiving the suspend response instruction via communication interface 16, processor 11 determines NO at Act79, ending the acceptance process.

Upon receiving the execution response instruction through the communication interface 16, the processor 11 determines YES in Act78, and proceeds to Act80. The processor 11 obtains the store code of the requesting store from the execution response instruction as Act80. The processor 11 searches the store database 7 using the store code as a search key as Act 81. The processor 11 reads, as Act82, store data 7D including a search key as a store code from the store database 7.

The processor 11 obtains a communication address from the store data 7D as Act 83. The processor 11 takes the communication address as the recipient address as Act84, and controls the communication interface 16 so that the delivery instruction is transmitted. By this control, the communication interface 16 transmits a distribution instruction to the information processing terminal 2 identified by the communication address acquired in the processing of Act83 via the network. The delivery instruction includes a delivery number, a commodity code, a commodity name, a shortest delivery date and time, a store code of a delivery request source store, and the like included in the execution response instruction.

The delivery instruction is received by the information processing terminal 2 of the delivery request store. The display device of the information processing terminal 2 that received the distribution instruction displays the distribution instruction image.

Fig. 15 shows an example of the distribution instruction image SC5 when the store name "CCC store" is selected from the store remaining product list image SC3 shown in fig. 13 and the distribution number "10" is input. The operator who has confirmed the distribution instruction image SC5 can know that 10 items of merchandise identified by the commodity code "1234999999" are distributed from the store designated store name "CCC" of the store designated store name "AAA". At this time, the operator is requested to make an arrangement of stores for distributing 10 items of merchandise identified by the merchandise code "1234999999" to the store name "AAA". In addition, for distribution of the commodity, there is a case where a commodity purchase price is paid from a store of store name "AAA" to a store of store name "CCC". In this case, the inventory adjustment server 32 may manage the accounts of the stores, and automatically collect an amount corresponding to the purchase price from the account of the store of the distribution request source to the account of the store of the distribution request place.

The description of fig. 10 is returned.

As a result of the search of the remaining product database 9 in Act72, when the matching remaining product data 9D cannot be detected, the processor 11 determines NO in Act73 and proceeds to Act85. Further, when the remaining commodity data 9D whose shortest transmission date and time is the same day does not exist in Act75, the processor 11 determines NO and proceeds to Act85. The processor 11 uses the information processing terminal 2 of the transmission source of the acknowledgement command as the recipient address system communication interface 16 as Act85 to transmit a command for disabling delivery of the notification. With this control, the communication interface 16 transmits an instruction of the inability to distribute the notification through the network. The instruction of the unable distribution notice is received by the information processing terminal 2 of the acknowledgement instruction transmission source. In the information processing terminal 2, a display device displays a message notifying that distribution is impossible. Therefore, the information processing terminal 2 can recognize that there is no nearby store that has remained for the ordered inventory-deficient commodity.

As described above, the computer mainly including the processor 11 of the inventory adjustment server 32 forms an acquisition unit (acquisition means, acquisition step) for acquiring the inventory numbers of the commodities in the plurality of stores by executing the processing of Act1 to Act5 in fig. 6. The acquisition unit is realized by the functions of the data analysis unit 321 and the database management unit 322.

The computer executes the processing of Act6 to Act10 in fig. 6 to constitute a detection unit (detection means, detection step) for detecting an inventory shortage commodity whose inventory count has decreased to an inventory count threshold value in any store. The detection unit is realized by the functions of the data analysis unit 321 and the database management unit 322.

The computer executes the processing of Act11 and Act12 shown in fig. 6 to constitute a search unit (search means, search step) for searching stores for which the number of inventory items in the inventory is insufficient and the remaining inventory is left. The search unit is realized by the functions of the data analysis unit 321 and the database management unit 322.

Further, although the computer executes the processing of Act13 and Act14 in fig. 6, the computer executes the processing of Act51 to Act60 in fig. 9 with respect to Act14, and thereby forms a notification unit (notification means, notification step) for notifying information of stores searched by the search unit to a terminal set in association with stores whose number of inventory items in inventory is reduced to a threshold number of inventory items. The notification unit is realized by the functions of the database management unit 322 and the notification reception unit 323.

The computer executes the processing of Act61 to Act63 in fig. 9, but executes the processing of Act71 to Act79 in fig. 10 with respect to Act63, thereby forming a receiving unit (receiving means, receiving step) for receiving a delivery request of the commodity to the store whose stock number is reduced to the stock number threshold value for the store whose stock number is insufficient, which is searched by the search unit. The receiving unit is realized by the function of the database management unit 322 and the notification receiving unit 323.

Furthermore, it is possible to provide a device for the treatment of a disease. The computer executes the processing of Act80 to Act84 in fig. 10 to constitute an instruction unit (instruction means) for instructing the distribution of the inventory-deficient commodity to the terminal set in association with the store at the distribution request, based on the distribution request received. The instruction unit is realized by the functions of the database management unit 322 and the notification reception unit 323.

Further, the computer executes the processing of Act21 to Act25 shown in fig. 7 to constitute a prediction unit (prediction means) for predicting whether or not the stock number of the under-stock commodity is equal to or less than a predetermined value smaller than the stock number threshold value on the same day in the store where the stock number of the under-stock commodity is reduced to the stock number threshold value. The prediction unit is realized by the functions of the data analysis unit 321 and the database management unit 322.

According to this embodiment, by providing the acquisition unit, the detection unit, the search unit, and the reception unit, it is possible to easily move the commodity from the store with the rest of the stock to the store with the shortage of the stock.

Further, by providing the notification unit, the operator of the store with insufficient stock can directly perform the delivery request for the store with the rest of stock. Therefore, it is possible to quickly respond.

The information of the store notified by the notification unit includes the remaining number of the inventory-deficient commodity in the store, the commodity-in price, and the shortest transmission date and time. Therefore, the operator can preferentially determine the remaining number, preferentially determine the shipping price, and preferentially determine the shortest delivery date and time for the store for which delivery request is to be made. Therefore, in the store where the inventory-deficient commodity is generated, the delivery of the inventory-deficient commodity can be requested with priority on efficiency or priority on cost.

Further, since the notification content is different according to the prediction result of the predicting unit, the operator of the store where the inventory shortage commodity occurs can easily recognize whether or not the urgent delivery request is required.

Further, by providing the instruction unit, it is possible to automatically instruct the store in which the remaining stores are stored to move the commodity to the store in which the stores are insufficient. Thus, it is possible to more quickly correspond.

While the above description has been given of the embodiment of the inventory management device that easily moves the commodity from the store where the inventory remains to the store where the inventory becomes insufficient, the embodiment is not limited thereto.

In the above embodiment, the case of inventory adjustment between neighboring stores that run retail business in the same area is exemplified. In this regard, the adjustment of the stock may be performed between stores regardless of the region. At this time, an item of the location is added to the store data 7D, for example. The inventory adjustment server 32 may calculate the distance between the location of the consignment source store where the inventory number of a certain commodity is lower than the inventory number threshold and the location of the consignment destination store where the inventory number of the commodity is higher than the remaining number threshold, and store the consignment destination store with a predetermined distance or less in the store remaining commodity list.

In the embodiment, the inventory management device 3 is illustrated as including the data aggregation server 31 and the inventory adjustment server 32. In this regard, the inventory management device 3 may include only the inventory adjustment server 32. That is, the data aggregation server 31 may be implemented by a system different from the inventory management device 3. The stock adjustment server 32 may not be provided with the store database 7, the insufficient product database 8, and the surplus product database 9. The store database 7, the insufficient product database 8, and the surplus product database 9 may be provided in a storage device external to the inventory adjustment server 32, and the database management unit 322 may transfer data to and from the store database 7, the insufficient product database 8, and the surplus product database 9.

In the above embodiment, the information of the store notified by the notification unit is set to the remaining number of the inventory-deficient commodity in the store, the stock price, and the shortest transmission date and time. The information of the store notified by the notification unit is not limited to these three types. Only at least any one of the information may be notified. Further, the expiration date may also be notified, such as in the case of food.

The price may be a transfer price from the distribution entrusted store to the entrusted source store, instead of the purchase price. In the case of a transfer price, such as an n% increase in the price of the incoming goods, is taken as the transfer price. By so doing, since the transfer price can be calculated from the stock price acquired in Act37 of fig. 8, the embodiment can be directly applied.

In the embodiment, in Act24 of fig. 7, processor 11 makes a determination as to whether difference D1 is equal to or less than "0". In this regard, it may be determined whether or not the difference D1 is a value smaller than the stock number threshold and larger than "0". That is, rather than predicting the out-of-stock, the status of approaching the out-of-stock may also be predicted.

In Act78 of fig. 10, the processor 11 that has received the response command may output the delivery request information by display, printing, or sound. In this case, the responsible person who has confirmed the output requests the delivery of the commodity to the requesting store by a communication means such as a telephone, and can move the commodity from the store where the remaining commodity is stored to the store where the commodity is insufficient.

In the above embodiment, the inventory management program is described by taking as an example that it is stored in the main memory 12 or the auxiliary storage device 13 in advance. In this regard, the inventory management device 3 may be transferred in a state where the inventory management program is not stored. At this time, an inventory management program, which is individually transferred to the inventory management device 3, is written in a writable storage device provided in the inventory management device 3 according to an operation by a user or the like. The transfer of the inventory management program can be recorded on a removable storage medium or performed through communication over a network. The form of the storage medium is not limited as long as the storage medium can store a program, such as a CD-ROM, a memory card, or the like, and the apparatus can read the program.

In the present invention, there is provided an electronic apparatus including: at least one processor; and a memory communicatively coupled to the at least one processor, wherein the memory stores instructions executable by the at least one processor to enable the at least one processor to perform the control method described above.

Further, in the present invention, there is provided a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer instructions for causing the computer to execute the above-described control method.

In addition, while several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The novel embodiments may be embodied in other various forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These examples and modifications thereof are included in the scope of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the scope of the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. An inventory management device, comprising:

An acquisition unit that acquires the stock numbers of the commodities in the plurality of stores;

a detection unit configured to detect an inventory shortage commodity in which the inventory count has been reduced to an inventory count threshold value in any one of the stores;

a search unit configured to search for stores in which the inventory number of the inventory-deficient product remains;

a notification unit configured to notify information of the stores searched by the search unit to a terminal set in association with a store whose stock number of the insufficient-stock commodity has been reduced to the stock number threshold; and

and a predicting unit configured to predict whether or not the number of the inventory-insufficient products is equal to or smaller than a predetermined value smaller than the threshold value of the number of the inventory-insufficient products on the same day in a store where the number of the inventory-insufficient products is reduced to the threshold value of the number of the inventory-insufficient products, wherein the notifying unit varies the notification content according to a result of the prediction by the predicting unit.

2. The inventory management device according to claim 1, wherein,

the information of the store notified by the notification unit includes at least one of a remaining number, a price, and a shortest transmission date and time of the inventory-insufficient commodity in the store.

3. The inventory management device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising:

And an instruction unit configured to instruct the distribution of the inventory-deficient commodity to a terminal set in association with the store at the distribution request, in response to the reception of the distribution request.

4. A method of inventory management, comprising the steps of:

an acquisition step of acquiring the stock numbers of the commodities in the plurality of stores;

a detection step of detecting, in any one of the stores, an inventory-insufficient commodity whose inventory count has been reduced to an inventory count threshold value;

a searching step of searching stores with the rest of the inventory number of the inventory-deficient commodity;

a notifying step of notifying information of the store retrieved by the retrieving step to a terminal set in association with a store whose stock number of the insufficient-stock commodity is reduced to the stock number threshold; and

and a predicting step of predicting whether or not the number of the inventory-insufficient commodities is smaller than or equal to a predetermined value smaller than the threshold value of the number of the inventory in the store whose number of the inventory-insufficient commodities is reduced to the threshold value of the number of the inventory, wherein the notifying step makes notification contents different according to a result of the predicting step.

5. The inventory management method according to claim 4, wherein,

The information of the store notified by the notifying step includes at least one of the remaining number, price, and shortest transmission date and time of the inventory-less commodity in the store.

6. An electronic device, comprising:

at least one processor; and

a memory communicatively coupled to the at least one processor,

wherein the memory stores instructions executable by the at least one processor to enable the at least one processor to perform the inventory management method of any one of claims 4 to 5.

7. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing computer instructions for causing a computer to perform the inventory management method of any one of claims 4 to 5.