DE102014205175A1 - Method and system for producing personalized printed matter during a picking operation - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and system for producing personalized printed matter during a picking operation.

Description

The invention relates to a method and system for producing personalized printed matter during a picking operation. Individualized printed products can be, for example, brochures or advertising brochures, which are advantageously produced by means of digital printing. Such printed products can be used for example for online mail order to generate resales.

In the online mail order industry, simple print products have occasionally been added without individualizing an order. The non-individualized printed brochures contain static information, such as advertising, which are not specifically tailored to the needs of each customer. Due to the enormous effort involved in order picking, even the inclusion of such brochures with static information is rare. Picking is an important process in online mail order. For example, a picking process or a picking process describes the gathering of the correct articles mostly on the basis of a specific order. During a picking process, certain subsets or products from a product range are assembled on the basis of orders or orders. Employees who manually compile an order or the ordered items are referred to as picking or picking employees. For the picking process, for example, the travel time, i. H. the time for coping with a path, the grab time, d. H. the time to take an item, and the base time, d. H. the time for organizational activities essential factors. The factors, for example, have a significant impact on costs. Examples of "automatic picking" are shaft pickers and robots. Examples of "goods to the person" are tray warehouse and automatic small parts warehouse. Examples of "person to product" are continuous rack, pallet rack (shelf over several floors or as a horizontal picking) and shelf shelf.

Due to the extreme diversity of many mail order companies, order picking or picking is one of the most complex processes in in-house logistics. The articles to be picked differ for example in shape, size, weight and storage location. In general, it may be useful to divide the picking strategies into three different areas. First in "person to product", secondly "product to person", and thirdly "automatic picking"

From the DE 10 2005 049 596 A1 a method for creating individualized and especially personalized media print copies example personalized newspapers is known. The document merely discloses the use of digital printing technology to enable an efficient workflow in the production of individualized media titles.

The invention is based on the object to enable the production of individualized printed products during a picking process.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by a method having the features of the independent claims 1 and 15. Preferred developments are specified in the dependent claims.

The invention provides for a method of producing an individualized printed product during a picking process so that the individualized printed product is assigned to a picking process. The manufacturing method further comprises providing an identification number uniquely associated with a customer. The identification number is provided from a database. The identification number can be, for example, a sequence of numbers, a sequence of letters, a string, a barcode, etc., and a combination of such identifiers can also be advantageously used. In addition, the method of producing an individualized printed product comprises automatically selecting a print template according to stored customer-specific data, the customer-specific data being obtained on the basis of the provided identification number. Furthermore, the manufacturing method includes a computer-aided creation of a custom individualized template. This filled custom individualized template can be converted according to the invention into a customized individualized print template. Furthermore, the method for producing an individualized printed product comprises providing the customized individualized print template in a data buffer. Furthermore, the method for producing an individualized printed product includes triggering the printing of the customized individualized printing original.

An "individualized printed product" does not mean according to the invention the invoice to be attached to the goods or a possible return slip to be attached.

When picking at mail-order companies or at mail-order companies, so-called order collection points are often used. Mail order companies send bundled packages according to orders or orders to customers. At such order collection points, employees collect and package the respective items from different shopping carts according to the orders of customers.

• 1. Bereitstellung von Ware in Bereitstellungseinheiten
• 2. Fortbewegung des Kommissionierungsmitarbeiters zum Bereitstellungsplatz
• 3. Entnahme der geforderten Warenmenge aus den Bereitstellungseinheiten
• 4. Abgabe in Sammelbehälter, auf ein Fördersystem oder ein Transportgerät
• 5. Zusammenführen der Sammelbehälter oder Waren an einen Sammelplatz
• 6. Beschickung der Bereitstellplätze mit Nachschub

The process of picking can, for example, be broken down into the following sub-processes:

• 1. Provision of goods in delivery units
• 2. Moving the picking staff to the place of supply
• 3. Removal of the required quantity of goods from the supply units
• 4. Dispensing in collecting container, on a conveyor system or a transport device
• 5. Merge the collection container or goods to a collection point
• 6. Loading of the supply stations with replenishment

A method for producing an individualized printed product during a picking process is advantageously adapted to the particular order picking method of the mail order business, for example to an existing IT structure. In such an IT structure, a database can advantageously be provided in which, for example, an identification number assigned to the customer can be stored. Such identification numbers can be, for example, customer numbers or order numbers or package numbers. Furthermore, various print templates can be provided in a database. The various artwork can, for example, in the nature of placeholders, linguistic elements, page number or in the color choice, for example, black and white printing or color printing and in the formats z. B. A4, A5 differ.

Advantageously, the artwork is automatically selected. The automatic selection is based on stored customer-specific data. The customer-specific data can be obtained based on the provided identification numbers. The customer-specific data include, for example, the name of the customer, the order number of the customer, the frequency of the customer's orders, the various interests of the customer, the customer's previous orders, the order value of the ordered item, the places previously ordered or was accessed on the homepage of the mail order company. Such data is preferably collected by online tracking. On the basis of one or more of these pieces of information, the computer-aided creation of a customer-specific individualized template can take into account certain preferences of the customer. For example, advertisements may be made regarding the interests of the customer as well as the customer's current order. This information can then be transferred to a customized template, so that a customized individualized print template can be put together. The customer-specific template to be filled is selected, for example, by customer language or according to an "ABC customer list". Such "ABC customer lists" categorize customers into different categories, for example, very good customers, for example, who frequently place high-quality orders, are classified as "A-customers", whereas customers who place less frequent orders or often return something as "C-customers" classified. This customized individualized print template is advantageously provided in a data buffer for further processing. Such a data buffer can advantageously be provided directly in a printer or else in a separate database. Particularly advantageously, the data buffer is provided in an additional server. The additional server can advantageously also take over the entire print control. The customized individualized print template or these digital print data are stored in a data buffer or in a buffer. The data is preferably stored in a data buffer for a call to be subsequently forwarded to a printing press. Such a forwarding of the customized individualized print copy or the digital print copy is advantageously carried out by triggering the print. The printing or printing of the customized individualized print template can be triggered in various ways. On the one hand, the pressure can be triggered automatically, for example when starting the picking process. Furthermore, it may be advantageous to trigger the printing manually. For example, the pressure on a display device at the picking station can be triggered or carried out with a mobile unit by the picking worker, for example, during removal from a flow shelf or the like. Triggering describes preferably starting a printing process in a printing press. For this purpose, the data are advantageously retrieved from a data buffer.

The print template can also be called a template. In a print template are preferably setting information for a printer unit or a print or these are stored in one of the print template exactly associated file. This setting information will be passed on to the appropriate press on a print job.

For example, it may also be advantageous for a manual picking to forward the printed product to match the currently picked package at a picking station directly or print there and process there. The printing process preferably takes place parallel to the picking process or just-in-time.

It can also be advantageously provided to install printing machines at each picking station, while advantageously small printing presses are used. In this case, for example, no mobile picking operation is necessary because the printing process is started either manually on the machine or automatically by starting the picking process.

Another advantageous option, the manual picking, is a central list of printing presses, for example, a printing machine for two picking stations. Here, for example, with a mobile unit, the printing process can be started.

According to a preferred aspect of the invention, it is provided to transport the printed product to a picking station of the picking process. For transporting the brochures to the picking station conveyor belts can be advantageously provided.

Another preferred aspect of the invention is to provide an additional visual feature on the printed matter associated with a customer. For a clear assignment of the brochures to the customer, a software allows several possibilities. For example, a customer number from an ERP system or a separate key figure that is stored in a database on a server. The visual feature is preferably printed in such a way that it allows an employee to quickly grasp and assign them to an individual order. This assignment can be made for example by an imprint on the outer edge of a booklet, so that this can be seen in a scale flow.

According to a further preferred aspect of the present invention, it is provided for filling in the template so-called online tracking data or data from online analytics to use. Such data are generated or collected, for example, by the surfing and / or shopping behavior on a homepage of the online mail order company. This data may preferably be stored in a database.

According to a further preferred aspect of the present invention, a concretely suitable printing device is selected for printing the customized individualized printing original. For example, the printing device is selected on the basis of the spatial conditions at the picking station.

According to another preferred aspect of the present invention, the selected printing device is displayed on the picking station on a display of a device. It may also be preferred for the display of the selected printing device to take place on a mobile unit. For example, this display may be on a smartphone or a dedicated mobile unit for a picking agent. Such an ad has the advantage, for example, that the picking employee during removal from z. B. a flow shelf and mobile the right printing machine gets displayed so that long paths can be saved.

According to another preferred aspect of the present invention, the printing device is monitored by a printing machine controller. The printing press control is preferably used in digital printing technology or digital printing technology. The printing press control preferably takes place on the basis of various parameters of a printing press or several printing presses which are integrated into the printing press control. For example, it may be provided in a present technical problem of a printing press or maintenance work to redirect a print to another printing press. Such printer parameters may include, for example, the paper size, the paper supply, toner or toner level, location of the respective printing device (also with regard to removal from the picking station), paper jam, number of print jobs in the respective printing presses.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the printing press controller may be influenced by a user interface. Advantageously, a picking agent can consciously redirect the print to a more suitable press for his current run.

According to a further preferred aspect of the present invention, the printing process can preferably be checked with a sensory monitoring device. It can also be advantageously provided to evaluate the data of such a sensory monitoring and to determine that a pressure has been correctly. For example, the sensory monitoring can optically control the print result by, for example, comparing the acquired data with the print template. Preferably, other data will be added such as paper jam, amount of toner, amount of paper, etc. detected to allow easy monitoring of the printing process.

According to a further preferred aspect of the present invention, it is preferably provided that the printing of the artwork is triggered automatically by starting the picking process. It may also preferably be provided that a picking employee forwards information about a printing press, for example a current technical problem not detected by the system, to the press control via the interface.

According to another preferred aspect of the present invention, the printing of the artwork is triggered manually by means of a mobile unit. A mobile unit may be, for example, a smartphone (Internet-enabled mobile device). In addition, it may also be provided with an APP (including appropriate application software for mobile devices) for mobile units. With such an APP, a corresponding user interface and thus, for example, access to the printer control is enabled. For example, it may also be advantageous to read in a barcode with a mobile unit and thereby transmit, for example, a selected booklet identification number to the printing press control.

If no barcode is present, a selection of picking orders is displayed from which an order can be selected and transmitted to the press controller.

According to another preferred aspect of the present invention, the pressure is triggered manually via a user interface. The user interface may advantageously be an advertisement on a monitor or screen. The operation of the user interface is advantageously carried out by means of a touch screen.

According to another preferred aspect of the present invention, the template is selected by categorizing and then prioritizing the customer data. For example, it can be provided to a customer who has placed an order with a high order value in order to assign a high-quality brochure, for example, a multi-page print on high-grammage printing stock.

According to the invention, a system is provided for producing an individualized printed product during a picking operation. The individualized printed product is assigned to the picking process. The system includes first database means for providing an identification number uniquely associated with a customer. The system for producing an individualized printed product also has second database means for providing various print templates. Further, the system includes program means for selecting a print template according to stored customer-specific data, the customer-specific data being obtained on the basis of the provided identification number. Furthermore, the system has program means for creating a customized individualized template. Furthermore, the system comprises program means for converting the filled custom individualized template into a customized individualized print template. Furthermore, the system advantageously has a data buffer for providing the customized individualized print template. The system advantageously has program means for triggering the printing of the customized individualized print original in a printing device. The system may preferably comprise a transport device which serves to transport the printed product to a picking station.

Further advantageous embodiments also result from the combination of the features described with each other. A computer program which comprises the method according to the invention is also in accordance with the invention.

Further advantageous embodiments, effects and advantages of the invention will be explained with reference to the following description of the figures.

Show it:

1 : Schematic representation of various influencing factors for the method according to the invention;

2 : Exemplary schematic flowchart with parts of a method according to the invention; and

3 By way of example, an inventive system for the initial production of a customized individualized printed product.

The 1 schematically shows various programs or interfaces, which converge at a printing press and thus can have an influence on this printing press. The interfaces are preferably taken into account when implementing the method according to the invention for producing individualized printed products. For example, the press is affected by a RIP (Raster Image Processor). This is a processor commonly used in digital printing technology for printers and printing presses. This processor can process or convert various information and then causes a print. Furthermore, the printing press can be influenced by a pre-press. The pre-press can be understood as a sub-process of printing. For example, processes before printing, z. As scanning, data editing, retouching or image processing, layout creation, etc. summarized with the aim of bringing together texts, images and graphics to print templates and prepare for printing. Furthermore, as in 1 In most companies, an ERP software is shown, from which, for example, additional information (such as the economic characteristics of the customer) can be taken. Like also 1 shows, another interface is provided to a server, which is used to monitor the printing press. Another interface consists of a picking software that is used in a mail order business. This interface provides, for example, information about orders or orders to the printing press.

2 schematically shows parts of the sequence of a method according to the invention. Furthermore, examples of the various method steps are shown in the schematic flow chart.

In a first schematic in 2 The step shown, the content is selected for individual printed products or there is a so-called content integration in a template or in a template. The template is computer-aided from a database. For example, the selection of a print template can be based on the language, the importance of a customer (eg, a high-turnover customer), and so on.

2 further shows a second schematically illustrated step in which the selected template with the customized individualized data is converted into a print template. This data may be, for example, advertising for items that are similar to the ordered product, or even items for which the customer has already been interested in a website / homepage of the online mail order. These data are advantageously recorded using an online tracking method and stored in a database.

In a third step, the completed print template is provided in a data buffer. For example, the customized custom artwork is queued. The queue or data buffer is as well 3 shows coupled with a user interface.

2 schematically shows a further step with a printing press controller and exemplary influencing variables and / or information for the printing press control. The press controller retrieves stored data of a print original in this step. This can advantageously take place in dependence on a picking process, for example by starting an associated picking process. It may also be advantageous to prioritize the print template, so to queue in front of the queue. For example, a prioritization of a print booklet could be triggered via a user interface and controlled by the print engine controller. Continue, as well 2 shows, set in the fourth step with which parameters a print of a customized individualized print template should be made. This information can be advantageously taken from the customized individualized print template. In a digital printing method, the print data is advantageously processed with a special processor (eg RIP). This fourth step also includes the printout of the customized individualized print template in an assigned printing press.

2 further shows the picking integration as a further preferred step of a method of creating a custom individualized printed product. In this case, the printed product is advantageously transported to a picking station. The transport can advantageously be done automatically, ie without the intervention of an employee. The transport can advantageously be semi-automatic or manual. For example, the customer-specific individualized printed product is printed near a picking station and an employee only has to pick it up there and add it to or insert it into the uniquely assigned package. Afterwards, the ordered goods can be shipped together with the customized individual printed product.

Another in 3 schematically illustrated step shows the re-purchase of a customer. This can be understood, for example, as meaning that a customer uses QR codes imprinted on the customer-specific individualized printed product by scanning them (photographed with a smartphone AP). The QR codes can, for example, be used by a customer when purchasing the same mail order again. Furthermore, a website can advantageously be integrated into the online shop, in which the customer has a product identification feature printed on the customer-specific individualized printed product (for example, a generated product identifier) Number) and can be forwarded directly to the respective article page.

For the analysis of the customer reaction, a system can advantageously be established which assigns to each item listed in the customized customized printed product an article number individualized to the customer or a customer-specific QR code or a similar individualizable identification means. The customer can then initiate the repurchase via this means of identification. This allows the software-technical tracking of the customer reaction.

The 3 shows an example of a system according to the invention for the creation of a customized individualized printed product.

In a content integrator, data from ERP, product selection and prioritization, print volumes or tempaltes and press monitoring (for example, via an intermediate server) are advantageously combined. As an ERP or ERP system, a special software with the goal of mapping and controlling all business processes of a company can be designated. From the ERP, the customer data for the customized individualized template are preferably retrieved or delivered, as in 3 shown.

3 further shows that the content integrator preferably combines the information provided. From this information or provided files, a customized individualized print template is preferably generated. In 3 the custom individualized print template is referred to as "Template 2 (to) Digital Print File".

The customized individualized print template is delivered to a digital print file buffer or data buffer. This one can be like in 3 be influenced via a user interface or hardware interface. This provides feedback between the user interface and the data buffer.

From the digital print file buffer, the customized individualized print template is passed on to the press controller. This further controls the data of the customized individualized print template to a printing press.

As 3 shows the printing press can be advantageously monitored by a press monitoring. The press monitoring can preferably be coupled with the content integrator. The coupling can be done via an intermediary additional server. The printing press preferably includes a processor which converts the data of the customized individualized print template into suitable data for the printing press, so that the printing press converts the data into a customized customized printed product during a final processing.

3 further shows that the custom printed individual product is subsequently fed to a picking process. This process involves the transportation of the customized customized printed product to the picking station. The picking process also includes feedback via picking software. The picking software in turn is advantageously operated via a user interface. The user interface is preferably coupled to the digital data buffer so that there is feedback between the data buffer and the picking process. At the picking station, the goods from, for example, a shelving system and the customer-specific individualized printed product are preferably combined during the picking process. After merging the ordered goods and the clearly associated customized custom printed product is particularly preferably the common shipping. This ensures that a customer receives an individualized printed product assigned to him and his order at the same time, without the order-picking process being adversely extended.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail by the figures and the accompanying description, this description and detailed description are to be considered illustrative and exemplary and not limiting as to the invention. It is understood that those skilled in the art can make changes and modifications without departing from the scope of the following claims. In particular, the invention also includes embodiments with any combination of features that are mentioned or shown above in various aspects and / or embodiments.

The invention also includes individual features in the figures, even if they are shown there in connection with other features and / or not mentioned above.

Furthermore, the term "comprising" and derivatives thereof does not exclude other elements or steps. Also, the indefinite article "a" and "derivatives" and derivatives thereof do not exclude a variety. The functions of several in the Claims listed features can be fulfilled by a unit. The terms "substantially", "approximately", "approximately" and the like in connection with a property or a value in particular also define precisely the property or exactly the value. All reference signs in the claims are not to be understood as limiting the scope of the claims.

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 102005049596 A1 [0004]

Claims (15)

A method of producing an individualized printed product during a picking operation, wherein the individualized printed product is associated with the picking process, comprising the following steps, Providing an identification number which is uniquely assigned to a customer from a database, Computer-assisted provision of various print templates from a database Automatic selection of a print template according to stored customer-specific data, the customer-specific data being obtained on the basis of the provided identification number, - Computer-aided creating a custom individualized template, - Transforming the filled out custom individualized template into a custom individualized print original, Providing the customized custom printed artwork in a data buffer, - triggering the printing of custom individualized artwork. Method according to Claim 1, with the following further step, transporting the printed product to the picking station of the picking process. Method according to one of the preceding claims, with the following further step, providing an additional visual feature on the printed product associated with the customer. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein for filling in the template online tracking data are used. Method according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising the step: Selection of a concretely suitable printing device based on the composition of the provided artwork by a printing press control. Method according to one of the preceding claims with the following further step: Display the selected printing device at the picking station on a display device. Method according to one of the preceding claims with the following further step: Monitoring of the printing device by a printing machine control. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the printing machine control can be influenced by a user interface. Method according to one of the preceding claims with the following further step: Verification of the printed product with a sensory monitoring device. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the print of the artwork is automatically triggered by starting the associated picking process. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the printing of the artwork is triggered manually by means of a mobile unit. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the printing of the artwork is triggered manually by a user interface. Method according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising the step: Selection of a concretely suitable printing device on the basis of the spatial condition of the picking station by a printing machine control. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the selection of the template is influenced by categorizing and then prioritizing the customer data. System for producing an individualized printed product during a picking process, wherein the individualized printed product is assigned to the picking process, with, First database means for providing an identification number which is uniquely assigned to a customer, Second database means for providing various print templates, Program means for selecting a print template according to stored customer-specific data, the customer-specific data being obtained on the basis of the provided identification number, - program means for creating a custom personalized template, - program means for converting the filled custom individualized template into a custom individualized print template, - Data buffer for providing the customized individualized print template, - Program means for triggering the printing of the customized individualized artwork in a printing device, and - Transport device for transporting the printed product to a picking station.

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