JP2002230360A - Electronic commerce system and storage medium stored with program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve customer services. SOLUTION: This system is equipped with a CPU 3 which receives order information regarding at least an article and its desired date of delivery from a customer terminal 1 connected through a communication network 7, a DB 4 for thing management, which stores article information as information regarding provided articles and stock information on the articles, and further article reception scheduled date information on the articles when the articles are out of stock, and the CPU 3 which retrieves article information and stock information on an ordered article from the DB 4 on the basis of the order information received by the CPU 3, retrieves article reception scheduled date information on the article if the article is out of stock, and sends the article reception scheduled date information back to the customer terminal 1 when the scheduled date is later than the desired date of delivery.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an electronic commerce system and a storage medium storing a program. More specifically, the present invention utilizes a Web system to not only accept an order for a product but also determine the conditions for the order. The present invention relates to an electronic commerce system that proposes a substitute product or introduces another provider even when a product that satisfies the condition cannot be provided, and a storage medium that stores a program for realizing the system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the development of IT technology, electronic commerce using the Internet has been actively performed. In an e-commerce system that performs this type of transaction, a customer accesses a server of a provider that provides merchandise and the like from a home or a workplace through the Internet using a Web system mounted on a personal computer.
Then, the contents of the products and the like provided there are confirmed using a Web system, and the order is made by a personal computer. This order information is transmitted from the personal computer on the customer side to the server on the provider side via the Internet, and the provider side provides the merchandise based on the order information thus transmitted.

[0003]

However, such a conventional electronic commerce system has the following problems.

[0004] That is, a customer can only order products provided by a provider. In other words, the customer
If a customer wants to purchase a product and accesses a server on a certain provider side, but there is no product to be purchased in the product lineup on the Web,
It is not possible to send order information to this provider and must access the server of another provider (e.g., a competitor of this provider).

[0005] Further, if the desired product is not posted on the Web of another provider, the server accesses a server of another provider (or a competitor of this provider) to access the server. You have to find the product you want.

As described above, in the conventional e-commerce system, the customer can only order products provided by the provider, and if the desired product is not provided, the customer can request the product. There is a problem in that search, access, and browsing must be repeated before reaching the server of another provider to which the product is provided.

[0007] Further, even when a desired product is posted on the accessed server, it may take a long time before delivery due to out of stock or the like. In this case, there is a problem that even though the product can be provided, the customer cannot always be satisfied.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and when it is not possible to provide a product as requested by a customer, the present invention proposes an alternative product that satisfies the content of the customer, An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic commerce system capable of improving the customer service by eliminating the trouble of the customer searching for a substitute product by introducing the server, and a storage medium storing the program.

[0009]

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above object, the present invention takes the following measures.

That is, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic commerce system for receiving at least a product and an order of a desired delivery date from a customer terminal connected via a communication network, wherein the product ordered via the customer terminal is provided. If it cannot be delivered by the desired delivery date, the delivery date is returned to the customer terminal.

Therefore, in the electronic commerce system according to the first aspect of the present invention, by taking the above measures, it is possible to deliver the goods ordered by the customer if the goods cannot be delivered by the due date requested by the customer. The due date can be notified to the customer. As a result, the customer can be encouraged to reconsider the delivery date, and if the customer responds to the change in the delivery date, it can be linked to an order.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic commerce system for receiving at least a product and an order of a desired delivery date from a customer terminal connected via a communication network, wherein the customer requests the product ordered via the customer terminal. If the product cannot be delivered by the delivery date, or if the product is not provided, information on a product equivalent or similar to the product is returned to the customer terminal side.

Therefore, in the electronic commerce system according to the second aspect of the present invention, by taking the above-described measures, if the goods ordered by the customer cannot be delivered by the due date requested by the customer, or If the product ordered from is not provided, the customer can be notified of information on the same or similar product. As a result, the customer can be encouraged to reconsider the desired product, and if the customer responds to the change in the desired product, it can be linked to an order.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic commerce system for receiving at least a product and an order of a desired delivery date from a customer terminal connected via a communication network, wherein the customer requests the product ordered via the customer terminal. If the product cannot be delivered by the delivery date, or if the product is not provided, information on a provider providing a product equivalent or similar to the product is returned to the customer terminal side.

Therefore, in the electronic commerce system according to the third aspect of the present invention, by taking the above-described measures, if the goods ordered by the customer cannot be delivered by the due date requested by the customer, or If the customer does not provide the product ordered from the company, the customer can be notified of information on, for example, a competitor offering the same or similar product. As a result, the customer does not need to search for the related information by himself, and the convenience can be improved.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there are provided receiving means for receiving at least order information on a product and its desired delivery date, which is transmitted from a customer terminal connected via a communication network, and information on the provided product. Based on the merchandise information, the stock information of this merchandise, and if there is no stock of this merchandise, the merchandise management database storing the expected arrival date information of this merchandise and the order information received by the receiving means. Search the product management database for the product information and stock information related to the product that was entered. If the product is out of stock, search for the expected arrival date of this product further, and if the expected arrival date is later than the desired delivery date. Is provided with a reply means for returning the scheduled arrival date information to the customer terminal side.

Therefore, in the electronic commerce system according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, by taking the above measures, it is possible to deliver the goods ordered by the customer if the goods cannot be delivered by the due date requested by the customer. The due date can be notified to the customer. As a result, the customer can be encouraged to reconsider the delivery date, and if the customer responds to the change in the delivery date, it can be linked to an order.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there are provided receiving means for receiving at least order information on a product and its desired delivery date, which is transmitted from a customer terminal connected via a communication network, and information on the provided product. A product management database that stores product information, stock information of the product, and, if the product is not in stock, further information on the expected arrival date of the product, and an equivalent product similar or similar to the provided product. If there is no stock of the equivalent product and the stock information of the equivalent product, and if there is no stock of the equivalent product, furthermore, the equivalent product management database storing the expected arrival date information of the equivalent product, and the order information received by the receiving means. Based on the information, the product information on the ordered product is searched from the product management database. When the expected arrival date information of the product is searched, and the expected arrival date is later than the desired delivery date, the product information on the equivalent product of this product is searched from the equivalent product management database, and the searched product information is referred to the customer terminal side. And reply means for replying to the request.

Therefore, in the electronic commerce system according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, by taking the above-described measures, the product ordered by the customer cannot be delivered by the date requested by the customer, or If the customer does not provide the product ordered from, the customer can be notified of information about a product equivalent or similar. As a result, the customer can be encouraged to reconsider the desired product, and if the customer responds to the change in the desired product, it can be linked to an order.

[0020] According to the invention of claim 6, there are received means for receiving at least the order information relating to the product and its desired delivery date transmitted from the customer terminal connected via the communication network, and the information relating to the product being provided. If there is no product information, stock information of this product, and this product is out of stock, a product management database that further stores the scheduled arrival date information of this product, and an equivalent product similar to or similar to the provided product Based on the order information received by the receiving means and the equivalent product provider information database storing the equivalent product provider information on the providing provider, search the product management database for product information on the ordered product. And if this product is out of stock,
Further, when the scheduled arrival date information of this product is searched and the scheduled arrival date is later than the desired delivery date, the equivalent product provider information relating to the provider providing an equivalent product similar or similar to this product is equivalent. And a reply unit that searches the merchandise provider information database and returns the searched equivalent merchandise provider information to the customer terminal side.

Therefore, in the electronic commerce system according to the invention of claim 6, by taking the above-described measures, the product ordered by the customer cannot be delivered by the date requested by the customer, or If the customer does not provide the product ordered from the company, the customer can be notified of information on, for example, a competitor offering the same or similar product. As a result, the customer does not need to search for related information by himself, and the convenience can be improved.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a program for performing an electronic commerce process based on information transmitted from a customer terminal connected via a communication network, comprising: And a receiving means for receiving order information on the desired delivery date,
Received by receiving means from a product management database that stores product information, which is information on the product being provided, stock information of this product, and, if there is no stock of this product, further information on the expected arrival date of this product. Based on the received order information, search the product information and stock information on the ordered product, and if the product is out of stock, further search the expected arrival date information of this product, and request the expected arrival date. If it is later than the delivery date, the first reply means for returning the scheduled arrival date information to the customer terminal side, the merchandise information and the stock information on the ordered merchandise based on the order information received by the receiving means. Search from the management database, and if this product is out of stock, further search the information on the expected date of arrival of this product from the product management database. If it is too late, store the product information about the equivalent product that is the same as or similar to this product, the stock information of this equivalent product, and if there is no stock of this equivalent product, further store the expected arrival date information of this equivalent product. A second reply unit for searching the equivalent product management database for product information and stock information on equivalent products similar to or similar to the ordered product, and returning the searched product information to the customer terminal; When there is no stock of equivalent products similar to or similar to the product, the expected arrival date information of this equivalent product is further searched from the equivalent product management database, and if the expected arrival date is later than the desired delivery date, the equivalent product is retrieved. From the equivalent product provider information database that stores equivalent product provider information on the equivalent product provider
A program for searching for equivalent product provider information relating to the equivalent product provider providing the equivalent product and for causing the searched equivalent product provider information to function as third reply means for returning the information to the customer terminal is stored. Computer-readable storage medium.

Therefore, in the storage medium according to the seventh aspect of the present invention, by taking the above measures, if the goods ordered by the customer cannot be delivered by the due date requested by the customer, the delivery date Can be notified to the customer. In addition, if the customer ordered goods cannot be delivered by the date requested by the customer, or if the customer does not provide the ordered goods, the customer will be notified of information on similar or similar products. can do. Further, if the product ordered by the customer cannot be delivered by the date requested by the customer, or if the product ordered by the customer is not provided, the same or similar product is provided. It can notify customers of information of other companies in the industry.

As a result, it is possible to urge the customer to reconsider the delivery date and desired product, and if the customer responds to the change in these requirements, it can be linked to an order. Furthermore, the customer does not need to search for related information by himself / herself, so that convenience can be improved.

[0025]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing an example of an electronic commerce system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

That is, in the electronic commerce system according to the embodiment of the present invention, the customer terminal 1 and the order receiving server 2 are connected to each other via a communication network 7 such as the Internet.

The customer terminal 1 is a terminal such as a personal computer used by the customer at home, at work, or carried. The customer terminal 1 is provided with a Web browser, and is capable of browsing information on provided products transmitted by the order receiving server 2 by using the Web browser. In addition, the customer inputs necessary information via a Web browser provided in the customer terminal 1 and can transmit the input information to the order receiving server 2 side. by this,
Purchase information of the provided product (product name, quantity, delivery date, purchaser name, purchaser address, telephone number, payment method, etc.) is input, and the input purchase information is transmitted to the order receiving server 2 via the communication network 7. Send to the side. On the other hand, when the product requested by the customer is not among the products provided by the order receiving server 2, the customer's request information (product name, specification, desired purchase price, quantity, desired delivery date, purchase applicant, etc.) Name, purchaser's address, telephone number, etc.). Similarly, the input request information is transmitted to the order receiving server 2 via the communication network 7.
Send to the side.

The order receiving server 2 includes a CPU 3, an article management database 4, an article specification database 5, and a competitor's article information database 6.

The CPU 3 is loaded with a program for controlling the order receiving server 2 and operates according to the program.
It transmits product information on the product provided by the order receiving server 2 to the customer terminal 1 via the communication network 7 and receives purchase information and request information transmitted from the customer terminal 1 on the contrary. Based on purchase and request information,
It operates according to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, and performs order receiving processing. The order receiving server 2 is realized by a computer that reads a program stored in a storage medium such as a magnetic disk and the operation of which is controlled by the program.

The article management database 4 is a database that manages stock information and available date information of goods provided on the order receiving server 2 side. The article management database 4 also manages scheduled arrival date information for out-of-stock commodities.

The article specification database 5 stores the order receiving server 2
This is a database that stores equivalent product information on products having the same function or similar products from the products provided on the side.

The competitor's product information database 6 is a database that stores competitor's equivalent product information, which is information on competitor's products having the same function as the product provided on the order receiving server 2 side or a similar function.

Next, the operation of the electronic commerce system according to the embodiment of the present invention configured as described above will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 2 and the screen display example of FIG.

First, when the customer activates the Web browser of the customer terminal 1 and accesses the order receiving server 2 via the communication network 7, the order receiving server 2 side introduces the introduction information of the products provided by the order receiving server 2 and The menu information including the order reception information is transmitted and displayed on the screen of the customer terminal 1 (S1).

If there is a product that the customer wants to purchase in the displayed introduction information, as shown in FIG. Enter the name and quantity of the product you want
When the button is clicked, the input information is transmitted to the order receiving server 2 (S2).

The information transmitted in step S2 is
The order is received by the order receiving server 2, and the CPU 3 checks the stock of the product corresponding to this information. this is,
This is performed by the CPU 3 referring to the stock information and the deliverable date information stored in the article management database 4 (S3).

As a result of referring to the stock information, if there is a stock of the product corresponding to the transmitted information (S3: Yes), the delivery date information is transmitted from the order receiving server 2 to the sending customer terminal. 1 is returned to the customer terminal 1 and the date on which the product can be delivered is displayed on the customer terminal 1 (S4).

On the other hand, if there is no stock of the product corresponding to the transmitted information (S3: none), the CPU 3
Scheduled arrival date information relating to the scheduled arrival date of the product is retrieved. This is also performed by the CPU 3 referring to the scheduled arrival date information stored in the article management database 4 (S5). Then, information indicating that the requested product is currently out of stock and deliverable date information created based on the expected arrival date information are returned to the customer terminal 1 of the transmission source. The transmitted information is displayed (S6).

That is, Step S4 and Step S
In the process in 6, the name of the product, the quantity, and the date of delivery, which are the input information, are displayed on the screen of the customer terminal 1, as shown in FIG. 3B. Thus, the details of the transaction are confirmed by the customer. Customers,
In order to place an order with this content, when the order button 11 is clicked, the order receiving server 2 recognizes that the customer has officially placed the order, and an order is placed based on the content (S7: order).

When an order is received, the order receiving server 2 allows the customer terminal 1 to receive an input of a purchaser address, a purchaser name, a telephone number, a delivery date, and a payment method as shown in FIG. Is displayed. The customer inputs and transmits the information in accordance with the screen display, so that the information is acquired by the order receiving server 2, the dispatch processing is performed based on the acquired information, and the information is delivered to the input delivery date. Is sent to the ordering customer (S8).

On the other hand, if the customer confirms the contents displayed as shown in FIG. 2B and does not place an order (S7: does not place an order), the customer clicks the cancel button 12 and the order receiving server 2 side Then, it is recognized that there is no order from the customer, and the process shifts to a process in which an equivalent or similar equivalent product is proposed or a product of another company is proposed (S9).

Hereinafter, using the flowchart shown in FIG. 4, a process for making a proposal for an equivalent product that is an equivalent or similar product, or for making a proposal for an equivalent product of another company that is an equivalent product provided by another company will be made. The operation will be described.

In this case, the inquiry information for receiving the input of the customer's request information is transmitted from the order receiving server 2 to the customer terminal 1 side by the CPU 3. FIG. 3 (d)
Shows an example of a screen when the inquiry information is displayed on the customer terminal 1. According to the screen, input the specification information (specification 1, specification 2, specification 3, quantity, desired delivery date, etc.) of the product requested by the customer, and click the search button 13 after the input to input the specification information. Is transmitted to the order receiving server 2 (S1
0).

In the order receiving server 2, based on the transmitted specification information, the CPU 3 searches the product specification database 5 for an equivalent product which is another product conforming to the specification information (S11). In addition, the type of data stored in the article database 5 is increased, and the customer terminal 1
It is also possible to search for an equivalent product in association with various data by associating with the data of the specification information input from. For example, while storing price data of equivalent products in the article database 5, it is also possible to input price conditions as data of specification information input from the customer terminal 1 and search for equivalent products corresponding to the price conditions. .

Further, the CPU 3 checks the stock of all the equivalent products searched in step S11. This is performed by the CPU 3 referring to the stock information and the scheduled arrival date information stored in the article management database 4 (S12).

Then, for an equivalent product in stock (S
12: There is an order) is the product name which is the search result information,
Information such as quantity, delivery date, and specifications is transmitted from the order receiving server 2 to the customer terminal 1. Note that the deliverable date is created by adding the number of delivery days to the current date. On the other hand, with regard to out-of-stock equivalent products (S12: None), the CPU 3 also refers to the arrival date information stored in the article management database 4 to obtain the product name, quantity, and delivery as search result information. Information such as a possible date and specifications is transmitted from the order receiving server 2 to the customer terminal 1 (S13).

Then, step S12 or step S12
The search result information transmitted from the order receiving server 2 to the customer terminal 1 at 13 is displayed on the screen of the customer terminal 1 as shown in FIG. 3E (S14).

As a result, the content of the searched equivalent product is confirmed by the customer. When the customer enters a check mark in the order column 15 and further clicks the order button 16, the order receiving server 2 recognizes that the order has been placed by the customer, and an order is placed based on the contents (S15). :order).

When an order is received, the order receiving server 2 allows the customer terminal 1 to receive an input of a purchaser address, a purchaser name, a telephone number, a delivery date, and a payment method as shown in FIG. Is displayed. The customer inputs and transmits necessary information in accordance with the screen display, the information is acquired by the order receiving server 2, and the merchandise is sent to the ordering customer based on the acquired information (S16). ).

On the other hand, if the customer confirms the contents displayed as shown in FIG. 2E and does not place an order (S15: does not place an order), the customer clicks the cancel button 17 and the order receiving server 2 side It is recognized that there was no order from the customer. Then, the process proceeds to a process of making a proposal of a product of another company (S17). In other words, in step S17, the CPU 3 stores another company's product having the same function stored in the other company's product information database 6,
Alternatively, information on another company's equivalent product, which is a similar company product, is searched, and the search result is returned to the customer terminal 1 to introduce another company's equivalent product.

The electronic commerce system as described in the embodiment of the present invention can be realized by causing a computer to read a program stored in a storage medium.

Here, as the storage medium in the present invention,
Magnetic disk, floppy (registered trademark) disk, hard disk, optical disk (CD-ROM, DVD, etc.),
The storage format of the storage medium may be any type as long as it is a storage medium that can store a program and can be read by a computer, such as a magneto-optical disk (such as an MO) and a semiconductor memory.

An OS (Operating System) running on the computer based on instructions of a program installed in the computer from the storage medium,
MW for database management software, network software, etc.
(Middleware) or the like may execute a part of each processing for realizing the embodiment of the present invention.

Further, the storage medium in the present invention is not limited to a medium independent of a computer, but also includes a storage medium in which a program transmitted through a LAN, the Internet, or the like is downloaded and stored or temporarily stored.

Further, the number of storage media is not limited to one, and a case where the processing in the embodiment of the present invention is executed from a plurality of media is also included in the storage medium of the present invention. Is also good.

The computer according to the present invention executes each processing according to the embodiment of the present invention based on a program stored in a storage medium, and includes a device such as a personal computer, a plurality of devices. May be any configuration such as a system connected to a network.

The computer in the present invention is
It is not limited to a personal computer, but also includes a processing device, a microcomputer, and the like included in an information processing device, and generically refers to a device and a device capable of realizing the functions of the present invention by a program.

As described above, in the electronic commerce system according to the embodiment of the present invention, due to the above-described operation, even if the product that the customer wants to purchase is out of stock, the product management By referring to the scheduled arrival date information stored in the database 4, the customer can be notified of the scheduled arrival date. The customer can determine whether or not to place an order with reference to the contents of the notification.

Further, even if the product corresponding to the product that the customer wants to purchase is not posted on the Web,
By retrieving information stored in the product specification database 5 based on the specification information of the product requested by the customer, the customer side is notified of a product conforming to the specification information or an equivalent product similar thereto. Information can be notified. Furthermore, even if this equivalent product is out of stock, the customer can be notified of the scheduled arrival date. Customer may refer to this notice to
It can be determined whether or not to place an order.

Further, if there is an equivalent product not stored in the product specification database 5, or
If the information on the equivalent product conforming to the specification information cannot satisfy the delivery date requested by the customer, the customer side searches the information on the other company's equivalent product stored in the other company's product information database 6 so that Information on other companies' equivalent products that match the specification information can be notified. As a result, even if the customer does not have the desired product, the customer is introduced to, for example, a product of another company in the same industry, so that it is possible to greatly reduce the time required for the customer to conduct a survey on another company's product in the past. Therefore, it is possible to improve customer satisfaction.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to the accompanying drawings, the present invention is not limited to such configurations. Within the scope of the technical idea described in the claims, those skilled in the art can come up with various modified examples and modified examples, and these modified examples and modified examples are also within the technical scope of the present invention. It is understood that it belongs to.

[0064]

As described above, according to the present invention,
If we ca n’t offer the product as the customer wants,
It can propose alternative products that satisfy the customer's requirements or introduce servers from other companies in the industry.

As described above, it is possible to save the customer from having to search for a substitute product, thereby realizing an electronic commerce system capable of improving customer service and a storage medium storing a program.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing an example of an electronic commerce system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation of the electronic commerce system according to the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a screen display example displayed on the customer terminal side

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation of the electronic commerce system according to the embodiment (operation of an alternative process when there is no product desired by the customer);

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Customer terminal 2 ... Order receiving server 3 ... CPU 4 ... Supplies management database 5 ... Supplies specification database 6 ... Competitor goods information database 7 ... Communication network 10 ... Order confirmation button 11, 16 ... Order button 12, 17 ... Cancel button 13 … Search button 15… Order column

Claims (7)

[Claims] An electronic commerce system for receiving at least a product and an order for a desired delivery date from a customer terminal connected via a communication network, wherein the product ordered via the customer terminal is received by the desired delivery date. An electronic commerce system, wherein when delivery is impossible, a delivery date is returned to the customer terminal. 2. An electronic commerce system for receiving at least a product and an order for a desired delivery date from a customer terminal connected via a communication network, wherein the product ordered via the customer terminal is received by the desired delivery date. An electronic commerce system, wherein, when delivery is not possible or when the product is not provided, information on a product equivalent or similar to the product is returned to the customer terminal. 3. An electronic commerce system for receiving at least a product and an order of a desired delivery date from a customer terminal connected via a communication network, wherein the product ordered via the customer terminal is received by the desired delivery date. When the product cannot be delivered or when the product is not provided, information on a provider providing a product equivalent or similar to the product is returned to the customer terminal side. And e-commerce system. 4. Receiving means for receiving at least order information on a product and its desired delivery date transmitted from a customer terminal connected via a communication network, product information as information on a provided product, and this product Based on the inventory information, and a product management database that further stores scheduled product arrival date information if the product is out of stock, based on the order information received by the receiving means,
The product information and stock information on the ordered product are searched from the product management database. If the product is not in stock, the expected arrival date information of the product is further searched, and the expected arrival date is the desired delivery date. A reply means for returning the scheduled arrival date information to the customer terminal side when the delivery time is later than that of the electronic commerce system. 5. Receiving means for receiving at least order information on a product and its desired delivery date transmitted from a customer terminal connected via a communication network, product information which is information on a provided product, and this product And a product management database that further stores expected date of arrival of the product if there is no stock information of the product, and product information on an equivalent product similar or similar to the provided product. Based on the stock information of the equivalent product, and an equivalent product management database that further stores scheduled arrival date information of the equivalent product when there is no stock of the equivalent product, based on the order information received by the receiving unit,
The product information on the ordered product is searched from the product management database. If the product is out of stock, the expected arrival date information of the product is further searched, and the expected arrival date is later than the desired delivery date. In this case, the electronic commerce system further comprises a return unit for searching the equivalent product management database for product information on the equivalent product of the product, and returning the searched product information to the customer terminal. 6. Receiving means for receiving at least order information on a product and its desired delivery date transmitted from a customer terminal connected via a communication network, product information which is information on a provided product, and this product The product management database that stores the stock information of the product and, if the product is out of stock, further stores the expected arrival date of the product, and provides an equivalent product similar to or similar to the provided product. An equivalent product provider information database storing equivalent product provider information relating to the provider, based on the order information received by the receiving unit,
The product information on the ordered product is searched from the product management database. If the product is out of stock, the expected arrival date information of the product is further searched, and the expected arrival date is later than the desired delivery date. In this case, the equivalent product provider information is searched from the equivalent product provider information database for a provider that provides an equivalent product similar or similar to this product, and the searched equivalent product provider information is stored in the customer terminal. An electronic commerce system comprising: a reply means for replying to a side. 7. A program for performing electronic commerce processing based on information transmitted from a customer terminal connected via a communication network, comprising: a computer for transmitting at least a product and a desired delivery date transmitted from the customer terminal Receiving means for receiving order information related to the product, accumulating merchandise information which is information on the merchandise being provided, stock information of this merchandise, and scheduled arrival date information of this merchandise if the merchandise is out of stock From the merchandise management database, based on the order information received by the receiving means, search for merchandise information and stock information on the ordered merchandise, and if there is no stock for this merchandise,
Further, the expected arrival date information of the product is searched, and if the expected arrival date is later than the desired delivery date, a first reply means for returning the expected arrival date information to the customer terminal side, the receiving means Based on the order information received by
The product information and stock information relating to the ordered product are searched from the product management database. If the product is out of stock, the expected arrival date information of the product is further searched from the product management database. If the date is later than the desired delivery date, the product information on the equivalent product similar to or similar to this product and the stock information of this equivalent product, and if there is no stock of this equivalent product, the availability of this equivalent product further A second step of searching the equivalent product management database storing day information for product information and stock information on equivalent products similar to or similar to the ordered product, and returning the searched product information to the customer terminal side. When there is no stock of equivalent products similar or similar to the ordered product, the expected arrival date information of this equivalent product is further If the estimated arrival date is later than the desired delivery date, the equivalent product provider accumulating the equivalent product provider information regarding the equivalent product provider providing the equivalent product. The information database is searched for equivalent product provider information relating to the equivalent product provider providing the equivalent product, and the retrieved equivalent product provider information is caused to function as a third reply unit that returns the information to the customer terminal. Computer-readable storage medium storing a program for performing the program.