JP2003173404A - System, program and method for supporting car sales - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To present an estimated price meeting the desire of a customer in a car sales support system constituted so that car sales to the customer is supported on-line by presenting the estimated price of the car calculated based on the calculation data stored in an estimated price DB 35 to the customer. <P>SOLUTION: When the estimated price is calculated based on the calculation data stored in the estimated price DB 35, a correcting means corrects the estimated price based on the customer access history data stored in the customer DB (access history DB) 34. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automobile sales support system, an automobile sales support program, and an automobile sales support method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-27432
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 6, the automobile sales support system digitizes and stores the car catalog information in the form of multimedia information.
When there are variations in specifications such as patterns and optional parts, the customer selects a menu to select the vehicle specifications, and also visualizes the appearance of the vehicle with the selected specifications selected by the customer. Is known to be provided to customers.

It is also known to carry out on-line price estimation, delivery date inquiry, order acceptance processing, etc. for automobiles of such selected specifications.

[0004]

By the way, in actual car sales (offline car sales), a plurality of sales companies are selling the same car, and we are considering purchasing the car. The customer selects a desired sales company from a plurality of sales companies, and then requests the sales company for a quotation. In this way, the sales company that receives the quotation request normally provides the customer with the price obtained by subtracting the discount amount set by himself from the manufacturer's suggested retail price as the estimated price.

Therefore, it is conceivable to apply the above-mentioned method of providing the estimated price offline to the case of providing the above-mentioned estimated price online. In other words, even when providing an estimated price online, it is the sales company that actually sells the car to the customer, so when the customer requests a quote for the car with the selection specifications selected online. , The customer is made to specify a desired sales company from a plurality of sales companies. Then, the estimated price of the vehicle of the selected specification set by the designated sales company is provided to the customer.

[0006] As a specific method of providing the estimated price in this case, for example, the sales company designated by the customer
The customer is provided with the information on the selected specification, and the sales company receiving the information on the selected specification determines the estimated price of the vehicle of the selected specification each time, and provides the determined estimated price to the customer. It is possible to do it.

However, the sales company determines the estimated price of the vehicle each time the customer receives an estimate request. If an estimate request for an automobile having the same specifications is made a plurality of times with a certain time, an estimate is made. The invoicing sales company must determine the same estimated price each time and provide it to the customer. Therefore, the business efficiency of the sales company is reduced.

In such a system for selecting specifications online, the number of specifications that the customer can select tends to increase, and the sales company requests the estimate price of the vehicle of each specification from the customer. It is becoming difficult to determine the proper price each time it is received.

Therefore, it is conceivable to provide an estimated price database (DB) for storing, for each sales company, calculation data capable of calculating the estimated price of the vehicle for each specification. By doing this, when the customer specifies the sales company for the estimated price of the selected specification car and requests a quote, it is the estimated price of the selected specification car and the estimated price of the specified sales company. Can be calculated based on the calculation data stored in the estimated price DB and can be provided to the customer, and the business efficiency of each sales company can be improved.

However, in the system for providing an estimated price online, the customer can obtain the estimated price easily without actually going to the sales company for business negotiations. Therefore, the customer naturally has the same specifications. You will get quoted prices for many automobile sales companies. Then, the customer tends to compare a large number of obtained quoted prices with a purchase budget set by himself / herself and proceed with a sales company with a sales company who has presented an estimated price that is not far from the purchase budget.

Therefore, in a system that provides an estimated price online, how to set the estimated price is extremely important.

However, in order to store the calculated data capable of calculating the estimated price in the estimated price DB in advance, each sales company must set the calculated data in advance before the customer makes an estimate request. For this reason, when setting the calculation data, it is not possible to grasp how much the estimated price of the customer who has requested the estimate is desired. Therefore, each sales company anticipates an estimated price that the customer will be satisfied with and sets the calculation data to be stored in the estimated price DB. In such a case, the estimated price calculated based on the calculated data is set. The price can be significantly higher than the customer's budget, and as a result, the distributor has the problem of closing the opportunity to negotiate with the customer (eg, offline vehicle When the sales company provides the estimated price to the customer in the sales form, the actual sales negotiation with the customer will be made at the sales company's store, so the estimated price is decided after obtaining various information in the process of the negotiation. Therefore, it is easy for the sales company to set the estimated price that meets the customer's wishes, and even after presenting the estimated price, the seller proposes a new estimated price that meets the customer's wishes. It is also possible to, thereby, also was possible to continue the negotiation).

Further, for example, the estimated price calculated on the basis of the calculated data stored in the estimated price DB is presented to the sales company before being provided to the customer, and the sales company is required to do so. It is also conceivable that the estimated price is reset to an appropriate price and the reset estimated price is provided to the customer. However, even in such a case, the sales company that receives the calculated estimated price may provide the customer as it is without changing the provided estimated price when the business is busy, for example. Therefore, the price quoted does not always meet the customer's wishes.

Further, in a system for providing an estimated price online, unlike the case where a sales company conducts business negotiations at a store, the degree of intention to purchase a car (the degree of intention to purchase a car, The degree of intention is high when the purchase is specifically considered). For example, even a customer who has made a quotation request may have a low degree of intention. Losing an opportunity for a business negotiation with a customer who has a high intention to buy a car is a great loss for the sales company. However, as described above, when the estimated price is calculated based on the calculation data stored in the estimated price DB, The calculated estimated price does not reflect the customer's intention to purchase a car, and the same estimated price is presented to any customer. For this reason, even if there is a high degree of intention to purchase a car, there is a risk of losing the opportunity for business negotiations with the customer.

Further, for example, it is conceivable that the customer inputs the purchase budget and the degree of intention to purchase a car when requesting an estimate. By doing so, the estimated price calculated based on the calculated data stored in the estimated price DB can be corrected according to the input purchase budget or the degree of intention. However, in such a case, it is a customer sentiment that they want to buy at a price that is as low as possible, so it is expected that the customer will enter a purchase budget lower than it actually is, or enter a higher intention level than it actually is. . In particular, unlike the case of conducting business negotiations at a sales company's store, there is a tendency for an online purchase request to input a purchase budget or intention level that is different from the actual one. Therefore, even if the customer is made to input the purchase budget and the intention to purchase the car, such information may not be helpful in setting the estimated price.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a customer with an estimated price of a vehicle calculated based on calculation data stored in an estimated price database. , A car sales support system configured to support the sales of a car to a customer online is capable of presenting an estimated price that meets the customer's wishes.

[0017]

In order to achieve the above object, the first aspect of the present invention is such that a customer selects a desired specification online from an automobile having a plurality of specifications set different from each other. The sales company sells the car to the customer by providing the customer with the estimated price of the selected specification car, which is the sales price specified by the customer from the plurality of sales companies. The present invention relates to an automobile sales support system configured to support such things online.

The automobile sales support system according to the first aspect of the present invention includes a manufacturer's suggested retail price database storing data capable of calculating the manufacturer's suggested retail price of each of the above specifications, and a vehicle of each of the above specified specifications. Equipped with an estimated price database that stores the calculation data for which the estimated price can be calculated for each of the sales companies, and an access history database that stores the access history data that stores the access status of the customer. Presenting a plurality of specification items to be configured to allow the customer to select and input at least one specification item, set the combination of the selected and input specification items to the selection specification, and make a desired retail sale of a car of the selection specification. The price is calculated based on the data stored in the manufacturer's suggested retail price database, and the price is updated. A specification selecting means for presenting to the customer, a sales company designating means for presenting the plurality of sales companies to allow the customer to designate and input the desired sales company, and setting the designated and input sales company to the designated sales company. , The estimated price of the vehicle of the selection specification set by the specification selection means in response to the customer's request for quotation, and the estimated price at the designated sales company set by the sales company designation means Estimated price calculation means for calculating based on the calculated data stored in the database, and correction means for correcting the estimated price calculated by the estimated price calculation means based on the access history data stored in the access history database And the estimated price corrected by the correction means to the customer, or the estimated price to the information of the selection specification. Together with and an estimated price presentation means to be presented to the designated sales company.

The "sales company" includes a sales store belonging to the sales company and a seller of the sales company.

According to this structure, the specification selecting means presents a plurality of specification items and allows the customer to select and input at least one specification item. The specification of the automobile is determined by the combination of the specification items thus selected and input. And
The determined specification is set as the selection specification, and the manufacturer's suggested retail price of the vehicle of the selected specification is calculated based on the data stored in the manufacturer's suggested retail price database and presented to the customer.

The sales company designation means presents a plurality of sales companies and allows the customer to designate and input the sales companies. The customer can specify a desired sales company from a plurality of sales companies.

The estimated price calculation means is an estimated price of the vehicle of the selected specification set by the specification selection means in response to the customer's input of an estimate request, and is an estimated price at the designated sales company set by the sales company designation means. Is calculated based on the calculation data stored in the estimated price database. Here, the calculation data to be stored in the estimated price database may be preset by each sales agency.

The correcting means corrects the estimated price calculated by the estimated price calculating means based on the access history data stored in the access history database.

The estimated price presenting means presents the estimated price corrected by the correcting means to the customer. Or, the estimated price is presented to the designated sales company together with the selection specifications (in this case, the designated sales company sets the estimated price as a reference estimated price, and then presents it to the customer. Good, the reference price may be set to the same price). In this way, the estimated price is calculated based on the calculation data stored in the estimated price database, and the estimated price is provided to the customer. There is no need to duplicate the setting of the estimated price when it is carried out, so that the efficiency of the work can be improved.

Here, the customer inputs the selection of the specification item with the purchase budget in mind, for example, and the higher the intention of purchasing the vehicle, the more the customer considers the selection of the specification item. . Therefore, the customer's access status reflects the purchase budget and the purchase intention level set by the customer, even if the customer is not aware of it. On the contrary, by analyzing the access history data in which the access status of such a customer is accumulated, the purchase budget of the customer can be estimated, and the degree of intention of the customer to purchase can be estimated.

Therefore, in the present invention, the correction means corrects the estimated price calculated based on the access history data, so that the estimated price that meets the customer's request is presented.

Further, when the estimated price presented to the customer online is significantly higher than the price desired by the customer, the designated sales company presenting the estimated price closes the opportunity for business negotiation with the customer. However, according to the present invention, since the estimated price according to the customer's request is presented to the customer, it is possible to minimize the opportunity of the business negotiation being lost against the intention of the sales company.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the access history data is used as a selection status of a specification item input by the customer by the specification selection means, and the correction means is set by the customer based on the selection status. The number of repetitions of the selection input of a predetermined specification item and the selection cancellation input of the specification item is 2
When it is more than once, the estimated price calculated by the estimated price calculating means is corrected to be lowered.

As described above, when the customer inputs the selection of the specification item and then inputs the release of the selection, it is presumed that the customer is wondering whether or not to select the specification item. . In other words, the customer may be interested in the specification item, but hesitates to select it considering the purchase budget.

After selecting and inputting the specification items,
It is impossible to judge whether the customer is confused about the selection of the specification item or just made a mistake when selecting and inputting the specification item when only the selection is released. And the deselection input of the specification item 2
When it is repeated more than once, it can be judged that the customer is uncertain about the selection of the specification item.

Therefore, when the number of times of repeating the selection input of the specification item and the selection cancellation input of the specification item is two or more, the correction means performs correction to lower the estimated price calculated by the estimated price calculation means. As a result, the purchase budget set by the customer and the estimated price that is not so different are presented to the customer.

There are some vehicle specification items such as an engine for selectively selecting one of the types (displacement amount). In such a case, you can repeat the selection input to change the engine type,
It is included in “Repeat of selection input of specification item and deselection input of that specification item”.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the access history data is set to the selection status of the specification item input by the specification selection means to the customer, and the correction means is set to the customer based on the selection status. When the specification item that has been input for deselection is selected and input again, the estimated price calculated by the estimated price calculation means is corrected so as to be lowered.

As described above, when the customer inputs a specification item and then inputs a selection release signal, and then a selection item of the specification item for which the selection release input is made, Is considered to be uncertain whether to select the specification item in consideration of the purchase budget.

Therefore, when the specification item for which the selection cancellation has been input is selected again, the correction means corrects the estimated price calculated by the estimated price calculation means. As a result, the purchase budget set by the customer and the estimated price that is not so different are presented to the customer.

In a fourth aspect based on the first aspect, the correction means calculates the customer's intention of purchasing the vehicle based on the access history data, and the calculated customer's intention is equal to or more than a predetermined value. At some time, the estimated price calculated by the estimated price calculating means is corrected to be lowered.

Here, the degree of customer's intention to purchase a vehicle is a numerical representation of the degree of intention to purchase a vehicle. In addition, the calculation of the intention to purchase a car is
For example, as one of the access history data, the number of times a customer inputs a quotation request, the number of times that the customer requests to present information regarding a vehicle of a selection specification that the customer is considering purchasing,
This may be performed based on the presence / absence of a request for enlarging and displaying an image of a vehicle of the selection specification (zoom request input) and the presence / absence of a request for providing image data of the vehicle of the selection specification (input of a download request). Specifically, a standard value (initial value) of the degree of intention is set in advance, and the standard value is corrected according to the number of times the above-mentioned estimate request is input. For example, when the number of times the customer inputs the estimate request is greater than the predetermined number, the standard value is corrected in the increasing direction. Further, when the number of information presentation requests is greater than the predetermined number, the standard value is corrected in the increasing direction. When a zoom request is input, the standard value is corrected in the increasing direction. When a download request is input, the standard value is corrected in the increasing direction.

On the basis of the customer's intention to purchase the vehicle, which is calculated in this way, when the intention is equal to or more than a predetermined value, the correction means corrects the estimated price calculated by the estimated price calculation means. As a result, the customer who has a high degree of intention is provided with the estimated price according to the purchase budget. Also, the sales company can secure an opportunity for business negotiations with a customer who has a high intention to purchase a car.

In a fifth aspect based on the first aspect, the access history data is set as the status of the customer's request for quotation input, and the correction means is set within the predetermined period by the customer based on the status of the quotation request input. When the input number of requests for quotation is a predetermined number of times or more, a correction is made to lower the estimated price calculated by the estimated price calculation means.

When the number of requests for quotation input by a customer within a predetermined period is equal to or greater than a predetermined number, it can be determined that the customer has a high intention to purchase a car. Further, for example, it is estimated that the estimated price presented earlier is too high than the budget, and therefore the estimation request is made again.

Therefore, when the number of requests for quotation input by the customer within the predetermined period is equal to or greater than the predetermined number, the estimated price calculated by the estimated price calculation means is corrected so as to meet the purchase budget of the customer. Estimated price will be provided. Further, an opportunity for business negotiations with a customer who has a high intention to purchase a car is secured.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the access history data is set as the selection status of the specification item input by the customer by the specification selection means, and the correction means is purchased by the customer based on the selection status. The budget is estimated, and when the estimated purchase budget is lower than the estimated price calculated by the estimated price calculation means, the calculated estimated price is corrected so as to be lowered.

Here, the estimation of the purchase budget of the customer may be performed as follows. In other words, a price obtained by subtracting a predetermined price from the manufacturer's suggested retail price of the selected specification is set as the standard purchase budget, and, for example, the customer repeatedly selects and deselects the specified specification item. In some cases, the price obtained by reducing the standard purchase budget (for example, the price corresponding to the specification item may be reduced) may be estimated as the purchase budget of the customer. Also, when the customer again selects and inputs the specification item for which the selection cancellation has been input, the price obtained by reducing the standard purchase budget is estimated as the purchase budget of the customer.

When the purchase budget of the customer thus estimated is lower than the estimated price calculated by the estimated price calculation means, the correction means corrects the calculated estimated price so as to meet the customer's wishes. The estimated price (the estimated price that is not far from the purchase budget of the customer) is presented.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the access history data includes a zoom request for a customer to request an enlarged display of an image of a vehicle with a selection specification, and a request for providing image data of the vehicle with a selection specification. When a zoom request is input by the customer based on the access history data, the correction means is set as the input status of the download request,
Alternatively, when the download request is input, the estimated price calculated by the estimated price calculating means is corrected so as to be lowered.

As described above, when a customer inputs a zoom request or a download request, it is considered that the customer has a high intention to purchase a car. Further, when requesting an image of such a car, it is conceivable that the car of the selected specification is checked in detail and reviewed in consideration of the purchase budget.

Therefore, when there is a zoom request input by the customer or a download request input,
The correction means corrects the estimated price calculated by the estimated price calculation means. As a result, a customer who has a high intention to purchase a car or a customer who is uncertain about the purchase considering the purchase budget is presented with an estimated price that meets his or her wishes.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, information for re-presenting to the customer, in response to the customer's request input, the information about the vehicle of the selection specification set by the specification selecting means in response to the customer's selection input. The presenting means is further provided, and the access history data is the information presenting situation presented to the customer by the information presenting means. Then, based on the information presentation situation, the correction means performs correction for lowering the estimated price calculated by the estimated price calculation means when the number of times the information is presented to the customer within the predetermined period is equal to or greater than the predetermined number. Constitute.

As described above, when the number of requests to present the information regarding the selected specification automobile is large, it is considered that the customer has a high intention to purchase the automobile. It is also conceivable that the customer is reviewing the information regarding the selected specification vehicle in consideration of the purchase budget.

Therefore, when the number of times the information is presented to the customer within the predetermined period is equal to or greater than the predetermined number, the correction means corrects the estimated price calculated by the estimated price calculation means to lower the estimated price, thereby intending to purchase the vehicle. Estimated prices that meet the wishes are presented to customers with a high degree or those who are uncertain about the purchase considering the purchase budget.

In a ninth aspect based on the first aspect, the estimated price presenting means presents the estimated price corrected by the correcting means and the information of the selection specification to the designated selling company, and newly notifies the designated selling company. The quotation price is designated and input, and the quotation price designated and input is presented to the customer.

According to this structure, the estimated price presenting means is
Before presenting the estimated price to the customer, the estimated sales price is presented to the designated sales company, and the designated sales company is made to input the estimated price. As a result, the designated sales company can set an appropriate estimated price in consideration of the situation at that time (for example, the market price of the automobile is falling). Thus
A more appropriate estimated price is presented to the customer.

A tenth aspect of the present invention is such that a customer selects a desired specification online from among vehicles for which a plurality of specifications different from each other are set, and an estimated price of the selected specification vehicle. A vehicle configured to assist the Haibai company to sell a car to a customer online by providing the customer with an estimated price at the sales company designated by the customer from a plurality of sales companies. The present invention relates to an automobile sales support program for controlling a sales support device.

Then, the above-mentioned automobile sales support apparatus is used to store a manufacturer's suggested retail price database for storing data capable of calculating the manufacturer's suggested retail price of each specification and a calculation capable of calculating an estimated price of the vehicle for each specification. Data
Estimated price database stored for each sales company above,
An access history database storing access history data accumulating the access status of the customer is provided.

The vehicle sales support program according to the tenth aspect of the invention presents a plurality of specification items constituting the specifications of the vehicle to the vehicle sales support device and selects and inputs at least one specification item to the customer. And let
The combination of the selectively input specification items is set in the selection specification, and the manufacturer's suggested retail price of the vehicle of the selected specification is calculated based on the data stored in the manufacturer's suggested retail price database, and this is given to the customer. A specification selecting step to be presented, a sales company specifying step of presenting the plurality of sales companies and allowing the customer to specify and input the desired sales company, and setting the specified and input sales company to the specified sales company; In response to the customer's request for quotation, the quotation price of the vehicle with the selection specifications set in the specification selection step, which is set in the sales company designation step, is stored in the quotation price database. Estimated price calculation step that is calculated based on the calculated data and access stored in the access history database Based on the historical data, a correction step for correcting the estimated price calculated in the estimated price calculation step, and the estimated price corrected in the correction step are presented to the customer, or the estimated price together with the information of the selection specification The estimated price presenting step of presenting to the designated sales company is executed.

An eleventh invention is the tenth invention, wherein
The access history data is used as the selection status of the specification item that the customer has input in the specification selection step, and the correction step is input by the customer based on the selection status of the specified specification item and the selection release of the specified specification item. When the number of repetitions of and is two or more, the step of correcting the estimated price calculated in the estimated price calculation step is performed.

A twelfth invention is the tenth invention, wherein
The access history data is used as the selection status of the specification item that the customer has input in the specification selection step, and the correction step is performed based on the selection status. This is a step of performing a correction to lower the estimated price calculated in the price calculation step.

The thirteenth invention is the same as the tenth invention,
In the correction step, the customer's intention to purchase the vehicle is calculated based on the access history data, and when the calculated customer intention is equal to or more than a predetermined value, the estimated price calculated in the estimated price calculation step is reduced. And the step of performing.

A fourteenth invention is the tenth invention, wherein
The access history data is the status of the customer's request for quotation, and the correction step is based on the status of the customer's request for quotation input. This is a step of performing a correction for lowering the estimated price calculated in the calculation step.

A fifteenth invention is the tenth invention, wherein
The access history data is used as the selection status of the specification items that the customer has input in the specification selection step, and the correction step estimates the purchase budget of the customer based on the selection status, and the estimated purchase budget calculates the estimated price. When it is lower than the estimated price calculated in the step, the step of correcting the estimated price calculated above is performed.

The sixteenth invention is the tenth invention according to the tenth invention.
The access history data is used as the input status of a zoom request for a customer to request an enlarged display of an image of a vehicle of the selected specification and a download request for requesting the provision of image data of the vehicle of the selected specification. Based on the data, when there is a zoom request input by the customer or a download request input,
This is a step of performing a correction for lowering the estimated price calculated in the estimated price calculating step.

The seventeenth invention is the tenth invention according to the tenth invention.
The vehicle sales support device is caused to further execute an information presentation step of re-presenting the information regarding the vehicle of the selected specifications set in the specification selection step in response to the customer's selection input to the customer in response to the customer's request input, and accessing The history data is the information presentation status presented to the customer in the information presentation step. Then, the correction step is a step of correcting the estimated price calculated in the estimated price calculation step when the number of times the information is presented to the customer within the predetermined period is a predetermined number or more based on the information presentation situation. .

In the eighteenth invention, the estimated price presenting step is presented to the designated selling company with the estimated price corrected in the correcting step and the information of the selection specification, and the designated selling company is made to designate and input the estimated price. , The step of presenting the designated and input estimated price to the customer.

According to these tenth to eighteenth inventions, the first
The same effect as that of the invention can be obtained.

A nineteenth aspect of the present invention is such that a customer selects a desired specification online from among vehicles for which a plurality of different specifications are set and the estimated price of the selected specification vehicle is The present invention relates to an automobile sales support method for supporting online sales of a vehicle to a customer by providing the customer with an estimated price at a sales company designated by the customer from a plurality of sales companies.

The automobile sales support method according to the nineteenth aspect of the present invention is a manufacturer suggested retail price database for storing data capable of calculating a manufacturer suggested retail price of a vehicle for each specification, and an estimated price of the vehicle for each specification. The specification of the automobile is configured by using the estimated price database that stores the calculation data that can be calculated for each sales company and the access history database that stores the access history data that stores the access status of the customer. A plurality of specification items are presented and the customer is allowed to select and input at least one specification item, and the combination of the selected and input specification items is set in the selection specification, and the manufacturer's suggested retail price of the selection specification vehicle is set. Calculate based on the data stored in the manufacturer's suggested retail price database and present it to the customer Selection step, presenting the plurality of sales companies and allowing the customer to specify and input the desired sales company, and a sales company specifying step of setting the specified and input sales company as the specified sales company; According to the quotation request input, the estimated price of the vehicle of the selected specifications set in the specification selection step, and the estimated price at the designated sales company set in the sales company designation step, stored in the estimated price database. The estimated price calculation step of calculating based on the data, the correction step of correcting the estimated price calculated in the estimated price calculation step based on the access history data stored in the access history database, and the correction step Present the estimated price to the customer, or specify the estimated price together with the information on the optional specifications to the designated sales. And an estimated price presented step to be presented to the company.

The twentieth invention is the same as the nineteenth invention,
The access history data is used as the selection status of the specification item that the customer has input in the specification selection step, and the correction step is input by the customer based on the selection status of the specified specification item and the selection release of the specified specification item. When the number of repetitions of and is two or more, the step of correcting the estimated price calculated in the estimated price calculation step is performed.

The twenty-first invention is the same as the nineteenth invention.
The access history data is used as the selection status of the specification item that the customer has input in the specification selection step, and the correction step is performed based on the selection status. This is a step of performing a correction to lower the estimated price calculated in the price calculation step.

The twenty-second invention is the same as the nineteenth invention,
In the correction step, the customer's intention to purchase the vehicle is calculated based on the access history data, and when the calculated customer intention is equal to or more than a predetermined value, the estimated price calculated in the estimated price calculation step is reduced. And the step of performing.

The twenty-third invention is the nineteenth invention, wherein
The access history data is the status of the customer's request for quotation, and the correction step is based on the status of the customer's request for quotation input. This is a step of performing a correction for lowering the estimated price calculated in the calculation step.

A twenty-fourth invention is the nineteenth invention, wherein
The access history data is used as the selection status of the specification items that the customer has input in the specification selection step, and the correction step estimates the purchase budget of the customer based on the selection status, and the estimated purchase budget calculates the estimated price. When it is lower than the estimated price calculated in the step, the step of correcting the estimated price calculated above is performed.

The twenty-fifth invention is the same as the nineteenth invention,
The access history data is used as the input status of a zoom request for a customer to request an enlarged display of an image of a vehicle of the selected specification and a download request for requesting the provision of image data of the vehicle of the selected specification, and the correction step is the access history described above. Based on the data, when there is a zoom request input by the customer or a download request input,
This is a step of performing a correction for lowering the estimated price calculated in the estimated price calculating step.

The twenty-sixth invention is the nineteenth invention, wherein
Further comprising an information presenting step of re-presenting the information regarding the vehicle of the selection specification set in the specification selecting step in response to the customer's selection input to the customer in response to the customer's request input,
The access history data is the information presentation status presented to the customer in the information presentation step. Then, the correction step is a step of correcting the estimated price calculated in the estimated price calculation step when the number of times the information is presented to the customer within the predetermined period is a predetermined number or more based on the information presentation situation. .

The twenty-seventh invention is the same as the nineteenth invention,
In the estimated price presentation step, the estimated price corrected in the correction step and the information of the selection specifications are presented to the designated sales company, and the designated sales company is allowed to input the estimated price. It is a step to present to the customer.

According to the nineteenth to twenty-seventh inventions, the first
The same effect as that of the invention can be obtained.

[0076]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The present invention will be described below with reference to an individual vehicle (specific vehicle) that is a typical vehicle.
An embodiment applied to an ordering system will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

In the present embodiment, the individual specification vehicle is a standard specification vehicle (base specification vehicle) provided with predetermined specifications and equipment by using this system, and a user (hereinafter referred to as a customer) for a plurality of predetermined items. It is also a vehicle for which the desired specifications have been selected. In other words, the vehicles to be sold have different specifications set by the number of combinations of the plurality of items, and the individual specification vehicle is selected by the user from the plurality (group) of specifications. It is a vehicle having one set of specifications (consisting of multiple items).

(Embodiment 1) -Overall Configuration of Hardware FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing the overall configuration of an individualized vehicle estimation / ordering system.

In the figure, reference numeral 1 is a server computer for an automobile maker that produces an individualized vehicle for which specifications are selected and ordered by an individualized vehicle quotation / ordering system. It functions as an application server for the terminal 4 (seller terminal operated by the seller) or the user terminal 5 (customer terminal operated by the customer). This server computer may exist in the automobile manufacturer or may be operated by another operator outside the automobile manufacturer (hereinafter referred to as a vehicle manufacturer server).

The vehicle manufacturer server 1 includes a manufacturer suggested retail price database (DB) 31 and a progress management DB 32.
, Purchase support DB 33, customer DB 34, and estimated price D
B35 and a reference information DB 36 are provided, and these databases can be accessed by a general method as needed during the operation.

In the manufacturer's suggested retail price DB 31, the retail price desired by the automobile manufacturer (hereinafter, the manufacturer's suggested retail price) is the identification information for identifying each specification for each specification that can be selected as an individual specification vehicle in this system. It is stored in advance in a state associated with (specification number). still,
Even if the manufacturer's suggested retail price DB 31 does not store the retail price for one car, for example, each specification (equipment)
You may make it store the retail price for every.

In the progress management DB 32, the progress status from production to delivery, such as the stock status and assembly status (manufacturing status) of the individual specification vehicle ordered by this system, or the transportation status of the individual specification vehicle, is recorded for each individual item. Stored for each specification vehicle. In addition, in the progress management DB 32, the progress from the provision of the estimated price in this system to the negotiation / contract and the individual vehicle quotation / ordering system are separately provided.
Information such as an estimated price (market price) presented to the user at each sales agency (sales company) is stored for each sales agency. The contents of the progress management DB 32 are sequentially changed / updated manually or automatically.

In the purchase support DB 33, a customized vehicle quotation /
In the ordering system, information (including purchase support information corresponding to each specification) on various screens (FIGS. 14 to 27) displayed on the user terminal 5 and the user selects vehicle specifications as described later. At this time, the constraint information and the like that are provided in advance regarding the options allowed for this user are stored.

In the customer DB 34, information on the individual specification vehicle for which the specifications have been selected by each user in this system,
For each user, the estimated price of the individualized vehicle presented to each user, the assessment of the trade-in vehicle presented to each user, and the credit examination information when purchasing the individualized vehicle with a loan are given to each user. It is stored in a state associated with the issued user ID. In addition, personal information (address, e-mail address, etc.) entered by each user in this system, information when the user purchased the vehicle last time (estimation information, purchase time, purchased vehicle type, etc.) The information on the paid service provided by the sales agent that sells is also stored in a state associated with the user ID.

Further, as will be described later, in the customer DB 34, the specification change history, the access history, the web stay time, the number of web browsing pages, etc. are stored in association with the user ID etc. when the user inputs the specifications. . Therefore,
The customer DB 34 also functions as an access history DB that stores access history data that stores the access status of customers.

In the estimated price DB 35, data (including the estimated price itself) for calculating the estimated price to be provided to the customer when the vehicle of each specification is sold by the sales agency (sales company) is sold for each sale. It is stored corresponding to each specification for each agency. In the present embodiment, the estimated price of each specification set for each sales agent is the server 1 on the vehicle manufacturer side.
Is automatically changed / updated according to a predetermined condition.

Further, each sales agent has an estimated price DB35.
Although it is possible to access the data about itself and refer to the content registered in it at, in order to ensure the independence and independence of sales operations by each sales agent, at present general security Due to the function, it is configured so that it is not possible to access the data related to other sales agents in the estimated price DB 35 and refer to the contents thereof.

The reference price DB 35 is included in the reference information DB 36.
Data necessary for correcting the data stored in is stored. The details of the data stored in the reference information DB 36 will be described later, but as one of them, the time when the sale of the automobile is started is stored. Further, data regarding the correlation between each specification of the automobile and the price is also stored in the reference information DB 36. These data are configured to be appropriately corrected / changed by the vehicle manufacturer side server 1.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 2 is a server computer (hereinafter referred to as a sales agency side server) existing in the sales agency. This has a function as a server of a LAN (Local Area Network) built in a sales agency. The function of this server is the LAN
And a function as a gateway for mutually connecting the Internet 3 described later with each other.

Reference numeral 4 denotes a client computer existing in the sales agency (referred to as the sales agency terminal as described above), which is provided corresponding to each seller of the sales agency. Each is operated. The sales agency terminal 4 and the sales agency side server 2 form a so-called server / client environment in the LAN in the sales agency.

The sales agency terminal 4 can access the vehicle manufacturer side server 1 via the sales agency side server 2 and the Internet 3 as needed, during operation thereof. Thus, the distributor terminal 4
The vehicle manufacturer side server 1 and the vehicle manufacturer side server 1 form a so-called server / client environment when the sales agency terminal 4 is connected (logged in) to the vehicle manufacturer side server 1.

Reference numeral 3 is the Internet, which is a typical communication line. Reference numeral 5 is a user terminal such as a personal computer, a mobile information terminal, or a mobile phone. The user terminal 5 is operated by a user who uses the present system, and may be installed in the user's home or the like, carried by the user, or installed in each sales agency.

Then, in the above configuration, the vehicle manufacturer server 1, the sales agent server 2, the sales agent terminal 4
Also, the user terminal 5 can perform two-way communication via the Internet 3 according to a general communication method in order to send and receive information regarding estimation / ordering of individual vehicles, which will be described later. At this time, if the user terminal 5 is a personal computer, a telephone line or the like is also used via the provider (Internet provider) 6. Also,
When the user terminal 5 is a mobile information terminal or a mobile phone, a public wireless telephone line or the like is also used via the base station 8. A general configuration is adopted for these communication means themselves, and detailed description in this embodiment will be omitted.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the internal configuration of the vehicle manufacturer server 1, the sales agent server 2, the sales agent terminal 4, and the user terminal 5 in this embodiment.

In the figure, 22 is a display such as a liquid crystal display for displaying various screens, and 23 is a keyboard as an input means. A ROM 24 stores a boot program and the like. 25 is a RAM for temporarily storing various processing results. Reference numeral 26 is a storage device such as a hard disk drive (HDD) that stores an information processing program and the like. Reference numeral 27 is a communication interface for communicating with an external device via a communication line 30 (Internet 3 or the like in the present embodiment). When the user terminal 5 is a computer, it is a modem or TA, and the user terminal 5 is portable. In the case of an information terminal or a mobile phone, it is a wireless transceiver. 28 is a pointing device such as a mouse. The respective components are connected via an internal bus 29, and the CPU (central processing unit) 21 is connected to the storage device 2.
The entire apparatus is controlled according to the information processing program stored in 6. In the present embodiment, the display 22, the keyboard 23, and the pointing device 28 are the so-called man-
Provides a machine interface.

In the present embodiment, the vehicle manufacturer side server 1, the sales agency side server 2, the sales agency terminal 4 and the user terminal 5 are software (software) of a general communication protocol capable of performing Internet communication. Software program), an Internet browser function and a mail function for transmitting / receiving data via the Internet 3 according to the software, and general software for drawing the browser.

Then, each of the above software is executed by the CPU 2
The vehicle manufacturer side server 1 and the user terminal 5 or the sales agency terminal 4 are connected to the vehicle manufacturer side server 1 via the Internet 3 by being appropriately executed by 1. A so-called server / client environment is formed in the state of being logged in.

-Functional System of Individualized Vehicle Estimating / Ordering System- FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a functional system of a processing module executed in the individualizing vehicle estimating / ordering system. Each block shown in FIG. CPU 21 of manufacturer server 1
Is a unit of software (software program) that is roughly classified by function to be described later, and in the present embodiment, this functional unit is referred to as a processing module. These processing modules are provided by the vehicle manufacturer server 1.
It is stored in advance in the storage device 26.

Here, the function of each processing module will be outlined.

Initial processing (M1): The top screen (home page) of the personalized vehicle quotation / ordering system is displayed on the user terminal 5 and the other screens for selecting the specifications of the personalized vehicle and requesting a quotation are displayed. Transition is possible.

Vehicle specification selection processing (M2): The user of the user terminal 5 repeats the operation of selecting a desired option from among the options prepared in advance for the vehicle of the vehicle type under consideration for purchase, so that the user terminal For 5,
Providing an environment in which desired individualized vehicles can be selected (specification selection means). Furthermore, when the specifications of the customized vehicle are confirmed, it is possible to transition to the estimation / assessment request processing (M3).

Estimate / assessment request processing (M3): When the user who has confirmed the specifications of the individual specification vehicle desires, requests the sales agent to estimate the sales price of the individual specification vehicle and evaluate the trade-in vehicle. In addition to providing a possible environment, the sales agent designated by the user is notified of that fact.

Quotation item confirmation processing (M4): When the user of the user terminal 5 is the user who has already presented the estimated price to the individual specification vehicle for which the desired specifications have been fixed, the user is up to the present To other screens for providing information such as the estimated price history and specification list, etc., as well as credit examination when the user purchases the individual specification car with a loan and business negotiation application for actually ordering Can be transitioned.

Credit examination processing (M5): When a user wants to purchase a personalized vehicle with a fixed specification by using a loan, a credit examination based on the conditions input by the user is sent to the credit sales company. Request.

Business negotiation application process (M6): When the user desires a business negotiation for the actual purchase of the individual specification vehicle whose specifications have been fixed, the fact is notified to the sales agent.

Delivery date inquiry processing (M7): The user who has ordered the individualized vehicle is informed of the status and delivery date until the individualized vehicle can be actually delivered.

Instruction process (M8): The user is provided with a method of using the quotation / ordering system for this customized vehicle and an explanation of each function.

Inquiry process (M9): user terminal 5
In addition to accepting inquiries and complaints regarding this system from, notify the distributor of the inquiries and complaints received.

According to the personalized vehicle quotation / ordering system described in the present embodiment, the processing module group is executed by the vehicle manufacturer server 1 and the browser program is executed by the user terminal 5. By linking its own terminal as a client to the personalized vehicle quotation / ordering system, the display 22 of the user terminal 5 displays the various screens shown in FIGS. 4 to 7 (FIGS. 22 to 35). A machine interface is provided. Using this man-machine interface, the user of the user terminal 5 can perform specification selection, quotation, ordering, etc. for a desired customized vehicle.

-Software Executed by Vehicle Maker Server 1- Next, the software executed by the CPU 21 of the vehicle maker server 1 will be described. In the explanation below,
First, the state transition between the processing modules will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 8, and the transition of the display screen in each processing module will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 7. Then, FIG.
The estimated price providing process will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 2 to 14, and the change / update process of the estimated price DB 35 will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS.

(1) State Transition Between Each Module FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing an overall outline of the processing executed by the vehicle manufacturer server 1 in this embodiment.

M1 executed by the server 1 on the vehicle manufacturer side
The processing module group of M9 to M9 has a function of displaying various window screens described later on the display 22 of the user terminal 5 and realizing an input operation to the displayed window. The transition of will be described later with reference to FIGS. 4 to 7.

In FIG. 8, step S11, step S12: Initial processing (M1) is executed by linking the user terminal 5 to the site of this system via the Internet 3 (step S11). Then, it is determined whether or not the activation request data for other processing has been received from the user terminal 5 (step S12), and when the data is received, step S13, step S16, step S21, or step depending on the data. When the data is not received, the process proceeds to step S24.

Steps S13 to S15: The vehicle specification selection process (M2) is executed (step S13), and during the execution, start request data for the estimate / assessment request process (M3) is received from the user terminal 5. It is determined whether or not (step S14), and when the data is received, the estimation / assessment request process (M3) is executed (step S15).

Steps S16 to S20: The quotation item confirmation processing (M4) is executed (step S16), and during the execution, start request data for the credit examination processing (M5) or the negotiation application processing (M6) is executed. It is determined whether or not it is received from the user terminal 5 (step S1
7, step S19), when the data is received, the credit examination process (M
5) Alternatively, the negotiation application process (M6) is executed (steps S18 and S20).

Step S22, Step S23: Instruction processing (M8) is executed (Step S2
2) Inquiry processing (M9) is executed (step S
23).

Step S24, Step S25: It is judged whether or not the data indicating the end of use of the system is received from the user terminal 5 during execution of the above processing modules (step S24). When the data is received, The processing of the processing module being executed is stopped (step S25), and when the data is not received, the processing returns to step S12.

(2) Transition of Display Screen in Each Processing Module Next, transition of the display screen in each of the nine types of processing modules outlined above will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 7. To do. Here, the relationship of the state transition between the processing modules shown by the broken line blocks in FIGS. 4 to 7 follows the functional system described above with reference to FIG.

<Initial Processing (M1), Vehicle Specification Selection Processing (M2)> FIG. 4 is a diagram showing transitions of display screens in the initial processing (M1) and the vehicle specification selection processing (M2).

In the same figure, initial processing (M1)
Is the top screen A which is the home page screen of this system.
-1 (FIG. 23) is displayed. On the top screen A-1 illustrated in FIG. 23, a user who wishes to use this system, which is capable of selecting specifications, quotations, placing orders, etc., of a customized vehicle (that is, linked to the vehicle manufacturer server 1 via the Internet 3). User of the user terminal 5 who is operating)
r "button is included. Initial processing (M1)
Displays the home screen A-2 (FIG. 24) of the present system on the user terminal 5 when the “Enter” button is operated.

FIG. 24 is a diagram showing an example of the home screen A-2 displayed by the initial process (M1).

The display screen shown in the figure includes a plurality of operation buttons. When the operation button "About this site" or "Purchase procedure" is operated, the instruction processing (M8) described later is executed. Depending on the function, a predetermined explanation screen is displayed on the user terminal 5 concerned. Also,
When the operation button of the “purchase consideration list” is operated, the function of a quotation item confirmation process (M4) described later is provided to the user terminal 5. When the operation button for “delivery date inquiry of purchased vehicle” is operated, the function of delivery date inquiry processing (M7) is provided to the user terminal 5.

Further, when the photograph portion of the sports type vehicle type A or the wagon type vehicle type B is clicked on the home screen A-2, the function of the vehicle specification selection process (M2) is performed on the user terminal 5 concerned. Provided.
In the present embodiment, the vehicle specification selection process (M2)
For convenience of description, the specification of the individual-specific vehicle desired by the user can be selected for the sports type vehicle type A or the wagon type vehicle type B as an example.

When the desired vehicle type is selected on the home screen A-2, the function of the vehicle specification selection process (M2) causes
Based on the standard specification vehicle (base specification vehicle) of the selected vehicle type, the user himself / herself can perform desired specification selection and confirmation for a plurality of predetermined items. In other words, the various specifications (equipment) preset as standard specification vehicles inside the system are
New equipment (optional equipment) that is replaced with other specifications (equipment) or is not set in standard specification vehicles
Will be added.

FIG. 25 is a diagram showing an example of the format of the vehicle specification selection screen (B-1 to B-15) displayed by the vehicle specification selection process (M2). The basic format of the screen is engine Transmission selection screen B
-1 and B-8, tire / wheel selection screens B-2 and B-9, interior selection screens B-3 and B-10, audio selection screens B-4 and B-11, body color selection screen B-5 and B-12 and decoration parts selection screens B-6 and B-13 are basically common.

In these vehicle specification selection screens, in the upper half area, the vehicle type selected on the home screen A-2, its interior photo, and the "Z
"OMM" button, "Product information" button that can display various information related to the vehicle type, standard specification display screen B-7 and / or including specifications and specifications regarding the standard specification vehicle of the vehicle type
Or, "Standard specification car information" button that can display B-14,
Vehicle unit according to the specification selected by the user (individual specification vehicle 1
26) The manufacturer's suggested retail price (as a unit), the "detailed" button which can be displayed as shown in FIG. 26 for the details of the manufacturer's suggested retail price, each item of the specifications selected by the user, and each of the selected optional specifications. The items are displayed, and the difference between the manufacturer's suggested retail price of the vehicle having the same specifications as those of the selected specifications plus various costs at the time of purchase and the total budget amount entered by the user as described below (manufacturer's desired price) The difference between the retail price and the desired consumption price may be calculated) and displayed. In other words, on the vehicle specification selection screen,
The difference is displayed on the same screen as the purchase support information, and the option specification that has already been determined is also displayed on the screen on which the difference and the purchase support information are displayed.

FIG. 26 is a view showing an example of the manufacturer's suggested retail price specification screen displayed when the "detailed" button shown in FIG. 25 is operated. The manufacturer's suggested retail price for each vehicle and its basis are shown. The selected specification items and the manufacturer's suggested retail price for each item are displayed.

Further, the user selects the individual specification vehicle in the order of selection screens B-1 to B-6 for vehicle type A and selection screens B-8 to B-13 for vehicle type B. It is configured to be subject to restrictions such as selecting specification items in order from to, and in the lower half area of the vehicle specification selection screen,
Each selection step (step) corresponding to each screen of B-1 to B-6 or B-8 to B-13 described above is, for example,
It is displayed in the form of a folder in which multiple sheets are stacked.

In the example of FIG. 25, the state in which the folder of the third step is selected is displayed. In the selected folder (active state), the specification items to be selected by the user in that step are selected. Possible options are displayed along with images such as photographs, price differences from standard specification vehicles, and names (model numbers). In response to the user selecting a desired option (specification) from the displayed options, the selected specification information is stored in the storage device 26 of the vehicle manufacturer side server 1 as identification information (user ID).

At this time, the vehicle manufacturer's server 1 acquires the manufacturer's suggested retail price for the specified item by referring to the manufacturer's suggested retail price DB 31 using the selected specification item information as a key, and the obtained specification. The manufacturer's suggested retail price for the item is added to the specification items already selected in each step up to that point.

As a result, the maker's suggested retail price for each vehicle displayed in the upper right of FIG. 25 and the difference between the maker's suggested retail price plus the purchase costs and the desired consumption price are updated. If the "Details" button is selected,
The specification display screen illustrated in FIG. 26 is displayed with columns for the specification item selected in the current step and the manufacturer's suggested retail price added.

Further, in the lower half area of the vehicle specification selection screen, a "HOME" button capable of jumping to the home screen A-2 (FIG. 24), a "BACK" capable of transiting to the previous and next display screens, and The "NEXT" button is displayed.

It should be noted that a predetermined constraint is set in advance in the options allowed to the user in each step of the vehicle specification selection process (M2), and the basic idea is as follows.
As a first step of the specification selection work of the individual specification vehicle, there is a restriction so that the specification of the basic part that determines the power performance of the vehicle is selected, and also in the subsequent step, in the first step Constraints are set so that the selected specifications have the highest priority.

The option constraint information is information referred to as an option to be displayed on the screen corresponding to the next step in response to the user selecting the option in each step of the vehicle specification selection screen described above. , Is preset in the purchase support DB 33. Then, by selecting all the specification items, the identification information (specification number) for the individual specification vehicle of the user is selected.

Therefore, based on such restrictions, the user of the user terminal 5 performs the selection operation sequentially on the vehicle specification selection screen, and thereby the user of the desired vehicle type selected on the home screen A-2 (FIG. 24). The customized vehicle can be easily selected by the user's own interactive game-like operation, and the user can experience the feeling that the engineer of the automobile tuning shop tunes the automobile.

When the selection of all the specification items required for the specification of the individual specification vehicle is completed in the vehicle specification selection process (M2), the selection specification display screen B-15 shown in FIG. 27 is displayed.

FIG. 27 is a view showing an example of the selection specification display screen B-15 displayed by the vehicle specification selection processing (M2).
On the selection specification display screen B-15, as an example, a photograph image of the external appearance and interior of the individual specification vehicle for which the specification has been selected, the selected specification item and its price, the price of the standard specification vehicle, and the like are displayed.

On the selection specification display screen B-15, when the "sales company estimate request" button is operated to request an estimate of the actual sales price from the sales agent, the specification of the selected individual specification vehicle is selected. The item is fixed, and the process can be transited to the estimation / assessment request process (M3) described later. On the other hand, when the "return" button is operated, the specification item can be changed by sequentially returning to the vehicle specification selection screen corresponding to each step described above. That is, other options cannot be selected without returning to the previous option.

The vehicle specification selection process (M2) will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 9. First step S2
At 1, it is determined whether or not there is a specification selection request from the user terminal 5 (selection of a desired vehicle type (vehicle type A or vehicle type B) on the home screen A-2). If this determination is NO and there is no specification selection request, the process ends as it is,
If the determination is YES and there is a specification selection request, the process proceeds to step S22, and although omitted in FIG. 4, the specification selection initial screen shown in FIG. 34 is transmitted to the user terminal 5 and displayed. In this initial specification selection screen, the user
Items for inputting D, password, user name, reading, and total budget amount (desired consumption price) planned for payment are displayed.

In the next step S23, it is determined whether or not the "Next" button on the specification selection initial screen is operated. When this determination is NO and the "Next" button has not been operated, the process ends, while when the determination is YES and the "Next" button has been operated, the process proceeds to step S24, and the specification selection initial screen is displayed. It is determined whether all the input items of are input.

If the determination in step S24 is NO and all items have not been entered, step S2
5, the warning screen shown in FIG. 35 is transmitted to and displayed on the user terminal 5, and then the process returns to step S23. On this warning screen, a warning that an item that has not been input (“total budget amount” in FIG. 35) is a required input item, and the same input items as the specification selection initial screen are displayed.

On the other hand, the determination in step S24 is YES.
If all items have been input, step S
26, and proceed to the vehicle specification selection screen B-1 or B-8
Is transmitted to the user terminal 5 and displayed, and the next step S2
In No. 7, "User I
Customer DB3 by associating "D", "name", and "total budget"
Store in 4. Note that, as will be described later, more detailed customer information is input at the time of requesting an estimate / assessment, and these are also stored together.

In the next step S28, the specification is selected, changed or deleted in accordance with the subsequent operation by the customer, and accordingly, the customer is selected from among those stored in the purchase support DB 33 corresponding to each specification. Select the one with the same specifications as the input specifications and send it to the user terminal for display,
The difference between the desired retail price added to the manufacturer's suggested retail price and the desired consumption price is calculated and transmitted to the user terminal 5 and displayed on the same screen as the purchase support information, after which the process ends.

When the user inputs the specifications, the specification change history, access history, web stay time, web browsing page number, etc. are associated with the above "user ID" and the like in the customer DB.
It is stored in 34.

<Quotation / Assessment Request Processing (M3)> FIG.
It is a figure which shows the transition of the display screen in quotation / assessment request processing (M3), and the e-mail transmission function accompanying the quotation / assessment request, and after the specification of the individual specification vehicle in vehicle specification selection processing (M2), It is activated in response to the operation of the "request for sales company estimate" button. From the estimate / assessment request process (M3), it is possible to transition to the vehicle specification selection process (M2) according to the user's operation.

As shown in the same figure, the transition of the display screen in the estimate / assessment request process (M3) includes the estimate request top screen C-1 (FIG. 28) and the assessment application input screen C-2.
(FIG. 29), the sales agent search / selection screen C-3, the input content confirmation screen C-4, the estimate / assessment content transmission screen C-5, and the sales agency map browsing screen C-6 It can be displayed on the user terminal 5.

Estimate request top screen C-1 (FIG. 28): In this screen, the user of the user terminal 5 displays the name of the user (user ID and password if already issued) and the "Questionnaire" button. Questionnaire items displayed on the questionnaire input screen (see FIG. 22) displayed by operation (number of vehicles owned, alternative desired brand,
By inputting the vehicle ownership type, parking lot storage location, prospective purchaser introduction information, desired delivery date), a quotation will be made to the sales agent for the individual specification vehicle previously confirmed in the vehicle specification selection process (M2). And, if you wish, you can apply (request) the assessment of the trade-in vehicle. That is, after the information about the user is input on the display screen, if “Yes” is selected in the radio button related to the assessment application, the assessment application input screen C-2 is displayed and “No” is selected. In this case, the sales agent search / selection screen C-3 is displayed.

Assessment application input screen C-2 (FIG. 29): In this screen, the user of the user terminal 5 has predetermined specification items (vehicle maker name, vehicle name, Enter the displacement, mileage, etc.,
In response to the selection of the "Next" button, the sales agent search / selection screen C-3 is displayed.

Sales agent search / selection screen C-3 (not shown): On this screen, the user of the user terminal 5 is a sales agent who wishes to request an estimate of an individualized vehicle and an assessment of a trade-in vehicle. Can be specified by the user himself. As the designation procedure, for example, the quotation request top screen C
A method of automatically presenting a nearby sales agent based on the user's address previously input in -1, etc.,
A method of allowing the user to select a desired sales agent from among the displayed sales agents is assumed. In any case, by configuring the sales agent search / selection screen C-3 so that it can be expanded to the sales agent map browsing screen C-6 where the location of each sales agent can be confirmed on the map, It is good to consider the convenience of the user.

When the sales agent requesting the quotation of the customized vehicle and the evaluation of the trade-in vehicle is designated on the sales agent search / selection screen C-3, the user terminal 5 of the user is
An input content confirmation screen C-4 is displayed.

Input contents confirmation screen C-4 (not shown): This screen shows the contents of each specification item (including the manufacturer's suggested retail price) for the individual specification vehicle previously determined in the vehicle specification selection process (M2). , When selecting the assessment of a trade-in vehicle, the contents of each item input by the user on the assessment application input screen C-2, and a sales agent search / selection screen C-3 for requesting an estimate / assessment thereof. A list of information and the like regarding the sales agent specified in is displayed. And
After the user confirms the content of the information displayed on the input content confirmation screen C-4 and then actually requests a quote / assessment by a predetermined operation (a predetermined operation of the customer after the specification is input (quotation request operation)), The operation signal is transmitted to the vehicle manufacturer server 1, and the estimate / assessment content transmission screen C-5 is displayed on the user terminal 5.

Estimate / assessment content transmission screen C-5 (not shown): This screen includes an estimate / assessment request (the above operation signal).
Is transmitted and accepted by the vehicle manufacturer's server 1, and information such as that an e-mail regarding the content of the request from the sales agent designated by the user reaches the user is displayed. As described above, the estimate / assessment request process (M3) includes a function of transmitting / receiving an email in response to the estimate / assessment request transmitted from the user terminal 5.

ID / password reply mail C-7: If the quote request from the user is the first time this time, an e-mail containing the ID / password issued to the mail address previously input by the user. Will be sent.

Estimate / assessment request notification mail C-8: The vehicle manufacturer side server 1 informs the sales agent of the target sales agency that the user has requested a quotation request for a customized vehicle and / or an assessment of a trade-in vehicle. An electronic mail for notifying the sales agency side server 2 is transmitted. In this e-mail, for example, the information (address, name, e-mail address, etc.) that can specify the user input on the quotation request top screen C-1, and the individual specifications set in the vehicle specification selection process (M2) Vehicle identification information (specification number), assessment application input screen C-
The specification items of the trade-in vehicle input in 2 are included.

Quote / Assessment Request Confirmation Email C-9: Email address previously entered by the user from the sales agent who was requested by the user to request a quotation for the customized vehicle and / or to assess the trade-in vehicle An e-mail is sent to confirm that the quotation request / assessment request has been made.

Assessment result reply mail C-10: For replying the assessment result to the email address previously entered by the user from the sales agency requested by the user to assess the trade-in vehicle. An email is sent.

Estimate result reply mail C-11: To reply to the mail address previously input by the user from the vehicle manufacturer side server 1 with respect to the estimate result of the sales agency requested by the user for the quotation. Will be sent by e-mail.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing the estimate / assessment request process (M3) performed in the vehicle manufacturer side server 1.

In the figure, step S41: The estimate request top screen C-1 (FIG. 28) is displayed on the user terminal 5, and the validity of the user ID and password entered on the screen is checked.

Steps S42 and S43: It is judged whether or not there is a request for assessment (step S42). If there is no such request, the process proceeds to step S44, while if there is such a request, the user terminal 5 concerned. By displaying the assessment application input screen C-2 (FIG. 29) on the screen, the user can input the information of the trade-in vehicle for which the assessment is desired, and
By displaying the sales agent search / selection screen C-3 on the user terminal 5, the user is allowed to select a desired sales agent (sales company designation means), and the selected sales agent is requested to make an estimate / assessment request. The information input by the notification mail C-8 is transmitted (step S43).

Steps S44 and S45: It is judged whether or not there is a request for an estimate (step S44), and if there is such a request, the estimate for the individual specification vehicle is provided from the vehicle manufacturer side server 1 to the user terminal 5. The estimated price providing process is performed (step S45). That is, as will be described in detail later, an estimated price is automatically calculated based on the vehicle specification identification information (specification number) set in the vehicle specification selection process (M2), and the estimated price is calculated according to customer information or the like. After the correction, the email is sent to the email address previously entered by the user.

The sales agency which has received the assessment request assesses the trade-in vehicle in accordance with the specification items of the trade-in vehicle acquired by the assessment request notification mail C-8. Even if the employee of the sales agent actually checks the trade-in vehicle and performs it as usual, this assessment is automatically performed by referring to the database etc. in which the used car market price is set in advance. You may do it.

<Quotation item confirmation process (M4)> FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a transition of the display screen in the quotation item confirmation process (M4). In the home screen A-2 displayed by the initial process (M1), It starts up in response to the operation button on the “Purchase Review List”. From the estimate item confirmation process (M4), it is possible to transition to the initial process (M1), the credit examination process (M5), or the negotiation application process (M6) according to the operation of the user.

As shown in the figure, the estimate item confirmation process (M
As the transition of the display screen in 4), the ID / password input screen D-1 (FIG. 30) and the purchase consideration information list screen D
-2 (Fig. 31), estimate confirmation screen D-3 (Fig. 32),
The quotation specification image display screen D-4, the credit examination result display screen D-5, and the trade-in assessment result display screen D-6 can be displayed on the user terminal 5.

ID / password input screen D-1 (see FIG. 3)
0): In this screen, the user of the user terminal 5 inputs the previously issued user ID (member ID) and password for the user, and operates the "send" button to operate the system (vehicle). Log in to the manufacturer server 1). When the login is completed, the purchase consideration information list screen D-2 (FIG. 31) is displayed on the user terminal.

Purchase consideration information list screen D-2 (FIG. 31):
On this screen, the quote previously made for the user,
A list of assessments and credit reviews will be displayed,
The user selects a desired display item by an operation such as clicking on the desired display item, whereby a screen showing detailed contents of the selected item is displayed on the user terminal 5 of the user.

Quotation item confirmation screen D-3 (FIG. 32): In this screen, the user of the user terminal 5 can confirm the detailed contents of the quotation previously performed for the user, and the "business negotiation" When the "Apply" button is operated, it is possible to transition to the negotiation application process (M6), when the "Review credit" button is operated, it is possible to transition to the credit screening process (M5), and "Quotation specification image confirmation" When the "" button is operated, the image of the automobile corresponding to the currently displayed individual specification vehicle can be confirmed on the estimated specification image display screen D-4 (not shown). Then, when the operation button of "return to the purchase consideration list" is operated, the purchase consideration information list screen D-
2 (FIG. 31).

FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing the estimate item confirmation processing (M4) performed in the vehicle manufacturer side server 1.

In the figure, step S51: The ID / password input screen D-1 (FIG. 30) is displayed on the user terminal 5, and the validity of the user ID and password input on that screen is checked.

Step S52: With reference to the customer DB 34, it is confirmed whether or not the quotation information related to the user ID has been updated.

Step S53: The quotation information relating to the user ID stored in the customer DB 34 is acquired, and the obtained quotation information is displayed on the purchase consideration information list screen D-2.
(FIG. 31) or in response to an operation on the screen, the quotation item confirmation screen D-3 (FIG. 32) is displayed on the user terminal 5 of the user.

Step S54: The updated quotation information about the user ID stored in the customer DB 34 is
In order for the user to be able to identify the update, the purchase consideration information list screen D-2 (FIG. 31) or the operation on the screen, the quotation confirmation screen D-3 (FIG. 32) is used to display the user terminal 5 of the user. To display.

<Credit Screening Process (M5) / Business Negotiation Application Process (M6)> FIG. 7 shows the credit screening process (M5).
5) and the transition of the display screen in the negotiation application process (M6) and the e-mail transmission function associated with the credit examination and the negotiation application, and the credit examination process (M5) is the quotation item confirmation process (M4). On the quotation confirmation screen D-3 (FIG. 32) displayed by the above, it is activated in response to the operation of the “consider credit” button, and the negotiation application process (M6) is performed on the quotation confirmation screen D.
-3 (FIG. 32), it is activated in response to the operation of the “business negotiation application” button. Credit examination process (M
From 5) and the negotiation application process (M6), a transition can be made to the quotation item confirmation process (M4).

The transition of the display screen in the negotiation application process (M6) shown in FIG.
-1 (FIG. 33) and each screen of the negotiation application contents transmission screen F-2 can be displayed on the user terminal 5.

Business negotiation application input screen F-1 (FIG. 33):
On this screen, the user of the user terminal 5 performs various negotiation-related applications to the sales agent who has presented the estimated price for the individual specification vehicle presented in the estimate item selected in the estimate item confirmation process (M4). Items (trade-in vehicle presence / absence, desired date for negotiation, etc.) can be input, and after the predetermined item is input, the “negotiation application” button is operated, and the user terminal 5 displays the negotiation application transmission screen. F-2 is displayed.

Business negotiation application content transmission screen F-2 (not shown): This screen transmits the content of the application on the business negotiation application input screen F-1, which is accepted by the vehicle maker side server 1 and the electronic data relating to the business negotiation. Information is displayed indicating that the corresponding sales agent will make contact by e-mail or telephone.

The business negotiation application process (M6) includes a function of transmitting / receiving an electronic mail in response to the business negotiation application information transmitted from the user terminal 5 on the business negotiation application content transmission screen F-2.

Business negotiation request confirmation mail F-3: It is confirmed from the vehicle manufacturer side server 1 requested for business negotiation by the user to the mail address previously input by the user that the business negotiation request has been made. An email will be sent for you.

Business negotiation request notification mail F-4: An electronic mail is sent from the vehicle manufacturer side server 1 to the target sales agency that the business negotiation has been requested by the user. This e-mail includes the contents displayed on the business negotiation application input screen F-1 and information about the user.

In the present embodiment, as a method of actually ordering an individualized vehicle to an automobile maker after negotiations at a sales agency, a method performed from the sales agency side server 2 to the vehicle manufacturer side server 1 or It is envisaged that a separate order will be placed using a dedicated line.

(3) Estimated Price Providing Process Next, an estimated price providing process executed by the CPU of the vehicle manufacturer server 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 12 to 14. FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the basic procedure of the estimated price providing process, which provides the estimated price automatically calculated based on the identification information (specification number) of the individual specification vehicle.

In the figure, step S31: The data of the sales agent designated by the customer is read from the estimated price DB 35, and the identification information (specification number of the vehicle specification selected in the vehicle specification selection process (M2) described above is read. ) Is calculated (estimated price calculation means).

Step S32: An automatic correction subroutine for automatically correcting the estimated price calculated in step S31 in consideration of predetermined information about the customer (correction means). The details of this automatic correction subroutine will be described later.

Step S33: The estimated price corrected in step S32 is sent to the mail address (user terminal 5) previously input by the customer by e-mail and stored in the customer DB 34 in association with the user ID. To do.
This e-mail contains a URL, and when the user terminal 5 opens the page designated by the URL, the details can be confirmed on the screen displaying the estimation result (estimated price presenting means).

Step S34: The sales agent side server 2 is notified by e-mail that the estimated price has been presented to the customer.

-Automatic Correction Subroutine- FIG. 13 shows a specific procedure of the automatic correction subroutine in step S32 of the flow shown in FIG. This subroutine is a subroutine for correcting the estimated price read from the estimated price DB 35 on the basis of predetermined information about the customer. For the information that is the basis of the correction calculation in each step below, refer to the customer DB 34 or this time. In the questionnaire input screen (see FIG. 22) displayed at the time of requesting a quotation, the user inputs a predetermined input form for reference.

In FIG. 13, step S101: The paid service history of the customer is read out, and according to this history, for example, the larger the total amount of paid services within a predetermined period,
Correct the price so that it becomes lower. At this time, even among the paid services, the discount amount due to the correction is set to be relatively large for the regular inspection, while the discount amount is set to be relatively small for the repair of the sudden failure of the elderly car. You may This is because sales can be expected from sales agents for regular inspections.

Step S102: The current number of vehicles owned by the customer is read out, and the estimated price is gradually reduced according to the number of owned vehicles, for example, as the number of owned vehicles increases. If the customer owns an elderly car, the discount amount due to the correction may be relatively large. This is because there is a high possibility of replacement by customers when the number of vehicles owned by the customer is large, especially when an elderly car is included.

Step S103: The information on the vehicle storage location of the customer is read out, and according to the vehicle storage location, for example, when the storage location is in a conspicuous location, the estimated price is corrected to be low. This is because the advertising effect can be expected if the storage place of the car is in a conspicuous place. In this case, it is preferable that the manufacturer bears the discount amount.

Step S104: The information on the introduction status of the prospective customer by the customer is read out, and the estimated price is gradually reduced according to the information, for example, as the number of introduced customers increases. However, if the introduced prospective customer is already a customer of the manufacturer, the discount amount due to the correction may be reduced or may be set to zero. Also, an email for promoting purchase is sent to the introduced prospective customers.

Step S105: Read out information as to whether or not the customer is an introduced customer introduced by another customer,
If it is a referred customer, the estimated price will be corrected to be lower. Further, to the introducer, an e-mail indicating that the introduced customer introduced by the person requested the estimate is sent.

Step S106: The desired delivery date input by the customer is read out, and the estimated price is gradually reduced according to the desired delivery date, for example, as the delivery date becomes shorter. This is because if the desired delivery date is short, it is likely that the contract will be reached early. At that time, the discount amount due to the correction may be made relatively large particularly when the end of the fiscal year is near.

Step S107: The brand of the current owned vehicle under consideration by the customer for replacement is read out, that is, the substitute brand, and depending on the substitute brand, for example, the substitute brand is from another manufacturer or the substitute brand is If not, the price will be adjusted to a lower price. This is because it is an opportunity to acquire new customers.

Step S108: According to the history of access to the site of this system at the time of the customer's specification input, if the customer's interest is considered to be high, the estimated price is corrected to be low. The specific content of this correction will be described later in detail.

Step S109: The time at which the customer purchased the vehicle last time is read out. For example, if the time at which the last purchase was made is earlier than a predetermined period, or if the period until the vehicle inspection of the previously purchased vehicle is short, the estimated price is Correct so that it becomes lower. This is because there is a high possibility of purchase in any of these cases. The discount amount due to this correction may be gradually changed according to the length of the period.

Step S110: The purchase price when the customer purchased the car last time is read out, and the estimated price is corrected according to this price so that the higher the discount rate at the time of the previous purchase, the lower the estimated price. This is to avoid a situation where the estimated price is significantly different from the customer's expectation. The discount rate due to the correction is preferably determined based on the deviation of the discount rate at the time of the previous purchase from the average discount rate.

[0197] Step S111: The information regarding the changing situation of the living environment of the customer is read out, and according to this information,
For example, when the number of families increases, when moving, when changing jobs, etc., the estimated price is corrected to be low. In particular, when a vehicle type that is highly adaptable to changes in the living environment is selected, the discount amount due to the correction may be relatively large. One example is when minivans are requested to quote for an increase in the number of families.

Step S112: The information regarding the vehicle currently owned by the customer is read out, and the estimated price is lowered, for example, when the genre of the individual specification vehicle and the genre of the owned vehicle type are greatly different according to this information. to correct. This is because if the customer is interested in a car model of a completely different genre than the one currently held, there is a high possibility that a business negotiation or contract will be reached.

As a method of correcting the estimated price, various methods other than those described in steps S101 to S112 can be considered. That is, for example, the estimated price may be corrected in accordance with the number of optional equipment having the specifications selected by the customer in the estimation request. That is, for example, when the number of optional equipment is 4 to 9, the estimated price is corrected to be low. It is thought that when the number of options is more than the predetermined number, they are just enjoying changing the specifications, and conversely,
This is because when the number of options is less than the predetermined number, it is considered that the interest in the product is not so strong. However,
When the number of options is zero, it is considered that the specification desired to be purchased is clear, and in this case, the estimated price may be lowered.

-Correction Subroutine Based on Access History-Next, a specific procedure of correction based on the access history in step S108 of the flow of FIG. 13 will be described.

In FIG. 14, step S120, step S121: the access history of the "selling item ranking" page in which the access history of the customer to the site is read from the customer DB 34 and the ranking of the most popular specifications is displayed. Is read out, and based on this information, when the access frequency within a predetermined period is higher than a predetermined value, the estimated price is corrected to be low. At this time, the higher the access frequency, the lower the estimated price may be corrected.

Step S122: The customer's "ZOO
The access status to the "M" display, that is, the information on the frequency of operating the "ZOOM" button is read out, and the estimated price is lowered according to this information, for example, when the frequency of operation within a predetermined period is higher than a predetermined value. to correct. At this time, the higher the operation frequency, the lower the estimated price may be corrected.

Step S123: The information about the "inquiry" status of the customer's automobile, that is, the frequency with which the customer operates the "inquiry" button is read out, and the operation frequency is higher than a predetermined frequency, for example, within a predetermined period according to this information. Sometimes, the price is corrected so that it becomes lower. At this time, the higher the frequency, the lower the estimated price may be corrected.

Step S124: The information of the "image download" status of the customer, that is, the frequency of downloading the image from the site by the customer is read out, and the frequency of download within a predetermined period is higher than a predetermined value according to this information. Sometimes, the price is corrected so that it becomes lower. At this time, the higher the frequency, the lower the estimated price may be corrected.

Step S125: Status of stay of the customer at the site, that is, for example, time spent at the site and "product information".
The information such as the button operation frequency is read, and the estimated price is lowered according to this information, for example, when the site stay time is longer than a predetermined time within a predetermined period or when the button operation frequency is higher than the predetermined time. Correct so that At this time, the longer the feeling of staying, or the more frequently the buttons are operated,
You may correct so that an estimated price may become low.

Step S126: The number of pages browsed by the browser program while the customer is staying at the site is read out, and the estimated price is corrected according to the number of pages so that the estimated price becomes low when the number of pages is a predetermined number or more. . At this time, the estimated price may decrease as the number of pages increases. Further, it may be limited to only the page regarding the specifications of the individual specification vehicle.

Step S127: The specification setting history in which the customer has set the specification of the individual specification vehicle in the past is read, and according to this history, for example, if the total time required for setting the specifications within a predetermined period is a predetermined time or more. At some point, the price is revised so that it becomes lower. At this time, the longer the total time, the lower the estimated price may be. Further, it may be limited to the same or similar specifications.

Step S128: The specification setting history in which the customer has set the specification of the individual specification vehicle in the past is read, and the selection of the specification item (equipment) and the deselection of the selected specification item are repeated according to the number of times. When the number of times is two or more, the estimated price is corrected to be low. When selecting and canceling specification items repeatedly, it is considered that the customer's intention to purchase a car is high,
It is considered that hesitant to select the specification item in consideration of the purchase budget. Therefore, by correcting the estimated price to be low, the estimated price can be set according to the customer's request. In addition, by performing the correction when the number of repetitions is two or more, it is possible to eliminate the case where the customer simply makes a mistake in selecting and inputting the specification item.

[0209] Step S129: When the customer reads the specification setting history of the specification setting of the individual specification vehicle in the past, deselects the selected specification item, and then selects the specification item again, the estimated price is Correct so that it becomes lower. In this case, it is estimated that the customer is wondering whether or not to select the specification item in consideration of the purchase budget, so by making corrections so that the estimated price becomes low, it is possible to meet the customer's wishes. It can be a quoted price.

Step S1210: The customer's intention to purchase a car (a numerical value indicating the intention to buy a car) is calculated, and when the intention is greater than or equal to a predetermined value according to the intention. , Correct the estimated price so that it becomes lower.

[0211] The customer's intention of purchasing a car is specifically calculated as follows. That is, the standard value of the intention level is set in advance, and when the number of times the customer has requested the quotation on the system is a predetermined number or more, the standard value is corrected to be increased. Also, the purchase consideration information list screen D-2 of the customer.
When the number of times of access (FIG. 31) is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, correction for increasing the standard value is performed. In this way, the customer's intention of purchasing a car is calculated.

Step S1211: The purchase budget of the customer is estimated from the specification setting history of the customer, and when the estimated price is higher than the estimated budget by a predetermined price or more, the estimated price is corrected so as to become lower.

The purchase budget of the customer is specifically estimated as follows. In other words, a price obtained by subtracting a predetermined price from the automobile manufacturer's suggested retail price is set in the standard purchase budget, and, for example, when the customer repeatedly inputs and deselects a specific specification item, The price obtained by reducing the standard purchase budget is estimated as the purchase budget of the customer. At this time, for example, the price corresponding to the specification item may be reduced and corrected. When the customer again selects and inputs the specification item for which the selection cancellation has been input, the price obtained by reducing the standard purchase budget is estimated as the purchase budget of the customer.

As the correction based on the access history, in addition to those shown in steps S121 to S1211,
Various methods are possible. That is, for example, the access status to the customer's purchase consideration information list screen D-2 (FIG. 31) and the selection specification display screen B-15 (FIG. 27), that is, browsing of the same screen within a predetermined period (for example, one month). The number of times, the browsing time or the number of browsing days may be read, and the estimated price may be corrected according to this information so that the estimated price becomes low when the number of browsing times within the predetermined period is greater than a predetermined value. At this time, the estimated price may be gradually decreased as the number of browsing times increases. This is because it is considered that the higher the frequency of browsing the screen, the easier it is to connect to business negotiations.

[0215] Further, the number of estimation requests on the present system in the past predetermined period of the customer is read out, and the estimated price is low when the number of estimation requests within the predetermined period is larger than a predetermined number according to this information. You may correct so that it may become. More specifically, for example, regardless of the sales company or the specifications, the estimated price is corrected when the number of request for estimation within the past 3 months is 10 or more, or
The estimated price may be corrected when the number of requests for quotation for different specifications for the same sales company within the past three months is five or more. Furthermore, the estimated price may be gradually reduced as the number of requests for estimation increases.

[0216] Further, if the information about the site where the customer was staying immediately before accessing the site of this system, that is, the access link source is read out, and the access link source is the homepage of the vehicle manufacturer, for example, according to this information. Alternatively, the estimated price may be corrected so as to be low. Or, a certain period in the past (for example, 3 months)
The estimated price may be corrected when the number of access link sources in is greater than or equal to the set value. In this case, the estimated price may be gradually reduced as the number of access link sources increases.

Further, in step S122, "ZOO
The estimated price is corrected according to the frequency of operating the "M" button, but without performing this, step S12 is performed.
At 10, the intention of purchasing the vehicle may be calculated based on the customer's access to the “ZOOM” display. For example, when the "ZOOM" display is accessed, the standard value of the intention level may be corrected.

Similarly, in step S124, the estimated price is corrected according to the image download status. However, without performing this, in step S1210, the price is corrected based on the presence or absence of "image download" by the customer. ,
You may make it calculate the intention degree of car purchase.
For example, when an image is downloaded, the standard value of the intention may be corrected.

(4) Change / Update Process of Estimated Price DB 35 Next, the change / update process of the estimated price DB 35 executed by the CPU of the vehicle manufacturer side server 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 15 to 16. First, FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a basic procedure for changing / updating the estimated price DB 35, and this changing / updating process is performed for each sales agency. The change / update process of the estimated price DB 35 is executed by the CPU of the vehicle manufacturer server 1 at a predetermined cycle.

In the figure, step S61: Various information required in each subroutine to be described later is acquired from the reference information DB 36.

Step S62: Vehicle manufacturer server 1
Is a subroutine (automatic change / update subroutine) that automatically performs calculation for changing / updating the data of the estimated price DB 35 according to a predetermined condition. The details of this automatic change / update subroutine will be described later.

Step S63: The data in the estimated price DB 35 is changed / updated based on the estimated price obtained in the above step S62.

Step S64 to Step S66: A quotation request for an individualized vehicle has already been received, and the estimated price of the individualized vehicle has already been presented (however, a predetermined period has elapsed since the estimated amount of money was presented. For a user who may not be), it is determined by referring to the customer DB 34 whether or not the estimated amount of money is reduced more than a predetermined amount and the estimated amount of money is reduced (step S64). Will inform you by e-mail (estimation result reply mail C
It is transmitted to the corresponding user terminal 5 in (-11) (step S65). Then, the fact that the estimated price change e-mail has been sent to the user terminal 5 is sent to the sales agency side server 2 by e-mail (step S66).

-Automatic Change / Update Subroutine-FIG. 16 is an automatic change / update subroutine in step S62 of the flow shown in FIG. 15 described above. This subroutine uses the data in the estimated price DB 35 on the vehicle manufacturer side as described above. It is a subroutine for automatically changing / updating by the CPU of the server 1, and the processing is performed individually for each sales agency.

In the figure, step S301: For each specification of the automobile in the estimated price DB 35, the estimated price is changed and calculated according to the elapsed time (number of days) from the sales start time. That is, as shown in an example in FIG. 17 (a), the reference information DB 36 stores in advance a map that defines the relationship between the elapsed time from the sale start time and the estimated price change coefficient α1, and is read from this map. The estimated price is changed by multiplying the estimated price read from the estimated price DB 35 by the change coefficient α1. Here, the change coefficient α
As shown in the figure, the value of 1 may be set so as to gradually decrease as the elapsed time increases. This will reduce the novelty of the automobile of the specification with the passage of time from the start of sales. However, it is possible to set an appropriate price accordingly.

Step S302: For each specification, an estimate is made according to the remaining time (days) until the model change, based on the change coefficient α2 as shown in the map of FIG. 17 (b) as in the case of step S301. Calculate price change.
As shown in the figure, the value of the change coefficient α2 may be set so as to increase as the remaining time becomes longer. By doing so, the discount amount for specifications with a near model change is increased and price competitiveness is maintained. can do.

Step S303: For each specification, an estimate is made according to the offline price (actual price) of the specification and similar specifications in the market, for example, based on the change coefficient α3 as shown in the map of FIG. 17 (c). Calculate price change. That is, first, data regarding the offline price of the specification and the similar specification at the sales agency that is changing the data is read from the progress management DB 32. Then, the average value, the lowest price, and the like of the offline price in the past predetermined period are calculated, and the change coefficient α3 corresponding to this calculated value is set in FIG.
It reads from the map of 7 (c) and multiplies the estimated price.

By doing so, it is possible to directly reflect the change in the actual price in the market in the estimated price. When calculating the average value, weighting may be applied to those having the same specifications, or calculation may be performed after the same specifications are corrected for those having similar specifications. Also,
For example, it is preferable to exclude those that are cheaper than the preset range, such as the selling price to large customers,
Similarly, it is preferable to exclude a price higher than a preset range. Furthermore, as the average value, a weighted average value weighted more recently may be used. For example, price data within a recent predetermined period may be weighted, data before a predetermined time period may be excluded, or price data for the same month may be weighted. The other data may be excluded.

Step S304: For each specification, the estimated price is changed and calculated according to the information regarding the competing automobile.
The value of the change coefficient for this calculation may be input in advance in the reference information DB 36 by the manufacturer or the sales agent. For example, the correction factors based on the competitiveness of competitors' specifications, performance, equipment, etc. are input by the manufacturer, while on the other hand, based on sales information such as new sales of competitors, their pricing, actual sales, etc. The correction coefficient is preferably entered by the sales agent. In this way, by setting the price according to the degree of competition with the competing vehicle, it is possible to maintain the competitiveness with respect to the competing vehicle.

Step S305: For each specification, for example, in accordance with the sales record of the specification and similar specifications, that is, the ratio from the estimate to the negotiation (contract ratio) or the ratio to the contract (contract ratio), for example, The estimated price is changed and calculated based on the change coefficient α4 as shown in the map of FIG. 17 (d). The value of the change coefficient α4 may be set to increase as the negotiation rate and the contract rate increase, as shown in the figure. By doing this, it is possible to set an appropriate price that immediately responds to the market evaluation.
At that time, it is preferable to exclude from the data, specially-designed items such as special-sale items and limited-edition vehicles, and also to exclude duplicate quotations regarding the same or similar specifications for the same customer. This is to accurately obtain the business negotiation rate and the contract rate.

In calculating the negotiation rate and the contract rate, the same specifications may be weighted as in the offline price calculation in step S303. May be calculated after correcting the same specifications. Further, the data used for calculation may be weighted more recently. That is, for example, data within a recent predetermined period may be weighted, data before a predetermined time period may be excluded, or data for the same month may be weighted. The other data may be excluded.

Step S306: For each specification, the estimated price is changed and calculated according to the competition loss information about the specification and similar specifications. Although the change coefficient used for this calculation is not shown, for example, the change coefficient may be set to be smaller as the number of competitive losses is larger. here,
The competitive loss may be that the customer did not enter into a business negotiation or contract with the customer who submitted the quotation, and the customer had a business negotiation or contract with another sales agent.

The value of the correction coefficient may be set so that it does not change if the number of competitive losses within a predetermined period is less than or equal to a predetermined number, or conversely, it is set so as to increase. May be. At this time, when the price difference between the competitively won estimated price and the competitively lost price is large, the change range of the change coefficient may be increased. Further, even if the competition is lost, the change width of the change coefficient may be reduced if the estimated number of cases in competition at that time is larger than a predetermined number. Specifically, the predetermined change width may be divided by the number of competing estimates.

When calculating the correction coefficient, weights may be given to those having the same specifications, as in steps S303 and S305. You may do it. Further, the data used for calculation may be weighted more recently. That is, for example, data within a recent predetermined period may be weighted, data before a predetermined time period may be excluded, or data for the same month may be weighted. The other data may be excluded. Note that whether or not to change the estimated price based on this competitive loss information may be set by the sales agent.

Step S307: For each specification, the estimated price is changed and calculated according to the correlation between the estimated price relating to the specification and the estimated price relating to other specifications. The value of the change coefficient for this calculation may be input in advance in the reference information DB 36 by the manufacturer or the sales agent. That is, as described above, when the data of the estimated price DB 35 is changed / updated according to the market trend or the like, the correlation between the specifications of the automobile and the price accumulated in the DB 35 changes, and The estimated price difference may be too small, or the estimated price difference may be too large, although the difference in specifications is small, although the difference between the two is quite large. Further, it is possible that even a so-called twist may occur, in which the estimated price of a car with excellent specifications is lower than that of a car with poor specifications.

Therefore, with respect to the specification to be changed (the specification for which the change calculation of the estimated price is to be performed), the one having a relatively common point is set as the comparison target, and the difference in these specifications and the estimated price thereof are set. Make a comparison with the difference.

Here, the specifications to be compared may be selected according to the following criteria. That is, compared to the specification to be changed, specifications that differ in basic parts such as the engine and transmission are not the specifications to be compared,
Specifications for which the basic parts are common and non-basic parts (for example, optional parts such as ornaments) are different are the specifications for comparison. In particular, a specification in which the number of different items is 2 or less may be set as a specification for comparison. Further, rather than using the basic parts and non-basic parts as a reference, the specifications in which the high-priced parts are different from the specifications in the change target are not the specifications in the comparison target, and the low-priced parts are different by a predetermined number or less. The specifications may be the specifications to be compared. Further, a specification in which the manufacturer's suggested retail price corresponding to the specification difference is equal to or less than a predetermined price with respect to the specification to be changed may be the specification to be compared.

Then, after comparing the difference in specifications between the specifications to be changed and the specifications to be compared with the estimated price difference, the difference in specifications is considerably large as described above. , If the estimated price difference is too small, or conversely the difference in specifications is small but the estimated price difference is too large, the estimated price difference should be too high so that it matches the specification difference. The price is changed by adding the correction value to the estimated price of 1 or subtracting the correction value from the estimated price that is too cheap. Specifically, in step S307, the estimated price is sequentially calculated for each specification.
If the specification to be compared has its estimated price changed before the specification to be changed, the estimated price of the specification to be compared is changed. Conversely, the specification of the comparison target is
If the estimated price is changed after the specification to be changed (if the comparison target specification has not yet been changed to the estimated price), the estimated price of the change target specification is changed.

If there is a twist between the specification to be changed and the specification to be compared, the above correction is performed, and if the twist is still not resolved, at least the two estimates are estimated. Change the price so that the prices are the same.

When there are a plurality of specifications to be compared, the following may be done. That is, a predetermined number (for example, about 3) of specifications are all compared with the specification to be compared in order from the specification whose price has been changed recently and whose specification difference is smaller than the specification to be changed. To do. By comparing each of the plurality of comparison target specifications thus set with the change target specification, a correction value for each comparison target specification is set. Then, the average value of the set correction values may be calculated, and the estimated price of the specification to be changed may be corrected based on this average value.

As a method of correcting the estimated price in step S307, the price is changed by, for example, multiplying the estimated price that is too high by a correction coefficient or dividing the estimated price that is too cheap by the correction coefficient. You may do it.

By making such a correction in step S307, the estimated price can be optimized.

Step S308: According to the information on at least one of the stock status and the manufacturing status for each specification,
For example, the estimated price is changed and calculated based on the change coefficient α5 as shown in the map of FIG. 17 (e). That is, first,
With reference to the progress management DB 32, the data of the stock status of the vehicle and the assembly status in the manufacturing line according to the specification are read. At this time, regarding the inventory status, it is especially important that the sales agent of the sales agent who received the request for quotation is important, but in addition to this, refer to that of another sales agent or the inventory status of the manufacturer. May be.

Then, if there is a large quantity of stock or a large quantity of stock is flowing on the manufacturing line, the estimated price is corrected to be low. That is, as shown in the figure, the estimated price is not changed when there is no inventory or it is very small (for example, 1 to 2 units), and if the inventory becomes more than that, the estimated price will gradually decrease as the number of inventories increases. Correct so that By doing so, demand for sales promotion becomes stronger as the number of vehicles in stock or the number of vehicles manufactured increases, while appropriate sales promotion is achieved by relatively lowering the estimated price. It should be noted that, if the stock is in another sales agent, it is preferable to consider the transportation cost from there. Also, if there are many stocks of similar specifications instead of the same specifications,
You may make it notify the user to that effect.

Step S309: Common to each specification, for example, as shown in FIG.
The estimated price is changed and calculated based on the change coefficient α6 as shown in the map of (f). That is, first, the Internet 2 is added to the server 2 of the sales agency that is changing the data.
Through the database of sales management information connected to the server 2, and reads out the total amount of discounted resources for the current model for the vehicle type. Then, divide the total amount of the discounted funds by the sales result (number of units) of the same month of the previous year or the sales result of the last month to obtain the amount of discounted resources per unit of this month,
The change coefficient α6 corresponding to this amount is read from the map of FIG. 17 (f) and multiplied by the estimated price. According to the figure, the value of the change coefficient α6 is set to be smaller as the amount of discounted resources per unit is larger, and thus, an appropriate estimated price can be set according to the discounted resources. . still,
Instead of the sales record, the number of requests for quotation at that time may be used.

Step S310: In common with each specification, the estimated price is changed according to the sales performance of the vehicle type for the sales plan for the current month, for example, based on the change coefficient α7 as shown in the map of FIG. 17 (g). To do. That is, similar to step S309, the sales plan number of vehicles and the sales record for the vehicle model of the month are read from the database of sales management information on the sales agent side, and the achievement rate for the sales plan is calculated. The corresponding change coefficient α7 is read. The value of the change coefficient α7 may be set to increase as the achievement rate of the sales plan increases, as shown in the figure. By doing so, it is possible to set an appropriate price according to the degree of achievement of the sales plan. It should be noted that instead of the achievement rate of the sales plan, the ratio of the actual number of requests for quotation to the estimate reception plan of the month, the ratio of the actual number of business negotiations to the planned number of business negotiations in the current month, or the like may be used.

Therefore, according to this embodiment, first, the user himself / herself can easily and enjoy the desired specification from the specification items of the individual specification vehicle that can be supplied by the automobile manufacturer.
It can be made interactively selectable.

Further, since the estimated price of the individual specification vehicle of the desired specification thus selected is automatically calculated by the vehicle manufacturer side server 1 by referring to the estimated price DB 35, the production quantity is Despite the small number and extremely large number of types of individual specifications, it is possible to accurately and quickly calculate the estimated price and provide it to the user online without delay, without human intervention. Therefore, for the sales agent and the automobile manufacturer, the work efficiency can be significantly improved.

Further, the estimated price DB 35 is automatically updated according to the market trend regarding the sales of automobiles, the sales plan of each sales company, etc., and the estimated prices obtained based on the estimated price DB 35 are individually updated. Since the price is automatically corrected according to the customer's situation, possibility of contract, etc., it is possible to obtain the optimum estimated price that is not too high and not too cheap, according to the customer's request. In addition, compared to the quoted prices of other sales agents, it is possible to prevent customers from being provided with quoted prices that are too high. Can be minimized.

Moreover, at this time, by updating the estimated price DB 35 and correcting the estimated price for each sales agent, an appropriate sales support effect can be obtained for each sales agent having a different situation. can get.

(Modification 1) In the first embodiment, the estimated price DB 35 in the estimated price providing process (see FIG. 12).
The estimated price read from is automatically corrected in consideration of predetermined information about the customer, and the corrected estimated price is transmitted to the customer, but at this time, it is not transmitted to the customer. The corrected estimated price may be transmitted to the sales agent side server 2 that has received the request for the estimation.

Specifically, the basic procedure of the estimated price providing process according to the first modification will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

In the figure, step S71: referring to the data of the selected sales agent in the estimated price DB 35, and corresponding to the identification information (specification number) of the vehicle specifications selected in the vehicle specification selection processing (M2) described above. The estimated price to be read is read out (estimated price calculation means).

Step S72: An automatic correction subroutine (FIG. 13) for automatically correcting the estimated price read in step S71 in consideration of predetermined information about the customer.
Refer to) (correction means).

Step S73: The estimated price corrected in step S72 is sent to the sales agency server 2 as reference information. This may be sent by e-mail, for example. Upon receiving the estimated price in this way, the sales agent decides whether to approve the estimated price as it is or change the estimated price, and sends the estimated price or the changed estimated price to the vehicle manufacturer side server 1 (estimated price Means of presentation).

Step S74: The estimated price, which is approved or changed and input by the sales agent, is sent by e-mail to the mail address (user terminal 5) previously input by the customer, and the price is also entered. The data is associated and stored in the customer DB 34.

By doing so, the sales agent receiving the estimated price can set a more appropriate estimated price in consideration of the situation at that time (for example, the market price of the automobile is falling). .

In the first modification, the sales agent side server 2 that receives the estimated price from the vehicle manufacturer side server 1
May send the e-mail to the user terminal 5 of the customer who requested the quotation to provide the customer with the estimated price or the changed and input estimated price.

(Modification 2) In the first embodiment, as shown in FIG.
As shown in the flow of FIG. 3, the estimated price DB 35 is changed according to predetermined information about the automobile and the situation of each sales company.
While updating, the estimated price once obtained based on the estimated price DB 35 is changed / corrected according to the information about each customer as shown in the flows of FIGS. 13 and 14. The estimated price DB 35 may only be changed or updated without correcting the estimated price.

(Modification 3) In the first embodiment, the estimated price DB 35 is changed / updated only by the vehicle manufacturer side server 1. However, for example, the estimated price DB 35 is changed by the vehicle manufacturer side server 1. In addition to updating, the estimated price DB 35 may be configured to be updateable in response to a request from the sales agency side. Specifically, it may be configured as follows.

That is, the vehicle manufacturer server 1 requests the change / update of the estimated price DB 35 (update request signal) transmitted from the sales agency terminal 4 via the sales agency server 2.
When it receives, the estimated price of the sales agent is read from the estimated price DB 35, and the estimated price change calculation is performed by the above-mentioned automatic change / update subroutine (see FIG. 16) for each specification. The estimated price calculated in this way is transmitted to the sales agency side server 2.

At the sales agency which has received the above quoted price,
Using this as reference information, the estimated price is reviewed for each specification, and the estimated price is changed and input as necessary.

The vehicle manufacturer side server 1 uses the estimated price DB3 based on the estimated price changed and input by the sales agent.
5 is updated.

When the estimated price DB 35 is updated in this way, it is preferable that the estimated price DB 35 is not changed or updated by the vehicle manufacturer side server 1 for a predetermined period from the time of the update. . In the automatic change / update subroutine, the estimated price is changed based on the predetermined information about the car and the situation of each sales company as described above, but these factors do not change significantly in a short period of time. If the estimated price DB 35 is further changed / updated by the vehicle manufacturer side server 1 after updating the estimated price DB 35 in response to a request from the sales agent, the update will be performed twice by the same factor. This is because there is a possibility that an appropriate estimated price cannot be provided.

(Second Embodiment) In the second embodiment, unlike the first embodiment, when the estimated price is provided to the customer, the estimated price is corrected without changing or updating the estimated price DB 35. . In addition, the correction of the estimated price is not performed based on only the customer information as in the first embodiment, but
The estimated price is corrected including the predetermined information about the car and the situation of each sales company.

That is, in the second embodiment, the vehicle manufacturer server 1 uses the estimated price DB 35 in the first embodiment.
While not performing the change / update process (see FIG. 15) of
The estimated price providing process is executed according to the flow shown in FIG.

In the figure, step S81: Estimated price D
The data of the sales agent designated by the customer is read from B35, and the estimated price corresponding to the identification information (specification number) of the vehicle specification selected in the vehicle specification selection process (M2) described above is calculated (estimated price). Calculation means).

Step S82: The first automatic correction subroutine is performed on the estimated price calculated in step S81. This first automatic correction subroutine is performed according to the flow shown in FIG. 16, so detailed description will be omitted. That is, in the first automatic correction subroutine, the estimated price is corrected based on the predetermined information regarding the vehicle, the situation of each sales company, and the like.

Step S83: The second automatic correction subroutine is performed on the estimated price corrected in step S81. This second automatic correction subroutine is shown in FIG. 13 and FIG.
Since it is performed according to the flow shown in FIG. 4, detailed description will be omitted. That is, in the second automatic correction subroutine, the estimated price is corrected based on the customer information (correction means).

Step S84: A third automatic correction subroutine for correcting the estimated price corrected in step S83 by comparing it with the estimated prices of other sales agents (sales agents different from the sales agent involved in the request for quotation). To do. The details of this third automatic correction subroutine will be described later.

Step S85: The estimated price corrected in step S84 is sent by e-mail to the mail address (user terminal 5) previously input by the customer and stored in the customer DB 34 in association with the user ID. Yes (estimated price presenting means).

Step S86: The sales agency server 2 is notified by e-mail that the estimated price has been presented to the customer.

-Third Automatic Correction Subroutine-
Third step in step S84 of the flow shown in FIG.
A specific procedure of the automatic correction subroutine will be described. This subroutine is to correct the estimated price corrected by the first and second automatic correction subroutines by comparing it with the estimated prices of other sales agents.

[0274] In the figure, step S501: Customer DB
34, the quoted price already provided to the customer who has requested the quote and the specification thereof are read out. In this case, the customer DB 34 functions as the reference information DB 36.

Step S502, Step S503: Based on the read data, the customer has already been provided with the customer input specification, which is the subject of the estimate request, and the estimated price of the customized vehicle having the same specification, and It is determined whether or not the provided estimated price is lower than the estimated price (calculated estimated price) corrected in the second automatic correction subroutine (step S502). If it does not exist, the calculated estimated price is set as the estimated price to be provided to the customer (step S503).

Step S504, Step S505: It is determined whether or not the estimated price provided to the customer is the estimated price provided by the sales agent (the sales agent requested to quote this time). Judgment (step S50
4). If it exists, the estimated price stored in the customer DB 34 (the estimated price already provided by the sales agent) is set as the estimated price to be provided to the customer this time (step S505).

Step S506, Step S507, Step S508: Whether or not, among the estimated prices provided to the customer, there is an inexpensive price lower than the estimated price lower limit value set by the sales agent. Is determined (step S506).

Here, the estimated price lower limit value is set in advance for each specification by each sales agent, and is set as the price of the specification (individual specification vehicle). The lowest acceptable price. This estimated price lower limit value is stored in the reference information DB 36 corresponding to each specification for each sales agent. In addition, the estimated price lower limit value for each specification set by each sales agent is automatically changed by the vehicle manufacturer server 1 according to the elapsed time from the sales start time of the vehicle. Specifically, as the elapsed time becomes longer, the estimated price lower limit value is gradually changed (lower limit value changing means).

Then, if it exists in step S506, the lower limit price of the estimated price set by the sales agent is set to the estimated price to be provided to the customer (step S5).
07). On the other hand, if it does not exist in step S506, the price that is provided to the customer is set to a price that is lower than the cheapest estimated price among the estimated prices already provided to the customer by the predetermined price. However, at this time, if the set estimated price is lower than the estimated price lower limit value, the estimated price lower limit value is set to the estimated price provided to the customer.

As described above, in the second embodiment, the estimated price D
B35 is not changed or updated, but its estimated price D
The estimated price obtained based on B35 is calculated according to the market trend regarding the sales of automobiles and the sales plan of each sales company.
Further, since the price is automatically corrected according to the situation of each individual customer, possibility of contract, etc., the estimated price DB 35
As in the case of changing or renewing, the customer can be provided with an appropriate estimated price according to the customer's request.

Further, when a customer makes a plurality of requests for a quotation for a vehicle having the same specifications by designating a plurality of different sales agents, a predetermined price higher than the quotation price already presented to the customer. Only cheap price,
Provided to customers. On the other hand, the estimated price lower than the estimated price lower limit value preset by the sales agent is not provided to the customer.

In this way, it is minimized that the estimated price significantly higher than the estimated price of other sales agents is presented to the customer, and as a result, the sales agents lose the opportunity of business negotiations. Be converted.

Further, when the customer designates the same sales agent and makes a plurality of quotation requests for automobiles having the same specifications, the quotation price already provided to the customer (in the customer DB 34). The stored estimated price) will be provided. As a result, the reliability of the estimated price provided to the customer is not impaired, and moreover, business negotiations are concentrated on a specific sales agent (specifically, the sales agent having the lowest estimated price lower limit value). Is also avoided.

[0284] In addition, the lower limit price of the estimated price is changed as the elapsed time from the sales start time of the automobile becomes longer. Therefore, the lower limit price of the estimated price is set according to the market price, and the proper estimated price is provided to the customer. Will be provided.

(Modification 1) Also in the second embodiment,
Estimated price D in the estimated price provision process (see FIG. 19)
After automatically correcting the estimated price read from B35, the corrected estimated price may be transmitted to the sales agent side server 2 related to the estimated price.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing the basic procedure of the estimated price providing process according to the first modification. In the figure, steps S91 to S94 are the same as steps S81 to S84 (see FIG. 19), and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In FIG. 21, step S95: The estimated price corrected in steps S92 to S94 is transmitted to the sales agency server 2 as reference information. Upon receiving the estimated price, the sales agent decides whether to approve the estimated price as it is or change the estimated price, and sends the estimated price or the changed estimated price to the vehicle manufacturer server 1 (estimate the estimated price). means).

[0288] Step S96: The estimated price approved or changed by the sales agent is sent to the mail address (user terminal 5) previously input by the customer by e-mail, and the estimated price is sent together with the user ID. The data is associated and stored in the customer DB 34.

In the modified example 1, the sales agent server 2 which receives the estimated price from the vehicle manufacturer server 1
May send the e-mail to the user terminal 5 of the customer who requested the quotation to provide the customer with the estimated price or the changed and input estimated price.

(Modification 2) In Modification 1 above, the sales agent that receives the estimated price from the vehicle manufacturer's server 1 in the estimated price providing process only approves the estimated price or changes the estimated price. However, the estimated price DB 35 may be changed / updated at this time.

That is, the sales agent which has received the estimated price corrected in the first to third automatic correction subroutines requests the vehicle manufacturer to update the estimated price DB 35 together with the approved price or the changed estimated price. It is transmitted to the side server 1.

[0292] Then, the vehicle manufacturer server 1 that has received the estimated price that has been approved or changed and input by the sales agent and the update request for the DB 35 updates the estimated price DB 35 based on the received estimated price. I do.

When the estimated price DB 35 is updated in this way, it is preferable not to perform the first automatic correction subroutine in the estimated price providing process for a predetermined period from the time of the update. In the first automatic correction subroutine (see FIG. 16), as described above, the correction is performed based on the predetermined information regarding the vehicle and the situation of each sales company, but these correction factors fluctuate greatly in a short period of time. Since there is no such thing, after updating the estimated price DB 35,
This is because if the estimated price is further corrected, the correction due to the same factor will be performed twice, and it may not be possible to provide an appropriate estimated price.

(Other Embodiments) In each of the above-described embodiments, the estimated price DB 35 stores the estimated price of one vehicle for each individual specification vehicle. Differently, the estimated price for each specification (equipment) is the estimated price D
It may be stored in B35 (for example, the estimated price of one engine). In this case, the estimated prices of the respective equipments forming the individual specification vehicle may be added to calculate the estimated price for one individual specification vehicle. Further, in such a case, in the first embodiment, the estimated price DB 36 may be updated by changing the estimated price for each equipment according to the estimated price DB changing / updating process (see FIG. 15).

Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, each process performed by the vehicle manufacturer side server 1 may be shared by a plurality of servers.

Further, in the system according to each of the first and second embodiments, the vehicle manufacturer does not force the sales agent to adopt the system, and each sales agent can obtain the appropriate estimated price for the customer. Is voluntarily adopted so that the system can be provided.

[0297]

As described above, according to the vehicle sales support system, the vehicle sales support program, and the vehicle sales support method of the present invention, the estimated price is calculated based on the calculation data stored in the estimated price database. In some cases, the correction means corrects the estimated price based on the access history data of the customer, so that the estimated price that meets the customer's request can be presented. as a result,
It is possible to minimize that the sales company loses the opportunity of business negotiations.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing an overall configuration of a personalized vehicle quotation / ordering system.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of a vehicle manufacturer side server 1, a sales agency side server 2, and a user terminal 5.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a functional system of a processing module executed in a personalized vehicle quotation / ordering system.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a transition of a display screen in an initial process (M1) and a vehicle specification selection process (M2).

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a transition of a display screen in a quotation / assessment request process (M3) and a function of transmitting an e-mail accompanying a quotation / assessment request.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a transition of a display screen in an estimate item confirmation process (M4).

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a transition of display screens in a credit examination process (M5) and a negotiation application process (M6), and an e-mail transmission function associated with the credit examination and negotiation application.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an overall outline of main processing executed by the vehicle manufacturer server 1.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a vehicle specification selection process (M2) performed in the vehicle manufacturer server 1.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an estimation / assessment request process (M3) performed in the vehicle manufacturer server 1.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a quotation item confirmation process (M4) performed in the vehicle manufacturer server 1.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an estimated price providing process according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a subroutine for automatically correcting an estimated price.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a correction subroutine based on an access history.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing an update process of an estimated price DB performed by the vehicle manufacturer server 1.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing an automatic change / update subroutine of an estimated price DB.

FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram of an automatic change / update map according to predetermined information.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing an estimated price providing process according to the first modification of the first embodiment.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing an estimated price providing process according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing a third automatic correction subroutine.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing an estimated price providing process according to the first modification of the second embodiment.

FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating a questionnaire input screen.

FIG. 23 is a diagram exemplifying a top screen A-1 which is a home page screen.

FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating a home screen A-2.

FIG. 25 is a diagram exemplifying a format of a vehicle specification selection screen (B-1 to B-15) displayed by a vehicle specification selection process (M2).

FIG. 26 is a diagram exemplifying a maker suggested retail price detail screen displayed when the “details” button shown in FIG. 25 is operated.

FIG. 27 is a diagram exemplifying a selection specification display screen B-15 displayed by a vehicle specification selection process (M2).

FIG. 28 is a diagram showing an example of an estimate request top screen C-1.

FIG. 29 is a diagram illustrating an assessment application input screen C-2.

FIG. 30 is a diagram illustrating an ID / password input screen D-1.

FIG. 31 is a diagram showing an example of a purchase consideration information list screen D-2.

FIG. 32 is a diagram exemplifying a quotation item confirmation screen D-3.

FIG. 33 is a diagram illustrating a business negotiation application input screen F-1.

FIG. 34 is a diagram illustrating a specification selection initial screen.

FIG. 35 is a diagram showing an example of an alarm screen.

[Explanation of symbols]

1: Vehicle manufacturer server (estimated price providing device) 2: Sales agent side server 3: Internet (communication line) 4: Sales agent terminal 5: User terminal (information terminal) 6: Provider 8: Base station 26: Storage device 30: Telecommunications line 31: Manufacturer suggested retail price DB 32: Progress management DB 33: Purchase support information DB 34: Customer DB 35: Estimated price DB 36: Reference information DB

Claims (27)

[Claims] 1. A customer selects a desired specification online from among vehicles for which a plurality of specifications different from each other are set, and an estimated price of the vehicle of the selected specification selected, wherein the plurality of customers are Is a car sales support system configured to support online sales of the car to the customer by providing the customer with an estimated price at the sales company designated by the sales company. The manufacturer's suggested retail price database that stores data for calculating the manufacturer's suggested retail price for each of the above specifications, and the calculation data for calculating the estimated price of the vehicle for each of the above specifications are provided for each of the above sales companies. Price database that is stored in, and access history database that stores access history data that accumulates the access status of the above customers And presenting a plurality of specification items constituting the specifications of the automobile to allow the customer to select and input at least one specification item, and setting a combination of the selected and input specification items as a selection specification. In addition, the manufacturer's suggested retail price of the vehicle of the selected specifications is calculated based on the data stored in the manufacturer's suggested retail price database, and the specification selecting means for presenting this to the customer and the plurality of selling companies are presented. Then, the customer is made to specify and input the desired sales company, and the sales company specifying means for setting the specified and input sales company as the specified sales company, and the specification selecting means by the specification selecting means in response to the customer's request for quotation. The estimated price of the automobile of the set selection specification, which is the estimated price of the designated sales company set by the sales company designation means, Estimated price calculation means for calculating based on the calculation data stored in the product price database and correction of the estimated price calculated by the estimated price calculation means based on the access history data stored in the access history database It is provided with a correcting means and an estimated price presenting means for presenting the estimated price corrected by the correcting means to the customer, or for presenting the estimated price together with the information of the selection specification to the designated sales company. Car sales support system. 2. The automobile sales support system according to claim 1, wherein the access history data is a selection status of the specification item input by the customer by the specification selection means, and the correction means is based on the selection status. When the number of times the customer repeats the selection input of a predetermined specification item and the selection cancellation input of the specification item is two or more, a correction is made to lower the estimated price calculated by the estimated price calculation means. Car sales support system characterized by being 3. The automobile sales support system according to claim 1, wherein the access history data is a selection status of the specification item input by the customer by the specification selection means, and the correction means is based on the selection status. When the customer again selects and inputs the specification item for which selection cancellation was input,
An automobile sales support system characterized in that it is configured to make a correction to lower the estimated price calculated by the estimated price calculation means. 4. The vehicle sales support system according to claim 1, wherein the correction means calculates a customer's intention of purchasing the vehicle based on the access history data, and the calculated customer's intention is a predetermined value. In the above case, the vehicle sales support system is configured to make a correction to lower the estimated price calculated by the estimated price calculation means. 5. The automobile sales support system according to claim 1, wherein the access history data is a status of the customer's input of the quotation request, and the correction unit is determined by the customer based on the status of the quotation request input. An automobile sales support system, which is configured to perform a correction to lower the estimated price calculated by the estimated price calculation means when the number of requests for estimation input within the period is a predetermined number or more. 6. The automobile sales support system according to claim 1, wherein the access history data is a selection status of the specification item input by the customer by the specification selection means, and the correction means is based on the selection status. While estimating the purchase budget of the customer, when the estimated purchase budget is lower than the estimated price calculated by the estimated price calculation means,
An automobile sales support system, characterized in that it is configured to correct the calculated estimated price. 7. The automobile sales support system according to claim 1, wherein the access history data is a zoom request for a customer to request an enlarged display of an image of a vehicle of a selected specification, and the provision of image data of the vehicle of the selected specification. The correction means is calculated by the estimated price calculation means based on the access history data when the zoom request is input by the customer or when the download request is input, based on the access history data. An automobile sales support system characterized by being configured to make a correction to lower the estimated price. 8. The automobile sales support system according to claim 1, wherein the information regarding the vehicle of the selected specification set by the specification selection means in response to the customer's selection input is re-transmitted to the customer in response to the customer's request input. The access history data is the information presentation status presented to the customer by the information presentation means, and the correction means provides the information to the customer within a predetermined period based on the information presentation status. An automobile sales support system characterized in that when the number of times of presentation is a predetermined number of times or more, a correction is made to lower the estimated price calculated by the estimated price calculation means. 9. The automobile sales support system according to claim 1, wherein the estimated price presenting means presents the estimated price corrected by the correcting means and the information of the selection specification to the designated selling company, and the designated selling company. A vehicle sales support system, characterized in that the specified price is input to the customer and the quoted price specified is input to the customer. 10. The customer selects a desired specification online from among vehicles having a plurality of specifications that are different from each other, and the estimated price of the vehicle having the selected specification is selected by the customer. A vehicle sales support device configured to support online sales of the car to the customer by providing the customer with an estimated price at the sales company designated by the sales company. A vehicle sales support program for controlling, wherein the vehicle sales support device includes a manufacturer's suggested retail price database that stores data capable of calculating a manufacturer's suggested retail price of a vehicle for each specification, and a vehicle's suggested retail price for each specification. Estimated price database that stores the estimated price calculation data for each sales company, and stores the access status of the customer. Access history data base for storing the access history data, and presenting the plurality of specification items constituting the specification of the vehicle to the vehicle sales support device and allowing the customer to select and input at least one specification item. At the same time, the combination of the selectively input specification items is set in the selected specification, and the manufacturer's suggested retail price of the vehicle of the selected specification is calculated based on the data stored in the manufacturer's suggested retail price database, and this is calculated as described above. A specification selection step of presenting to the customer, a sales company designation step of presenting the plurality of sales companies and causing the customer to designate and input a desired sales company, and setting the designated and input sales company to the designated sales company. , According to the customer's quotation request input, with the quotation price of the car of the selection specifications set in the specification selection step Therefore, an estimated price calculation step of calculating the estimated price at the designated sales company set in the sales company designation step based on the calculation data stored in the estimated price database, and an access history stored in the access history database. Based on the data, a correction step for correcting the estimated price calculated above, and a quoted price corrected in the correction step are presented to the customer, or the quoted price is specified together with the information of the selection specification. An automobile sales support program, characterized by causing a sales company to perform an estimate price presenting step. 11. The automobile sales support program according to claim 10, wherein the access history data is a selection status of the specification item input by the customer in the specification selection step, and the correction step is based on the selection status. If the number of times the customer repeats the selection input of a predetermined specification item and the selection cancellation input of the specification item is two or more times, it is a step of correcting the estimated price calculated in the estimated price calculation step. A car sales support program characterized by. 12. The automobile sales support program according to claim 10, wherein the access history data is a selection status of the specification item input by the customer in the specification selection step, and the correction step is based on the selection status. A vehicle sales support program, characterized in that, when the customer again selects and inputs the specification item for which the selection cancellation has been input, the step of performing a correction to lower the estimated price calculated in the estimated price calculation step. 13. The vehicle sales support program according to claim 10, wherein the correcting step calculates the customer's intention to purchase the vehicle based on the access history data, and the calculated customer's intention is a predetermined value. When the above is the case, the vehicle sales support program is a step of performing a correction for lowering the estimated price calculated in the estimated price calculation step. 14. The automobile sales support program according to claim 10, wherein the access history data is the status of the customer inputting the estimate request, and the correcting step is based on the status of the estimate request input.
An automobile sales support program comprising a step of performing a correction to lower the estimated price calculated in the estimated price calculation step when the number of requests for quotation input by the customer within a predetermined period is equal to or greater than a predetermined number. 15. The automobile sales support program according to claim 10, wherein the access history data is a selection status of the specification item input by the customer in the specification selection step, and the correction step is based on the selection status. Car sales support characterized by the step of estimating the purchase budget of the customer and, when the estimated purchase budget is lower than the estimated price calculated in the estimated price calculation step, correcting the estimated price calculated above. program. 16. The automobile sales support program according to claim 10, wherein the access history data is a zoom request for a customer to request an enlarged presentation of an image of a vehicle of a selected specification,
And the input situation of the download request for requesting the provision of the image data of the vehicle of the above selection specification, the correction step is based on the access history data,
An automobile sales support program, characterized in that, when there is a zoom request input or a download request input by the customer, the step of correcting the estimated price calculated in the estimated price calculation step is performed. 17. The vehicle sales support program according to claim 10, wherein the vehicle sales support device is provided with information on the vehicle of the selection specification set in the specification selection step in response to the customer's selection input, in the request input of the customer. Accordingly, the information presentation step of re-presenting to the customer is further executed, the access history data is the information presentation situation presented to the customer in the information presentation step, and the correction step is based on the information presentation situation for a predetermined period. An automobile sales support program, characterized in that when the number of times the information is presented to the customer is equal to or greater than a predetermined number, the step of correcting the estimated price calculated in the estimated price calculation step is performed. 18. The vehicle sales support program according to claim 10, wherein the estimated price presenting step presents the estimated price corrected in the correction step and the information of the selection specifications to the designated sales company, and the designated sales company is informed. An automobile sales support system characterized by the step of allowing a designated input of an estimated price and presenting the designated input quoted price to the customer. 19. A customer selects a desired specification on-line from among vehicles to which a plurality of different specifications are set, and the estimated price of the selected specification vehicle, wherein the plurality of customers are Car sales support method for supporting online sales of a car to a customer by providing the customer with an estimated price at the specified sales company from among the above sales companies. The manufacturer's suggested retail price database that stores the data that can calculate the suggested retail price of the car, and the estimated price database that stores the calculated data that the estimated price of the vehicle for each specification can be calculated for each sales company , Using the access history database that stores the access history data accumulating the access status of the customer, A plurality of specification items that make up the above-mentioned condition, and the customer is allowed to select and input at least one specification item, and the combination of the selected and input specification items is set in the selection specification, and the automobile manufacturer of the selection specification is set. A desired retail price is calculated based on the data stored in the manufacturer's desired retail price database, and a specification selection step of presenting this to the customer and presenting the plurality of selling companies to the desired selling company to the customer. In addition to the designated input, the sales company designation step of setting the designated sales company as the designated sales company, and the estimated price of the car of the selection specification set in the specification selection step according to the customer's request for quotation Therefore, the estimated price at the designated sales company set in the above sales company designation step is stored in the above estimated price database. Based on the access history data stored in the access history database, a correction step for correcting the estimated price calculated based on the access history data stored in the access history database, and a correction step performed by the correction step. A method of presenting the estimated price to the customer or an estimated price presenting step of presenting the estimated price together with the information of the selection specification to the designated sales company. 20. The automobile sales support method according to claim 19, wherein the access history data is a selection status of the specification item input by the customer in the specification selection step, and the correction step is based on the selection status. If the number of times the customer repeats the selection input of a predetermined specification item and the selection cancellation input of the specification item is two or more times, it is a step of correcting the estimated price calculated in the estimated price calculation step. Car sales support method characterized by. 21. The automobile sales support method according to claim 19, wherein the access history data is a selection status of the specification item input by the customer in the specification selection step, and the correction step is based on the selection status. An automobile sales support method, characterized in that, when the customer again selects and inputs a specification item for which selection cancellation has been input, the step of correcting the estimated price calculated in the estimated price calculation step is performed. 22. The automobile sales support method according to claim 19, wherein the correcting step calculates a customer's intention to purchase a car based on the access history data, and the calculated customer's intention is a predetermined value. When it is above, it is a step of performing a correction for lowering the estimated price calculated in the estimated price calculating step. 23. The automobile sales support method according to claim 19, wherein the access history data is a status of a customer inputting a quotation request, and the correcting step is based on the status of the quotation input.
An automobile sales support method comprising a step of performing a correction for lowering the estimated price calculated in the estimated price calculation step when the number of requests for quotation input by the customer within a predetermined period is equal to or greater than a predetermined number. 24. The automobile sales support method according to claim 19, wherein the access history data is a selection status of the specification item input by the customer in the specification selection step, and the correction step is based on the selection status. Car sales support characterized by the step of estimating the purchase budget of the customer and, when the estimated purchase budget is lower than the estimated price calculated in the estimated price calculation step, correcting the estimated price calculated above. Method. 25. The automobile sales support method according to claim 19, wherein the access history data is a zoom request for a customer to request an enlarged display of an image of a vehicle with a selection specification, and the image data of the vehicle with a selection specification. It is the input status of the download request that requests, and the correction step is based on the above access history data.
An automobile sales support method comprising a step of performing a correction for lowering the estimated price calculated in the estimated price calculation step when a zoom request is input by the customer or a download request is input by the customer. 26. The automobile sales support method according to claim 19, wherein the information regarding the vehicle of the selected specification set in the specification selection step in response to the customer's selection input is re-transmitted to the customer in response to the customer's request input. The access history data further includes an information presenting step to present, the access history data is an information presenting situation presented to the customer in the information presenting step, and the correcting step provides information to the customer within a predetermined period based on the information presenting situation. An automobile sales support method comprising a step of performing a correction for lowering the estimated price calculated in the estimated price calculation step when the number of presentations is a predetermined number or more. 27. The automobile sales support method according to claim 19, wherein the estimated price presenting step presents the estimated price corrected in the correction step and the information of the selection specification to the designated sales company, A method for supporting automobile sales, comprising the step of allowing a designated input of an estimated price and presenting the designated input quoted price to a customer.