JP2004192554A - Sale support method of merchandise and its system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sale support method and its system capable of concretely advertise merchandise suitable for a customer who visits a specific store to the customer and more effectively promoting merchandise sale of the store. <P>SOLUTION: A support computer for providing merchandise information suitable for the customer who visits the store through a customer input part and an information output part arranged in the store is constituted. The support computer is provided with a question procedure for asking questions in relation to necessity of the merchandise to the visited customer, an extraction procedure for extracting the merchandise information according to a response from a storage means based on obtained customer's response information and a presentation procedure for presenting the extracted merchandise information and information indicating a rack location of the merchandise to the customer. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method and system for supporting sales of merchandise that promotes sales by providing merchandise information suitable for visiting customers.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Various systems are provided for diagnosing and determining the suitability and necessity of each customer. For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses, along with the diagnosis results of dietary habits, excessive intake of salt, fat, calories, etc. There is disclosed an advertisement presentation method for presenting advertisement information of a product, a store, or the like in accordance with the contents of a diagnosis result such as insufficient intake of calcium and vitamins and irregular meal times in association with the contents of the diagnosis result.
[0003]
Further, Patent Literature 2 discloses a system that comprehensively determines a customer's desire for a hair condition and a measured hair condition and provides appropriate hair care advice. Patent Literature 3 discloses, as an interior preference diagnostic device capable of objectively determining personal preferences regarding interiors, displaying an image of a different design relating to the interior on a display device for each question, and Discloses a method of determining which one of a plurality of pre-typed preference patterns corresponds to, based on an image of a favorite design selected.
[0004]
The advertisement presentation method disclosed in Patent Document 1 performs the above diagnosis on a user who accesses the Internet, and precisely focuses on a product suitable for the user and a product desired by the user in providing an advertisement. It is a sales support method that can be appealed. However, since the Internet is a user-driven medium for users all over the world, it is important to focus on users who are likely to visit a store in a specific area, and then appeal products sold at that store. It is difficult.
[0005]
On the other hand, if the systems of Patent Documents 2 and 3 are provided to a customer who has visited a specific store, the customer can be provided with information on his / her preferences, health status, care advice, etc. There is no specific solution provided, such as which products are available, which products should be purchased, and how they can be obtained. Was enough.
[0006]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2002-32654 A [Patent Document 2]
JP 2002-136503 A [Patent Document 3]
JP-A-11-31166 [0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In view of the above situation, the present invention seeks to solve the problem by specifically appealing to a customer who has visited a particular store, a sales product suitable for the customer, and more effectively selling the product at the store. Another object of the present invention is to provide a sales support method and a sales support system capable of promoting sales.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the present invention, in order to solve the above-described problems, a customer input unit and an information output unit operated by a customer are arranged in a store that sells products, and a customer who visits the store through the customer input unit and the information output unit is provided. Storage means for configuring a support computer for providing suitable product information and managing, in the support computer, question information related to the necessity of the product and product information provided to the customer that meets the need The support computer, for the customer who came to the store, a question procedure for asking a question related to the necessity of the product, and based on the obtained customer's answer information, the product information corresponding to the answer, A method for supporting the sale of a product, comprising: an extraction procedure for extracting from the storage means; and a presentation procedure for presenting the extracted product information to the customer through the information output unit. To. Here, in the presenting procedure, it is preferable that the information indicating the shelf position of the extracted product information is presented to the customer.
[0009]
Further, a light-emitting device is provided on each of the product shelves classified according to the type or purpose of use of the product in the store, and the support computer is provided with a light-emitting device on a shelf having a product selected by the customer among the presented product information. For turning on or blinking for a predetermined time is preferable. Here, the light-emitting device includes a light-emitting device that emits light by reflecting light from lighting in a store or other external light sources in addition to a light-emitting device having a light source itself, for example, a light-emitting device that performs black-and-white inverted display using a reflective liquid crystal display device It is.
[0010]
A step of causing the storage means to manage information comprising a result of determination of a health condition relating to the product, wherein the support computer extracts from the storage means a determination result corresponding to a customer's answer; And a procedure for presenting the result to the customer.
[0011]
In a preferred embodiment, the support computer includes a procedure for associating the customer information input from the customer input unit with the product information presented to the customer in a storage unit.
[0012]
Further, the present invention provides a support computer for arranging a customer input unit and an information output unit in a store that sells products, and for providing product information suitable for customers who visit the store through the customer input unit and the information output unit. The support computer has a storage means for managing question information related to the necessity of the product and product information provided to the customer that meets the necessity, Question means for asking a question related to necessity, extraction means for extracting product information corresponding to the answer from the storage means based on the obtained customer response information, and the product extracted through the information output unit And a presentation means for presenting information to a customer. Here, the presenting means preferably presents to the customer information indicating the shelf position of the product along with the extracted product information.
[0013]
Specifically, a display unit that displays the similar name is provided on each of the product shelves classified according to the type of product or purpose of use in the store, and the shelf information is displayed together with the presentation of the product information. It is preferable that the information clearly indicates the class name of the product.
[0014]
Here, a display unit for displaying an identification number attached to the shelf is provided on each of the product shelves classified according to the type of product or purpose of use in the store, and the shelf position is displayed together with the presentation of the product information. May be information indicating the identification number of the shelf holding the product as information indicating the item.
[0015]
Further, a light emitting device is provided on each of the product shelves classified according to the type or purpose of use of the product in the store, and among the presented product information, the light emitting device on the shelf having the product selected by the customer for a predetermined time, Lighting or blinking is also preferable.
[0016]
In a preferred embodiment, the storage means manages stock information of products in the store, and the support computer is provided with means for confirming whether or not stock of the product information to be presented to the customer exists.
[0017]
Specifically, the question information to the customer is composed of a question about a use mode of the product, a question about a symptom, and a question about a daily life.
[0018]
In addition, the storage unit manages information including a determination result of a health condition related to a product, and the support computer extracts a determination result corresponding to a customer's answer from the storage unit, and provides the determination result to the customer. It is preferable that a means for presenting is provided, and the result of the determination has information indicating the determined current health condition and advice information on prevention or countermeasures for the condition, and means for presenting these information respectively. Is preferably provided. The advice information presented to the customer is, specifically, information on a method of selecting or using a product.
[0019]
It is preferable that the support computer manages the customer information input from the customer input unit and the product information presented to the customer in a storage unit in association with each other, and a customer card inserted into the customer input unit. In a preferred embodiment, a reading means for reading the identification information stored in the apparatus is provided, and the support computer manages the identification information obtained by the reading means in the storage means as customer information.
[0020]
The support computer is connected to the terminal device provided with the customer input unit and the information output unit disposed in each store, or the in-store computer that manages the terminal device, via a communication line, respectively, Provision of product information suitable for the customer at a plurality of stores may be performed.
[0021]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0022]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the overall configuration of a sales support system according to the present invention. FIGS. 1 to 5 show a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 6 shows a second embodiment, FIG. FIG. 8 shows a fourth embodiment, wherein reference numeral 1 denotes a support computer, 2 denotes a customer input unit, 3 denotes an information output unit, and G denotes a product. In the following embodiment, an example in which the present invention is mainly applied to an oral care product is described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to other care products and products other than care.
[0023]
The sales support system S of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, arranges a customer input unit 2 and an information output unit 3 operated by a customer C in a store 10 that sells a product G. 2 and a support computer 1 for providing product information suitable for a customer C who has come to the store through the information output unit 3.
[0024]
In the store 10, product shelves 6 exhibiting products G,... Are arranged, and each of the shelves 6 is classified according to the type or purpose of use of the product. Is provided.
[0025]
FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the support computer 1, with the processing device 4 at the center, a customer input unit 2 for the customer to perform an input operation, an output display unit 30 as an information output unit 3 for presenting information to the customer, and The storage means 5 is connected.
[0026]
The processing device 4 is mainly composed of a microprocessor, has a storage unit composed of a RAM and a ROM (not shown), and stores programs and processing data that define the procedure of various processing operations. The processing device 4 specifically includes a question processing unit 41 for asking a customer who visits the store a question related to the necessity of a product, and merchandise information corresponding to the answer based on the obtained customer's answer information. The apparatus includes at least an extraction processing unit 42 extracted from the storage unit 5 and a presentation processing unit 43 that presents the extracted product information and information indicating the shelf position of the product to the customer through the output display unit 30.
In the present embodiment, information indicating the shelf position of the product is presented to the customer. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and naturally includes the case where the shelf position is not indicated.
[0027]
The output display unit 30 has a display screen configured by using a liquid crystal display panel, and a transparent touch panel of an electronic type, an electrostatic type, an optical type, an ultrasonic type, or the like is laminated on the surface thereof, thereby providing a customer input. The unit 2 is integrally formed on the screen surface. That is, various kinds of information such as question information and product information are visually displayed on the screen, and a selection button for answering a question or the like is displayed to function as the customer input unit 2. Can be entered. It should be noted that one or a plurality of operation buttons may be provided as the customer input unit 2 in the margin of the display screen instead of or together with the touch panel.
[0028]
The storage unit 5 includes at least a question information storage unit 51, a health information storage unit 52, an advice information storage unit 53, and a product information storage unit 54, and the question information storage unit 51 stores a question related to the necessity of a product. Information is managed, and in this example, it is composed of various question information on the use mode of the care product, various question information on the symptoms, and various question information on daily life.
[0029]
The health information storage unit 52 manages information including a result of determination of a health condition corresponding to the answer to the question, and the advice information storage unit 53 stores information based on the determination result of the health condition. Advice information on disease prevention or countermeasures (reduction or suppression of disease) is managed.
[0030]
The product information storage unit 54 manages product information that meets the needs of each customer according to the answer to the above-mentioned question. Specifically, information such as the name of each product is stored in the product type or It is managed in association with a similar name indicating the purpose of use.
[0031]
In this example, the storage means 5 having these storage units is provided in the storage device of the support computer 1, but a database server connected to the support computer in a store and managing these storage units is also provided in the store. A separately provided one is also a preferred embodiment.
[0032]
FIG. 3 is a schematic flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure in the sales support system S.
[0033]
As shown in FIG. 4 (a), the support computer 1 asks a customer who visits the store a "check usage mode" button 70 for asking various questions regarding the usage mode of the care product, and asks various questions regarding the symptoms. A selection button 7 for selecting a plurality of question categories including a "check symptom" button 71 and a "check daily life" button 72 for asking various questions about daily life is displayed on the output display unit 30. An output is displayed on the display screen (step 101).
[0034]
When the customer presses the selection button 7 displayed on the screen, the processing device 4 selects a question category related to the necessity of the product and a plurality of options as an answer to the question category of the selected button. The answer information to be provided is extracted from the storage means 5 and sequentially output and displayed on the screen (step 102).
[0035]
FIG. 4B is an example of a screen configuration of a question regarding the usage mode. For example, in response to the question "How many times do you brush your teeth daily", "Do not brush", "Once a day", etc. An answer button 74 including a plurality of options is displayed. FIG. 4C shows an example of a screen configuration of a question about a symptom, and FIG. 4D shows an example of a screen configuration of a question about a daily life. It is configured.
[0036]
The support computer 1 extracts from the storage unit 5 information indicating the current health condition determined based on the obtained contents of the customer's answer and advice information on prevention or countermeasures against the condition (step 103). The information indicating the health condition and the advice information are displayed according to the customer's selection (steps 104 and 105).
[0037]
FIG. 5A shows an example of a screen displaying information indicating the health condition, and FIG. 5B shows an example of a screen displaying advice information on the prevention and countermeasures. Corresponds to, for example, advice on daily habits, information on how to select and use care products, and the like. The information indicating the health condition and the advice information may be presented at the same time, and the product information described later may be presented at the same time as the information.
[0038]
Further, the support computer 1 extracts from the storage means 5 the product information suitable for the customer, which is also determined based on the content of the customer's response obtained (step 106). As shown in (c), the extracted product information 75, in this example, information such as the product name and the manufacturer is presented to the customer, and the information indicating the shelf position in the store where the product is displayed is displayed as the information. An alias 76 indicating the type or purpose of use of the product is clearly displayed on the screen.
[0039]
Here, along with or in place of the class alias 76, a display for displaying the identification number assigned to the shelf on each product shelf 6 classified according to the type or purpose of use of the product G in the store 10. In a preferred embodiment, a display screen of the output display unit 30 for displaying the product information 75 provided with the identification number as information indicating the shelf position together with the product information 75 is also a preferred embodiment.
[0040]
It is preferable that the support computer 1 manages the customer information input from the customer input unit 2 in the storage unit 5 in association with the product information 75 presented to the customer. Is displayed first, or a card device is distributed as a membership card in which customer identification information has been input in advance, and a card insertion slot is provided as the customer input section 2, and a customer card inserted into the insertion slot is provided. It is preferable to obtain customer information by providing reading means for reading the identification information stored in the apparatus.
[0041]
By managing the acquired customer information and the presented product information in association with each other, it becomes possible to analyze the information and grasp the demand tendency of the product, and in particular, in the case of using the card device, By reading the same card device with the checkout POS terminal when purchasing a product, a product that is presumed to have been determined to have been purchased based on the product information presented by the support computer 1 is specified among the products actually purchased, The sales support effect can be grasped.
[0042]
Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
[0043]
In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, a light-emitting device 61 connected to the support computer 1 is provided on each of the product shelves 6 classified according to the type or purpose of use of the product in the store 10, and the support computer 1 is for lighting or flashing a light emitter on a shelf displaying a product selected by the customer for a predetermined time in the product information 75 presented on the display screen of the output display unit 30. It is possible to grasp at a glance where the purchased product is located in the store, and it is possible to increase the incentive for purchasing the product.
In addition, as long as the customer can recognize the location of the product, it is also a preferable embodiment to provide a sounding device, a mechanism for raising a flag, and the like, in addition to providing the light emitting device.
[0044]
More specifically, the display screen class alias 76 shown in FIG. 5C is configured with a selection button, and includes a name display section 60 corresponding to the name of the selected button when the customer touches the selection button. Lights or blinks the light-emitting device at the top of the shelf. In addition, it is preferable that the name display unit 60 is formed of a light-emitting device such as a liquid crystal display, and the timing of lighting or blinking is determined by the product information 75 without the customer selecting a specific product or a similar name. Lighting / flashing may be performed automatically at the displayed stage, or lighting / flashing may be performed by pressing another specific button on the screen.
[0045]
Next, a third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
[0046]
In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the storage unit 5 is provided with a stock information storage unit 55 for managing stock information of products in a store, and the processing device 4 stores the stock of product information to be presented to the customer. A stock confirmation processing unit 44 for confirming the presence or absence is provided, and the acquisition of the stock information is performed by appropriately receiving information from the stock management computer 8 provided in the store 10 or the head office or the like connected to the support computer 1 by communication. It is done by doing. It is preferable that the confirmed stock information be presented to the customer from the output display unit 30 together with the product information 75, or be presented when the stock is low.
[0047]
Next, a fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
[0048]
In the present embodiment, a support computer 1A is provided at a center 11 that manages each store 10, such as a franchise chain headquarters, and a terminal device 9 including the customer input unit 2 and the information output unit 3 is provided in each store 10. The support computer 1A is connected to the terminal device 9 or a management computer in a store that manages the terminal device 9 via a communication network N, and the support computer 1A is suitable for the customer in a plurality of stores 10. The provision of product information is intensively performed.
[0049]
The configuration of the support computer 1A is such that the customer input unit 2 and the information output unit 3 are provided in a terminal device 9 in each store 10 and communicate with each terminal device 9 via a communication network N. Except that a control unit is provided, there is basically no difference from the above-described embodiments, and the information input at the customer input unit 2 of the terminal device 9 is sent to the support computer 1A, and the information is determined there. Provided information such as product information is returned to the terminal device 9 and provided to the customer through the information output unit 3.
[0050]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the merchandise sales support method and system thereof of the present invention, it is possible to specifically appeal sales merchandise suitable for the customer. By providing the product information and indicating the shelf position of the product, it is possible to more effectively promote product sales at the store.
[0051]
A light-emitting device is provided on each product shelf classified according to the type or purpose of use of the product in the store, and the support computer displays, among the presented product information, the light-emitting device on the shelf having the product selected by the customer for a predetermined time, Since the procedure for turning on or blinking is provided, the position of the product can be easily grasped, and the purchase of the product is encouraged.
[0052]
A step of causing the storage means of the support computer to manage information comprising a result of determination of a health condition related to the care product, wherein the support computer extracts a result of the determination corresponding to a customer's answer from the storage means; Since the procedure for presenting the determination result to the customer is provided, more useful information can be provided to the customer by presenting the health condition, and the necessity of purchasing the product can be appealed.
[0053]
Since the support computer has a procedure for associating the customer information input from the customer input unit with the product information presented to the customer and managing the information in the storage means, it is possible to accurately grasp the customer segment to be the sales target of the product. At the same time, it is possible to individually provide the customer with more useful information and advertisement information on the product.
[0054]
The storage means manages the stock information of the products in the store, and the support computer is provided with means for confirming whether or not the stock of the product information to be presented to the customer is available. Without asking the store clerk, you can quickly ascertain the information such as the products that can be reliably obtained and the number of products, which will further promote product sales.
[0055]
Since the question information to the customer is composed of a question about the use mode of the care product, a question about the symptom, and a question about the daily life, it is possible to more accurately grasp the necessity of the product for the customer.
[0056]
A support computer is connected to the terminal device provided with the customer input unit and the information output unit arranged in each store, or a computer in the store managing the terminal device, via a telecommunication line, respectively. Intensive processing of the provision of product information suitable for the customers at the stores, so that the products required at each store can be grasped, and the type and number of sales products to be allocated to each store can be further improved. It is possible to make a decision.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a sales support system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a support computer.
FIG. 3 is a schematic flowchart showing a processing procedure until presentation of product information.
FIG. 4A is an explanatory diagram showing a screen configuration on which various questions regarding a use mode of a care product are made.
(B) is an explanatory view showing a screen configuration of a question regarding a use mode.
(C) is an explanatory view showing a screen configuration of a question regarding symptoms.
(D) is an explanatory view showing a screen configuration of a question about everyday life.
FIG. 5A is an explanatory diagram showing a screen configuration displaying information indicating a health condition.
(B) is an explanatory view showing a screen configuration displaying advice information on prevention and measures.
(C) is an explanatory view showing a screen configuration displaying extracted product information and information indicating a shelf position in a store where the product is displayed.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a sales support system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a sales support system according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a sales support system according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
C Customer G Product N Communication network S Sales support system 1, 1A Support computer 2 Customer input unit 3 Information output unit 4 Processing unit 5 Storage means 6 Shelf 7 Select button 8 Inventory management computer 9 Terminal device 10 Store 11 Center 30 Output display unit 41 Question processing unit 42 Extraction processing unit 43 Presentation processing unit 44 Inventory confirmation processing unit 51 Question information storage unit 52 Health information storage unit 53 Advice information storage unit 54 Product information storage unit 55 Inventory information storage unit 60 Display unit 61 Light emitting device 70, 71, 72 button 73 question information 74 answer button 75 product information 76

Claims (18)

In a store that sells products, a customer input unit and an information output unit operated by a customer are arranged, and a support computer for providing product information suitable for customers who visit the store is provided through the customer input unit and the information output unit. In addition to the configuration, the support computer is provided with storage means for managing question information related to the necessity of the product and product information provided to the customer that meets the need,
The support computer,
A questionnaire that asks visiting customers questions related to product needs,
Based on the obtained customer response information, an extraction procedure for extracting product information corresponding to the response from the storage unit,
A presentation procedure for presenting the extracted product information to the customer through the information output unit;
A method for supporting the sale of a product, comprising: The method according to claim 1, wherein in the presenting procedure, information indicating a shelf position of the extracted product information is presented to a customer. A light-emitting device is provided on each product shelf classified according to the type of product or purpose of use in the store,
3. The sales support method according to claim 1, further comprising a step in which the support computer turns on or blinks a light-emitting device on a shelf having a product selected by the customer from the presented product information for a predetermined time. 4. A step of causing the storage means to manage information comprising a determination result of a health condition relating to a product, wherein the support computer extracts a determination result corresponding to a customer's answer from the storage means; The sales support method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a step of presenting to a customer. The sales according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a procedure in which the support computer manages the customer information input from the customer input unit and the product information presented to the customer in a storage unit in association with each other. How to help. A customer input unit and an information output unit are arranged in a store that sells products, and through the customer input unit and the information output unit, a support computer for providing product information suitable for customers who visit the store is configured.
The support computer,
Storage means for managing question information related to the necessity of the product and product information provided to the customer that meets the necessity;
A means of asking customers coming to the store to ask questions related to the need for the product,
Extracting means for extracting product information corresponding to the answer from the storage means based on the obtained customer answer information;
Presenting means for presenting the extracted product information to the customer through the information output unit;
A product sales support system comprising: 7. The merchandise sales support system according to claim 6, wherein the presenting means presents to the customer information indicating the shelf position of the merchandise together with the extracted merchandise information. Each product shelf classified by product type or purpose of use in the store is provided with a display unit that displays the similar name, and along with the presentation of the product information, information of the product as the information indicating the shelf position. 8. The sales support system according to claim 7, wherein a class name is specified. A display unit for displaying an identification number attached to the shelf is provided on each of the product shelves classified according to the type or purpose of use of the product in the store, and information indicating the shelf position is provided together with the presentation of the product information. The sales support system according to claim 7, wherein the identification number of the shelf having the product is explicitly indicated as “1”. A light-emitting device is provided on each of the product shelves classified according to the type or purpose of use of the product in the store, and among the presented product information, the light-emitting device on the shelf having the product selected by the customer is lit or lit for a predetermined time. The sales support system according to any one of claims 6 to 9, which blinks. 11. The storage computer according to claim 6, wherein the storage computer manages inventory information of merchandise in the store, and the support computer includes means for checking whether or not the merchandise information to be presented to the customer is in stock. The sales support system described in. The sales support system according to any one of claims 6 to 11, wherein the question information to the customer includes a question about a use mode of the product, a question about a symptom, and a question about a daily life. The storage unit manages information including a result of determination of a health condition related to a product, and the support computer extracts a determination result according to a response from the customer from the storage unit, and presents the determination result to the customer. The sales support system according to any one of claims 6 to 12, further comprising means. 14. The sales support according to claim 13, wherein the determination result includes information indicating the determined current health condition and advice information on prevention or countermeasures for the condition, and a means for presenting the information is provided. system. 15. The sales support system according to claim 14, wherein the advice information presented to the customer is information on a method of selecting or using a product. The sales support system according to any one of claims 6 to 15, wherein the support computer manages customer information input from the customer input unit and product information presented to the customer in a storage unit in association with each other. . The customer input unit is provided with reading means for reading identification information stored in the inserted customer's card device, and the support computer manages the identification information obtained by the reading means in the storage means as customer information. 17. The sales support system according to claim 16, wherein The support computer is connected to the terminal device provided with the customer input unit and the information output unit disposed in each store, or the in-store computer that manages the terminal device, via a communication line, respectively, The sales support system according to any one of claims 6 to 17, wherein provision of merchandise information suitable for the customer at a plurality of stores is performed.

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