JP2011159203A - Commodity management system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To achieve efficient ordering operation. <P>SOLUTION: A commodity management system 1 includes servers 32 and 51 and electronic shelf labels 54, 54,.... Various information relating to commodities are stored in the servers. Each electronic shelf label is disposed in the vicinity of a commodity to display the price of the commodity. The electronic shelf label accepts order-related information relating to order of the commodity to display the order-related information together with the price. Thus switching operation in a display part of the electronic shelf label can be omitted. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a merchandise management system.

  In recent years, merchandise management systems using so-called POS systems (Point Of Sales System) and ESL systems (Electric Shelf Label Systems) have begun to be adopted in stores such as supermarkets and convenience stores. For example, as shown in Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2009-022767), the POS system is mainly composed of a cash register (register) which is a plurality of POS terminals and a store controller placed in the backyard. In the POS system, settlement in a register is performed based on the price (set price) of a product set in the store controller, and sales store data is summed up by the store controller based on the input in the register. The ESL system includes an electronic shelf label (ESL) installed on a display shelf of merchandise and an ESL server that transmits information for display on the ESL. In the ESL system, the price of goods set in the store controller is sent to the ESL via the ESL server. Thereby, the set price of the product is matched with the price (display price) displayed on the ESL.

  By the way, in the product management system, information (product name, number of products sold, sales amount, etc.) related to product sales results obtained by a plurality of registers can be collected in the store controller or ESL server. By browsing, it is possible to determine the number of products to be ordered (number of orders).

  However, sufficient experience is required to determine the appropriate number of orders based on the sales performance of the product. Therefore, in a supermarket or a convenience store in which ordering work is performed by a plurality of workers such as parts and part-time workers, there are cases where the ordering work cannot be performed efficiently even when information on the sales performance is used.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a commodity management system that realizes efficient ordering work.

  The product management system according to the present invention includes a server and an electronic shelf label. The server stores various information related to the product. The electronic shelf label is arranged near the product and displays the price of the product. The electronic shelf label includes an information receiving unit and a display unit. The information accepting unit accepts order-related information regarding ordering of products. The order related information is information included in various types of information related to products stored in the server. The display unit displays the order related information received by the information receiving unit along with the price of the product.

  In the merchandise management system according to the present invention, the ordering related information of the merchandise is displayed together with the price of the merchandise on the display section of the electronic shelf label, so that the switching operation of the display section of the electronic shelf label can be omitted.

  The order related information preferably includes at least one of the recommended order quantity, the inventory quantity, and the sales quantity in a predetermined period. The display unit displays at least one of the recommended order quantity, the inventory quantity, and the sales quantity in a predetermined period together with the price of the product. Therefore, it is possible for the worker to determine an appropriate order quantity while comparing the product actually left on the shelf with the recommended order quantity.

  The display unit is preferably electronic paper. Since the order-related information is displayed together with the price of the product, the number of screen switching times can be reduced, and power can be saved.

  Furthermore, it is preferable that the server has a classification unit, and the display unit displays order related information according to a plurality of ranks. The classification unit classifies the products into a plurality of ranks based on the sales related information. Sales related information is information related to sales of products included in various information related to products. Since order-related information can be displayed on the electronic shelf label according to the influence on sales, the order quantity can be determined appropriately.

  The product management system according to the present invention can realize efficient ordering work.

It is a figure which shows the merchandise management system which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic block diagram of a register. It is a schematic block diagram of a store controller. It is a figure which shows the example of a goods master table. It is a figure which shows the example of an inventory information table. It is a figure which shows the example of a production performance table. It is a figure which shows the example of an order information table. It is a figure which shows the example of a sales performance table. It is a schematic block diagram of a measurement packaging label printer. It is a schematic block diagram of a measuring device server. It is a figure which shows the example of a measuring device master table. It is a schematic block diagram of an ESL server. It is a figure which shows the example of an ESL master table. It is a figure which shows the example of a merchandise information table. It is a figure which shows the example of an order recommendation number table. It is a figure which shows the example of a sales landing expected number table. It is a figure which shows the graph regarding the classification | category of goods. It is a figure which shows the calculation procedure of the sales landing expected number. It is a schematic block diagram of ESL. It is an external view of ESL which displayed the 1st 1st display screen. It is an external view of ESL which displayed the other 1st display screen.

  Hereinafter, the product management system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

(1) Overall Configuration First, FIG. 1 shows a product management system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The product management system 1 is a system that collectively manages data related to ordering, production, sales, etc. of products in a store. The product management system 1 includes a POS system 3 (Point Of Sales System), an ESL system 5 (Electric Shelf Label System), and a measuring instrument system 4. In the merchandise management system 1, the POS system 3, the ESL system 5, and the measuring instrument system 4 are connected using a LAN 2 provided in the store. Thereby, communication between the POS system 3, the ESL system 5, and the measuring instrument system 4 becomes possible.

(2) Detailed Configuration (2-1) POS System The POS system 3 collects information obtained by the electronic cash register (register) 31 by the store controller 32, and performs inventory management and ordering work based on the collected information. System. As shown in FIG. 1, the POS system 3 mainly includes a plurality of registers 31 that are POS terminals and a store controller 32.

(2-1-1) Register The register 31 is installed in a payment area of a store such as a supermarket. The register 31 is a device used when a shopper pays for a product purchased. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the register 31 mainly includes a communication unit 310, an input unit 311, a display unit 312, an issuing unit 313, a drawer 314, a storage unit 315, and a control unit 316.

a) Communication Unit The communication unit 310 is an interface that enables communication with the store controller 32 described later.

b) Input unit The input unit 311 is a scanner and a keyboard. The scanner reads a product code (bar code) attached to the product. The keyboard is used for manual input of a product price or input of an amount received by a clerk in charge of a cash register.

c) Display unit The display unit 312 is a display. On the display, product information (product name and sales price) corresponding to the barcode read by the scanner, a receipt fee input by the keyboard, and the like are displayed.

d) Issuer The issuer 313 issues a receipt relating to the product purchased by the shopper. The receipt is printed with the name of the product purchased by the shopper and the sales price.

e) Drawer The drawer 314 is a storage place for banknotes and coins. The drawer 314 is opened by operating the input unit, and closed when physically pressed in the direction opposite to the opened direction.

f) Storage unit The storage unit 315 includes a ROM, a RAM, a hard disk, and the like. The storage unit 315 stores product information sent from the store controller 32 described later. Here, the product information includes information on items used in the register, such as a product name and a product price.

g) Control Unit The control unit 316 is mainly composed of a CPU, and controls each component based on a program stored in the storage unit 315. The control unit 316 calculates the total amount of products purchased by the shopper based on information obtained by the scanner or the keyboard. Further, the control unit 316 stores information (sales result information) input using a scanner or a keyboard in the storage unit 315, and sells the information via the communication unit 310 at a predetermined timing (for example, every minute). The result information is transmitted to the store controller 32.

(2-1-2) Store Controller The store controller 32 is a general-purpose personal computer installed in an office such as a supermarket. The store controller 32 manages various pieces of information (product basic information, inventory information, production results, ordering information, sales results, etc.) related to the products. Although not shown in FIG. 1, the store controller 32 may be connected to a host computer at the headquarters that manages the store. In this case, the store controller 32 is connected to the host computer via an external network such as the Internet.

  As illustrated in FIG. 3, the store controller 32 mainly includes a communication unit 321, an input unit 322, a display unit 323, a storage unit 324, and a control unit 325.

a) Communication Unit The communication unit 321 is a network interface that connects the store controller 32 to the LAN 2. The communication unit 321 sends and receives data to and from the register 31 and the measuring instrument server 42 and the ESL server 51 described later via the LAN 2.

b) Input unit The input unit 322 includes a mouse and a keyboard.

c) Display unit The display unit 323 is a liquid crystal display. The display unit 323 displays various data stored in a storage unit 324 described later.

d) Storage unit The storage unit 324 includes a ROM, a RAM, a hard disk, and the like. The storage unit 324 has a control program to be used and executed by the control unit 325 described later. Moreover, the memory | storage part 324 memorize | stores the various information regarding goods. The various information related to the product includes information input by the administrator using the above-described input unit 322 and information acquired from the register 31, the measuring instrument server 42, and the ESL server 51 via the LAN 2. The storage unit 324 mainly includes a product master table 324a, an inventory information table 324b, a production performance table 324c, an order information table 324d, and a sales performance table 324e.

d-1) Product Master Table As shown in FIG. 4, the product master table 324a stores various data related to products. When the store is one store of a supermarket chain or a convenience store chain, a product master file sent from the headquarters of the chain may be used as various data stored in the product master table 324a. Specifically, the merchandise master table 324a relates to a call number, a merchandise name, a merchandise code, a unit price (ordinary unit price, price reduction price), a price (ordinary price, price reduction price) expiration date, raw materials / additives, etc. for each product. Data is stored. The data stored in the merchandise master table 324a is also sent to the measuring instrument server 42 and the ESL server 51 described later. Data stored in the merchandise master table 324a is sent to the register 31, the measuring instrument server 42, and the ESL server 51, so that the weighing and packaging label printer 41, the ESL 54, and the register 31 operate based on common information. It will be.

d-2) Stock Information Table The stock information table 324b stores product stock information. In the stock information table 324b, as shown in FIG. 5, the product code, the stock quantity, and the information update time are stored. The inventory information is automatically calculated and stored based on the information stored in the production result table 324c and the information stored in the sales result table 324e.

d-3) Production Result Table The production result table 324c is a table in which information related to produced products is stored. The production result table 324c stores information sent from the measuring instrument server 42 described later. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, the production result table 324c stores a product code, a production quantity, and a production time.

d-4) Order Information Table The order information table 324d is a table that stores information related to product ordering. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 7, the order information table 324d stores a product code, an order quantity, and an order time regarding the ordered product. The order information table is updated when an administrator or an operator inputs the information via the input unit 322 or a portable terminal (not shown).

d-5) Sales Performance Table The sales performance table 324e is a table in which data relating to sold products is stored. The sales record table 324e stores the sales information sent from the register 31 described above. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8, the sales record table 324e stores a product code, sales quantity, sales amount, and information update time (update time) regarding the sold product. The sales performance table 324e includes data related to sales performance for each register 31, and data related to the sales performance of the entire store (aggregated data) collected by the control unit 325 described later.

e) Control Unit The control unit 325 is mainly composed of a CPU, and controls each component based on programs and various information stored in the storage unit 324. For example, when the register 31 is activated, the control unit 325 searches the product master table 324a in response to an inquiry about the selling price of the product from the register 31, and transmits information about the inquired product to the register 31. In addition, when the data in the storage unit 324 is updated, the control unit 325 sends new information in the storage unit 324 to the register 31, the measuring instrument server 42, and the ESL server 51. Furthermore, the control unit 325 generates aggregate data (such as sales results for each product and total sales for all products) based on the sales information acquired from the plurality of registers 31 and stores the generated data in the storage unit 324.

(2-2) Measuring instrument system 4
As shown in FIG. 1, the measuring instrument system 4 mainly includes a measuring and packaging label printer 41 and a measuring instrument server 42.

(2-2-1) Weighing and packaging label printer 41
The weighing and packaging label printer 41 is installed in a backyard of a store such as a supermarket. The measurement and packaging label printer 41 is a device that can measure, package, price, and issue a label to be affixed to a product such as meat, fish, fruits and vegetables, lunch boxes, and side dishes sold at a food department. . The merchandise is displayed on the food department after the label issued by the weighing and packaging label printer 41 is attached. Based on the number of labels issued and the information described on the label, information (production result information) relating to the produced product is obtained.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the weighing and packaging label printer 41 mainly includes a communication unit 410, a weighing unit 411, a packaging unit 412, a label issuing unit 413, a display unit 414, a storage unit 415, and a control unit 416. And have.

a) Communication unit The communication unit 410 is an interface for enabling communication with a measuring instrument server 42 described later.

b) Weighing unit The weighing unit 411 has a weighing table and measures the weight of the product placed on the weighing table.

c) Packaging unit The packaging unit 412 has a film roll, and packages the product weighed by the weighing unit with a film fed from the film roll.

d) Label issuing unit The label issuing unit 413 has a label cassette, and prints information such as a product name and a product price on a label fed from the label cassette.

e) Display Unit The display unit 414 is a touch panel type liquid crystal display. Various information necessary for the operation of the weighing and packaging label printer 41 is displayed on the display unit 414.

f) Storage unit The storage unit 415 includes a ROM, a RAM, a hard disk, and the like. The storage unit 415 temporarily stores information about products acquired from the measuring instrument server 42, information about products manufactured using the weighing and packaging label printer 41 (production result information), and the like.

g) Control Unit The control unit 416 is mainly composed of a CPU, and controls each component based on programs and various information stored in the storage unit 415. The control unit 416 acquires information necessary for realizing various operations in the weighing packaging label printer 41 from the weighing server 42. Further, the control unit 416 sends the production result information stored in the storage unit 415 to the measuring instrument server 42 at predetermined time intervals (for example, every 30 minutes).

(2-2-2) Measuring instrument server 42
The measuring instrument server 42 is a computer installed in an office such as a supermarket. The measuring instrument server 42 manages various types of information (basic information on the weighing and packaging label printer 41, information on products handled by each measuring and packaging label printer 41, ordering information, production results, and the like) used by the weighing and packaging label printer 41. The measuring instrument server 42 mainly includes a communication unit 420, a storage unit 421, and a control unit 422.

a) Communication Unit The communication unit 420 is a network interface that connects the measuring instrument server 42 to the LAN 2. The communication unit 420 exchanges data with the weighing and packaging label printer 41 and the store controller 32 via the LAN 2. The communication unit 420 is also a communication interface that connects the measuring instrument server 42 and the weighing packaging label printer 41.

b) Storage unit The storage unit 421 includes a ROM, a RAM, a hard disk, and the like. As shown in FIG. 10, the storage unit 421 mainly stores a measuring instrument master table 421a, a product information table 421b, an order information table 421c, and a production performance table 421d.

b-1) Measuring instrument master table As shown in FIG. 11, the measuring instrument master table 421a stores the calling number of the weighing packaging label printer 41 and the product code in association with each other. The calling number of the weighing and packaging label printer 41 is a unique number given to each weighing and packaging label printer 41, and the product code is a code corresponding to the product to be weighed by the weighing and packaging label printer 41.

b-2) Product information table The product information table 421b stores information related to products acquired from the store controller 32 described above. Specifically, of the information in the product master table 324a stored in the store controller 32, some information used by the weighing and packaging label printer is stored as a product information table. The product information table is overwritten with new information every time the product master table 324a of the store controller 32 is updated.

b-3) Ordering information table The ordering information table 421c also stores ordering information acquired from the store controller 32 described above. The information stored in the order information table 421c is also updated whenever the order information table 324d stored in the store controller 32 is updated.

b-4) Production Result Table The production result table 421d accumulates the production result information acquired from the weighing and packaging label printer 41.

c) Control Unit The control unit 422 is mainly composed of a CPU, and controls each component based on programs and various information stored in the storage unit 421. For example, when the weighing packaging label printer 41 is activated, the control unit 422 searches for information (product information, ordering information, etc.) described in the storage unit 421 in response to an inquiry from the weighing packaging label printer 41, and makes an inquiry. Information about the product that was found is sent to the weighing and packaging label printer 41. Also, when the information in the product information table 421b is updated, new information related to the update is transmitted to the weighing and packaging label printer 41. Further, the control unit 422 sends information related to production results (production result information) to the store controller 32 in response to a request from the store controller 32.

(2-3) ESL System As shown in FIG. 1, the ESL system 5 mainly includes an ESL server 51, a base station 52, a transceiver 53, and an ESL 54. The base station 52 is a device for relaying between the ESL server 51 and the transceiver 53. The transceiver 53 is a transceiver. The ESL 54 is a shelf label display. The ESL system 5 includes a mobile terminal (not shown). The portable terminal is a terminal that is carried by an employee (worker) who performs an ordering work for goods. The operator can switch the display screen (first display screen and second display screen) of ESL 54 described later by using the portable terminal (see FIGS. 20 and 21).

(2-3-1) ESL server The ESL server 51 is installed in the backyard of a store, for example. The ESL server 51 is obtained by installing software for controlling the ESL system 5 on a computer such as a workstation or a personal computer. As shown in FIG. 12, the ESL server 51 mainly includes a communication unit 510, an input unit 511, a display unit 512, an output unit 513, a storage unit 514, and a control unit 515.

a) Communication Unit The communication unit 510 is a network interface that connects the ESL server 51 to the LAN 2. The communication unit 510 is also a communication interface for enabling communication with the ESL 54 via the base station 52.

b) Input unit The input unit 511 includes a mouse and a keyboard.

c) Display unit The display unit 512 includes a liquid crystal display.

d) Output unit The output unit 513 is a printer. The output unit outputs a totaling result of various data in the ESL server 51.

e) Storage Unit The storage unit 514 includes a ROM, a RAM, a hard disk, and the like. The storage unit 514 has a control program to be used and executed by the control unit 515 described later. As shown in FIG. 12, the storage unit 514 mainly includes an ESL master table 514a, a product information table 514b, a production performance table 514c, a sales performance table 514d, a recommended number table 514e, an expected number table 514f, An inventory information table 514g is stored.

e-1) ESL Master Table The ESL master table 514a stores information related to the ESL 54 installed at the sales floor. For example, as shown in FIG. 13, the ESL master table 514a stores a device code, a product code, and a product name in association with each other. The device code is a code unique to each ESL 54. The ESL master table 514a is information indicating which ESL 54 displays which product information.

e-2) Product Information Table The product information table 514b stores product information to be displayed on the ESL 54. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 14, in the product information table, the call number, product name, product code, unit price (normal unit price / reduced unit price), price (normal price / reduced unit price), and place of origin are stored in association with each other. Has been. Further, in the product information table 514b, rank information (for example, A, B, C) of products classified by the classification unit 515b described later is stored in association with each product. The information in the product information table 514b is created by obtaining information from the product master of the store controller 32 when the ESL server 51 is activated. Moreover, whenever the product master table 324a of the store controller 32 is updated, the product information table is updated based on the information related to the update.

e-3) Production Result Table The production result table 514c stores information (production result information) related to the products produced by the weighing and packaging label printer 41. The information stored in the production record table 514c is also the same information as the information stored in the production record table 324c of the store controller 32. Each time the production record table 324c of the store controller 32 is updated, the production record table 514c is updated based on information related to the update.

e-4) Sales Performance Table The sales performance table 514d stores information related to the sales performance sent from the register 31. The information stored in the sales record table 514d is also the same information as the information stored in the sales record table 324e of the store controller 32. Each time the sales performance table 324e of the store controller 32 is updated, the sales performance table 514d is updated based on information related to the update.

e-5) Recommended Number Table The recommended number table 514e stores the recommended order number calculated by the recommended order number calculation unit 515d described later. Here, the recommended order quantity is a recommended value related to the order quantity of the product. In the recommended order quantity table, as shown in FIG. 15, a product code, a product name, and a recommended number are stored in association with each other.

e-6) Expected Number Table The predicted number table 514f stores the predicted sales landing number calculated by a sales landing expected number calculation unit 515c described later. Here, the estimated sales landing number is an estimated value of the total number of sales per day at the end of business hours. In the expected number table 514f, as shown in FIG. 16, a product code, a product name, and a predicted sales landing number (number) are stored in association with each other.

e-7) Stock Information Table The stock information table 514g stores product stock information acquired from the store controller 32. The information stored in the inventory information table 514g is also the same information as the information stored in the inventory information table 324b of the store controller 32. Each time the stock information table 324b of the store controller 32 is updated, the stock information table 514g is updated based on information related to the update.

f) Control Unit The control unit 515 is mainly composed of a CPU, and controls each component based on programs and various information stored in the storage unit 514. In addition, the control unit 515 generates aggregated data based on various information stored in the storage unit 514, and stores the aggregated data in the storage unit.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the control unit 515 mainly functions as an information acquisition unit 515a, a classification unit 515b, a predicted sales landing number calculation unit 515c, a recommended order number calculation unit 515d, and an information transmission unit 515e.

f-1) Information Acquisition Unit The information acquisition unit 515a acquires various types of information sent from the store controller 32. In addition, the information acquisition unit 515a acquires the signal of the ESL 54 transmitted via the transceiver 53 and the base station 52 described later.

f-2) Classification unit The classification unit 515b classifies the products into a plurality of ranks (for example, A, B, C, etc.) based on the information stored in the sales record table 514d. The classification unit 515b determines the rank of the product using so-called ABC analysis. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 17, the ratio (item ratio) of the number of items of a predetermined product to the number of items of all products handled in the store, and the number of sales points of the predetermined product that is the sales score of all products. Based on the ratio (sales point ratio), all products are classified into A rank products (A products), B rank products (B products), and C rank products (C products). In this embodiment, a product that occupies 80% of sales items with 20% of sales items is classified as A product, and a product that occupies 80% to 95% sales points with 20% to 35% of sales items. A product that is classified as a product and occupies 5% of the sales items of the remaining 65% is classified as a C product. Note that the percentage used when ranking is a value that can be appropriately changed in each store. The rank classified by the classification unit 515b is stored in association with the corresponding product in the product information table 514b.

f-3) Sales Landing Expected Number Calculation Unit The sales landing expected number calculation unit 515c calculates the sales landing expected number. The expected number of sales landing is an estimated value of the total number of sales per day at the end of business hours. The predicted sales landing number calculation unit 515c calculates the predicted sales landing number based on sales performance information, inventory information, production performance information, and the like. Specifically, the expected number of sales landings is calculated according to the procedure shown in FIG.

  First, the number of products produced is read (step S11). Next, the sales quantity is read (step S12). Thereafter, the estimated sales landing number calculation unit 515c calculates the production digestion rate CR based on the formula: production digestion rate CR = sales number / production number (step S13). Next, the estimated sales landing number calculation unit 515c calculates the current number of displayed products DN based on the formula: current number of displayed products DN = production number + inventory number−sales number (step S14). Thereafter, the estimated sales landing number calculation unit 515c calculates the time-based sales forecast comparison GR of the production rate based on the formula: time-of-day sales forecast comparison GR of production rate = current number of displayed products / time-of-day sales forecast number. calculate. As the predicted sales volume for the time period, the number of sales results for each time period is used. The estimated sales landing number calculation unit 515c calculates an estimated value of the total number of sales per day at the end of the business hours, using the time period sales prediction comparison GR of the production rate. The predicted sales landing number calculation unit 515c stores the calculated value in the predicted number table 514f.

f-4) Recommended order quantity calculation unit 515d
The recommended order quantity calculation unit 515d calculates the recommended order quantity (recommended order quantity) for each product. The recommended order quantity calculation unit 515d calculates the recommended order quantity for each product according to the rank of the product classified by the classification unit 515b. The calculated recommended order number is stored in the recommended number table 514e.

  Specifically, for products classified as A products, the recommended number of orders is calculated using the simple periodic order method. For products classified as B products, the recommended number of orders is calculated by adopting the sell one by one order method.

  In the simple periodic ordering method, the recommended number of orders is obtained based on the predicted number of sales, inventory at the time of ordering, and store requirements. Store requirements are information about local events. The recommended order quantity calculation unit 515d calculates the order quantity by, for example, the formula: recommended order quantity = predicted sales quantity−stock at the time of order ± store requirements. Here, the predicted sales number is calculated based on the formula: predicted sales number = maximum stock + safety stock. The maximum stock is calculated based on the formula: maximum stock = {average daily sales × (ordering cycle + lead time)}. The average daily sales number is a value obtained by dividing the sales results for 4 weeks by 28 days (4W sales results / 28 days). The ordering cycle is “1” for daily ordering and “7” for weekly ordering. Further, the lead time is “0” when the items are delivered on the day, and “1” when the items are delivered on the next day. The safety stock is “average daily sales × 2 to 4 days” for an order once a week, and “average daily sales × 1 to 2 days” for an order twice a week.

  On the other hand, the cell one-by-one ordering method is obtained based on the formula: number of orders = number of cumulative sales / number of injections. For example, if the ordering unit is one case (6 items) and the current cumulative sales number is 2, if 5 items are sold on the day, the cumulative sales number will be 7. Therefore, the number of orders is 1 (1 case). The products of the number of orders obtained here are automatically ordered on the shortest order day.

f-5) Information Transmitting Unit The information transmitting unit 515e updates the information related to the update to the ESL 54 when various types of information (product information, production results, sales results, recommended numbers, estimated sales landing numbers, etc.) in the storage unit are updated. Send. In addition, the information transmission unit 515 e transmits various types of information to the store controller 32 in response to a request from the store controller 32.

(2-3-2) Base Station The base station 52 is connected to the ESL server 51 and the transceiver 53 via a dedicated communication cable.

(2-3-3) Transceiver The transceiver 53 is a transceiver having both a transmission function to the ESL 54 and a reception function of a feedback signal from the ESL 54. As described above, the transceiver 53 is connected to the ESL server 51 via the base station 52. The transceiver 53 transmits the product information of the ESL server 51 to each ESL 54 by radio using infrared rays. Further, the transceiver 53 transmits a feedback signal from each ESL 54 to the ESL server 51. For example, the transceiver 53 is attached to each section in the store (for example, the ceiling) with a certain interval.

(2-3-4) ESL
The ESL 54 is a tag that displays various information related to the product. The ESL 54 is arranged in the vicinity (for example, display shelf) of each product displayed on the sales floor (fresh food section, general commodity sales floor, etc.) in the store. The ESL 54 is a portable device. Therefore, the arrangement of the ESL 54 can be changed according to the change in the arrangement of the products. A small battery is attached inside the ESL 54. Further, a barcode representing an ESL code (address data) unique to each ESL 54 is affixed to the outer frame 54 a of the ESL 54.

  As shown in FIG. 19, the ESL 54 mainly includes a communication unit 540, a display unit 541, a storage unit 542, and a control unit 543.

a) Communication unit The communication unit 540 performs infrared communication with a terminal having an infrared communication function. Specifically, the ESL 54 communicates with the transceiver 53 and the mobile terminal. As shown in FIGS. 20 and 21, the communication unit 540 is provided in the outer frame 54 a of the ESL 54.

b) Display unit The display unit 541 forms a shelf label screen. The display unit 541 is made of electronic paper. Electronic paper is a dot-matrix nonvolatile display unit composed of a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix. Electronic paper can hold display content without applying driving power. In other words, electronic paper does not require energy except during rewriting.

  The display unit 541 displays first display screens D1 and D2 (see FIGS. 20 and 21) displayed on the first layer and a second display screen (not shown) displayed on the second layer. . The first layer and the second layer are arranged so as to overlap each other. The display unit 541 displays a plurality of information in a plurality of divided areas.

  The first display screens D1 and D2 are screens that the display unit 54 always displays. The types of the first display screens D1 and D2 displayed on the display unit 541 depend on the types of products for which information is displayed by the ESL 54, that is, the types of products associated with each ESL 54.

  Specifically, the 1st display screen D1 is a screen at the time of displaying the information regarding fixed goods. Here, the regular product refers to a product having a constant shape and weight, such as a confectionery, a dry product, and a beverage. The first display screen D1 includes a first display area D11 to a seventh display area D17. The first display area D11 is an area where the price of the product is displayed. The second display area D12 is an area where the unit price of the product is displayed. The third display area D13 is an area in which the product name, the production area, the barcode of the product, and the like are displayed. The fourth display area D14 is an area in which the number of products ordered (order unit) is displayed. The fifth display area D15 is an area where the previous weekly sales number is displayed. The sixth display area D16 is an area in which the rank of the product is displayed. The seventh display area D17 is an area where the recommended order quantity is displayed. As described above, the first display screen D1 provides information such as the product name and the price of the product to the shopper and provides information useful for the ordering operation to the worker.

  The first display screen D2 is a screen for displaying information on indefinite products. Here, the indeterminate product refers to products such as meat, fish, fruits and vegetables, and vegetables that do not have a constant shape and weight, and products that determine the price by measuring the weight. The first display screen D2 includes an eighth display area D21 to a fourteenth display area D27. The eighth display area D21 is an area where the product name is displayed. The ninth display area D22 is an area in which sales results are displayed. The tenth display area D23 is an area in which production results are displayed. The eleventh display area D24 is an area in which the predicted sales landing number is displayed. The twelfth display area D25 is an area where the weighing packaging label printer 41 call number is displayed. The thirteenth display area D26 is an area where the data update time is displayed. The fourteenth display area D27 is an area where a JAN code is displayed. The first display screen D2 provides a product name to the shopper and provides information useful for determining whether or not additional production is necessary and part-time sales are required for the worker.

  The second display screen is a screen that is temporarily displayed on the ESL 54 when the operator operates the mobile terminal. The second display screen displays information irrelevant to the shopper, for example, information such as the proper inventory number of products and the number of past sales.

  After the first display screens D1 and D2 are switched to the second display screen by the operator, the second display screen is automatically switched to the first display screens D1 and D2 after a predetermined time has elapsed.

c) Storage unit The storage unit 542 is a program for managing the shelf label screen, screen information (information for displaying each display area of the first display screens D1 and D2 and the second display screen), and a screen. Various information to be displayed, ESL codes unique to each ESL 54, and the like are stored.

d) Control Unit The control unit 543 is a small CPU, and performs control related to display such as switching of the display screens D1 and D2 of the display unit 541 and display of various information on the display screens D1 and D2. Control unit 543 accepts information sent from transceiver 53 and the portable terminal.

  When receiving information sent from the transceiver 53 and the portable terminal, the control unit 543 compares the ESL code included in the information with the ESL code set in itself. Here, only when the ESL code included in the transmitted information matches the ESL code set to itself, the control unit 543 displays a screen according to the received information. That is, based on the selling price and unit price included in the received information, the newly received information is displayed in each display area, or the first display screen D1, D2 and the second display screen are switched. When the control unit 543 receives new product information, the new product information is stored in the internal memory. Thereby, the product information previously displayed on the screen is cleared, and new product information is displayed on the screen.

  In addition, the control unit 543 receives the product information from the transceiver 53 and updates the display, and then transmits a feedback signal from the communication unit 540 to the transceiver 53. By receiving the feedback signal, the ESL server 51 and the store controller 32 grasp that the processing is normally completed in the ESL 54 and that the battery of the ESL 54 is not exhausted and is still usable. can do.

(3) Operation at ESL Screen Update As described above, the store controller 32 receives and stores the sales record information obtained by the register 31 and the production record information obtained by the weighing and packaging label printer 41. When the ESL server 51 is activated or when various information stored in the store controller 32 is updated, the ESL server 51 acquires information related to the update from the store controller 32. Thereby, the information stored in the ESL server 51 is updated with the information set in the store controller 32 or the information about the register 31 and the weighing and packaging label printer 41 collected by the store controller 32.

  When the information stored in the ESL server 51 is updated, the ESL server 51 transmits information related to the update to the ESL 54 via the base station 52 and the transceiver 53. As a result, the latest information is appropriately displayed on the ESL 54.

(4) Features (4-1)
In the merchandise management system 1 according to the above embodiment, merchandise order related information is displayed on the display unit 541 of the ESL 54. In the merchandise management system 1, information related to sales results obtained from the register 31 (sales result information) and information related to production results obtained from the weighing packaging label printer 41 (production result information) are accumulated in the store controller 32. Information stored in the store controller 32 is sent to the ESL server 51 at a predetermined timing. As a result, the ESL system 5 and the POS system 3 are controlled based on common information.

  Incidentally, the ESL server 51 generates aggregate data based on various information (sales performance information and production performance information) acquired from the store controller 32. Therefore, the manager of the store or the worker who performs the ordering work can grasp various pieces of information on the product based on the total data. It is also possible to determine the appropriate order quantity of the product by referring to the total data at the time of ordering work.

  However, in stores such as supermarkets and convenience stores where workers have inexperienced parts and part-time jobs, it is difficult to determine the appropriate order quantity simply by referring to sales performance information and production performance information. There is a case.

  In the product management system 1 according to the above embodiment, the recommended number of orders is calculated as order related information. Therefore, it is possible to determine an appropriate order quantity regardless of the experience and level of the worker.

(4-2)
In the above-described embodiment, the recommended order quantity is displayed on the display unit 541 of the ESL 54. Since the ESL server 51 calculates and stores the recommended number of orders, etc., it is possible to perform the ordering work without going around the sales floor by referring to the total data generated by the ESL server 51.

  However, it is appropriate to make a determination depending only on the recommended number of orders calculated by the ESL server 51, such as when an actual ordering operation is performed after a certain time has elapsed from the update time of the data stored in the ESL server 51. It may not be.

  In the product management system 1 according to the embodiment, the recommended order quantity is displayed on the ESL 54 arranged in the vicinity of the product. Therefore, the worker who performs the ordering work can determine the order quantity anew while going around the sales floor and comparing the number of products on the display shelf with the recommended order quantity. As a result, a more appropriate order quantity can be determined.

(4-3)
Moreover, in the said embodiment, electronic paper is employ | adopted for the display part 541 of ESL54, and ESL54 is driven using a small battery. Since the ESL 54 employing electronic paper consumes energy every time the screen is switched, it is preferable to minimize the screen switching by the operator. In the display unit 541 of the ESL 54 according to the embodiment, the recommended order quantity is displayed on the first display screen D1. The first display screen D1 is a screen for displaying the price of a product. Accordingly, the recommended number of orders can be grasped without switching the screen of the ESL 54, and energy consumption can be suppressed.

(4-4)
Of the information displayed on the ESL 54, numbers that are not related to the shopper (for example, the number of orders, the number of stocks, etc.) are displayed on the screen (equivalent to the first display screen D1 of the present application) on which the price of the product is displayed. In general, it is displayed on the back screen (corresponding to the second display screen of the present application). However, in the product management system 1 according to the above-described embodiment, the recommended number of orders is displayed on the first display screen D1, so that the operator does not perform screen switching work for each of the many ESLs 54, and the number of orders for the product. Can be determined. Therefore, work efficiency can be improved.

(4-5)
On the first display screen D2 showing information on the indefinite product, the expected number of sales landings, production results, sales results, and the like are displayed. As a result, the worker goes to the sales floor and confirms the expected number of sales landings, production results, sales results, and the like. The operator actually sees the remaining number of products on the sales floor, and then displays the remaining number of products and the values displayed on the display unit 541 of the ESL 54 (the estimated number of sales landings, production results, and sales results) Therefore, it is possible to appropriately determine whether additional production is necessary or whether the price of a product is to be reduced.

(5) Modification (5-1) Modification A
The information displayed on the second display screen in the above embodiment (information such as the proper inventory number of products and the number of past sales) may be designed to be displayed on the first display screens D1 and D2.

  Further, the information displayed on the first display screen D2 may be displayed on the first display screen D1. For example, the expected number of sales landings may be further displayed on the first display screen D1. Thereby, the operator can determine the number of orders in consideration of the expected number of sales landings without switching the screen for the fixed goods.

(5-2) Modification B
In the above embodiment, the estimated sales landing number is displayed on the first display screen D2, but the information displayed on the first display screen D2 is the time zone of the production digestion CR and the production digestion rate instead of the estimated sales landing number. It may be a sales forecast comparison GR.

(5-3) Modification C
In the above embodiment, the timing for updating the information of the ESL server 51 is set to the time when the ESL server 51 is started and the information of the store controller 32 is updated. It may be. The information of the ESL server 51 may be updated in accordance with the timing set by the administrator (for example, before opening the store and after several hours have passed since the opening).

(5-4) Modification D
In the above embodiment, the product rank and the order-related information are displayed on the first display screen D1, but the information displayed on the first display screen D1 may be changed according to the product rank. For example, the order related information may be displayed only for the A rank product. As a result, for the main products that have a large impact on the sales amount, the order quantity is determined by actually confirming the products displayed on the display shelf, and for other B rank or C rank products, By determining the number of orders based on the aggregated data, the ordering work can be advanced efficiently.

  Moreover, you may change the display mode of the 1st display screen D1 according to the rank of goods. For example, when a predetermined signal is received from the mobile terminal, the ESL 54 corresponding to the A product displays the rank (that is, the letter A) or the order-related information in an enlarged manner or by highlighting it. , B product or C product may be displayed in an easily distinguishable manner.

  When the operator does not operate the portable terminal near one ESL 54, that is, when the portable terminal is operated at a predetermined distance from the display shelf, even if the display of the one ESL 54 is switched, the other ESL 54 is switched. Will be switched to the display. However, the work efficiency of the operator can be improved by changing the display mode of the ESL 54 corresponding to the A product and the display mode of the ESL 54 corresponding to the B product or the C product.

(5-5) Modification E
In the above embodiment, the inventory information is automatically calculated based on the information stored in the production performance table 324c and the information stored in the sales performance table 324e, and is stored in the inventory information table 324b. The stock quantity stored in the stock information table 324b may be a number actually counted by an operator looking at the stock.

  Further, when the recommended order quantity calculation unit 515d calculates the recommended order quantity, in the above embodiment, the value stored in the inventory information table 324b is used as the inventory at the time of ordering. The actually counted inventory quantity or the inventory quantity estimated in advance based on past data may be used.

(5-6) Modification F
In the above embodiment, all information related to the product is collected in the store controller 32 and the information is managed by the store controller 32. However, the management of various types of information is shared with the host computer connected via the external network. Also good.

1 Product management system 2 LAN
3 POS system 4 Measuring instrument system 5 ESL system 31 Register (POS register)
32 Store controller 41 Weighing instrument packaging label printer (measuring instrument)
42 Meter Server 51 ESL Server 52 Base Station 53 Transceiver 54 ESL

JP 2009-022767 A

Claims (4)

A server (32, 51) for storing various information about the product;
Electronic shelf labels (54, 54,...) Arranged in the vicinity of the product and displaying the price of the product,
The electronic shelf label
An information receiving unit (543) for receiving order-related information regarding ordering of the product, which is included in various types of information related to the product stored in the server;
A display unit (541) for displaying the order related information received by the information receiving unit together with the price of the product,
Product management system 1. The order related information includes at least one of a recommended order quantity, a stock quantity, and a sales quantity in a predetermined period.
The merchandise management system according to claim 1. The display unit is electronic paper.
The product management system according to claim 1 or 2. The server includes a classification unit (515b) that classifies products into a plurality of ranks based on sales-related information related to sales of the products included in various information related to the products.
The display unit displays the order related information according to the plurality of ranks.
The product management system according to claim 2 or 3.

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