JP2011519797A - Method and system for collecting and processing retail store inventory data - Google Patents

Abstract

  The present invention enables an improved method and system for collecting and processing inventory data from retail stores. Inventory data is collected using a mobile terminal and transmitted to a central server system along with GPS information. The central server system maintains a database with retail store data and stores inventory data with target retail store data that matches the GPS data. Statistics and key performance indicator data are generated by the server system and transmitted to the client system upon request of the client system.

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for collecting and processing data, a server system for collecting and processing data, and a computer program element for collecting and processing data. More particularly, the present invention relates to collecting and processing retail store inventory data.

  Generally, merchandise is sold to customers through retail stores. The number of products sold is an important key performance indicator for retailers. Generally, a retail store collects inventory information and stores the information in a database system to track and grasp the flow of goods. The database is updated as goods are delivered and as goods are sold. Modern retailers use automated systems that have a barcode scanner for scanning merchandise upon delivery and a computer-implemented cashier coupled to a database system for automatically updating the database.

  By processing the data stored in the database, key performance indicator statistics for the retail store can be generated. For groups of retail stores that belong to a single owner, a database system is typically combined or a central database is used. Group statistics can be generated for groups of retail stores.

  It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved method and system for collecting and processing inventory data from retail stores.

  The object of the invention is achieved by a method for collecting and processing retail store data, a server system for collecting and processing retail store data, and a computer program element having the features defined in the independent claims. Is done.

  According to one aspect of the present invention, a method for collecting and processing retail store data is provided. This method is used in a server system that is communicatively linked to one or more mobile terminals and one or more client systems. The server system includes a database having retail store data. The method includes receiving inventory data from a mobile terminal. The inventory data indicates the availability of goods in the retail store. The method further includes receiving auxiliary data from the mobile terminal. The auxiliary data includes position information data, date / time data, and identifier data. The location information typically includes GPS data from a GPS (Global Positioning System) module in the mobile terminal. The method further includes selecting target retailer data by matching location information data with retailer data, and storing inventory data, date / time data, and identifier data in the database along with target retailer data. The method further includes receiving an information request from the client system. The method further includes retrieving target retailer data from the database and processing the target retailer data in accordance with the information request. The method further includes transmitting the processed target retailer data from the server system to the client system.

  According to one aspect of the present invention, a server system is provided for collecting and processing retail store data. The server system is communicatively linked to one or more mobile terminals and one or more client systems. The server system includes a database having retail store data. The server system further includes a first receiver configured to receive inventory data and auxiliary data from the mobile terminal. The inventory data indicates the availability of goods in the retail store. The auxiliary data includes position information data, date / time data, and identifier data. The location information typically includes GPS data from a GPS (Global Positioning System) module in the mobile terminal. The server system further comprises first query means configured to select target retail store data by matching location information data with retail store data. The server system further includes storage means configured to store inventory data, date / time data, and identifier data together with target retail store data in a database. The server system further includes a second receiver configured to receive an information request from the client system. The server system further comprises second query means configured to retrieve target retail store data from the database. The server system further comprises a processor configured to process the target retail store data according to the information request. The server system further comprises a first transmitter configured to transmit the processed target retailer data to the client system.

  The present invention thus allows centralized storage and processing of collected inventory data supplemented with auxiliary data. Ancillary data enables advanced tracking of when, where and by whom inventory data is being collected. Advantageously, any retail store inventory data available in the database can be collected and processed. Advantageously, inventory data is collected using a mobile terminal having a positioning module, such as a GPS module, allowing retail stores to collect inventory data on their own, i.e. inventory data collection is done at the retail store. Independent of the inventory system, such as the barcode system used, and the automatic verification of the target retailer with the inventory data. Target retail store data is processed and transmitted to the client system, advantageously allowing the client system to receive advanced statistical data. Generally, processed retail store data is provided using web-based technology.

  The embodiments of claims 2 and 9 advantageously allow digital image data to be included in the processed target retailer data. Generally, digital image data is included in web-based statistical data to visualize the layout of products at the target retail store.

  The embodiments of claims 3 and 10 advantageously allow a mobile terminal to be triggered by a server system to receive instructions.

  The embodiments of claims 4 and 11 advantageously make it possible to generate advanced statistical data for a client system.

  The embodiments of claims 5 and 12 advantageously allow the generation of advanced statistical data for the client system.

  The embodiments of claims 6 and 13 advantageously allow planning the path that the mobile terminal must follow in order to efficiently collect inventory data for various retail stores. Furthermore, advantageously, the mobile terminal can be tracked.

  The embodiments of claims 7 and 14 advantageously allow the route to be planned more efficiently by taking into account the availability of employees operating the mobile terminal.

  According to one aspect of the present invention, when executed by a processor, a server system having one or more of the above-described features collects retail store data having one or more of the above-described features. Program elements are provided that are adapted to perform the method of processing. This advantageously allows the server system to be implemented in software in part or in whole.

  The invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which schematically show preferred embodiments according to the invention. It will be appreciated that the invention is in no way limited to these specific and preferred embodiments.

  The invention will be described in more detail with reference to exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings.

2 is a simplified architecture of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 3 is a server system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Figure 5 is a method step of an exemplary embodiment of the invention. Figure 5 is a method step of an exemplary embodiment of the invention. 3 is a sub-step of a method of an exemplary embodiment of the invention. 2 is a geographical representation of retail store data stored in a database of an exemplary embodiment of the invention. 2 is a geographical representation of retail store data stored in a database of an exemplary embodiment of the invention. 3 is a graphical representation of an information request for route planning data in an exemplary embodiment of the invention. 2 is a graphical representation of processed target retailer data comprising route planning data and a geographical representation of route planning data in an exemplary embodiment of the invention. 2 is a graphical representation of processed target retailer data with key performance indicator data for geographic brand distribution of an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

  The present invention allows companies to measure retail efforts, or some other point-of-sale information management, and use the measurements to better manage sales team performance. But not limited to: brand distribution, primary shelf allocation, product orientation, product location on shelf, product freshness, secondary display availability, attractive promotional flyer, association with promotional flyer, promotional flyer A number of key performance indicators can be measured, including: supply, transaction closing, order volume, call frequency compliance, call path compliance, and order success rate.

  The present invention provides a technical solution for collecting and processing retail store data to enable the above-described measurement of key performance indicators. A central server system is used to collect inventory information from the retail store, process the collected information, and provide the processed information to the client system.

  FIG. 1 shows a simplified architecture in which a server system 1 is communicatively linked to one or more mobile terminals 2, 3, 4. Mobile terminals 2, 3, and 4 are used to collect inventory data from retail stores. The mobile terminals 2, 3, 4 are, for example, mobile phones, PDAs or laptop computers. To collect inventory data, an auditor operating mobile terminals 2, 3, and 4 visits a retail store and collects audit data such as the number of specific products in the retail store or the location of the product in the retail store. Fill in the digital form on mobile terminals 2, 3, and 4. The digital form is provided, for example, by an audit software program running on the mobile terminal or via a web page coming from the server system 1. The positions of the mobile terminals 2, 3, 4 are tracked by the server system 1. Here, the mobile terminals 2, 3, and 4 are equipped with a GPS (Global Positioning System) module. Alternatively, some other position tracking system can be used, such as network based mobile positioning. If the mobile terminal is equipped with a digital camera, for example, a digital image of a product or an arrangement on a shelf of products can be included with auxiliary data. When the audit is completed, the inventory data is transmitted to the server system 1. Position information data, date and time data (ie current date and time), identifier data (identifying an auditor or mobile terminal), and possibly auxiliary data including digital image data are also transmitted to the server system 1. The software on the mobile terminals 2, 3, 4 can be inspected before the inventory data is transmitted to the server system 1. If there is a clear error in the inventory data, such as a negative number of goods, the auditor is required to correct the error by presenting a message on the display of the mobile terminal 2, 3, 4.

  The server system 1 uses a database to store inventory data of many retail stores. The database includes retail store data for each retail store, including, for example, name, location, and retail store owner. Inventory data and auxiliary data received from the mobile terminals 2, 3, and 4 are stored in a database together with retail store data. A retail store from which inventory data is collected is referred to as a target retail store. By using the location information data received with the auxiliary data, and by matching this location information data with the location information stored in the database, the target retail store can be found in the database.

  Data stored in the database is used to generate advanced statistics to provide information about key performance indicators. 1 can request information from the server system 1. The client systems shown as 5, 6, and 7 in FIG. Generally, this request is made using a web interface, that is, a web browser on the client system 5, 6, 7 connects to a web server on the server system 1.

  In FIG. 2, elements of an exemplary embodiment of server system 1 are shown. It will be appreciated that the server system 1 can be implemented by combining one or more elements and / or having different interconnections between the elements. The first receiver 11 receives inventory data and auxiliary data from the mobile terminals 2, 3, 4. The server system 1 can first transmit a request for inventory data to the mobile terminals 2, 3, and 4. In this case, the server system 1 has a second transmitter 18 configured to transmit command data to the mobile terminals 2, 3, 4. The first query means 12 selects target retail store data in the database 10 using the positional information data received together with the auxiliary data. The storage means 13 stores the inventory data in the database 10 together with the target retail store data together with the date / time data and the identifier data. The inventory data received later in the target retail store is added with new date and time data to the target retail store data. Time stamp data can be used to generate statistics and key performance indicator data over time. The second receiver 14 receives information requests from the client systems 5, 6, 7. The processor 16 processes the information request. Target retail store data is retrieved from the database 10 through the second query means 15 and the processor 16 processes the target retail store data by generating statistics and key performance indicator data. The processed target retailer data is transmitted to the client systems 5, 6, 7 through the first transmitter 17.

  An exemplary embodiment of a method for use with server system 1 is shown in FIG. At step 100, inventory data and auxiliary data are received. At step 101, target retail store data for a retail store is selected from the database 10 by matching the location data received from the mobile terminals 2, 3, 4 with the location information stored in the database 10. At step 102, inventory data and auxiliary data are stored along with target retailer data. In step 103, an information request is received from the client system 5, 6, 7. At step 104, target retail store data is received from database 10 and processed at step 105. In step 106, the processed target retailer data is transmitted to the client systems 5,6,7.

  FIG. 4 is based on FIG. 3, but with the additional step 107 of transmitting command data to the mobile terminals 2, 3, 4 to trigger the auditor to start collecting inventory data, An embodiment is shown. If the mobile terminal is equipped with a digital camera, step 100 in which auxiliary data is received optionally includes receiving digital image data. This is shown in step 100a. Then, step 102 where the auxiliary data is stored in the database 10 optionally includes a step 102a of storing the digital image data in the database along with the target retail store data.

  Employee availability data can be stored in a database. This employee availability data can be used in planning the path an auditor must travel to visit numerous retail stores to collect inventory data. This option is described in more detail in FIGS. In FIG. 4, step 108 shows the step of storing employee availability data. It will be appreciated that step 108 can be performed at any time.

  Statistics and key performance indicator data transmitted to the client systems 5, 6, 7 are triggered by requests received from the client systems 5, 6, 7. Optionally, the server system 1 generates statistics in advance and provides data when the client systems 5, 6, 7 connect to the server system 1. In the latter case, the connection of the client systems 5, 6, 7 to the server system 1 can correspond to a request for information. In either case, the target retailer data is retrieved from the database 10 and processed. When statistics and key performance indicator data covering multiple retail stores are generated, target retail store data is retrieved for each covered retail store.

  Clients using client systems 5, 6, 7 generally want to receive key performance indicator data and a graphical representation of the key performance indicator data. Here, as indicated by steps 1050 and 1051 in FIG. 5, the server system 1 generates the main performance index data and the graphical display of the main performance index data. Key performance indicator data typically includes the following data elements: number of retail stores in a predetermined geographic region, number of retail stores in a predetermined channel, number of retail stores in the account, geographic It includes one or more of a brand distribution, the number of items available in the retail store, the number of items available on a predetermined location in the retail store, or the location of the item in the retail store. Inventory data and auxiliary data collected by the auditor using the mobile terminals 2, 3, 4 and stored in the database 10 of the server system 1 along with the retail store data are used as input for calculating these data elements. provide. Key performance indicator data is presented to client systems 5, 6, 7 as map data, tabular data, chart data, and / or digital image data. The map data is presented with an overlay of information at geographical locations on the map, for example as a map of a country or city. Tabular data is a structured presentation of data in columns and rows. The chart data is, for example, a two-dimensional chart having an x-axis and a y-axis, or a three-dimensional chart having an x-axis, a y-axis, and a z-axis for presenting data over time. The digital image data is presented as an image taken by the mobile terminals 2, 3, 4 and stored in the database 10 or a thumbnail of the image. Digital images may be presented in this way and may be presented as part of a map, tabular data, or chart data.

  In order to provide comparative statistics and key performance indicator data to client systems 5, 6, and 7, server system 1 optionally generates key performance indicator data for two or more predetermined time frames. This is indicated by step 1052 in FIG. The date and time data stored with the target retailer data is used to retrieve data for a predetermined time frame. As shown in step 1053, changes in the key performance indicator data are calculated for different time frames. Changes are presented to the client system, whereby graphical display data is used to visualize the changes. The graphical display data is, for example, a small bitmap or icon that shows a rise, fall, or flat change. The importance of change is also indicated, for example, by using green, yellow, and black colors on the bitmap or icon that indicate high, low, or no importance. For example, a change above 100% is important, 50% to 100% is less important, and less than 50% is not important, and the importance is calculated.

  In order to provide route planning information to the client systems 5, 6, 7, the server system 1 optionally generates route planning data. This is indicated by step 1054 in FIG. Path planning information is used to plan the path that an auditor must travel to cover a large number of retail stores to collect inventory data. Optionally, path planning information is used to track the performance of mobile terminals 2, 3, 4 and the auditor. In step 1055, map data is generated. This map data is presented, for example, as a map of a city with a retail store overlay and a route for efficiently moving between stores. Considering the employee availability data stored in the database in step 108 of FIG. 4, the path planning data can be calculated more accurately over time. This is indicated by step 1054a in FIG.

  It will be appreciated that the order of steps shown in FIG. 5 is not fixed and not all steps need to be performed.

  FIG. 6 shows an example of presentation of map data of retail store data stored in the database 10. A map of China 20 is shown with an overlay of retail stores 21. Each dot represents a retail store 21. The illustrated retail store 21 is, for example, all retail stores in the database 10, or a retail store belonging to an account or channel. The geographic representation of FIG. 6 is transmitted to client systems 2, 3, and 4 as a bitmap or as data, allowing client systems 2, 3, and 4 to generate geographic representations.

  FIG. 7 shows another example of display of map data of retail store data. City map 22 is shown with retail store overlay. The retail stores on this map appear to be concentrated in multiple groups, as shown, for example, by circles 23a and 24. These circles are generated by the server system 1 and provide visual information about the concentration of the retail store. A large group of retail stores, indicated at 23a, is also presented in an expanded manner as indicated at 23b.

  To plan the auditor's path, the server system 1 can provide the client systems 2, 3, and 4 with a clickable map as shown at 25 in FIG. The clickable map 25 is, for example, a zoomed-in version of 23b, but may be some other map. FIG. 8 is an example of a web page presented on the display of the client systems 2, 3, 4. The web page is transmitted from the server system 1 to the client systems 2, 3, 4 as a result of a previous request for information. The request for information includes, for example, a request to display all retail stores for a particular channel in a part of the city. Several retail stores 26 are selected using a mouse and / or keyboard. Each dot on the map 25 indicates a retail store 26. A selection is made by dragging the mouse around the number of retail stores 26, resulting in a region 27 being drawn. The selected retail store is automatically written into the selection box 29. Alternatively, the retail store is written in box 29 by using the keyboard. An auditor's identification may be written in the selection box 28. By clicking the button 30, the selection is transmitted to the server system 1 as a new information request.

  In response to the information request generated by clicking the button 30, the server system 1 generates route plan data (step 1054) and map data (step 1055) comprising a graphical display of the route plan data. FIG. 9 shows the route plan data presented to the client systems 2, 3, and 4. The graphical display 31 provides a map with an overlay of retail stores S1-S13 and a path 32 between the retail stores. Retail stores S1-S13 are the first column with a clickable icon to remove the retail store from the planned route, the second column with the retail store S1-S13 sequence number (1-13), It is also presented in the row of Table 33, including the third column with identification, the fourth column with the identifier of the channel to which the retail store belongs, and the fifth column indicating the planned time in the field for the auditor 28. . In Table 34, the total time that should be spent by the auditor 28 for each channel is summed. This exemplary table 33 includes two channels of retail stores, resulting in two rows in table 34. The first column in Table 34 shows the channel, the second column shows the number of retail stores for this channel, the third column is the total planned local time in minutes, and the fourth column is the plan Shows the local time taken on a daily basis. When an auditor actually collects inventory data at mobile terminals 2, 3, and 4, client systems 5, 6, and 7 can be used to track the auditor and keep it as planned.

  FIG. 10 shows an example of a graphical display of processed target retailer data. In FIG. 10, key performance indicator data for geographic brand distribution is shown as a map of the geographic region with a colored sub-region overlay showing the contribution range for the product brand. The geographical area 35 shows a brand distribution for the competitor A, for example. Geographic region 36 shows the brand distribution for clients using, for example, client systems 2, 3, and 4. The geographical area 37 shows the brand distribution for the competitor B, for example. Key performance indicator data may be used by the client to determine, for example, where to increase and decrease promotional activity for a product.

  The audit plan illustrated by FIGS. 8 and 9 can be performed, for example, in a cycle of four consecutive weeks. During these four weeks, the auditor will collect inventory data using mobile terminals 2, 3, and 4 along the planned route. The auditor is tracked using the location information received with the auxiliary data.

  Data can be added to the database 10 using a human-operated input terminal. Modifications to retail store data or inventory data can be provided to a human operator, for example, by fax, email, or telephone, which then transmits the data to the server system 1 using an input terminal.

  Preferably, an auditor who is planned to collect inventory data operates the mobile terminals 2, 3, 4. Other people, such as retail store owners, can operate the mobile terminals 2, 3, 4. Security measures such as a pin code for starting up the mobile terminals 2, 3, 4 or a pin code for accessing the server system 1 can be added so that the mobile terminals 2, 3, 4 are not abused.

  The method according to the invention can be implemented in part or in whole as program elements. Here, the server system 1 has a processor for executing program elements. The server system 1 is, for example, a server loaded with software that implements the present invention.

1 Server system
2,3,4 mobile terminals
5,6,7 client system
10 Database
11 First receiver
12 First query means
13 Storage means
14 Second receiver
15 Second query means
16 processor
17 First transmitter
18 Second transmitter
20,22 map
21,26 Retail
25 Clickable map
27 areas
28,29 selection box
30 buttons
31 Graphical display
32 routes
33,34 tables
35,36,37 Geographic region

Claims (15)

A method for collecting and processing retail store data for use in a server system communicatively linked to one or more mobile terminals and one or more client systems, the server In a method, wherein the system comprises a database having retail store data,
Receiving inventory data and auxiliary data from the mobile terminal (100), wherein the inventory data indicates availability of goods in a retail store, and the auxiliary data includes location information data, date / time data, and identifier data; When,
(101) selecting target retail store data by matching the location information data with the retail store data, and storing the inventory data, the date / time data, and the identifier data together with the target retail store data in the database Step (102) to perform,
Receiving an information request from the client system (103);
Retrieving the target retail store data from the database (104) and processing the target retail store data in accordance with the information request (105);
Transmitting the processed target retailer data to the client system (106).   The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving (100a) digital image data together with the auxiliary data; and storing (102a) the digital image data together with the target retailer data in the database.   The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of transmitting (107) command data to the mobile terminal, wherein the command data includes a request for the inventory data. The step (105) of processing the target retail store data;
The number of retail stores in a predetermined geographic region, the number of retail stores in a predetermined channel, the number of retail stores in the account, the geographical brand distribution, the number of available products in the retail store, the number of retail stores in the retail store Generating key performance indicator data including one or more of the following data elements: the number of available products on a predetermined location or the location of a product in a retail store;
Generating (1051) graphical display data of the key performance indicator data, wherein the graphical display data is one or more of the following data elements: map data, tabular data, chart data, or digital image data 4. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising the steps of:   The step (105) of processing the target retail store data generates the key performance indicator data for two or more predetermined time frames (1052), and calculates a change in the key performance indicator data And (1053), wherein the graphical display data indicates whether the change is up, down, or flat, and indicates the importance of the change based on a predetermined calculation rule The method of claim 4 comprising:   The step (105) of processing the target retailer data includes generating route plan data (1054) and generating map data including a graphical representation of the route plan data (1055). Item 6. The method according to any one of Items 1 to 5.   The method of claim 6, further comprising: storing (108) employee availability data in the database; and calculating (1054a) the route planning data using the employee availability data. A server system (1) for collecting and processing retail store data, one or more mobile terminals (2, 3, 4), and one or more client systems (5, 6, 7) Communication link to
A database (10) having retail store data;
A first receiver (11) configured to receive inventory data and auxiliary data from the mobile terminal (2, 3, 4), the inventory data indicating availability of goods in a retail store, and the auxiliary data A first receiver (11) whose data includes location information data, date and time data, and identifier data;
First query means (12) configured to select target retail store data by matching the location information data with the retail store data;
Storage means (13) configured to store the inventory data, the date / time data, and the identifier data in the database (10) together with the target retail store data;
A second receiver (14) configured to receive an information request from the client system (5, 6, 7);
Second query means (15) configured to retrieve the target retailer data from the database (10);
A processor (16) configured to process the target retailer data in accordance with the information request;
A server system (1) comprising a first transmitter (17) configured to transmit processed target retail store data to the client system (5, 6, 7).   9. The server system (1) according to claim 8, wherein the auxiliary data further includes digital image data.   The claim 8 or claim 8, further comprising a second transmitter (18) configured to transmit command data to the mobile terminal (2, 3, 4), wherein the command data includes a request for the inventory data. Item 10. The server system (1) according to item 9. The processor (16)
The number of retail stores in a predetermined geographic region, the number of retail stores in a predetermined channel, the number of retail stores in the account, the geographical brand distribution, the number of available products in the retail store, the number of retail stores in the retail store Generating key performance indicator data that includes one or more of the following data elements: the number of available products on a predetermined location or the location of a product in a retail store;
Generating graphical display data of the key performance indicator data, wherein the graphical display data includes one or more of the following data elements: map data, tabular data, chart data, or digital image data The server system (1) according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein the server system (1) is configured to perform:   The processor (16) is further configured to generate the key performance indicator data for two or more predetermined time frames and to calculate a change in the key performance indicator data; 12. The server system of claim 11, wherein the graphical display data comprises change indicator data that indicates whether the change is up, down, or flat and indicates the importance of the change based on a predetermined calculation rule. (1).   A server system (1) according to any of claims 8 to 12, wherein the processor (16) is further configured to generate route plan data and to generate map data including a graphical representation of the route plan data. 1).   The storing means (13) is further configured to store employee availability data in the database (10), and the processor (16) uses the employee availability data to route the route planning data. 14. The server system (1) according to claim 13, configured to generate   When executed by a processor, the server system according to any one of claims 8 to 14 is adapted to execute a method for collecting and processing data according to any one of claims 1 to 7. Computer program elements.

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