KR20020031851A - Point management method and system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A method and a system for the point management are provided to enlarge the member service as well as to minimize the burden of affiliating store caused by the accumulation of point by managing the point for each store, heightening the point accumulation ratio, and lowering the minimum usable point. CONSTITUTION: A card management system(320) processes the general process according to the card payment in case that a member(300) uses a card to buy an article from the affiliating store(310). If the member pays the article price with a card, the affiliating store transfers the sales data to the card management system. The card management system sends a bill to the member based on the sales data, and receives the use amount of card from the member through an automatic transfer or Giro. The card management system pays the amount except for a preset commission and point expense to the affiliating store. The point accumulation of member is substantially accumulated if the transfer of member is confirmed. The point management system(330) includes an affiliating store cooperation DB(332), a point accumulation part(334), a point information DB(336), a usable point management part(338) and an unused point exchange part(340).

Description

Point management method and system {Point management method and system}

The present invention relates to a service of a financial settlement means, and more particularly, to a method and system for managing points earned corresponding to the use of payment money, such as credit cards.

Recently, along with the generalization of the communication network, electronic commerce has been actively active, and various payment methods have been used. Currently, credit cards are widely used payment methods not only in general offline stores but also in Internet shopping malls opened for electronic commerce. With the surge in the use of credit cards, credit card companies offer various benefits to members who use them. One of them is the point system.

In general, the loyalty program earns a certain percentage of the amount used by the member as a point, and if the accumulated point becomes more than a certain amount within the validity period determined by the card company, the member will be rewarded with cash or the corresponding product as much as the accumulated point. Gives. In particular, in recent years, the point system has been further expanded, and points are earned as much as the accumulated rate when a member uses the card at designated merchants contracted with a card company. If the accumulated points are more than a certain amount within the validity period set by the card company, the points earned can be used at any affiliated store contracted with the card company.

Point earning method using these merchants has the following problems.

First, because points are earned to all members, it is a burden to the merchant if the points are provided to the one-time customers who do not know the point accumulation and find the merchant. Merchants generally pay points in addition to card fees by signing a contract with a card company. Second, since the accumulated points can be used at any merchant that has a contract with the credit card company when the amount is available, there is no distinction between regular customers and one-time customers when using the points at merchants that the member does not use for earning points. do.

Third, since the unused points that have passed the expiration date belong to the card company, merchants that gave points to customers are burdened. Fourth, since members tend to use points in large retail stores by earning points at small merchants, the burden on the merchants according to the points earned at small merchants is high. Fifth, in the case of general points, the point earning rate is low (1-5% line) from the member's point of view, and the lowest usable points are often high, which makes the point use somewhat inconvenient.

The technical problem to be achieved by the present invention is to provide a point management method for minimizing the burden of merchants by earning points by managing points independently by cooperating affiliated stores by region and company, and ultimately managing points by affiliated stores. .

Another technical problem to be achieved by the present invention is to manage affiliates independently by region and by company to manage points independently, and ultimately manage points by affiliates, while increasing point earning rate and lowering the minimum usable points, Minimize the burden on affiliates, while providing a point management method to maximize member services.

Another technical problem to be achieved by the present invention is to provide a point management system, which independently manages points by region and company, and ultimately by affiliates, in relation to point accumulation, use and additionally refund of unused points.

1 is a flowchart for schematically illustrating a point management method according to the present invention.

2 is a flowchart for explaining in detail the point management method according to the present invention.

3 is a block diagram of a point management system according to the present invention.

In order to achieve the above object, the method for managing points according to the present invention comprises the steps of grouping affiliated stores by cooperating with the affiliated stores at least by region and by linkable companies, informing members of an affiliated state between affiliated stores, and in a group of affiliated members. In the case of using the card, if the points are independently accumulated and the points earned independently become more than a predetermined minimum usable point, the affiliated merchant group to which the merchant that earned the points within the validity period set by the card company belongs. Allowing the member to redeem the points.

In order to achieve the above another object, the point management method according to the present invention including the above steps, when the member uses the card in the affiliated merchant group, the points at a higher accumulation rate than other point contract merchants not affiliated with other affiliates Earn. In addition, the affiliated merchant group applies a minimum usable point lower than points earned through other point contract merchants not affiliated with other merchants.

In order to achieve the above another object, the point management system according to the present invention, at least if the affiliated store database that stores information on affiliated stores affiliated with each other and affiliated companies, if the sales data is received from any merchant, the merchant A point information database for identifying which affiliated affiliate groups by searching the affiliated affiliate database and storing points earned for each affiliated affiliate group; And a usable point management unit that checks whether the accumulated points are a predetermined minimum usable point and uses the points earned by the member in the affiliated merchant group to which the affiliated store belonging to the merchant who has accumulated the points within the validity period set by the card company. Equipped.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, the point management method and system according to the present invention will be described.

1 is a flowchart for schematically illustrating a point management method according to the present invention.

First, affiliated franchisees are affiliated to designated affiliated stores contracted with a card company by region and linkable companies (step 100). In other words, in order to secure a fixed customer, businesses located in nearby areas and complementary businesses such as a group of tailors and punctuation, a group of Korean restaurants, Western restaurants and Japanese restaurants, and the like. In addition, affiliates are affiliated solely with mall associations and legal entities with nationwide chain or sales networks. For example, 10 affiliated stores near Nowon Station in the Sanggye-dong region may be determined to determine a point group affiliated with the Nowon Station, or they may form a tentative group of Samsung Electronics Point by entering into an alliance agreement with Samsung electronics agencies nationwide.

Next, the member is notified of the partnership status between the affiliated stores, and members independently earn points when using the card in the affiliated merchant group (step 110). That is, the affiliated store group of the above-described form to operate each point independently. In the present invention, a variety of types of points may exist by accumulating points for each affiliated affiliate group.

Next, if the independently accumulated points are predetermined points, that is, the minimum usable points or more, the points accumulated by the members in the affiliated merchant groups belonging to the affiliated stores that have accumulated the corresponding points may be used (step 120). As such, the points are independent by region and company, so that the accumulation and use of the points occurs in a balanced manner, and in particular, merchants can maximize the effect of inducing resales.

2 is a flowchart for explaining in detail the point management method according to the present invention.

First, affiliated franchisees are affiliated with designated companies affiliated with a card company by region and linkable companies (step 200). It is determined whether the member used the card in the affiliated merchant group (step 210). If the card is used in the affiliated merchant group, points are accumulated at a higher accumulation rate than other point contract affiliates not affiliated with other affiliates (step 212).

Next, it is determined whether the accumulated points are equal to or greater than the first minimum usable point (step 214). Here, the first minimum usable point is applied to the affiliated merchant group, and is a point earned through other point contract affiliates not affiliated with other affiliates, that is, a minimum usable point lower than the second minimum usable point. . If the first minimum usable point is greater than or equal to the first step, in step 214, the member may use the accumulated points in the affiliated merchant group within the expiration date determined by the card company (step 216). Affiliated merchants according to the present invention to earn a high rate of points to the member, even if the lowest usable points, even if the member makes use of the points earned in the affiliated merchant group brings a resold effect.

Next, for the points accumulated in this way, it is determined whether there are unused points whose validity period has passed (step 218). If there are unused points, they are refunded to the merchants that earned the points (step 220). As such, the unused points are refunded to the affiliated stores to minimize the burden on the affiliated stores. Since the card company deducts the point cost when the member makes a payment, the payment is settled, so the merchant generally bears the point. However, since affiliated merchants according to the present invention receive refunds of unused points even if they earn points to one-time customers, the affiliated stores according to the present invention do not substantially benefit one-time customers.

On the other hand, if the member did not use the card in the affiliated merchant group in step 210, and earns points as much as the existing reserve rate contracted to other points contract merchant (step 230). Next, it is determined whether the accumulated points are greater than or equal to the second minimum usable point (step 232). The second minimum usable point is higher than the first minimum usable point as described above. If the second minimum points are available, the points accumulated by the member are made available to any affiliated store contracted with the card company within the valid period (step 234). Next, it is determined whether there are unused points whose expiration date has expired for the points accumulated in this way (step 236). If there are unused points, the unused points are attributed to the card company (step 238).

3 is a block diagram of a point management system according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, the general card management system 320 uses a card payment when a member 300 uses a card when purchasing an item (service) at a plurality of affiliates 310 and 300. It is in charge of general processing. In brief, when a member 300 pays an item (service) with a card at an affiliate store, the affiliate store sends sales data to the card management system 320. The card management system 320 sends a bill according to the member's corresponding payment date based on the sales data, and receives the card payment from the member 300 by automatic transfer or Jiro.

The card management system 320 pays an amount deducted from the commission and point fees committed when paying the merchant, and the points of the member are actually accumulated when the deposit from the member is confirmed.

The point management system 330 according to the present invention is for the card management system 320, in particular, processing related to points, such as point accumulation, management and unused point refund. To clarify the gist of the present invention, the point management system 330 is separate, but may be included in the card management system 320 in an actual implementation. The point management system 330 includes a merchant affiliate database (DB) 332, a point accumulator 334, a point information DB 336, a usable point manager 338, and an unused point refund unit 340.

The point management system 330 according to the present invention, in particular, when affiliated stores 310 include affiliated affiliate groups, accumulate points paid by the affiliated affiliated stores to the corresponding members, Points earned by members are made available to the affiliated merchant group to which the affiliate belongs.

In detail, the affiliated store affiliate DB 332 stores information about the first, affiliated affiliate group, second affiliated affiliate group, and third affiliated affiliate group ... 310 associated with each other by region and by affiliated companies. For example, information about a point accumulation rate, a minimum usable point, an expiration date, and the like of each affiliated affiliate group is stored.

The point earning unit 334 receives sales data from the card management system 310, specifically, merchant information, card use amount, card number, member information, etc. written in the sales slip. That is, information necessary for earning points is input from any affiliated store through the card management system 320. The point earning unit 334 knows the affiliated store information from the sales data, and checks which affiliated affiliate group the affiliated store belongs to by searching the affiliated store affiliate DB 332. The point earning unit 334 accumulates points by a predetermined earning rate for each affiliated merchant group stored in the affiliated affiliate store DB 332, where the predetermined earning rate is a higher earning rate than other point contract affiliates not affiliated with other affiliates. The point information DB 336 stores the points accumulated for each affiliated merchant group.

The usable point manager 338 checks whether the points accumulated in the point information DB 336 are a predetermined minimum usable point. Here, the predetermined minimum usable point is, for example, the minimum usable point lower than points earned through other point contract affiliates. According to the result of the check, the member earns the corresponding points within the validity period determined by the card company, so that the member uses the accumulated points in the affiliated merchant group to which the affiliated store belongs. Actually, when the point information such as points that are currently accumulated by the member and the usable points can be output from the usable point management unit 338 to the card management system 320, the card management system 320 sends a bill to the member 300. Include point information in

On the other hand, the unused point refund unit 340 checks whether the valid period of the points accumulated through the usable point management unit 338 has elapsed. According to the result of the check, the member does not use the points that are refunded to the affiliated store that earned the points in the affiliated merchant group.

The point management method and system thereof according to the present invention have been described so far only for credit cards. However, in addition to credit cards, it can be applied to cards and electronic money for similar purposes contracted with merchants. In addition, recently, since credit cards have been usefully used not only offline but also online, affiliated merchant groups include cyber merchants connected through the Internet. In addition, when the point system is introduced in a plurality of Internet shopping malls connected with one ID and password in addition to the card company, the point management method and system thereof may be applied.

As described above, the point management method and the system according to the present invention prevents the use of points through specific alliances through regional alliances and alliances of complementary industries, and refunds unused points to the affiliated stores. There is an advantage in minimizing the burden, securing a fixed customer, and maximizing the effect of inducing resales.

In addition, points are managed independently by region and company from the member's point of view, even though the choice of merchants to use the accumulated points is limited. There is this.

Claims (11)

In the point management method that the points earned as much as the reserve rate when the member uses the card at the designated merchants contracted with the card company, (a) grouping merchants by associating the merchants at least by region and by linkable companies; (b) informing the member of the alliance status between the affiliated stores, and independently accumulating points when the member uses the card in the affiliated merchant group; And (c) if the points accumulated independently exceed a predetermined minimum usable point, allowing the member to use the points in the affiliated merchant group to which the affiliated store belonging to the merchant that earned the points within the validity period determined by the card company; Point management method characterized in that. According to claim 1, wherein the step (a), Point management method characterized in that the affiliated stores are grouped by affiliated merchants for each local and linkable companies or a national sales network. According to claim 1, wherein step (b), When the member uses the card in the affiliated merchant group, the point management method characterized by earning points at a higher accumulation rate than other point contract merchants that are not affiliated with other merchants. The method of claim 1, wherein step (c) comprises: A method for managing points, comprising applying a minimum usable point to affiliated merchant groups that is lower than other point contract affiliates not affiliated with other affiliates. The method of claim 1, wherein after step (c), (d) after the expiration date set by the credit card company, the point management method further comprises the step of refunding the points that are not used by the member to the affiliated stores that accumulated the points in the affiliated merchant group. According to any one of claims 1 to 5, The affiliated merchant group, Point management method comprising the cyber affiliates connected via the Internet. In the point management system that the member stores at the designated merchants contracted with the card company to accumulate points by the amount of the contracted reserve rate, An affiliate store affiliate database that stores information about affiliated stores associated with at least regional and affiliated companies; Receiving the sales data from any of the merchants, the affiliates to search the affiliated affiliate database to determine which affiliated affiliate group belonging to the point earning unit for earning points by a predetermined earning rate; A point information database for storing points accumulated for each affiliated affiliate group; And A point-of-use management unit that checks whether the accumulated points are a predetermined minimum usable point and uses the points earned by the member in the affiliated merchant group to which the affiliated store belonging to the merchant that accumulated the points within the validity period set by the card company is provided. Point management system, characterized in that. The method of claim 7, wherein the point earning unit, When the member uses the card in the affiliated merchant group, the point management system, characterized in that the points earned at a higher accumulation rate than other point contract merchants not affiliated with other merchants. The method of claim 7, wherein the usable point management unit, A point management system, characterized by applying a minimum usable point to the affiliated merchant group lower than points earned through other point contract affiliates not affiliated with other affiliates. The method of claim 7, wherein the point management system, Checking whether the points accumulated through the available point management unit has passed the expiration date, and further comprising an unused point refund unit that refunds the points not used by the member to the affiliated stores that earned the corresponding points in the affiliated merchant group. A point management system characterized by the above-mentioned. The method according to any one of claims 7 to 10, wherein the affiliated merchant group, A point management system comprising cyber affiliates connected through the Internet.