WO2002093517A1

WO2002093517A1 - Commodity selling method, system, its terminal apparatus, computer program, and recording medium

Info

Publication number: WO2002093517A1
Application number: PCT/JP2002/004775
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tatsuhiko Sumi
Original assignee: Tatsuhiko Sumi
Priority date: 2001-05-16
Filing date: 2002-05-16
Publication date: 2002-11-21
Also published as: JPWO2002093517A1

Abstract

In commercial facilities such as a large-scale store having a plurality of salerooms or a shopping center where a plurality of stores are arranged, a customer can pay for all the commodities he/she wants to purchase at once, thereby shopping efficiently. When selling a commodity to which commodity identification information is assigned, customer identification information for identifying a customer is assigned. A terminal apparatus (2) accepts a commodity purchase request from a customer and by using the accepted purchase request, correlates the commodity identification information of the requested commodity with customer identification information of the customer when they are stored in a check commodity storage block (12). According to the commodity identification information and the customer identification information stored in the check commodity storage block (12), a central management apparatus (1) totals commodity identification information for each customer identification information item and according to the commodity identification information totaled for each customer identification item, the commodities to be brought home by customers are totaled for each customer.

Description

Specification

Merchandise sales method, system, terminal device thereof, computer program and recording medium

Technical field

The present invention relates to an efficient product sales system, and more specifically, to a product sales method and system for selling products to which individual product identification information such as a POS system identification code is individually assigned. About. Further, the present invention relates to a computer program for realizing a central management device and a terminal device included in such a system with a general-purpose computer, and a recording medium on which the computer program is recorded.

Background art

In commercial facilities such as shopping centers where multiple stores gather, each store previously sold its own products and settled the price (including tax). In addition, even in large stores such as department stores that have multiple sales floors, customers generally pay for the goods each time they shop at each sales floor, and if they return the goods themselves, The general selling method was to receive packaging and delivery each time.

On the other hand, in the POS system, which has become very popular in recent years, an identification code is assigned to each product by printing a bar code, etc., and the sales status is recorded and aggregated on a computer one by one. As a result, efficient sales management and inventory management for each product has become possible. However, in such a P0S system, from the point of view of the shopping side, unless a customer is identified, a series of purchases are settled or collected together. It is not possible to deliver the goods. Therefore, the PS system had nothing different from the conventional sales method in that the payment and payment of goods had to be repeated each time the sales floor was different.

In supermarkets, convenience stores, etc., a certain range of products, mainly food products, are sold by lump-sum payment, but this is done by customers selecting the products they want to purchase at the sales floor and accounting. The sales method was more focused on self-service, in which the customer brought it to the cashier, settled it, and then brought it back in the bag itself. Is used to collectively pay for various products at different sales floors, or to collectively deliver packaged products when leaving the store without having to carry the product in the store. It did not realize a customer-oriented sales system that could be used.

For example, in stores that handle a variety of products at multiple sales floors, such as department stores, customers have traditionally attempted to shop at two or more sales floors, or at least twice even at the same sales floor. When shopping at a different time, not only does the customer need to repeat the procedure of adjusting the payment for the product and receiving the take-out product after waiting for the packaging of the product, but also until the next shopping time. However, they had to move within the store with the goods delivered earlier. In such a sales system, the baggage of the customer gradually increases as the shopping progresses, but when the sales floor is more crowded, the next shopping requires more labor. As a result, there was a problem that consumers could lose their willingness to purchase, such as canceling the shopping that the customer had planned. This was also true for commercial facilities, such as shopping centers, where multiple stores gathered. Disclosure of the invention

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems. That is, according to the present invention, in a product selling method for selling a product individually provided with product identification information, a step of providing customer identification information for identifying an individual customer; Receiving the purchase request of the customer, storing the product identification information of the product requested by the received purchase request in the storage means, and storing the customer identification information of the customer who issued the received purchase request in the storage means. Collecting the product identification information for each customer identification information on a computer based on the product identification information and the customer identification information stored in the storage means; and And a step of accumulating products that each customer wants to take home for each customer.

Further, the present invention provides a merchandise sales system for selling merchandise to which merchandise identification information is individually assigned, a customer identification means for identifying an individual customer, and a method for receiving a purchase request for a merchandise that the customer wants to take home. Attachment means; article identification information acquisition means for acquiring the article identification information of the article requested by the purchase request accepted by the acceptance means; and customer identification information of the customer who issued the purchase request accepted by the acceptance means. A terminal device having customer identification information acquisition means for acquiring using the customer identification means; and a deposit product storage means for storing the product identification information and customer identification information acquired by the terminal device in association with each other; Product identification information for each customer identification information based on the information stored in the stored product storage means. A central management device that aggregates the products, and a merchandise accumulation station in which the products that each customer wants to take home are aggregated for each customer based on the merchandise identification information that is aggregated by the central management device for each customer identification information. And features.

Furthermore, the present invention is directed to a terminal device for selling a product individually given product identification information to a customer individually given customer identification information. The terminal device receives a purchase request for a product that the customer wants to take back. Attaching means; commodity identification information acquiring means for acquiring commodity identification information of a commodity requested by the purchase request accepted by the acceptance means; and customer identification information of a customer who has issued the purchase request accepted by the acceptance means. Means for acquiring customer identification information obtained by using customer identification means.

In department stores, shopping centers, etc., there has conventionally been a “counter” with a cash register at each sales floor or each store, and products are settled at the “counter” to serve customers. The product was being delivered. Instead, in a commercial facility employing the merchandise sales system 'of the present invention, for customers who wish to collectively deliver take-out merchandise, the type of merchandise desired and the content of the purchase, such as quantity, are identified by the customer. Along with the information, each time a purchase request is received from a terminal device installed at each sales floor, the information is input to the central management unit, and the totals of which customers want to purchase which products and how many are collected for each customer.

Of the products that the customer wishes to purchase, take-out products are accompanied by a slip indicating the product storage means of the accumulation destination and the purchaser, etc. during a series of shopping, and the product accumulation provided in the store or facility according to this It is collected at the station for each customer, and after the purchase is completed, the settlement and delivery are performed collectively. For this reason, the price near the product accumulation station is There will be a dedicated place for payment and delivery of goods (hereinafter referred to as “payment profile”).

The checkout floor is equipped with a checkout counter, a dedicated terminal device for payment, and displays the customer's waiting area, broadcasting facilities that call out waiting customers, or identification numbers, etc. An electronic bulletin board will be prepared to inform the middle customers about the preparation of the product.

Further, in the present invention according to the above-mentioned invention, the customer identification means records a number, a code, or a combination of both as a customer identification code.

It is characterized by being an ID card.

In general, as a means for customer identification, a technology for absolutely identifying individuals based on physical characteristics such as voiceprints, fingerprints, and iris shapes has already been put into practical use. You do not need to be identified as an individual. You only need to be able to identify customers to each other at least during a series of purchases. Therefore, an ID card in which the identification code is easily read mechanically or optically, such as a magnetic type or a bar code type, is prepared and brought to the customer.

It is also possible to use, as customer identification information, an IC card capable of recording various information in a rewritable manner in a rewritable manner, or a PDA having a communication function. Further, the telephone number of the mobile phone stored in the customer's mobile phone can be used as customer identification information, and the mobile phone can be used as customer identification means.

Further, in the invention described above, in the above-described inventions, the central management device further includes a product information storage unit that stores information including a unit price, a volume, an outer size, and a weight of the product corresponding to the individual product information identification information. A merchandise information totalizing means for totalizing the merchandise price for each customer based on the unit price of the merchandise stored in the merchandise information storing means and the quantity of the merchandise requested by the customer to purchase the merchandise; And product information totalizing means for totalizing the volume and / or weight of the product for each customer based on the information on the volume, outer size, and weight of the product stored in the product information storage means. .

In the present invention, information on not only the price (unit price) but also the weight and volume in a standard wrapped state is applied to each product identification information for all products that can be collectively delivered. The information is stored in the storage unit of the central management device in advance in association with the information. As a result, every time a purchase request is received from a customer, the total volume, total weight, etc., of the take-out products for each customer are estimated as necessary. As a result, it is possible to check at any point in the series of shopping whether the total amount of the products desired by the individual customers exceeds the amount that can be brought back at one time.

In addition, even when allocating the product storage means for the product accumulation described below, the necessary product storage means is appropriately allocated without delay according to the total capacity of the products requested to be purchased. This will be possible.

Further, in the present invention according to each of the above-mentioned inventions, the merchandise accumulation station is provided with individually identifiable information on the merchandise accommodating means. A product storage means allocating means for allocating one of the product storage means identification information assigned to each of the product storage means to individual customer identification information; and customer identification information. Means for instructing the product accumulation station to store the product in the product storage means assigned with the product storage means identification information assigned to the customer identification information based on the separately calculated product identification information. It is characterized by an octopus.

As for the size of the individual product storage means, a standard adult can hold both hands. The maximum volume V MAX that can be carried around is a good guide. However, not all customers will buy as much as they can take home. Here, consider the case where the frequency distribution of the total volume of takeaway products per customer per customer is as shown in the graph in Fig.1. Instead of reducing the size of the product storage means to a small capacity in the range of V50 to V90 that can accommodate take-out products of 50% to 90% on the graph shown in FIG. You may decide to increase it.

Further, in the present invention according to each of the above-mentioned inventions, the commodity accommodating means allocating means of the central management device, wherein the total volume and Z or the total weight of the commodities counted by the commodity information totaling means for each customer identification information exceed a predetermined value. In this case, one of the product accommodation unit identification information that is not assigned to other customer identification information at that time is newly assigned.o

In addition, several types of product storage means with different capacities and shapes are prepared. Depending on the amount of a single purchase request or the presence or absence of an elongated product such as an umbrella, golf club, etc. It is also possible to select and assign an appropriate product storage means from the available product storage means according to the number.

In any case, if the quantity of the product requested to be purchased exceeds the capacity of one product storage means, the second and third additional product storage means are newly allocated. For this reason, a series of identification codes are assigned to each product storage means, and a program for searching and managing these product storage means is installed in the central management unit. Depending on the total volume, shape, etc. of the product for which the purchase request was made, select an appropriate product storage means from the available Make sure that they can be assigned to crabs.

Take-away products for which purchase has been requested shall be accompanied by a slip stating the number of the product collection container to be accommodated, one point at a time or in units of one package, and the product storage designated by each sales floor as a product accumulation station. After receiving the settlement request from the customer who has completed shopping and collecting it, make sure that all of the requested products are available in the product storage means, and then settle the payment and pack it. Delivered to customer.

Further, the present invention is a computer program for selling a product to which individual product identification information is individually provided, the procedure for causing a computer to provide customer identification information for identifying an individual customer; A procedure for accepting a purchase request for a product that the customer wishes to take home from the customer overnight, and storing in the computer the product identification information of the product requested in the received purchase request. Means for storing the customer identification information of the customer who has issued the purchase request received in the storage means in the storage means, and the product stored in the storage means for the computer. The procedure for summarizing the product identification information for each customer identification information based on the identification information and the customer identification information, and for the computer, based on the product identification information aggregated for each customer identification information Instructing customers to accumulate products that they want to take home. Further, the present invention is a computer readable recording medium which records a computer program for selling a product to which product identification information is individually given, wherein the computer stores an individual customer. A procedure for providing customer identification information for identification, a procedure for causing the computer to accept a purchase request for a product that the customer wishes to take home, and a procedure for allowing the computer to accept the purchase request. Storing the product identification information of the product in the storage means; And storing the customer identification information of the customer who has issued the purchase request in the storage means, and identifying the product by the customer identification information in the computer based on the product identification information and the customer identification information stored in the storage means. Record a computer program that includes a procedure for collecting information and a procedure for instructing the computer to collect products that each customer wants to take home based on product identification information that has been aggregated by customer identification information. It is characterized by

In the above-described computer program and a recording medium on which the computer program is recorded, the central management device or each terminal device of the present invention is installed by installing the computer program from the recording medium on the computer. Is achieved. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Figure 1 is a graph showing an example of the distribution of take-out merchandise for a single customer by number of people.

Figure 2 is a block diagram of the management system located in the store. Figure 3 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the terminal device of the management system located at the sales floor.

Figure 4 is an evening chart showing an example of the usage status of the product box over time.

Fig. 5 is a conceptual diagram showing the process of one customer shopping with this sales system.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of a procedure for accepting a purchase request for a product at a sales floor together with FIGS. 7 and 8.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of a procedure for accepting a purchase request for a product at a sales floor, together with FIGS. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of a procedure for accepting a purchase request for a product at a sales floor together with FIGS. 6 and 7.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a copy of a copy of a copy of a product for which a purchase request has been made at a certain sales floor.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the format of a purchase slip attached to a product.

Fig. 11 is a flow chart showing an example of the procedure for settlement and delivery of goods, along with Figs. 12 and 13.

FIG. 12 is a part of a flow chart showing an example of a procedure for settlement and delivery of goods, together with FIGS. 11 and 13.

Fig. 13 is a flow chart showing an example of the procedure for settlement and delivery of goods, along with Figs. 11 and 12.

Fig. 14 is a schematic diagram of a totaling list for settlement, which describes the breakdown of all products for which purchase requests have been made.

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram showing the contents of a computer program recorded on a recording medium. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In a commercial facility employing the merchandise sales system of the present invention, a merchandise code as merchandise identification information is assigned to each merchandise, as employed in a P0S system widely used in the distribution industry at present. By providing an ID card that records customer identification information that can identify these customers to each other at least during a series of purchases, to the customer who wishes to collectively deliver take-out products, Carry Each customer has a customer identification code as customer identification information. The merchandise identification code is magnetically or optically readable by the computer, and it is easiest to use the POS code. However, in the system of the present invention, if the customer can bring the product itself to a "counter" equipped with a cash register, the product is attached to the product (for example, printed on the outer box). The product identification code is obtained by reading the P0S code on the bar code display, but individual products are placed at the sales floor in consideration of cases such as when there is no product itself at the sales floor or when the actual product cannot be placed. Keep a sample or pamphlet, and the customer can tell the “counter” staff the name of the product they want to buy, or the name or price of the product near the sample or pamphlet. The “product strength” printed with the P0S code of the product with the rating and bar code is placed, and the customer brings the “product card” to the “counter” instead of the product itself. Even There. Furthermore, for example, a system that displays product image information on the monitor screen by the operation of the customer is prepared. When the customer selects the product on the monitor, the purchase request of the product is accepted, and the product identification code is received. May be obtained.

There are two types of ID cards: a “common-use card” for good customers and a “One Day Card” j, which is mainly intended for temporary use by customers. .

The former is intended to be used semi-permanently by customers whose address, name, etc. are known, as is the case with conventional preferential treatment cards of various department stores, etc., and has a point-based privilege. Or a credit function is added.

The latter is intended mainly for one-time or one-time use. It is only necessary to be able to identify the customer carrying it at least until a series of shopping is completed, and detailed personal information such as the customer's address and name is not necessarily required. For this reason, the same day ID card can be issued immediately by assigning an appropriate customer identification code to any applicant at any time. This customer identification code should be set so that at least the same code is not assigned to two or more customers at the same time.

Since the day-of-the-day ID card has the minimum required functions for implementing the system of the present invention, a day-of-the-day card can be used for customers who have forgotten to bring their regular ID card. Can be.

At each sales floor in the store, a terminal device of a management system for receiving shopping by the batch delivery method using the ID card as described above is arranged.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the entire management system used for implementing the system of the present invention. The management system consists of at least one computer, a central management device 1, a storage device connected to it, a product information storage unit 11, a storage product storage unit 12, and a central management device. 1 and a plurality of terminal devices 2 each connected to a computer by a signal transmission path 3 such as a LAN line. The terminal device 2 is further disposed at a terminal device 2-1 disposed at each sales floor, a terminal device 2-2 disposed at a warehouse, and at a place other than the sales floor in the store. The terminal device 2-3, which has a slightly simplified function as compared with the terminal device, the terminal device 2-4, which is located at the product collection station, and the terminal device 2-5, which is located at the checkout counter. Including.

Note that the central management device 1 and each terminal device 2 are both computers. For example, when a computer program is installed in each of the recording media 100 such as a CD-ROM. In the When the computer program recorded on the recording medium 100 is executed, it functions as the system of the present invention.

The computer program of each terminal device 2 may be individually installed from the same recording medium as the recording medium 100, or may be installed collectively from the recording medium 100 to the central management device 1. It is also possible to install only the part required for each terminal device 2 in the installed computer program via the signal transmission path 3 for installation.

The product information storage unit 11 stores information on the product name, type, unit price, stock, etc. associated with the product code in the same manner as in the conventional P0S system. For example, information on whether or not a customer (generally an adult) can take it home, and information on data such as weight, volume, and external dimensions per product are also stored in advance. In addition, the stored merchandise storage unit 12 stores the merchandise code requested by the customer and the merchandise code of the customer in association with each other. Accordingly, the central management device 1 can create a list in which the products desired to be purchased are aggregated for each customer based on the contents stored in the stored product storage unit 12. In addition to the same processing as the conventional POS system, the central management device 1 collects the total weight and total volume of take-out products for each customer at any time based on the contents stored in the product information storage unit 11. Is possible.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration example of the terminal device 2-1 disposed at the sales floor. The terminal device 2-1 has a reader (ID card reader) 21 for customer identification information written on an ID card, a product code reader 22, a slip issuing printer 23, and an ID card. It is configured as a single computer system with an issuer 24, keyboard 25, monitor 26, and so on. When arranging such a terminal device 2-1 at a sales floor, it is necessary to use a conventional cash payment method for customers who wish to deliver goods on the spot instead of collectively. It is desirable to have a configuration that also has a register function.

The contents of a series of shopping at the customer's store with the customer identification code set are sent to the central management device 1 of the management system one by one via the above-mentioned terminal device 2-1 installed at each sales floor. Entered and the total price of the take-out product (hereinafter, the price of the product includes taxes such as consumption tax) is tabulated by customer.

Furthermore, in this management system, as with the conventional POS system, not only can information on the product name, type, unit price, inventory, etc. be derived from the product code, but also the weight, volume, and outer dimensions of each product Such data is stored in the product information storage unit 11 in advance, so that the total weight, total volume, and the like of the takeaway products for each customer can be aggregated at any time.

Similar terminal devices are installed in stores, checkout floors, merchandise accumulation stations, etc. besides the sales floor in the store, and access to the central management device 1 is possible, but it will be installed Their specifications differ slightly depending on the location and application. For example, the terminal device 2-2 in the warehouse where customers do not normally enter, and the terminal device 2-4 located in the merchandise accumulation station have an ID card reader 21 and an ID card generator. Line device 24 is omitted. In addition, for example, in the terminal device 2-5 installed at the settlement terminal for payment, the ID card issuer 24 can be omitted.

It is also necessary for the customer to be able to check the contents of the purchase, such as the total price and quantity, items, etc. at any time during the series of purchases. 1 D card reader 21, Slip issuing printer 23, Keyboard

Inquiry-only terminal device 2-3 equipped with only 25 and monitor 26 is installed in the store. Also, a terminal device equipped with only an ID card issuer 24 near the entrance of the store will be installed as a ticketing machine so that the ID card (same-day type) can be distributed uniformly to visitors. Good.

Next, a product box as a storage means to accumulate products for which purchase requests were made for each customer, and a product collection stage job adjacent to the checkout floor to a fixed number determined based on the expected number of customers. , The details will be described later, but each of the product boxes will have 101, 102, 103, or AO1, A02, A03, B01, respectively. , Β 0 2, Β 0 3… etc. _{(If the} product box has a total of 100 0, there are 50 items as an example. It is divided into 20 blocks, and a dedicated staff member and a terminal 2-4 of the management system are placed in each block and managed.

In actual operation of the product box, for example, some blocks are closed during a time when the number of used product boxes is small compared to the total number, and only the remaining product boxes are used. Also, when allocating product boxes, assign them at regular intervals in advance, and when allocating the second product box to the same customer, make it possible to set as close as possible Devise efficient use such as. For example, when assigning a first product box to a series of customers immediately after opening a store, if an odd-numbered product box is assigned first, the same customer needs a second product box. At the same time, it is possible to assign the even-numbered product box next to the product box, and it is expected that the storage management of the product will be easier.

Figure 4 is a time chart showing an example of the operation of a product box over time. The vertical axis represents the product box number, the horizontal axis represents time, and G a, G b, G c, etc. represent the customers to whom the product box is assigned.

In this example, almost every time a store is opened, there is a request to purchase take-out products from each sales floor, and customers G a, G b, G c, 〇 (1 is ^ .1, No. 3, No. 5, No. 7 respectively) After that, the customer Gb was unable to accommodate the product requested by the purchase in the No. 3 product box alone as the shopping progressed, so the product of No. 3 was allocated. The commodity box No. 4 next to the box is assigned as the second commodity box.Customer Gb finishes the series of shopping and finishes these two commodity boxes by time t1. The goods collected in the boxes (No.3, No.4) are settled and delivered.

Customer G g, who was assigned the No. 5 product box first, also needed a second product box from the middle because the total amount of products requested to purchase exceeded the capacity of the product box. However, since the adjacent product box (No. 6) was already in use, a product box of No. 2 located slightly away was assigned. Customer G g completes the shopping by time t 2, and these two product boxes (No. 5 and No. 2) are subsequently allocated to other customers Gm and G n, respectively. ing.

The central management unit 1 of the management system searches the appropriate product box for the next customer from the product box that has become available after delivery of the product, etc., and promptly adds a new product. A program has been prepared so that it can be allocated for containment.

It is desirable that a sufficient number of product boxes be prepared based on the expected number of users, but all of the prepared product boxes If it becomes busy during business hours, take the following measures depending on the situation.

(1) Wait for customers at each sales floor until a product bot

(2) The product box will be expanded temporarily.

(3) We will stop accepting purchases by the lump-sum delivery method and switch to selling only by the conventional payment method.

Which of the above methods should be used should be determined based on the expected shortage of product boxes based on the trends of the entire customer. For example, if the number of users has passed the peak even if there is no room in the product box at that time and payment is expected to proceed and a vacant product box is expected to appear, (1) Also, `` The product box for batch delivery is full now, so please wait for a while as it is, if you are in a hurry, checkout on the spot Would you please ask me to pick up the product? ", And let the customer choose.

Next, the operation of the system of the present invention will be specifically described. Here, in a department store equipped with the system of the present invention, a procedure from one customer G to shopping and returning will be described with reference to the schematic diagram of FIG. 5 and other drawings.

Assuming that customer G comes to the store and decides on the first product to be purchased at sales floor A, the following process is the procedure shown in the flowcharts in Figs. 6, 7 and 8 as an example.

First, customer G brings the product he / she wants to purchase to sales floor A “counter”. In the following explanation, if it is not possible to bring the product itself to the counter, PO as product identification information (product code) The product card 20 on which the S code is recorded shall be used in place of the product itself. However, it goes without saying that product identification information that is shorter than the POS code and easier to understand may be used. As such product identification information, for example, a product name may be used as it is, or a combination of a general name and a number (for example, “Tip No. 100”) may be used. . When information other than the P0S code is used as a product code, it may be used as it is until all processing is completed, or it may be input to the terminal device 2-1 at each sales floor. At the time of transmission to the central control device 1, or at the time of transmission to the central management device 1, the subsequent processing may be performed.

In the account A C of the sales floor A, first, the product code of the product that the customer has requested to purchase is obtained. Specifically, since there was no actual product (or sample) on the sales floor A, the product code reader 22 from the product card 20 to the terminal device 2-1 changed the product code (P0S code). 1) is read (step SO). This product code is sent to the central control device 1. The central management device 1 checks the stock of the product of the product code from the stored contents of the product information storage unit 11 (step S1), and inquires whether the customer wants to take it home (step S1). 2), and send the result to the terminal device 2-1 at sales floor A. As a result, if there is a product in stock that customer G wants to purchase (YES in step S1) and it is a product that customer G wants to take home (YES in step S2), The clerk confirms whether or not he / she wants to collectively deliver to customer G (step S3) o

If the customer G wants to collectively deliver, the attendant checks whether there is an ID card necessary for using the present invention system (or desires to possess it) (step S4). For example, the clerk says, "I don't have a customer card Is that right? By using this card, it is possible to collectively pay for items purchased in almost the entire building when returning home, and deliver them in a lump ... " Ask G's intention and the presence of a card.

If the customer G wishes to deliver the goods on the spot (in step S 3) instead of the lump-sum delivery, the goods are delivered on the spot in exchange for the payment as before. If you wish to collectively deliver, but you have forgotten your regular service code or have not issued it, set a customer identification code, issue a same-day ID card on the spot, and complete a series of shopping and settlement. In the meantime, the customer G is issued as customer identification means (step S5). Such an ID card can be issued by a dedicated terminal device at the entrance of the store or an ID card issuer 24 attached to the terminal device 2-1 arranged at each sales floor.

If it is confirmed that a regular ID card is possessed, or if a same-day ID card is available, and the customer G wants to purchase the goods in a consolidation delivery method and the quantity of the goods, the breakdown of the goods along with the customer identification code is given to the customer The central management unit 1 calculates the total capacity of these products by inputting from the terminal device 2-1.

(Step S6), the necessary or appropriate product box BX for containing the product is not used (no customer identification code is assigned) from within the product box BX. Search and assign (step S8). Here, the product box BX of code No. 53 is assigned. In the case of the second or subsequent purchase request by this customer G, the product box BX (already allocated to the remaining capacity of code No. 53 for which the requested product can be further accommodated) Is determined by the central management device 1 based on the total volume of the calculated products.

(Step S7), a new product box BX is allocated as needed (Step S 8).

Once the product box BX for collecting take-out products has been allocated as described above, the name of the product requested for purchase, the product code unit price and quantity, and the product box BX where each product is stored A set of slips 3a and 4a (hereinafter referred to as "purchase slips" or simply as slips) are issued on the two sheets with the numbers etc. (step S9).

One slip 3a is for attaching to the product requested to be purchased, and the other slip 4a is for handing over to customer G as a copy of shopping. An example of the format of the copy 4a is shown in the schematic diagram of FIG. 9, and an example of the format of the purchase slip 3a attached to the product is shown in the schematic diagram of FIG. These slips 3a and 4a are printed out from a printer 23 attached to the terminal device 2-1.

If multiple products are requested to be purchased at once, as shown in Fig. 9, the copy 4a of the copy to hand to customer G may be a summary of the take-out products that were requested to be purchased at that sales floor at that time. However, one purchase slip 3a attached to the product is issued for each product in principle. However, for products such as tableware and stationery, there are cases where multiple products are packaged together as a set. In such a case, the slip 3a attached to the product may also include the contents of the slip 3a as shown in FIG.

For the convenience of handling, the products requested to be purchased are assigned a serial number one by one (hereinafter referred to as the “application number” of the take-out product of the customer G). When multiple products are grouped in one package, such as the product of No. 3, this can be represented by one application number. Even when a plurality of products are packaged together as a single package, of course, a different application number is required for each product. No., and a purchase slip 3a may be issued for each product. However, in that case, multiple purchase slips 3a will be attached to one package.

At sales floor A, since the actual product (or sample) of the desired product was not on the sales floor (N で at step S10), the clerk carrying slip 3a went to the warehouse to search for the requested product ( In order to receive confirmation from the customer G (YES in step S12), the customer 5 sends the product 5 to the sales floor A (step S13). Alternatively, the contents of the purchase request described in the slip 3a are sent online to the warehouse terminal device 2-2 via the central control device 1, and the slip printed out from the printer 23 is sent to the warehouse terminal device 2-2. It may be used (step S11). At the store A, just in case, the customer G is asked to confirm whether or not the purchased product 5 is as desired (step S14). If confirmed, the slip 3a is attached again to the product 5 and sent to the product box BX of the code No. 53 assigned according to the description (step S15).

When the customer G has completed the shopping at the counter A as described above, the customer G moves to the next counter B with the ID card 4 and the copy 4a.

At store B, the same procedure as steps S1 to S11 described above is repeated, but at step S7, the remaining capacity of the already allocated product box BX of code No. 53 is Then, it is confirmed whether or not the newly requested product can be further accommodated, and if necessary, a new product box BX is allocated (step S8).

The two take-out products 6 that were requested to be purchased at the sales floor B were mass-produced products, and the customer G did not need to check the actual products (NO in step S12), so the two products that were in stock in the warehouse No. 6 is not sent to the sales floor to check the actual item, but the slip 3b is attached one by one and The product is sent to the product box BX of No. 53 (step S15). Of course, even if it is mass-produced standard product, if it is necessary to confirm the actual product such as creating a warranty, it will be handled in the same way as the case of product 5 at sales floor A described above o

As the quantity of goods that customer G has requested to purchase increases, it may be necessary to allocate an additional goods box BX to accommodate this, but apart from that, in step 6, during the shopping In some cases, the cumulative capacity or weight of a take-out item may exceed a standard customer's take-away capacity. In such a case, although not shown, a warning should be issued from the central management unit 1 of the management system via the terminal 2-1 at the sales floor during or immediately after the purchase information is input. . When this alarm is triggered, the clerk asks customer G's intention, that is, whether to continue shopping.

Specifically, the clerk who received the purchase request told customer G, "We have a lot of baggage to take home, but are you sure?""In some cases, we will process some items for delivery It might be-... ". If you have a companion to bring your luggage, or if you want to load a car parked in the nearest parking lot by car, you may continue shopping as you take it home. However. If not, you will either have to stop shopping, or you will be allowed to continue shopping, with the consent that you will be treated for home delivery if you have more than the amount you can take away _(at C After the same procedure up to step S9, customer G has purchased the item 7 that he wants to purchase on the sales floor (from step S10 to step S14). The customer G sends the third copy of the slip 4 to the product box BX (code No. 53) to which the product accumulation station has been assigned, with the label attached (step S15). c Receive.

The breakdown of the product that the customer has requested to purchase is included in the copy of the copy 4a to 4c, but if the copy of the previous purchase is unknown due to the loss of the copy, the ID card 4 is used. By using the terminal device 2-1 or the inquiry terminal device 2-3 at the nearest sales floor, the total price, the total weight of the product, the total volume, etc. can be determined immediately during a series of shopping. Information can be obtained. Even if the ID card 4 is lost, the ID card 4 can be easily reissued if there is a clue such as a copy of a copy.

It is relatively easy to add, change, or cancel a product once requested in the course of a series of shopping, because it is usually before the final settlement. Products that cannot be taken home on the day, such as when ordering an accent for clothes, consider the "exchange certificate" of the accented product to be equivalent to the product to be taken home and call this a book. It can be included in the subject of batch settlement and batch delivery of the invention system. Alternatively, pass the equivalent of a `` Cash Redemption Certificate '' first at each sales floor as before, then confirm the lump sum payment and press the receipt stamp, etc. You may make it a certificate.

Even for take-out products, perishable food products or frozen food products are different from other products, and are collectively delivered using such a product box for convenience of collection and delivery and storage of safety and health. It is desirable to exclude them from the targets handled in. However, it is of course possible to prepare a delivery system using a dedicated product box for such products.

As for tropical fish and other pets, 'Because it is not appropriate to store in the product box, it is of course possible to use the same sales method as before or to construct a delivery system using a dedicated product box.

In addition, it is not appropriate to store products with special shapes such as bicycles, clothespins, pipes, square bars, etc. in the above-mentioned product box. Of course, it is possible to set up a product storage location and hand it over to customers.In addition to shopping, meals in the cafeteria, entrance to exhibitions, use of beauty salons, etc. Therefore, it is appropriate not to include in the lump-sum payment with the same day ID card 4 at least, since the service equivalent to the above will be provided on the spot.

In addition, the baggage that the customer had at the time of entering the store was also assigned to the customer until the customer completed the shopping, after determining the volume and outer dimensions of the baggage. A specific slip (deposit certificate) can be attached and stored in the product box BX, and a deposit certificate can be issued to the customer.

After a series of shopping through the above-mentioned process, it goes to the checkout procedure. An example of the procedure for settlement and delivery of goods will be described below with reference to the flowcharts in FIG. 5, FIG. 11, FIG. 12, and FIG. Customer G first goes to checkout counter 9 on checkout floor F and informs the clerk that the shopping has been completed (step S31), and presents ID card 4 in response to a request from the clerk, and offers a checkout. (Step S32). Requests for settlement can be accepted from any terminal device located in the hall. However, it takes at least a certain amount of time for the last product to be purchased to arrive at the product box BX. In order to give the customer G time to consider whether he / she has forgotten to purchase, the request for payment should be accepted here only at payment account 9 in principle. To

When the customer G receives the settlement request, the clerk inputs the request to the terminal device 2-5 of the settlement counter 9 and sends it to the central management device 1. In response, the central management device 1 enters into a totaling operation such as calculating the total price of the purchase of the customer G. As a result, a total list 8 of the products that the customer G has requested to purchase in the shopping series is created (step S33). This total list 8 is presented to the customer G, and the customer G confirms the content (step S34). The specific format of the summary list 8 is shown in the schematic diagram of Fig. 14, but it is almost the same format as the copy of the purchase slip shown in Fig. 9. It describes the complete breakdown of the products that you would like to collectively deliver in a series of purchases. If the customer G approves the contents of the aggregation list 8 (YES in step S34), the aggregation list 8 is sent to the merchandise accumulation stage for settlement and delivery of the product. It is sent (step S35).

In the above steps S31 to S35, it is not always necessary for the person in charge of the settlement counter 9 to be directly involved. If the customer is accustomed to operating the machine, the ID card 4 Can be inserted into the ID card reader 21 of the terminal device 2-5, and the terminal device 2-5 can be operated by itself to start the settlement. When the total list of purchased products is confirmed in this way, the screen of the monitor 26 of the terminal device 2-5 displays, for example, "The product you are applying for is currently being prepared. When you are ready, The call number XXX will be displayed on the electronic bulletin board and the customer will be called. Please wait on the floor until that time. " The role of the staff here does not know how to operate terminal device 2-5 This is to provide guidance to the customer or deal with any problems that occur during the aggregation operation such as cancellation, change, or inconsistency with the order. The stop 8 is sent online via the central control device 1 to the terminal device 2-4 of the product accumulation station (step S 35), and is printed out from the printer 23. However, if the checkout counter 9 is close to the product accumulation station, the staff may bring the aggregation list 8 to the product accumulation station.

Then, the clerk checks the contents of the tabulation list 8 against the products accumulated in the specified product box BX (step S36). At this time, if all of the products for which the purchase request has been made have not yet arrived at the product box BX at that time, the staff in charge of the arriving products will be able to easily find out which products have not yet arrived. The summary list with the application number etc. checked is posted on the product box BX in a position that is easy to see (step S37). Thereafter, each time a new product arrives, the carrier sees the application number, etc. and fills in the list (step S38). When all of the products requested to be purchased are collected (YES in step S24), the products are collectively conveyed to the checkout counter 9 (step S40), and if necessary, the customer G The final confirmation of the actual product is received (Steps S41, S42).

At this time, if the customer G requests home delivery because the entire amount of the product is too large to be brought back, etc., it is understood that additional shipping fee is required, and all or part of the product is required. Is treated as home delivery (steps S43, S44). Through such processing, the packaging of the remaining take-out product is finished (step S45), the payment is settled (step S46), and the delivery of the product 10 is performed (step S47). Meanwhile, customer G is waiting in a waiting area as appropriate, and when ready Each time, call the mic or display the calling number by lightning, etc., to have them come to checkout account 9 (Steps S48, S50) ₍ Specifically, collective delivery products Customer G, who has offered to settle the payment, can be identified by the code number of the commodity box BX assigned at that time, for example, without using the customer identification code. If the sign or symbol is too long to be easily understood, the customer G's application number 1 is indicated by the arrow at the right end of the copy of the copy in Figure 9 or as shown at the bottom of the summary list. The number of the product box BX containing the product may be posted and called.

If there is no offer for reimbursement during the same day or if the payment is not completed due to payment not being made (N0 in step S50), special circumstances may apply. As long as there is no, the purchase request is canceled and the goods accumulated in the product box BX are returned to the original place. If the goods have not been received within the business hours of the day even though the payment has been made (NO in step S51), the goods are taken out from the product box BX and stored separately. In accordance with the regulations, a certain amount of storage fee, etc. will be collected and delivered at a later date. _{(As described} above, in each case, the product box BX will be emptied by the certain date and newly used Therefore, the product box will not be closed every day because the product box cannot be picked up. The series of shopping at this point ends once, and the allocation of the commodity box BX is released (step S52), and the empty commodity box BX can be allocated to the next customer during business hours. it can. Japan-type ID force one de 4, if the same code so that it does not assign a duplicate to other customers, with dilute 'Nozomu of the customer, for as it is the subsequent person It can be issued as ID card 4 of the above, but in this example, it is valid only on the day for the convenience of management, and in principle, it will be collected at the completion of settlement. However, if you immediately forget to buy, you can return to the sales floor and use the same card to restart a series of shopping from the beginning in the same way (NO in step S53). Even after the ID card 4 is collected, if necessary, the customer G can shop again and again as long as the ID card 4 is issued. Delivery goods including gifts also vary in purchase quantity. It is hard to say that the use of a sales system having a product box such as the system of the present invention is suitable. However, with the use of ID card 4, it is possible to make a lump sum payment for the payment of the same price as with take-out goods. In this case, products ordered for delivery at each sales floor will be shipped after a delivery slip stating the destination has been affixed and that all payments have been made. For this reason, a column for describing the customer identification code is provided in the delivery slip, and this is used to check and confirm that the customer who made the purchase request has been paid, and then deliver it.

This procedure is not necessary if payment is completed and sent to delivery each time at each sales floor as usual, instead of batch payment.

In addition, in the system of the present invention, payment for take-out products should be made in advance at each store in principle, and only the delivery of products should be performed at the end of a series of shopping. You can do that too. In this case, the copy of the purchase slip given at each store also serves as a receipt for the paid product. By adopting such a method, especially for facilities such as shopping centers, which are a collection of independent stores, complicated procedures such as settingtle the product price paid collectively for each store are required. Saves time and effort. At the end of shopping, customers who are expected to visit the store frequently in the future or who have many orders for delivery and do not have a regular ID card 4 should be encouraged to acquire a regular card. Can be. The regular ID card 4 has a special discount function such as a bonus point system, or a credit function if desired.In addition, if you order this product by presenting it, you will receive a delivery slip. It is possible to have advantages that the day-type ID card 4 does not have, such as the ability to issue paper with the address and name of the customer pre-printed in the sender field.

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram showing the contents of the computer program recorded on the recording medium 100 shown in FIG. Here, we show the minimum computer program to realize this system.

This computer program is a computer program for selling products to which individual product identification information has been assigned, and at least causes the computer to provide customer identification information for identifying individual customers. A procedure for receiving a purchase request from a customer for a product that the user wants to take back, a procedure for storing the product identification information of the product requested in the received purchase request in a storage unit, and a request for the received purchase request. Storing the customer identification information of the selected customer in the storage means, a step of summarizing the product identification information for each customer identification information according to the product identification information and the customer identification information stored in the storage means, A procedure for accumulating products that each customer wants to take home according to product identification information tabulated for each piece of information. Industrial applicability

As described in detail above, according to the merchandise selling method and system of the present invention, For example, during a series of shopping, customers can freely browse and enjoy shopping inside and outside the store without having to carry the goods they have already purchased. Also, during business hours, customers will be able to settle their products at any convenient time and receive them for delivery.

From the point of view of the sales side, according to the present invention, while maintaining the face-to-face sales method, operations such as product packaging and accounting are centralized, so that the customer service can be made more efficient by that amount. For example, as is often seen in conventional large stores, as the closing time approaches, staff members are forced to count on each cash register and customers are neglected. And the inefficiency, such as that customers are concentrated and crowded at one sales floor, while staff at the other sales floor have extra time, o

In addition, since the products are packaged and delivered at the end of the shopping, they are no longer transported in small bags as in the past. Savings are also expected.

The same-day ID card used in the present invention basically has nothing to do with the payment settlement function, so that there is no security problem such as loss or theft. Specifically, for example, if you try to find someone else's ID card and defraud the product, you will have to pay for the product, so there is no real harm.

In addition, since information for identifying individuals in detail, such as the address and name, is not required for the day-of-day ID force, it is easy to handle and is excellent in terms of privacy protection. Also, by selecting the same-day ID card, customers who are considered to be infrequently used can avoid receiving unwanted e-mails and offers for preferential treatment services. This can also save extra costs. However, even though the individual cannot be identified, a series of shopping for a single customer across the entire building is tracked by customer identification means, so that individual consumer trends can be obtained using the conventional P0S system alone. This will provide you with information that you will not be able to obtain, which is extremely effective from a market research perspective.

Claims

The scope of the claims

1. In the product sales method of selling products with individual product identification information,

Providing customer identification information to identify each customer; and accepting a purchase request for a product that the customer wants to take home;

Storing the product identification information of the product requested in the received purchase request in the storage means;

Storing the customer identification information of the customer who has issued the received purchase request in the storage means;

A step 7 of compiling the product identification information on a computer basis for each customer identification information based on the product identification information and the customer identification information stored in the storage means, 7.

A step of accumulating products that each customer wants to take home for each customer based on the product identification information aggregated for each customer identification information;

A product sales method characterized by including:

2. In a product sales system that sells products to which product identification information is individually assigned,

Customer identification means to identify individual customers,

Receiving means for receiving a purchase request for a product that the customer wants to take home; product identification information obtaining means for obtaining product identification information of the product requested by the purchase request received by the receiving means; A terminal device comprising: customer identification information acquisition means for acquiring customer identification information of a customer who has issued a purchase request using the customer identification means; A stored product storage unit that stores the product identification information and the customer identification information acquired by the terminal device in association with each other, and totals the product identification information for each customer identification information based on the information stored in the stored product storage device A central management device

A merchandise accumulation stage in which merchandise that each customer desires to take home is accumulated for each customer based on the merchandise identification information compiled by the central management device for each customer identification information;

A product sales system characterized by including:

3. The merchandise sales system according to claim 2, wherein the customer identification means is an ID card that records a number, a code, or a combination of both as a customer identification code.

4. The central management unit is

Further comprising a product information storage means for storing information including unit price, volume, outer dimensions, and weight of the product corresponding to the individual product information identification information;

Merchandise price totalizing means for totalizing the merchandise price for each customer based on the unit price of the merchandise stored in the merchandise information storage means and the quantity of the merchandise requested by the customer for the merchandise;

Merchandise information summarizing means for summing up the volume and Z or weight of the merchandise for each customer based on the information on the volume, outer dimensions, and weight of the merchandise stored in the merchandise information storage means;

The merchandise sales system according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the merchandise sales system is provided.

5. The merchandise accumulation station includes merchandise accommodating means having a predetermined ratio to the expected number of customers, each of which is provided with mutually identifiable commodity accommodating means identification information,

The central management device may include: Product accommodation means allocating means that assigns one of the product accommodation means identification information to individual customer identification information, and product accommodation means identification information that assigns products to customer identification information based on the product identification information tabulated for each customer identification information Means for instructing the product accumulation station to store the product in the product storage means provided with

The merchandise sales system according to any one of claims 2 to 4, further comprising:

6. The commodity storage means allocating means of the central management device, if the total volume and the Z or the total weight of the commodity totaled by the customer identification information by the commodity information totaling means exceeds a predetermined value, the other customer at that time. 6. The product sales system according to claim 5, wherein one of the product accommodation means identification information not assigned to the identification information is newly assigned.

7. In a terminal device for selling products individually assigned with product identification information to customers individually assigned customer identification information,

A receiving means for receiving a purchase request from a customer for a product desired to be taken away;

Merchandise identification information acquiring means for acquiring merchandise identification information of the merchandise requested by the purchase request accepted by the accepting means;

Means for acquiring customer identification information of the customer who has issued the purchase request accepted by the accepting means, using the customer identifying means;

A terminal device comprising:

8. A computer program for selling products with individual product identification information,

On the computer, add customer identification information to identify each customer. The steps to give

Having the computer accept a purchase request for a product that the customer wishes to take home;

A procedure for causing a computer to store product identification information of a product requested in the received purchase request in a storage unit;

A procedure for causing the computer to store the customer identification information of the customer who issued the received purchase request in the storage means;

A step of compiling product identification information for each customer identification information based on the product identification information and the customer identification information stored in the storage means;

A procedure for instructing a computer to accumulate products that each customer wants to take home based on product identification information aggregated by customer identification information.

A computer program characterized by including:

9. A computer-readable recording medium that records a computer program for selling products individually provided with product identification information,

A process for providing the computer with customer identification information for identifying each customer;

A procedure for causing a computer to store product identification information of a product requested by the received purchase request in a storage unit;

Storing the customer identification information of the customer who issued the received purchase request in the storage means in the evening;

At the computer evening, the product identification information and the customer A step of counting product identification information by customer identification information based on the identification information;

At the computer evening, a procedure for instructing each customer to accumulate the products that he / she wants to take home based on the product identification information aggregated by customer identification information.

A recording medium characterized by recording a computer program including the following.