JP3506664B2 - Customer information collection and management method using mobile information terminals - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a customer information collection and management system and a customer information collection and management method using the same, and in particular, a sales representative (typically a seller) who visits a customer for visits, deliveries and the like. The present invention relates to a customer information collection and management system that collects information about the customer during a transaction with the customer and manages the information, and a customer information collection and management method using the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Point-of-sale information management system (so-called PO
S system), the seller uses a register device installed in the store to read the bar code symbol attached to the product with a bar code reader and settles the amount of money, instead of inputting the amount of money of the product with a numeric keypad. . On the other hand, the register device records information such as a product and its sale date and time by reading the bar code symbol, and the center terminal device collects and aggregates and analyzes the information recorded by the register device and displays the result. Output as a report. As a result, the seller can grasp the sales quantity of the product, the sales tendency, and the like.

[0003] On the other hand, it is known that the seller goes to each home of the customer (consumer) and directly sells the product handled by himself / herself by visiting / delivery. In such a sales form, the seller has to go to each home, but since the seller can directly communicate with the customer, there is an advantage that the customer can be provided with detailed service.

[0004]

As described above, the conventional POS system is premised on store sales in which a large-sized register device is fixedly installed at the sales floor, and therefore the conventional POS system can be directly visited. It was virtually impossible to introduce it into delivery sales.

Therefore, in home-visit / delivery sales, a system for efficiently collecting customer information has not been provided although the seller can directly contact the customer, so that the customer information at the time of sale is effectively used. I couldn't.

[0006] Therefore, the present invention is a system for collecting information about sales of a customer when a seller such as a door-to-door / delivery sales visits the customer, and customer information using this system. The purpose is to provide a collection management method.

Further, the present invention provides a system by which a seller who actually operates can collect customer information by a simple operation without remembering a troublesome operation, and a customer information collection management method using this system. With the goal.

[0008]

The first gist of the present invention is as follows.
The mobile information terminal typified by the mobile phone is controlled only by the so-called bar code reading operation of the seller, and the customer's sales information is transmitted to the server system on the Internet connected via wireless communication, and this is stored in the database. It is to collect and manage customer information by registering.

The second aspect of the present invention is to control a portable information terminal typified by a portable telephone only by a so-called bar code reading operation of a seller and connect to the server on the Internet via wireless communication. To refer to the sales information of customers registered in the system.

That is, the present invention is based on the Internet.
The process for communication connection to the server system is assigned.
When a seller carrying a portable information terminal having a predetermined function button is handed over to a customer, the portable information terminal is provided.
Read the specified bar code symbol provided on the bar code sheet using the bar code reader connected to the
Sales information collected in the, a customer information collection management method for managing sales information the collection, for customers second bar code symbol indicating identification information for identifying said customer unique is provided The card is distributed in advance, the first bar code symbol provided on the bar code sheet, the second bar code symbol provided on the customer card distributed, and the bar code sheet provided on the bar code sheet. and the third and the bar code symbol, the bar code using the reader to read the merchant, the first bar code the predetermined machine on the basis of the signal corresponding to the symbol
Behavior equivalent to when the Noh button is operated
Wherein by controlling a portable information terminal, before the portable information terminal
The communication system is connected to the server system, and the identification information represented by the signal corresponding to the second barcode symbol is transmitted to the server system based on the signal corresponding to the third barcode symbol. This is a method of collecting and managing customer information.

The present invention is also a server on the Internet.
Assigned to connect to the communication system
Mobile phone with predetermined operation buttons including predetermined function buttons
Merchant to carry the information terminal, collects sales information when delivering customer products, a customer information collection management method for managing sales information the collection, the first bar code symbol, the portable information The step of reading the barcode with a bar code reader connected through an external interface of the terminal and inputting it to the portable information terminal as a first signal, and the predetermined function button is operated based on the first signal.
Controlling the portable information terminal so that the portable information terminal behaves in a manner equivalent to that when the portable information terminal is operated, and the second barcode symbol is read by the barcode reader to obtain the portable information. Based on the third signal, inputting into the terminal as the second signal, reading the third barcode symbol with the barcode reader, and inputting into the portable information terminal as the third signal, , The predetermined operation button is operated
The portable information terminal to behave as if it were
And transmitting identification information based on the second signal to the server system, the customer information collecting and managing method.

Further, the present invention further comprises the step of reading a fourth bar code symbol with the bar code reader and inputting the fourth bar code symbol to the portable information terminal as a fourth signal, based on the third signal. , The sales quantity information based on the fourth signal is transmitted to the server system together with the identification information based on the second signal.

Further, according to the present invention, when the first bar code symbol includes information indicating registration of sales information, customer information based on the identification information and the sales quantity information transmitted from the portable information terminal is displayed. And a step of registering in a database.

Further, according to the present invention, when the first bar code symbol includes information indicating a reference of sales information history, the customer information registered in the database is transmitted to the portable information terminal connected by communication. And a step of:

The present invention may further comprise the step of creating a predetermined report based on the database and outputting the created predetermined report.

In the present invention, the seller sells the product to the customer.
Enter the sales information using the barcode sheet when handing over
The information input device is an external input device.
Server system on the Internet
System and the external interface
Interface connected to the portable information terminal via an interface
The barcode reader is configured to include a code reader.
Is the bar code label on the bar code sheet.
Read the symbol and correspond to the barcode symbol.
To be able to input signals to the personal digital assistant
The mobile information terminal is configured,In the server system
Predetermined function buttons assigned with processing for communication connection
Equipped with a tongue,The input signal,The predetermined function
TanTreated as a signal equivalent to the signal based on the operationWhat
Communication connection to the server systemSo that you can
The information input device is characterized in thatAh
It

The present invention is also a server on the Internet.
Assigned to connect to the communication system
A bar code sheet consisting of a customer card provided with a bar code symbol to be read by a bar code reader connected to a portable information terminal having a predetermined function button and an input sheet, wherein the customer card is the bar code A second barcode symbol that is input as a second signal to the portable information terminal and is recognized as identification information when read by the code reader, and the input sheet is read by the barcode reader to the inputted to the portable information terminal as the first signal, prior to
An action equivalent to when the specified function button is operated is shaken.
A first bar code symbol for controlling the portable information terminal so that the mobile information terminal behaves in a manner to be communicatively connected to the server system; and when read by the bar code reader,
And a third barcode symbol which is input to the portable information terminal as a third signal and causes the server system to transmit identification information based on the second signal. Is.

[0018]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a system for realizing a customer information collection / management method according to this embodiment.
This system is carried by a seller (hereinafter referred to as a "seller") in the form of visit / delivery, etc. when he / she visits each home of the customer, and is connected to the mobile phone 11 used at the visit destination and the Internet. And a server system 12. A bar code reader 13 for reading a bar code symbol is connected to the mobile phone 11 via an external interface to form an information input device.
A database 14 is connected to the server system 12.

The mobile phone 11 can be connected to a packet communication network by wireless communication, and further, the gateway 1
It is equipped with a function to connect to the Internet via 5. That is, the mobile phone 11 connected to the packet communication network can connect to the server system 12 on the Internet via the gateway 15 and exchange predetermined information with each other.

FIG. 2 shows a mobile phone 11 according to this embodiment.
It is a figure which shows the external appearance. As shown in the figure, the operation surface side of the mobile phone 11 is provided with an operation unit 21, a display unit 22, a reception unit 23 for a call, and a transmission unit 24. An external interface 25 that can be connected to an external device is provided on the lower side surface of the mobile phone 11. In addition to dial buttons, the operation unit 21 is provided with various function buttons. Among various function buttons, the Internet connection button 21a is for connecting the mobile phone 11 to a website on the Internet. The display unit 22 displays various information for prompting the user to perform an interactive operation and various information input from the operation button 21, and when the mobile phone 11 is connected to the Internet, the display unit 22 sends the information from the website. The content that can be displayed. The external interface 25 is for exchanging data with an external device,
In this embodiment, the barcode reader 13 is used as the external device.
Are connected.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view for explaining the bar code reader 13 according to this embodiment. The barcode reader has LED31, LED as an illumination light source inside thereof.
A lens 32 for receiving the light emitted from 31 and reflected by the barcode symbol BS, a CCD sensor 33 for converting the light received by the lens 32 into an electric signal, and CC
The electric signal converted by the D sensor 33 is connected to the device (that is, the mobile phone 1) connected to the barcode reader 13.
A decoder 34 for converting the signal format (data) that can be received by 1) is provided. The decoder 34 outputs the converted data in a serial format. The bar code reader 13 is typically of a touch type, but may be of a pen type instead of a particular type.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram for explaining the functional configuration of the information input device according to this embodiment. As shown in the figure, the information input device is composed of a mobile phone 11 and a barcode reader 13 which are connected via an external interface 25. The reading means 41 reads the barcode symbol and inputs the electric signal corresponding to the barcode symbol to the decoding means 42. The decoding means 42 converts the input electric signal into data that meets the interface conditions of the mobile phone 11, and inputs the data to the main control means 43 via the external interface 25. When the main control unit 43 receives data input via the external interface 25, the main control unit 43 controls various operations according to the data. For example, when the main control unit 43 receives data corresponding to the operation on the Internet connection button 21a via the external interface 25, the main control unit 43 performs a process for connecting to the Internet via the transmission / reception unit 47. The input means 44
Is for inputting an operation signal corresponding to an operation on the operation button 21 to the main control means 43, and the display means 4
Reference numeral 5 is for displaying various information under the control of the main control means 43. Under the control of the main control means 43, the call means 46 is for realizing a call by converting voice into an internal signal and converting the internal signal into voice.

In this embodiment, when the main control means 43 receives predetermined serial data from the bar code reader 13, the main control means 43 behaves in a manner equivalent to that when a predetermined operation button of the input means 44 is operated. Has been done. For example, if the mobile phone 11 uses serial data “100110
When 10 ”is accepted, it is considered that the operation button“ 0 ”has been operated. In other words, the barcode symbol used in this embodiment includes information corresponding to the operation on the operation button of the mobile phone 11. Such a bar code symbol is printed on a medium such as a bar code sheet and is used by the seller .. As the bar code symbol, various code systems can be used.

5 and 6 are views showing an example of the bar code sheet according to the present embodiment. The bar code sheet is prepared as a sheet classified by the processing unit that the seller should perform in order to collect information about sales etc. at the visiting place. For example, the barcode sheet shown in FIG. 5 is used when the seller actually delivers the product to the customer, and in the barcode sheet shown in FIG. 6, the seller refers to the past sales history information of the customer. Used when Each barcode sheet is provided with a barcode symbol for each procedure item column of the operation performed for each such processing unit,
The bar code reader 13 is urged to be read by the seller. That is, when the seller actually delivers the merchandise to the customer (sales information input processing), the seller selects the bar code sheet shown in FIG. 5, and selects the processing selection column 51, the member number column 52, the sales quantity column 53, The barcode symbol provided in the transmission / cancellation column 54 is displayed on the barcode reader 13
Are read in order by. Further, when referring to the past sales history information of the customer (sales history information reference processing), the seller selects the bar code sheet shown in FIG. 6, and selects the processing selection field 61, the member number field 62 and the transmission. / The barcode symbol provided in the cancellation column 63 is sequentially read by the barcode reader 13. For the bar code symbol provided in the process selection field, for example, in the case of the sales information input process, the Internet connection button is pressed, and the bookmark (that is, the URL or the like) for browsing the sales information input content on the server system 12 is displayed. In order to select, the arrow button is pressed a predetermined number of times, and the execute button is pressed.
1 contains the information to operate.

In this example, the bar code symbol in the member number column is read on the bar code symbol provided on the customer card as shown in FIG. 7 (a).
The customer card is provided with a bar code symbol indicating identification information for uniquely identifying the customer, and the customer card is distributed in advance or at the time of the first visit. However, in some cases, the customer may lose or cannot present the distributed customer card.
It is preferable to prepare a seller's card corresponding to the customer card as shown in (b).

Next, a specific example of the customer information collection management method according to this embodiment will be described.

The seller carries the mobile phone 11 as an information input device, the bar code reader 13 and the bar code sheet, and visits the customer's home. The seller is
When selling the product to the customer, the bar code sheet shown in FIG. 5 is taken out, and the bar code reader 13 connected to the mobile phone 11 sequentially reads the bar code symbols.

That is, when the seller performs a reading operation on the bar code symbol in the process selection field (see FIG. 8).
(1)), the mobile phone 11 connects to the server system 12 via the Internet and transmits a request for sales information input content data to the server system 12 (in the figure).
(2)). In response to this, the server system 12 reads the sales information input content designated by the URL from a file server (not shown) and sends it to the mobile phone 11 ((3) and (4) in the figure). In response to this, the mobile phone 11 displays the sales information input content on the display unit 22 (in the figure).
(Five)). FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of the sales information input screen. In this state, the fields for entering the membership number and quantity are blank. Next, when the seller requests the customer to present the customer card and performs a reading operation on the bar code symbol of the presented customer card, the mobile phone 11
Performs an operation equivalent to the operation of a numeric button with a dial button, and displays a multi-digit membership number entered in the membership number input field on the screen ((6) in the figure).
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a state in which the member number is input on the sales information input screen. The seller subsequently reads the bar code symbol corresponding to the sales quantity provided in the sales quantity column of the bar code sheet, and the mobile phone 11 operates as if the numeric buttons were operated by the dial buttons. And the sales quantity entered in the quantity / status field on the screen is displayed ((7) in the figure). Figure 1
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a state in which the quantity / status is input on the sales information input screen. In the sales quantity column, when the numbers 996 to 999 are input, it is considered that the visit status is one of sample presentation, sample reception refusal, non-purchase and absence. When the seller finishes inputting the sales quantity and the like, he / she finally performs a barcode symbol reading operation of either transmission or cancellation in the transmission / cancellation column ((8) in the figure). When the seller scans the transmitted bar code symbol, the mobile phone 11
Transmits the member number and the sales quantity input so far to the server system 12 ((9) in the figure). The server system 12 receives the data including the member number and the sales quantity from the mobile phone 11, and stores them in the database 14
Register with ((10) in the figure). Note that when the seller performs the operation of reading the cancel barcode symbol, the mobile phone 11
Performs the same operation as when the cancel button is operated, and clears the information entered so far. Therefore, if the information entered by the seller is incorrect, the operation can be redone by reading the cancel barcode symbol.

As a result, the seller can easily input the sales information at the visited site. In particular, according to the present embodiment, the mobile phone 11 and the bar code reader 13 and the bar code sheet classified by the processing unit to be performed by the seller are used to input the sales information. The server system 12 on the Internet saves the trouble of operating the operation buttons of
You will be able to easily send information to.

FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining the database 14 according to this embodiment. The database 14 is
Customer information is managed for each membership number. That is, the customer information includes a member number, name, address, telephone number, and sales information transmitted from the mobile phone 11. As the sales information, for example, the date and time when the information is transmitted from the mobile phone 11 and the sales quantity are associated with each other. In addition, when the sales quantity is 996 to 999, a visit situation other than sales is shown.

The server system 12, for example, collects the data registered in the database 14 on the first day of every month, performs processing such as marketing analysis, and outputs the result as a monthly report.

As a result, the seller can efficiently collect the sales information collected by the seller at the time of visiting / delivery sales, and manage this as the customer information in the database 14, so that the marketing analysis or the like can be performed. It can be used for various purposes.

On the other hand, when the seller wants to refer to the history information of past sales to the customer, he takes out the bar code sheet shown in FIG. Bar code symbols are read in sequence by 13.

That is, when the seller performs a reading operation on the bar code symbol in the processing selection field (see FIG. 13).
(1)), the mobile phone 11 connects to the server system 12 via the Internet, and sends a request for sales history reference content data to the server system 12 (in the figure).
(2)). In response to this, the server system 12 reads the sales history reference content designated by the URL from a file server (not shown) and transmits it to the mobile phone 11 ((3) and (4) in the figure). In response to this, the mobile phone 11 displays the sales history reference content on the display unit 22 (in the figure).
(Five)). Next, the seller takes out the card for the sales visitor of the customer who wants to refer to the sales history information, and performs a reading operation for the barcode symbol (in the figure).
(6)). Then, the seller finally performs the operation of reading the barcode symbol for either transmission or cancellation in the transmission / cancellation column ((8) in the figure). When the seller reads the transmitted barcode symbol, the mobile phone 11 transmits a search request including the entered membership number to the server system 12 ((9) in the figure). Upon receiving this, the server system 12 searches the database 14 using the membership number as a search key ((9) in the figure) and sends the search result to the mobile phone 11 ((10) in the figure). In response to this, the mobile phone 11 displays the sales history information of the customer on the display unit 22 (in the figure).
(11)). As a result, the seller can easily refer to the sales history information of the customer on the go.

In the above example, only the sales history information is referred to, but at the time of sale, points are calculated according to the purchase price and registered in the database 14, and the points are referred to at the time of sale. By doing so, a privilege (for example, discount service) corresponding to the points may be given to the customer.

The above embodiment is an example for explaining the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. The present invention can be implemented in various forms without departing from the gist thereof.

In the above embodiment, the visiting / delivery sale is described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be applied to the case where a courier service is used to deliver a courier in logistics, or to carry out storage / inventory / inventory management in a warehouse, and is also applied to a cash collector to collect cash etc. be able to. Further, the present invention can be applied by a farmer or the like when planting or shipping.

In this specification, the term "means" does not simply mean physical means, but also includes the case where the functions of the means are realized by software. Further, the function of one means may be realized by two or more physical means, or the functions of two or more means may be realized by one physical means.

[0040]

According to the present invention, it becomes possible to collect and manage customer information from a seller's visited place. In particular, according to the present invention, it is not necessary for the seller to learn the troublesome button operation, and the operation is extremely simple. Therefore, even when a large number of sellers are used to go to a customer and sell, the door-to-door sales are performed. Education costs for people can be kept extremely low, and without being shunned by sellers,
As a result, it becomes possible to solve the problem that it has been difficult to collect sales information at the time of visiting / delivery sales.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a system that realizes a customer information collection management method according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an appearance of a mobile phone according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram for explaining a barcode reader according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram for explaining the functional configuration of the information input device according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a barcode sheet according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a barcode sheet according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a customer card according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a sequence diagram for explaining an operation during a sales information input process according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a sales information input screen according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a state in which a membership number is input on a sales information input screen.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a state in which a sales quantity is input on a sales information input screen.

FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining a database according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a sequence diagram for explaining an operation during a sales history information reference process according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 ... Mobile phone 12 ... Server system 13 ... Bar code reader 14 ... Database 15 ... Gateway

Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ identification code FI G07G 1/12 341 G07G 1/12 341B (56) References JP-A-3-59797 (JP, A) JP-A-2-132553 (JP, JP, A) Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 8-55281 (JP, A) Actual Development Sho 58-5126 (JP, U) Actual Development 1-7364 (JP, U) Special Table 2000-500939 (JP, A) (58) Field (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G07G 1/00-1/14 G06F 17/40 G06F 17/60

Claims (8)

(57) [Claims] 1. Communication to a server system on the Internet
Predetermined function button that is assigned a process to connect
A seller carrying a mobile information terminal equipped with a bar code connected to the mobile information terminal when delivering a product to a customer.
Use a reader to scan the specified barcode on the barcode sheet .
A customer information collecting and managing method for collecting sales information by reading a bar code symbol and managing the collected sales information, wherein a second bar code symbol indicating identification information for uniquely identifying the customer is provided. The provided customer card is distributed in advance, and the first bar code symbol provided on the bar code sheet, the second bar code symbol provided on the distributed customer card, and the bar and a third bar code symbol provided on the code sheet, the bar code using the reader to read the merchant, wherein the predetermined function button based on the corresponding signal to the first bar code symbol manipulation Equivalent to when
Wherein by controlling a portable information terminal to behave, said portable information terminal and communication connection to the server system, the identification information indicated by a signal corresponding to the second barcode symbol, the third barcode A method for collecting and managing customer information, characterized by transmitting to the server system based on a signal corresponding to a symbol. 2. Communication to a server system on the Internet
Predetermined function button that is assigned a process to connect
Carry a mobile information terminal equipped with predetermined operation buttons including
That seller collects sales information when delivering customer products, a customer information collection management method for managing sales information the collection, the first bar code symbol, the external interface of the portable information terminal Reading with a bar code reader connected via a mobile phone and inputting it as a first signal to the portable information terminal; and, based on the first signal, the predetermined function button is operated.
Controlling the portable information terminal so that the portable information terminal behaves in a manner equivalent to that when the portable information terminal is produced, and making a communication connection with a server system on the Internet; and reading a second bar code symbol by the bar code reader, Inputting a second signal to the information terminal, reading a third barcode symbol with the barcode reader, and inputting the third barcode symbol to the portable information terminal as a third signal, and based on the third signal The specified operation button
The mobile information terminal behaves in the same way as when
Controlling the end of the transmission and transmitting the identification information based on the second signal to the server system. 3. The method further comprises the step of reading a fourth bar code symbol with the bar code reader and inputting the fourth bar code symbol to the portable information terminal as a fourth signal, based on the third signal. 3. The method for collecting and managing customer information according to claim 2, wherein the sales quantity information based on the fourth signal is transmitted to the server system together with the identification information based on the signal. 4. When the first bar code symbol includes information indicating registration of sales information, customer information based on the identification information and the sales quantity information transmitted from the portable information terminal is registered in a database. The method for collecting and managing customer information according to claim 3, further comprising: 5. When the first bar code symbol includes information indicating a reference to sales information history, the customer information registered in the database is transmitted to the communication-connected portable information terminal. The customer information collection and management method according to claim 3, further comprising: 6. The method for collecting and managing customer information according to claim 4, further comprising the step of creating a predetermined report based on the database and outputting the created predetermined report. 7. The barco is used when the seller delivers the product to the customer.
With an information input device that inputs sales information using a security sheet
There The information input device, It has an external interface and is a server on the Internet.
Mobile information terminal capable of communication connection to the mobile system, To the portable information terminal via the external interface
It is configured to include a connected bar code reader, The barcode reader is Bar code symbol provided on the bar code sheet
Scan the signal corresponding to the barcode symbol
It is configured so that it can be input to the portable information terminal.
And The portable information terminal,The process for communication connection to the server system is assigned
Equipped with predetermined function buttons, The input signal,The predetermined function buttonAgainst
Treated as a signal equivalent to the signal based on the operationThat server
Connect to the systemConfigured to be able to
Information input device characterized by being. 8. Communication to a server system on the Internet
Predetermined function button that is assigned a process to connect
A bar code sheet comprising a customer card provided with a bar code symbol to be read by a bar code reader connected to a mobile information terminal and an input sheet, wherein the customer card is read by the bar code reader. A second bar code symbol, which is input as a second signal to the portable information terminal and is recognized as identification information, and the input sheet is the portable terminal when read by the bar code reader. The first signal is input to the information terminal, and the predetermined signal is input .
Behavior equivalent to when the function button is operated
As described above, a first bar code symbol for controlling the mobile information terminal to make a communication connection with the server system and, when read by the bar code reader, input as a third signal to the mobile information terminal, And a third barcode symbol that causes the server system to transmit identification information based on the second signal.