JP7795940B2 - Order management device, order management system and program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an order management device, an order management system, and a program.

Traditionally, there is a sales model in which customers pick up pre-ordered products (such as food and beverages) at a locker. There is a certain need for locker pickup when the store is crowded or when customers do not want to face the seller.

Patent Document 1 discloses a delivery system locker that includes a dedicated storage box for cooking items in addition to storage boxes for general items, and is equipped with an induction heating (IH) food warming/heating device and/or a cooling device that utilizes a Peltier element. The box lockers are installed in locations with high foot traffic, such as train stations and bus terminals, and are equipped with an operating device that has a display screen, computer functionality, and an IC card reader function, allowing the box locker to be opened by operating the device.

Patent Document 2 also discloses a storage locker selection method in a product sales system in which products ordered by a customer are delivered to the customer via the storage locker, the storage locker selection method comprising the steps of accepting an order menu from the customer, determining the quantity and/or size of the products included in the order menu, determining storage conditions for the determined quantity and/or size of the products, selecting a storage locker that can store the products that meet the determined storage conditions, and storing the products included in the order menu in the selected storage locker and then locking it.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-240405 JP 2010-176607 A

In the above sales format, customers specify a time to pick up their products at a locker, but there are times when they are late in receiving their products due to various circumstances. If the product is food, late collection can cause problems such as hot drinks cooling down or fresh food spoiling. Furthermore, because lockers are usually not under human supervision, some customers are concerned about the hygiene involved in handing over food at lockers. Therefore, when handing over food in the above sales format, it is necessary to maintain the freshness of the food.

The present invention was developed in consideration of the above circumstances, and its object is to provide an order management device, order management system, and program that can maintain the freshness of food products even when they are picked up from a locker.

To achieve the above objective, the order management device disclosed herein is an order management device that manages orders from customers and includes: a reception unit that, upon receiving an order request from a customer requesting that a product purchased from a store be picked up at a locker on a specified date and time, sets a first available pickup time for the product, reserves a locker corresponding to the product, sends an order completion notification including the first available pickup time to the customer, and sends an order registration request to the store; and a correction unit that corrects the first available pickup time for the product based on at least outside temperature information about the locker to calculate a second available pickup time, resets the second available pickup time for the product, and sends a notification to the customer and the store that the available pickup time including the second available pickup time has been changed; and, if the second available pickup time is the same as the first available pickup time, sends a notification to the customer that the available pickup time including the second available pickup time will not be changed.

This invention has the advantage of being able to maintain the freshness of food products even when they are picked up from a locker.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an order management system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an electrical configuration of an order management device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an electrical configuration of a customer terminal according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 1 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of an outline of a processing procedure of an order management system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure for an "order receiving process" according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure of the "locker reservation process" of FIG. 5. (A) to (C) are diagrams showing an example of locker reservation status. 10 is a chart showing an example of time zone classification by season. 10 is a chart showing an example of a calculation standard for standard available receiving time. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of an email sent to a customer when an order is received. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of an order information management table for managing order information. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure for a "receivable time correction process" according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 12 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing procedure of the "receivable time change processing" of FIG. 11; FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of an email sent to a customer on the product receiving date. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing another example of an email sent to a customer on the product receiving date. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure of a "response process" according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of an email sent to a customer when cooking is completed. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of an email sent to a customer when an item is stored in a locker. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of an email sent to a customer when product reception is completed. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure of a "receive monitoring process" according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 21 is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure of the "warning process" in FIG. 20; 21 is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure of the "product removal process" of FIG. 20. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the order management device.

An example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

<System Configuration>
The order management system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is a system that manages orders in accordance with a sales format in which customers receive pre-ordered products (e.g., food and beverages) at a locker.

First, the configuration of an order management system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the order management system 100 comprises an order management device 10 that manages orders from customers P, and a locker management system 20 that manages the availability of lockers 22 and accepts reservations for the lockers 22. The order management device 10 and locker management system 20 are deployed on the cloud. The order management device 10 is communicatively connected to the locker management system 20, a customer terminal device 30 used by customers P, and a store terminal device 40 used by the store via a network N such as the Internet, and exchanges information via the network N.

In this embodiment, three types of lockers 22 are provided: room temperature lockers, refrigerated lockers, and warm lockers. For example, refrigerated products are stored in refrigerated lockers, and warm products are stored in warm lockers. Lockers 22 are also equipped with storage sensors (not shown) that detect locking and unlocking of the lockers and detect the storage or removal of products. The locker management system 20 uses these storage sensors to detect the storage or removal of products and reflects this in the availability status of the lockers 22.

The lockers 22 may also be equipped with a temperature sensor (not shown) that detects the temperature inside the locker and a temperature sensor (not shown) that detects the air temperature outside the locker 22. The locker management system 20 can obtain the temperature inside the locker and the air temperature outside the locker using these temperature sensors (not shown).

In the illustrated example, the order management device 10 and the locker management system 20 are shown as separate devices, but the order management device 10 may also have the functions of the locker management system 20. Also, while one locker management system 20, one customer terminal device 30, and one store terminal device 40 are illustrated, there may be multiple of each device. Alternatively, the lockers 22 may be managed by the store, and the store terminal device 40 used by the store may have the functions of the locker management system 20.

(Electrical configuration of the order management device)
Here, the electrical configuration of the order management system 10 will be described with reference to FIG.
The order management device 10 includes an information processing unit 12, a communication unit 14, and a storage unit 16. The information processing unit 12 is an information processing device such as a server computer, and controls the entire device and performs various calculations. The information processing unit 12 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 12A, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 12B, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 12C, a non-volatile memory 12D, and an input/output (I/O) unit 12E.

The CPU 12A, ROM 12B, RAM 12C, memory 12D, and I/O 12E are connected to each other via bus 12F. The CPU 12A reads programs stored in the storage device and executes the programs using the RAM 12C as a work area.

The communication unit 14 and memory unit 16 are connected to the information processing unit 12 via I/O 12E. The communication unit 14 is an interface for communicating with external devices via wired or wireless communication lines. The communication unit 14 functions as an interface for communicating with external devices such as other computers connected to a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network) or the Internet.

The memory unit 16 is a storage device such as a hard disk. The memory unit 16 stores various programs 18, various data 19 such as log data, etc. In this embodiment, the memory unit 16 stores programs for executing the "order reception process," "receiveable time correction process," "response process," and "receive monitoring process," which will be described later.

(Electrical configuration of terminal device)
The terminal device 30 may be a fixed terminal device such as a personal computer, or a portable terminal device such as a smartphone or tablet. The electrical configuration of the customer terminal device 30 used by the customer P will now be described with reference to FIG. 3 . The customer terminal device 30 includes an information processing unit 32, which is an information processing device such as a computer. The information processing unit 32 includes a CPU 32A, a ROM 32B, a RAM 32C, a non-volatile memory 32D, and an I/O 32E. The CPU 32A, the ROM 32B, the RAM 32C, the memory 32D, and the I/O 32E are all connected via a bus 32F. The CPU 32A reads a program stored in a storage device and executes the program using the RAM 32C as a work area.

Connected to the I/O 32E are a display unit 34 such as a display, an input unit 36 such as a keyboard, mouse, or touch input device, a communication unit 38, and a memory unit 39. The communication unit 38 is a communication interface (I/F) for connecting to a communication line. For example, the communication unit 38 receives emails from the order management device 10. The memory unit 39 is an external storage device such as a hard disk.

The locker management system 20 has a similar configuration to the order management device 10, so its explanation will be omitted. Also, the store terminal device 40 used by the store has a similar configuration to the customer terminal device 30 used by customer P, so its explanation will be omitted.

<The process from ordering to receiving your product>
Next, we will briefly explain the flow from ordering to receiving the product with reference to Figure 4. Here, the customer selects locker pickup as the receiving method, specifies the date and time of pickup, and purchases the product from the desired store. It is also possible to receive the product on the day of ordering, but here we will explain the case where a pre-order is received by the day before.

First, the order management device 10 accepts an order from a customer (step S1). If locker pickup is selected, the order management device 10 then requests a locker reservation from the locker management system 20 (step S2). In response to the locker reservation request, the locker management system 20 notifies the customer whether the reservation can be accepted (step S3). As will be described later, if there are no lockers available on the specified date and time, the customer will not be able to pick up the item from the locker on the desired date and time, and will have to change the pickup date and time or pickup method.

If the locker reservation is successful, the order management device 10 then requests the store to register the order (step S4). The store terminal device 40 registers the order in response to the registration request, and although not shown, returns a response to the order management device 10 indicating that registration has been completed. The order management device 10 notifies the customer that the locker reservation has been completed, i.e., that the order has been completed (step S5). This notification also notifies the customer of the available pickup time at which the product can be picked up. The available pickup time notified here is called the "standard pickup time."

When the product pickup date specified by the customer arrives, the order management device 10 reviews the available pickup time. For example, if the outside temperature is high, the available pickup time is shortened, and if the outside temperature is low, the available pickup time is extended. If the review of the available pickup time results in a change to the locker reservation time, the order management device 10 requests the locker management system 20 to change the locker reservation (step S6). In response to the reservation change request, the locker management system 20 notifies the user whether the change is possible (step S7).

If the locker reservation time can be changed, the order management device 10 changes the available pickup time. However, if the locker reservation time cannot be changed, the order management device 10 does not change the available pickup time. If the available pickup time is changed, the order management device 10 then requests the store to re-register the order, i.e., register the changed available pickup time (step S8). When the store terminal device 40 registers the change in available pickup time in response to the re-registration request, it returns a response to the order management device 10 indicating that registration has been completed (not shown). The order management device 10 notifies the customer that the available pickup time has been changed (step S9). At this time, pickup information (for example, a QR code (registered trademark), etc.) for receiving the product is also distributed to the customer.

When the order management device 10 receives a cooking completion notification from the store (step S10), it notifies the customer that cooking is complete (step S11). When the locker management system 20 detects that the product has been stored in the locker 22 (step S12), it notifies the order management device 10 that the product has been stored (step S13). When the order management device 10 receives a product storage notification from the locker management system 20, it notifies the customer that the product has been stored (step S14).

After the product has been stored in the locker 22, the locker management system 20 periodically checks whether the product has been received and notifies the order management device 10 of the confirmation result (i.e., whether the product has been received or not) (step S15). When the order management device 10 receives the notification of receipt completion,
The customer is notified that the receipt has been completed (step S16). The order management system 10 also periodically notifies the store that the receipt has been completed or not (step S17).

Although not shown in the figure, the order management device 10 may issue a warning to the customer and the store before the pickup time has elapsed to encourage them to pick up the product. Furthermore, after the pickup time has elapsed, the order management device 10 may request the store to remove the product from the locker 22 and notify the customer that they will now pick up the product at the store.

<Program>
The processing procedure of the program that executes the processing at each stage of order management will be explained below.

(Order acceptance processing)
First, the "order reception process" will be described.
5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the procedure of the "order receiving process" according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The program for executing the "order receiving process" is executed by the CPU 12A of the order management device 10 when an order is input from a customer.

First, in step S100, the CPU 12A acquires customer input information. For example, the customer input information may include customer information (e.g., name, contact information, etc.), store information (e.g., name, contact information, etc.), product information (e.g., product name, quantity, etc.), designated pickup date and time, and pickup method (e.g., locker pickup/store pickup).

Next, in step S102, the CPU 12A determines whether the pickup method is locker pickup. If it is locker pickup, the process proceeds to step S104; if it is in-store pickup, the process proceeds to step S108. In the following step S104, the CPU 12A executes locker reservation processing.

Here, the procedure for the "locker reservation process" will be described with reference to FIG.
First, the type of locker to reserve is determined based on the menu items included in the ordered items. In step S200, the CPU 12A determines whether the ordered items include only kept-warm items. If the ordered items include only kept-warm items, then in step S202, the CPU 12A determines to reserve a kept-warm locker. If the ordered items include other items, the process proceeds to step S204.

Next, in step S204, the CPU 12A determines whether the ordered items include only refrigerated items. If the ordered items include only refrigerated items, then in step S206, the CPU 12A decides to reserve a refrigerated locker. If the ordered items include other items, the process proceeds to step S208. Next, in step S208, the CPU 12A decides to reserve a room-temperature locker.

Next, in step S210, the CPU 12A determines whether the desired locker is available, i.e., whether the locker has been successfully reserved. The CPU 12A requests a locker reservation from the locker management system 20, and is notified by the locker management system 20 whether the reservation has been accepted. If the desired locker is available, it can be reserved. If the desired locker is available, the process proceeds to step S212; if the desired locker is not available, the process proceeds to step S216.

If the desired locker is available, then in step S212, the CPU 12A sets the standard pickup time. Next, in step S214, the CPU 12A notifies the customer that the reservation is complete and ends the routine. On the other hand, if the desired locker is not available, then in step S216, the CPU 12A notifies the customer that there are no available lockers and ends the routine.

Let's take the example of reserving a room-temperature locker from 19:00 to 20:00 on January 15, 2022, and explain how to reserve a locker in detail. The locker management system 20 manages the locker reservation status for each locker type in a table, as shown in Figures 7(A) to 7(C). Looking at the room-temperature locker reservation status in Figure 7(A), locker B is available from 19:00 to 20:00, so the locker management system 20 will allow the reservation.

-Setting standard pick-up times-
Here, the setting of the "standard receiving time" will be explained.
The "standard available pick-up time" is the available pick-up time obtained by correcting the preset "standard available pick-up time" with a correction value according to the season and time of day of pick-up. Because the degree to which the outside temperature and room temperature are affected varies depending on the time of day, the available pick-up time is corrected in three stages: morning, afternoon, and night. For this reason, we will first explain the definitions of the time periods for each season and the correction values.

As shown in Figure 8, the morning, daytime, and nighttime hours vary depending on the season. In spring (March to May), the morning hours are 6:00 to 9:00, the daytime hours are 9:00 to 19:00, and the nighttime hours are 19:00 to 6:00. In summer (June to August), the morning hours are 5:00 to 9:00, the daytime hours are 9:00 to 20:00, and the nighttime hours are 20:00 to 5:00. In autumn (September to November), the morning hours are 6:00 to 9:00, the daytime hours are 9:00 to 19:00, and the nighttime hours are 19:00 to 6:00. In winter (December to February), the morning hours are 7:00 to 10:00, the daytime hours are 10:00 to 18:00, and the nighttime hours are 18:00 to 7:00. The time when the evening chimes ring is used as a guide to dividing daytime and nighttime. The divisions between night and morning and morning and daytime will be based on the times when temperature changes are likely to occur.

As shown in Figure 9, correction values for the available pick-up time are preset according to the time period and type of locker. In the example shown, for room temperature lockers, correction values are set as 0 minutes in the morning, -10 minutes in the afternoon, and +10 minutes in the evening; for warm lockers, correction values are set as -10 minutes in the morning, 0 minutes in the afternoon, and -10 minutes in the evening; and for refrigerated lockers, correction values are set as 0 minutes in the morning, -10 minutes in the afternoon, and +10 minutes in the evening.

Note that, in this example, the standard pickup time for a product is assumed to be one hour, so the correction value is set to ±10 minutes, but the correction value may be set arbitrarily. It is preferable to set the correction value in the range of 5 to 30 minutes, for example.

For example, if you want to reserve a room temperature locker from 19:00 on January 15, 2022, the standard available pick-up time is "1 hour," and the standard available pick-up time is "19:00-20:00." In this example, the season is "winter," the time period is "night," and the locker type is "room temperature locker," so the correction value is "+10 minutes," the available pick-up time is extended by 10 minutes, and the standard available pick-up time is "19:00-20:10." For convenience of explanation, an example of reserving a locker from 19:00-20:00 has been explained, but when processing the locker reservation, the locker is reserved using the standard available pick-up time.

As described above, in step S214, the customer is notified that their reservation is complete. The reservation completion notification may be sent by email. For example, as shown in FIG. 10, the reservation completion notification sent by email will include standard phrases such as "Dear Mr./Ms. XX, thank you for your order." and "We have received your order. We will send you the locker number in an email on the same day.", as well as the order details (pickup number, order number, ordering store, pickup date and time, pickup method). The pickup date and time will be set to 19:00, and the standard pickup time (e.g., 19:00-20:10) will be set as the pickup time.

Now, returning to the explanation of Figure 5, next, in step S106, the CPU 12A determines whether the locker reservation was successful. If the locker reservation was successful, the process proceeds to step S108; if the locker reservation was unsuccessful, the process returns to step S100. As mentioned above, if there are no lockers available on the specified date and time, the customer will need to change the pickup date and time or pickup method. Therefore, the process returns to step S100 to obtain new input information.

Next, in step S108, the CPU 12A controls the communication unit 14 to send an order registration request to the store terminal device 40. The store terminal device 40 registers the order in response to the registration request. Next, in step S110, the CPU 12A stores the order information in a storage device such as the memory unit 16, and ends the routine. Regardless of whether the pickup method is locker pickup or in-store pickup, the order registration request is sent to the store terminal device 40, and the order information is stored in the storage device.

For example, order information may be stored in table format. The order management device 10 can manage all accepted orders in the order information management table shown in FIG. 11. For example, for each order, the order details stored include the order date and time, customer information, store information, product information, specified pickup date and time, set available pickup times, pickup method, and locker information (e.g., locker type, locker number). Once the product has been picked up, the order information is deleted from the order information management table.

By following the steps above, a temperature-controlled locker according to the menu will be automatically selected and reserved.

(Receipt time correction process)
Next, the "receivable time correction process" will be described.
12 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the procedure of the "receiving time correction process" according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The program for executing the "receiving time correction process" is executed by the CPU 12A of the order management device 10 when the product receiving date specified by the customer arrives.

First, in step S300, the CPU 12A extracts order information for locker pickup and for pickup today. For example, by referencing the order information management table shown in FIG. 11, order information for locker pickup and for which the specified pickup date and time is today is extracted. Next, in step S302, the CPU 12A selects one piece of order information. Next, in step S304, the CPU 12A executes a "correction process" to correct the standard pickup time.

Here, the procedure of the "correction process" will be described with reference to FIG.
The temperature inside the locker may be affected by the outside temperature. For this reason, when using room temperature lockers and refrigerated lockers, the pickup time will be shortened on days when the outside temperature is high and extended on days when the outside temperature is low. Also, when using insulated lockers, the pickup time will be extended on days when the outside temperature is high and shortened on days when the outside temperature is low.

First, in step S400, the CPU 12A determines whether a room temperature locker or a refrigerated locker is being used. If a room temperature locker or a refrigerated locker is being used, the process proceeds to step S402; if a warming locker is being used, the process proceeds to step S420.

Next, in step S402, the CPU 12A acquires outside temperature information for the locker. The outside temperature information may be acquired from a temperature sensor (not shown) connected to the locker 22, or from an external site such as a weather forecast. The outside temperature may be the current outside temperature, or a predicted outside temperature for the available pick-up time. Because the outside temperature varies significantly depending on the time of day, using a predicted outside temperature for the available pick-up time allows for more accurate corrections.

Next, in step S404, the CPU 12A determines whether the outside temperature of the locker is above an upper threshold (e.g., above 28°C). If the outside temperature is above the upper threshold, the CPU 12A shortens the pickup time by 10 minutes in the following step S406. If the outside temperature is below the upper threshold, the CPU 12A skips step S406 and proceeds to step S408.

Next, in step S408, the CPU 12A determines whether the outside temperature of the locker is below a lower threshold (for example, below 5°C). If the outside temperature is below the lower threshold, the CPU 12A extends the pickup time by 10 minutes in the following step S410. If the outside temperature is above the lower threshold, the CPU 12A skips step S410 and proceeds to step S412.

Next, in step S412, the CPU 12A determines whether a refrigerated locker is being used. If a refrigerated locker is being used, the routine proceeds to step S414; if a room temperature locker is being used, the routine ends. Next, in step S414, the CPU 12A acquires temperature information inside the locker.

Next, in step S416, the CPU 12A determines whether the refrigerated locker is malfunctioning based on the temperature inside the locker. If the temperature inside the locker is abnormal, it can be determined that the refrigerated locker is malfunctioning, and in the following step S418, the CPU 12A takes measures to deal with the malfunction and terminates the routine. For example, in cooperation with the locker management system 20, it can change the locker in which the product is stored to another locker, or if no other lockers are available, it can store the product in the store. The customer is also notified that such measures have been taken. If the temperature inside the locker is normal, it can be determined that the refrigerated locker is not malfunctioning, and the routine is terminated by skipping step S418.

On the other hand, if an insulated locker is to be used and processing proceeds to step S420, in step S420, the CPU 12A acquires outside temperature information for the locker. Next, in step S422, the CPU 12A determines whether the outside temperature for the locker is equal to or higher than the upper threshold (e.g., 28°C or higher). If the outside temperature is equal to or higher than the upper threshold, in the following step S424, the CPU 12A extends the available pickup time by 10 minutes. If the outside temperature is lower than the upper threshold, step S424 is skipped and processing proceeds to step S426.

Next, in step S426, the CPU 12A determines whether the outside temperature of the locker is below a lower threshold (for example, below 5°C). If the outside temperature is below the lower threshold, the CPU 12A reduces the pickup time by 10 minutes in the following step S428. If the outside temperature is above the lower threshold, step S428 is skipped and the process proceeds to step S430.

Next, in step S430, the CPU 12A acquires temperature information inside the locker. Next, in step S432, the CPU 12A determines whether the insulated locker is malfunctioning based on the temperature inside the locker. If the temperature inside the locker is abnormal, it can be determined that the insulated locker is malfunctioning, and in the following step S434, the CPU 12A takes the malfunction response action similar to step S418 and ends the routine. If the temperature inside the locker is normal, it can be determined that the insulated locker is not malfunctioning, and the routine ends without skipping step S434.

Here, we assume that the product can be picked up within approximately one hour, so the adjustment range is ±10 minutes, but the adjustment range can be set arbitrarily. For example, it is preferable to set the adjustment range within the range of 5 to 30 minutes. Furthermore, when adjusting to extend the pick-up time, you may choose not to extend it, taking into account the freshness of the food being placed in the locker.

Now, returning to the explanation of Figure 12, next in step S306, the CPU 12A determines whether the available pickup time has been changed by the correction process. If the newly calculated available pickup time differs from the standard available pickup time, it determines that the available pickup time has been changed; if the newly calculated available pickup time is the same as the standard available pickup time, it determines that the available pickup time has not been changed. If the available pickup time has been changed, proceed to step S308; if the available pickup time has not been changed, proceed to step S318.

If the available pickup time has changed, in step S308, the CPU 12A attempts to change the locker reservation. The CPU 12A requests the locker management system 20 to change the locker reservation, and is notified by the locker management system 20 whether the change is possible. Even if the reservation time is extended, the reservation can be changed if the desired locker is available.

Next, in step S310, the CPU 12A determines whether the locker reservation was successfully changed. If the locker reservation was successfully changed, the process proceeds to step S308; if the locker reservation was not successfully changed, the process proceeds to step S318.

If the locker reservation can be changed, then in step S312, the CPU 12A controls the communication unit 14 to send a request to re-register the changes to the store terminal device 40. The store terminal device 40 registers the change to the available pickup time in response to the re-registration request.

Next, in step S314, the CPU 12A notifies the customer of the reservation change. This notification includes receipt information (e.g., a QR code (registered trademark), barcode, input number, etc.) for receiving the product. In other words, the receipt information is distributed to the customer when the reservation change notification is sent. The customer can use this receipt information to unlock the locker and receive the product.

Notification of reservation changes may be sent by email. For example, as shown in Figure 14, the email may include standard text such as "Dear Mr./Ms. XX, the pickup date for your recent order has arrived. Please use the QR code (registered trademark) (or number) we sent you to pick it up.", as well as the order details (pickup number, order number, ordering store, pickup date and time, pickup method), locker number, and pickup locker location.

The email will also include a statement that the pickup time has been changed, the reason for the change, and the new pickup time, such as "Due to today's temperature conditions and hygiene reasons, we have decided to (extend or shorten) your pickup time. Please be sure to check the following times," as shown in Figure 15. The new pickup time will state clearly that the pickup time has been changed, such as "Locker pickup times: 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM *Pickup times have been changed due to outside weather and time of day."

Next, in step S316, the CPU 12A updates the order information. For example, in the order information management table shown in FIG. 11, the value in the "Set Available Pickup Time" column is updated from the standard available pickup time to the changed available pickup time. After the order information is updated, the order is managed using the changed available pickup time.

On the other hand, if the available pickup time has not changed or the locker reservation could not be changed, in step S318, the customer is notified that there have been no changes to the reservation. This notification includes pickup information for picking up the product. In other words, the pickup information is distributed to the customer when the notification that there have been no changes to the reservation is sent.

Notification that there are no changes to the reservation may be sent by email. The email may include standard text such as "Dear Mr./Ms. XX, the date for receiving your recent order has arrived. Please use the QR code (registered trademark) (or number) we sent you to receive your order," as well as the order details, locker number, and location of the receiving locker. The standard pickup time initially notified (for example, 7:00 PM to 8:10 PM) will be entered as the pickup date and time.

Finally, in step S320, the CPU 12A determines whether there is next order information. If there is next order information, the process returns to step S302 and repeats steps S302 to S320. On the other hand, if there is no next order information, the routine ends.

(Response processing)
Next, the "response process" will be described.
16 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the procedure of the "response process" according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. A program for executing the "response process" is executed by the CPU 12A of the order management device 10 when any notification is received.

First, in step S500, the CPU 12A determines whether the received notification is a cooking completion notification. If a cooking completion notification is received from the store, in the next step S502, the CPU 12A notifies the customer that cooking is complete and ends the routine. If the received notification is not a cooking completion notification, the CPU 12A proceeds to step S504.

The cooking completion notification may be sent by email. For example, as shown in FIG. 17, the cooking completion notification email may include standard text such as "Dear Mr./Ms. XX, your ordered item has been cooked. Please wait a moment until it is stored in your locker." as well as the order details (receipt number, order number, ordering store, date and time of receipt, and method of receipt).

Next, in step S504, the CPU 12A determines whether the received notification is an item storage notification. If an item storage notification is received from the locker management system 20, in the next step S506, the CPU 12A notifies the customer that the item has been stored, and then ends the routine. If the received notification is not an item storage notification, the CPU 12A proceeds to step S508.

The product storage notification may be sent by email. For example, as shown in FIG. 18, the product storage notification sent by email will include standard text such as "Dear Mr./Ms. XX, your item has now been placed in the locker you specified," as well as the order details (pickup number, order number, ordering store, pickup date and time, and pickup method). Furthermore, if there has been a change in the available pickup time, the email will include a statement calling attention to the change in available pickup time, such as "Please note that the available pickup time has changed."

Next, in step S508, the CPU 12A determines whether the received notification is a receipt completion notification. If a receipt completion notification is received from the locker management system 20, the CPU 12A notifies the customer of the receipt completion notification in the next step S510. Next, in step S512, the CPU 12A deletes the order information corresponding to the order for which product receipt has been completed, and ends the routine. Furthermore, if the received notification is not a receipt completion notification, the received notification is a receipt incomplete notification, so the routine ends without doing anything here.

The receipt completion notification may be sent by email. For example, as shown in Figure 19, the email receipt completion notification may include a standard phrase such as "Dear Mr./Ms. XX, we have completed receiving your order. We look forward to seeing you again." as well as the name of the store used.

(Receipt monitoring process)
Next, the "receive monitoring process" will be described.
20 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the procedure of the "receive monitoring process" according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. A program for executing the "receive monitoring process" is periodically executed by the CPU 12A of the order management device 10.

First, in step S600, the CPU 12A extracts order information for locker pickup and for pickup today. For example, by referencing the order information management table shown in FIG. 11, order information for locker pickup and for which the specified pickup date and time is today is extracted. Next, in step S602, the CPU 12A selects one piece of order information.

Next, in step S604, the CPU 12A determines whether the warning time has arrived. The warning time can be set arbitrarily, such as a predetermined time (e.g., 30 minutes) before the end of reception hours. If the warning time has arrived, the next step S606 determines whether the available pickup time has passed.

If the warning time has arrived and the available pickup time has passed, proceed to step S608, where the "product removal process" is executed. If the warning time has arrived but the available pickup time has not yet arrived, proceed to step S610, where the "warning process" is executed. If the warning time has not arrived, nothing needs to be done, so proceed to step S612.

Here, the procedure of the "warning process" will be described with reference to FIG.
First, in step S700, the CPU 12A determines whether or not the receipt is incomplete. For example, by referring to the order information management table shown in FIG. 11, if the order information has not been deleted, it is marked as "received incomplete." Note that in this embodiment, order information for which receipt has been completed is not subject to management, so there is no need to check whether or not the receipt is incomplete. However, assuming a procedure in which the order information is not deleted, the CPU 12A determines whether or not the receipt is incomplete here. If the receipt is incomplete, the process proceeds to step S702; if the receipt is complete, the routine ends.

Next, in step S702, the CPU 12A controls the communication unit 14 to send a warning to the corresponding customer to encourage them to pick up the product, and then in step S704, controls the communication unit 14 to send a warning to the corresponding store, and ends the routine.

The warning may be sent by email. The email warning may include, for example, a standard message such as "Dear Mr./Ms. XX, your order can be picked up by XX. Please pick it up within this time frame.", as well as the order details (pickup number, order number, store where the order was placed, date and time of pickup, and pickup method).

The procedure for the "product removal process" will be described with reference to FIG.
First, in step S800, the CPU 12A determines whether or not the receipt has not been completed. If the receipt has not been completed, the process proceeds to step S802, and if the receipt has been completed, the routine ends.

Next, in step S802, the CPU 12A controls the communication unit 14 to send a product pickup request to the corresponding store. This product pickup request distributes pickup information (e.g., a QR code (registered trademark), barcode, input number, etc.) for receiving the product to the store. The store can use this pickup information to unlock the locker and remove the product. Next, in step S804, the CPU 12A controls the communication unit 14 to send instructions to the corresponding customer for picking up the product at the corresponding store, and ends the routine.

The customer may be notified by email. The email notification may include standard text such as "Dear Mr./Ms. XX, we have returned the item you ordered to the store. Please pick it up at the store." as well as the order details (receipt number, order number, and store where the order was placed).

Now, let us return to the explanation of Figure 20. Finally, in step S612, the CPU 12A determines whether or not there is next order information. If there is next order information, the process returns to step S602 and repeats the processing of steps S602 to S612. On the other hand, if there is no next order information, the routine ends.

(Functional configuration of the order management device)
The functional configuration of the order management system 10 will now be described. The execution of the above-mentioned programs for "order reception processing,""receiveable time correction processing,""responseprocessing," and "receive monitoring processing" realizes the corresponding functional units of the order management system 10.

As shown in FIG. 23, the order management device 10 includes an order reception unit 50, a reception time correction unit 60, a response processing unit 70, and a receipt monitoring unit 80.

The order reception unit 50 includes a locker reservation unit 52 that receives orders from customers and reserves lockers, a pickup time setting unit 54 that sets standard pickup times according to the season and time of day, and a reservation completion notification unit 56 that notifies the customer that the locker reservation has been completed and the standard pickup time.

The reception time correction unit 60 includes a correction unit 62 that corrects the available pickup time according to the outside temperature, etc., when the product pickup date specified by the customer arrives; a reservation change unit 64 that changes the locker reservation time to match the changed available pickup time if the available pickup time is changed; a change notification unit 66 that notifies the customer and store that the available pickup time has changed or remains the same; and an order information update unit 68 that updates the order information if the available pickup time is changed.

The response processing unit 70 executes the target process according to the received notification.

The receipt monitoring unit 80 includes a warning processing unit 82 that issues a warning to the customer and the store if the product has not been received by the time the warning arrives, and a product removal processing unit 84 that executes a product removal process to remove the product and return it to the store if the product has not been received by the time the product is available for pickup.

As described above, in this embodiment, customers can pick up pre-ordered items at a locker, eliminating the need for customers to go to the store to pick up the items and allowing for contactless pickup. For the store, having items delivered to a nearby locker also leads to increased sales.

In addition, in this embodiment, when an order is received, the type of locker (room temperature, refrigerated, or warm) is automatically determined and reserved based on the menu items included in the product, and the standard pickup time is automatically set taking into account the effects of outside temperature, which varies depending on the season and time of day, thereby saving the customer the trouble of reserving a locker. Furthermore, since the order is completed once a locker reservation is made, double-booking of locker reservations can be avoided.

In addition, in this embodiment, the available pickup time is corrected (for example, shortened or extended) depending on the temperature outside and inside the locker on the day the product is to be picked up, so the freshness of the food product can be maintained until the time of pickup. This allows customers who are concerned about hygiene to use the service with peace of mind. Furthermore, when the available pickup time is changed, the locker reservation is also changed at the same time, saving the customer the trouble of having to change their locker reservation. Furthermore, because pickup information is sent to the customer once the available pickup time has been decided, it is possible to prevent changes to the available pickup time from being missed in the pickup information.

In addition, in this embodiment, customers are notified not only of order completion, but also of changes to the pickup time, completion of cooking, storage of the product, warnings, and completion of pickup. Even if the pickup time has passed and the product cannot be picked up at the locker, appropriate instructions are given to the customer and the store. This allows both the customer and the store to keep track of the product's status and carry out the pickup process with peace of mind.

<Modification>
While exemplary embodiments of the order management device, order management system, and program have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the scope of the embodiments. Various modifications and improvements can be made to the embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and such modifications and improvements are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

For example, the processing flow of the program described in the above embodiment is also an example, and unnecessary steps may be deleted, new steps may be added, or the processing order may be rearranged, without departing from the spirit of the invention. Furthermore, in the above embodiment, a case has been described in which the processing according to the embodiment is realized by a software configuration using a computer by executing a program, but this is not limited to this. For example, the processing may be realized by a hardware configuration or a combination of a hardware configuration and a software configuration.

In addition, the software (program) that the CPU reads and executes in the above embodiments may be executed by various processors other than the CPU. Examples of processors in this case include programmable logic devices (PLDs) such as field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), whose circuit configuration can be changed after manufacture, and dedicated electrical circuits such as application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), which are processors with circuit configurations designed specifically to execute specific processes.

Furthermore, each of the above programs may be executed by one of these various processors, or by a combination of two or more processors of the same or different types (for example, multiple FPGAs, or a combination of a CPU and an FPGA, etc.). Furthermore, the hardware structure of these various processors is, more specifically, an electrical circuit made up of a combination of circuit elements such as semiconductor devices.

In addition, while the above embodiments have described a configuration in which the program is pre-stored (installed) in a storage unit, this is not limiting. The program may be provided in a form stored on a non-transitory storage medium such as a CD-ROM (Compact Disk Read Only Memory), a DVD-ROM (Digital Versatile Disk Read Only Memory), a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory, or a semiconductor memory. Furthermore, each of the above programs may be downloaded from an external device via a network.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Order management device 20 Locker management system 22 Locker 30 Customer terminal device 40 Store terminal device 50 Order reception unit 52 Locker reservation unit 54 Available pickup time setting unit 56 Reservation completion notification unit 60 Reception time correction unit 62 Correction unit 64 Reservation change unit 66 Change notification unit 68 Order information update unit 70 Response processing unit 80 Receipt monitoring unit 82 Warning processing unit 84 Product removal processing unit 100 Order management system N Network P Customer

Claims (14)

An order management device for managing orders from customers,
a reception unit that, when receiving an order request from a customer requesting that a product purchased from a store be picked up at a locker on a specified date and time, sets a first available pickup time for the product, reserves a locker corresponding to the product, sends an order completion notice including the first available pickup time to the customer, and sends an order registration request to the store;
a correction unit that calculates a second available receipt time by correcting the first available receipt time of the product based on at least the outside temperature information of the locker, resets the second available receipt time of the product, and sends a notice to the customer and the store that the available receipt time including the second available receipt time will be changed, and if the second available receipt time is the same as the first available receipt time, sends a notice to the customer that the available receipt time including the second available receipt time will not be changed;
An order management device comprising: The order management device according to claim 1, wherein the reception unit rejects the order request if a locker corresponding to the product cannot be reserved. The order management device described in claim 1 or 2, wherein the reception unit selects the type of locker to be reserved from among a room temperature locker, a refrigerated locker, and a heated locker, depending on the menu items included in the product. The order management device described in claim 3, wherein the first available pickup time is obtained by correcting a predetermined standard available pickup time with a correction value that is preset for each type of locker according to the season and time of day. The order management device described in claim 3 or 4, wherein the correction unit, when the reserved locker is the room temperature locker or the refrigerated locker, shortens the first available receipt time when the outside temperature of the locker is equal to or higher than an upper threshold, and extends the first available receipt time when the outside temperature of the locker is equal to or lower than a lower threshold. The order management device described in claim 3 or 4, wherein the correction unit, when the reserved locker is an insulated locker, can extend the first available pickup time if the outside temperature of the locker is equal to or higher than an upper threshold, and shortens the first available pickup time if the outside temperature of the locker is equal to or lower than a lower threshold. The order management device described in claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the correction unit extends or shortens the first available pickup time by a predetermined correction amount. The order management device described in any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the correction unit does not extend the first available pickup time if the locker reservation cannot be extended. The order management device described in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the correction unit transmits pickup information for unlocking the locker to the customer along with a notification that the pickup time will be changed or that the pickup time will not be changed. a monitoring unit that monitors the receipt status of the product based on a successively updated order information management table;
the monitoring unit transmits a warning to the corresponding customer for an order for which the product has not been received, a warning to urge the customer to receive the product, a predetermined time before the end time of the second receiving period.
The order management device according to any one of claims 1 to 9. a monitoring unit that monitors the receipt status of the product based on a successively updated order information management table;
After the second available pickup time has elapsed, the monitoring unit transmits a request to the corresponding store to pick up the product for the order for which pickup of the product has not been completed, and transmits a guide to the corresponding customer to pick up the product at the corresponding store.
The order management device according to any one of claims 1 to 9. An order management device according to any one of claims 1 to 11;
a locker management device that manages availability of a plurality of lockers and accepts reservations for the lockers;
the order management device reserves or changes the locker reservation according to the product via the locker management device;
Order management system. On the computer,
A step of accepting an order request from a customer requesting that the product purchased from the store be picked up at a locker on a specified date and time;
setting a first available pickup time for the product;
reserving a locker according to the product;
causing a communication unit to send an order completion notice to the customer, the notice including the first available pickup time;
causing the communication unit to transmit an order registration request to the store;
A program to execute. On the computer,
In response to an order request from a customer requesting that a product purchased from a store be picked up at a locker on a specified date and time, a step of correcting a first pre-set pickup time for the product based on at least the outside temperature information of the locker to calculate a second pickup time;
resetting the second available receipt time for the product;
causing a communication unit to send a notification to the customer and the store indicating that the pickup time will be changed to include the second pickup time;
a step of causing the communication unit to send a notification to the customer, when the second available receiving time is the same as the first available receiving time, that the available receiving time including the second available receiving time will not be changed;
A program to execute.