JP2002117312A - Customer management system using portable information terminal and mailing system based on it - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a customer management system and a mailing system capable of managing customers and transmitting proper sales promoting information to the customers in commodity or service trade transaction. SOLUTION: This system is provided with a web server 3 provided with a customer table 4, in which personal information on customers and identification codes decided corresponding to the personal information are stored, and a point table 5 accumulating points of the customers in accordance with the customer table, a portable information terminal 15 having a communication function of outputting the personal information in compliance with connection operation to the Internet and logging in the Web server 3 for obtaining the identification code and a display screen displaying the obtained identification code, a reading means 12 arranged in a shop selling the commodity/service for reading the identification code displayed on the portable information terminal 15, and an input terminal 11 computing points based on the commodity or service transaction so as to output or transmit the identification code and the points to the web server 3.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[Industrial application field] When purchasing a product or service, an identification code is displayed on the screen of a portable information terminal to identify a customer, and a WEB server storing the identification code is given points according to the purchase price. The present invention relates to a customer management system using a portable information terminal, which is used as a substitute for a point card of a point service, and a mail system for transmitting sales promotion information to a customer by e-mail using the customer management system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When a customer purchases a product or service, a service for giving points according to the purchase price is implemented, and a customer who wants to receive the point service has a point card. Although some of these loyalty cards can be shared, the actual situation is that the customer uses one of the cards in possession according to the store. That is, if the loyalty card cannot be shared with another store, the customer has a plurality of loyalty cards. Moreover, the points for each store are returned to other service tickets or the like for each store. Each store includes a service limited to one shopping street or chain store (a plurality of stores).

[0003] When a customer possesses a plurality of cards, it is necessary for the customer to manage at least a plurality of cards, and since each card is not used at all times, the management becomes troublesome. On the store side, the cost of creating a card increases as the number of customers enclosing it increases, and is not inexpensive compared to the frequency of customer use.

On the other hand, a large system construction cost is required for a store to establish a point system for enclosing customers. For this reason, paper point cards are created, and there are occasions involving operations of stamping the point cards according to the amount of use, but it cannot be said that customer management can be performed because data is not accumulated.

In many cases, the point service is carried out independently. That is, although there is information on customers obtained for the point service, the provision of sales promotion information from the store to the customer is often carried out by mail, which is expensive. Mailing costs are required. In addition, in order to use the e-mail performed via the Internet, the cost depends on the Internet provider, which is not only incurred separately, but also the party to which the Internet provider transmits information is transmitted regardless of the customer of the store. In other words, at present, users of the Internet provider do not always match customers who have used the store. In this method, the promotion information cannot be given to the customers who need it.

[0006]

From the viewpoint of the customer, it is desirable that a common point service can be received regardless of the store used. In other words, it is desired that a point service be provided for each customer regardless of which store is used without possessing a plurality of cards.

[0007] From the viewpoint of the store, it is inevitable that the cost of making a card for the point service will increase in proportion to the customers who use the store, and it is desired to reduce the cost of making the card.

Further, in providing the sales promotion information to each customer, it is necessary to reduce the mailing cost or the cost for using the Internet provider, and a system capable of efficiently using the customer information obtained at the time of creating a point card is required. desired.

It is hard to say that a point card is always used or inconvenient unless it is possessed, and if it is possessed, it is convenient but hardly a necessity. Therefore, if the loyalty card is misplaced, lost, or lost, it is often not immediately noticed.

[0010] In view of the above, the customer can receive a common point service at any store, there is no cost for creating a point card at the store, and the customer can manage the customer and accurately promote the customer. Customer management using mobile information terminals that enables information to be transmitted and enables customers to receive point services associated with the purchase of goods and services depending on things that they always use or that are inconvenient if they do not have them It is an object to provide a system and a mail system provided by the system.

[0011]

According to the present invention, as first means for solving the above problems, personal information including an e-mail address or a telephone number of a customer and an identification code determined in correspondence with the personal information are used. An Internet WEB server having a stored customer table and a point table for storing customer points in association with the customer table; and outputting personal information to the WEB server by connecting to the WEB server via the Internet. A communication function for logging in and acquiring the identification code, a portable information terminal having a display screen for displaying the acquired identification code, and a store for selling goods or services,
An input terminal that includes a reading unit that reads an identification code displayed on the mobile information terminal, calculates a point based on a product or service transaction, and outputs or transmits the identification code and the point to the web server. A customer management system using terminals.

[0012] The owner of the portable information terminal serving as a customer registers personal information including the customer's e-mail address or telephone number in a web server via the Internet, and
Since the identification code is allocated and stored in the server in correspondence with the personal information, the portable information terminal sends an e-mail address or a telephone call to the WEB server by a connection operation to the WEB server via the Internet by the owner of the portable information terminal. By transmitting the personal information including the number, the identification code can be obtained from the customer table of the WEB server, and the identification code can be displayed on the display screen of the portable information terminal.

When purchasing a product or service, the customer presents the identification code displayed on the portable information terminal. W
In the customer table of the EB server, since the identification code is added corresponding to the individual, the individual can be specified by the presented identification code. In the store, the reading means reads the identification code, calculates points based on the product or service transaction, that is, sales based on the input terminal, and outputs or transmits the read identification code and the calculated points to the WEB server. The WEB server stores points in the point table in correspondence with the customer table in which the identification code is stored.

[0014] Since the point code can be replaced by the identification code displayed on the portable information terminal, there is no cost for creating the point card at the store. The customer can receive the point service on a portable terminal, a portable information terminal, which is used daily. With a system that has advantages for both stores and customers, WE can be used in stores.
It is easy to implement the point service using the B server. For example, in the case of a WEB server operated by an organization other than a store, the initial cost for constructing the system does not occur, and only the running fee is required. By using such a WEB server in various types of stores, customers can receive a common point service in any stores, and there is a great advantage for both stores and customers.

[0015] Identify code and point from input terminal WE
To output to the B server, set the input terminal to L
It is also possible with the current technology to connect to an AN or store the identification code and points in the input terminal and output them to the WEB server in batch processing or on a specific medium, for example, a magnetic disk.

Alternatively, if the input terminal has a configuration connectable to the Internet, the identification code and the points are transmitted to the WEB server via the Internet, whereby the points can be stored in the WEB server in real time.

As a second means for solving the above-mentioned problems, a customer table storing personal information including an e-mail address or a telephone number of a customer and an identification code determined in correspondence with the personal information is provided. An Internet WEB server having a point table for calculating points based on information relating to transactions and storing the calculated customer points in association with a customer table, and outputting personal information by a connection operation to the WEB server via the Internet A portable information terminal provided with a communication function for logging in to the WEB server and acquiring the identification code, and a display screen for displaying the acquired identification code, and a portable information terminal installed in a store selling goods or services. Reading means for reading the identification code displayed on the
A customer management system using a portable information terminal having information about a product or service transaction, and an input terminal for outputting or transmitting an identification code and information about the product or service transaction is provided.

When purchasing a product or service, the customer presents the identification code displayed on the portable information terminal. W
In the customer table of the EB server, since the identification code is added corresponding to the individual, the individual can be specified by the presented identification code. At the store, the identification code is read by the reading means, and the read identification code and the product or service transaction information are output or transmitted to the WEB server. The WEB server calculates merchandise or service transaction information, that is, points based on sales, and accumulates the points in the point table in correspondence with the customer table in which the identification code is stored.

In this way, the operation is not different from that of the first means, but unlike the first means, the input terminal does not need a calculation function for calculating points based on the transaction information. The input terminal is inexpensive as long as it can simply output input data, that is, an identification code and transaction information. In other words, by constructing a database in an SQL server format or the like in the WEB server, it is possible to perform calculations in the WEB server, and the burden on the store is reduced. Although the burden of system development on the WEB server slightly increases, it is only necessary to improve the arithmetic processing capability of one WEB server in order to handle a plurality of stores.

Alternatively, if the input terminal has a configuration connectable to the Internet, by transmitting the identification code and the points to the WEB server via the Internet, it is possible to accumulate the points in the WEB server in real time. The input terminal may have a configuration connectable to the Internet, transmit the identification code and the transaction information to the WEB server, and contact the WEB server. For example, it is possible to access the WEB server via the Internet from a notebook computer having a scanner or a barcode reader, and immediately transmit the identification code and the transaction information.

In the above means, the input terminal outputs or transmits a store code determined for each store in advance, and the WEB server stores a store code in association with customer information when accumulating points in the point table. A customer management system using information terminals.

The WEB server stores the store code in association with the customer information when accumulating the points in the point table. Therefore, the WEB server stores the store code in association with the customer information relating to the merchandise or service transaction information, and consumes the customer code. It is possible to make a database of stores where activities are performed. That is, the consumer's consumption activity can be grasped for each store. In other words, it is possible to know the customer group who visits a specific store. This allows the following:

That is, a mail system can be constructed by a customer management system using a portable information terminal having an e-mail server for transmitting an e-mail to the e-mail address of the customer information stored in the customer table of the web server.

That is, since the mail can be transmitted only to the customers who have used the store for each store, accurate sales promotion information can be transmitted only to the customers who have used the store according to the request of the store. The transmission of the e-mail is an accurate and efficient service that cannot be compared with the case where the store entrusts the transmission of the sales promotion information to a provider unrelated to the point service.

Further, the input terminal outputs or transmits the mail content together with the store code to the WEB server. The WEB server sends the E-mail address and the mail content of the customer information associated with the store code to the E-mail server. By adopting a mail system based on a customer management system using a portable information terminal to transmit, the store can actively provide sales promotion information by e-mail to customers who have transacted goods or services at the store. . This will enable the store to actively and accurately provide sales promotion information to customers in a timely manner.
It is possible to provide sales promotion information without missing the sales promotion time.

The personal information is an e-mail address set in the mobile phone, which is a mobile information terminal. When the owner of the mobile phone connects to the WEB server via the Internet, that is, when the mobile phone connects to the Internet, the mobile phone Email address sent from
Get on the server. The acquired e-mail address is personal information, and from this personal information, the identification code recorded in the customer table of the WEB server can be transmitted to the mobile phone.

Alternatively, the personal information is a telephone number set in a mobile phone which is a mobile information terminal, and when the mobile phone owner performs a connection operation to the WEB server via the Internet, that is, when the mobile phone connects to the Internet, The telephone number transmitted from the telephone is acquired by the WEB server. The acquired telephone number is personal information, and from this personal information, the identification code recorded in the customer table of the WEB server can be transmitted to the mobile phone.

A preferred embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The reference numeral 1 in FIG. 1 indicates a customer management system 1 using a mobile phone, and the reference numeral 2 indicates a point operation system. The point operation system 2 includes an Internet WEB server 3 (hereinafter, referred to as “WEB server 3”) including a CPU, a program memory, an arithmetic control unit 3 a having various interfaces and communication functions, and the WEB server 3 includes
Reading and writing are controlled by the server 3, and a customer table 4 storing personal information including a customer ID, a password, and an e-mail address of a mobile phone (or a telephone number of the mobile phone), an identification code determined in correspondence with the personal information, and the like. When,
Point table 5 for storing customer IDs, accumulation points, etc., store table 6 for recording store names, store IDs, passwords, store addresses, etc., and customer management tables for recording customer IDs, store IDs, transaction dates, etc. 7, an identification code table 8 for recording an identification code, an identification code image (for example, a bar code image) and the like are connected.

Further, the WEB server 3 has the WEB server 3
An e-mail server 9 for transmitting an e-mail based on the e-mail address and the contents of the e-mail generated by the e-mail is connected. The WEB server 3 and the mail server 9 are connected to the Internet via an Internet provider 10 via a communication line.

The store may be connected to the WEB server 3 via the Internet or may be connected to the WEB server via a LAN or the like.
An input terminal 11 that can be connected to the server 3 is provided. The input terminal 11 includes a reading unit 12 (for example, a barcode reader) that reads an identification code displayed on a portable information terminal described later, and a display unit 13 that displays input contents. And input means 14 for inputting transaction information (for example, sales amount) relating to the transaction.
(For example, a numeric keypad) and a calculation unit 11a that calculates points based on the transaction information.

The customer has a portable information terminal 15 that can connect to the WEB server 3 via the Internet. When the portable information terminal 15 connects to the WEB server 3, the portable information terminal uses personal information such as an e-mail address or telephone number. Send the number and log in to the WEB server 3,
It has a communication function for acquiring the identification code and a display screen 16 for displaying the acquired identification code. For example, a mobile phone or a portable personal computer having a communication function can be used.

First, the customer enters W via the Internet.
The web server 3 connects to the EB server 3 and registers a personal information such as a name and an e-mail address (or a telephone number). The web server 3 assigns a customer ID, an identification code, and the like in accordance with the personal information and stores it in the customer table 4. . Thereby, the customer is managed on the point operation system 2 by the customer ID or the identification code.

FIG. 7 shows a procedure when a customer purchases a product or service. The customer is the mobile information terminal 1
5 is connected to the WEB server 3 via the Internet (7-1), and at the time of this connection operation, the portable information terminal sends an e-mail address (or telephone number) to the WEB server 3.
Is transmitted (7-2). The web server 3 sends the transmitted e-mail address (or telephone number) and the e-mail address (or telephone number) stored in the customer table 4.
(7-3), and when the collation is completed, the WEB server 3 uses the identification code stored in association with the e-mail address (or telephone number) of the customer table 4 based on the bar code image of the identification code table 8. Can be acquired by the portable information terminal (7-4). If they do not match, a new registration procedure is shown (7-4b). The customer obtains a barcode image of the identification code from the WEB server 3 (7-5), and more specifically, converts the identification code into a barcode and obtains a barcode image, thereby displaying the barcode image on the display unit 16. Display (7-6). Alternatively, the user logs in to the WEB server 3 in advance, obtains a barcode image, stores the barcode image in the portable information terminal 1, and reads out and displays the purchased product or service. At this time, the method of logging in the customer to the WEB server 3 is not limited to the present embodiment.

At the store, the reading means 1 of the input terminal 11
2. The barcode image is read by, for example, a barcode reader (7-7) and converted into an identification code. Further, the purchase price is input by the input means 14, for example, the ten keys (7-8).
I do. When the purchase price is input, the operation unit 1 of the input terminal 11
In 1a, points are calculated (7-9) based on a predetermined point rate (for example, 1%) determined according to the purchase price. By displaying the identification code and the purchase price on the display unit 13, input contents such as the identification code, the purchase price, and the points can be confirmed. After inputting, via the Internet or L
Data such as an identification code and points and, if necessary, a purchase price are transmitted or output from the input terminal 11 to the WEB server 3 through the AN connection (7-10).

The points, which are the data sent from the input terminal 11 to the WEB server 3, are accumulated in the point table 5 in association with the customer ID or the identification code (7-1).
1) is done. As a result, points are added corresponding to the personal information, and the WEB server 3 can manage the points for each customer. That is, by using the WEB server 3, the points of the customer can be accumulated in association with the customer ID or the identification code regardless of the store used by the customer.

The store registers store information such as store name, store ID, password, address, telephone number and the like in the store table 6 of the WEB server 3 in advance, and stores the store when transmitting or outputting data from the input terminal 11. By transmitting or outputting the ID, the WEB server 3 can store the shop ID, the points, the purchase date and time, etc. in the customer management table 7 in association with the customer ID or the identification code (7-12). By using the customer management table 7 stored in this way, the store I
By D, the customer ID using the store can be totaled. Therefore, customer information can be retrieved from the customer ID in the customer table 4. That is, the e-mail address of the customer who used the store can be known for each store, and the sales promotion information of the store can be provided to the e-mail address of the customer.
According to the customer management system of the present invention, the point operation system 2 is used in response to a request from a store, and sales promotion information such as bargain sale information can be provided accurately and efficiently only to customers who have used the store.

The above-described data input from the store to the WEB server 3 is performed by a store URL which enables the WEB server 3 to input data from the store via the Internet.
May be provided and an input screen may be set, and if via a LAN, an input form that enables data input from a store may be set in the database of the WEB server 3.

As described above, a mail system based on the customer management system using the portable information terminal of the present invention can be constructed. This will be described with reference to FIG.

In the present invention, the point operation system 2
Is provided with a mail server 9, and an e-mail address can be searched from a customer ID in a customer table. That is, the customer ID is searched for each store ID from the data of the customer management table 7, and the searched customer ID and the e-mail address of the customer who used the store can be referred from the customer table 4. The store's sales promotion information can be provided to the customer's e-mail address as the inquiry result. Therefore, there is no need to spend expensively creating a paper flyer for sales promotion and distributing it randomly, and accurate and inexpensive e-mail can be used.

If the input terminal 11 makes a request for mail transmission to the WAB server, the input terminal 11
Connects to server B 3 (8-1) and inputs mail contents (8
-2) Then, the store I is sent from the input terminal 11 to the WEB server 3.
If D and the contents of the e-mail are transmitted (8-3), the WEB server 3 searches for the customer ID for each store ID from the transmitted store ID and the data of the customer management table 7 (8-4).
Then, from the searched customer ID and the customer table 4, the e-mail address of the customer who used the store can be referenced (8-5).
The WEB server 3 transmits the introduced e-mail address and mail contents to the mail server 9 (8-6). The e-mail content of the store can be provided on the Internet to the e-mail address of the customer as the inquiry result (8-7). This not only enables the store to actively and inexpensively provide sales promotion information to customers, but also sends e-mail to customers who have used the store managed by the customer management system. This sales promotion information can be a major purchase motivation for customers.

The e-mail transmission request from the store to the WEB server 3 described above is sent to the WEB server via the Internet.
An input screen may be set by providing an E-mail transmission request URL enabling reception of an E-mail transmission request from the store in the B server 3. It is only necessary to set an input form that enables the user to input data.

As described above, a mail system based on the customer management system using the portable information terminal of the present invention can be constructed.

By the way, the embodiment in which the input terminal 11 is provided with the calculation section 11a and the input terminal 11 calculates points based on the transaction information has been described, but the calculation control section of the WEB server 3 converts the points into the transaction information in 3a. The points may be calculated based on the points. In this case, by providing a field for recording a point rate, for example, 1% of the sales amount, or a value such as XX yen for each transaction in the store table 6, the store side can store codes as shown in FIG. And the sales amount and the identification code to the WEB server 3 (9-7).
Then, based on the store code and the sales amount sent from the store input terminal 11 and the point rate of the store table 6, the arithmetic control unit 3
The point is calculated (9-8) with a. The calculated points are accumulated and recorded in the point table 5, and the store ID is stored in the customer management table 7 in association with the customer ID.

[0044]

The WEB server accumulates merchandise or service transaction information, that is, points based on sales in the point table in association with the customer table in which the identification code is stored. Can manage. For the customer, the portable information terminal that is used on a daily basis can be used as a substitute for the point card, the loss and misplacement are extremely reduced, and the point service can be continuously received.

Since the WEB server stores the store code in association with the customer information when accumulating the points in the point table, the store code is stored in association with the customer information relating to the merchandise or service transaction information, and the customer consumption is stored. It is possible to make a database of stores where activities are performed. That is, the consumer's consumption activity can be grasped for each store. In other words, it is possible to construct a customer management system that can grasp the customer group who visits a specific store. In addition, the initial cost and the running cost can be reduced by entrusting the management to the web server operator. In other words, it is possible to connect to the WEB server via the Internet, and by using Internet communication, the initial capital investment can be made only by contracting with a personal computer and the Internet, and it is inexpensive. The cost may be low.

The store can positively provide sales promotion information by e-mail to customers who have transacted goods or services at the store. This makes it possible for the store to actively and accurately provide the sales promotion information to the customer in an immediate manner, and to provide the sales promotion information without missing the sales promotion time. In other words, rather than requesting a provider unrelated to customer management to send out sales promotion information by e-mail, it is possible not only to provide accurate information to customers but also to transmit cheap information by e-mail. became.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an embodiment showing a customer management system using a portable information terminal and a configuration of a mail service by the system.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a customer table 4 of the customer management system.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a point table 5 of the customer management system.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a store table 6 of the customer management system.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a customer management table 7 of the customer management system.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an identification code table 8 of the customer management system.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a first accumulation procedure of points acquired by a customer.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a procedure for transmitting an e-mail address.

FIG. 9 is another diagram showing a second accumulation procedure of points acquired by the customer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 Customer management system using portable information terminal 2 Point operation system 3 Internet WEB server 4 Customer table 5 Point table 6 Store table 7 Customer management table 8 Identification code table 9 E-mail server 10 Internet provider 11 Input terminal 12 Reading means 13 Display Unit 14 input means 15 portable information terminal 16 display screen

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A customer table storing personal information including an e-mail address or a telephone number of a customer and an identification code determined according to the personal information, and a point table storing customer points in correspondence with the customer table. An Internet WEB server comprising: a communication function of outputting personal information by connecting to the WEB server via the Internet, logging in to the WEB server and acquiring the identification code, and a display for displaying the acquired identification code A portable information terminal equipped with a screen and a reading means installed in a store that sells goods or services and reading an identification code displayed on the portable information terminal. An input terminal for outputting or transmitting a code and points to the WEB server; Customer management system using the portable information terminal, characterized in that it comprises a. 2. The customer management system using a portable information terminal according to claim 1, wherein the input terminal has a configuration connectable to the Internet, and transmits the identification code and the point to the web server. 3. Calculate and calculate points based on a customer table storing personal information including an e-mail address or a telephone number of the customer and an identification code determined in correspondence with the personal information, and information on goods or service transactions. An Internet WEB server including a point table for storing the points of the customer corresponding to the customer table, outputting personal information by an operation of connecting to the WEB server via the Internet, logging in to the WEB server, and logging in to the WEB server to identify the identification code. A portable information terminal equipped with a communication function for acquiring the identification code, and a display screen for displaying the acquired identification code, and a reading unit installed at a store that sells goods or services and reading the identification code displayed on the portable information terminal. Enter information related to product or service transactions to identify An input terminal for outputting or transmitting information relating to goods or service transactions, and a customer management system using a portable information terminal. 4. The portable information terminal according to claim 3, wherein the input terminal has a configuration connectable to the Internet, and transmits an identification code and information relating to a product or service transaction to a web server. Customer management system. 5. The personal information output from the portable information terminal to the WEB server in the operation for connecting the portable information terminal to the WEB server is an e-mail address set in the portable information terminal. A customer management system using the portable information terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 4. 6. The personal information output from the portable information terminal to the web server in the operation of connecting the portable information terminal to the web server is a telephone number set in the portable information terminal. A customer management system using the portable information terminal according to any one of claims 4 to 4. 7. The input terminal outputs or transmits a store code determined in advance for each store, and the WEB server stores the store code in association with customer information when accumulating points in the point table. A customer management system using the portable information terminal according to claim 1. 8. An e-mail server according to claim 7, further comprising an e-mail server for transmitting an e-mail to an e-mail address of the customer information stored in the customer table of the web server. system. 9. An input terminal for outputting or transmitting mail contents together with a store code to a WEB server.
9. The mail system according to claim 8, wherein the EB server sends an e-mail address and mail contents of the customer information associated with the store code to the e-mail server.