WO1993000641A1

WO1993000641A1 - Cash desk management aid system for a retail outlet, and method of implementation

Info

Publication number: WO1993000641A1
Application number: PCT/FR1992/000584
Authority: WO
Inventors: Patrice Chainet
Original assignee: Patrice Chainet
Priority date: 1991-06-25
Filing date: 1992-06-25
Publication date: 1993-01-07
Also published as: EP0544890A1; FR2678405B1; CA2090324A1; FR2678405A1; AU2174292A

Abstract

A human resources management aid system for a retail outlet comprises: at least one detector for counting the number of people entering the retail outlet; means (40) for determining the number of people waiting at each cash desk; a computer (6) with a first storage means (17) for information concerning a mathematical model of queue variations, and a second storage means (12, 16) for the variables transmitted by the data acquisition means. The computer (6) provides graphic, visual, audio or text information resulting from the application of the said model to the variables held in the said storage means (12, 16). The system may be used for supermarkets, hypermarkets, sports grounds, entertainment halls and the like.

Description

INSTALLATION FOR ASSISTING THE CASH MANAGEMENT OF A DISTRIBUTION CENTER, AS WELL AS THE PROCESS IMPLEMENTED FOR SAID INSTALLATION.

The present invention relates to an installation for assisting in the management of human resources of a distribution center, as well as to the method implemented for said installation.

In the prior art, human resource management to optimize the waiting time before the cash payment, or the optimal commercial efficiency s ^'' performed empirically, based for example on the evolution of turnover compared to the same period of the previous year. As a result, it is very difficult to anticipate the need for additional cashiers over a period of a few minutes, or to plan the closing of certain cash registers, or even to organize the work of sellers effectively between the unpacking and storage of goods, and points of sale in direct contact with customers.

This results in excessive lengthening of the queues, and therefore customer dissatisfaction. In other cases, cashiers or redundant salespeople could be more usefully employed for other functions, such as unpacking items, for example.

The object of the present invention is an installation for assisting in the management of human resources of a distribution center with a view to optimizing the distribution of personnel between the different work stations according to the various parameters influencing an indicator of commercial efficiency.

REPLACEMENT SHEET To this end, the installation according to the invention comprises

- at least one sensor for counting the number of people entering the distribution center; - the means for acquiring the number of people waiting in front of each cash register;

a calculation unit associated with a first means of memorizing the parameters relating to a mathematical model of the evolution of the queues, and a second means of memorizing the variables, transmitted by the acquisition means of the station. The calculation unit delivers graphic, visual, sound or textual information, depending on the result of the application of the model to the variables stored at time To. The calculation unit includes a clock delivering a signal for regenerating the variables recorded in the second storage means. The period of this clock is fixed or adjustable by one user.

The commercial efficiency parameter corresponds to the forecast change in the length of the queues, or the transformation rate, i.e. the ratio between the number of people counted as entering the distribution center and the number of people actually making at least one purchase, and therefore going to a checkout.

These indicators are on the one hand viewed and / or edited in the form of tables and graphs, and on the other hand used by the calculation unit to trigger actions when certain thresholds are exceeded. These actions are for example the signaling on certain sites of messages of displacement of certain people, or the triggering of an automatic or semi-automatic procedure of individual call of personnel, using individual receivers, paging or by any other means known in the prior art.

REPLACEMENT SHEET The counting sensors consist of detectors placed at the exits of the store or at any point such as stairs, elevators, escalators, where knowledge of customer movements is important. Two types of sensors can be used. The first type of sensor only detects the number of people crossing a line, regardless of the direction of passage of this line. The second type of sensor determines not only the number of people having crossed a threshold, but also the direction of crossing of this threshold, in order to provide an additional indication. Depending on the direction of crossing, we will determine if the discounted person enters or leaves the store. We can thus at any time determine the number of people entering and the number of people leaving.

Preferably, the means of acquiring the number of people waiting in front of each box are constituted by digital cameras connected to a shape recognition calculator delivering a signal depending on the number of people waiting in front of the box corresponding to each of the cameras.

The camera, advantageously a CCD type camera (charge transfer camera) delivers a digital signal operated by a computer determining for example the optical density in order to deduce an approximation of the number of people waiting.

According to a particular embodiment, the distribution center further comprises retail outlets each equipped with a station comprising a first control means suitable for being actuated by a customer, a ticket printer, a computer incrementing a number of order printed on said ticket during an action by a client on said means of control. This station also includes a second control means incrementing the second serial number displayed on a display, when

REPLACEMENT SHEET 1 actuation by a seller of the retail outlet, of a second control means, as well as means of connection with the central computing unit.

Each of the stations delivers a signal corresponding to a variable taken into account for the prediction of the lengths of the queues, according to the model whose parameters are loaded in the first storage means.

Advantageously, the installation includes means for transmitting information remotely. These remote transmission means allow a remote monitoring center to influence the parameters of the model loaded in the first memory.

According to a particular embodiment, the downcounting sensor is constituted by a photoelectric cell and a light source generating a light beam in the direction of said photoelectric cell, along an axis crossing the entry passage of the distribution center. The down-counting sensor further comprises means for detecting the malfunction of the light source. By way of example, these detection means consist of a circuit generating an alert signal when the cell does not detect any light beam for a duration greater than a predetermined time. We thus detect failures of the light source, its power supply, or the accidental obstruction of the light beam.

According to a preferred embodiment, the sensor further comprises a second assembly constituted by a cell and a light source, as well as means for detecting the direction of passage of the customer as a function of the order of interruption of the successive light beams, emitted by each of the light sources.

We can thus detect if a customer enters the store or leaves without going through the checkouts, and

REPLACEMENT SHEET refine the variables taken into account for the calculation of the evolution of the length of the queues.

The invention also relates to the process implemented by this installation. The invention will be better understood on reading the description which follows, relating to nonlimiting examples of embodiments, and supplemented by the appended drawings in which:

- Figure 1 shows a schematic view of the installation according to the invention;

- Figure 2 shows a schematic view of a metering station;

- Figure 3 shows a schematic view of the line length evaluation station; - Figure 4 shows a schematic view of an implementation device according to the invention;

- Figure 5 shows a simplified block diagram of the method according to the invention.

FIG. 1 represents a schematic view of an exemplary embodiment of the installation according to the invention.

It includes at least one counting station

(1), stations for evaluating the length of the lines (2) to

(4), a set (5) of memory connected to a central processing unit

(6). The counting station is constituted by a circuit comprising initialization means for resetting the counting variable to zero. Calendar reading means (8) test the content of a calendar file (9) to determine whether the installation should be activated or not. If the system time or the system date corresponds to a period of closure of the distribution center, the metering station is deactivated in order to avoid the transmission of outliers, such as no entry or exit for an excessively long period.

The counting station (1) also includes an interface (10) for reading a configuration file (11) in order to determine the type of signals to be transmitted to the central unit.

REPLACEMENT SHEET The interface (11) is intended for managing the counting card. This interface notably transmits to a memory (12) the result of the count. The detailed operation of a counting system will be described later.

The set of memories (5) includes a memory (13) containing the parameters intrinsic to the installation and to the available human resources. This information is notably entered using a keyboard (14). This information is, for example, made up of the number of cashiers available, the number of cash registers managed by the installation, the schedule of the cash manager, the actual completion of the schedule, and all other information influencing the forecasting model. The counting data is also recorded in a buffer memory (15) containing the counting history.

The variable relating to the length of the queues coming from the queue length evaluation stations (2 to 4) is transmitted to a variable file (16).

Finally, all of the memories (5) include a file (17) containing the parameters of the mathematical model for evaluating at a time To + T _n the length of the queues as a function of the variables measured by the installation. This parameter file contains data which can be modified remotely, using a modem (modulator-demodulator) (18). The modem (18) allows an operator installed in a processing and analysis center to adjust the various parameters of the modem, as a function of data influencing the laws of evolution of the length of the queues, which are not taken automatically taken into account by the system. The operator can also refine the various parameters according to the anomalies or aberrations that he may have noticed.

REPLACEMENT SHEET The calculation unit (6) which is for example constituted by a microcomputer of known type, manages the memory assembly (5) and in particular manages the refreshment of the variables according to a predefined periodicity. The calculation unit notably determines the forecast length of the queues, as a function of the parameters defining the law of evolution, contained in the memory file (17) and of the various variables stored in the memories (12) and (16). The result of these calculations is used for editing curves and graphs, either on a display screen (19) or on a paper support using a printer (20). These data are also recorded in a buffer memory (15) subsequently making it possible to retrace a history of the various variables and of the calculation results, and to carry out various statistical analyzes.

The results are edited or displayed in the form of tables or graphs and make it possible to determine different analytical states such as:

- the daily, weekly, monthly or annual statement of entries;

- the average daily, weekly, monthly or annual state of entries; - the daily, weekly, monthly or annual comparative statement of entries;

- the daily, weekly, monthly and annual commercial report;

- the daily, weekly, monthly and annual conversion rate, that is to say the ratio between the number of people entering the store and the number of people going to the checkouts, and therefore having made at least one purchase.

REPLACEMENT SHEET These different results make it possible to analyze the repercussions on the commercial efficiency of different elements such as the influence of the weather, the internal organization of the shelving, the number of trolleys available to customers, and to optimize the store sales policy.

The computing unit also generates alert signals to signaling means (21). These signaling means are for example made up of sound or light alarms suitable for signaling to one or more cashiers the advisability of opening a new cash register or, on the contrary, of closing one or more cash registers, depending on the results by applying the law of 'evolution to variables recorded in memories (12) and (16). Figure 2 shows a schematic view of a metering station. Each counting station includes a light source (30) constituted by an electric bulb whose beam (31) is focused by a lens (32). This lamp is supplied via an interface during the store opening periods, recorded in the calendar file (9). A photovoltaic cell (33) is arranged on the axis of the light beam (31), facing the light source (30). The light source (30) and the photovoltaic cell (33) are arranged so that each customer entering the store cuts the light beam (31) when he enters and / or leaves the store. The signal transmitted by the photovoltaic cell (33) is transmitted to a signal processing circuit (34). This circuit consists essentially of a bi-stable rocker, forming an anti-rebound circuit. A second circuit (35) supplies a relay (36) and an alarm output (37). This circuit (35) generates an alarm signal when the signals from the shaping circuit (34) have anomalies. Among these anomalies, we can mention a signal corresponding to a beam cut.

REPLACEMENT SHEET luminous (31) for an excessive duration. In general, such a signal corresponds to an anomaly at the level of the light source, for example a faulty bulb, or even an accidental obturation of the light beam (31). The signal delivered by the relay (36) or by any other equivalent means, corresponds to one pulse per client intercepting the light beam (31).

Optionally, the counting station includes a second assembly arranged at a short distance. By analyzing the direction of the phase shift between the signals delivered by each of the assemblies, it is thus possible to determine the direction of cut of the light beams, and to determine whether the counted person enters or leaves the store. FIG. 3 represents a schematic view of the station for evaluating the length of the queues. A CCD (charge transfer camera) type camera is placed above each of the boxes, so that its optical field includes the area likely to be occupied by a queue. The presence of a client (41, 32, 43) in the queue results in a modification of the image observed by the digital camera (40). This modification of the image is reflected in particular by a variation in the density of the image. This variation is implemented by pattern recognition software to determine, approximately, the number of people waiting in the queue. The result is certainly different when people wait with or without a cart. However, the information remains usable insofar as a person equipped with a trolley will mobilize the cashbox considered for a period substantially identical to that of two people without a trolley.

It is understood that many other means of assessing the length of the queue can be envisaged by those skilled in the art, in

REPLACEMENT SHEET in particular, it can be envisaged to decompress it by auxiliary operators entering at regular intervals the number of people waiting in front of each box by means of a keyboard connected to the calculation unit (6). Some distribution centers are equipped with retail outlets, for example selling regional products or exceptional products.

In a particular example of an installation according to the present invention, each retail outlet comprises a first assembly (50) comprising a push button (51) actuated by the customer wishing to make a purchase or proceed to the payment of the goods which he took. An action on the push button (51) causes the printing of a ticket (53) carrying a number incrementing automatically after each action on the push button (51). This ticket (53) has a serial number indicating to the customer when he can access the cash register or the point of sale. At the same time, the seller has a push button (54) which he actuates after each operation, in order to cause the appearance of the following customer's order number on a display (55). This display is managed by a circuit (56) causing in particular the incrementation of a counter on each action on the push button (54). The control means available to the seller can also be constituted by an infrared or electromagnetic transmitter that remotely triggers the incrementation of the display system. The serial numbers coming from the printer (50) on the one hand and from the control circuit (56) of the display (55) on the other, are transmitted to an interface (57) delivering a signal on a output (58) connected to the computing unit (6). This information is an additional variable for assessing the length of queues and business efficiency. They are used by the calculation unit for determining the conversion rate and for

REPLACEMENT SHEET calculation of the expected length of the queue at the point of sale considered. Depending on the result of the calculation, sellers are called to the retail outlet for customer service, or on the contrary are sent to other workstations, for example for destocking or for carrying out inventories. .

When the conversion rate decreases, that is to say that the number of people leaving the store without having made any purchases increases, the unit of calculation in the process of recalling a seller at points of sale. Indeed, this means that the commercial service is insufficient to lead to the purchase decision of a prohibitive number of customers. When the conversion rate reaches a threshold value, it can be considered that the number of sellers is sufficient or even excessive to meet customer demands and that it is preferable to move certain sellers to other workstations.

FIG. 5 represents a simplified block diagram of the method according to the invention. At regular intervals T _n , the files containing the various parameters taken into account by the mathematical model are read, and corresponding to the data acquired by the sensors of the installation. The value of the indicator or indicators defined by the mathematical model or models whose parameters are stored is then calculated. The result of the calculations is stored in the buffer memory, to be used later for editing and / or viewing histograms, tables and graphical representations of the evolution as a function of the date or time of the indicators. above and for carrying out statistical processing. In addition, the results are compared with reference values to trigger procedures for recalling sellers from points of sale or their referral to other workstations and / or for opening or closing cash desks.

REPLACEMENT SHEET payment. These procedures may be of the semi-automatic type, and in this case consist of calling the personnel concerned by operators as a function of messages or information appearing on a display screen connected to the computing unit. These procedures can also be automatic. In this case, the calculation unit triggers sound, visual or text display means installed on the various workstations. These signaling means can also be constituted by portable receivers.

The present invention has been described in the foregoing by way of nonlimiting example. It is understood that the person skilled in the art will be able to produce many variants, without going beyond the scope of these.

REPLACEMENT SHEET

Claims

1 - Installation for assistance in human resource management of a distribution center, characterized in that it comprises: - at least one sensor for counting the number of people entering the distribution center;

- Means (40) for acquiring the number of people waiting in front of each cash register;

- a calculation unit (6) associated with a first storage means (17) of information relating to a mathematical model of the evolution of the queues, and a second storage means (12, 16) of the variables transmitted by the means of acquiring the installation, said calculation unit (6) delivering graphical, visual, sound or textual information, depending on the application of said model to the variables recorded in said memories (12, 16).

2 - Installation according to claim 1, characterized in that the means for acquiring the number of people waiting in front of each box, are constituted by digital cameras connected to a shape recognition calculator delivering a signal representative of the number of people in waiting in front of the corresponding box of each of said cameras (40).

3 - Installation according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that it further comprises a station equipping a retail point of sale, comprising a first control means (5.), suitable for being actuated by a client, a printer (52) of tickets (53) carrying a sequence number incremented during an action by a client on said first control means (51), a second control means (54) incrementing a second number d 'order displayed on a display (55) according to

REPLACEMENT SHEET Actuation by a seller of the retail outlet, and means of connection with the central computing unit (6).

4 - Installation according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises a means (18) of communication with a remote monitoring center.

5 - Installation according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the down-counting sensor is constituted by a photoelectric cell (33) and by a light source (30) generating a light beam in the direction of said photoelectric cell, according to a axis crossing the entry passage of the distribution center, the downcount sensor comprising means for detecting the malfunction of the light source (30).

6 - Installation according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said sensor comprises a circuit (35) generating an alert circuit when the cell does not detect any light beam for a period greater than a predetermined time.

7 - Installation according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that said sensor comprises a second assembly consisting of a cell and a light source (30), as well as means for detecting the direction of passage of the customer according to the order interruption of the light beams (31) emitted by each of the light sources.

FEUIL ι E = D nE REPLACEME. - 8 - Method for assisting in the management of the human resources of a distribution center, characterized in that at a time To the number of people entering a distribution center is counted, to the number of people waiting in front of each of the cases, and in that the parameters of a model for the evolution of an indicator of commercial efficiency of the distribution center in question are memorized, then in that the predicted evolution of said indicator is calculated at a time o + T _n as a function of the variables measured at time To, characterized in that an automatic or semi-automatic procedure is triggered when one or more predetermined thresholds of the forecast indicator thus calculated are exceeded.

9 - A method for assisting in the management of human resources according to the preceding claim, characterized in that an optical or audible signal is triggered when the calculated forecast indicator exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

10 - A method for assisting in the management of human resources according to claims 8 or 9, characterized in that one also publishes or displays tables or curves representing the evolution over time of the relationship between the number of people detected by the counting sensors in the incoming direction, and the number of people counted at the checkouts.

REPLACEMENT SHEET