TRAFFIC BASED LABOR ALLOCATION METHOD AND SYSTEM

• US 20080172282A1
• Filed: 01/15/2007
• Published: 07/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shoppertrak RCT LLC
• Original Assignee: Shoppertrak RCT Corporation (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Harris, Ian, Guanlao, Eric, Martin, Jim, Pande, Anurag, Dispensa, Gary, Stover, Paige, McNeill, Dave
• Granted Patent: US 7,987,105 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/9
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0631 Resource planning, allocation, distributing or scheduling for enterprises or organisations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063116 Schedule adjustment for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1093 Calendar-based scheduling for persons or groups
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0202 Market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities

Abstract

A method and system for distributing labor based upon determinations of traffic in a facility, such as a store. Daily traffic forecast information is obtained for each day within a given time period from a source of such information. Calendar and event information for the facility for each day within the given time period is determined. Baseline days are selected from historical traffic data, and baseline averages and percentages for a predetermined time interval are also selected. The distribution of traffic for each day within the given time period at each time interval is determined using the baseline percentages for each time interval. Labor data is distributed. Labor recommendations are provided at each time interval for the given time period based on the distribution of traffic for each day, and at least one of other user-defined workforce requirements. The results of any or all the these steps are displayed to a user.

Claims

1. A method of distributing labor based upon determinations of traffic in a facility, comprising the steps of:

(a) obtaining daily traffic forecast information for each day within a given time period;

(b) determining calendar and event information for each day within the given period;

(c) selecting baseline days from historical traffic data and computing baseline averages and percentages for a predetermined time interval;

(d) determining the distribution of traffic for each day within the given period at each time interval using the baseline percentages for each time interval;

(e) distributing labor data and providing labor recommendations for the given period based on the distribution of traffic for each day within the given period, and at least one of other user-defined workforce requirements; and

(f) displaying the results of any of the foregoing steps.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the step of selecting baseline days comprises the step of obtaining setup/ configuration data and the step of system processing the setup/configuration data with at least one of the historical traffic data of the facility, the historical traffic data of another facility, and the historical traffic data of said facility and said another facility.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein:

the setup/configuration data includes store hours and the calendar and event information.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein:

the step of selecting baseline days further includes using said setup/configuration data to select data from said historical traffic data of at least one of said facility and said another facility, and rank the selected data in order of preference, said preference defined by baseline rules.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein:

said baseline days comprise days included in certain of the selected data that is preferentially ranked.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein:

said baseline averages are computed as an average value for a predetermined time interval of said baseline days.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein:

said baseline percentages are computed as a portion of said baseline averages for the predetermined time interval compared to the total number of said baseline averages.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the step of determining the distribution of traffic comprises multiplying a value for said baseline percentages by a value for said daily traffic forecast information for each said predetermined time interval in each said day in said given time period.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of distributing labor data comprises the additional steps of

(a) obtaining said traffic data;

(b) obtaining minimum and maximum coverage data at said predetermined time interval;

(c) validating the steps of obtaining said traffic data and obtaining minimum and maximum coverage data; and

(d) selecting a labor distribution procedure from among a plurality of labor distribution procedures.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the plurality of labor distribution procedures includes at least one procedure comprising the steps of:

inputting the total number of employee hours available for selling in the facility;

assigning for each said time interval said minimum employee coverage;

computing remaining available employee hours; and

assigning said additional available employee hours to said time interval.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the plurality of labor distribution procedures includes at least one procedure comprising the steps of:

inputting data comprising a desired shopper-to-sales associate ratio for the facility at each time interval;

said traffic distribution data divided by said desired shopper-to-associate ratio to produce recommended distribution of labor.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein:

the employee hours assigned to said time interval does not exceed said maximum coverage for said time interval.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the step of displaying the results comprises displaying said results on an electronic display device.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein:

the electronic display device is at a remote location relative to said facility.

15. At least one computer readable medium encoded with computer-executable instructions that, when executed on a computer system, perform a method for distributing labor based upon determinations of traffic in a facility, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) obtaining daily traffic forecast information for each day within a given time period;

(b) determining calendar and event information for each day within the given period;

(c) selecting baseline days from historical traffic data and computing baseline averages and percentages for a predetermined time interval;

(d) determining the distribution of traffic for each day within the given period at each time interval using the baseline percentages for each time interval;

(e) distributing labor data and providing labor recommendations for the given period based on the distribution of traffic for each day within the given period, and at least one of other user-defined workforce requirements; and

(f) displaying the results of any of the foregoing steps.

16. The at least one computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein selecting baseline days comprises obtaining setup/configuration data and system processing the setup/configuration data with at least one of the historical traffic data of the facility, the historical traffic data of another facility, and the historical traffic data of said facility and said another facility.

17. The at least one computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the setup/configuration data includes store hours and the calendar and event information.

18. The at least one computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein selecting baseline days further includes using said setup/configuration data to select data from said historical traffic data of at least one of said facility and said another facility, and rank the selected data in order of preference, said preference defined by baseline rules.

19. The at least one computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein said baseline days comprised days included in certain of the selected data that is preferentially ranked.

20. The at least one computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein said baseline averages are computed as an average value for a predetermined time interval of said baseline days.

21. The at least one computer-readable medium of claim 20, wherein said baseline percentages are computed as a portion of said baseline averages for the predetermined time interval compared to the total number of said baseline averages.

22. The at least one computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein determining the distribution of traffic comprises multiplying a value for said baseline percentages by a value for said daily traffic forecast information for each said predetermined time interval in each said day in said given time period.

23. The at least one computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein distributing labor data comprises the additional steps of

(a) obtaining said traffic data;

(b) obtaining minimum and maximum coverage data at said predetermined time interval;

(c) validating the steps of obtaining said traffic data and obtaining minimum and maximum coverage data; and

(d) selecting a labor distribution procedure from among a plurality of labor distribution procedures.

24. The at least one computer-readable medium of claim 23, wherein the plurality of labor distribution procedures includes at least one procedure comprising the steps of:

inputting the total number of employee hours available for selling in the facility;

assigning for each said time interval said minimum employee coverage;

computing remaining available employee hours, and

assigning said additional available employee hours to said time interval.

25. The at least one computer-readable medium of claim 23, wherein the plurality of labor distribution procedures includes at least one procedure comprising the steps of:

inputting data comprising a desired shopper-to-sales associate ratio for the facility at each time interval;

said traffic distribution data divided by said desired shopper-to-associate ratio to produce recommended distribution of labor.

26. The at least one computer-readable medium of claim 24 wherein:

the employee hours assigned to said time interval does not exceed said maximum coverage for said time interval.

27. The at least one computer-readable medium of claim 15 wherein:

the step of displaying the results comprises displaying said results on an electronic display device.

28. The at least one computer-readable medium of claim 27 wherein:

the electronic display device is at a remote location relative to said facility.

29. A labor distribution recommendation system based upon determinations of traffic in a facility, the system comprising:

a daily traffic forecast module adapted to receive daily traffic forecast data for each day in a given time period;

a calendar and event module adapted to extract calendar and event data;

a selecting baseline module adapted to select baseline days from historical traffic data and compute baseline averages and percentages for a predetermined time interval;

a traffic distribution module adapted to distribute traffic for each day in the given time period at each time interval using the baseline percentages for each time interval;

a labor distribution and recommendation module adapted to distribute labor data and provide labor recommendations for the given time period based on the distribution of traffic for each day within the given time period, and at least one of other user-defined workforce requirements;

an input device adapted to receive input information related to the given time period and to receive instructions from a user;

an output device adapted to display output data from the traffic distribution module, the labor distribution and recommendation module, the calendar and event module, and the daily traffic forecast module; and

a database module adapted to store processed data to a database.

30. The labor distribution recommendation system of claim 29, wherein the selecting baseline module is adapted to receive setup/configuration data and process the setup/configuration data with at least one of the historical traffic data of the facility, the historical traffic data of another facility, and the historical traffic data of said facility and said another facility.

31. The labor distribution recommendation system of claim 30, wherein the setup/configuration data includes store hours and the calendar and event information.

32. The labor distribution recommendation system of claim 30, wherein the selecting baseline module is adapted to use said setup/configuration data to select data from said historical traffic data of at least one of said facility and said another facility, and rank the selected data in order of preference, said preference defined by baseline rules.

33. The labor distribution recommendation system of claim 32, wherein said baseline days comprised days included in certain of the selected data that is preferentially ranked.

34. The labor distribution recommendation system of claim 33, wherein said baseline averages are computed as an average value for a predetermined time interval of said baseline days.

35. The labor distribution recommendation system of claim 34, wherein said baseline percentages are computed as a portion of said baseline averages for the predetermined time interval compared to the total number of said baseline averages.

36. The labor distribution recommendation system of claim 29, wherein the traffic distribution and recommendation module is adapted to determine the distribution of traffic based upon multiplying a value for said baseline percentages by a value for said daily traffic forecast information for each said predetermined time interval in each said day in said given time period.

37. The labor distribution recommendation system of claim 29, wherein the labor distribution and recommendation module is adapted to:

receive said traffic data;

obtain minimum and maximum coverage data at said predetermined time interval;

validate the steps of obtaining said traffic data and obtaining minimum and maximum coverage data; and

select a labor distribution procedure from among a plurality of labor distribution procedures.

38. The labor distribution recommendation system of claim 37, wherein the plurality of labor distribution procedures includes at least one procedure adapted to:

obtain the total number of employee hours available for selling in the facility;

assign for each said time interval said minimum employee coverage;

compute remaining available employee hours; and

assign said additional available employee hours to said time interval.

39. The labor distribution recommendation system of claim 37, wherein the plurality of labor distribution procedures includes at least one procedure adapted to:

receive data comprising a desired shopper-to-sales associate ratio for the facility at each time interval; and

compute recommended distribution of labor as said traffic distribution data divided by said desired shopper-to-associate ratio.

40. The labor distribution recommendation system of claim 38, wherein the employee hours assigned to said time interval does not exceed said maximum coverage for said time interval.

41. The labor distribution recommendation system of claim 29, wherein the input device and the output device are adapted to interact with a user via a browser.