Performance Evaluation System for Stores

• US 20150127431A1
• Filed: 11/05/2013
• Published: 05/07/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Wal-Mart Stores Texas LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Inventors: Ulrich, Richard, Thomas, Steven, Montgomery, Willie III
• Application Number:
  US14/071,914
• Publication Number:
  US 20150127431A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/7.39
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/217 Database tuning G06F16/2282 takes precedence; database performance monitoring G06F11/3409
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06393 Score-carding, benchmarking or key performance indicator [KPI] analysis

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments are generally directed to evaluating a performance of a store based on data representative of a transaction parameter for the store based on transactions at a point-of-sale terminal in the store. Exemplary embodiments can generate performance data for the store based on the transaction parameter. The performance data indicates performance of the store relative to a goal for a key performance indicator.

Claims

1. A method of evaluating performance of a store, comprising:

receiving a performance evaluation request in a computer-readable format from a user via a graphical user interface, the performance evaluation request specifying a goal for a key performance indicator,

executing code to query a database for electronic data representative of a transaction parameter for the store based on transactions at a point-of-sale terminal in the store in response to the performance evaluation request,

programmatically generating performance data for the store based on the transaction parameter, wherein the performance data indicates performance of the store relative to the goal for the key performance indicator, and

executing code to output the performance data to the user.

2. The method according to claim 1, comprising comparing the performance data for the store to performance data indicative of performance of at least one alternative store to determine performance of the store relative to the at least one alternative store.

3. The method according to claim 1, comprising comparing the performance data to the goal in response to at least one of generation of the performance data and an electronic request from a user.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the key performance indicator comprises at least one of a queue length compliancy, an ideal register utilization, an ideal register opening performance, an over ideal register opening performance, an under ideal register opening performance, and a quantity of items scanned per hour.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein programmatically generating performance data for the store based on the transaction parameter comprises:

determining an arrival rate of customers to the store for a specific time period and a service rate of the customers in the store for the specified time period, and

executing code to determine an ideal register utilization defined by dividing the arrival rate by the service rate.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein programmatically generating performance data for the store based on the transaction parameter comprises:

executing code to determine a total time spent waiting in line and being served defined by an inverse of a difference between the service rate and the arrival rate, and

executing code to determine an average time waiting in line and being served defined by a difference between the total time spent waiting in line and being served and an inverse of the service rate.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein programmatically generating performance data for the store based on the transaction parameter comprises:

executing code to determine an average number of customers in the store based on the arrival rate and the total time spent waiting in line and being served per customer, and

executing code to determine an average number of customers in line based on the arrival rate and the average time waiting in line and being served.

8. The method according to claim 5, wherein programmatically generating performance data for the store based on the transaction parameter comprises executing code to determine a probability that the store is empty based on the arrival rate, the service rate, and a number of point-of-sale terminals being operated.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein programmatically generating performance data for the store based on the transaction parameter comprises executing code to determine an expected number of customers waiting in line based on the arrival rate, the service rate, the number of point-of-sale terminals being operated, and the probability that the store is empty.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein programmatically generating performance data for the store based on the transaction parameter comprises:

executing code to determine a transaction time per customer based on a scan time, a tender time, a previous tender time, and a miscellaneous time, and

executing code to determine an items per hour defined by the following mathematical expression

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein at least one of the scan time, the tender time, the previous tender time, and the miscellaneous time is capped to reduce at least one of noise, abnormal values, and unrealistic values in the determination.

12. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions, wherein execution of the instructions by a processing device causes the processing device to implement a method of evaluating performance of a store, comprising:

receiving a performance evaluation request in a computer-readable format from a user via a graphical user interface, the performance evaluation request specifying a goal for a key performance indicator,

executing code to query a database for electronic data representative of a transaction parameter for the store based on transactions at a point-of-sale terminal in the store in response to the performance evaluation request,

programmatically generating performance data for the store based on the transaction parameter, wherein the performance data indicates performance of the store relative to the goal for the key performance indicator, and

executing code to output the performance data to the user.

13. The medium according to claim 12, comprising comparing the performance data to the goal in response to at least one of generation of the performance data and an electronic request from a user.

14. The medium according to claim 12, comprising executing code to determine at least one of an arrival rate, a service rate, an ideal register utilization, a total time spent waiting in line and being served, an average time waiting in line and being served, an average number of customers in the store, an average number of customers in line, a probability that the store is empty, an expected number of customers waiting in line, a transaction time, and an items per hour.

15. A retail performance evaluation system for evaluating performance of a store, comprising:

a computer storage device storing electronic data representative of a transaction parameter for the store based on transactions at a point-of-sale terminal in the store,

a graphical user interface, and

a processing device configured to (i) receive a performance evaluation request in a computer-readable format from a user via the graphical user interface, the performance evaluation request specifying a goal for a key performance indicator, (ii) executing code to query a database for electronic data representative of a transaction parameter for the store based on transactions at the point-of-sale terminal in the store in response to the performance evaluation request, (iii) programmatically generating performance data for the store based on the transaction parameter, wherein the performance data indicates performance of the store relative to the goal for the key performance indicator, and (iv) executing code to output the performance data to the user.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the processing device is configured to compare the performance data for the store to performance data indicative of performance of at least one alternative store to determine performance of the store relative to the at least one alternative store.

17. The system according to claim 15, wherein the graphical user interface is configured to receive an input of the goal for the key performance indicator, and wherein the processing device is configured to compare the performance data to the goal in response to at least one of generation of the performance data and an electronic request from a user.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein the processing device is configured to execute code to determine at least one of an arrival rate, a service rate, an ideal register utilization, a total time spent waiting in line and being served, an average time waiting in line and being served, an average number of customers in the store, an average number of customers in line, a probability that the store is empty, an expected number of customers waiting in line, a transaction time, and an items per hour.

19. The system according to claim 18, wherein the processing device is configured to execute code to determine an ideal register utilization defined by dividing the arrival rate by the service rate.

20. The system according to claim 18, wherein the processing device is configured to execute code to determine:

an average number of customers in the store based on the arrival rate and the total time spent waiting in line and being served per customer, and

an average number of customers in line based on the arrival rate and the average time waiting in line and being served.