Traffic based labor allocation method and system

• US 7,987,105 B2
• Filed: 01/15/2007
• Issued: 07/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shoppertrak RCT LLC (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Shoppertrak RCT Corporation (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Harris, Ian, Guanlao, Eric, Martin, Jim, Pande, Anurag, Dispensa, Gary, Stover, Paige, McNeill, Dave
• Primary Examiner(s): Jarrett; Scott L
• Application Number:
  US11/623,229
• Publication Number:
  US 20080172282A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,653 Days
• Field of Search: 705/7
• US Class Current: 705/7.12
• 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 retail facility, the method being executed by at least one processor and 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 for each day within the given period from historical traffic data and computing via the at least one processor baseline averages and percentages for a predetermined time interval, the historical traffic data includes both the historical traffic data of the retail facility and the historical traffic data of a similar retail facility, wherein;

for the each day within the given period, the selected baselines days are a plurality of similar weekdays of a predetermined period prior to the given period,

when a holiday or event date falls on the each day within the given period, the corresponding baselines days are a plurality of similar holiday or event dates selected from a predetermined number of prior years,

each of the baseline averages is computed as an average value for the predetermined time interval of the baseline days,

each of the baseline percentages is computed as a portion of the baseline averages for the predetermined time interval compared to the total number of the baseline averages, and

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

(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, and multiplying a value for the baseline percentages by a value for the daily traffic forecast information for the predetermined time interval in each day in the given time period;

(e) distributing labor data for the given period based on the distribution of traffic for each day within the given period,

wherein the labor data distribution comprises;

obtaining minimum and maximum coverage data at the predetermined time interval, assigning for the predetermined time interval the minimum employee coverage, and

computing remaining available employee hours; and

(f) providing labor recommendations for each day within the given period based on the preceding 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 the historical traffic data of the retail facility and the similar retail 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 the setup/configuration data to select data from the historical traffic data of the retail facility and the similar retail facility, and rank the selected data in order of preference, the preference defined by baseline rules.

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

(a) obtaining the traffic data;

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

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

6. The method of claim 5, 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 retail facility; and

assigning the additional available employee hours to the time interval.

7. The method of claim 5, 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 retail facility at each time interval;

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

8. The method of claim 6 wherein:

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

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying the results of any of the steps (a) through (f) on an electronic display device.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein:

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

11. 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 retail 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 for each day within the given period from historical traffic data and computing via the at least one processor baseline averages and percentages for a predetermined time interval, historical traffic data includes both the historical traffic data of the retail facility and the historical traffic data of a similar retail facility, wherein;

for the each day within the given period, the selected baselines days are a plurality of similar weekends of a predetermined period to the given period,

when a holiday or event date falls on the each day within the given period, the corresponding baselines days are a plurality of similar holiday or event dates selected from a predetermined number of prior years,

each of the baseline averages is computed as an average value for the predetermined time interval of the baseline days,

each of the baseline percentages is computed as a portion of the baseline averages for the predetermined time interval compared to the total number of the baseline averages, and

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

(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, and multiplying a value for the baseline percentages by a value for the daily traffic forecast information for the predetermined time interval in each day in the given time period;

(e) distributing labor data for the given period based on the distribution of traffic for each day within the given period,

wherein the labor data distribution comprises;

obtaining minimum and maximum coverage data at the predetermined time interval, assigning for the predetermined time interval the minimum employee coverage, and

computing remaining available employee hours; and

(f) providing labor recommendations for each day within the given period based on the preceding steps.

12. The at least one computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein selecting baseline days comprises obtaining setup/configuration data and system processing the setup/configuration data with the historical traffic data of the retail facility and the similar retail facility.

13. The at least one computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the setup/configuration data includes store hours and the calendar and event information.

14. The at least one computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein selecting baseline days further includes using the setup/configuration data to select data from the historical traffic data of the retail facility and the similar retail facility, and rank the selected data in order of preference, the preference defined by baseline rules.

15. The at least one computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein distributing labor data comprises the additional steps of:

(a) obtaining the traffic data;

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

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

16. The at least one computer-readable medium of claim 15, 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 retail facility; and

assigning the additional available employee hours to the time interval.

17. The at least one computer-readable medium of claim 15, 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 retail facility at each time interval;

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

18. The at least one computer-readable medium of claim 16 wherein:

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

19. The at least one computer-readable medium of claim 11 wherein:

further comprising displaying the results of any of the steps (a) through (f) on an electronic display device.

20. The at least one computer-readable medium of claim 19 wherein:

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

21. A labor distribution recommendation system based upon determinations of traffic in a retail facility, the system having at least one processor associated with a plurality of programming modules, 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 for each day of the given period from historical traffic data and compute via the at least one processor baseline averages and percentages for a predetermined time interval, the historical traffic data includes both the historical traffic data of the retail facility and the historical traffic data of a similar retail facility, wherein;

for each day within the given period the selected baselines days are a plurality of similar weekdays of a predetermined period prior to the given period,

wherein when a holiday date falls on the each day within the given period,

the corresponding baselines days are a plurality of similar holiday dates selected from a predetermined number of prior years,

each of the baseline averages is computed as an average value for the predetermined time interval of the baseline days,

each of the baseline percentages is computed as a portion of the baseline averages for the predetermined time interval compared to the total number of the baseline averages, and

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

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, and multiplying a value for the baseline percentages by a value for the daily traffic forecast information for the predetermined time interval in each day in the given time period;

a labor distribution adapted to distribute labor data for the given time period based on the distribution of traffic for each day within the given time period,

wherein the labor data distribution comprises;

obtaining minimum and maximum coverage data at the predetermined time interval, assigning for the predetermined time interval the minimum employee coverage, and

computing remaining available employee hours;

a recommendation module adapted to provide labor recommendations for the given time period based on the preceding data;

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 module, the 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.

22. The labor distribution recommendation system of claim 21, wherein the selecting baseline module is adapted to receive setup/configuration data and process the setup/configuration data with the historical traffic data of the retail facility and the similar retail facility.

23. The labor distribution recommendation system of claim 22, wherein the setup/configuration data includes store hours and the calendar and event information.

24. The labor distribution recommendation system of claim 22, wherein the selecting baseline module is adapted to use the setup/configuration data to select data from the historical traffic data of the retail facility and the similar retail facility, and rank the selected data in order of preference, the preference defined by baseline rules.

25. The labor distribution recommendation system of claim 21, wherein the labor distribution and recommendation module is adapted to:

receive the traffic data;

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

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

26. The labor distribution recommendation system of claim 25, 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 retail facility; and

assign the additional available employee hours to the time interval.

27. The labor distribution recommendation system of claim 25, 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 retail facility at each time interval; and

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

28. The labor distribution recommendation system of claim 26, wherein the employee hours assigned to the time interval does not exceed the maximum coverage for the time interval.

29. The labor distribution recommendation system of claim 21, wherein the input device and the output device are adapted to interact with a user via a browser.