System and method for detecting merchandise sliding and under ringing at cash register

What is claimed is:

1. A computerized method for detecting the under ringing and sliding of merchandise by a cashier in an electronic cash register system employing a plurality of electronic cash registers and a cashier at each cash register, said cash register system compiling raw cash register data which includes the total number of items and dollar amount for all items sold by each cashier for each cashier day the cashier works, said method comprising:

providing a computer;

inputting and storing said cash register data into computer-readable memory;

processing said cash register data on said computer to determine a cashier average item price for each cashier which represents the average price of the items sold by a respective cashier on each day;

indexing said cashier average item price to a respective cashier and storing said cashier average item price for all of said cashiers in a cashier database in a computer-readable medium;

processing said cash register data to determine the store average item price representing the average price of all said items sold by all the cashiers during a specified time period;

comparing said daily cashier average item price and said store average item price to determine the daily deviation of each said cashier from said store average item price;

computing a cashier deviation for each cashier by algebraically summing said daily deviations of each said cashier; and

determining if said cashier deviation of an individual cashier is significantly different from the cashier deviation of the other cashiers so that said individual cashier can be identified for further investigation.

2. The method of claim 1 including determining said daily cashier average item price for each cashier day of said cashiers during said specified time period.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said specified time period is in a range of about 30 to 90 days.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said specified period of time is approximately 60 days.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said specified time period is in a range of about 30 to 90 days.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said specified period of time is approximately 60 days.

7. The method of claim 1 including computing said store average item price by totaling said cashier average item price for each day for each cashier selected during said specified period and dividing the total by the number of entries in the total.

8. The method of claim 1 including displaying said cashier deviation by generating said report by generating a graph containing a plot of said cashier deviation of said cashiers against said store average item price.

9. The method of claim 8 including generating said graph based on a deviation from said store average item price as a zero base line.

10. The method of claim 8 including printing said graph on a computer associated printer.

11. The method of claim 1 including selecting the said cashier data to be processed on said computer according to predetermined criteria.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said predetermined criteria includes selecting said cashier data indexed to cashiers who have a minimum number of customers per cashier day.

13. The method of claim 1 including conducting a paper audit of a first cashier whose cashier deviation indicates under ringing.

14. The method of claim 13 including identifying a second cashier whose cashier deviation indicates merchandise sliding but concluding that merchandise sliding is unlikely if said audit trail of said first cashier indicates under ringing.

15. The method of claim 13 including investigating a second cashier whose cashier deviation indicate merchandise sliding in the event said audit trail indicates under ringing is not likely.

16. A computer program for controlling a computer in an electronic cash register system to detect the under ringing and sliding of merchandise by a cashier, said cash register system employing a plurality of electronic cash registers with a cashier at each cash register, a computer for receiving and compiling cash register data from said cash registers which includes the total number of items sold and the total dollar sales of the items sold by each cashier on a cashier day on which the cashier is working, and a cash register database for storing said cash register data in a computer-readable medium; said computer program embodied in a computer readable medium comprising:

means embodied in computer-readable code for processing said cash register data to calculate a daily cashier average item price for each cashier per cashier day;

means embodied in computer-readable code for creating a cashier database for storing said cashier average item prices indexed to said cashiers in a computer-readable medium;

means embodied in computer-readable code for processing said cash register data to calculate a store average item price representing the average of all qualifying cashier average item prices during a specified time period;

means embodied in computer-readable code for comparing said daily cashier average item price and said store average item price data to calculate a daily deviation of each cashier from said store average item price;

means embodied in computer-readable code for calculating a cashier deviation of each cashier representing the algebraic sum of said daily deviations of each said cashier; and

means embodied in computer-readable code for determining if a cashier deviation of an individual cashier is significantly different from the other cashiers so that said individual cashier can be identified for further investigation.

17. The program of claim 16 including selection instructions embodied in computer-readable code for selecting said cashier data only for cashiers meeting predetermined criteria.

18. The program of claim 17 wherein said means for calculating a store average item price includes instructions embodied in computer-readable code for arriving at a total by adding all of the cashier average item prices for each qualifying cashier for each day in the specified time period and dividing the total by the number of entries in the total.

19. The program of claim 17 wherein said predetermined criteria includes having one of a minimum number of customers during a specified time period.

20. The program of claim 17 wherein said specified time period is in a range of about 30 to 90 days.

21. The program of claim 20 wherein said specified period of time is approximately 60 days.

22. The program of claim 17 including means embodied in computer-readable code for generating a visual report which can be displayed.

23. The program of claim 22 including means embodied in computer-readable media for generating a graph containing a plot of said cashier deviations of said cashiers against said store average item price.

24. A system for detecting the under ringing and sliding of merchandise by a cashier in a retail establishment comprising:

an electronic cash register system employing a plurality of electronic cash registers and a cashier at each cash register, said cash register system compiling raw cash register data which includes the total number of items sold and dollar sales of the items sold by each cashier on each cashier day a cashier works;

a cash register database for storing said cash register data in a computer-readable medium;

a central computer for processing said cash register data;

means embodied in computer-readable code including averaging instructions for processing said cash register data on said computer to determine a daily cashier average item price representing a daily average price of the items sold by each cashier per cashier day and a store average item price representing the average of all qualifying cashier average item prices during a specified time period;

a cashier database including said daily cashier average item prices in computer-readable form indexed to said cashiers stored in a computer-readable medium;

comparative instructions embodied in computer-readable form for comparing said daily cashier average item price for each said cashier and said store average item price to determine a daily deviation of each said cashier from said store average item price, and for calculating a total cashier deviation for each cashier by algebraically summing of said daily deviations of each said cashier; and

means embodied in computer-readable codes for generating a report to identify if a cashier deviation of an individual cashier is significantly different from the other cashiers so that said individual cashier can be identified for further investigation.

25. The system of claim 24 wherein said specified time period is in a range of about 30 to 90 days.

26. The system of claim 25 wherein said specified period of time is approximately 60 days.

27. The system of claim 24 wherein said averaging instructions include means embodied in said computer-readable code for determining said daily cashier average item price sold by each cashier per cashier day by dividing said dollar sales by said number of items.

28. The system of claim 24 wherein said averaging instructions include means embodied in computer-readable code for determining said store average item price by adding all the cashier average item prices of each qualifying cashier and then dividing by the total number of cashier days during said specified time period.

29. The system of claim 28 wherein said specified time period is in a range of about 30 to 90 days.

30. The system of claim 29 wherein said specified period of time is approximately 60 days.

31. The system of claim 25 wherein said averaging instructions include means embodied in computer-readable code for determining said daily cashier average item price for each cashier day of each said cashier during said specified time period.

32. The system of claim 24 includes a visual report generated on said computer for displaying said cashier deviation of said cashiers.

33. The system of claim 32 wherein said report includes a graph containing a plot of said cashier deviation of said cashier against said store average item price as a zero base line.

34. The system of claim 33 wherein said graph is in print form.

35. The system of claim 24 including selection instructions embodied in computer-readable media for selecting said cashier data to be processed on said computer according to predetermined criteria.

36. The system of claim 35 wherein said predetermined criteria includes selecting the cashier data of only cashiers who have worked a minimum number of customers per cashier day during said specified time period.

Description Submit all comments and votes

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to cashier exception report information systems for retail establishments, and more particularly, to a method and system for detecting merchandise under ringing and sliding by cashiers in retail establishments employing electronic cash register systems.

Typical electronic cash register data collection systems are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,189,607 and 4,502,120 which collect cash register data from a plurality of electronic cash registers at which cashiers are employed. Previously, exception report information systems for retail establishment have been known which used the electronically collected cash register data, and calculate the average transaction price for each cashier. Exception reports are then generated comparing the average transaction price by cashier. Additionally, the average transaction price is commonly calculated by store in a chain of stores. The exception report details any deviation of a cashier and/or a store beyond a normal deviation. The average transaction price for the individual cashiers is averaged to provide an average store transaction price. The individual cashier transaction prices are then compared to the store average. Any cashier who deviates more than 30% from the store average is suspect. This will identify a cashier who possibly is under ringing merchandise. Suspected under ringing can then be readily proven by an audit. However, the problem arises in that analysis of the average transaction price for the cashier does not take into effect the differences in the days and shifts which the cashiers work. The average transaction price may vary itself on the particular day and time of purchase. Also, the prior systems have not been satisfactory in detecting the sliding of merchandise. The sliding of merchandise means that the cashier passes merchandise through the checkout without ringing a price. When merchandise bypasses the cash register, there is no paper audit trail.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a method and system for detecting the under ringing and/or sliding of merchandise by cashiers at a retail establishment in an effective and reliable manner. In particular, an object of the invention is to eliminate the variances in the average transaction price of cashiers caused by time and shift differences to more reliably detect merchandise under ringing, and to provide a method and system for detecting the sliding of merchandise.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The above objectives are accomplished according to the present invention by providing a computerized process for detecting the under ringing and/or sliding of merchandise by a cashier in an electronic cash register system employing a plurality of electronic cash registers and a cashier at each cash register. Cash register data which includes the total number of items and dollar amount for all items sold by each cashier for each cashier day is compiled into a database that is input and stored in a computer readable memory. Next, the cash register data is processed on the computer to determine a daily cashier average item price for each cashier which represents the average price of the items sold by a respective cashier on each cashier day. Advantageously, the cashier data to be processed on the computer is selected according to predetermined criteria which includes selecting the cashier data of cashiers who have a minimum number of customers and/or cashier days. The cashier average item price is indexed to a respective cashier and stored in a cashier database in a computer-readable medium. Next, the cash register data is processed to determine the store average item price representing the daily average price of all the items sold by all the cashiers during a specified time period. The daily cashier average item price is compared to the store average item price for each cashier to compute the daily deviation of each cashier from the store average item price. The method then includes computing a cashier deviation for each cashier by algebraically summing the daily deviations of each cashier, and determining if a cashier deviation of an individual cashier is statistically significantly different from the cashier deviation of the other cashiers so that the individual cashier can be identified for further investigation. Advantageously, the method includes determining the daily cashier average item price for each cashier day of the cashiers during a specified time period in a range of about 30 to 90 days. Preferably the specified period of time is approximately 60 days. Finally, the method contemplates displaying the cashier deviation of the cashiers by generating a report on the computer, preferably by generating a graph containing a plot of the cashier deviation of each cashier against the store average item price. The graph is based on a deviation from the store average item price as a zero base line, and printed on a computer associated printer.

A paper audit of any cashier whose cashier deviation indicates under ringing is conducted to substantiate the under ringing. In particular, if another cashier exists whose cashier deviation indicates merchandise sliding, a conclusion can be reached that merchandise sliding is unlikely by the other cashier if the audit trail of the first cashier substantiates under ringing. The cashier whose cashier deviation indicate merchandise sliding is further investigated if the audit trail does not substantiate under ringing by the first cashier.

In accordance with further aspects of the invention, a computerized system is provided for detecting the under ringing and sliding of merchandise by a cashier in a retail establishment. A cash register database stores the cash register data in a computer-readable medium, and a central computer processes the cash register data. Averaging instructions are embodied in computer-readable form for processing the cash register data on the computer to determine the daily cashier average item price. The store average item price is also computed representing the average item price of the items sold by all of the cashiers during a specified time period. A cashier database is created which includes the daily cashier average item prices stored in a computer-readable medium indexed to the corresponding cashiers. Comparative instructions embodied in computer-readable codes process the cashier database on the computer to determine a daily deviation for each cashier from the store average item price. In an important aspect of the invention, the instructions calculate a cashier deviation for each cashier by algebraically summing the daily deviations of each cashier during a specified time period. The system includes selection instructions embodied in computer-readable media for selecting said cashier data from the cashier database to be processed on said computer according to predetermined selection criteria. Preferably, the selection criteria includes selecting the cashier data of only cashiers who had a minimum number of customers per cashier day during the specified time period. Means embodied in computer-readable codes is provided for generating a report identifying any cashier whose cashier deviation is statistically significantly different from the other cashiers so that the individual cashier can be further investigated.

Preferably, the averaging instructions include means embodied in computer-readable code for determining the daily cashier average item price by dividing the total dollar sales by the number of items sold by each cashier per cashier day. The averaging instructions include means embodied in computer-readable code for determining said store average item price by adding all cashier average item price for each qualifying and selected cashier and dividing the sum by the number of cashier days (i.e. total number of entries) during the specified time period. Advantageously, the specified time period is in a range of about 30 to 90 days, and preferably is approximately 60 days. The averaging instructions determine the daily cashier average item price for each cashier day of each cashier during the specified time period.

According to a further aspect of the invention, a computer program is provided for use in an electronic cash register system to detect the under ringing and sliding of merchandise by a cashier, as described previously. The computer program includes processing instructions embodied in computer-readable code which includes the selection instructions, averaging instructions, and comparative instructions stored in a computer-readable medium. The selection instructions provide criteria for selecting the cashier data to be processed such as those with a minimum number of cashier days and/or customers necessary for valid results. The averaging instructions process the cash register data to calculate the daily cashier average item price and the store average item price, and create a cashier database in which the cashier average item prices are indexed and stored in a computer-readable medium. The comparative instructions analyze and compare the daily cashier average item price and the store average item price data to calculate the daily deviation of each cashier, and calculate a cashier deviation for each cashier by algebraically summing the daily deviations of a cashier. The instructions also compute a report if a cashier deviation of an individual cashier is significantly different from the other cashiers.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The construction designed to carry out the invention will hereinafter be described, together with other features thereof.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, wherein an example of the invention is shown and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a system and method according to the present invention for detecting the under ringing and sliding of merchandise at a retail establishment;

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating a typical prior art exception report information system;

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating in more detail a method and system according to the invention for detecting the under ringing and sliding of merchandise by cashiers in retail establishments;

FIG. 4 is a cashier exception report graph according to the invention which graphs the cashier deviation of a plurality of cashier against the store as a zero baseline;

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating the method and system of the present system for generating a refund graph; and

FIG. 6 is a refund graph for the same store as shown in FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF A DETAILED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings, the invention will now be described in more detail. As can best be seen in FIG. 1, a computerized system for detecting under ringing and/or sliding of merchandise by a cashier in a retail establishment, designated generally as A, is illustrated which includes an electronic cash register system employing a plurality of electronic cash registers C1, C2, C3 . . . and a cashier employed at each cash register. The cash register system compiles raw data D1, D2, D3 . . . which includes a total number of items sold and a total dollar sales of the items sold by each cashier on each cashier day a cashier works in the system. The cash register data is input to a central computer B and stored in a cash register data base 10 created in a computer readable memory 12 of the computer.

Selection instructions 14 are embodied in computer-readable code stored in memory 12 for selecting which cashier and cash register data qualifies for analysis and processing. General processing instructions 16 embodied computer-readable code are also stored in a computer-readable medium such as memory 12 and include averaging and comparative instructions for processing the selected cash register data, creating a cashier database 18, and analyzing the cashier data for identifying merchandise under ringing and/or sliding. Cashier database 18 contains the desired, calculated data for only those cashiers meeting the selection criteria of instructions 14. Computer D includes a control processing unit 20 (CPU) for processing instructions 14 and 16. An exception report 22 is output from the computer based on cashier data 18.

FIG. 2 illustrates a flowchart of a typical prior art electronic cash register system 26 wherein all sales transactions by a cashier are recorded and sent to a computer or local area network 28 where the information is stored in a cash register database 30. Criteria for a store exception condition is set up at 32 such as time frames, amounts, percent, variation, etc. The store information is analyzed for an exception condition at 32, taking the store information, comparing the norm and seeing if there is an exception condition. Each category is examined for exceptions (company average or store average is examined for the exception conditions). Numerous exception conditions can be examined as determined by managerial selection. Once a store reaches an exception condition, for example, if there are 10 convenient stores and one store has refunds that are 2% greater then the average of all the stores, an exception report is generated at 34 pointing out that the store's refunds are 2% greater then the norm. An exception report is then generated in the form of tables. The exception report tables are transmitted to management for further investigation. Once a potential problem is identified, investigators are sent in to determine if a of theft or policy violations are occurring. Average transaction prices are also typically calculated with exception reports generated when an exception condition is calculated such as a cashier with a greater than 30% deviation from the average store transaction price.

FIG. 3 illustrates a system and method of the present invention for detecting merchandise under ringing and/or sliding by a cashier employed in an electronic cash register system. In accordance with the present invention, the cash register data D1, D2, D3 . . . stored in cash register data base 10 is analyzed for a period of between 30 and 90 days, and is preferably 60 days as indicated at 36. The cash register data is processed by the central processing unit 20 of computer B in accordance with cashier selection instructions 14 to select the cash register data of only the cashiers who meet the selection criteria 38. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, it is desired to select the cash register data of only cashiers with 50 or more customers per cashier day for analyses as indicated at 38. Of course, the minimum number of cashiers per day which is used as a selection criteria, as well as the selection criteria itself, can change depending on the application being made, the average volume of the store, etc. The cashier data selection instructions are processed along with the cash register data D1, D2, D3 . . . from data base 10 in accordance with processing instructions 16 to generate cashier database 18. Processing instructions 16 include a