Traffic Based Labor Allocation Method And System

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 of these steps are displayed to a user.

1 . A method of distributing labor based upon determinations of traffic in a facility, the method being executed by at least one processor and comprising the steps of:
 (a) obtaining daily traffic forecast information for a defined time period;   (b) determining calendar and event information for the defined time period;   (c) selecting baseline days for the defined time period from historical traffic data and computing via the at least one processor baseline averages and percentages for a predetermined time interval, wherein the selected baselines days are a comprised of a plurality of similar time periods from a prior time period that is similar to the defined time period, wherein each of the baseline averages is computed as an average value for the predetermined time interval of the baseline days, and wherein 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;   (d) determining the distribution of traffic for the defined time period at each time interval using the baseline percentages for each time interval;   (e) providing access to the labor data and labor recommendations based on the distribution of traffic for the defined time period and at least one of other user-defined workforce requirements; and   (f) providing 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 the historical traffic data of the facility and the sister 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 facility and the sister facility, and ranking the selected data in order of preference, the preference defined by baseline rules. 
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein: the baseline days comprise days included in certain of the selected data that is preferentially ranked. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein:
 the step of determining the distribution of traffic further includes multiplying a value for the baseline percentages by a value for the daily traffic forecast information for the predetermined time interval for each of the days in a given time period. 
 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of distributing labor data comprises the additional steps of:
 (a) obtaining the traffic data; 
 (b) obtaining minimum and maximum coverage data for the predetermined time interval; 
 (c) validating the steps of obtaining the traffic data and obtaining minimum and maximum coverage data; and 
 (d) selecting a labor distribution procedure from among a plurality of labor distribution procedures. 
 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , 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 the predetermined time interval the minimum employee coverage;   computing remaining available employee hours; and   assigning the additional available employee hours to the predetermined time interval.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , 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; and   the traffic distribution data by the desired shopper-to-associate ratio to produce recommended distribution of labor.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8  wherein:
 the employee hours assigned to the time interval does not exceed the maximum coverage for the time interval. 
 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein:
 the step of providing the results comprises displaying the results on an electronic display device. 
 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein:
 the step of providing access to the labor data and the labor recommendations further includes providing access to the method for generating the labor data and the labor recommendations. 
 
     
     
         13 . 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 a defined time period;   (b) determining calendar and event information for the defined time period;   (c) selecting baseline days for the defined time period from historical traffic data and computing via the at least one processor baseline averages and percentages for a predetermined time interval, wherein the selected baselines days are a comprised of a plurality of similar time periods from a prior time period that is similar to the defined time period, wherein each of the baseline averages is computed as an average value for the predetermined time interval of the baseline days, and wherein 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;   (d) determining the distribution of traffic for the defined time period at each time interval using the baseline percentages for each time interval;   (e) providing access to the labor data and labor recommendations based on the distribution of traffic for the defined time period and at least one of other user-defined workforce requirements; and   (f) providing the results of any of the foregoing steps.   
     
     
         14 . The at least one computer-readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein selecting baseline days comprises obtaining setup/configuration data and system processing the setup/configuration data with the historical traffic data of the facility and the sister facility. 
     
     
         15 . The at least one computer-readable medium of  claim 14 , wherein the setup/configuration data includes store hours and the calendar and event information. 
     
     
         16 . The at least one computer-readable medium of  claim 14 , wherein selecting baseline days further includes using the setup/configuration data to select data from the historical traffic data of the facility and the sister facility, and ranking the selected data in order of preference, the preference defined by baseline rules. 
     
     
         17 . The at least one computer-readable medium of  claim 16 , wherein the baseline days comprised days included in certain of the selected data that is preferentially ranked. 
     
     
         18 . The at least one computer-readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein determining the distribution of traffic comprises multiplying a value for the baseline percentages by a value for the daily traffic forecast information for the predetermined time interval for each of the days in a given time period. 
     
     
         19 . The at least one computer-readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein distributing labor data comprises the additional steps of
 (a) obtaining the traffic data;   (b) obtaining minimum and maximum coverage data for the predetermined time interval;   (c) validating the steps of obtaining the traffic data and obtaining minimum and maximum coverage data; and   (d) selecting a labor distribution procedure from among a plurality of labor distribution procedures.   
     
     
         20 . The at least one computer-readable medium of  claim 19 , 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 the predetermined time interval the minimum employee coverage;   computing remaining available employee hours; and   assigning the additional available employee hours to the time interval.   
     
     
         21 . The at least one computer-readable medium of  claim 19 , 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; and   dividing the traffic distribution data divided by the desired shopper-to-associate ratio to produce recommended distribution of labor.   
     
     
         22 . The at least one computer-readable medium of  claim 20  wherein:
 the employee hours assigned to the time interval does not exceed the maximum coverage for the time interval. 
 
     
     
         23 . The at least one computer-readable medium of  claim 13  wherein:
 the step of providing the results comprises displaying the results on an electronic display device. 
 
     
     
         24 . The at least one computer-readable medium of  claim 23  wherein:
 the step of providing access to the labor data and the labor recommendations further includes providing access to the method for generating the labor data and the labor recommendations.