DESC:FIELD
The present invention relates to the field of retail environment management. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a system for managing products in a retail environment.
BACKGROUND
The background information herein below relates to the present disclosure but is not necessarily prior art.
With an increase in population, a rapid growth in retail sectors has occurred. Further, with increase of sales over the years, an efficient planning of the stocked products within the retail environment is required, which is causing an overload on retail management for managing the stock properly. Further, with the advancement in the technology as per increased demand of a particular type of product, a large number of varieties of the similar product are increasing day by day. Attempts are made to provide efficient management of items in the retail environment by structuring a layout according to which a product is placed as per its specific type. For example, all types of grocery items are placed under a common title named “grocery”. Sometimes, an item can also be easily misplaced when a user does not put the item back to its proper displayed location. This makes it difficult for the retail environment staff to locate an item after it is misplaced item. Unavailable locations of the misplaced items lead to mismanagement in the retail environment as the staff gets busy in finding the same. Thus, a lot of time and human power is wasted in locating items when they are not arranged properly in the retail environment. Further this kind of mismanagement leads to a frustration not only in the working staff of the retail management but also in the customers.
Therefore, there is a felt need to provide a computer implemented system for managing products in a retail environment, so as to alleviate the drawbacks of the prior art.
OBJECTS
Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfies, are as follows:
An object of the present disclosure is to provide a computer implemented system for managing products in a retail environment.
Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a computer implemented system that can classify products in a retail environment based on their rate of sales values for managing product placement.
Still another object of the present disclosure is to provide a computer implemented system that optimizes the sale of products in a retail environment.
Yet another object of the present disclosure is to provide a system that is efficient and cost-effective.
Still another object of the present disclosure is to provide a computer implemented system that notifies a store manager about products with approaching expiry dates.
Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a system that performs real-time monitoring of the products within a retail environment using an IoT network.
Yet another object of the present disclosure is to provide a computer implemented system that can determine the location of product types and products.
Still another object of the present disclosure is to provide a system that is reliable.
Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a system that notifies the store manager when restocking of a product is required.
Other objects and advantages of the present disclosure will be more apparent from the following description, which is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
SUMMARY
The present disclosure envisages a computer implemented system for managing products in a retail environment wherein the products are located in a plurality of shelves and each of the shelves is associated with a unique shelf ID and each of the products is associated with a unique product ID. The system comprises a product tracking tool and a server. The product tracking tool is installable in a user device. The tool is configured to facilitate a user to provide a type of product to be located. The server is communicatively coupled to tags secured on each of the products and the user device. Each of the tags is associated with a unique tag number.
In an embodiment, the tag comprises a communication unit and an alert unit. The communication unit is configured to receive the tag signal from the server. The alert unit is configured to cooperate with the communication unit to activate a light source upon reception of the tag signal.
The alert unit is implemented using one or more processor(s).
The server comprises a repository, a shelf identifier, an analysis unit and a notification unit. The repository is configured to store a first look up table having a list of product IDs and product type, shelf ID, tag number and expiry date of each of the products corresponding to each of the product IDs, a second look up table having a list of product types and rate of sales value of each of the product types and a threshold value. In an embodiment, the repository is configured to store a list of the product IDs, updated quantity of each of the products associated with each of the product IDs, and a pre-determined threshold quantity associated with each of the product IDs. The shelf identifier is configured to receive the product type from the product tracking tool, and is further configured to cooperate with the repository to crawl through the first look up table, extract shelf ID corresponding to the received product type from the first lookup table and transmit the extracted shelf ID to the product tracking tool for facilitating the user to determine location of placing a product of the received product type. The analysis unit is configured to cooperate with the repository to analyse the rate of sales values corresponding to each of the product types based on the second look up table. The analysis unit is further configured to periodically compare expiry dates of each of the products with a current date and generate a comparison value.
In an embodiment, the analysis unit comprises a first crawler and extractor, a sales analyser and a comparator. The first crawler and extractor is configured to cooperate with the repository to crawl through the second look up table to extract the rate of sales value corresponding to each of the product type. The sales analyser is configured to cooperate with the first crawler and extractor to sort in descending order the extracted rate of sales values, and further configured to extract the product type corresponding to a highest rate of sales value based on the sorted rate of sales values. The comparator is configured to cooperate with the repository to periodically compare expiry date of each of the products with the current date based on the first look up table and generate the comparison value.
In an embodiment, the first crawler and extractor, sales analyser and comparator are implemented using one or more processor(s).
The notification unit is configured to cooperate with the analysis unit and the repository to generate and transmit a first notification to the product tracking tool and the tag signal to the tag when the comparison value is equal to or less than the threshold value, and a second notification to the product tracking tool based on the analysis.
In an embodiment, the server includes a product stocking module configured to cooperate with the repository to periodically compare the updated quantity of each of the products with associated threshold quantity and generate a product stocking notification when the updated quantity becomes less than or equal to the pre-determined threshold quantity.
In another embodiment, the server includes a tracking unit configured to receive a request for tracking a product ID. The tracking unit comprises a memory, a request receiver, a product location identifier, a user location identifier and a path creator. The memory is configured to store a third look up table having a list of the tag numbers and location coordinates corresponding to each of the tag numbers. The request receiver is configured to receive the request for tracking the product ID, and further configured to cooperate with the repository to crawl through the first look up table and extract the tag number corresponding to the requested product ID. The product location identifier is configured to cooperate with the request receiver and the memory to crawl through the third look up table to extract the location coordinates corresponding to the extracted tag number. The user location identifier is configured to cooperate with the user device to receive GPS signals transmitted by the user device, and is further configured to process location coordinates of the user device. The path creator is configured to cooperate with the product location identifier and the user location identifier to create a shortest path between the location coordinates of tag associated with the tag number and location coordinates of the user device, and is further configured to transmit the shortest path to the product tracking tool.
In an embodiment, the request receiver, the product location identifier, the user location identifier and the path creator are implemented using one or more processor(s).
The product tracking tool is configured to receive the shortest path, and is further configured to display the shortest path on a pre-fed map of the retail environment stored in the product tracking tool.
The present disclosure also envisages a method for managing products in a retail environment wherein the products are located in a plurality of shelves. Each of the shelves is associated with a unique shelf ID and each of the products is associated with a unique product ID.
The method includes the following steps:
• facilitating, by a product tracking tool, a user to provide a type of product to be located;
• enabling communication between a server and tags secured on each of the products, each of the tags associated with a unique tag number;
• storing, by a repository of the server, a first look up table having a list of product IDs, product type, shelf ID, tag number and expiry date of each of the products corresponding to each of the product IDs, a second look up table having a list of product types and rate of sales value of each of the product types, and a threshold value;
• receiving, by a shelf identifier of the server, the product type from the product tracking tool;
• crawling, by the shelf identifier, through the first look up table to extract shelf ID corresponding to the received product type;
• transmitting, by the shelf identifier, the extracted shelf ID to the product tracking tool for facilitating the user to determine location of placing a product of the product type;
• analysing, by an analysis unit of the server, the rate of sales values corresponding to each of the product types based on the second look up table;
• periodically comparing, by the analysis unit, expiry dates of each of the products with a current date and generating a comparison value;
• generating and transmitting, by a notification unit of the server, a first notification to the product tracking tool and a tag signal to the tag when the comparison value is equal to or less than the threshold value; and
• generating and transmitting, by the notification unit, a second notification to the product tracking tool based on the analysis.

In an embodiment, the step of analysing the rate of sales values corresponding to each of the product types based on the second look up table includes:
• crawling, by a first crawler and extractor, through the second look up table to extract the rate of sales value corresponding to each of the product types;
• sorting, by a sales analyser, in descending order the extracted rate of sales values; and
• extracting, by the sales analyser, the product type corresponding to a highest rate of sales value based on the sorted rate of sales values.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWING
A computer implemented system and method for managing products in retail environment of the present disclosure will now be described with the help of the accompanying drawing, in which:
Figure 1 illustrates a block diagram of the computer implemented system for managing products in a retail environment; and
Figure 2a and 2b illustrate a flow diagram of a method for managing products in a retail environment.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
100 System
102 product tracking tool
104 tag
106 server
108 repository
110 shelf identifier
112 analysis unit
114 notification unit
116 tracking unit
118 product stocking module
120 communication unit
122 alert unit
124 first crawler and extractor
126 sales analyser
128 comparator
130 memory
132 request receiver
134 product location identifier
136 user location identifier
138 path creator
140 light source

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Embodiments, of the present disclosure, will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
Embodiments are provided so as to thoroughly and fully convey the scope of the present disclosure to the person skilled in the art. Numerous details, are set forth, relating to specific components, and methods, to provide a complete understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to the person skilled in the art that the details provided in the embodiments should not be construed to limit the scope of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, well-known processes, well-known apparatus structures, and well-known techniques are not described in detail.
The terminology used, in the present disclosure, is only for the purpose of explaining a particular embodiment and such terminology shall not be considered to limit the scope of the present disclosure. As used in the present disclosure, the forms "a,” "an," and "the" may be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly suggests otherwise. The terms "comprises," "comprising," “including,” and “having,” are open ended transitional phrases and therefore specify the presence of stated features, elements, modules, units and/or components, but do not forbid the presence or addition of one or more other features, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. The particular order of steps disclosed in the method of the present disclosure is not to be construed as necessarily requiring their performance as described or illustrated. It is also to be understood that additional or alternative steps may be employed.
A computer implemented system and method for managing products in retail environment of the present disclosure, is described with reference to Figure 1 through Figure 2b. The products are located in a plurality of shelves. Each of the shelves is associated with a unique shelf ID and each of the products is associated with a unique product ID.
Referring to Figure 1, the computer implemented system (hereinafter referred as “system”) (100) for managing products in retail environment comprises a product tracking tool (102) and a server (106).
The product tracking tool (102) is installable in a user device. The tool is configured to facilitate a user to provide a type of product to be located. The server (106) is communicatively coupled to tags (104) secured on each of the products and the user device. Each of the tags (104) is associated with a unique tag number. In an embodiment, the tag (104) comprises a communication unit (120) and an alert unit (122). The communication unit (120) is configured to receive a tag signal from the server (106). The alert unit (122) is configured to cooperate with the communication unit (120) to activate a light source (140) upon reception of the tag signal.
In an embodiment, the alert unit (122) is implemented using one or more processor(s).
An exemplified pseudocode for the alert unit (122) is given below:
Program (alert)
Do
{activate a light source (140) upon reception of the tag signal.}
End
In an embodiment, the light source (140) can be a Light Emitting Diode (LED). In another embodiment, the communication unit (120) can be a Wi-Fi module.
The server (106) comprises a repository (108), a shelf identifier (110), an analysis unit (112) and a notification unit (114). The repository (108) is configured to store a first look up table having a list of product IDs and product type, shelf ID, tag number and expiry date of each of the products corresponding to each of the product IDs, a second look up table having a list of product types and rate of sales value of each of the product types and a threshold value. In an embodiment, the repository (108) is configured to store a first look up table having a list of the product IDs, product type, shelf ID, tag number and expiry date of each of the products corresponding to each of the product IDs, a second look up table having a list of product types and rate of sales value of each of the product types and a threshold value.
The shelf identifier (110) is configured to receive the product type from the product tracking tool (102), and is further configured to cooperate with the repository (108) to crawl through the first look up table, extract shelf ID corresponding to the received product type from the first lookup table and transmit the extracted shelf ID to the product tracking tool (102) for facilitating the user to determine location of placing a product of the product type.
An exemplified pseudocode for the shelf identifier (110) is given below:
Program (shelf identifier)
Do
{
receive the product type from the product tracking tool (102); and
crawl through the first look up table, extract shelf ID corresponding to the received product type from the first lookup table and transmit the extracted shelf ID to the product tracking tool (102) for facilitating the user to determine location of placing a product of the product type.
}
End
The analysis unit (112) is configured to cooperate with the repository (108) to analyse the rate of sales values corresponding to each of the product types based on the second look up table. The analysis unit (112) is further configured to periodically compare expiry dates of each of the products with a current date and generate a comparison value.
In an embodiment, the analysis unit (112) comprises a first crawler and extractor (124), a sales analyser (126) and a comparator (128). The first crawler and extractor (124) is configured to cooperate with the repository (108) to crawl through the second look up table to extract the rate of sales value corresponding to each of the product type.
An exemplified pseudocode for the first crawler and extractor (124) is given below:
Program (first crawler and extractor)
Do
{
crawl through the second look up table to extract the rate of sales value corresponding to each of the product type.
}
End
The sales analyser (126) is configured to cooperate with the first crawler and extractor (124) to sort in descending order, the extracted rate of sales values, and further configured to extract the product type corresponding to a highest rate of sales value based on the sorted rate of sales values.
An exemplified pseudocode for the sales analyser (126) is given below:
Program (sales analyser)
Do
{
sort in descending order, the extracted rate of sales values; and
extract the product type corresponding to a highest rate of sales value based on the sorted rate of sales values
}
End
The comparator (128) is configured to cooperate with the repository (108) to periodically compare expiry date of each of the products with the current date based on the first look up table and generate the comparison value.
An exemplified pseudocode for the comparator (128) is given below:
Program (comparator)
Do
{
periodically compare expiry date of each of the products with the current date based on the first look up table and generate the comparison value.}
End
In an embodiment, the first crawler and extractor (124), sales analyser (126) and comparator (128) are implemented using one or more processor(s).
The notification unit (114) is configured to cooperate with the analysis unit (112) and the repository (108) to generate and transmit a first notification to the product tracking tool (102) and the tag signal to the tag (104) when the comparison value is equal to or less than the threshold value, and a second notification to the product tracking tool (102) based on the analysis.
An exemplified pseudocode for the notification unit (114) is given below:
Program (notification unit)
Do
{
generate and transmit a first notification to the product tracking tool (102) and the tag signal to the tag (104) when the comparison value is equal to or less than the threshold value; and
a second notification to the product tracking tool (102) based on the analysis
}
End

In an embodiment, the server (106) includes a product stocking module (118) configured to cooperate with the repository (108) to periodically compare the updated quantity of each of the products with associated threshold quantity and generate a product stocking notification when the updated quantity becomes less than or equal to the pre-determined threshold quantity.
An exemplified pseudocode for the product stocking module (118) is given below:
Program (product stocking module)
Do
{
periodically compare the updated quantity of each of the products with associated threshold quantity; and
generate a product stocking notification when the updated quantity becomes less than or equal to the pre-determined threshold quantity
}
End
In another embodiment, the server (106) includes a tracking unit (116) configured to receive a request for tracking a product ID. The tracking unit (116) comprises a memory (130), a request receiver (132), a product location identifier (134), a user location identifier (136) and a path creator (138). The memory (130) is configured to store a third look up table having a list of the tag numbers and location coordinates corresponding to each of the tag numbers.
The request receiver (132) is configured to receive the request for tracking the product ID, and further configured to cooperate with the repository (108) to crawl through the first look up table and extract the tag number corresponding to the requested product ID. The request receiver (132) receives the request for tracking the product ID through the product tracking tool (102).
An exemplified pseudocode for the request receiver (132) is given below:
Program (request receiver)
Do
{
receive the request for tracking the product ID; and
crawl through the first look up table and extract the tag number corresponding to the requested product ID. }
End
The product location identifier (134) is configured to cooperate with the request receiver (132) and the memory (130) to crawl through the third look up table to extract the location coordinates corresponding to the extracted tag number.
An exemplified pseudocode for the product location identifier (134) is given below:
Program (product location identifier)
Do
{
crawl through the third look up table to extract the location coordinates corresponding to the extracted tag number. }
End
The user location identifier (136) is configured to cooperate with the user device to receive GPS signals transmitted by the user device, and further configured to process location coordinates of the user device.
An exemplified pseudocode for the user location identifier (136) is given below:
Program (user location identifier)
Do
{
receive GPS signals transmitted by the user device; and
process location coordinates of the user device.}
End
In an embodiment, markers (not shown in figures) are secured on pre-determined spaces in the retail environment. The user can scan the marker to ascertain the user’s location. The marker location and unique ID is pre-stored in the repository (108).
The path creator (138) is configured to cooperate with the product location identifier (134) and the user location identifier (136) to create a shortest path between the location coordinates of tag associated with the tag number and location coordinates of the user device, and is further configured to transmit the shortest path to the product tracking tool (102).
An exemplified pseudocode for the path creator (138) is given below:
Program (path creator)
Do
{
create a shortest path between the location coordinates of tag associated with the tag number and location coordinates of the user device; and
transmit the shortest path to the product tracking tool (102).}
End
In an embodiment, the request receiver (132), the product location identifier (134), the user location identifier (136) and the path creator (138) are implemented using one or more processor(s).
The product tracking tool (102) is configured to receive the shortest path, and is further configured to display the shortest path on a pre-fed map of the retail environment stored in the product tracking tool (102).
In an embodiment, the system (100) enables a user to find multiple products simultaneously through tags (104) assigned to them.
Advantageously, the system (100) provides analytics on the user’s working efficiency and reports on which user is spending much time on which area.
The tag (104) can be a combination of Wi-Fi Module and LED which will consume less energy, provide lesser time to arrange things in effective way, simple, highly customizable and provides low-latency support. Wi-Fi module and Tag LEDs consume very less power, thereby increasing the robustness of the system.
Advantageously, the system (100) facilitates a consumer to obtain information about the product by scanning it using consumer’s device. The system (100) uses a high-performance computer vision algorithm to provide the product information. The system (100) also facilitates a user to view the product information on a display screen using an Augmented Reality (AR) application.
Various aspects of the described embodiments may be implemented within one or more processors. The processors may be general-purpose processors, Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), Digital Signal Processors (DSPs), and/or the like. The processors may be configured to retrieve data from and/or write data to a memory/repository. The memory/repository can be for example, a random access memory (RAM), a memory buffer, a hard drive, a database, an erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM), an electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), a read only memory (ROM), a flash memory, a hard disk, a floppy disk, cloud storage, and/or so forth.
In an operative embodiment, the user places a request for locating a product type in the retail environment through the product tracking tool (102). The request reaches the server (106) which identifies the shelf where the product type is located. Further, the server (106) performs analysis on the rate of sales values corresponding to each of the product types, and periodically compares expiry dates of each of the products with a current date to generate a comparison value. Based on the analysis and the comparison value, at least one notification is generated and transmitted to the user device with the product tracking tool (102) installed in it. Also, the tag (104) receives a tag signal from the server (106) to turn on LEDs corresponding to the products whose expiry is near. The system (100) also generates a shortest path from the user device to the product type which the user is searching for.
In another operative embodiment, the manager can place the products with the LED of the tag (104) blinking to the front of the shelf as these are products with the expiry date near. And is able to navigate a shortest path from the present location to the particular product.
Figures 2a and 2b illustrate a flow diagram of a method for managing products in a retail environment wherein the products are located in a plurality of shelves. Each of the shelves is associated with a unique shelf ID and each of the products is associated with a unique product ID.
The method includes the following steps:
• Step 202: facilitating, by a product tracking tool (102), a user to provide a type of product to be located;
• Step 204: enabling communication between a server (106) and tags (104) secured on each of the products, each of the tags associated with a unique tag number;
• Step 206: storing, by a repository (108) of the server (106), a first look up table having a list of product IDs, product type, shelf ID, tag number and expiry date of each of the products corresponding to each of the product IDs, a second look up table having a list of product types and rate of sales value of each of the product types, and a threshold value;
• Step 208: receiving, by a shelf identifier (110) of the server (106), the product type from the product tracking tool (102);
• Step 210: crawling, by the shelf identifier (110), through the first look up table to extract shelf ID corresponding to the received product type;
• Step 212: transmitting, by the shelf identifier (110), the extracted shelf ID to the product tracking tool (102) for facilitating the user to determine location of placing a product of the product type;
• Step 214: analysing, by an analysis unit (112) of the server (106), the rate of sales values corresponding to each of the product types based on the second look up table;
• Step 216: periodically comparing, by the analysis unit (112), expiry dates of each of the products with a current date and generating a comparison value;
• Step 218: generating and transmitting, by a notification unit (114) of the server (106), a first notification to the product tracking tool (102) and a tag signal to the tag (104) when the comparison value is equal to or less than the threshold value; and
• Step 220: generating and transmitting, by the notification unit (114), a second notification to the product tracking tool (102) based on the analysis.

In an embodiment, the step of analysing the rate of sales values corresponding to each of the product types based on the second look up table includes:
• crawling, by a first crawler and extractor (124), through the second look up table to extract the rate of sales value corresponding to each of the product types;
• sorting, by a sales analyser (126), in descending order the extracted rate of sales values; and
• extracting, by the sales analyser (126), the product type corresponding to a highest rate of sales value based on the sorted rate of sales values.
The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Individual components of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, are interchangeable. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the present disclosure, and all such modifications are considered to be within the scope of the present disclosure.

TECHNICAL ADVANCEMENTS
The present disclosure described herein above has several technical advantages including, but not limited to, the realization of, a computer implemented system and method for managing products in a retail environment, that:
• can classify products in a retail environment based on their rate of sales values for managing product placement;
• optimizes the sale of products in a retail environment;
• efficient and cost-effective;
• notifies a store manager about products with approaching expiry dates;
• performs real-time monitoring of the products within a retail environment using an IoT network;
• determine the location of product types and products;
• reliable; and
• notifies the store manager when restocking of a product is required.
The foregoing disclosure has been described with reference to the accompanying embodiments which do not limit the scope and ambit of the disclosure. The description provided is purely by way of example and illustration.
The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained with reference to the non-limiting embodiments in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.
The foregoing description of the specific embodiments so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.
Throughout this specification the word “comprise”, or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, step, or group of elements, steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, or step, or group of elements, or steps.
The use of the expression “at least” or “at least one” suggests the use of one or more elements or ingredients or quantities, as the use may be in the embodiment of the disclosure to achieve one or more of the desired objects or results.
While considerable emphasis has been placed herein on the components and component parts of the preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated that many embodiments can be made and that many changes can be made in the preferred embodiments without departing from the principles of the disclosure. These and other changes in the preferred embodiment as well as other embodiments of the disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein, whereby it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the disclosure and not as a limitation.
,CLAIMS:WE CLAIM:
1. A computer implemented system (100) for managing products in a retail environment, said products located in a plurality of shelves, each of said shelves associated with a unique shelf ID and each of said products associated with a unique product ID, said system (100) comprising:
• a product tracking tool (102) installable in a user device, said product tracking tool (102) configured to facilitate a user to provide a type of product to be located;
• a server (106) communicatively coupled to tags (104) secured on each of said products and said user device, each of said tags (104) associated with a unique tag number, said server (106) comprising:
o a repository (108) configured to store a first look up table having a list of said product IDs and product type, shelf ID, tag number and expiry date of each of said products corresponding to each of said product IDs, a second look up table having a list of product types and rate of sales value of each of said product types and a threshold value;
o a shelf identifier (110) configured to receive said product type from said product tracking tool (102), and further configured to cooperate with said repository (108) to crawl through said first look up table, extract shelf ID corresponding to said received product type from said first lookup table and transmit said extracted shelf ID to said product tracking tool (102) for facilitating said user to determine location of placing a product of said product type;
o an analysis unit (112) configured to cooperate with said repository (108) to analyse said rate of sales values corresponding to each of said product types based on said second look up table, said analysis unit (112) further configured to periodically compare expiry dates of each of said products with a current date and generate a comparison value; and
o a notification unit (114) configured to cooperate with said analysis unit (112) and said repository (108) to generate and transmit a first notification to said product tracking tool (102) and a tag signal to said tag (104) when said comparison value is equal to or less than said threshold value, and a second notification to said product tracking tool (102) based on said analysis.
2. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said tag (104) includes:
• a communication unit (120) configured to receive said tag signal from said server (106); and
• an alert unit (122) configured to cooperate with said communication unit (120) to activate a light source (140) upon receiving said tag signal,
wherein said communication unit (120) and said alert unit (122) are implemented using one or more processor(s).
3. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said analysis unit (112) includes:
• a first crawler and extractor (124) configured to cooperate with said repository (108) to crawl through said second look up table to extract said rate of sales value corresponding to each of said product type;
• a sales analyser (126) configured to cooperate with said first crawler and extractor (124) to sort in descending order said extracted rate of sales values, and further configured to extract said product type corresponding to a highest rate of sales value based on said sorted rate of sales values; and
• a comparator (128) configured to cooperate with said repository (108) to periodically compare expiry date of each of said products with said current date based on said first look up table and generate said comparison value,
wherein said first crawler and extractor (124), said sales analyser (126) and said comparator (128) are implemented using one or more processor(s).
4. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said repository (108) is configured to store a list of said product IDs, updated quantity of each of said products associated with each of said product IDs, and a pre-determined threshold quantity associated with each of said product IDs.
5. The system (100) as claimed in claim 4, wherein said server (106) includes a product stocking module (118) configured to cooperate with said repository (108) to periodically compare said updated quantity of each of said products with associated threshold quantity and generate a product stocking notification when said updated quantity becomes less than or equal to said pre-determined threshold quantity.
6. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said server (106) includes a tracking unit (116) configured to receive a request for tracking a product ID, said tracking unit (116) comprises:
• a memory (130) configured to store a third look up table having a list of said tag numbers and location coordinates corresponding to each of said tag numbers;
• a request receiver (132) configured to receive said request for tracking said product ID, and further configured to cooperate with said repository (108) to crawl through said first look up table and extract said tag number corresponding to said requested product ID;
• a product location identifier (134) configured to cooperate with said request receiver (132) and said memory (130) to crawl through said third look up table to extract said location coordinates corresponding to said extracted tag number;
• a user location identifier (136) configured to cooperate with said user device to receive GPS signals transmitted by said user device, and further configured to process location coordinates of said user device; and
• a path creator (138) configured to cooperate with said product location identifier (134) and said user location identifier (136) to create a shortest path between said location coordinates of tag associated with said tag number and location coordinates of said user device, and further configured to transmit said shortest path to said product tracking tool (102),
wherein said request receiver (132), said product location identifier (134), said user location identifier (136) and said path creator (138) are implemented using one or more processor(s).
7. The system (100) as claimed in claim 6, wherein said product tracking tool (102) is configured to receive said shortest path, and is further configured to display said shortest path on a pre-fed map of said retail store stored in said product tracking tool (102).
8. A method for managing products in a retail environment, said products located in a plurality of shelves, each of said shelves associated with a unique shelf ID and each of said products associated with a unique product ID, said method comprising:
• facilitating (202), by a product tracking tool (102), a user to provide a type of product to be located;
• enabling (204) communication between a server (106) and tags (104) secured on each of said products, each of said tags associated with a unique tag number,
• storing (206), by a repository (108) of said server (106), a first look up table having a list of product IDs, product type, shelf ID, tag number and expiry date of each of said products corresponding to each of said product IDs, a second look up table having a list of product types and rate of sales value of each of said product types, and a threshold value;
• receiving (208), by a shelf identifier (110) of a server (106), said product type from said product tracking tool (102);
• crawling (210), by said shelf identifier (110), through said first look up table to extract shelf ID corresponding to said received product type;
• transmitting (212), by said shelf identifier (110), said extracted shelf ID to said product tracking tool (102) for facilitating said user to determine location of placing a product of said product type;
• analysing (214), by an analysis unit (112) of said server (106), said rate of sales values corresponding to each of said product types based on said second look up table;
• periodically comparing (216), by said analysis unit (112), expiry dates of each of said products with a current date and generating a comparison value;
• generating and transmitting (218), by a notification unit (114) of said server (106), a first notification to said product tracking tool (102) and a tag signal to said tag (104) when said comparison value is equal to or less than said threshold value; and
• generating and transmitting (220), by said notification unit (114), a second notification to said product tracking tool (102) based on said analysis.
9. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the step of analysing said rate of sales values corresponding to each of said product types based on said second look up table includes:
• crawling, by a first crawler and extractor (124), through said second look up table to extract said rate of sales value corresponding to each of said product types;
• sorting, by a sales analyser (126), in descending order said extracted rate of sales values; and
• extracting, by said sales analyser (126), said product type corresponding to a highest rate of sales value based on said sorted rate of sales values.