Hello, I am Nakasato from Rera Tech Inc. At Rera Tech Inc., I am in charge of a wide range of observations, analyses, and simulations related to wind condition surveys.
Last time, we talked about the first part of the topic "DX and GX: Towards a digital and decarbonized society," titled "About DX." This time, we will talk about the second part, "Examples of DX."
While writing this column, I came across several DX cases that I found very helpful, so I would like to introduce them here.
DX example 1: Taxi industry
The taxi industry has a long history in Japan stretching back nearly 100 years, but in recent years, convenience has improved dramatically with the widespread adoption of electronic payment and the ability to complete taxi reservations via smartphone apps.
Among them, Nihon Kotsu Co., Ltd., one of Japan's leading taxi companies, is making a significant contribution to realizing digital transformation in the taxi industry.
In the past, taxi companies faced the following challenges:It is not possible to grasp the demand for taxis, which varies by season and region.Taxis cannot be dispatched to appropriate locations, making it difficult to increase utilization rates
In particular, understanding demand for taxis and dispatching taxis to appropriate locations relies heavily on the driver's experience and intuition, and with the decline in demand for taxis itself due to the COVID-19 pandemic, efficient taxi dispatch has become an important issue for the entire taxi industry.
To address this issue, the company introduced a dispatch support system for taxi operators that uses AI to analyze information such as taxi operation records, demographic trends, and weather conditions during events to predict locations with high demand for rides.
In addition, the company has developed a smartphone app that allows users to dispatch a taxi simply by specifying their pickup location, making it easy to arrange a taxi.
The smartphone app for users developed at this time has been passed on to the current ride-hailing app "Go," contributing to further improving convenience.
*Quoted from the Nihon Kotsu Go Introduction website (https://go.mo-t.com/）
Another thing we did was to install a tablet device in the back seat of the taxi and use a mobile data connection, which made it possible to deliver video advertisements.
We have successfully introduced in-car advertising, which has become common on trains and buses, to taxis as well.
DX example ②: Forestry
*Quoted from the official website of Hyakumori Co., Ltd. (https://www.hyakumori.com/）
Hyakumori Co., Ltd., which manages forests in Nishiawakura Village, Okayama Prefecture, faced the following challenges when carrying out thinning work:The whole process is unclearTacit business procedures create information gaps between individualsThere is an imbalance in the balance of tasks between individuals.Business handover and work are unclear
Therefore, we implemented a top-down approach to visualize existing business processes, and worked on formalizing procedures and managing individual tasks.
First, they introduced an in-house Wiki to record work procedures and formalize work knowledge, then they started to visualize work. They visualized tasks by turning work status into tickets, and created an environment where individual busy status and remaining tasks could be immediately checked.
*Quoted from the introduction page of Redmine usage in forestry at Hyakumori Co., Ltd.https://speakerdeck.com/sunaotabata/lin-ye-niokeruredminehuo-yong
As a result, it became possible to eliminate rework and level out the workload, making it easier to predict operations. This is a successful example of how digital transformation can bring about various "transformations" even in a traditional primary industry.
When advancing DX
Through the case study, I realized the importance of "visualizing work" and "selecting the right tools." In order to visualize work while continuing with normal work, the burden of existing work inevitably increases, making it difficult for the people involved.
We thought that in order to successfully advance visualization under such circumstances, cooperation from other members and a sense of reform among everyone would be important.
In addition, when it comes to selecting tools, I think it is important not to be obsessed with cutting-edge IT technology, but to become familiar with the business and properly assess whether the tools to be introduced fulfill the truly required functions, and whether they can be operated appropriately after being introduced.
In the next column by Nakazato, I would like to introduce "GX," which is closely related to the renewable energy that Relatec is working on.
(Written by Ren Nakazato)
As wind condition consultants, Rera Tech Inc. will carry out optimal wind condition surveys that combine "observation" and "estimation" for wind power generation.