#Japan #Tokyo #Sekisui Chemical #Dream Arts #SmartDB

Transforming Business Operations at Sekisui Chemical with SmartDB

In a recent interview, Dream Arts, a Tokyo-based cloud service company, unveiled how Sekisui Chemical has effectively utilized their advanced digitalization platform, SmartDB, to enhance business operations. Sekisui Chemical focuses primarily on the production of expanded polystyrene cushioning materials, encompassing everything from manufacturing to sales.

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the company recognized a pressing need to move away from paper-based processes. However, a lack of sufficient resources in the information systems department posed significant challenges. To tackle this issue and propel digital transformation at the ground level, Sekisui Chemical implemented SmartDB, a no-code platform enabling various departments – including Human Resources, Sales Management, and the Intellectual Property Division – to digitalize their operations autonomously.

Overcoming Initial Challenges

Before the adoption of SmartDB, Sekisui faced several critical issues:

• - A resource shortage within the information systems department due to system operation and maintenance duties, alongside efforts to address factory digital transformation (DX).
• - The urgent need to eliminate paper-based tasks in response to the pandemic.
• - The risks associated with analog intellectual property management, which included forgotten deadlines, progress tracking issues, and potential delays.

Advantages of Adopting SmartDB

The decision to adopt SmartDB stemmed from its capacity to facilitate ground-up digitalization, offering:

• - Scalability for various business units, from back office to front office.
• - Flexibility that allows the transfer of application development and management authority to the ground level while maintaining necessary controls.

Impact of SmartDB Implementation

Since integrating SmartDB, Sekisui has achieved remarkable outcomes, such as:

• - Developing 14 essential applications for managing intellectual property, despite starting with no prior experience in app development.
• - Significantly reducing workload through standardized input formats and enhanced visibility into project status in intellectual property management.
• - Promoting citizen development across several departments, resulting in 33 employees earning SmartDB Certified Specialist qualifications.

In our interview, we spoke with Miura from Sekisui's Information Systems Department, who is part of the SmartDB promotion office, and Okamoto from the Intellectual Property Division, who developed the 14 workflows. They shared insights on how Sekisui successfully overcame challenges and the concrete benefits they have reaped from SmartDB, along with future projections for the company's operational readiness.

For a deep dive into their transformational journey, read the full case study here.

Looking Ahead

Dream Arts is committed to its philosophy of “co-creation,” continuing to provide comprehensive solutions that enhance operational capabilities and improve competition for corporations moving forward.

About SmartDB

SmartDB is recognized as the leading business digitalization cloud for large enterprises, offering powerful functionality across various applications with a no-code development interface, enabling broad organizational workflow management. Built on the Microsoft Azure platform, SmartDB delivers flexibility in scaling and allows seamless integration with external systems while catering to stringent security demands. Major enterprises, including MUFG Bank, Daiwa House Industry, and Ritsumeikan University, are among its current users.

About Dream Arts

With a corporate mission to contribute to the development of people, organizations, and society through the joy of co-creation, Dream Arts embodies