#Japan #Tokyo #Collaboration #Dream Arts #SmartDB

Dream Arts Enhances SmartDB for Secure External Collaboration

Dream Arts, headquartered in Tokyo and Hiroshima, has recently announced a major upgrade to its business digitization cloud service, SmartDB(R). This upgrade focuses on enhancing the Collaborator Functionality, designed to enable secure partnerships with external organizations. With plans to fully roll out these updates by the end of 2025, companies will be able to collaborate with over 500,000 external users seamlessly and securely, providing a strong backbone for enterprise cooperation.

Overview of the Collaborator Functionality

The Collaborator Functionality allows businesses to invite external partners, such as suppliers and collaborators, to join the SmartDB platform through secure “Collaborator Accounts.” This allows for centralized management of operations, which facilitates efficient progress in collaborations, making it widely utilized among large enterprises.

Background for the Enhancement

SmartDB has been successful in supporting corporate reforms as a no-code internal tool. Historically, the Collaborator Functionality has expanded to foster cooperation between external partners. However, the increasing complexity of inter-company collaborations—stemming from global supply chains and the push for digital transformation—has necessitated secure information sharing with external partners. Today’s businesses are facing increased security risks and the need to comply with various regulatory frameworks, revealing limitations in existing systems. The demand from user companies for better integration with more partners and simplified account management has driven this enhancement, ultimately allowing for connections with over 500,000 external partners.

Use Cases for the Enhanced Collaborator Functionality

The new enhancements provide various scenarios where this upgraded functionality can be applied:

1. Streamlining Procurement Processes Between Departments and Suppliers: In manufacturing, managing vast numbers of supplier transactions is routine. Historically, procurement operations relied heavily on Excel and email, leading to scattered processes such as requests for quotes, orders, confirmations, and invoicing, heightening management burdens and risks. With the enhanced Collaborator Functionality, procurement teams can securely invite a wide array of suppliers and assign restricted access to necessary operational apps, enabling efficient management of complex supply chains. Key benefits include centralized management of the entire process from requests to invoicing and secure management of supplier information while controlling access for necessary information sharing.

2. Centralized Management of Facility Maintenance Tasks: Companies in real estate and facility management often need to coordinate cleaning and maintenance tasks across multiple facilities with outsourced partners. The traditional methods of phone calls, emails, and paper reports result in dispersed information, complicating progress tracking and history management. The enhanced Collaborator Functionality allows inviting contractors to the SmartDB, with restricted access to necessary applications for operational information, thereby improving transparency in facility management and minimizing the risks of delayed reports.

Perspectives from Industry Leaders

Kenji Kubo, the General Affairs Manager at Yamada Holdings, expressed, “We utilize the SmartDB Collaborator Functionality to streamline our operations with partners. I greatly anticipate that this enhancement will facilitate our collaborations with an extensive network of 500,000 partners while ensuring security. The capabilities for large-scale account management and flexible permissions will prove highly effective in addressing the complex operational processes of our diverse business fields.”

Detailed Updates on the Collaborator Functionality

The recent enhancements include the following features:
1. Expanded Collaborator Account Capacity: The limit on Collaborator Accounts has been significantly raised, accommodating over 500,000 external users for smooth execution of complex business processes.
2. Flexible Permission Settings: New capabilities will enable users to restrict mutual information visibility among collaborators and limit access based on situational requirements, enhancing control.
3. Strengthened Account Management: Future updates will introduce bulk account management features and enable organization-based grouping for efficient operation.

Future Outlook

With a robust foundation laid for safely admitting over 500,000 external partners, Dream Arts looks to evolve SmartDB into a secure inter-company transaction platform that can handle billing and contract documents, ensuring both reliability and innovation in business infrastructure. As this transformation unfolds, new value creation models, starting from corporate partnerships, will expand to benefit consumers and society at large, paving the way for widespread collaboration opportunities.

Service Availability and Pricing

This optional enhancement is offered at an open price, and interested clients must subscribe to SmartDB(R) and the added functionalities. For further details, inquiries can be directed to Dream Arts.

Explore More About SmartDB(R)

SmartDB(R) is the leading cloud-based digitalization service for large enterprises, providing a no-code development option for various business needs. By integrating workflow with web databases and offering versatile features and robust security measures, SmartDB(R) is leveraged by various industries, including Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group and Daiwa House.

For more information, visit the official webpages: SmartDB Collaborator Functionality and SmartDB Overview.