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The Efficiency Transformation of Toshiba DMI's Webinar Management with Backlog

In a significant move to enhance its operational efficiency, Toshiba Digital Marketing Initiative Corporation (Toshiba DMI), based in Tokyo, has adopted the project and task management tool, Backlog, developed by Nulab, a company headquartered in Fukuoka. This transformation aims to streamline their webinar management processes, cutting down the planning phase from two months to just one.

Background of Backlog Implementation

Toshiba DMI focuses on offering solution-driven consulting by leveraging digital technologies to revolutionize the marketing and sales efforts of client organizations. The company organizes an impressive 20 to 30 webinars annually, and until now, managing the array of tasks from inception to follow-up for these webinars was labor-intensive and time-consuming. As part of their strategy to improve efficiency, they recognized the need to develop a structured system capable of accommodating continuous webinar production that could be based on templates. This realization led to the implementation of Backlog.

Utilizing Backlog in Their Operations

Reusing Past Work to Halve Planning Time

Through organizing multiple webinars, Toshiba DMI accumulated around 100 tasks related to every aspect of the webinar management—from gathering speaker information to preparing presentation materials, and implementing audience engagement strategies. By utilizing these stored tasks in Backlog for future events, the company eliminated the need to start from scratch every time, thereby effectively halving the conceptualization time from two months to approximately one.

Visualizing Progress to Enhance Meetings

When managing several webinars simultaneously, Toshiba DMI employs Backlog's milestone feature to categorize tasks for each session. Team members are encouraged to update their progress before meetings, which significantly reduces time spent on status updates and allows the meetings to focus on substantive discussions and decisions.

Sharing Information with Client Companies for Enhanced Project Management

Additionally, client companies can join Backlog as guest users, allowing them to log important queries and decisions related to webinars. This collaborative approach ensures that both parties can verify progress and decisions within the same platform, ultimately minimizing discrepancies and fostering improved communication.

Insights from Toshiba DMI Representatives

Ohnishi, the Group Leader of the Solutions Promotion Department, along with his colleague Saito, commented on the transformative impact of Backlog. They highlighted the recognition of project management's increasing importance in the construction sector, while also noting the varying levels of practice and methods. They believe that regularly using tools like Backlog can serve as an entry point into effective project management.

Furthermore, they emphasized the need to document decision-making processes meticulously. By structuring and storing the rationale behind decisions, organizations can build knowledge bases that help reduce project regressions. Looking forward, they are eager to explore how to leverage the data accumulated in Backlog with generative AI for future projects.

About Backlog

Backlog is an all-encompassing project and task management tool designed for teams, providing functionalities such as issue management, Gantt charts, and documentation. It facilitates centralized management of team progress and allocation of roles, promoting efficiency in information sharing and task management, thus supporting collaborative work environments. For further information, visit Backlog's official website.

About Nulab

Founded by Masanori Hashimoto, Nulab operates out of Fukuoka City, Japan, and has an office in Tokyo too. The company's commitment to enhancing collaboration through innovative tools is evident from its offerings. For details on careers or corporate information, navigate to Nulab's corporate site and Nulab's career site.