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Crasco's AI Transformation Featured on 'Alvarez's Sky'

Crasco Holdings, headquartered in Kanazawa, Ishikawa, has gained significant attention for its groundbreaking use of artificial intelligence (AI), as highlighted on the BS TV Tokyo documentary series 'Alvarez's Sky.' The company's journey began in July 2024 when CEO Norihiro Omura strongly believed that AI would be essential for companies to survive in an era of labor shortages and inflation. By implementing Google Workspace across the board, Crasco initiated its AI adoption, focusing specifically on utilizing Gemini AI to enhance productivity throughout the organization.

The decision to integrate AI stemmed from a pressing need identified by Crasco—over 80% of labor costs were attributed to non-productive tasks such as information retrieval and simple repetitive work. The leadership recognized that improving productivity was crucial in combating the escalating labor shortage.

Through a series of initiatives encapsulated under the motto "AI in Every Operation," Crasco has transformed its workflow. Regular morning meetings and monthly training sessions dedicated to AI usage became integral parts of their corporate culture. Within just one year of AI implementation, Crasco reported an astounding increase of ¥200 million ($1.8 million) in revenue, a reduction of 6,860 hours of operational time, and savings of ¥13 million ($118,000). Notably, they also secured subsidies amounting to ¥580 million ($5.2 million). These remarkable achievements demonstrate the profound impact of AI on their business model.

A focal point of Crasco's AI strategy is the 'AI Role Play' initiative, designed to improve customer service quality and transaction rates in the rental brokerage sector. By harnessing their 62 years of industry experience, Crasco has engineered a unique AI training system that concurrently elevates the quality and efficiency of employee education. This system has led to a 40% increase in closing rates relative to conventional training methods.

Culture of AI Utilization

Crasco has successfully fostered a culture where every employee is proficient in AI technology.

• - Sharing AI Success Stories: Daily morning meetings allow teams to discuss successful uses of AI, emphasizing who improved what tasks and how.

• - Monthly Knowledge Sharing Sessions: Cross-departmental workshops promote sharing innovative applications of AI, enabling a continuous cycle of improvement and implementation of successful strategies.

Regularly held training programs ensure all staff are equipped with practical skills to tackle daily challenges using AI, thus laying the foundation for effective AI integration.

Enhanced Training Methodology

The 'AI Role Play' system is particularly noteworthy for its impact on staff training.

• - Improved Closing Rates: The incorporation of objective assessments and the opportunity for repeated practice have resulted in a 1.4 times increase in closing rates for new employees.

• - Efficiency Gains: The AI training system shortens the onboarding period from three months to two, while reducing supervisory hours by up to 1,000 minutes per store. This efficiency enhances productivity across the organization.

During the show, the practical aspects of the 'AI Role Play' methodology will be showcased, further underscoring its effectiveness in real-world applications.

AI Applications in Everyday Business Operations

AI is not just limited to employee training; its benefits extend to sales processes and marketing efforts.

• - Automation of Routine Tasks: AI has streamlined activities like matching property listings and drafting promotional content, drastically cutting down the time required from hours to mere minutes.

• - Creative Asset Production: Tasks that previously required specialized personnel, like producing presentation slides, videos, and music, are now efficiently managed in-house thanks to AI, facilitating quicker turnaround times and reduced costs.

For those interested in witnessing these advancements firsthand, the episode featuring Crasco's AI success is set to air on February 20, 2026, at 10:54 PM on BS TV Tokyo.

Watch 'Alvarez's Sky' Here

For more information about the show, visit the official website: BS TV Tokyo - Alvarez's Sky

Additionally, Crasco is currently offering free access to an AI strategy seminar, available for a limited time at Crasco Consulting.