Transforming Field Sales: UPWARD's Impact on Asahi Kizai's Practices

UPWARD Inc., based in Chiyoda, Tokyo, has shared an insightful case study detailing its collaboration with Asahi Kizai Co., Ltd. This article explores the enhancements in sales operations through the innovative use of UPWARD's sales support platform.

Background: The Need for Sales Digital Transformation

Asahi Kizai, which operates in the construction sector, relies heavily on field sales, particularly through the utilization of construction site signs as vital sources of customer information. However, the company's previous methods faced significant challenges, including missed visitation opportunities, delays in activity reporting due to busy schedules, and discrepancies among team members. To prevent potential losses, estimated in the range of several million yen, the need for a digital transformation in sales became critical.

Why UPWARD Was Chosen

In April 2025, Asahi Kizai opted for UPWARD to enhance the visibility of their sales activities. Several key factors influenced their decision:

- Alignment with Field Needs: The platform offered essential features such as digital weekly reports, presence detection, and customer management through mapping, perfectly aligning with Asahi Kizai’s operational needs.
- Cost-Effectiveness: By providing a mobile-first design suited for field use, UPWARD ensured that previously overlooked sales opportunities could be captured effectively, justifying the investment made by the company.

The Effects of Implementation

Remarkably, within a month of UPWARD's implementation, Asahi Kizai observed significant improvements. Concerns among the staff regarding increased workload were effectively addressed by the management's swift decision to abolish handwritten reporting methods. This decisive action facilitated a smooth transition to the new system.

A year into the implementation, Yu Nakao, the head of the second sales department, expressed strong satisfaction with the results: "Missing opportunities due to inaction is the most regrettable aspect of sales. With UPWARD, we've significantly reduced these missed chances, enabling a more proactive sales approach."

Key Features and Future Outlook

The detailed case study page reveals several additional innovations:

- AI-Powered Sign Scanning: This feature has drastically reduced the burden on the field staff, enabling seamless tracking of customer interactions.
- Improved Planning with Color-Coded Management: The platform’s mapping functionality provides critical awareness of immediate tasks, visually marking must-do activities for increased organizational focus.
- Sales Meetings with UPWARD Integration: UPWARD is actively showcased in daily sales meetings to prevent any lapses in follow-up visits.

Improvements in operational efficiency and proactive sales strategies hint at a bright future for Asahi Kizai. With UPWARD enhancing their final mile in field operations, they are well-positioned to excel in the competitive landscape.

For more details on the case study, complete with interviews and visuals, please visit this page.

About UPWARD

UPWARD Inc. is driven by its mission to unlock the creativity of field workers and accelerate growth for businesses and society. By leveraging technology, it aims to create a workplace where employees can operate efficiently, irrespective of their location or conditions. The company provides a field sales AI agent named UPWARD, which incorporates patented advanced geofencing technology for automatic recording of customer interactions among various AI-powered features tailored for field sales.