#Japan #Okinawa #Okinawa Electric #Kintone #Cybozu

Transforming Operations with Kintone

Okinawa Electric Group, comprising approximately 3,800 employees, has embarked on a transformative journey by adopting Kintone, a platform developed by Cybozu, to enhance their information-sharing processes throughout the organization. This initiative is part of a larger move to refresh their groupware and promote digital transformation as outlined in their mid-term business plan.

Background for Kintone Adoption

The decision to implement Kintone stemmed from the impending discontinuation of their long-standing groupware, which had become cumbersome with similar applications cluttering the platform. In an effort to address these operational hurdles, Okinawa Electric realized the necessity of a robust solution that would not only replicate existing functionalities but also encourage collaboration and operational improvements among employees. Kintone was chosen specifically for its adaptability to Japan's business practices and its capability to allow employees to innovate workflow processes autonomously.

Balancing Governance with Citizen Development

Upon implementing Kintone, the information systems department initially managed app development while addressing requests from various departments. However, the growing recognition of Kintone within the company resulted in a surge of requests for new applications. By 2023, Okinawa Electric opened the floodgates for citizen development. This strategic shift necessitated a balance between oversight and autonomy. The company facilitated training sessions that have seen over 400 employees participate, which represents more than half of those engaged in computer-based tasks.

To ensure quality and security, technical guidelines were established to delineate app creation areas based on business functions and the nature of the data involved. Moreover, a request-based system for app creation was introduced, requiring approval from the information systems department before any release, maintaining oversight while empowering employees.

Enhancing Efficiency in Communications and Documentation

The advent of citizen development has led to the creation of applications tailored to unique on-site operations, promoting grassroots-led business improvements. Noteworthy is the efficiency gained through the new collaboration features of Kintone, particularly in dealings with external contractors for telephone pole replacements, which saved around 300 hours of labor annually by streamlining communication.

Additionally, Kintone's introduction has virtually eliminated 60,000 document processing tasks per year, condensing operational hours by 15,000. The platform's workflow capabilities align perfectly with Japanese hierarchical approval practices, allowing for multi-step confirmations and adjustments without delays. This rapid approval process has drastically reduced the time documents spend awaiting manager approvals, effectively eliminating bottlenecks in operational flows.

Group-Wide Implementation and Future Plans

As a result of Kintone's successful implementation, the system's efficiency benefits have extended across the entire group, fostering a sense of unity in optimizing operations. Looking ahead, Okinawa Electric aims to continue optimizing Kintone for better integration within their entire supply chain while ensuring ease of use and maintainability, creating a sustainable operational environment. Moreover, there are aspirations to leverage the structured data accumulated through Kintone for artificial intelligence applications in the future.

More on Kintone's Use at Okinawa Electric

For additional details about Okinawa Electric's case study with Kintone, visit the product's case study page here.

What is Kintone?

Kintone is a business improvement platform utilized by over 40,000 companies in Japan, including 46% of the companies listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. It empowers users without IT backgrounds to create customized applications effortlessly through no-code and low-code solutions, facilitating rapid, cost-effective business improvements. With functionalities such as database management, communication tools, and process management, Kintone caters to a wide array of applications, driving continuous improvement in operations across companies. For more information, visit Kintone's official site.