#Japan #Tokyo #CyberAgent #AVITA #Abatre

AVITA's Innovative 'Abatre'

AVITA Corporation, located in Meguro, Tokyo, and led by CEO Hiroshi Ishiguro, has introduced an innovative approach to training within the internet advertising sector through its AI role-playing service called 'Abatre'. Recently, this cutting-edge technology was adopted by CyberAgent, a prominent name in internet advertising, located in Shibuya, Tokyo and headed by President Takahiro Yamauchi, to facilitate the training of new employees in their advertising division.

Background of Implementation

In the fast-evolving world of internet advertising, it is crucial for sales representatives to fully grasp the diverse characteristics of various advertising media and effectively communicate these to clients. This requires a significant level of understanding and proposal-making ability to achieve success. For new employees to reach a certain competency level quickly, they must engage in practical, repetitive practice.

However, traditional training methods often place a significant burden on senior employees, who must subjectively guide and perform role-playing exercises with the new recruits. Recognizing these challenges, AVITA has developed 'Abatre' to provide a more efficient and reproducible training solution. By using AI avatars, new employees can engage in training anywhere, anytime, allowing them to practice intensively without relying on their seniors.

Implementation Guidelines and Usage

At CyberAgent’s internet advertising unit, 'Abatre' serves as a vital tool for cultivating sales skills in new hires. The primary training focuses on the following areas:

1. Explaining Advertising Media: Fresh hires practice articulating the characteristics of advertising media that their department manages during initial client meetings, thus developing practical communication skills.

2. Operational Review and Proposal Skills: The training includes simulating post-campaign discussions where employees reflect on campaign performance and strategize for future proposals. This allows them to strengthen their reporting and proposal delivery to clients.

After each session, the AI provides evaluations and suggestions for improvement, enabling employees to identify their weaknesses and autonomously enhance their skills.

Effects of Abatre's Implementation

• - Significant Reduction in Trainer Workload: Within just three months after new recruits were assigned in 2026 (April to June), the program successfully diminished the role-playing time previously handled by senior employees. The frequency of accompanying trainers dropped from up to 14 times to none, resulting in a drastic reduction in training workload. This shift allows trainers to focus more on advanced coaching and feedback.

• - Standardization of Training Quality: With the capability to practice consistently using standardized scenarios, employees are less affected by the varied experiences and schedules of their trainers, contributing to a more uniform level of skill acquisition across the team.

• - Rapid Integration of New Employees: The structured practice enables new hires to acquire hands-on experience early on, fostering a swift transition into effective contributors within the workplace.

Comment from a CyberAgent Representative

Fona Komuro from the AI Operations Technology Department at CyberAgent stated, “The standout aspect of 'Abatre' is how it allows you to role-play repeatedly with the AI avatar using your own words, significantly improving understanding. Additionally, the detailed feedback following each session is instrumental in guiding subsequent improvements. The evaluation from the field has been overwhelmingly positive, and we plan to continue utilizing it as part of our new employee training.”

About AVITA's 'Abatre'

'Abatre' utilizes AI and avatars to create an effective role-playing environment conducive to delivering results. The AI avatars act out customer roles, allowing users to practice in a non-pressurized setting whenever and wherever they choose. After role-playing sessions, the system automatically evaluates performance and provides constructive feedback, enabling users to gauge their skill levels and strive for improvement.

Moreover, 'Abatre' leverages data such as practice frequency and evaluation scores for addressing individual areas of improvement, tracking progress, and optimizing training plans. This approach mitigates inconsistencies in personalized training while promoting the systematic sharing and institutionalization of training knowledge. The solution also alleviates the burden on educational staff who previously spent significant time on role-play, enhancing the overall training efficiency across the organization.

For more information, visit the service introduction page at AVITA's Website.

Company Overview

CyberAgent, Inc.
President: Takahiro Yamauchi
Location: 40-1 Udagawacho, Shibuya, Tokyo
Established: March 1998
Business: Media & IP, Internet Advertising, Gaming, Investment Education
Website

AVITA Corporation
President & CEO: Hiroshi Ishiguro
Key Executives: Shogo Nishiguchi, Hideshi Hamaguchi
Location: 1-8-1 Shimomeguro, Meguro, Tokyo
Established: June 2021
Business: Development services using avatars and AI
Website