#Japan #Tokyo #OCR Technology #B-Luck #Tsuruha Group

Transforming Expiration Date Management in Retail with B-Luck

The retail industry is rapidly evolving as technology continues to enhance operational efficiencies. Brycen Inc., based in Chuo-ku, Tokyo, has introduced a game-changing solution called the "B-Luck Expiration Date Check" to tackle the challenges of expiration date management. This innovative solution has already been adopted by Tsuruha Holdings, a major player based in Sapporo City, Hokkaido, which operates around 2,300 stores across Japan.

The Challenge

With the increase in food categories and the expansion of stores, Tsuruha Group faced critical challenges in managing expiration dates effectively. Errors in expiration date handling could lead to significant food waste, affecting both profitability and sustainability. Therefore, finding a feasible solution to automate and streamline this process became imperative.

The B-Luck Solution

The "B-Luck Expiration Date Check" employs Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology to automatically recognize product expiration dates. It determines necessary actions — whether products should be discounted, returned, or disposed of — through an intelligent system, drastically improving operational capabilities.

Post-implementation at Tsuruha Group, the number of SKU (Stock Keeping Units) subject to checks per month reduced from around 5,100 to about 980. This remarkable reduction has led to an impressive 80% decrease in work volume and a 75% reduction in the time spent managing expiration dates; for instance, monthly labor hours decreased from 60 to just 15.

Benefits Realized

The implementation of B-Luck has generated a multitude of benefits for Tsuruha Group:

• - Adoption across five companies in the group, covering roughly 2,300 stores.
• - A steep drop in the number of SKUs needing monthly checks, enhancing focus and efficiency.
• - A significant reduction in the labor involved — approximately 80% reduction in workload.
• - The time required for expiration date management plummeting by 75%.
• - Alleviation of training burdens and elimination of individual dependency on knowledge in operations.
• - Standardization of processes, allowing even temporary staff or spot workers to operate successfully.

Future Prospects

Tsuruha Group plans to further enhance the B-Luck solution by integrating it with a discount sticker issuance feature. This integration will optimize the entire workflow from expiration date checking to sticker issuance, aiming for even greater efficiency and quality in store operations.

Brycen Inc. is committed to supporting the retail sector in reducing food waste, increasing store productivity, and standardizing operations through its innovative solutions. The company is determined to make B-Luck the de facto standard in the field of expiration date management in retail.

For those interested in exploring more about the B-Luck solution and its implementation success, Brycen has dedicated a webpage detailing specific case studies and outcomes related to its deployment.

Learn More About B-Luck Here

About B-Luck Expiration Date Check

The "B-Luck Expiration Date Check" is a state-of-the-art expiration date management solution that utilizes OCR technology to automate the recognition of product expiration dates. It helps facilitate necessary actions such as discounts, returns, and disposals, all while enhancing operational efficiency and minimizing human error in retail settings such as drugstores and supermarkets.

For inquiries, contact:
Brycen Inc. Retail Sales Department
Phone: 03-6261-3612
Contact form: Contact Us