#Japan #AI #Tokyo #Hitachi Systems #Sales Assistant

Introduction

In the rapidly changing business landscape, the demand for efficient sales operations is more crucial than ever. Hitachi Systems is stepping forward by launching its Sales Assistant AI, designed specifically to enhance productivity among frontline workers. This innovative solution follows the success of their Manufacturing Assistant AI, further extending the benefits of advanced technology in various industry sectors.

The Launch of Sales Assistant AI

Leveraging Microsoft's Azure OpenAI Service, the new Sales Assistant AI is grounded in the robust domain knowledge that Hitachi Systems has accumulated from serving various industries including public services, finance, and distribution. After conducting internal trials, the company confirmed that the AI could reduce work time by about 50% per month in specific sales tasks, providing a strong foundation for the deployment of this technology.

The AI aims to support the sales team by optimizing tasks such as creating sales catalogs and documents, developing email and telemarketing scripts, and suggesting products tailored to end-user needs based on website data. By streamlining sales operations, this AI is set to elevate both the efficiency and quality of customer interactions, paving the way for increased sales effectiveness.

Addressing Industry Challenges

The sales industry faces a growing challenge of securing sufficient manpower. According to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare in Japan, the effective job openings-to-applicants ratio for sales positions reached 2.15 in July 2025, significantly higher than the overall average of 1.09 across all professions. This highlights the acute shortage of necessary sales personnel, putting additional pressure on existing staff functions.

Internally, Hitachi Systems has identified numerous operational issues within their sales processes, particularly among inside sales teams, where tasks such as content creation for catalogs and developing scripts for telemarketing were identified as time-consuming. Field sales representatives also reported challenges in providing timely and accurate responses to customer inquiries and managing large volumes of product information.

Key Features of Sales Assistant AI

The Sales Assistant AI integrates Hitachi's domain knowledge with artificial intelligence to provide a comprehensive support package for sales personnel. The key features include:

• - AI-enhanced Sales Support: The AI offers a variety of prompts that streamline research, material preparation, and lead extraction, ultimately improving proposal quality and speed by delivering quick and informative responses tailored to customer needs.
• - Standardization of Sales Content: By utilizing a glossary of corporate expressions and brand guidelines, the AI ensures that all sales content adheres to quality standards, allowing any team member to produce consistent and high-quality documents.
• - Efficient Management of Product Information: The AI analyzes vast product information online to facilitate the creation of FAQs and marketing scripts, ensuring timely and high-quality customer responses.

Societal Impact and Future Outlook

By addressing the labor shortage within the sales industry, Hitachi Systems' Sales Assistant AI contributes significantly to enhancing sales personnel’s productivity and operational quality, ultimately aiding clients in increasing their sales revenue. Looking ahead, Hitachi Systems aims to continue developing specialized AI solutions tailored to different industries, including healthcare data analysis and project support, with a target of generating 10 billion yen in related sales by the end of the 2027 fiscal year. Through a focus on industry knowledge and practical applications, they are well-positioned to assist customers in effectively harnessing the power of Generative AI and driving digital transformation.

Conclusion

For more information on the Sales Assistant AI, visit Hitachi Systems' website. Hitachi Systems remains committed to supporting clients in overcoming today’s challenges by delivering innovative solutions that contribute to a truly sustainable society, aligned with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).