Meiho Engineering Embraces Full-Scale Digital Transformation for Construction

In an ambitious move towards modernization, Meiho Engineering Co., Ltd., a company belonging to the Meiho Enterprise Group and based in Meguro, Tokyo, has announced the integration of a cloud system dedicated to construction operations, named 'Construction Balena.' Starting from April 2026, this system will be deployed in both the construction and accounting departments. The initiative is reinforced by the expertise of Office Concierge Co., Ltd., also situated in Tokyo's Shibuya district, which is actively guiding the implementation process. By incorporating feedback from relevant personnel from the very beginning, the system has undergone rigorous trial and error, resulting in a highly practical tool tailored to the company's workflows.

Digital Transformation Reduces Work Hours by Approximately 57 Hours

Traditionally, Meiho Engineering managed tasks related to payment processing, invoice creation, and documentation through manual input via paper and Excel, leading to considerable delays and inefficiencies. Data related to payments produced by the construction department required extensive verification and reconciliation before being handed to the accounting department, complicating inter-departmental communication.

With the introduction of 'Construction Balena,' Meiho Engineering can now customize its operations to best suit its workflow. Beyond digitalizing the previous paper-heavy processes, the system can seamlessly integrate with the accounting department's financial systems, allowing for a streamlined, end-to-end payment process. This transformative shift is anticipated to save approximately 57 work hours per month across both departments, consisting of a reduction of about 46 hours in the construction department and 11 hours in the accounting department.

Department	Pre-Implementation Hours	Post-Implementation Hours	Saved Hours
--	------	------	----
Construction	90 hours/month	44 hours/month	▲46 hours/month
Accounting	21 hours/month	10 hours/month	▲11 hours/month

Total	111 hours/month	54 hours/month	▲57 hours/month

Feedback from Meiho Engineering Staff

Construction Department Comment:
"At month-end, we used to face a bottleneck due to the compilation and verification of payment requests. However, the adoption of 'Construction Balena' has streamlined this process. Now, we can bulk output documents directly from the system, reducing the time spent on month-end tasks from about 2.5 hours to just 0.5 hours. We are still in the early stages of full implementation, but the effects have surpassed our expectations. Employees who manage a higher volume of vendor transactions are experiencing even more substantial benefits. We plan to allocate the time saved to reviewing site drawings and ensuring construction precision, hence not just enhancing efficiency but also improving quality management."

Accounting Department Comment:
"The biggest change we’ve noticed is the elimination of information time lags between departments. Previously, verifying the extensive data received from the construction department resulted in concentrated workloads at month-end and beginning. It used to take around 6.6 hours each month, but now it has been reduced to about 3 hours. The data inputted by the construction department syncs directly with the accounting system, eradicating previous correction instances, thus providing a tangible sense of efficiency."

Future Plans

Looking ahead, Meiho Engineering is committed to continuing its digital transformation efforts by implementing additional systems, such as a check system for completion inspections and an AI-driven voice recognition tool for automatic minute generation. Ongoing training sessions will be conducted in collaboration with both internal and external trainers to ensure the effective assimilation of 'Construction Balena' within the teams. The company aims to leverage the time saved from increased efficiency to bolster field management systems and improve overall quality. Moving forward, Meiho Engineering envisions creating an organization capable of managing an expansive array of projects by optimizing their operational framework.

About 'Construction Balena'

'Construction Balena' is a cloud-based system tailored to integrate and manage core operations in the construction industry. Features include project management per site, preparation of quotations, invoices, and orders, as well as generating reports linked with daily logs and diagrams. The system has successfully been adopted by over 500 companies nationwide, from Hokkaido to Okinawa, within various sectors of construction such as building, renovation, electrical, and plumbing. With an affordable starting fee and high performance, Construction Balena represents a powerful tool for mitigating the IT gap faced by small to medium-sized enterprises in the industry.

Learn more about Construction Balena

About Office Concierge

- CEO: Nobuaki Komatsu
- Headquarters: Shibuya, Tokyo
- Established: January 23, 2006
- Website: Office Concierge
- Services: Development and provision of 'Balena DX,' a comprehensive cloud system for construction, and other outsourcing services

About Meiho Engineering

Founded as part of the Meiho Enterprise Group, Meiho Engineering is a comprehensive construction company specializing in high-quality building design and construction.

- CEO: Nobuhiro Sakamoto
- Headquarters: Meguro, Tokyo
- Established: October 26, 2022
- Website: Meiho Engineering

About Meiho Enterprise Group

With a solid 57-year history in the construction industry, the Meiho Enterprise Group continues to successfully meet market demands, supplying over 250 contemporary rental properties across central Tokyo. The group consists of various companies, including property management and outsourcing services, designed to deliver high-quality solutions for clients.