PERSOL and Toho IT Collaborate for Sustainable Growth in Fukushima SMEs

PERSOL Business Process Design Inc. (located in Minato-ku, Tokyo), under the leadership of President Kazuyuki Ichimura, has announced a new partnership with Toho IT Human Solutions, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Toho Bank based in Fukushima. This collaboration aims to enhance the productivity of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Fukushima prefecture through their innovative online BPO service, StepBase.

Fukushima is facing a significant demographic challenge, with its population steadily declining from a peak of 2.134 million in 1995 to a projected 1.717 million by 2025. Forecasts indicate a continued downward trend, with a predicted reduction to around 1.25 million by 2050, nearly a 27.2% drop from 2025 levels. This demographic shift is exacerbating labor shortages in the region, causing local businesses to increasingly recognize the need for process re-evaluation and digitalization, particularly in light of the shortage of specialized skills.

SMEs in the area struggle with a lack of skilled personnel, leading to challenges such as business reliance on individual capabilities and an inability to concentrate resources on core operations. These issues pose significant obstacles to business continuity across the region. Therefore, it is crucial to eliminate task reliance by visualizing and standardizing processes, creating an environment where any trained employee can execute tasks effectively.

Moreover, regional financial institutions and their group companies play a pivotal role in identifying the challenges faced by their client companies. They are expected to not only present solutions but also assist in their implementation, highlighting the necessity for enhanced collaborative efforts to maintain and strengthen the industrial foundation of the area.

Overview of the Partnership

Under this partnership, PERSOL Business Process Design and Toho IT will enter a customer introduction agreement, collectively proposing the utilization of online BPO services to the clients of both Toho Bank and TIH. Toho IT will be responsible for conducting interviews with businesses, identifying challenges, and formulating proposals. Meanwhile, PERSOL will promote understanding of the online BPO service through case studies and oversee everything from the overall design to the provision of services in real business scenarios.

The partnership targets various challenges, including workforce shortages, productivity improvement, IT tool utilization, and recruitment support, in a joint effort to alleviate the operational burdens faced by local businesses and build a foundation for growth.

Future Outlook

PERSOL Business Process Design aims to leverage this partnership to improve operational efficiency and productivity among SMEs in Fukushima. By creating a model that supports the business continuity and productivity enhancement of local enterprises, the company seeks to establish a replicable framework for implementation and operation. Future plans involve combining the strengths of both companies to explore a wider range of services and packages tailored to the specific challenges and growth stages of individual firms. Additionally, partnerships with financial institutions and local companies will be expanded to address social issues such as workforce shortages and delays in digitalization within the community.

About the Online BPO Service “StepBase”

“StepBase” is an online service designed for efficient handling of back-office operations. This service is provided by highly experienced assistants directly employed by PERSOL Business Process Design. With over 7,000 business processes available, the service eliminates barriers often encountered in outsourced operations, such as the need for lengthy instructional documents and manuals. It supports a wide range of activities including recruitment, accounting, labor management, general affairs, secretarial tasks, sales, web design, and general office duties. Clients can delegate just the right amount of work as needed, reducing costs associated with hiring and labor while allowing employees to focus on critical tasks.

About PERSOL Business Process Design

PERSOL Business Process Design integrates process design expertise with organization and human resource management skills, along with employee development capabilities, to offer BPO services that address customers' specific challenges. Their mission is to