#Japan #Tokyo #Industrial Machinery #Hitachi Solutions #FutureStage

Hitachi Solutions Introduces Industrial Machinery Wholesale Template

On April 1st, Hitachi Solutions, headquartered in Shinagawa, Tokyo, will unveil a new template for its FutureStage Sales Management System. This system is tailored specifically for wholesalers in the industrial and machinery sectors, aiming to address their unique operational challenges.

The wholesale industry for industrial machinery is characterized by lengthy lead times for orders—often spanning months or even years. This phenomenon leads to complex handling of invoices and supporting documents, necessitating adaptability to varied terms of debt collection and payment for each transaction. With challenges evident in managing schedules and the frequent correction of paperwork, increasing efficiency across operations has become a pressing need.

Features of the New Template

The newly released template comes equipped with features that align with the industry's business practices and boasts a user-friendly screen design. Companies will be able to manage all processes—from inquiries and estimates to orders, purchases, and sales—under a single case unit. Additionally, the system allows for flexible configuration of recovery and payment conditions that align with each company's operational customs. This comprehensive management capability promises enhanced workflow efficiency, accurate performance tracking, and reduced error rates.

Notably, this template has already been piloted at Mitsubishi Corporation Technos, where it is also being leveraged for developing a data foundation poised for future AI utilization. Through providing tailored systems based on client needs, Hitachi Solutions aims to support corporations' sustainability transformation (SX).

Industry-Specific Adaptability

1. Standard Functions for Industrial Imports: The template offers core functionalities essential for specialized machinery wholesalers. The semi-order model allows for a flexible combination of features best suited to specific operational requirements, facilitating centralized management of inquiries, estimates, orders, purchases, and sales.
2. Complex Conditions Handling: The system can adeptly manage complicated industry-specific conditions such as prepayment, advance payments, and offsetting, ensuring comprehensiveness.
3. Integration with Microsoft Tools: The system integrates seamlessly with Microsoft’s accounting software, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance, and its BI tool, Microsoft Power BI, enabling no-code data analysis.

Addressing Operational Challenges

In the domain of industrial machinery wholesale, lengthy transactions and complex processes are commonplace. Frequent modifications to specifications, deadline adjustments, and price revisions necessitate numerous corrective paperwork operations, leading to a convoluted management process. Distributed management among departments for inquiries and estimates further complicates comprehensive project oversight, stymying control and effective data utilization.

Since 2008, Hitachi Solutions has provided the FutureStage Sales Management System, standardizing core operations for wholesalers. Utilizing a semi-custom approach, the system has expanded its functionalities, continually adapting to diverse market demands across six sectors—housing materials, energy, chemicals, non-ferrous metals, foodstuffs, and machinery equipment—with over 150 successful implementations.

The latest enhancements for the industrial machinery template incorporate expansions in functionality and a renewed graphical user interface (GUI) to address industry demands, marking an essential step forward.

Insights from Mitsubishi Corporation Technos

Comments from Mr. Tohru Ikeda, head of the Information Systems Department at Mitsubishi Corporation Technos, highlight the urgency of improving business operations to foster new value creation. He noted, “Maintaining our role as a trading company requires bolstering our manpower aimed at innovation. In evaluating options, Hitachi Solutions stood out for not only the quality of their offering but also their proactive approach to customization. Post-deployment, we are experiencing stable operations, and we are committed to effectively utilizing the input data.”

About FutureStage Sales Management System

For further information on the FutureStage Sales Management System, you can visit Hitachi Solutions or explore the offerings of Microsoft Dynamics 365. Additionally, insights into Mitsubishi Corporation Technos's deployment experience can be found at case studies.

About Hitachi Solutions

Hitachi Solutions provides a diverse array of solutions employing cutting-edge digital technology, enhancing digital transformation through collaborative creation with customers. With interconnected operations across North America, Southeast Asia, and India, the company addresses societal and corporate challenges on a global scale. Their mission emphasizes contributing to a sustainable society where people can live safely, securely, and comfortably.

For inquiries, please visit Hitachi Solutions Inquiry.

Note: Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance and Microsoft Power BI are trademarks of Microsoft Corp in the United States and other countries. All company and product names mentioned are registered trademarks of their respective owners.