#Japan #Saitama #Kintone #Cybozu #Saitama Prefecture

Enhancing Digital Transformation: The Case of Saitama Prefecture

The Saitama Prefectural Government is embracing digital transformation (DX) in an ambitious initiative that aims to improve the efficiency of its operations for over 13,000 staff members. At the core of this transformation is Kintone, a business improvement platform developed by Cybozu Inc., now prominently featured on their product site as a successful case study.

Background of Kintone Adoption

As part of the Saitama Prefecture Digital Transformation Promotion Plan, the government has laid out a strategy that encompasses a three-step approach to achieve comprehensive DX. The first step focuses on moving from analog to digital, providing the necessary infrastructure to enable digital workflows. The second step aims at task transformation (TX), where departments actively employ no-code tools and generative AI to transform their work methods. Finally, the ultimate goal of total DX forms the third step of their strategy.

During the progression toward digitalization, Saitama encountered challenges, particularly the absence of a common system for inter-departmental information sharing. For example, when multiple departments needed to confirm information, the reliance on individual email communications was time-consuming and inefficient. Thus, Kintone, with its ability to support cross-departmental approval workflows and assign appropriate access rights for viewing and editing, became the platform of choice.

Streamlining Inquiry Processes

Currently, all 13,000 employees at Saitama Prefecture hold licenses for Kintone, with an impressive number of over 200 apps developed to enhance operational efficiency. One of the most significant applications in use relates to the inquiry and response processes, essential for proposing new initiatives for the upcoming fiscal year. This app enables the planning department to gather information on proposed projects from various divisions. Previously, this required considerable time and effort for coordination via emails. By digitizing this process with Kintone, both the planning and financial departments can access and review the same information in real-time.

Future Directions

As the Saitama Prefectural Government moves towards the third step of its DX agenda, the aim is to consolidate all inquiry and response operations into Kintone to further enhance business efficiencies. With more data accumulating within Kintone, the ability to formulate data-driven policies will be greatly strengthened, promoting a greater awareness of data utility within the agency. This will foster a culture where all staff members work as one cohesive team in advancing their DX efforts.

Detailed Case Study

For more insights into Saitama Prefecture's Kintone application, detailed information can be found on the Kintone product site’s case studies page: Kintone Case Studies.

About Kintone

Kintone is a widely used business improvement platform, utilized by over 42,000 companies. It allows users with little to no IT knowledge to create applications tailored to their business needs using no-code and low-code methods, alongside AI, facilitating rapid and cost-effective operational enhancements. Key features include database management, communication tools, and process management, making it applicable for various purposes such as customer relationship management, travel requests, and daily operational reporting.

For more details, visit the Kintone product site.

*Note: Please refer to the trademark and copyright notes for additional information here.