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Introduction of StepBase AI

Persol Business Process Design Co., Ltd., headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, has launched a cutting-edge service known as StepBase AI on September 8, 2026. This innovative service, part of the StepBase online BPO offering, leverages artificial intelligence alongside professional expertise to facilitate the creation of business process documentation.

This initiative aligns with the company's vision of a workplace where employees can thrive and smile, enhancing back-office operations in various businesses, particularly addressing the challenges posed by personnel fluctuations due to employee turnover or relocations.

Background of StepBase AI

Japan faces a significant challenge regarding its shrinking workforce, which has led to a severe skills shortage—especially within small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Many of these businesses operate with limited personnel, causing essential knowledge and tasks to be concentrated in specific individuals, thereby creating challenges in standardizing business processes.

As outsourcing has become more prominent, especially for back-office functions, the need for visible and standardized work processes has grown. However, knowledge often remains confined to individual employees, making it difficult to facilitate efficient process outsourcing and improvements. Furthermore, employee transitions due to resignations or relocations often place additional burdens on remaining staff, complicating the continuity and quality of work.

To tackle these issues, the organization recognized the necessity of developing comprehensive business manuals, which typically require significant time and effort to compile alongside regular operations. Purely relying on AI for this task often fails to capture unique corporate rules and tacit knowledge that employees have acquired over time.

With those factors in mind, Persol Business Process Design has combined its extensive expertise in business design and BPO with advanced AI technology to create StepBase AI, a solution aimed at enhancing operational visibility and standardization.

Overview of StepBase AI

StepBase AI focuses on back-office functions such as accounting, labor, and recruitment. It utilizes experienced professionals who gather pertinent information from staff through interviews in conjunction with AI-generated documentation. These experts go beyond simply asking about existing tasks—they also identify gaps between established workplace rules and actual practices, capturing key tacit knowledge in the process. The draft procedures generated by AI are then verified and supplemented by these professionals, ensuring enhancements in both speed and quality.

This service aims to simplify the transition of responsibilities during staff changes and alleviate the intense pressure on individuals who are responsible for knowledge transfers.

Service Process

- Consultation with company personnel
- AI generates drafts of procedures
- Industry experts refine and finalize the documents

Pricing

• - Basic Fee: Starting at 60,000 JPY (excl. tax) per process
• - Optional Add-ons (e.g., screen captures): Starting at 30,000 JPY (excl. tax)

Future Developments

Looking ahead, the company plans to expand the scope of StepBase AI beyond back-office functions to include additional business areas. It also aims to facilitate integration with existing BPO services and explore partnering with local government agencies and various businesses to broaden its reach to SMEs nationwide.

Statement from a Company Executive

Masaki Hashiguchi, Director of Business Development at Persol Business Process Design, emphasizes that many SMEs have expressed concern about the concentration of operational knowledge among specific individuals. This dependence becomes evident when unexpected resignations or absences occur, often leading to operational disruptions.

Moreover, while businesses recognize the importance of creating and updating procedural documentation, they often lack the time to engage in this critical work. The integration of AI for document generation with the human touch of industry professionals promises not only to visualize unique rules but also to contribute to the greater goal of sustainable management practices in the wake of Japan's diminishing labor force.

About StepBase

Learn more about StepBase services here: StepBase. StepBase offers efficient administrative support, covering various aspects from hiring to accounting. This service negates the need for preparing extensive manuals when partnering with businesses, significantly reducing the hiring and operational burdens on organizations.

About Persol Business Process Design Co., Ltd.

More information can be found at Persol Business Process Design. The company is dedicated to enhancing workplace environments through the fusion of technology, organizational management, and comprehensive process solutions, ultimately contributing to the fulfillment of diverse workforce needs and the realization of sustainable societal goals.