#Japan #Digital Transformation #Chiyoda #SmartDB #Earth Pharmaceutical

Earth Pharmaceutical Drives Digital Transformation with SmartDB Implementation

Earth Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. has embarked on an ambitious journey towards digital transformation by introducing the cloud service SmartDB, provided by Dream Arts Co., Ltd. This strategic move aims to foster a culture of “digital democratization,” enabling all employees to leverage digital tools to enhance operational efficiencies.

Background: Transitioning to a Company-wide Digital Foundation

Earth Pharmaceutical envisions itself as a leading company that harnesses digital technology as a driving force for management, adapting swiftly to change while co-creating a sustainable future for humanity and the planet. Under this ambitious DX vision, the company aims to quicken data-driven management and enhance customer interactions through digital channels. Furthermore, they are dedicated to nurturing digital talent to support these advancements.

Recognizing the need to adapt to a rapidly changing business environment and advancements in digital and AI technologies, Earth Pharmaceutical identified the necessity for a “digital democratization” approach, empowering departments to independently utilize digital resources for operational improvement. Existing systems posed challenges due to their rigid nature and reliance on bespoke development, making it difficult for divisions to build the necessary frameworks themselves. Additionally, the information systems department faced challenges managing diverse digital needs from various divisions while maintaining overall control, resulting in inefficiencies and dispersed information across emails.

Selection of SmartDB: Balancing Departmental Development and Corporate Governance

The decision to implement SmartDB was influenced by its capacity to empower business units to take the lead in developing solutions while ensuring corporate governance remains intact. Key factors included:

• - No-Code Application Development: SmartDB allows staff without IT expertise to create business applications easily, facilitating proactive problem-solving by department personnel.
• - Robust Security and Governance Features: The platform offers granular access controls, ensuring information security while allowing the information systems department to maintain overall oversight.
• - Support for Digital Talent Development: With community-driven knowledge sharing among user companies, SmartDB promotes self-sufficient use and development among employees.
• - Comprehensive Standard Functions: Despite being a no-code platform, SmartDB meets the complex operational needs of large enterprises.

Results Post-Implementation: Expanding Digital Democratization

Since SmartDB's adoption, both operational and information systems departments have witnessed significant improvements. The first case from the business unit saw a staff member with limited IT background successfully build an application within a week. This led to a shift towards a development cycle characterized by rapid prototyping and iterative improvements. Information systems also saw increased efficiency as SmartDB's no-code framework facilitated development without requiring specialized expertise, enabling them to complete company-wide deployment ahead of schedule.

Moreover, operational process improvements include the consolidation of procurement workflows, allowing the integration of previously dispersed email communications into a single streamlined process. This unification has enhanced information management and streamlined decision-making.

Future Outlook: Enhancing Company-Wide Utilization and AI Incorporation

Looking ahead, Earth Pharmaceutical is committed to expanding the utilization of SmartDB for greater digital democratization and sustaining the development momentum within their business units. They will actively engage with the Dream Arts user community to leverage insights from other organizations for continuous improvement.

Moreover, plans to adopt the SmartDB Practical AI option are under consideration to further enhance efficiencies and speed up decision-making processes, aligning with their overarching goal of advancing digital transformation across the company.

Quote from Akira Kaji, Executive Officer

Akira Kaji, the Executive Officer in charge of the Information Systems Department at Earth Pharmaceutical, expressed: “We strongly resonate with Dream Arts’ philosophy of digital democratization. For business reform and progress, it is crucial for every employee to utilize digital resources proactively and address challenges themselves.” He notes that after the company-wide rollout of SmartDB, proactive development efforts have begun to spread throughout departments. The emphasis now lies on solidifying support systems for ongoing application development and enhancing digital talent cultivation, aiming for an organization that can independently progress in its improvements.

Dream Arts remains dedicated to providing comprehensive solutions that enhance operational capabilities and bolster corporate competitiveness, in line with its guiding principle of co-creation.

About SmartDB: SmartDB is the leading business digitalization cloud service with the largest market share in the corporate sector, enabling organizations to develop tailored applications without coding resources efficiently. Find out more about SmartDB’s capabilities here.

About Dream Arts: Dedicated to contributing to human and organizational development, Dream Arts offers solutions including SmartDB, digital operation reform tools for multi-store operations, and business cockpit solutions for large enterprises. Learn more about Dream Arts here.