i-PRO’s Digital Transformation Policy
i-PRO’s Digital Transformation Activities
All of i-PRO’s digital transformation (DX) activities are intrinsically aimed at realizing our unique management philosophies of open policy and time-based competition (refer i-PRO - CEO’s message). Since becoming independent, we have strived for data-driven work-styles for each employee, and to establish an environment and nurture a workplace culture to achieve this. Our DX continues to evolve based on our employees’ aspirations. Based upon this foundation, we are significantly leveraging the power of digital in operating our business reform project through inter-organizational joint development. We will maximize our utilization of digital power to drive a business model transformation, through “open policy” to grow together with all of our partner businesses and “time-based competition” that values the time of our customers.
Ayako Shiga
Chief Information Officer
[Phases of Digital Transformation Activities]
| DX Phase 0 |
Construction of the foundation of our digital platform (2020 – Oct 2022) Prior to our becoming completely independent from the Panasonic group, systems across the globe were integrated into a single core system. - Consolidation of key data, that had been separated, at one location - Construction of the foundation of our digital platform to leverage data
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| DX Phase 1 |
Expansion of our digital platform and advancing data utilization (scheduled 2020 – Mar 2025) We will maintain and expand our digital platform while also advancing data utilization company-wide. Currently, we are reforming production management systems at our factories in Suzhou, China and Fukuoka, Japan. The new i-PRO Manufacturing Digital Platform System will enable strong support of our open policy and time-based competition from factories and production sites. Development of a dashboard (BI Report) for management and product information - Advancement of visualization of our global supply chain - Expansion of BI licenses to all employees - Introduction of the new i-PRO Manufacturing Digital Platform System at our factories
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| DX Phase 2 |
Provision of a unique i-PRO customer experience (2022 – ongoing) We are advancing DX activities to enhance the customer experience, from product, consideration of service, negotiations, and purchase through to after-sales service. Provision of good products and services to customers along with a better i-PRO experience will fulfill the value of our DX activities. It is essential that the content of our activities evolves continuously. In this phase, we are not only conducting activities directed at customers, but also in pursuit of in-house operational excellence, incorporating AI and other cutting-edge technology as we shift towards value-creation activities. - Consolidation of our global product information website (2023) - Establishment of an EC site and portal site to enable provision of information tailored to each customer (2022 – 2024) - Improved information sharing from our digital platform, including production status and delivery schedule (planned) - Enhancement of work efficiency and commencing value-creation activities using Microsoft Copilot (from 2024) |
Furthermore, regarding security, which is a prerequisite to our DX activities, we regularly implement a cycle of redefinition of, and response to, product security and information security risks.
[i-PRO’s DX Activity Structure]
As described above, i-PRO’s DX activities are implemented autonomously respectively at employee, division, and inter-divisional team levels. Among these, our operating our business reform project, which significantly leverages the power of digital, is being advanced through joint development by the leaders of each business: the Senior Vice President (SVP)*1, CxO team*2 from head office, and the Chief Information Officer (CIO) team (organization name: Business Process Technology). The SVP and CxO team lead business process reengineering, while the CIO team supports business reform through technology potential and implementation, and company-wide optimization of end-to-end business processes.
Case Studies of i-PRO DX
Below, we introduce examples of each DX initiative.
- 1. Production Site DX Initiative
Facilitating daily management of made-to-order through DX to realize high-mix, low volume, and prompt delivery
BPR leader: Chief Manufacturing Officer (CMFO)
- Product Development DX Initiative
Always promptly supplying customers with the latest technology and devices
BPR leaders: Chief Product Officer (CPO) & Chief Technology Officer (CTO)
- Business Site DX Initiative
Simultaneous realization of customer experience enhancement and in-house work innovation
BPR leader: Senior Vice President (SVP), Japan Region