The product team is manifesting time-based competition by promptly supplying customers with the latest technology and devices. In the five years since i-PRO became independent in 2019, we have been able to dramatically increase the number of our new network camera products from 13 to 100 annually. Of course, we have implemented various reforms to achieve this.

 

■ Modular design that supports the increase in new products

In the past, we planned and developed products separately, with individual designs for sectional optimization of the hardware and software that make up products. But modular design assumes that the hardware and software components (modules) will be deployed in many products, and we therefore formulate module specifications to maximize components that can be shared. In involves fixing a product roadmap, formulating optimal module specifications to promote modularization, then combining them to realize the product roadmap without delay. Generally, modularization results in adverse effects such as larger products, and higher materials costs, but we have measures in place such as miniaturization of modules themselves and cost reduction through sharing of modules. At the same time, by striving for miniaturization of products and achievement of cost reductions optimized overall, including for products, we have realized product miniaturization and cost reductions on a greater level than prior to modularization. In addition, despite dramatically increasing the number of our products, rather than our stock keeping unit (SKU)^*1 increasing, it has in fact decreased. Modular design has achieved major results, but has also significantly contributed to sharing of parts and standardization.

^*1 Stock keeping unit (SKU) is the smallest unit of measure in inventory management.

 

■ Significant reduction of new product development time

By organizing the development team for standardization of modules ahead of products, we have been able to significantly reduce the time required for product development. We were able to shorten development time of new products, which had taken two years, to around one year. In particular, it achieved significant impact on the update of major devices (image sensors and systems-on-chip, in the case of network cameras). Image sensors and systems-on-chip are constantly evolving, thereby realizing the utmost in performance and features in products that use the latest devices. Consequently, there is significant value in providing customers with products equipped with the latest devices as early as possible. We collaborate closely with manufacturers to acquire information on the latest devices. Then our specialized development team quickly proceeds to develop modules equipped with the newest devices.

 

 

 

■ The added-value of modular design: ensuring high quality

We are achieving positive results in terms of quality. With the huge increase in product numbers, we also expected a degree of quality issues, but in fact, their occurrence halved. We believe this is the result of focusing on the design of modules that make up the core of our products, improved design quality of hardware and software, and deployment of these high quality modules in a large number of products. In this way, modular design has become the foundation for i-PRO’s time-based competition. In future, we will expand modular design beyond network cameras to other products, including medical cameras.

 

■ Open policy and partner collaboration

Network cameras are rarely used stand-alone, usually they are combined with recorders, video management systems (VMS), and video software as a service (VSaaS), etc. to record and manage imagery, and these systems and services, provided in collaboration with other manufacturers, offer value to end-users. We proactively engage in open business in cooperation with many technology partners so that i-PRO’s network cameras can be more easily connected to systems equipment, whereby users can take advantage of the features and functions of our cameras.

i-PRO makes its camera AI functions open, providing technical partners with an arrangement to utilize them. We supply a software development kit (SDK) for development of applications that operate with our cameras, and also provide sample applications, tutorials, and online technical support to facilitate smoother development.

Recently, end users as well as partners are deeply concerned about cybersecurity and the ethical use of AI. i-PRO is tackling cybersecurity measures and ethical use of AI as top priorities at the foundation of its open policy so that our cameras can be used with peace of mind.

 

■ Digital platform supporting transformation

We could not achieve these transformations through conventional means, but have been able to do so by maximizing utilization of the digital platform and its data. The Product Planning Division has transferred management of product specification information and development and sales schedules from Excel to a data base for integrated management and has begun to visualize this using PowerBI^*2. Consequently, multiple related divisions are now able to access the latest necessary information, providing a structure enabling us to efficiently advance planning and development work for our rapidly expanding product lineup. This information is also shared with our sales team on the frontline, resulting in smoother introduction of new products in the market. Also, we created a dashboard for analysis of sales data from dozens of angles including product shape, resolution, and other specifications, as well as release date and buyer. Enabling data analysis from different angles according to purpose facilitates precise analysis of sales across our wide product lineup, which we use for planning future products and activities with partner businesses. In this way, our transformation is truly supported by the digital platform.

^*2 PowerBI is a business intelligence (BI) tool offered by Microsoft Corporation.