Company Introduction

AJIS Co., Ltd. is a pioneer in the industry, having launched the first inventory business in Japan in 1978. Based on the corporate philosophy of "contributing to the development of chain stores and the realization of a prosperous society," the company has continued to support the growth of the distribution and retail industry for over 40 years.

Currently, under our new medium-term management plan "Vision 50," we are promoting our evolution from a traditional "service provider" to a "solution provider" that solves customer issues from the root. As a unique entity that connects manufacturers, retailers, and consumers, even in emergencies, we aim to increase our social value..Led by the DX Strategy Headquarters, we are integrating cutting-edge technologies such as AI and cloud computing into our own services, and are challenging ourselves to create next-generation value that embodies our tagline, "Your Partner in Retail Solutions."

Issues before introducing generative AI

At AJIS, which supports the infrastructure of the distribution industry, the use of AI began as an important theme for the entire organization. As the direction of utilization was indicated company-wide, a major theme was how to foster awareness on the ground and connect it to practical solutions.

However, when they first began considering its introduction, the practical aspects of AI, such as how to effectively incorporate it into daily work, were not fully understood among the operational staff in the headquarters service department and other areas. There was also a perception that AI was something that "something special will suddenly appear" or "will solve problems like magic." As a result, there was an urgent need to raise basic AI literacy so that employees would become familiar with it and be able to use it effectively, as a familiar "tool" that would support business reform.

Effects after generative AI introduction training

First, an experimental training session was conducted with 20 members, which brought about a dramatic change in the mindset of the employees.

Those who thought of it as a "magic tool that can do anything" gained a realistic understanding of it as a tool, saying, "Surprisingly, it doesn't work unless you give it clear instructions. You need to operate it correctly." On the other hand, even those who had already been using it in part said, "Actually, I only knew the basics. Learning the prompt patterns made me realize that I was just pretending to know what I was using it for." It is a major success that the "correct way to use it," which involves understanding how to handle information and the risk of hallucination, and then having a human check the results in the end, has become widespread.

Furthermore, the emphasis is on the effect of "improving quality" rather than quantitative figures. By using AI as a dialogue partner (a person to bounce ideas off), the thinking of the person in charge deepens, leading to self-realization and skill development. This is not just about ROI (return on investment) in terms of reducing labor costs, but also about standing at the beginning of "aggressive utilization" that maximizes the value of output produced in the same amount of time.

Future outlook

The next step for AJIS Co., Ltd. is to raise the level of AI utilization among all employees. Starting next fiscal year, we will provide basic training for all employees, combining archived distribution and hands-on sessions, to raise AI literacy to the "standard equipment of the organization."

Furthermore, we are planning to establish our own in-house "AI qualification system." We aim to create a system for stepping up to intermediate and advanced levels, so that all employees can always keep their ears open to the latest AI trends.

The DX Strategy Headquarters will act as a hub to "update the company itself to an organization that is premised on utilizing AI," and will promote reforms that include overhauling the personnel system and incorporating AI into customer-facing applications. By doing so, the company will continue to pursue overwhelming value creation that combines the trust of a long-established company with the latest technology.