Sobu Logistics of Kikkoman Group Reduces Voucher Work by Approximately 330 Hours Annually - Adopts JPR's "DD Plus" to Eliminate Manual Input of Pallet Information and Reduce Burden

Sobu Logistics Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Noda City, Chiba Prefecture; President: Yasuhiro Hoshino; hereinafter 'Sobu Logistics'), which handles logistics for the Kikkoman Group, has introduced the delivery slip digitization and sharing system 'DD Plus' provided by Japan Pallet Rental Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Atsushi Futamura; hereinafter 'JPR').

In promoting efficiency in product shipping, Sobu Logistics recognized challenges such as low work efficiency in printing and sorting due to carbon-copy delivery slips. By adopting DD Plus, they changed delivery slips from carbon-copy to plain paper and integrated pallet forms that were previously issued separately, improving efficiency. Notably, linking their own system with DD Plus to automatically register pallet data is an unprecedented initiative. These effects are expected to reduce work time by approximately 330 hours per year.

Efficiency improvement by changing from carbon-copy slips to plain paper

▼Overview of the initiative

Through system integration (API) between Sobu Logistics' system and JPR's DD Plus, the 'delivery slip' and 'pallet slip' previously issued and managed separately were unified. This eliminated manual input of pallet counts and the troublesome sorting and peeling of slips, leading to an expected reduction of approximately 330 hours per year.

▼Challenge: 'Additional slip work' burdening the workplace

Sobu Logistics used to issue carbon-copy 'delivery slips' and 'pallet slips' separately and then match them into sets, facing the following issues:

- Waiting for printing by dot matrix printers: Slow printing unique to carbon-copy slips
- Analog work of 'peeling, separating, and matching': Cutting perforations, peeling off copy slips, and sorting
- Double entry effort: Manually checking and writing pallet counts, then later inputting into the system
- Searching effort: When responding to inquiries, having to search through bundles of slips

These additional tasks of 'writing, waiting, and searching' became a major barrier to productivity improvement, especially amid the urgent need to address the 'Logistics 2024 Problem'.

▼Four major improvements

Using JPR's SDK (Software Development Kit), Sobu Logistics completed the API integration between its system and 'DD Plus' in a short period of two months, achieving the following four improvements:

1. Complete automatic registration of pallet information (API integration)
Pallet counts are directly sent from Sobu Logistics' shipping data to 'DD Plus', eliminating the on-site process of 'visual confirmation → handwriting → later PC input', resulting in zero input errors and omissions.

2. Integration of forms (consolidation onto A4 plain paper)
Delivery slips and pallet slips are consolidated onto A4 plain paper, eliminating the need to match slips issued separately.

3. Eliminating on-site additional work
Switching from dot matrix printers to laser printers (plain paper) improved printing speed, and the tasks of cutting perforations and peeling copies unique to carbon-copy slips were eliminated.

4. Digitalization of slip management
Issued slips are stored in the system, eliminating the need to search through large bundles for post-event inquiries, significantly improving searchability in clerical work.

▼Positioning of slip initiatives at Sobu Logistics

In the logistics industry, the enforcement of the revised Logistics Efficiency Act requires companies to take measures to reduce long working hours for truck drivers, prompting efforts to improve the working environment and productivity.

Against this backdrop, Sobu Logistics is advancing initiatives such as introducing automated forklifts and digitizing picking operations. This slip-related improvement is part of these efforts.

Reference: Sobu Logistics website 'Efforts to Address Logistics Challenges':
https://www.kikkoman.com/jp/sobulogistics/about/dx.html

▼Scope of the initiative

This initiative targets transportation between Kikkoman Group bases (primary transportation). Sobu Logistics operates over 17,000 vehicles annually in primary transportation under this scope, contributing to improved logistics center efficiency and reduced waiting time for truck drivers, leading to a better working environment.

Image of primary transportation covered by this initiative

▼Comments from each company

Sobu Logistics Co., Ltd.:
'Pallets are indispensable in transportation and delivery, and the ability to simultaneously register rental pallet shipments was the biggest factor in adopting this system. We feel the effect of unifying tasks that were previously handled separately for products and pallets. We will continue to promote initiatives aimed at further efficiency and rationalization.'

Japan Pallet Rental Co., Ltd.:
'Our service is not simply about digitizing forms; we propose a means to rationalize the entire logistics-related work including operations. We will continue to provide value to everyone, including the unification of pallet receipts and payments, which is our strength.'

▼About DD Plus, the delivery slip digitization and sharing service

DD Plus is a system that digitizes delivery slips. It enables online transmission, receipt, and storage of electronic delivery slips, and can process rental pallet receipts and payments in one stop.

It is designed considering the transition period of digitization, allowing selection of electronic or paper slips for each transport destination.

There are also cases where DD Plus is used to streamline peripheral tasks such as inspection.

JPR views the digitization of delivery slips as the first step in logistics DX and supports the transition from carbon-copy slips to plain paper and digitization of slips.

Product information:
https://www.jpr.co.jp/service/dd-plus/

Case studies:
https://www.jpr.co.jp/case/