obniz Provides IoT Platform 'obniz Now' to Beacapp, Realizing Solution for Visualizing Research Equipment Operation and Automating Usage Records

## obniz and Beacapp Launch Solution for Visualizing Research Equipment Operation and Automating Usage Records

obniz (Headquarters: Toshima-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Yuki Sato), a developer of IoT solutions centered on smart devices, has provided its IoT platform 'obniz Now' to Beacapp (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President: Shota Okamura), the provider of the indoor location service 'Beacapp Here,' which holds the No. 1 cumulative number of client adoptions. The two companies have begun offering a 'Research Equipment Operation Visualization and Usage Record Automation Solution' for pharmaceutical and high-tech research laboratories.

Based on the concept of 'zero-input infrastructure for automated data conversion,' this solution integrates obniz's 'obniz Now' IoT platform with Beacapp's 'Beacapp Here' indoor location service. obniz Now automatically acquires equipment operation status via sensors, while Beacapp Here visualizes the location of people and objects, enabling real-time visualization and recording of equipment operation status, location data, and usage history.

This system realizes a mechanism where data is automatically accumulated as staff perform their daily duties, eliminating the need for manual data entry or additional operational burdens that were challenges in traditional DX projects. It supports improved work efficiency and facility operation optimization in research sites.

### Role of obniz in this Solution
obniz Now allows for real-time acquisition of equipment power status (ON/OFF) and operational status simply by installing sensors. It does not require device-side firmware development (Patent No. 6439954) and is characterized by its ability to directly control and acquire data from various equipment and sensors from the cloud.

In this solution, obniz Now serves as the foundation for data acquisition. The acquired equipment operation data is integrated with Beacapp Here’s indoor location information and displayed as equipment status on the service's screen.

### Background
In recent years, manufacturing and R&D sites have faced challenges in maintaining operations that rely on experience, visual checks, and physical patrols due to severe labor shortages. In pharmaceutical and high-tech research labs particularly, many tasks such as equipment checks, equipment searching, and usage history management are reliant on analog operations.

Furthermore, when equipment stops or malfunctions occur, field confirmation and response decisions often depend on specific personnel, raising concerns about increased response burdens and job specialization. Traditional DX measures have sometimes failed to demonstrate sufficient effectiveness due to the new operational burdens they impose on field workers, such as manual data entry into tablets or PCs, leading to data entry omissions and difficulty in establishing new workflows.

### Target Equipment Examples
The solution is intended for introduction to research equipment such as:
- Cooling/Heating devices, Shakers, Pressurization devices, Centrifuges
- 3D printers, Electron microscopes, Safety cabinets
Additionally, by attaching beacons to measuring instruments, carts, and research equipment, location management and reduction of search time can also be realized within the same service.

### Expected Effects
- **Work Efficiency**: Reduction in movement for equipment checks / Reduced search time for vacant equipment / Reduced search time for equipment / Reduced man-hours for inspection and patrols
- **Facility Operation Optimization**: Visualization of equipment utilization rates / Decision-making on adding or purchasing equipment based on utilization rates / Identification of congested or idle equipment
- **Traceability and Enhanced Audit Compliance**: Automatic recording of equipment usage history / Visualization of usage status / Analysis of equipment usage and operating rates
- **Safety and BCP Measures**: Grasping the presence of staff within the laboratory / Support for rapid safety confirmation during disasters