First Labor Standards Act reform in about 40 years, the hidden management risk is "analog management of things" - ZAICO publishes "Countermeasure Guide"

Against the backdrop of severe labor shortages and the expansion of diverse working styles, discussions on a "major revision of the Labor Standards Act" for the first time in about 40 years are progressing.

While many companies are pressed with the urgent task of "creating a workplace that does not rely on overtime or holiday work," ZAICO Inc. (Headquarters: Yonezawa City, Yamagata Prefecture; Representative Director: Toshihide Tamura; hereinafter "the Company") has proposed that one of the bottlenecks hindering this is the "analog management of things," and has published a white paper titled "Major Revision of the Labor Standards Act: Complete Countermeasure Guide" summarizing management risks and specific solutions.

▼ Free download of the "Major Revision of the Labor Standards Act: Complete Countermeasure Guide" is available here

https://www.zaico.co.jp/resources/labor_standards_act/

■ Why is reviewing "analog management" necessary as a countermeasure for the revision of the Labor Standards Act?

With the revision of the Labor Standards Act being considered for the first time in about 40 years (such as a ban on consecutive workdays and mandatory work intervals), protecting employee health and diversity in working styles will be the main focus, and operations relying on "overtime and holiday work" are expected to be strictly limited.

To balance "proper management of working hours" and "improvement of productivity" with limited personnel, resolving the "personalization" that depends on specific employees is an urgent task. And one of the tasks that takes up the most time and is a hotbed of personalization in many workplaces is the "analog management of things."

If a company faces the legal revision while leaving unaddressed issues caused by analog inventory management such as paper and Excel, like "only that person knows" or "month-end inventory taking always results in overtime," it risks serious consequences where the workplace stops functioning due to the absence of the person in charge. Therefore, creating a system where "anyone can do it" without depending on specific employees through inventory management DX is a sure first step to overcome the legal revision and reduce the burden on the workplace.

■ Main content and value provided by this document

In addition to explaining the key points of the legal revision, this document introduces know-how directly linked to solving real workplace issues.

● Risks posed by the legal revision and countermeasures to avoid them

Explains the impact and management risks the legal revision will have on companies, as well as risk avoidance measures such as "automation and labor-saving of operations through DX" that do not rely on human wave tactics.

● Practical examples of "Inventory Management DX" that reviews analog operations

Introduces examples of companies that successfully reduced the burden on the workplace and eliminated personalization by digitizing the "management of things (equipment and inventory)" as the first step toward company-wide efficiency.

● Risk checklist to understand your company's level of danger

Based on our knowledge from having an accumulated track record of account registrations from 180,000 companies, we have included a simple checklist that allows self-inspection of analog operations where risks associated with the legal revision lurk.

■ Message from ZAICO Inc.

We have published this white paper in the hope that you will perceive the wave of legal revisions not simply as a burden, but as an "opportunity for operational improvement" for companies to further increase profits even amidst labor shortages. We hope you will utilize it for creating a comfortable work environment and reviewing operations to improve productivity.

We will continue to promptly respond to changes in social conditions and promote initiatives toward realizing a future where "people who manage inventory" are no longer necessary, through information dissemination and solution provision that stay close to workplace needs.

■ How to view

This document can be downloaded for free from the official website of the cloud inventory management system "zaico".

Download URL: https://www.zaico.co.jp/resources/labor_standards_act/

Announcement page is here: https://www.zaico.co.jp/2026/04/02/release_labor_standards_act/

■ What is the cloud inventory management system "zaico"?　　　　　　　

zaico is a cloud-based inventory management system that allows you to check real-time inventory status anytime, anywhere, and by anyone. Equipped with code scanning and alert functions, it supports the prevention of stockouts and overstock, improvement of accuracy in goods receipt and issue, and efficiency of inventory taking, realizing labor-saving and automation of inventory management.

We also offer a free trial so you can try it out first.

▼ zaico introduction video (with sound)

Introduced in a wide range of industries including manufacturing, retail/wholesale, and medical care, our intuitive operability and flexible customizability are highly evaluated. The cumulative number of registered companies has exceeded 180,000, and the continuation rate is over 92% (*1).

(*1) Based on zaico's cumulative registered companies as of May 2025

● About ZAICO Inc.

Founded triggered by solving the challenges of a warehousing business run by the representative's family in Yamagata. With the mission of "improving social efficiency by creating an information infrastructure for things, collecting, organizing, and providing information," we develop and provide operational efficiency solutions that stay close to workplace needs, including zaico.

Having raised a total of 600 million yen from the Japan Finance Corporation and others, we are working on labor-saving and automating inventory management using AI and OCR technologies to realize a future where "people who manage inventory" are no longer necessary.

[Company Overview]

Established: October 18, 2016

Representative Director: Toshihide Tamura

Business overview: Development and sales of the cloud inventory management system "zaico" and others

URL: https://www.zaico.co.jp/

Headquarters location: 331 Oaza Hanazawa, Yonezawa City, Yamagata Prefecture