Minokamo City, Gifu Prefecture, Expands Smartphone City Hall with AI Integration
Minokamo City, Gifu Prefecture, has announced the expansion of its LINE-based "Smartphone City Hall" by integrating AI features from Bot Express's "GovTech Express." The city will introduce multilingual waste management guidance, an AI general inquiry system, and a Copilot feature for staff, aiming to complete most administrative procedures online by the end of fiscal year 2029.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: June 1, 2026 at 23:19
- 🔍 Collected: June 1, 2026 at 14:35
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: June 1, 2026 at 14:37 (2 min after Collected)
Bot Express, Inc. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Kazuki Nakajima), provider of the "GovTech Express" smartphone city hall platform, announced that Minokamo City, Gifu Prefecture (Mayor: Hiroto Fujii), will expand its LINE-based city hall functions by utilizing the AI capabilities of GovTech Express.
Facing demographic shifts, staffing constraints, and an increasing foreign resident population, Minokamo City is creating an environment where everyone can easily access necessary administrative services. This initiative includes multilingual support for waste management, an AI-powered general inquiry system that allows residents to reach procedures by simply stating their needs, and a Copilot feature to assist staff in building administrative workflows.
Aligned with the city's DX promotion plan, "DX that leaves no one behind and is kind to people and the city," the city aims to evolve its smartphone city hall to be user-friendly for both residents and staff, targeting the completion of most administrative procedures online by the end of fiscal year 2029.
1. Key AI Features to be Introduced
1. Multilingual Waste Management Support: Providing notifications, sorting guides, and calendars in English, Portuguese, Tagalog, Vietnamese, Indonesian, and Chinese. Launch: May 21, 2026.
2. AI General Inquiry: Residents can consult the AI on LINE to find procedures by simply stating their needs (e.g., "I want to find childcare"). Launch: October 2026.
3. Copilot for Staff: AI assists staff in building new services, analyzing data, and processing reports. Launch: April 1, 2026.
2. Impact on Residents and Staff
Residents: Easily reach necessary procedures without confusion.
Foreign Residents: Receive essential daily information in their native languages.
Staff: Improve service quality and efficiency by collaborating with AI.
3. Background and Details
Minokamo City has been expanding its LINE-based services since 2016, partnering with GovTech Express in October 2023. With 24,000 friends on its LINE account as of April 2026, the city is addressing the challenges of a shrinking workforce and a growing elderly population by digitizing services. By integrating AI, the city aims to reduce the burden of searching, writing, and visiting the city hall.
4. System Security
The system uses GovTech Express, built on the Salesforce platform, which is registered under the Japanese government's ISMAP security assessment system. No personal or sensitive information is stored on LINE; all data is securely managed within Salesforce.
Facing demographic shifts, staffing constraints, and an increasing foreign resident population, Minokamo City is creating an environment where everyone can easily access necessary administrative services. This initiative includes multilingual support for waste management, an AI-powered general inquiry system that allows residents to reach procedures by simply stating their needs, and a Copilot feature to assist staff in building administrative workflows.
Aligned with the city's DX promotion plan, "DX that leaves no one behind and is kind to people and the city," the city aims to evolve its smartphone city hall to be user-friendly for both residents and staff, targeting the completion of most administrative procedures online by the end of fiscal year 2029.
1. Key AI Features to be Introduced
1. Multilingual Waste Management Support: Providing notifications, sorting guides, and calendars in English, Portuguese, Tagalog, Vietnamese, Indonesian, and Chinese. Launch: May 21, 2026.
2. AI General Inquiry: Residents can consult the AI on LINE to find procedures by simply stating their needs (e.g., "I want to find childcare"). Launch: October 2026.
3. Copilot for Staff: AI assists staff in building new services, analyzing data, and processing reports. Launch: April 1, 2026.
2. Impact on Residents and Staff
Residents: Easily reach necessary procedures without confusion.
Foreign Residents: Receive essential daily information in their native languages.
Staff: Improve service quality and efficiency by collaborating with AI.
3. Background and Details
Minokamo City has been expanding its LINE-based services since 2016, partnering with GovTech Express in October 2023. With 24,000 friends on its LINE account as of April 2026, the city is addressing the challenges of a shrinking workforce and a growing elderly population by digitizing services. By integrating AI, the city aims to reduce the burden of searching, writing, and visiting the city hall.
4. System Security
The system uses GovTech Express, built on the Salesforce platform, which is registered under the Japanese government's ISMAP security assessment system. No personal or sensitive information is stored on LINE; all data is securely managed within Salesforce.
FAQ
What is the goal of Minokamo City's DX plan?
The city aims to make most administrative procedures completable online by the end of fiscal year 2029.