Implementation of "AI Phone Support" in Nasu Town, Tochigi Prefecture

Denki Kogyo Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Koto-ku, Tokyo; President: Tadashi Kondo; hereinafter "the Company"), in collaboration with Tochigi Shinko Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Tochigi City, Tochigi Prefecture; President: Munehiro Kaneko), has implemented "AI Phone Support" in Nasu Town, Tochigi Prefecture, with operations commencing in March 2026.

Nasu Town is promoting the "Nasu Town Digital Front Yard Reform Project" to improve convenience for residents and visitors, taking into account the region's characteristics, which include strengths in tourism and relocation. This project aims to reduce the time and travel burdens associated with procedures that rely on paper applications and cash payments by introducing electronic applications, paperless service counters, AI phone support, and cashless payment options.

Through the provision of the "AI Phone Support Service" as part of this project, the Company has established a system where AI handles initial responses to common inquiries from residents and transfers them to the relevant department when necessary. By providing 24/7, 365-day initial response, the system supports improved convenience for phone inquiries and enhances operational efficiency.

[Background of Implementation] In Nasu Town, challenges have been identified regarding the burden of visiting government offices, caused by limited reception hours tied to office hours and the large geographical area of the town. Additionally, since 30.2% of residents work in other cities or towns, it is estimated that a certain number of residents find it difficult to visit the office during reception hours.

To address these issues, the development of AI phone support is being advanced as a "digital information counter" where necessary information can be confirmed with a single phone call.

[Overview of "AI Phone Support"] "AI Phone Support" assists in streamlining phone operations and improving resident services by having AI handle initial responses to phone inquiries from residents and transferring them to staff when necessary. The main features are as follows:

- 24/7, 365-day support: Provides initial responses at any time to common inquiries such as how to obtain resident certificates, taxes, garbage disposal methods, and office hours. - Answers based on the latest information: Reflects system revisions and provides answers based on the most current information. - Automatic transfer during office hours: Even for inquiries that cannot be completed by AI, the system automatically transfers the call to the appropriate department based on the content of the conversation.

[Future Outlook] Moving forward, the Company will continue to support the digital transformation (DX) of local government service counters, contributing to the improvement of resident services and the efficiency of staff operations. Furthermore, through the expansion of administrative DX solutions such as "AI Phone Support," we will contribute to solving regional issues and supporting sustainable local government management.

[Introduction and Roles of Companies Involved in This Project] - Denki Kogyo Co., Ltd.: Established in 1950 as a successor company to a former national policy company. It was founded as a company to develop telecommunications infrastructure and has since expanded its business into the high-frequency field using induction heating technology. For over 75 years since its founding, it has been engaged in businesses utilizing various radio waves. - Role in this project: Responsible for the design, development, implementation, and technical support of the AI phone support system. - Headquarters: Toyosu Urban Point, 5-5-13 Toyosu, Koto-ku, Tokyo - URL: https://denkikogyo.co.jp/

- Tochigi Shinko Co., Ltd.: A system development company founded in February 1977 with its headquarters in Tochigi City, Tochigi Prefecture. It provides consistent support from contract development to package implementation, infrastructure construction, and operation/maintenance, working to solve customer issues. - Role in this project: Responsible for the overall management of the project, including requirements gathering and implementation promotion with Nasu Town. - Headquarters: 2628-7 Omiya-cho, Tochigi City, Tochigi Prefecture - URL: https://www.t-shinko.jp/

[Inquiries] Denki Kogyo Co., Ltd., Corporate Planning Department, Corporate Planning Section Tel: 03-3520-8322 Mail: kouhou@denkikogyo.co.jp Website: https://denkikogyo.co.jp/