Chiba Bank Group's Edge Technology Provides 'Hands-on AI Support' to Promote Riei's 'Democratization of AI', Driving 'Region-Wide DX' in Chiba Prefecture
Edge Technology, a subsidiary of Chiba Bank, provided 'Hands-on AI Support' to Riei, a care and food service provider. Utilizing the no-code tool 'Dify', non-engineer employees successfully developed an AI chatbot for internal rules.
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Edge Technology Inc. (hereafter 'the Company'), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Chiba Bank, provided 'Hands-on AI Support' to Riei Co., Ltd. (hereafter 'Riei') aiming to improve AI literacy and promote in-house development. By introducing the no-code tool 'Dify', an environment was built where even employees with no engineering experience can develop AI apps. This has enabled Riei to tackle productivity improvements through frontline-led DX in the nursing care and food service industries, where labor shortages are a pressing issue, and to cultivate an organizational culture where all employees can proactively utilize AI.
In the nursing care and food service industries, where labor shortages are becoming increasingly severe, improving operational efficiency is an urgent task. At Riei, a company that values 'human warmth', the management policy states that 'utilizing AI by each individual employee is essential for improving productivity', and they were considering making AI utilization the core of their DX promotion. However, because Riei lacked specialized AI personnel internally, they faced the challenge of 'not knowing where to start' and 'being unable to take the first concrete step.' They anticipated that outsourcing AI development to system vendors would not meet the detailed needs of the frontline, and more importantly, the crucial know-how would not be accumulated internally. They needed an environment where employees could take the initiative in developing AI and the support of experts they could consult when in trouble.
The defining feature of this initiative is that it is not conventional system development, but 'hands-on support' focused on 'environment building and skill acquisition' that allows employees to voluntarily utilize AI. Specifically, the service was provided in the following steps.
1. Company-wide Mindset Reform and Roadmap Formulation
Information on the latest AI trends and use cases was shared to deepen the understanding of AI among both management and frontline staff. Following this, detailed interviews with frontline representatives were conducted, and a roadmap for AI utilization tailored to the actual situation was formulated.
2. Preparation of the Development Environment Using the No-Code Tool 'Dify'
'Dify', a platform that allows the development of AI apps without programming knowledge, was introduced. Through bi-weekly regular meetings, technical questions were resolved and operational lectures were provided, offering extensive support so that even employees with no development experience could proceed without stumbling.
3. Promotion of a Practical Project to Experience 'Building it Ourselves'
Development began on an 'Internal Regulations Inquiry Bot', which contributes to workload reduction for all employees and allows for easy measurement of the reduction effect. The Company dedicated itself to writing requirements definitions and advising on specialized technical matters, while the actual app development was undertaken by Riei employees, fostering a successful experience of 'we can build AI apps ourselves.'
Currently, Riei is working on improving the accuracy of the 'Internal Regulations Inquiry Bot' prototype toward its practical application. Through this initiative, the psychological hurdle at Riei that 'AI is only for experts' has been lowered, and a movement has begun where employees proactively build business improvement apps. Riei plans to continue initiatives to improve frontline ideas through AI apps, returning the time saved through labor reduction to the 'warm services that only humans can provide', which they have cherished since their founding, aiming for a DX that enhances both customer and employee satisfaction.
We received the following comment regarding this initiative from Mr. Naoto Ono, DX Promotion Section, Finance Department, Riei Co., Ltd.
'AI, which previously seemed specialized and distant, has transformed into a realistic option that can be utilized on the frontline. Staff understanding has progressed, and the joy of giving shape to things ourselves is also emerging.'
Company Overview
■Edge Technology Inc.
We support corporate AI utilization through our AI algorithm business and AI education services. Going beyond mere solution provision, we offer comprehensive support including organizational AI literacy improvement and human resource development.
Company Name: Edge Technology Inc.
Representative: Yuta Shimada, President and CEO
Location: 4F Daiwa Kanda Mikuracho Building, 7-1 Kanda Mikuracho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Established: May 12, 2014
Business Description: AI algorithm business, AI solutions
In the nursing care and food service industries, where labor shortages are becoming increasingly severe, improving operational efficiency is an urgent task. At Riei, a company that values 'human warmth', the management policy states that 'utilizing AI by each individual employee is essential for improving productivity', and they were considering making AI utilization the core of their DX promotion. However, because Riei lacked specialized AI personnel internally, they faced the challenge of 'not knowing where to start' and 'being unable to take the first concrete step.' They anticipated that outsourcing AI development to system vendors would not meet the detailed needs of the frontline, and more importantly, the crucial know-how would not be accumulated internally. They needed an environment where employees could take the initiative in developing AI and the support of experts they could consult when in trouble.
The defining feature of this initiative is that it is not conventional system development, but 'hands-on support' focused on 'environment building and skill acquisition' that allows employees to voluntarily utilize AI. Specifically, the service was provided in the following steps.
1. Company-wide Mindset Reform and Roadmap Formulation
Information on the latest AI trends and use cases was shared to deepen the understanding of AI among both management and frontline staff. Following this, detailed interviews with frontline representatives were conducted, and a roadmap for AI utilization tailored to the actual situation was formulated.
2. Preparation of the Development Environment Using the No-Code Tool 'Dify'
'Dify', a platform that allows the development of AI apps without programming knowledge, was introduced. Through bi-weekly regular meetings, technical questions were resolved and operational lectures were provided, offering extensive support so that even employees with no development experience could proceed without stumbling.
3. Promotion of a Practical Project to Experience 'Building it Ourselves'
Development began on an 'Internal Regulations Inquiry Bot', which contributes to workload reduction for all employees and allows for easy measurement of the reduction effect. The Company dedicated itself to writing requirements definitions and advising on specialized technical matters, while the actual app development was undertaken by Riei employees, fostering a successful experience of 'we can build AI apps ourselves.'
Currently, Riei is working on improving the accuracy of the 'Internal Regulations Inquiry Bot' prototype toward its practical application. Through this initiative, the psychological hurdle at Riei that 'AI is only for experts' has been lowered, and a movement has begun where employees proactively build business improvement apps. Riei plans to continue initiatives to improve frontline ideas through AI apps, returning the time saved through labor reduction to the 'warm services that only humans can provide', which they have cherished since their founding, aiming for a DX that enhances both customer and employee satisfaction.
We received the following comment regarding this initiative from Mr. Naoto Ono, DX Promotion Section, Finance Department, Riei Co., Ltd.
'AI, which previously seemed specialized and distant, has transformed into a realistic option that can be utilized on the frontline. Staff understanding has progressed, and the joy of giving shape to things ourselves is also emerging.'
Company Overview
■Edge Technology Inc.
We support corporate AI utilization through our AI algorithm business and AI education services. Going beyond mere solution provision, we offer comprehensive support including organizational AI literacy improvement and human resource development.
Company Name: Edge Technology Inc.
Representative: Yuta Shimada, President and CEO
Location: 4F Daiwa Kanda Mikuracho Building, 7-1 Kanda Mikuracho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Established: May 12, 2014
Business Description: AI algorithm business, AI solutions