Kao Corporation Selected for "DX Brand 2026"
Kao Corporation, led by President Yoshihiro Hasebe, has been selected as a "Digital Transformation Brand (DX Brand) 2026" by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE). This recognition highlights Kao's company-wide DX initiatives, centered on AI, to achieve its mid-term management plan "K27." Key areas of evaluation included data utilization from core systems, the development of the "My Kao" data platform, and digital talent development, all contributing to business transformation and corporate value improvement. Specific initiatives include advanced supply-demand planning with AI demand forecasting, sebum RNA monitoring technology utilizing AI and machine learning, enhanced personalization on the interactive digital platform "My Kao," and the launch of a "DX Adventure Program" for all employees.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 13, 2026 at 20:10
- 🔍 Collected: April 13, 2026 at 16:35
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 16, 2026 at 02:19 (57h 44m after Collected)
Kao Corporation is promoting its "Global Sharp Top" strategy to achieve its mid-term management plan "K27." By leveraging DX and AI, Kao aims to accelerate "good manufacturing" that supports business activities, and to accurately capture consumer needs from product design to production, sales, and consumer feedback. The company also verifies how DX initiatives contribute to improving ROIC, integrating management and digital strategies. Kao continues to enhance customer experience and operational efficiency through data and AI utilization, aiming for sustainable corporate value improvement.
Key initiatives:
Advanced Supply-Demand Planning with AI Demand Forecasting: Kao has built AI demand forecasting models tailored to product lifecycles, improving the accuracy of supply-demand decisions and minimizing shortages, excess inventory, and waste. Production and supply plans are optimized by progressively using data such as product characteristics, sales performance, and SNS trends from pre-launch to post-launch.
New Product Selection Proposals using Sebum RNA Monitoring Technology: Kao has advanced its unique "Sebum RNA Monitoring" technology, which visualizes skin and body conditions based on RNA in sebum, using AI and machine learning. This allows instant estimation of skin type (skin gene mode) based on RNA by simply taking a face image with a smartphone, providing consumers with a free, accessible indicator for optimal product and service selection. Through the "RNA Co-creation Consortium," established with participating companies, Kao is expanding the use of RNA as a new metric, starting in beauty and health sectors. (Consortium established March 11, 2024, exhibited at CEATEC 2025 on October 7, 2025).
Enhanced Personalization on "My Kao" Interactive Digital Platform: On "My Kao Mall," an EC site within the "My Kao" platform, AI learns customer purchasing behavior and patterns to display optimal product suggestions in real-time. By integrating and analyzing data such as website behavior history, purchase history, product attributes, and customer attributes, Kao addresses individual consumer needs and provides information tailored to repurchase timings. ("My Kao" launched December 15, 2022).
DX Talent Development: Kao launched a "DX Adventure Program" for all group employees on November 16, 2023.
Key initiatives:
Advanced Supply-Demand Planning with AI Demand Forecasting: Kao has built AI demand forecasting models tailored to product lifecycles, improving the accuracy of supply-demand decisions and minimizing shortages, excess inventory, and waste. Production and supply plans are optimized by progressively using data such as product characteristics, sales performance, and SNS trends from pre-launch to post-launch.
New Product Selection Proposals using Sebum RNA Monitoring Technology: Kao has advanced its unique "Sebum RNA Monitoring" technology, which visualizes skin and body conditions based on RNA in sebum, using AI and machine learning. This allows instant estimation of skin type (skin gene mode) based on RNA by simply taking a face image with a smartphone, providing consumers with a free, accessible indicator for optimal product and service selection. Through the "RNA Co-creation Consortium," established with participating companies, Kao is expanding the use of RNA as a new metric, starting in beauty and health sectors. (Consortium established March 11, 2024, exhibited at CEATEC 2025 on October 7, 2025).
Enhanced Personalization on "My Kao" Interactive Digital Platform: On "My Kao Mall," an EC site within the "My Kao" platform, AI learns customer purchasing behavior and patterns to display optimal product suggestions in real-time. By integrating and analyzing data such as website behavior history, purchase history, product attributes, and customer attributes, Kao addresses individual consumer needs and provides information tailored to repurchase timings. ("My Kao" launched December 15, 2022).
DX Talent Development: Kao launched a "DX Adventure Program" for all group employees on November 16, 2023.