Achieves 70% Utilization Rate* with TwooCa: A Case Study on Fostering Natural Interaction

Kort Valuta Inc. (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Hideki Shibata, hereinafter "Our Company") is pleased to announce the release of a case study interview detailing the implementation of "TwooCa (Tsuka)," a next-generation*1 wallet, at Chic Holdings Inc. (Headquarters: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Yasushi Fukuchi, hereinafter "Chic"), a company that develops payment solution businesses.

*Refers to the "Internal Meal Gatherings" initiative, a welfare program designed to foster natural interaction among employees.

To address the challenge of reduced communication opportunities with the establishment of hybrid work, Chic implemented an internal communication initiative utilizing TwooCa. Through "Internal Meal Gatherings" and a "Thank You Message" function, they are working to create opportunities for employees to interact naturally.

As a result, approximately 70% of Chic's approximately 49 employees are utilizing TwooCa*, facilitating cross-departmental interaction and visualizing appreciation, thereby contributing to the revitalization of internal communication and the promotion of organizational exchange.

Click here for the implementation case study interview.

*According to Chic Holdings Inc. research.

Background

In recent years, the widespread adoption of hybrid and remote work has transformed internal communication in many companies.

In particular, opportunities for cross-departmental exchange and casual daily conversations have decreased, leading many companies to face challenges in maintaining organizational unity and building relationships among employees.

Chic, while organizing events for interaction, recognized the need for a mechanism to foster more natural and continuous communication.

Consequently, they launched an initiative to promote employee interaction by leveraging TwooCa, which combines payment and communication functionalities.

Initiatives Leading to a 70% Utilization Rate

● Encouraging Participation in "Internal Meal Gatherings"

Chic introduced a system where employees receive points for participating in "Internal Meal Gatherings."

The awarded points can be exchanged for electronic money and used for everyday cashless payments at convenience stores, restaurants, and other establishments.

By making welfare benefits usable in daily life, this system has become an easily accessible initiative for employees.

● An Initiative Utilized by Approximately 70% of Employees

Through these efforts, approximately 70% of Chic's approximately 49 employees are using TwooCa*.

This has naturally led to interactions like "Let's go for a meal because we have TwooCa," creating opportunities for cross-departmental exchange.

The active participation of management has also contributed to an environment where the initiative can easily permeate throughout the organization.

● Promoting Interaction Through Visible Appreciation

The "Thank You Message" function allows employees to send messages of gratitude and praise to each other daily.

As these messages are shared internally, employees gain more opportunities to learn about the initiatives and contributions of other departments, which helps in sparking new conversations and collaborations.

● Transforming Welfare Benefits into a "System That Gets Used"

It is crucial not only to introduce welfare programs but also to ensure their continuous utilization.

Chic connects daily actions such as interaction and appreciation with welfare benefits, creating a system that employees can easily participate in.

Comments on This Initiative

Miki Murakami, Manager, Human Resources and General Affairs Unit, Chic Holdings Inc.:

Our perspective on welfare benefits has shifted from "something provided uniformly" to "a system that revitalizes the organization based on employee actions."

While we have offered various systems in the past, we now design them to naturally deepen relationships by linking them to daily actions like interaction and appreciation.

Specifically, through the meal gatherings and thank you message functions, opportunities for interaction between employees who previously had little contact have increased.

We find value in how employees actively participate, leading to broader interactions and ultimately strengthening organizational unity and collaboration.

What is TwooCa?

TwooCa is a collective term for the various services provided by Our Company. The main services are offered through the TwooCa app, which features employee and membership cards with international brand card payment functionality. The prepaid cards linked to the app can be used by all employees and members (limited to residents in Japan). It also enables expense reimbursements and transfers between employees/members.

TwooCa was developed with the philosophy that valuing employees and members leads to increased corporate and organizational value. It embodies the principle of "Kindness is not just for others (actions of compassion, in turn, become a strength for the organization and society)" through technology.

Furthermore, amidst ongoing price increases, the initiative of "a third type of wage increase"*2 is gaining attention in the media. Through the TwooCa function that utilizes points exchangeable for electronic money, Our Company aims to support employees' "real disposable income improvement"*3, while also contributing to increased employee satisfaction (ES) and reduced turnover.

Our Company's initiative was featured on TOKYO MX News* as an effort to "improve real disposable income" using electronic money. ▶ Click here for the featured content.

*2 "A third type of wage increase" is used in the general sense where the "first type" is regular salary increases, the "second type" is base pay raises, and the "third type" is the utilization of welfare benefits. It does not refer to an increase in wages under the Labor Standards Act.

*3 Employees should note that points exchangeable for electronic money may be treated as miscellaneous income or occasional income. Please consult with a tax professional for tax treatment, including non-taxable requirements for welfare benefits.

Chic Holdings Inc. Overview

Company Name: Chic Holdings Inc. <https://chic-holdings.jp/>

Location: 4-1 Shinkawa, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo

Representative Director and President: Yasushi Fukuchi

Business Overview: Payment solution business, DX business for the real estate industry

Kort Valuta Inc. Overview

Company Name: Kort Valuta Inc. <https://kortvaluta.com>

Location: Shibuya Pine Building 4F, 3-11-2 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

Representative Director: Hideki Shibata

Business Overview: Issuance, planning, management, and operation of various cards, development and sales of smart rings

[TwooCa Feature List]

Electronic Payments (Supports international brand card contactless payments)

Point issuance using digital money (evaluating daily actions and contributions of employees and members*)

*Limited to welfare purposes, not constituting wages under the Labor Standards Act.

Payment function for in-house meals and snacks (new feature that can be used for meal subsidies)

Closed mall for specific occupations (exclusive mall available only to employees and members of TwooCa adopting companies/organizations)

Control of closed mall listings (set display range by company/organization to support corporate discounts and community-limited product sales)

Employee/Membership card with IC chip

Transfers and assignments between employees/members

Attendance and departure management

Survey log management (continuously receive, accumulate, and understand employee/member feedback)

Bulletin board (information dissemination from companies/organizations for smooth information sharing)

Voice-based mental check service (health management and daily condition tracking for employees/members)

Thank You Message (mechanism for employees/members to express gratitude and praise to each other / optional)

Future Outlook

Chic plans to expand the scope of its application beyond meal gatherings to include internal exchange initiatives such as sports and club activities.

Our Company will continue to support flexible initiative design tailored to the challenges of each company, including welfare, health management, and employee engagement improvement.

Furthermore, through new employee experiences utilizing points exchangeable for electronic money, Our Company aims to contribute to the creation of sustainable organizations for both companies and working individuals.

*1 "Next-generation" refers to a service design concept where employee and member actions are awarded as points exchangeable for electronic money, which can be used in daily life, thereby creating a unique economic sphere.

*2 "A third type of wage increase" is generally used to mean that the "first type" is regular salary increases, the "second type" is base pay raises, and the "third type" is the utilization of welfare benefits. It does not refer to an increase in wages under the Labor Standards Act.

*3 Employees should note that points exchangeable for electronic money may be treated as miscellaneous income or occasional income. Please consult with a tax professional for tax treatment, including non-taxable requirements for welfare benefits.