SoftBank and MODE Form Capital and Business Alliance to Enhance Decision-Making at Construction and Manufacturing Sites via GenAI and IoT
SoftBank and MODE have partnered to integrate MODE's 'BizStack' IoT platform with SoftBank's GenAI and secure cloud services, aiming to accelerate data-driven automation and efficiency in the industrial sector.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 28, 2026 at 20:30
- 🔍 Collected: April 28, 2026 at 12:01
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 28, 2026 at 13:24 (1h 23m after Collected)
SoftBank Corp. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Junichi Miyagawa) and MODE, Inc. (Headquarters: California, USA; Japan Branch: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Gaku Ueda), which develops the solution-oriented IoT platform 'BizStack,' have signed a capital and business alliance agreement. The goal is to enhance data-driven decision-making at construction and manufacturing sites through the utilization of Generative AI (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT).
This partnership combines MODE's technology for integrating and structuring field data with SoftBank's generative AI, cloud services, communication networks, and corporate customer base. The collaboration aims to accelerate the introduction and establishment of data utilization in field operations, particularly in the construction and manufacturing sectors.
Background:
The adoption of generative AI by companies is progressing rapidly. Platforms that integrate construction and manufacturing site data increase in value as data continuously accumulates. Specifically among infrastructure operators, there is a growing need for domestic data processing and management. However, in field operations, the utilization of generative AI has remained focused on office tasks and has not reached full-scale use on-site due to challenges such as data silos—where data from equipment and production lines are fragmented—integration with existing systems, and operational hurdles. Furthermore, the daily accumulated site data is a vital asset directly linked to corporate management decisions, requiring the assurance of 'data sovereignty' to appropriately manage and protect in-house data. Given this background, SoftBank and MODE reached this capital and business alliance to strengthen long-term and strategic cooperation through AI and IoT.
Overview:
MODE's 'BizStack' is a solution-oriented IoT platform that centralizes and integrates field data to improve operational efficiency. It adopts a unique data model that treats managed objects such as equipment and locations as 'entities,' structuring and organizing data obtained from real space. A key feature is the ability to leverage data along the flow of field operations. Additionally, users can easily access necessary information simply by asking questions via chat on smartphones or tablets.
In this alliance, based on 'BizStack,' SoftBank's generative AI, sovereign cloud services, communication networks, and corporate customer base will be combined. The partners will work on BizStack implementation support, construction of secure data management and operation environments in Japan, and functional expansion of BizStack using generative AI. The ultimate goal is to build generative AI models that are practically applicable at construction and manufacturing sites.
Case Study: Kajima Corporation in the Construction Sector:
Kajima Corporation has applied 'BizStack' to various inspection and confirmation tasks, as well as data collection and reporting at several building construction sites. They confirmed effects such as faster decision-making by site employees and improved operational efficiency. It also helped standardize judgment tasks that previously relied on the experience of individual site employees.
Shingo Kawashima, Group Manager at Kajima Corporation's Production Promotion Support Group, stated: 'At our company, reducing the time spent on inspections and reports and leveling the experience of site employees were challenges. Through the trial of BizStack, we were able to instantly check necessary information from smartphones by combining IoT data and generative AI. In one inspection task, we saved 50 hours of labor per site per month by eliminating the need to patrol for that specific purpose. For example, in managing underwater pumps, we can now remotely check for water leaks by combining leak detection sensors and camera footage. This not only reduces labor but also increases safety by reducing hazardous work during heavy rain. While such tasks are typically performed by younger employees on-site, having veterans in the site office check them remotely leads to faster decision-making and reduces dependence on specific individuals. Moving forward, we plan to expand the use of BizStack to issue alerts before dangerous states occur and optimize the placement of equipment, leading to further site improvements.'
This partnership combines MODE's technology for integrating and structuring field data with SoftBank's generative AI, cloud services, communication networks, and corporate customer base. The collaboration aims to accelerate the introduction and establishment of data utilization in field operations, particularly in the construction and manufacturing sectors.
Background:
The adoption of generative AI by companies is progressing rapidly. Platforms that integrate construction and manufacturing site data increase in value as data continuously accumulates. Specifically among infrastructure operators, there is a growing need for domestic data processing and management. However, in field operations, the utilization of generative AI has remained focused on office tasks and has not reached full-scale use on-site due to challenges such as data silos—where data from equipment and production lines are fragmented—integration with existing systems, and operational hurdles. Furthermore, the daily accumulated site data is a vital asset directly linked to corporate management decisions, requiring the assurance of 'data sovereignty' to appropriately manage and protect in-house data. Given this background, SoftBank and MODE reached this capital and business alliance to strengthen long-term and strategic cooperation through AI and IoT.
Overview:
MODE's 'BizStack' is a solution-oriented IoT platform that centralizes and integrates field data to improve operational efficiency. It adopts a unique data model that treats managed objects such as equipment and locations as 'entities,' structuring and organizing data obtained from real space. A key feature is the ability to leverage data along the flow of field operations. Additionally, users can easily access necessary information simply by asking questions via chat on smartphones or tablets.
In this alliance, based on 'BizStack,' SoftBank's generative AI, sovereign cloud services, communication networks, and corporate customer base will be combined. The partners will work on BizStack implementation support, construction of secure data management and operation environments in Japan, and functional expansion of BizStack using generative AI. The ultimate goal is to build generative AI models that are practically applicable at construction and manufacturing sites.
Case Study: Kajima Corporation in the Construction Sector:
Kajima Corporation has applied 'BizStack' to various inspection and confirmation tasks, as well as data collection and reporting at several building construction sites. They confirmed effects such as faster decision-making by site employees and improved operational efficiency. It also helped standardize judgment tasks that previously relied on the experience of individual site employees.
Shingo Kawashima, Group Manager at Kajima Corporation's Production Promotion Support Group, stated: 'At our company, reducing the time spent on inspections and reports and leveling the experience of site employees were challenges. Through the trial of BizStack, we were able to instantly check necessary information from smartphones by combining IoT data and generative AI. In one inspection task, we saved 50 hours of labor per site per month by eliminating the need to patrol for that specific purpose. For example, in managing underwater pumps, we can now remotely check for water leaks by combining leak detection sensors and camera footage. This not only reduces labor but also increases safety by reducing hazardous work during heavy rain. While such tasks are typically performed by younger employees on-site, having veterans in the site office check them remotely leads to faster decision-making and reduces dependence on specific individuals. Moving forward, we plan to expand the use of BizStack to issue alerts before dangerous states occur and optimize the placement of equipment, leading to further site improvements.'