OM Network Expands Standardization Support to Address Local Workplace Rules That Stall DX Projects

OM Network Co., Ltd. (headquarters: Niigata City, Niigata Prefecture; President and Representative Director: Shinya Yamagishi) announced that it has expanded its operational standardization support and hands-on implementation support framework to better address “local workplace rules,” a common challenge in corporate DX initiatives. In recent years, companies have been advancing DX and renewing business systems, yet more implementation projects are stalling or being abandoned during on-site validation. Through its implementation support for the retail shift management system “R-Shift,” OM Network has accompanied many companies through system adoption projects. The company says it has seen many projects that began with goals such as “company-wide optimization,” “standardization,” and “business efficiency” gradually shift their focus during validation toward handling individual requests from each workplace, ultimately causing the system implementation itself to lose direction. As labor shortages and diversified work styles continue, unique operational practices at company sites have become increasingly complex. Common requests in actual implementation projects include equalizing the number of early shifts among specific members, applying different requested-day-off rules by store, avoiding early shifts after late shifts or holidays, preventing certain staff members from being assigned to the same shift, and setting unique break rules for short-hour workers. While these rules are important for maintaining workplace operations, reflecting all of them in the system can make configuration and operations more complex, lowering adoption rates and increasing operational burden. The company has also seen cases where, after implementation validation had progressed, companies decided to postpone adoption because the system could not support requests from some stores. Projects originally launched for “company-wide unification” and “standardization” can end up becoming efforts to accommodate individual store-level requests, causing implementation to stall and significantly hindering DX progress. OM Network says it carefully listens to customer challenges, clarifies the target goals of systemization, and has staff accompany on-site validation while building customized environments. In retail, “the workplace is everything,” and respecting frontline voices is essential. However, if every request during site validation is accepted as correct without scrutiny, companies often move away from the original goals of headquarters-level standardization, unification, and operational efficiency. For this reason, the company makes more direct proposals, such as: “That function certainly exists, but enabling it would move you one step away from the standardization and unification your headquarters is aiming for. Would you consider reviewing the operational rule itself at this stage?” OM Network states that simply changing settings as requested is something anyone can do; its value lies in offering fundamental advice based on knowing patterns of failure from many past implementations. While the form of success differs depending on each company’s environment and timing, the patterns of failure are surprisingly similar. As a result of this hands-on support and proposal-based approach, the company has received positive feedback from both headquarters and frontline teams after system launch. Headquarters have reported that store shift status became visible and that month-end aggregation and management workload was significantly reduced. Store managers who were initially confused by rule changes have also said that organizing person-dependent rules cut shift creation time in half, reduced dissatisfaction and perceived unfairness among specific staff, and allowed them to focus more on customer service. OM Network says it does not view system implementation as the end point, but rather as the starting point. Retail workplaces change every day, and systems must evolve accordingly. The company will continue supporting post-launch operations and updates to create easier-to-use environments, while directly addressing the complex retail challenges around people and shifts and providing systems and support that help frontline teams and headquarters grow together. Company overview: OM Network Co., Ltd. is located in Chuo-ku, Niigata City, Niigata Prefecture. Its representative director is Shinya Yamagishi. Its businesses include business system development and the shift management system “R-Shift.” Website: https://www.omnetwork.co.jp/