NPO Dendenmushi, Operating Over 9 Facilities and 800+ Children, Grasps Status of All Facilities in Real-Time with "Hokally" Introduction

NPO Dendenmushi, which operates nine after-school clubs in Nagareyama City, Chiba Prefecture, has introduced VISH Inc.'s after-school care support system "Hokally" starting June 2025, achieving significant efficiency in billing operations and real-time management of multiple facilities.

The organization previously handled many tasks, such as calculating extended care fees, issuing invoices, and communicating with parents, through analog methods and manual input, posing a challenge due to staff workload. After system implementation, billing operations, from fee calculation to bank transfers, can now be processed in a continuous flow, reducing the time required from a full day to approximately one hour.

・Details of the導入事例 (Introduction Case Study) can be found here: https://www.buscatch.com/gakudo/voice/dendenmushi/

■About NPO Dendenmushi

NPO Dendenmushi is an organization that has been operating after-school care facilities since its establishment in 2013. It began operations as a designated administrator in Nagareyama City and currently manages a total of 9 facilities, primarily in the Yagi Kita, Oyama, and Nagasaki elementary school districts.

It is a large-scale designated administrator scheduled to accept over 1,000 children in fiscal year 2026.

Ms. Miharu Onuma, the representative director, states:

After-school clubs are welfare services that provide spaces for living and playing. While we also provide time for learning, it is not the primary purpose of our support. We operate with the spirit of "nurturing the ability to live," and we hope that children will develop independence and cooperation through group living while having fun playing together.

■Background of System Implementation and Challenges Unique to After-School Care

・Challenge ①: Complex billing management handled by manual calculation, increasing staff burden

Previously, for managing usage records (hours each family used the facility per month) used for fee calculation, a simple timekeeping system using IC cards was employed.

However, for monthly fee calculations, it was necessary to consider not only usage hours but also meal fees and unique extended care fee regulations, making manual verification and calculation essential.

Furthermore, with the increase in the number of children, significant time was required for creating, printing, distributing invoices, and manually inputting individual fees, making staff workload a major issue.

・Challenge ②: Strong demand from parents for app-based services

Parents expressed strong requests such as "I want to apply for usage via an app" and "I want to receive real-time entry notifications."

However, daily communication and application procedures for after-school care were primarily conducted via paper and phone, necessitating improvements in convenience for parents.

■Five Effects of Implementing the After-School ICT System "Hokally"

① Automation of Billing and Bank Transfers (Reduced from 1 day to 1 hour)

Linked with timekeeping data, complex extended care fee calculations are automated. Billing operations, from fee calculation to bank transfers, can be performed in a single flow, allowing billing to be completed with just confirmation work.

② Real-time Headquarters Oversight Achieved with Group Facility Management Function

Attendance numbers and status of all 9 branches are centrally managed by headquarters in real-time. Additionally, bulk communication to over 800 parents, which was often flagged as spam with previous email distribution, can now be done reliably and smoothly through the communication app.

③ "Photo Contest" Voting for Annual Event Conducted via App

The "Halloween Photo Contest," a joint project of all after-school clubs within the organization, was fully digitized within the app. By eliminating on-site postings and paper ballot boxes at each location, photo viewing and survey voting were realized on the app. Parents unable to visit during the period could also participate via the app, fostering a sense of unity. The effort of tallying by staff was also eliminated.

④ Reduction in Phone Inquiries through App-Based Attendance Management

Since parents submit usage requests via the "Renraku App" (Communication App), the task of on-site staff receiving phone calls and transcribing information onto attendance lists has disappeared. A secure system has also been established where QR code check-ins by the children themselves provide real-time entry/exit notifications to parents.

⑤ Significant Reduction in Administrative Work Outside of Childcare Hours

Complex attendance management lists, previously created separately for each grade and unit, can now be automatically aggregated and outputted, dramatically reducing overtime and the burden on staff outside of childcare hours.

■Future Prospects and Voices from the Field

NPO Dendenmushi plans to gradually digitize handwritten "childcare diaries" and "activity records" to further utilize Hokally and improve operational efficiency.

From Representative Director Miharu Onuma

From NPO Dendenmushi Representative Director Miharu Onuma:

"We are always greatly assisted by the support from VISH Inc. when starting new operations with the system, and we can operate with peace of mind every day. We look forward to continued support and suggestions for new ways to use the system."

Furthermore, regarding the request from the organization for "restrictions on staff clock-ins/outs when attending meetings at other branches," a free version upgrade was implemented in May 2026. The system was improved to record clock-ins from accounts other than the employee's affiliated branch to their own facility's account, along with the facility name. VISH Inc. will continue to develop systems that are responsive to the needs of the field.

■About "Hokally"

"Hokally" is a business support system for after-school clubs developed based on feedback from the after-school care field.

It is equipped with essential functions for after-school operations, including attendance management, absence notifications, usage applications/user management, extended care fee management, and childcare fee billing.

After-school care faces challenges such as labor shortages, increased administrative workload, and complicated information sharing with parents.

Hokally alleviates these burdens by streamlining operations, creating more time to focus on the children. It supports the creation of a safe and secure environment for parents, children, and instructors, and aids in the management of after-school facilities.

Additionally, Hokally can be introduced starting from ¥5,500 per month (tax included) with no initial cost, allowing for flexible operation according to facility size and operational policies.

Details about Hokally can be found here: https://www.buscatch.com/gakudo/

【VISH Inc.】

Representative: Hiroyuki Tabuchi, President and Representative Director

Location: SC NISHIKI ANNEX 5F, 2-10-13 Nishiki, Naka-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture

Established: December 2004

Capital: 11.5 million yen

Company Site: https://www.vish.co.jp/

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